All School Archives

August 30, 2023

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the August 30, 2023 issue of InsideMPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

What does the first day of school mean to you? Perhaps freshly sharpened school supplies and crisp new uniforms, warm welcomes and exhilarating new friendships, discovering new interests and setting goals for the rest of the year. Every student, parent, teacher, and community member has a unique answer, yet common themes emerge. We’re full of hope, wonder, and excited curiosity about what the next school year will bring. Read More

Welcome to MPA, Maureen Marrinan!

August 30, 2023

What position will you be holding at MPA?
8th Social Studies / Substitute Teacher

From what school/organization are you coming?
Groves Academy.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I received my MA from St. Thomas in Education (Gifted Curriculum). I have taught the following sciences at Stillwater, Hastings, Mastery, and Groves: Environmental Science, Biology, Physical Science. I had four children in five years, so I opened a Preschool near Madison, WI. I had 96 children there and could take my children to work with me. It is still a wonderful school after 29 years. I have started or updated five preschools and observed/evaluated teachers for five years before moving back to the Twin Cities.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I heard of it while teaching at Groves, where I had a very special student who had gone to MPA.
My husband and I moved from N Mpls to Maplewood, and I realized MPA was two blocks from me. It took me a bit to put 2 and 2 together, but I went to Hill-Murray for High School, and MPA was the old Hill HS before merging with Archbishop Murray! I love teaching in smaller, private schools as they represent to me a much better model of education: smaller class sizes, more individualized instruction, and a healthier school community that INCLUDES parents and families. Plus – it is a gorgeous school and a pleasure to be a part of.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
For me, regardless of the subject matter that I teach, I focus on the idea of us as life-long learners and members of the global community. I am an advocate for the planet and environment, and believe that true kindness is the solution to many of our problems.

What’s your big dream?
To leave the planet a little bit better than I found it!

What are you (and your family, if you so choose) passionate about?
We are all quite independent, free thinkers. We are passionate about politics, the environment, each other, and the Packers and are in crisis mode because Aaron Rodgers is with the NY Jets. I think we will now become Jets fans.

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I love water: swimming, paddle boarding, listening to the pattern of the waves. I have traveled quite a bit and lived in an abandoned cabin in Alaska and a teepee along the Mississippi. I love soil and gardening; I love to feel the sun on my face, and on and on!

Welcome to MPA, Dan Estey!

August 22, 2023

Welcome, Dan Estey! Dan joins MPA as a PreK teacher and we are thrilled to introduce him to you. Keep reading to learn more about him!

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I’m coming to MPA with prior private school experience. I graduated from Bethel University in 2000 and have 23+ years in the early education field. I have taught in Montessori classrooms, the University of Minnesota, have had the opportunity to build and create multiple classrooms.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I find the AMAZING opportunities for the students appealing at MPA!

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
I hope all children are excited to learn and grow as a part of our community.

What’s your big dream?
My big dream is to travel and have lifelong adventures.

What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about my family and friends. I enjoy spending time outside, traveling, and eating delicious food!

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I live in South Minneapolis near Powderhorn Park in the house my grandma grew up in!

Ready To Embrace The New School Year

August 17, 2023

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the August 2023 issue of InsideMPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

Hello, August! In two short weeks, MPA students will return to campus–they’ll file in with fist bumps from Dr. Hudson, settle into their new classrooms with new teachers, and fill the Family Commons and playground while making new friendships and rekindling old ones. They will jump head first into the 2023-24 school year with a special enthusiasm that only the back-to-school season brings out in all of us. Read More

Alumni Association Welcomes New Members

August 15, 2023

As the new year approaches the Alumni Association welcomes new members. Join us in welcoming the new alumni board members!

Isabel (McKeown) O’Branski ’14

For what grades did you attend MPA?
K-12

Why did you choose to pursue a position on the Alumni Association Board?
MPA made a great impact on my childhood (being there since kindergarten!), growing up and preparation for college – I want to help keep it the great school it was for me!

In what ways do you see yourself as a supporter of MPA and its mission?
At MPA I never felt anything was out of reach, excelling in sports, pursuing your passions, achieving good grades in the hardest classes, because I was so well supported! I hope to give support to current and future students to dream big.

What are you currently doing, professionally and/or personally?
I currently work at Topgolf Callaway Brands (formerly Callaway Golf Company) as a Project Manager. I just got married in June in San Diego where I’ve lived the last 3 years, but will be moving in August to NYC with my husband and mini golden doodle.

How did you get to where you are in your career? Did you attend college and if so, where? Are there some career moves or other key experiences or relationships that have inspired you?
After MPA, I went to the College of Saint Benedict where I studied Global Business. After graduation I worked at 3M (right down the road from MPA!) in their Global Sourcing Department until moving to my current role.

How did your MPA experience prepare you for your life today? How did MPA help you dream big and do right?
MPA helped me immensely in preparation for college – I felt extremely ready for the college curriculum and professor expectations. MPA prepared me for my liberal art college since I was ready to study multiple topics, be involved in sports on top of academics, and stay well-rounded. Today, I still feel inspired to stay well-rounded, focusing on both work, my health, and relationships all at once—just as I did at MPA. Read More

Join Us For Back To School Night

August 14, 2023

We are busy getting ready for the 2023-24 school year and we hope that you are as excited as we are! We have lots of information to share, including some important changes below. If you have any questions, please reach out to your division director or the Office of Communications at communications@moundsparkacademy.org.

Thursday, August 24

New Family* Orientation & Back To School Night
*New families are considered those with students who are just joining our school plus all returning families with a student in grade 5 or 9
- 3 PM | New Family Arrival, plus all returning families with a student in grade 5 or 9
- 6 PM | Returning Family Arrival
- 6:15 PM | All-School Welcome Back Assembly
- 7:30 PM | Departure

Click here for the New Family Detailed Agenda.
Click here for the Returning Family Detailed Agenda.

School Photos During Back To School Night
Martin Lenz Harrison Library
- 4:30-6 PM | Session One
- 6:30-7:30 PM | Session Two

We are so delighted to be joining you for Picture Day this year. Picture Day with Slow Road Photo is a little different, in all the best ways! Get ready for the BEST PICTURE DAY EVER!

School pictures will be happening at Back To School Night on August 24! Click here to sign up for your student’s picture time!
If you are unable to attend Back To School Night, the second Picture Day will be September 8. Retake day will be October 6.
Lower School students will no longer be in uniforms for Picture Day.
Be sure to add hello@slowroadphoto.com to your email contacts to ensure you receive all the communications and info from us. You will hear from us directly via email on August 17.
Please feel free to check out the resources available on our website, including our Welcome Message here and Parents’ Guide here.

If you have any questions regarding Picture Day or image ordering and delivery,
please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly at hello@slowroadphoto.com.

Monday, August 28

New Student First Day Of School
Includes All Returning Grades 5 and 9
No transportation available.
- 10:30-12:40 PM | New Lower School Students PreK-4. Before and after care is available for grades kindergarten through fourth grade with advance registration here. PreK before and after care is not available this day due to licensing restrictions.
- 8-3 PM | New Middle School Students, including all grade five and all new grades six through eight. After care is available with advance registration here.
- 8-3 PM | New Upper School Students, including all grade 9.
- 8-12 PM | New Upper School Students in grades 10 through 12.

Click here for the detailed agenda.
Click here to sign up for before or after care.

Download the full back to school guide here.

Welcome to MPA, Katie Roche!

August 4, 2023

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Kindergarten Teacher

From what school/organization are you coming?
I most recently taught at Carver Elementary.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing and German from the University of Notre Dame. Before becoming a teacher, I worked at the Leo Burnett Advertising Agency in Chicago. I moved home to Minnesota to raise my family and realized that teaching was my calling. I received a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Saint Thomas and have loved being in the classroom for the past 13 years! I have taught in private, public, and charter schools at the elementary grade levels. I love working with young students and inspiring them to become excited about learning!

What did you find appealing about MPA?
Do you believe in magic? Have you ever visited a place and felt a spark that made you just know you wanted to be a part of it? That’s how I felt during my visit to the MPA campus! I was so impressed by everyone I met. I knew this would be a great place to teach! I love the strong sense of community MPA has established, and the importance placed on relationships between staff, students, and families.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
I cannot wait to help our youngest students become readers and mathematicians, discovering the world around us. More than that, I hope to instill a lifelong love of learning in them!

What’s your big dream?
Early childhood education is so important! I dream of a world where all children have access to these programs.

What are you (and your family, if you so choose) passionate about?
My family has a great love for musical theatre! We have all taken turns being on the stage, occasionally getting to perform together! In addition, I have been the costumer for many high school and community theatre performances. Broadway has become a favorite vacation destination!

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I am a waterfall chaser! My family is used to rerouting adventures so that I can cross another waterfall off my list. On a trip to the North Shore this spring, I went as far as Canada to see the famous Kakabeka Falls.

Welcome to MPA, James Lekatz!

August 1, 2023

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Middle and Upper School Theater Teacher

From what school/organization are you coming?
International School of Minnesota

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I graduated in 2007 with a Theatre Arts degree from Augsburg University. Right after undergrad, I moved to London, England and completed my studies at the London International School of Performing Arts. Upon my return to Minneapolis, I worked as an Education and Access Associate at Stages Theatre Company, as well as music directed and composed many productions while on staff. I was Artistic Associate of Performing Arts at Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts where I collaborated to produce new works of musical theater with artists with and without disabilities. During Covid, I switch careers and moved fully into education. I taught music at Alice Smith Elementary and was the Head of Performing Arts at the International School of Minnesota.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
The atmosphere at MPA is so welcoming and kind, who wouldn’t want to be a part of it? As schools start more and more to take away arts classes, I found it exiting to see that MPA has the arts fully woven into the curriculum. Not just theater, but all arts have a place for students. Read More

Making Wishes Come True

July 21, 2023

Molly Vergin is a rising senior in the Class of 2024, and she’s attended MPA since pre-Kindergarten. Molly is a two-time leukemia survivor, being initially diagnosed in first grade and then again in the final days of eighth grade. She’s just over two years out from a bone-marrow transplant and continuing her volunteer work with Make-a-Wish. MPA Seniors complete a service project as the culmination of their community service, and we’re happy to share some information from Molly with the MPA Community.

From Molly:
As I am approaching senior year (hard to believe!) I am beginning to work on my senior service project. For this project, I am continuing to work with an organization very close to my heart, Make-A-Wish Minnesota. As part of this, I will be leading a team at the Make-A-Wish Walk for Wishes on Saturday, August 5 at 10 AM at Minnehaha Regional Park. As most of you probably know, Make-A-Wish grants wishes for children with serious illnesses. The Walk for Wishes is a 5K with the goal of raising awareness for Make-A-Wish and funding future wishes. As a Wish Kid myself, I’ve seen the transformative impact that Make-A-Wish has on the children and families they serve, mine included.

In 2014, my wish was granted—to travel to LA to meet the cast of my favorite show, one I spent many hours in the hospital watching, The Amazing Race. My wish gave me something to look forward to–bringing me joy and excitement in a really rough time. The wish also helped bring our family together when our world had completely changed. I have volunteered and spoken for Make-A-Wish for the last eight years and I can say I am thrilled to support the organization through this year’s Walk for Wishes, and I hope that some of you would like to join me. There are two ways to do this—by visiting the Make-A-Wish Minnesota Walk for Wishes website, you can donate to a team participating in the walk and/or join us to participate in the walk. My team is named Team Molly, and my goal is to raise $5000 dollars for Make-A-Wish. This is a great opportunity to fund wishes for more children, and any amount helps!

If you would like to walk with us on Team Molly, registration for the walk is $25. You can do that here. (This will take you to the Team Molly page. You choose the “SIGN UP” button which begins the registration process.) That $25 goes directly to Make-a-Wish MN, and it also gets you a t-shirt.
If you are interested in making a donation, you can use this link. Donate to Make-a-Wish through Team Molly. (You will see a yellow “DONATE NOW” button near the top and/or a pink “DONATE” down next to Molly’s name).

Thank you so much to everyone for helping make Wishes come true for kids facing serious medical challenges. All donations go directly to Make-a-Wish MN to help fund future Wishes. In the photo included, I just learned my Wish had been granted. In the second, my sister Ellen ’21 and I are posing with the host of The Amazing Race, Phil Keoghan.

Welcome to MPA, Michelle Wiger!

July 18, 2023

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Lower School Assistant

From what school/organization are you coming?
Bank of America

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have a B.A. in Psychology from Cedarville University. I have worked in marketing and sales as well as office management for more than 25 years. I have worked at large corporations and small family-owned businesses. My volunteer work is my heart, working for vulnerable children and helping their families and caregivers.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I am drawn to the sense of family, welcome, and acceptance at MPA. I love MPA’s values and community focus to dream big and do right. Read More