Parents Association News And Events January 22, 2026
January 22, 2026
Care For Faculty & Staff!
Once again, the Parents Association will host a conference dinner for the Lower and Middle School divisions on Thursday, and snacks to fuel our teachers on Friday. Sign up to contribute perishable and nonperishable items for our upcoming events. Thank you!
Upcoming Events:
Middle School Quarterly Coffee | Thursday, February 12 from 8-9 AM | Porter Conference Room
Parents Association Trivia Night | Friday, February 27, 6-8 PM | Family Commons
January 22, 2026
from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school
Lately I’ve felt, as I suspect many of you have, a heavier, quieter kind of worry. Over the Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, I took time to reflect on peace, equality, and the lessons my parents taught me about service: that small acts of kindness truly change lives. Hearing our youngest students at their Lower School assembly speak about Ruby Bridges and ways to practice kindness and fairness gave me chills and renewed my hope. I then had the good fortune of walking through the Upper School Commons, where I could see some Upper School students helping one another and connecting across grades, along with their teachers, which makes it very evident to me how our daily choices to connect create belonging.
This week, a group of MPA students, faculty, staff, caregivers, and administrators attended the Pollyanna National Conference: Building Stronger and Kinder Communities. The original plan was to hold the conference in Minneapolis, but organizers pivoted to virtual at the last minute. Though not the same, seeing over 40 schools from across the nation gather and focus on communities offered the encouragement so many of us have been looking for. The conference reminded me why MPA’s commitment to community and deepening relationships matters.
I want to take a moment to offer a few takeaways from two keynote speakers from the conference.
An Update From Ella Fruchterman ’22
January 20, 2026
Ella Fruchterman ’22 is a senior at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a co-major in digital and social media business applications.
Throughout her college career, she has continued to compete as an elite international equestrian athlete in dressage. This summer, she represented the United States in the Young Rider (U21) and U25 divisions at the North American Youth Championships. She was part of the Region 4 Young Rider team that won gold and also earned a bronze medal in the U25 freestyle.
Last month, Fruchterman appeared on the cover of the Fall 2025 edition of the Dover Saddlery catalog.
The rigor of Mounds Park Academy’s courses, along with leadership opportunities such as serving as co-editor in chief of the yearbook, prepared her to excel in presentations, papers, and exams while balancing a demanding training program.
January 20, 2026
Happy New Year! I hope you thoroughly enjoyed however you spent the holidays this year and had time to rest and recharge from a busy 2025.
Reflecting on my brief trip home to Minnesota, I realized that the few moments I had away from my family were spent reconnecting with MPA. Whether playing cards with school friends or catching up with teachers, coaches, and mentors, it amazes me how subconsciously I gravitate back to the people who inspired me at MPA. I can tell those people impacted my life tremendously just by virtue of how much I wanted to return and see what they were up to.
Over the past few months, the Class of 2026 has connected with alumni mentors to learn about life after MPA and the opportunities ahead. Spanning three classes of seminars, seniors have been immersed in the wonderful world of LinkedIn while learning from alumni about different career paths and educational opportunities. Culminating in an in-person meet and greet, students got to hear from professionals spanning game design, the arts, and finance to research and higher education, and many more. To the 75 mentors who served this year, thank you! I remember being a student and being absolutely in awe of my alumni mentors, opening my eyes to the potential we had after graduating with an MPA education. To those who might be interested in being a mentor next year, you can reach out to alumni@moundsparkacademy.org! Read More
Lower School Division News January 15, 2026
January 15, 2026
from James Ewer, Lower School director
There are times in life when the world feels louder than usual. When things beyond our control create stress, questions, and uncertainty. The last stretch of time has held a few of those moments for some in our community. Through it all, we will keep showing up with love for children and appreciation for one another.
In moments like this, I am asking our community to choose love on purpose.
To lead with patience.
To assume good intent.
To notice one another.
And, we will keep doing the work of school.
We will keep students safe.
We will keep learning strong, joyful, and challenging.
We will be MPA. Read More
Middle School Division News January 15, 2026
January 15, 2026
from Paul Errickson, Middle School director
Greetings, Middle School families!
There is so much good going on around the Middle School that I want to share to help balance all that our students and families are navigating in the world outside of school.
During our Middle School Meeting this week, we had an inspiring presentation from our Middle School BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) group about January being Muslim American Heritage Observance Month and the upcoming Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. They shared the story of Yarrow Mamout, an African American Muslim former slave who overcame great adversity, purchasing his own freedom and becoming a Washington financier. They also shared some quotes from Dr. King and a segment of his “I have been to the mountain top” speech (his final speech prior to his assassination) to remind us of how Dr. King dreamed big and did right for others.
We are also quickly coming to the end of our first semester/second quarter this Friday. Students have worked very hard, and as we wrap up the first half of our school year, we encourage you to review their accomplishments, comments, and grades in Schoology to help your child celebrate their learning and identify one or two areas to improve. We will have our second round of family conferences coming up in early February (evening of February 5 and all day on February 6). Our signups for those conferences will come out very soon. Read More
Upper School Division News January 15, 2026
January 15, 2026
from Mark Segal, Upper School director
As we draw the first semester to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the true strength of our Upper School community. A strong, supportive community isn’t just a “feel-good” phrase—it’s a vital foundation that helps every student, teacher, and family thrive, especially during challenging times. Whether it’s academic pressure, personal stress, or unexpected life events, knowing you are part of a warm, caring, and nurturing community can make all the difference in how you navigate those moments. Educational research shows why these matter. Studies have found that “school connectedness (the feeling that students are supported, respected, and valued by their peers and adults at school) acts as a protective factor that promotes resilience and positive outcomes even when students face adversity. (Development and Psychopathology, Cambridge University Press, November 15, 2021)”
This aligns with our own experiences at MPA. When students feel connected, whether through supportive friendships, strong relationships with teachers, engagement in school athletics and activities, or simply knowing that a community member cares, they are more likely to persevere through challenging times and reach their full potential. As Coretta Scott King wisely said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” That compassion, which is shown in everyday acts of kindness, support, and genuine care, transforms our upper school into more than a loose group of individuals—it makes it a resilient, uplifting, and unified community. Read More
Parents Association News And Events January 15, 2026
January 15, 2026
Care For Faculty & Staff!
Once again, the Parents Association will host a conference dinner for the Lower and Middle School divisions on Thursday, and snacks to fuel our teachers on Friday. Sign up to contribute perishable and nonperishable items for our upcoming events. Thank you!
Upcoming Events:
Lower School Family Forum | Friday, January 16 from 8:15-9:45 AM | Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Middle School Quarterly Coffee | Thursday, February 12 from 8-9 AM | Porter Conference Room
Parents Association Trivia Night | Friday, February 27, 6-8 PM | Family Commons
In case you missed it, here is the January edition of the Parent Press!
Save The Date For The 2026 Spring Auction: Rooted In Purpose!
January 9, 2026
Mark your calendars for Friday, April 17, 2026! MPA’s largest and most spirited fundraising event of the year is back, and this time we’re bringing the party to Lowlands in St. Paul!
This year’s theme, Rooted in Purpose, is a celebration of everything that grounds us—our values, our community, and our unwavering commitment to empowering students to dream big and do right.
Enjoy an unforgettable evening with:
Many sponsorship packages with special perks are available! Visit moundsparkacademy.org/springauction to purchase your family or business sponsorship package!
For questions or to donate an auction item, contact Ashley Goetzke, director of development and community engagement, at agoetzke@moundsparkacademy.org or 651-748-5536.
Entering The New Year With Purpose
January 8, 2026
from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school
Though we have only been back in school for nearly one week, it seems like winter break was a long time ago. Much has happened in our world since the start of 2026. It is difficult for me to personally reconcile between the joy I felt at times over break with the heaviness of events and stress that continues to surround us. Until recent years, I was accustomed to winter breaks and New Year’s events reaping more joy and peace. However, I have also learned that even through difficult times, it is essential to appreciate those moments of joy, for they should not be forgotten, and instead be held onto.
My relatively newfound appreciation for the unpredictability of winter break has also spread its way into how I look at New Year’s resolutions. For as long as I can remember, every winter season commercial and marketing material reminds me to think of resolutions that fit the motto, “New Year. New You!” Several years ago, I abandoned that idea of creating a new me. The anxiety and self-induced pressure to set goals on something usually bigger than I would ever actually attain typically led me to feel a sense of failure. Instead, I now follow a different motto, “New Year, a continued growing version of me.” And based on some current articles and websites, it looks like I may not be alone. A recent article in Edutopia.org was titled, “New Year’s Resolutions: Don’t Do it!” On Heart.org, the author recommended making healthy resolutions modest and manageable. Finally, on lefbrainbuddha.com, the article “A Mindful Approach to New Year’s Resolutions” focused on intentions, process, and alternatives to approaching resolutions. Read More