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Parents Association News & Events January 5, 2023

January 5, 2023

Help Plan Middle School Snow Tubing in 2023
Snow Tubing is coming back! This super fun all Middle School event is in the works. We’re looking for volunteers to plan the event. Planning meetings will start after Winter Break. To get involved, email info@moundsparkacademy.org. Save the date, Thursday, February 16.

Community Events

Snowshoe Evening at Seven Vines Vineyard: January 21, 6 PM
Back by popular demand! Enjoy a brisk evening snowshoe walk through Seven Vines Vineyard. Tickets are $55 per person and that includes snowshoe rental (and help putting them on), a drink ticket for a glass of wine or fancy coffee, several rounds of Bingo with prizes, and live music. It is a great evening out! To RSVP, Venmo @Staci-Banks-Hehenberger with the name of the event and number attending in the comment line.

Seeing The Good

December 15, 2022

from Bill Hudson, head of school

Nearly every day, I see a flurry of activity on the treetop outside my office window. It seems to be the place for several female cardinals to congregate. While less showy than the male cardinal, they have a beauty of their own. Somewhere along the line, I heard that cardinals are a sign of our loved ones that have died. I take solace in that idea and think of my dad. Whenever I spy a cardinal, I am reminded of my dad’s unconditional love for me and how he patiently accompanied me on my journey toward a better self.

The cardinals outside my window also remind me of the poetry of Mary Oliver. Her book, “Red Bird” begins and ends with poems about, what else, red birds. In the first poem, “Red Bird,” the poet is grateful that …

“Red bird came all winter
Firing up the landscape
As nothing else could.”

The fiery red of the cardinal against the snowy whiteness of winter can be startling. It can jolt me out of the day-to-day drudgery of the cold and wet weather to see anew the beauty of winter. In the final poem of her book, “Red Bird Explains Himself,” Oliver shares with us that the purpose of the red bird is “to be the music of the body” because our bodies need “a song, a spirit, a soul.” The red bird has been sent “to teach this to your heart.” Read More

Lower School Division News December 15, 2022

December 15, 2022

from Ann Jurewicz, Lower School director

I can hardly believe we have reached the end of this calendar year as we prepare for a nice long break to enjoy friends and family. This time of year is perfect for pausing, reflecting, and counting our blessings. I feel blessed to have been embraced by the MPA family, and I look every day to how I can show my appreciation for faculty and share important moments with students. I draw guidance for my practice from Elena Aguilar’s book Onward, which focuses on educator resilience and how we bring joy and meaning to our professional lives by caring for ourselves and the children we teach. The month of December is all about celebrating the bright spots, as this is the season of lights from Hanukkah to Christmas, Divali to Kwanzaa, and more. These festivities call on us to reflect and bring spirit and joy into our lives.

The question is: How are you bringing light into your life?

Last week, I was riding in the car on the way to the gym and listening to public radio. They were telling a story of how Irving Berlin called a doctor to his house because he was having trouble sleeping due to stress. From that encounter, Irving Berlin wrote the song, “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” for the famous show White Christmas. He recounts:

As I say in the lyrics, sometime ago, after the worst kind of a sleepless night, my doctor came to see me and after a lot of self-pity, belly-aching and complaining about my insomnia, he [the doctor] looked at me and said “speaking of doing something about your insomnia, did you ever try counting your blessings?” Read More

Middle School Division News December 15, 2022

December 15, 2022

from Jenn Milam, Middle School director

Thank you to all who attended our Middle School Music Performance last night—it was such a wonderful evening, and I just loved the energy of having everyone together! What a wonderful way to cap off our final week as we head into winter break!

Unfinished Business and End of Quarter 2

We have worked diligently with students to get all assignments, assessments, and projects done before heading into the break—even offering additional work sessions during the day. Please check in with your student this weekend to use a little time next week to finish up anything that remains. When we return from Winter Break, anything that was not submitted before will not be accepted per our two-week grace period policy. Additionally, we will have just two weeks remaining in quarter two, and we want everyone to finish with their best foot forward.

If you have questions or concerns about your student’s academic standing or assignments, please contact advisors or teachers directly. Read More

Upper School Division News December 15, 2022

December 15, 2022

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Last Wednesday afternoon, there was a mad rush in the Upper School Commons. An unaware onlooker may have thought that free pizza or ice cream was being distributed. Instead, it was upper school students getting their nametags and locations for the first MPA Pairing Assembly in more than two years. A Pairing Assembly is where students, often from different divisions, are paired with one another to participate in an activity. The first Pairing Assembly this year aligned with the school-wide Book Festival and was a reading assembly. The goal of the assembly was to have students get to know someone they may not usually spend time with and to read an age/developmentally-appropriate book together. There are many benefits to establishing mentor/mentee relationships like this. According to Youth.gov, “the supportive, healthy relationships formed between mentors and mentees are both immediate and long-term and contribute to a host of benefits for both the mentor and mentee.” Read More

Parents Association News & Events December 15, 2022

December 15, 2022

Thank You!
A big thank you to everyone who made this year’s Book Festival a success. We raised over $3500 for the library, donated over 100 books to teacher classroom libraries, and enjoyed a week of celebrating reading. It would not have happened without the generous support of MPA families, as well as the time and energy of our volunteers. We appreciate you all!

Success
Another successful year wrapping gifts for MPA Faculty and Staff. Parent volunteers turned out to share community and work together to wrap 221 gifts brought in by 20 MPA staff members. It was a real team effort but we got it done. A special thank you to all our parent volunteers who joined us in the PCR.

Help Plan Middle School Snow Tubing in 2023
Snow Tubing is coming back! This super fun all MS event is in the works. We’re looking for volunteers to plan the event. Planning meetings will start after Winter Break. To get involved, email info@moundsparkacademy.org. Save the date, Thursday, February 16. Read More

Parents Association News & Events December 8, 2022

December 8, 2022

Holiday Gift Wrapping Event
Monday, December 12, 2022
Join the Parents Association for this beloved and festive holiday event in the Porter Conference Room (PCR). MPA faculty and staff bring in their unwrapped gifts. We wrap, decorate, and return them. MPA faculty and staff are truly grateful for this gift of time. And the atmosphere really gets everyone in the holiday spirit. Sign up for one hour or as many as you would like. Time slots at the end of the day may also be used for clean-up and gift delivery. The PA supplies all wrapping materials however, donations of gift wrapping, ribbon, and bows are greatly appreciated. Send questions to Tara at tmattrn@aol.com or cell 201-563-4622.

There are still plenty of time slots available. Sign up here.

MPA Book Festival Is Happening!
Support the Joy of Reading at MPA. The annual MPA Book Festival is here, just in time for Winter Break reading or holiday gifts! There’s still time to visit the Book Festival in-person or online.

Ways To Support MPA’s Book Festival

  • Visit the Gallery to purchase new books and gift cards. During the week of the Book Festival, Usborne will be selling books in the Gallery, and Valley Bookseller gift cards will be available for purchase. A portion of the profits generated from those sales will be donated to our library.
  • Help build a teacher’s classroom library. We will have the books our teachers requested for their classroom libraries available for purchase in the Gallery. Check or cashless payment only. You can hand-deliver the books you select, or we can deliver them for you. Download the list here.
  • Visit the Used Book Sale. Lower School used books will be sold in the Lower School Atrium at drop off and pick up. Middle School and Upper School used books will be sold during lunch and recess outside the Family Commons. We have an excellent selection of books for all ages. All proceeds raised from the Used Book Sale benefit the library.

Read More

Alumni Holiday Shopping Guide

December 8, 2022

‘Tis the season for holiday shopping. The Alumni Association Board developed this for graduated MPA students to share their business/products to be featured in an Alumni Holiday Shopping Guide!

Monday—Hippy Feet
Why buy Hanes when you can buy Hippy Feet?! @hippyfeetsocks, co-founded by Sam Harper ‘12, are sure to be a hit this holiday season. These fun patterned socks, clothing and accessories are sure to be the perfect stocking stuffer. Plus, Hippy Feet is a socially responsible sock company on a mission to help homeless youth. 50% of company profits are donated to support non-profit organizations that are working to help young people in need. Learn more at www.hippyfeet.com

Tuesday—Pas de Deux Dance Studio
‘Plie’ your way into 2023 with Pas de Deux Dance Studio, owned by Zachari Wetz ‘99! Give the gift of dance lessons this season! Offering ballet classes for ages 3 through adult. @pasdedeuxdancestudio’s mission is to develop a love of dance in a supportive and family-friendly environment. Convenient to most areas of the Twin Cities- contact the studio to purchase a gift certificate or sign up for classes. Learn more at www.pasdedeuxdance.com

Wednesday—Pryes Brewing
Keep your eye on the Pryes… @PryesBrewing that is! Owned by Alan Flinn ‘93, Pryes Brewing Company is serving up award-winning craft beers and wood-fired pizza in their riverside taproom just north of downtown Minneapolis. A great place to hang with friends or give the gift of a few crowlers!! Pryes’ riverside beer garden, taproom, and pizza restaurant open daily at 11 AM. Learn more at www.prysebrewing.com Read More

Welcome to MPA, Suman Pahadi!

December 7, 2022

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Financial Analyst

From what school/organization are you coming?
I was last designated as a Senior Financial Analyst and Auditor for a CPA firm, K.M.U. & Associates, Chartered Accountants in Nepal.

Tell us about your education and past experience. 
I am a professional accountant from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), UK. I also have a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University, UK, with first-class honors, and a strategically minded financial analyst with 6+ years of proven success in budgeting, financial reporting (IFRS/ GAAP), financial analysis and modeling, financial projection, taxation, audit, investment projects evaluation, data analysis & visualization, and compliance. I always seek to make a difference in the workplace with strong leadership and management skills.

I have worked in the following sectors:

  1. CPA firm specializing in consulting and audits
  2. Investment Management and Consulting firm
  3. Insurance Company

Currently, I am pursuing MBA in Accounting from Maharishi International University, Fairfield, Iowa.

What did you find appealing about MPA? 
School is very similar to religious places where education and knowledge are spread. Even though coming from a profit-making industry, I have always dreamed of working for such a place where I could contribute to the betterment of the community and society. School is where children are lightened through knowledge, which will give more knowledge to this world. So I feel proud to be part of the MPA team, constantly trying to make individuals, the community, and finally, the world a better place to live.

The next thing I like interesting about MPA is the supportive management continuously working as a team. I know the importance of a team, and the organization’s success is only possible when every individual works together to meet the common goal.

What’s your big dream? 
I am very proud of myself for where I am right now. My biggest dream is to give something positive to society, and I have always tried to do the same. I also want to see happiness in my parent’s eyes and spread the same message to this world. Dreams and happiness are not always about the material things possessed. It’s also about mental peace, happiness and giving something back to society.

What are you (and your family, if you so choose) passionate about?
Professionally, I am passionate about new ideas and technologies in the market. Being a financial analyst is challenging, and I understand that it requires me to understand current economic trends and new approaches. So, I am always professionally ready to learn new approaches, ideas and technologies in the area of financial analysis.

I am a social and outgoing person who always loves to keep physically and mentally fit. So, I try my best to go to the gym for physical fitness and meditate to keep myself calm and focused on mental fitness. Being physically and mentally fit has always helped me throughout stressful situations. Besides this, I also love to hike, travel and cook.

MPA Debate Team’s Strongest Performance Yet

December 6, 2022

from Katie Murr, head coach

Congratulations to the MPA debate team on a great performance at the Classic State Debate Festival. 46 students represented the school, and Mounds Park Academy received the second-place team sweepstakes award. This award is based on the top two performances across each of the three divisions of competition – novice, junior varsity, and varsity. It’s a testament to the depth of the team.

We call the tournament the Classic Debate Championships in novice and junior varsity. In the novice division, the team of Mina Kim and Rosie Bergh advanced to the octafinal round, and the team of Salma Egal and Soren Winikoff advanced to the quarterfinal round. In the junior varsity division, the team of Molly Vergin and Meiran Carlson advanced to the octafinal round, and the teams of Paul Fertig and Amal Sastry, Zainab Lodhi and Max O’Connor, and Maggie Banks and Rowan Mulrooney advanced to the quarterfinal round. The team of Annika Binstadt and Zoya Nayak advanced all the way to the semifinal round.

The varsity division is called the Minnesota State High School League Classic Debate State Festival, as the MSHSL sponsors the awards for this event. Before we get to the team results, we want to applaud four debaters who were recognized with all-state debate honors for their excellence over the entire season: Frances Martin, Zaara Nayak, Akshay Somayajula, and Ben Murr. In the team competition, MPA had a strong performance. The teams of Kensi Binstadt and Audrey Jakway, Ian Frankel and Trevor Lien, and Ben Murr and Akshay Somayajula all advanced to the quarterfinal round, while the team of Frances Martin and Zaara Nayak made it all the way to the semifinal round. This is one of the strongest collective performances by the varsity team in MPA history.

A special thank you to all the alums who judged and coached for the team this season. In particular, Elli Carlson deserves special recognition. She has given back to MPA more than the school could ever have given to her. This season, she helped to coach over 80 students through the rigors of debate, teaching about research, speaking, and writing. We are so fortunate to be the beneficiaries of her care and commitment.