All School Archives

June 11, 2020

We are thrilled to have students in grades K-6 join us back on campus for summer fun at Panther Camp! While our time together is going to look a little different from previous years, our program goals remain the same: provide our campers with a high-quality, joyful, and engaging program in the context of a safe and healthy environment.

Panther Camp will run June 15-26 and July 6-August 14 from 8 AM-5:30 PM out of the Gallery and Nicholson Theatre spaces. You can register for daily, half-day, and weekly options. During camp students will explore nature, science, art, play, and do so much more.

To register for weekly Panther Camps, use the “create an account” or “login” tab and follow registration instructions. See additional information under the “Fees and Policies” link. Camp confirmation and details will be sent out upon registration.

Because of COVID-19, here are some of the changes we’ve made for a safe return to campus. Please know these measures are designed to provide the safest environment possible and are subject to change due to the evolving nature of the pandemic. They are based on recommendations by the Minnesota Department of Health and the CDC.

Learn more and register here.

Panther Camp Operations in Response to COVID-19

No-contact drop-off: When entering through the Gallery doors, a staff member will greet campers and run through the symptom checklist with parents, including a temperature check. Once completed and cleared to enter camp, staff will direct campers to their area in the Gallery or Nicholson Center.

Area Assignments: Campers will be assigned to a consistent spot within the program space for indoor learning & activities. Campers will also be given an individually labeled materials bin for their supplies (markers, scissors, glue stick, etc.). Read More

Building A Better Future

June 4, 2020

by Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

“Together, we are building a better future. By cultivating critical thinking, creative inquiry, and social responsibility, we inspire and empower our children to improve an ever-changing and sometimes, challenging world. We do that though a rigorous, yet joyful, education delivered by an exceptional faculty dedicated to fostering caring relationships with their students.”

Those were my words in my first Panther Post message of the 2019-20 school year, on August 29. As construction finished on our new Family Commons and Martin Lenz Harrison Library, I seized upon the metaphor of building as a theme for the school year, challenging ourselves to provide the vision, blueprints, tools, and materials our students need to realize our mission, fulfill their potential, and positively impact our world. I could never have imagined just how prophetic the theme would turn out to be.

The world is, indeed, ever-changing and challenging and our lived reality this spring and early summer has made that abundantly clear to all of us. The COVID-19 pandemic accentuated the strengths and flaws of ourselves, our institutions, and our society. And yet, our students emerge stronger, with the resiliency, flexibility, and independence that might not have otherwise been cultivated if not for the pandemic. Our exceptional faculty were able to pivot quickly while never losing hold of the caring relationships they have with students. Families have been supportive and understanding as difficult decisions have been made to keep our community safe.

The raw, visceral murder of George Floyd and ensuing unrest and violence has laid bare the fissures of society many gloss over or choose to ignore. Yet through critical thinking, creative inquiry, and honest conversation, our young people hold the promise of change where our generation, and generations before us, have failed. The MPA curriculum, grounded in character education and the humanities, in concert with the sciences, provide the tools and materials necessary to build a better future, to “stir the human spirit, stand for justice, and shake the world.” Indeed, building a better future requires our students to dream big and do right.

Thank you for entrusting your children to MPA—I am grateful for your partnership this school year. We are united in our shared belief that education is fundamentally an act of hope and that by investing in our children, we are indeed building a better future. I am confident that the strength of our community will carry us forward to a new day. Have a wonderful summer and I look forward to coming together in August.

PS: Please know you will hear from me on a regular basis this summer, as I share more information about plans for the fall. Our next communication is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23. Do not hesitate to reach out to your division director as questions arise!

Five Class of 2020 Members Receive Graduate Certificates of Distinction

June 3, 2020

Five MPA seniors received and presented on their Graduate Certificates of Distinctions last week. For the first time in MPA history, three seniors were STEM recipients: Misk Khalif, Jordan Akers, and Annie Portoghese. Two seniors were Fine Art recipients: Charles Grimes and Solveig Svenniveg-Brosi.

Graduate Certificates of Distinction are designed with the belief that Upper School students can be architects of their education. The program recognizes students who have a passion within a discipline that drives them. These students are exploring their passions while staying committed to a balanced education. All MPA Upper School students are eligible to work toward a single Certificate of Distinction in one of three areas: Fine Arts, Global, or STEM.

Misk spoke on her role as founder and executive director of the STEM Center For Girl Innovators, where she manages operations such as tutoring, science experiments, coding, and mentorship programs. She is a passionate advocate for gender and racial equity in the STEM field, which is why she founded the Center for Girl Innovators early in her STEM career. With hopes to pursue a degree in medical research, she centered her final project on Gut-Brain Axis, which is the biochemical reaction between the nervous and gastrointestinal systems. Read More

Upper School Clubs Host Racial Justice Discussions With Local Judge

May 30, 2020

During their lunch and recess on Thursday and Friday, Social Consciousness And Racial Justice & Equity Club hosted two Zoom sessions with Upper School students, Middle School students, and faculty and staff to discuss, listen, and reflect on racism in Minnesota and the devastating murder of Minneapolis man, George Floyd, which has mobilized millions to protest on social media and participate in protests across the country.

Beginning with questions like “What responsibilities should the media have when covering cases of police brutality?” and “What are the differences between covert and overt racism?” the group also incorporated suggestions of personal action steps and phone calls to make to fight the injustices they were passionately discussing together. They finished their meeting brainstorming questions to prepare for their guest speaker on Friday, Hennepin Country District Judge Juan Hoyos. Read More

Save The Date For The Virtual Yearbook Assembly

May 28, 2020

Save the date for the Virtual Yearbook Assembly next week! The MPA Yearbook Assembly will be held virtually at 9 AM on Friday, June 5.

Please visit yearbooksigning.jostens.com to learn more about the digital yearbook signing pages in order to participate in our beloved yearbook signing traditions and leave notes for students and peers virtually!

Celebrate Sage Dining’s 30th Birthday

May 28, 2020

In honor of Sage Dining’s 30th birthday, Sage has added six new cooking demonstrations to the SAGE at Home video showcase! This week’s theme focuses on the Crossroads concept, the intersection of fun and flavor, where Sage offers an ever-changing variety of dishes with a street-food twist.

There’s also a video about how to make sure your food is fully cooked.

Thank You For A Joyful MPA Book Festival!

May 28, 2020

The annual MPA Parents Association Book Festival has left us with many awesome books to carry us through the summer, along with proceeds for our library to purchase new books to benefit our library, teachers, and greater community! It was so wonderful to see Valley Book Seller, Usborne Books, and Breakthrough Twin Cities highlighted on our social media platforms, and all the great responses from our community.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made the Book Festival a success! First, we want to thank all of you who purchased books, for being flexible and willing to try something new this year, and for supporting the Breakthrough summer literature program. Without you, there would be no Book Festival! We want to thank the parent volunteers, as they are key to helping our MPA community put on so many well-loved traditions. We want to thank Nancy Lage, as well as many teachers and administrators, for the time they spent brainstorming wonderful ways to engage our community in reading activities throughout the Book Festival. Finally, both Valley Book Seller and Usborne Books also send a big thank you to our community for supporting their small businesses during this hard time. We don’t know what next year will bring, but we will be excited to offer our Book Festival anytime, anywhere, anyway! Read More

Ashley Cooper Named 2020 Outstanding Cooperating Professional

May 28, 2020

Ashley Cooper, MPA Middle and Upper School Counselor, was recently awarded the UW-River Falls 2020 Outstanding Cooperating Professional! Over the past three years, MPA and UW-River Falls’ School Psychology Program have worked together to conduct depression and suicide screenings for our Middle and Upper School students.

The unique partnership allows MPA to deliver high-quality programming that reaches over 150 students each year while providing invaluable, real-life experience to graduate-level mental health practitioners. MPA is incredibly fortunate to collaborate with such a compassionate, knowledgeable, and professional group of people each year.

“Through our work together,” Ms. Cooper shares, “we have been able to highlight and strengthen our school culture in so many ways. I’m incredibly proud that there are dozens of UWRF graduates working at schools all over the state who know of and have a firsthand experience with Mounds Park Academy, and that MPA has gained a positive reputation in the community for how we are addressing student mental health.”

Con Law Class Presents Oral Arguments Virtually

May 27, 2020

This year was the 17th annual MPA Constitutional Law oral arguments! Each year the Con Law senior elective culminates with students presenting oral arguments before legal experts in an actual courtroom. They choose a federal case that has been appealed before the US Supreme Court, prepare extensive written briefs which are submitted a week in advance, then appear before a panel of three judges to make their case. Afterward, each judge gives the students feedback.

This year, however, the seniors took a page out of the MN Supreme Court’s playbook and held virtual oral arguments. The students were split up into breakout rooms on Zoom, and conducted their oral arguments in the same way they would if the event was taking place in person. When asked if they enjoyed themselves, one senior responded, “Yes, but I was still nervous, even over Zoom!”

The judges this year were made up of MPA alumni, parents, and MN Court of Appeals Judges. The day could not have happened without their time and support. We want to extend a special thank you to MN Court of Appeals Judges Judge Jeanne Cochran, Judge James Florey, Judge Kevin Ross, and Judge Jill Halbrooks. A big thank you also goes out to the MPA parents who took time out of their busy days as practicing attorneys to serve as judges for the seniors: Nan Etzwiler, Gail Engstrom, Kevin Rhodes, and Steve Quam. Thank you to the MPA alumni who returned to judge the oral arguments they themselves participated in years ago: Kethan Dahlberg ’14, Jenny Portis ’16, Warsame Galaydh ’06, Adam Pabarcus ’03, Sam Bolstad ’08, and Paul Shapiro ’05. Lastly, thank you to Maureen Conway, MPA founding faculty member and retired Upper School History teacher, who started this event 17 years ago, and who was able to return as a judge this year.

“Every year, I am amazed with what our seniors do with the preparation of their briefs and oral arguments,” shared Mike Vergin, Upper School history teacher, and who now teaches the Constitutional Law class. “They are considering cases actually being argued before the Supreme Court this session. One judge participating for the first time in a while commented that these students were every bit as skilled as those he works with in the moot courts at the law school at which he teaches. We literally have not seen each other since the day they found out which cases they’d be arguing. This is challenging enough in a typical year, but the Class of 2020 rose to the occasion and made it happen this year just as well.”

Making A Difference Through Art

May 27, 2020

Each MPA senior must complete a Senior Service Project where they submit a proposal, complete a minimum of 30 hours of service work, keep a record or journal of their experiences, and prepare an exhibit or presentation based their experiences. The project is an opportunity for them to use their voices, skills, and carry out a service project with an organization or for a cause they are passionate about.

MPA senior Zoe Hutton chose to create portraits for The Memory Project, which is a nonprofit organization that connects artists with children throughout the world. After completion, the children are sent their portraits. Zoe’s portraits will be sent to children in Venezuela. Visit www.memoryproject.org/venezuela to learn more and see a touching video about the project!