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Upper School Division News October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, November 1: No Classes, Grading Day
Sunday, November 3: Taste of Ninth Grade, 11 AM-12:15 PM, Family Commons
Sunday, November 3: PreK-G12 MPA Preview, 12:30-2 PM
Sunday, November 3: US Boys Soccer Banquet, 5:30-7:30 PM, Lowell Inn
Thursday, November 7: US Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
Thursday, November 7: US G9 Parent Meeting, 6-7 PM, Recital Hall
Thursday, November 14: US G10 Parent Meeting, 6-7 PM, Recital Hall
Thursday, November 14: US Vocal Concert, 7:30-9 PM, Nicholson Center
Sunday, November 17-Saturday, November 23: Fall Campaign
Thursday, November 21: Give to the Max Day
Thursday, November 21: Give to the Max Day Assembly, 2-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center

I am writing this note from my quasi-comfortable airline seat at 38,000 feet somewhere over eastern Russia as I make my way back to the Twin Cities from visiting Vanke Meisha Academy, our partner school in Shenzhen, China. I spent the past week visiting the school where I met and spent time with the students, faculty, and staff VMA. Prior to my arrival in Shenzhen, the perception I had of China was primarily based on what I had been taught as a student and witnessed via the US media. My week in Shenzhen, however, has made me realize that experiencing something firsthand allows me to draw my own conclusions and not be limited to what others share.

Traveling to new locations is an important way to learn about different cultures, traditions, and environments beyond what we can see in books or online. When we visit new places, we engage with the local people, taste authentic foods, and witness unique landscapes, which deepens our understanding of the world. Experiencing things firsthand allows us to appreciate diversity and build empathy towards others. It also challenges our perspectives, encouraging us to think critically about our own lives and habits.
Read More

Middle School Division News October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, November 1: No Classes, Grading Day
Sunday, November 3: Taste of Ninth Grade, 11 AM-12:15 PM, Family Commons
Sunday, November 3: PreK-G12 MPA Preview, 12:30-2 PM
Saturday, November 16: MS Tech Day, 9 AM-1 PM, Black Box
Sunday, November 17-Saturday, November 23: Fall Campaign
Thursday, November 21: Give to the Max Day
Thursday, November 21: Give to the Max Day Assembly, 2-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center

It is hard to believe that we are wrapping up our first quarter of the school year! While the weather hadn’t shown signs of changing (until today), your students have already exhibited a ton of growth. There has been a lot of learning, with many successes and some failures (“We learn more from failure,” we remind them) so far this school year, and we will capture your child’s first quarter marks to share them with you on Monday, November 11. We encourage you to sit down with your student and look through their quarter one grades and comments in Schoology for areas of commendation and areas of potential growth.

Heading into November and the second quarter, we have some exciting changes and our i-Term registration ahead. Please keep an eye out for the 2025 i-Term Brochure and sign-ups coming out in early November. This year, along with some of the old favorite offerings, we have some exciting new opportunities if your child is looking to travel (New York, National Parks) or just wants to stay home and learn more about the science of death or knitting.

Lower School Division News October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, November 1: No Classes, Grading Day
Sunday, November 3: PreK-G12 MPA Preview, 12:30-2 PM
Saturday, November 16: LS PA Rainbow Club Family Fun Day, 2-4 PM, Lakewood Hills Park White Bear Lake
Sunday, November 17-Saturday, November 23: Fall Campaign
Thursday, November 21: Give to the Max Day
Thursday, November 21: Give to the Max Day Assembly, 2-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center

The first quarter of the academic year has passed by so quickly, and we have enjoyed many bright learning moments since September. What has been your favorite learning moment so far? As of this year, the Lower School has shifted to semesterly reports. Formerly, these reports were sent each trimester. Our move to semesterly reporting puts us in alignment with the Middle and Upper Schools. The semester 1 reports will be sent home in January.

Reminder that there are no classes on Friday, November 1. Please read on for more updates! Read More

Parents Association News And Events October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

Dr. Hudson’s Book Club Returns Next Month!

All book lovers are invited to join us on November 19 at 6:30 PM in the Martin Lenz Harrison Library for Dr. Hudson’s Book Club. We will be discussing “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig. If interested, please RSVP here.

Upcoming MPA PA Events

Friday, November 8: College Admissions Staff Appreciation hosted by MPA PA
Saturday, November 16: LS Rainbow Club Family Fun Day, 2-4 PM, Lakewood Hills Park (White Bear Lake)
Tuesday, November 19: Dr. Hudson’s Book Club, 6:30 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library

Parents Association News And Events October 24, 2024

October 24, 2024

Call for Volunteers: Lower School Halloween Party!

The PA is seeking volunteers to help out during the Lower School Halloween Party in the Lansing Center on Thursday, October 31. Kids will enjoy games, crafts, activities, and an obstacle course during their P.E. time. Join us for part of the day or the whole day! The Lower School Halloween parade will follow the party at 2:30 PM. Sign-up here!

Dr. Hudson’s Book Club Returns Next Month!

Upcoming MPA PA Events

October 31: PA Lower School Grade Level Halloween Parties, 8:30 AM-2:20 PM
Friday, November 8: College Admissions Staff Appreciation hosted by MPA PA
Saturday, November 16: LS Rainbow Club Family Fun Day, 2-4 PM, Lakewood Hills Park (White Bear Lake)
Tuesday, November 19: Dr. Hudson’s Book Club, 6:30 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library

Your Involvement In Accreditation Is Essential

October 24, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

I am still on a high from last week’s Grandparents and Special Friends Day. It was a joyful event, and I enjoyed the many conversations I had with our guests. To see the pride our students have in their school and the delight in the eyes of their grandparents and special friends warmed my heart. I heard over and over what a wonderful school we are and how special MPA is. One parent shared that their dad never quite understood the value of the school given the cost until he witnessed the extraordinary teachers and warmth of the culture. “His experience was life-giving,” said the parent.

Events like Grandparents and Special Friends Day can serve as a mirror to reflect the school’s mission and values in action and to affirm whether we really are who we say we are. At MPA, we don’t take that for granted and strive to hold ourselves accountable to our mission and values. Our accountability extends to all members of our community: students and their families, faculty and staff, alumni, trustees, and benefactors.

I want to share with you an important process that underscores Mounds Park Academy’s commitment to accountability, improvement, and excellence: our participation in the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) accreditation process. As you may know, Mounds Park Academy is a proud member of ISACS, an organization whose mission is to promote the development of strong learning communities characterized by high academic achievement, social responsibility, and independent governance. ISACS was founded in 1908 and serves more than 240 member schools in 13 states.

Discover The PreK-12 MPA Preview Sessions

October 23, 2024

The MPA Preview on November 3, 12:30-2 PM, is a signature PreK-12 event designed to introduce prospective families to the faculty, students, and families who make MPA the exceptional learning community it is. You’ll hear from a variety of perspectives, engage in conversation with academic leaders, experience mini-lessons taught by expert teachers, and leave with a much better understanding of the MPA way.

Explore the mini-lesson sessions at each division level that will be taught! Read More

A Message From Kethan Dahlberg ’14

October 22, 2024

School is back in session, students are back in classrooms, and it’s the perfect season to reflect as a community on how the time we spent on campus led us to where we are today. As MPA alum, we have experienced firsthand the power of a faculty, staff, and community dedicated to helping students discover and develop their passions and dreams.

It is in this spirit that you are invited to join us for the 2024 MPA Fall Campaign: Igniting Dreams, One Gift at a Time. With your support, we can ensure faculty and staff have the tools and resources they need to ensure students keep dreaming.

As I’m starting out my new career in law, I am constantly reminded of the impact MPA had on my dream to one day join the legal profession. There are the social studies and history classes—from the Parade of States to Ms. Conway’s famous lectures on Civil Rights and the Cold War—that sparked my interest in American government, politics, and foreign affairs. There are the speeches and projects—from Chaucer recitations to mock oral arguments at the Minnesota Supreme Court—that helped me hone my research and public speaking skills and develop a curiosity for constitutional interpretation. And there are the early mornings and late nights—from chamber choir rehearsals to meets running past midnight out on the track—that taught me the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and the benefit of having caring peers who are just as focused on pursuing their dreams as they are in supporting you achieving yours. At work, while helping clients achieve their goals and navigate novel legal challenges, I find myself drawing upon my experience as a panther and am always grateful to MPA for its role in igniting my dream from an early age. Read More

Parents Association News And Events October 10, 2024

October 10, 2024

Our call to action is simple: be a part of the MPA school community! The goal of the Parents Association is to provide clear, accessible ways for parents/guardians to be active participants in the quality of community that surrounds the student body collectively. Efforts are being made each month to invite you in to learn, support, and lead in partnership with faculty and staff in a variety of ways. Check out what’s coming up this month! Let us know if you see new or different ways to strengthen our efforts by emailing PA@moundsparkacademy.org.

Panther Sports Committee Kickoff Meeting!
Saturday, October 12, from 10 AM-12 PM
Porter Conference Room

Everyone is welcome! The PA is actively seeking new members for the Panther Sports Committee.
Please contact Christine Larson at clarsonPA@moundsparkacademy.org.The Panther Sports Committee is hoping for your input if you are passionate about athletics at MPA.

If you have a sporty Lower School student and see MPA athletics in your future this is a great place to join the team! If you have a Middle School student who plays club sports and you’re not sure how that translates to MPA sports, this is the spot for you. If you have an Upper School athlete who is hoping to play their sport in college, we may be able to connect you with like-minded families. The Panther Sports Committee will determine topics of interest and work closely with Dan Haase, athletic director to support MPA athletics. Read More

Ms. Sonka’s Passion For Sumi-e Sparks Lessons

October 10, 2024

When Renee Sonka, Middle and Upper School visual arts teacher, first started work on her painting “Dancing Flower Collage,” a Sumi-e styled piece, she wasn’t sure how she felt about it.

“I painted the flowers a couple of years ago, and I was unhappy with them, actually. I put them in the cabinet for a long time,” Sonka said before looking at the piece with fresh eyes recently and touching up the piece. “The collage turned it from an okay painting into a more than okay painting.”

Revisiting the artwork proved to be a worthwhile decision as once Sonka was pleased with the piece, it proved to be a winner. “Dancing Flower Collage” was awarded the National Capital Area Chapter Award in the 61st Annual Juried Exhibition, presented by the Sumi-e Society of America.

“Most years, I will get a piece in, but not every year. To get in is an honor, and to get an award beyond getting in is a huge honor,” Sonka said on the achievement, netting her the first National Capital Area Chapter Award of her career. Read More