All School Archives

Middle School Division News, September 7, 2023

September 7, 2023

from Dr. Jenn Milam, Middle School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, September 8: Picture Make-Up Day
- MPA Ice Cream Social, 3 PM, South Lawn
Monday, September 11-Wednesday, September 13: Grade 6-Eagle Bluff Overnight
Thursday, September 14: Curriculum Night, 6-8 PM
- Informational Meeting for Grade 5 Overnight
- Informational Meeting for Washington DC Trip (new students!)
Wednesday, September 20-Friday, September 22: Grade 5-Osprey Wild Overnight
Monday, September 25: No Classes, Yom Kippur. Register for K-8 Panther Care here.
Tuesday, September 26-Saturday, September 30: MPA Homecoming Week
Thursday, September 28: Middle School Parent Coffee, 8:15 AM, PCR
Friday, September 29: Middle School Homecoming Games
- All School Homecoming Assembly, 2:20 PM, Lansing Sports Center
Friday, October 6: Picture Retake Day
Monday, October 9: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Thursday, October 12: All School Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
Friday, October 13: No Classes, All School Conferences, 8-5 PM
Wednesday, October 18: Lower and Middle School Grandparents and Special Friends Day (details coming soon!) (note: Dismissal is at 3 PM.)
Thursday, October 19-Friday, October 20: No Classes, Fall Break

Happy second week of school! It’s been delightful to welcome your young people back to school and our hallways are once again bustling with energy, laughter, learning, and lots of JOY!

Every other week, I will share new information, important dates, and upcoming items that require your attention. It’s always my suggestion to get out your planners and family calendars and get these items noted so they don’t sneak up on you. Middle School is a busy, busy time, and your student (and their frontal lobe!) need your assistance in keeping up with it all!

Picture Day–Make-Up Date
If you missed Back to School Night and/or having your picture taken then, please plan for your student to take their picture this Friday, September 8. Picture retakes (if you do not like your school photo) will be in October!

Middle School Study Hall
Study hall has been moved under the umbrella of Panther Programs. Students who would like to remain on campus after school to complete homework are asked to register for Panther Den. A quiet space, for working and studying, will be offered, as needed for those Middle School students interested. Read More

Upper School Division News, September 7, 2023

September 7, 2023

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Looking Ahead

Friday, September 8: Make-Up Picture Day (for those who were not photographed at Back To School Night)
- Ice Cream Social, 3 PM, South Lawn
Wednesday, September 13: Upper School Student Club and Organization Fair
Thursday, September 14: Curriculum Night, 6-8 PM, MPA
Thursday, September 21: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
Monday, September 25: No Classes, Yom Kippur
Tuesday–Saturday, September 26-September 30: MPA Homecoming Week
Friday, September 29: All School Homecoming Assembly, 2:20-3 PM, Lansing Sport Center
- Upper School Student BBQ and Bonfire, 5-8 PM, Benz Courtyard
Saturday, September 30: Homecoming Events @ MPA
- Upper School Homecoming Dance, 8-11 PM, Upper School Commons
Tuesday, October 3: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
Wednesday, October 4: Class of 2024 Cum Laude Society Inductions, 7:30-8 AM, Recital Hall
Thursday, October 5: PA Upper School Parent Quarterly Coffee, 8-9:30 AM, PCR
Friday, October 6: Picture Retake Day
- Senior Retreat & Dinner, 8-6:30 PM, Off Campus and MPA
Monday, October 9: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Wednesday, October 11: Grade 10 & 11 PSAT Testing
Thursday, October 12: All School Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences, 3:30-8 PM, MPA
Friday, October 13: No Classes, Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences, 8-5 PM, MPA

Earlier this week, I walked into a darkened first block Upper School classroom where the students sat silently. I was on “a mission” to deliver an item forgotten in a parent’s car at drop-off, and my interruption temporarily distracted the class from the task at hand—settling in for the day and the classes that lay ahead. The faculty member easily recentered the students and asked them to focus on the noises that they hear; conspicuous or inconspicuous. As a visitor to the classroom, I silently participated in this activity. I heard a door creak, a student shuffle in their chair, a locker close, and the shallow breathing of the student seated in front of me. Read More

Parents Association News and Events, September 7, 2023

September 7, 2023

Welcome to the PA, Panther Parents! Our goal is to enrich the MPA experience through community building, continuing traditions, supporting faculty and staff, and acting as a resource for all families. All MPA families are members of the Parent’s Association, and we would love to see you attend or volunteer at one of our events. We offer activities across all levels of the school community, and we want to connect with you. If you’re interested in learning more about what we have to offer, please email, PA@moundsparkacademy.org.

Upcoming Events
September 8: PA Board Meeting, 8:30 AM, PA Room at MPA
September 28: MS Coffee Talk, 8:15 AM, Porter Conference Room
October 9-13: Staff Appreciation, donation and volunteer sign-up coming soon!

Safety and Security Update

September 7, 2023

THANK YOU to all of the parents and guardians who are already in the habit of wearing their nametags!

It is MPA’s number one priority to provide the safest campus environment possible for you and your children. We ask that you share this critical information with all of the drivers in your home and others who may provide transportation for you.

Drive-Thru Lanes
In the interest of safety, courtesy, and efficiency, we ask that drivers refrain from pulling in front of another car or “leap-frogging” to the front. To make the process as efficient as possible, please pull up all the way to the crosswalk to allow maximum space in the drive-thru lanes. Please help ensure no gaps are present in the drive-thru lanes, even if that means your child needs to wait or walk further to enter the vehicle.

Entering and Exiting the Car
Children may only enter and exit the car from the right/curbside in the drive-thru lanes. If you need to leave the vehicle to help your children in or out, please park in the lot and walk them in, using the appropriate crosswalks. No Lower School student should cross the crosswalk into the parking lot without an adult caregiver by their side. Read More

COVID-19 Community Update

August 31, 2023

As you may have seen in the news or within your social circles, there has been a recent uptick in new COVID-19 infections. MPA recommends guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this school year to keep students healthy and on-campus learning as much as possible.

If your student or someone at home is experiencing symptoms or is aware of a known exposure, please follow the CDC’s guidance on masking, testing, and isolation by clicking here.

If your student or someone at home has tested positive for COVID-19, please click here for recommendations and a helpful calculator for masking and isolation. In general, if someone has tested positive for COVID-19, they should do the following:

Isolate at home through day five (counting from day 0 as the day of symptom onset or positive test).
Monitor for moderate-to-severe illness. If moderate-to-severe illness occurs, isolate for ten days.
After five days, isolation may end, but individuals should continue wearing a mask around others through day 10 OR once two negative antigen test results have been received at least 24 hours apart.

Additional details regarding exposure and steps to take after testing positive are available at the links above. In addition, please email covid@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions or concerns. If your student needs to be away from school due to illness, including COVID-19, please use the appropriate absence notification steps based on their division.

The State of Minnesota has again provided free at-home COVID-19 tests for students and school personnel this school year. If your family needs a supply of these tests, please email covid@moundsparkacademy.org to request them.

Thank you for your partnership as we work toward a safe, healthy, and happy learning community this school year!

Make Plans for Friday’s Ice Cream Social!

August 31, 2023

Friday, September
3-4 PM
South Lawn

Let’s celebrate the start of an incredible year! Make plans to join us for a beloved MPA tradition, the Ice Cream Social! This is an all-school opportunity to connect with one another, enjoy a sweet treat, and meet our new families.

Details:

A sundae bar with all of the fixings will be available for students and their families. All of the sundae bar items will be peanut and tree nut free and provided by SAGE.
JonnyPops Organic Freezer Pops will be available at a separate station for food-allergic students. This should be safe for all MPA students, but it is not guaranteed. Ingredients will be available for review by parents or can be found at the link above.
All Lower and Middle School students must be directly supervised by an adult. No Lower or Middle School student will be allowed to have a treat unless they have an adult with them.
Because any frozen treat could be messy on a bus, bus riders will be sent home with an allergy-friendly pre-packaged Enjoy Life cookie.
All students at Panther Club and Panther Den will be taken outside for a treat and supervised accordingly by Panther staff.

If you have any questions, please contact communications@moundsparkacademy.org. See you there!

Welcome Home To MPA

August 31, 2023

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

The new school year is off to a terrific start! To new families, welcome to the MPA family, and I look forward to getting to know you. To returning families, welcome back. Seeing how students have grown and matured in just a few short months is wonderful.

My spirits soared on Tuesday by the enthusiasm and energy of the first official day of school. When I arrived at school around 6:15 AM, I was surprised by the number of cars parked in the north lot. I quickly remembered that our seniors were gathering in the Benz Courtyard to celebrate the break of dawn on their last first day of school at MPA.

There was fantastic excitement on the other side of the building as students bounded into the building with zeal. Their enthusiasm was matched by parents who accompanied their children into the building and stayed for coffee and pastries sponsored by the Parents Association. It was a fantastic turnout and many told us that it was hard to leave the conversation and head off to work.

We have a longstanding MPA tradition of ending the first day of school with an all-employee meeting. I invite faculty and staff to share stories about the day and the mission moments that illustrate who we are. The joyfulness in the room was palpable. Here are a few examples of what was shared that reflect the common values we share at MPA: Read More

Welcome To MPA, Jeanne Doyle!

August 31, 2023

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

From what school/organization are you coming?
Mendota Elementary School

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I earned my BA from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, and my MS in Education in Counseling from Fordham University in New York. When I returned to the Twin Cities, I took a course of study at the University of Minnesota in order to achieve my MN State School Counseling licensure.

I started my career in education as a school librarian at St Peter’s Prep High School in Jersey City, NJ, and realized quickly that my favorite part of my work there was listening to and helping my students. I decided to pursue counseling instead of library science, and my next position was counseling at Loyola High School in New York. Since coming back to Minnesota, I’ve worked at Visitation School and then Mendota Elementary School. I have loved every school in which I’ve had the honor to serve! I’ve learned valuable lessons at each one.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I was immediately drawn to the Mounds Park Academy mission and motto! “Dream Big, Do Right” sings to my heart! I am passionate about justice issues, believing that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and to have opportunities to pursue their dreams. MPA has a welcoming, inclusive spirit that feels accepting and encouraging. I love that! Read More

What Does The First Day Mean To You?

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!