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Lower School Division News March 23, 2023

March 23, 2023

It has been a pleasure welcoming everyone in the Lower School back from a wonderful Spring Break. So many students have lovely stories of their travels and I believe we have a couple of students who returned from Europe on the same plane as our very own Dr. Hudson!

Lower School Student Art Featured At State Capitol
Several of our students also returned to the great news that their art will be displayed at Minnesota’s State Capitol building as part of Youth Art Month! Youth Art Month (YAM) was started in 1961 by The Council for Art Education (CFAE). Youth Art Month encourages support for quality school art programs and promotes art material safety. The honored works are:

Kindergartener’s artwork: Lisa Congdon Inspired Shapes
First grader’s artwork: Northern Lights
Second grader’s artwork: Heart Art
Third grader’s artwork: Jellyfish
Fourth grader’s artwork: Untitled
Fourth grader’s artwork: Notre Dame

Thank you to Ms. Scharfenberg for creating this opportunity for our students!

Lower School Art And Music Show: Thursday, March 30, 6-8 PM
Our whole community is getting excited for the annual spring Art and Music Show. Families are invited to view artwork prior to entering the Nicholson for musical entertainment from kindergarten through fourth grade. We look forward to seeing all families and extended family members there! Read More

Please Welcome Jay Dean to MPA Permanently!

March 23, 2023

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Assistant Upper School director

From what school/organization are you coming?
The Blake School

Tell us a little bit about your education and past experience.
I earned my B.S. in Producing for Electronic Media from Syracuse University and earned my M.A. in School Counseling from Loyola Marymount University. My teaching and administrative experience includes time at The Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences in Santa Monica, California (2002-11) and The Blake School (2011-22). At Blake, I served as Middle School director for five years. I also served in the interim assistant Upper School director role here at MPA during the 2022-23 school year.

What did you find appealing about MPA during the interview process?
What initially drew me to MPA is the focus on the whole child, its progressive approach to teaching and learning, and the recognition of the importance of social-emotional learning and DEIJ work. After being here for nearly a year, what keeps me at MPA are the people. I have deeply enjoyed my experience working with the talented and dedicated teachers and our curious, creative (and often hilarious!) students. I want to spend more time with them here!! MPA is a “transformative” partner for students and families, and I am excited to continue being a part of that. Read More

Spring Auction Ticket Prices Increase April 1!

March 23, 2023

We are in the final days before ticket prices increase April 1! Now that the snow is beginning to melt and we’re seeing signs of spring, plan to celebrate the joy and imagination at MPA by joining us for the auction. There are still many ways for you to join us in celebration of MPA through this year’s auction:

Purchase a sponsorship or tickets. Don’t forget, your sponsorship helps to ensure teachers and staff are able to attend at no cost to them.
Purchase a Golden Ticket.
Learn more about the event and book your hotel room for a discounted overnight stay!

MPA Speech Are Champions Again!

March 23, 2023

They’re champions again! The MPA Speech Team competed at Dassel-Cokato this past weekend, and came out as tournament champions. Five students won individual titles: Zoya Nayak, Zaara Nayak, Ash Klann, Meiran Carlson, and Greta Hanson. The team has had an incredibly successful season so far, which also includes a school record 22 entries qualified for the National Tournament.

Full season results:

Ties of Friendship @ MPA: Second
Westonka: First Small Schools, fifth overall
Pequot Lakes: First
Duluth: First
East Ridge: First Small Schools
Chaska: First Small Schools, fifth overall
Eastview: First Small Schools
St. Anthony Village: First
South St. Paul: Third Small Schools
Dassel-Cokato: First

Let’s go, Panthers!

Join The Parents Association For Upcoming Events

March 23, 2023

The MPA Parents Association Spring Reading Book Club with Dr. Hudson
April 6, 6:30-8 PM
Looking for something great to read this spring? Try The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict! This historical fiction novel tells the story of a not-so-famous scientist who not only loved Albert Einstein, but also shaped the theories that brought him lasting renown. This is a great pick for Women’s History month. Dr. Hudson will host a discussion of the book. The MPA PA will be providing copies of the book to those who would like to participate and child care will be provided. Please fill out this form to sign up for the book club and request a book.

MPA All-School Gluten-Free Cooking Class with Kate Thrane ’16
New Date: April 13, 5:30-7 PM
Please join us in the teaching kitchen for some hands-on cooking, as well as learning about the joy of cooking gluten-free. You can learn more about Kate and her recipes on Instagram at @theglutenlessmaximus. Please RSVP to Staci at sbhehe42@icloud.com so that we can have plenty of ingredients prepared! Hope to see you there!

Cultural Diversity Day
April 26, 3-7 PM
Save the date for the Culture Diversity Day celebration at MPA! Enjoy an evening of food, music and crafts from around the world! Would you like to share your culture through cuisine, music, dance or art? We invite you to be a part of our cultural showcase or host a cooking demonstration. Please email seema_anwar@hotmail.com.

Please Welcome Camille Johnson!

March 22, 2023

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Extended day and Summer Panther assistant, and night desk attendant.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I’m working toward my degree in child development. Prior to MPA, I have worked as a childcare assistant, PreK teacher, and as a direct support professional for young adults with autism.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
The people who work at MPA and the students are so amazing! I feel like I have a great family here. I like that it’s well-structured and the students are focused, and the parents are there for their kids. Everyone is positive and always polite to me. You all make me feel so welcome, and I thank you so much.

What’s your big dream?
To be happily employed! I’m very happy to be here! And to live, love, and laugh comfortably! Read More

Join MPA’s 7-12 Sailing Team

March 15, 2023

Did you know that MPA has a highly-competitive and successful sailing team? While sailing is not an MSHL sport, and it is run as a club, not as a sport at MPA, our sailors have gone on to compete at the regional and national levels annually for many years. No experience or boat is needed to join, and all are welcome from grades seven through 12. Sailing is a lifelong sport that is both technical and physical and it is a great way to make friends from other schools.

Details:

Practices are held starting April 4 (weather permitting) at White Bear Sailing School.
MPA’s team is coached and practices alongside sailors from Mahtomedi Public Schools, White Bear Public Schools, and other area schools.
Practices are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30-6:30 PM.
Regattas are optional but encouraged and held on Saturdays on lakes and rivers throughout the Twin Cities.
Sailing is a spring and/or fall sport and students can participate in one or both seasons.
Some personal gear is required to ensure safety on the water—some gear may be available to borrow.
The cost is $500 per season and includes coaching and the use of boats and other equipment.

Registration and more information can be found here. If you have any questions, please reach out to team captain, Henry Seum at hseum23@moundsparkacademy.org or MPA’s sailing team advisor, Natalie Waters Seum at nwatersseum@moundsparkacademy.org.

We hope to see you on the water!

Please Welcome MPA’s Lower School Director!

March 9, 2023

Dear MPA Community,

I am overjoyed to be writing to formally introduce you to Ms. Jennifer Le Varge, MPA’s permanent Lower School director. The search for Ms. Le Varge began last September and engaged many members of the MPA community, extending from students to teachers to families and beyond. The search was wide and thoughtful in partnership with Carney Sandoe, resulting in many highly qualified candidates. We were fortunate that Jennifer was among the finalists. She rose to the top through the process based on her deep experience, varied skills, and beautiful alignment with MPA’s mission.

Ms. Le Varge comes to MPA from the Luanda International School in Angola, where she is the Primary School principal. Before that, she was the Seoul Campus principal at the Korea International School. For 12 years, she has served as principal at schools in Asia and the Middle East. Before that, she spent valuable time in the classroom teaching PreK and early elementary. She holds a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Boston University and a Master of Arts in anthropology (ethnography of education) from the American University of Beirut.

One of the things that stood out most to me in getting to know Ms. Le Varge is her alignment with the MPA way. She believes in the power of experiential learning, the importance of collaboration over competition, and the significance of strong school-home relationships. She makes sure that student learning is at the center of all decision-making.

“During my finalist visit, the positive community of MPA stood out to me. Everyone I met was kind, enthusiastic, and focused on student learning. I was also impressed by the focus on creativity and well-being in the MPA approach. I am really excited to join the community as both an educator and a parent,” she shared. You can learn more about her professional philosophy here and more about her personally here.

I am so excited to introduce Ms. Le Varge to more community members! As her relocation plans fall into place, I will invite you to a series of gatherings on campus. Please be sure to look for those to be scheduled and shared soon.

I also intend to provide time and space to show our immense appreciation for Dr. Ann Jurewicz, interim Lower School director. We are all indebted to her for sharing her expertise, wisdom, and energy with us this year. Watch for opportunities to thank her for her service to MPA at the end of the school year.

Thank you in advance for giving Ms. Le Varge a warm MPA welcome. Please let me know if you have any questions. I wish you and your family a joyful spring break and look forward to seeing you on campus soon.

Warmly,

Dr. Bill Hudson
Head of School

Community Is At The Heart Of Our Mission

March 2, 2023

from Bill Hudson, head of school

I was away from school last week, attending the National Association of Independent Schools annual conference held in Las Vegas this year. I have to admit that it was a bit surreal. While the conference center was first-rate, staying in a hotel casino was disconcerting. At the risk of sounding like a fuddy-duddy (even using the word makes me feel like I should be a patient of Dr. Rick in the Progressive Insurance commercials), the noise level, the smoking, and gambling were discombobulating (more evidence I need Dr. Rick’s help).

However, the conference itself was very good. Independent school heads of school and educators from around the country gathered to learn, share best practices, and celebrate independent schools. There is much to celebrate, including record enrollment, academic innovation, and student success. There is also much to be concerned about. Social polarization, political acrimony, the “Great Resignation,” the lingering effects of the pandemic on learning, parental angst and anxiety, and the increasing accessibility of artificial intelligence are all negatively impacting the academic, social, emotional, and mental well-being of our children.

The news is not good. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) recently released the results of their biannual Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Forty-two percent of high school students report that they “experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the past year,” up from 36.7% two years ago. Females and gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth are struggling the most, although increases across all racial and ethnic groups worsened also. While there are many reasons to explain the worsening of the mental health of young people, the internet and social media seem to have the most significant effect. Read More

Comings and Goings

March 2, 2023

We have several comings and goings to and from MPA that we want to share with the community.

Russ Purdy, Extended Day & Summer Program director, has resigned and his last day will be Friday, March 17. Russ joined MPA in January 2017 and had the joy of seeing his two children, Eli and Milo, grow up at MPA and graduate in 2022. During his time on staff, Russ was always enthusiastic with the students and a fun face to see in the morning and afternoon. He made MPA a welcoming place for all, dedicating himself to the program. He expanded the Summer Program class offerings and grew the popularity of Panther Club and Den tremendously. His warm presence on campus will be very missed.

Elizabeth Flinsch, Middle and Upper School visual arts faculty and MPA alum from the Class of 1998, has resigned. Elizabeth taught photography, printmaking, and general visual arts at MPA for three years and had a profound impact on our students. She mentored students both inside and outside of the classroom, ensuring that they could see themselves as creative beings. Senior Prescott Hutton shared, “She was the one who turned photography from a hobby into a passion for me. She inspired me to go crazy with creativity!” She will be very missed by her colleagues and students alike. Samah Fahmy remains at MPA as the long-term substitute art teacher in Elizabeth’s place.

We are pleased to announce the addition of Pauline Wambui, who started at MPA on Monday as the Extended Day and Summer Program site manager, replacing Hollee Towner. She is a familiar face as one of our substitute teachers. She brings 23 years of PreK-12 teaching experience and a passion for teaching, tutoring, and mentoring. She has much experience working with diverse backgrounds and ages and very strong mentorship abilities for assessing and guiding students to achieve growth and success. Get to know Pauline here!

Please join all of us at MPA in wishing Russ and Elizabeth a warm farewell and Pauline a wonderful welcome!