All School

Host Family Needed For Semester Two

November 3, 2022

Dear MPA Community,

Do you have a desire to expand your family’s perspective of the world? A room to spare? Space in your heart for another family member? MPA is seeking a host family for a new Upper School international students for the second half of the 2022-23 school year and beyond.

As you and your family consider hosting, please review the MPA Host Family Recruitment Flyer and Host Family Application.

STIPEND

  • A monthly stipend will be directly deposited in installments of $900/month on the first of each month for the previous month, January through June. January and June will be prorated.

TRANSPORTATION

  • Host families are responsible for providing transportation to and from school and school-related activities.
  • Host families will work with their student in scheduling rides for social events.

MEALS

  • All international students will receive the MPA school lunch. Host families and students do not need to pack lunches.
  • Host families are responsible for providing two meals on all weekdays and three meals on all weekend days.

We hope you’ll consider opening your hearts and homes to one of our international students! Give it some thought, and if interested, please reach out to me for additional information and/or to begin the process of becoming a host family. I would love to have a conversation with you!

Thank you so much for considering,

Cory Becker-Kim
International Student Program Coordinator
Advanced Language and Culture Teacher
cbeckerkim@moundsparkacademy.org

Prioritizing Safety

October 27, 2022

from Bill Hudson, head of school

Like many of you, the first indication of a security issue was the generalized alert I received on my cell phone yesterday morning. MPA did not receive any advance notification or information. The school is fortunate to have a very constructive relationship with the Maplewood Police Department and I was caught off guard by the notification on my cell phone. Fortuitously, MPA has a very detailed and comprehensive emergency preparedness and crisis plan and we have drilled enough times that emergency response is instinctive. We are able to quickly implement a safety and security plan with the information we have available that is also flexible so that we can adapt to an evolving crisis.

Aside from the situation on Tuesday, we had an actual medical lockdown at the end of Grandparents and Special Friends Day on October 19 and a full lockdown drill on Monday, October 17. We are required by the State of Minnesota to hold five lockdown drills each school year. Research by our own current parent, James Densley, professor, author, co-founder of The Violence Project and a national authority on mass shootings, demonstrates that despite the high-profile nature of school shootings, schools remain one of the safest places. Knowing how to respond during a crisis helps everyone stay calm, understand their role, and act as safely and efficiently as possible. Again, balance is essential between being prepared and causing anxiety about something unlikely to occur. Read More

Lower School Division News October 27, 2022

October 27, 2022

from Ann Jurewicz, Lower School director

Grandparents and Special Friends—What a Day!

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate student learning last Wednesday. The students loved having their guests participate and enjoy the JOY we create every day at MPA.

Parent Chat—All Students Can Learn

Thank you to everyone who made it to the Parent Chat on Learning Support for students. You can find a recording of the presentation here. If you prefer to go through the slide deck, you can find that here.

Parent Opportunities To Connect!

  • Parent Coffee Wednesday, November 2, 8:15-9:15 AM

Middle School Transition—Thursday, November 10, 8:15 AM

Dr. Jenn Milam, Middle School Director, is offering the first of several informal meetings to learn more about Middle School at MPA, share dreams and worries, and ask questions. Please mark your calendar for Thursday, November 10, at 8:15 AM. We will have coffee and hot tea and some light breakfast refreshments available. No need to RSVP, just join us if you can! If there are specific questions or topics you’d like to be addressed, you can email those to Dr. Jenn Milam, jmilam@moundsparkacademy.org.

Halloween Festivities—Friday, October 28

This is a gentle reminder students are invited to wear their costumes to school on Friday, October 28 and the PA will have games for them in the Lansing Sports Center during their PE time. We are capping off the day with a Lower School parade to showcase costumes and have a ghost of a good time! Families are welcome to come into the building at 2:30 PM to witness the students parading through the main hallway to the Upper School Commons and back to their classrooms. Read More

Middle School Division News October 27, 2022

October 27, 2022

from Jenn Milam, Middle School director

HALLOWEEN @ MPA

As we look forward to celebrating Halloween at MPA together, it is important that we adhere to our MPA community expectations and guidelines regarding costumes, discourse, and representation. Halloween can be a magical time for imagination, playfulness, and connection. Middle School students are invited to wear their Halloween costumes to school on Friday, October 28.

The following are guidelines for Halloween costumes at MPA:

  • Weapons or items that are made in the likeness to represent weapons, are not allowed. These can include, but are not limited to, guns, swords, pitchforks, knives, pocketknives, and/or spears.
  • Masks that completely cover a student’s face and head are not allowed. A student needs to be able to be recognized at school, participate in classes throughout the day, and not have their identity obscured by their costume.
  • Symbols, words, or other representations that are currently, or have been historically used to trigger and/or discount others’ identities are not allowed. These can include, but are not limited to symbols of white supremacy, gang affiliation, racial or ethnic tokenism, homophobia or transphobia, and ableism.
  • Middle School costumes must also adhere to the dress code expectations that all “personal body parts” are covered, regardless of a student’s gender identity or gender presentation. Read More

Upper School Division News October 27, 2022

October 27, 2022

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

I find it almost impossible to believe that the end of this week draws the end of the first quarter. This is hard to grasp as I vividly remember writing my summer letter to upper school families, welcoming the thirty new upper school students, and hosting a potluck for the Class of 2023 the first week of September where we discussed how quickly this year would go. With the close of the first quarter comes several questions that I will try to anticipate and answer before they are asked.

  1. Will students receive a grade for their quarter 1 classes? Yes and no. Students will receive grades for their quarter long, non-elective courses like English, math, science, social studies, PE, and World Language. This, however, is not always the case. There are some courses like English 11 or Honors Chemistry Lab that will have work and grades carry over into quarter two and students will receive grades for these classes at the end of the semester. Also, students will not receive grades for their elective courses. These classes are semester long and, therefore, will receive grades in January. Read More

Parents Association News & Events October 27, 2022

October 27, 2022

PA Board Meeting
Friday, November 18 at 9 AM
The next MPA PA board meeting will be open to PA members. If you’re interested in attending, email sbanksPA@moundsparkacademy.org for a zoom link and more information.

MPA at the MIA
November 20 at 1 PM
Join other MPA families to tour the Special Exhibit, Botticelli and Renaissance Florence: Masterworks from the Uffizi. The cost of the exhibition is $20.00 for adults and free for children, and the MPAPA will be picking up the cost of the guided tour.

US Parent Dinner at India Palace
December 3, 8-10 PM
Looking for something to do while your US student dances the night away? Come meet other parents and have dinner at India Palace in Woodbury! They will stay open late for us, so please come and enjoy delicious food and great company. Read More

Young World Citizens Open The Baa-Baa Boutique

October 27, 2022

October 24, the first day of the Baa-Baa Boutique, was incredible! The Baa-Baa Boutique is a service-learning project that will culminate with the kindergarten class purchasing an animal from Heifer International for a community in the world. It is helping these young students learn that they can be agents of change and make a difference in their community and globally as well.

The kindergarten students greeted their customers with smiles, handshakes, welcoming words, participation shyness, and their product story. Ms. Petrich and Ms. Petersen folded more than a thousand pieces of paper to create their cards. Then, in a collaboration between grandparents, special friends, and kindergarten students, unique notecards were created. The students collated the cards into bundles so our parent volunteer, Bruce France, and our librarian, Ms. Petrich, could put the finishing touches on with the blue ribbon.

They also sold plant bulbs. The students used their math skills to give the correct number of bulbs to each customer. They placed the bulbs on a ten frame and used their one-to-one correspondence to count to ten. They even used their skip-counting skills. Their favorite part was using the cash register and collecting the money. Read More

Welcome to MPA, Chanda Williams!

October 19, 2022

 

We are absolutely delighted to introduce Upper School families to Chanda Williams, MPA’s new Upper School and College Counseling administrative assistant. She started her role on Wednesday, October 12.

This is who Upper School families contact with questions related to daily life on campus including attendance and you may reach her at cwilliams@moundsparkacademy.org or 651-748-5544.

Please give her a warm MPA welcome!

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Upper School and College Counseling Administrative Assistant

From what school/organization are you coming?
Crystal Farms Dairy

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I attended Anoka Ramsey College and hold multiple certifications in areas such as IT, leadership, customer service, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and more. I am coming from Crystal Farms Dairy where I was an Inside Sales/Customer Specialist/Administrative Assistant. Some of the work I was responsible for there included:

• Performing administrative duties in support of the President, HR Director, and various departments as needed.
• Training interns and part-time staff on in-office tasks and company procedures.
• Overseeing and proactively managing reception area, mailroom, office supplies, office equipment, and special office projects.
• Assisting in developing proposals, presentations, and contracts with the EEO reporting.
• Establishing and maintaining company contacts, staff personnel, and monthly expenses.
• Boosting organizational communication by developing the company’s communication portal.
• Scheduling meetings, setting up conference rooms, and coordinating workshops.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
The staff is very welcoming, and the campus is awesome!

What’s your big dream?
To travel the world.

What are you (and your family, if you so choose) passionate about?
We enjoy giving back to the community. It started with my grandmother. She would give you the shoes off her feet and the shirt off her back.

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I love to double dutch!

Our Mission Is Our Compass

October 13, 2022

from Bill Hudson, head of school

As I walk about the building each day, I see powerful signs of how the mission of MPA is brought to life and animated by students, teachers, staff, and parents. For instance, the Lower School gathered yesterday in the Family Commons to celebrate CHAMP Day, parents met on Monday to launch the inaugural Parents Association Diversity and Equity Committee, and students from across all divisions celebrated Maker Monday in the Makerspace honing their skills in designing and creating.

You may be aware that last year we celebrated the 40th anniversary of Mounds Park Academy. During events throughout the 2021-22 school year, we took the opportunity to celebrate the founding ideals and mission of the school as they were lived out over the last 40 years. This summer, I was fortunate to be invited to lunch with several founders of MPA: Bob Kreischer, who, together with his then-wife Sandy Kreischer Smith founded the school; Harvey Kaplan, who deftly negotiated the lease and the eventual purchase of the school building; Karen Benz, who with her late husband George Benz, engaged and inspired other parents to philanthropically fund the school; and Jim Gardner, the founding member of the finance committee of the board whose fiscal stewardship established the school’s financial foundation.

It was inspirational to hear their stories about the successes and challenges they encountered and the joy, creativity, and passion that fueled their work. As I joined in the revelry with the founders, I shared ways in which the mission they established continues to live daily. I also became acutely aware that I, the board of trustees, and the entire MPA community, have the awesome and awe-filled obligation to advance the mission we’ve inherited for the next 40 years. The school’s mission is entrusted to us, and we have the existential responsibility to ensure the mission not only survives but thrives well into the future. Read More

Lower School Division News October 13, 2022

October 13, 2022

from Ann Jurewicz, Lower School director

As we bid ‘Adieu’ to the warm weather and morning sunrises on our way to school and hunker down into our warm woolies and routine school practices, we are beginning to see some real growth and development in our Lower School kiddos! It was a joy to share with parents the great accomplishments MPA students have made so far and collaborate with you on positive learning and behavior goals for the rest of the school year. We feel blessed to have such wonderful families to partner for a great school team! Please do reach out with any thoughts, ideas or insights as we take this journey together for your child(ren).

CHAMP Assembly—Respectful

We had our second CHAMP Assembly of the school year led by Ms. Satiago’s Kindergarten and Mr. Wilson’s grade 4 classes. They played a video in which they demonstrated how we have circles of love in our lives with people (and pets) we care about and who care about us. We also learned that it is important to make your circle bigger by opening yourself to new friends and including others who would like to be in our circle. As we continue to focus on TOGETHER throughout this school year, we are choosing one value a month that encompasses some of the CHAMP attributes at MPA. This month is Respectful and includes respect, integrity and inclusiveness. We welcome you to reiterate the value of being respectful at home and connect it for students with our message here at school.

Grandparents and Special Friends’ Day – Wednesday, October 19, 8:30-11:30 AM

MPA is getting excited to welcome grandparents and special friends in less than one week! After coffee, treats, and a welcome from Dr. Hudson in the Family Commons, Lower School guests will have a chance to visit homerooms and see two specialist classes. The event culminates with a musical concert for everyone from our K-6 students. Special thanks go to Mari Espeland and Joque Warner for their leadership. Please remember to RSVP as space is filling up fast! Read More