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Lower School Division News October 5, 2023

October 5, 2023

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

A Look Ahead

Friday, October 6: Picture Retake Day
Monday, October 9: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Wednesday, October 11: LS CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-9 AM, Family Commons
Thursday, October 12: All School Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
Friday, October 13: No Classes, All School Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM, register for K-8 Panther Care
Wednesday, October 18: Lower School (PreK-4) Grandparents and Special Friends Day, 8:15-11 AM, Family Commons, Gallery, register
Wednesday, October 18: Lower School/Middle School (K-6) Grandparents and Special Friends Day Music Performance, 11-12 PM, Nicholson Center, register
Thursday, October 19-Friday, October 20: No Classes, Fall Break, register for K-8 Panther Care on October 20 only
Tuesday, October 31: Lower School Halloween Celebration (wear costumes, see below)

We’ve had some wonderful weeks of learning in September in the Lower School! Our recent homecoming assembly was a hit, where the children met the upper school sports captains and found out that Mrs. Honan was in the Panther costume all last week, among other fun things. For photo retakes on Friday, October 6, any student who is retaking their photo does not need to wear their uniform to school. Please read on for more information about upcoming events and reminders.

Quarterly Parent Coffee Follow-Up
It was wonderful to see many parents earlier this week at our quarterly lower school parent coffee. We discussed the recent Fastbridge assessments, heard from Chef Chris who manages our cafeteria program, and had time to get to know each other more deeply. Please look out for an upcoming survey, where you will be invited to share your ideas on topics for future coffee mornings.

Playground Expectations Video
Please check out this student-created video to see student voice in action, and the great work of our second-grade students. They created playground norms and expectations with the video guidance of Ms. Fisher and Ms. Scalia. The password to view the video is MPALS (all capital letters) and the link expires in 100 days. Enjoy!

Jacket Reminder
The weather is changing, and cooler fall temperatures are here. Kind reminder to send your child to school with a light jacket so they stay warm during recess.

CHAMP Assembly on October 11
At the next CHAMP assembly on Wednesday, October 11, we will wear our class color t-shirts. Please ensure your child wears their special class color CHAMP shirt next Wednesday. The class colors are:

PreK: orange
Kindergarten: yellow
Grade 1: red
Grade 2: blue
Grade 3: purple
Grade 4: green

Middle School Division News October 5, 2023

October 5, 2023

from Jenn Milam, Middle School director

A Look Ahead

Friday, October 6: Picture Retake Day
Monday, October 9: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Thursday, October 12: All School Fall Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
Friday, October 13: No Classes, All School Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM, register for K-8 Panther Care
Wednesday, October 18: Middle School (PreK-4) Grandparents and Special Friends Day, 10:30 AM-2:45 PM, Family Commons, Gallery, register
Thursday, October 19-Friday, October 20: No Classes, Fall Break, register for K-8 Panther Care on October 20 only
Friday, October 27: Halloween at MPA including 5/6 Halloween Carnival, 3:15-4:30 PM and 7/8 Fall Dance, 7-9 PM
Friday, November 3: End of Quarter 1

It’s hard to believe, but we have passed the midpoint of our first quarter of the year! Yes, here we are, and conferences are just around the corner. We are looking forward to seeing you on October 12 and/or October 13. The scheduling window has closed and if you missed it, you’ll need to reach out directly to teachers to see if they have openings (most do not) during conference time or you can schedule some time in the weeks after.

As a reminder, Middle School students are active participants in their conferences, and you should plan for them to attend with you. As young people, being active participants in their own learning is important. And just like during the school day, their active voice in the conference is important and valuable. Read More

Upper School Division News October 5, 2023

October 5, 2023

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

A Look Ahead

Friday, October 6: Picture Retake Day
Friday, October 6: 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, All School Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences, 8-5 PM, MPA
Wednesday, October 18: Special Upper School Programming
- 9th Grade: 8-3 PM, Off-Campus Activity
- 10th Grade: 8-12 PM, Pre-ACT (noon dismissal)
- 11th Grade: 8-12 PM, Mock-ACT (noon dismissal)
- 12th Grade: No Classes, day used for college visits or applications
Thursday, October 19: No Classes, Fall Break
Friday, October 20: No Classes, Fall Break
Thursday, October 26: MPA Upper School Blood Drive, 12-5 PM, Gallery
Friday, October 27: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
Wednesday, November 1: Grade 9 Parent Meeting, 6-7 PM, Recital Hall
Wednesday, November 1: Upper School Instrumental Concert, 7:30-9 PM, Nicholson Center
Friday, November 3: End of Quarter 1

In the fall of 1983, my ninth-grade math teacher was Ms. Robson. She and I had what some would describe as a challenging relationship. Her role was to teach me algebra and my role was to do all I could not to be kicked out of class due to my disruptive behavior. As this was before email and Schoology, communication between school and home was limited to telephone calls, and Ms. Robson was not the type of teacher to call home. I remember my parents sharing with me that they had a parent/teacher conference scheduled with Ms. Robson and asked if there was anything that they should know. I thought to myself, “Where should I start?!”

Parent/teacher conferences play a pivotal role in fostering effective communication and collaboration between educators and parents, forming an important relationship in a student’s educational journey. Conferences provide a dedicated space for parents to gain insight into their child’s academic progress, social development, and progress within the school environment. Read More

Parents Association News & Events October 5, 2023

October 5, 2023

Faculty and Staff Appreciation
Tuesday, October 10-Friday, October 13
The Parents Association and MPA parents and families are continuing the tradition of donating snacks and treats to help our staff get through conferences and to show our appreciation to all MPA employees. Please consider donating a beverage or snack for Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week. Remember to adhere to MPA Peanut/Tree Nut Policy when choosing snacks. Suggestions can be found on Sign Up Genius. Thank you from the MPA Parents Association! (Contact Tara Lafferty tlaffertyPA@moundsparkacademy.org for questions).

We are also planning to have a friendship bracelet making station in the Family Commons on Thursday and Friday during Conferences. Stop by and make a teacher or staff member a Friendship Bracelet! Upper School students looking for service hours are welcome to help. Sign up here.

Volunteer in the MPA Garden!
We are looking for volunteers to help with the MPA garden before the weather gets too cold. No previous gardening experience is necessary. No long-term commitment is necessary either. We typically meet either Thursday or Friday mornings after drop off, but can also meet at other times as well. If interested, please contact Sara Carroll at smtanaka@gmail.com or Tenia Kalogeropoulou at tenia2@yahoo.com to coordinate. Read More

Fall Panther Care

September 28, 2023

Please use the links below to sign up for Full Day Panther Care on Fall Conference Day on October 13 and during Fall Break on October 20. Care is available from 7 AM to 6 PM each day for grades K-8. Snacks will be provided, but please send a cold lunch for your Panther attendee.

A minimum of 6 registrations is required; limited to 30 spaces. Please join the waitlist if full—plans change and space often becomes available.

Full Day Panther Care — Fall Conferences
Full Day Panther Care — Fall Break

Homecoming Is For Everyone

September 28, 2023

from Bill Hudson, head of school

The energy in the building has been ramping up all week as we celebrate Homecoming. Students have been enjoying a series of special events, coloring contests, themed dress-up days, and assemblies. In many schools, this is associated with a Friday night football game and alumni events. At MPA, Homecoming is for everyone and is a week-long celebration of affinity for the school that includes all members of the school community—students in grades PreK-12, parents, alumni, parents of alumni, and friends.

For many students, MPA is a second home to them. Throughout the fall, I invite seniors to have lunch with me in small groups of 10-12. Over lunch, I ask the seniors to share their “MPA Moment,” an experience that encapsulates the essence of MPA. Inevitably, they talk about the sense of family they feel, the strong relationships they have with their teachers, and how much they belong at MPA.

Many years ago, I read the book, “Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community” by Robert Putnam. The title may seem strange but bowling alone serves as a metaphor for the loss of community in American society. In the 1990’s and 1980’s, bowling was the fastest-growing sport in the United States, all the while participation in bowling leagues dropped precipitously. Putnam found that fewer people are participating in social clubs, attending church, and even having dinner together as a family. Read More

Parents Association News & Events September 28, 2023

September 28, 2023

Lower School Quarterly Coffee
Tuesday, October 3, 8:15-9:45 AM
Join us for the first LS Quarterly Coffee of the year. Meet the new Lower School Director, Ms. Jennifer Le Varge. There will be a Fastbridge information presentation by Learning Support Specialists Alyssa Andretta and Robyn Kramer. Hear Chef Chris explain “All About the Cafeteria.” There will be a time for feedback and planning for future meetings. The last half hour will be reserved for informal conversations. This event will be held in the Gallery after drop off, from 8:15-9:45 AM.

Upper School Parent Coffee
Thursday, October 5, 8-9:30 AM
Join us for the first Upper School Coffee of the year. Talk with Mark Segal and other parents about the latest US happenings. We’ll meet in the Porter Conference Room (PCR).

Faculty and Staff Appreciation
Tuesday, October 10-Friday, October 13
The school year is getting into high gear, and the first round of Parent/Teacher conferences is coming up. The Parents Association and MPA parents and families are continuing the tradition of donating snacks and treats to help our staff get through conferences and to show our appreciation to all MPA employees. Please consider donating a beverage or snack for Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week. Remember to adhere to MPA’s Peanut/Tree Nut Policy when choosing snacks. Suggestions can be found at the link below. Thank you from the MPA Parents Association! Contact Tara Lafferty tmattrn@aol.com with any questions. Sign up here. Read More

Congratulations, National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students!

September 26, 2023

Last fall, more than 1.3 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Based on PSAT performance, a nationwide pool of about 16,000 Semifinalists recently were announced, which represents the highest-scoring entrants in each state (less than one percent of all U.S. high school seniors).

Congratulations to Mounds Park Academy seniors Zain Ali, Maggie Banks-Hehenberger, Leo Eakin, Ian Frankel, Miles Niemeyer, and Soumya Raman, who are among these National Merit Semifinalists! These current seniors will now complete an extensive application to proceed further in the competition, providing their academic record, an essay, school recommendation, and SAT or ACT scores that confirm their qualifying performance on the PSAT.

Two additional seniors, Eilam Deinard and Ben Murr, are recognized as Commended Students in the National Merit program. Their scores placed them in the top 50,000 students nationally.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success and notes that they represent a valuable national resource, contributing to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation.

Your Brain on Art

September 21, 2023

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Rarely was I more proud of our school than last Thursday. I sat in on the presentation of our Lower School specialist teachers at Curriculum Night. Our teachers presented the underpinnings of their curriculum with passion and upon a firm foundation of science and best practices. Across divisions, the MPA curriculum is enriched by a commitment to the arts and a whole child pedagogy.

In an age of high-stakes standardized testing and societal concerns about math and science scores, parents might question MPA’s emphasis on the arts. I understand the arts at MPA more broadly, including music (vocal and instrumental), visual arts, theater, and even world languages and physical education. From the founding of the school, the curriculum of the school reflects an intentional balance between academics, arts, and athletics. 1982, our founders knew instinctively that such a balance was vital to developing the whole child. Through new and emerging brain research, we now know that their instincts were correct.

Over the weekend, I read the New York Times bestseller Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross. The authors propose that the arts are not mere distractions but powerful tools for improving our health and well-being across many dimensions of life and with the science to prove it. The arts are vital in relieving stress and enhancing well-being; they help heal trauma, mitigate pain, and help us live not only a healthier life but a longer and more meaningful life, too. Read More

Lower School Division News September 21, 2023

September 21, 2023

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars!

Monday, September 25: Yom Kippur, No School
Wednesday, September 27: Schoology training for parents, 3:15-4:15 PM, Gallery
Friday, September 29: LS Homecoming Assembly, 8:15-8:45 AM, Family Commons
Tuesday, October 3: LS PA Quarterly Parent Coffee, 8:15-9:45 AM, Gallery
Thursday, October 5: Schoology training for parents, 8:15-9:15 AM, Gallery
Friday, October 6: Picture Re-take Day
Monday, October 9: Indigenous People’s Day, No School
Thursday, October 12: Fall Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
Friday, October 13: Fall Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM, No School
Wednesday, October 18: Grandparents and Special Friends’ Day
Thursday, October 19-Friday, October 20: Fall Break, No School

We’re off to a great start in the Lower School so far this year! Students are getting back into the groove of school and are learning lots of new things. As we look ahead, here are some upcoming dates and information:

MPA Homecoming 2023–Wild with Panther Pride
Celebrate Panther Pride by joining in on this year’s Homecoming activities! Lower School students will show their MPA pride on Friday, September 29 and Saturday, September 30! MPA provides Panther pride Homecoming themed t-shirts for all students! They will be distributed to your child during Homecoming week. On Friday, our special Lower School Homecoming Assembly will take place from 8:15-8:45 AM in the Family Commons. Students are invited to wear MPA spirit wear including their special homecoming shirts. On Saturday, September 30, we will host several fun activities and athletics events on campus. If you’d like to volunteer or sign up for any activities on Saturday, please click here. Read More