May 14, 2020
MPA’s Virtual Mentoring Program matches Upper School students with students in our Lower School. The Upper School students meet virtually weekly or bi-weekly during the day to help Lower School students in a variety personal and academic situations, including one-on-one academic support, one-on-one enrichment opportunities, story writing, Lower School reading, share and tell, word games, charades, and coloring and painting.
This program not only helps our Upper School students develop leadership skills, but also gives them an opportunity to receive their graduation credit for community service while the world is virtual. It benefits our Lower School students because they recognize that there is another person who cares about them, and assures them that they are not alone in dealing with the day to day challenges of school.
We currently have ten Upper School students who are matched up with Lower School students. more than 40 Zoom meetings have been scheduled for these students, with each meeting lasting 25-45 minutes. We also have a waitlist of available Upper School students who are looking for Lower School students to work with. If you are an Upper School student who would like to be a mentor, please contact Dawn Zimmerman at dzimmerman@moundsparkacademy.org. If you are a Lower School family who would like to get involved with this Mentoring Program, please contact Lower School Director Renee Wright at rwright@moundsparkacademy.org.
We are having so much fun participating in the annual MPA Book Festival virtually! From 
A note from the MPA Yearbook Staff
Giving a nod to her Upper School history curriculum on voting rights and the importance of voting, Ms. Murr had her Upper School history class vote on the name of her new kitten! They settled on the name Jackie, for Jackie Kennedy. So cute!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Ms. Cooper, Middle & Upper School Counselor, shared that mental health is “the quality of one’s social, psychological and emotional well-being. It directly impacts every aspect of our life, including how we think, feel, behave, and connect with others. Everyone has mental health. When our mental health is good, we have the flexibility to cope with life’s challenges.”
Seniors in the 21st Century Global Issues elective were lucky to hear from Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon about cybersecurity in elections. Secretary Simon discussed issues ranging from potential attacks on election infrastructure to state versus federal control over elections to how to hold elections in the context of a public health crisis. Students were able to ask a range of questions, putting their own learning and research to the test. We appreciate the work of public servants like Secretary Simon.
We’re thrilled to partner with the beloved independent shop Valley Bookseller for our Virtual Book Festival! As “Stillwater’s gathering place for everything book-related,” Valley has been a neighborhood favorite for more than 25 years.
Find all of the details you need for the Virtual Parents Association Book Festival here!
Valley Bookseller Online Ordering Information
Usborne Books Online Ordering Information
Supporting Our Community
We are excited to partner with Valley Bookseller and Usborne Books for the annual MPA Book Festival—Virtual 2020! The MPA Book Festival is a beloved tradition sponsored by the MPA Parents Association, and we are looking forward to making it possible virtually. As always, the proceeds from the Book Festival sales (10% of sales from Valley Bookseller and 50% credit of total sales from Usborne Books) support local bookstores, MPA teachers, classrooms and library. New for this year, proceeds will also provide books to Breakthrough Twin Cities to support their summer literature experiences. Breakthrough is the amazing college access program that operates at MPA on Saturdays and throughout the summer, to support highly motivated, yet under-resourced students and families.