Blog Archives

September 15, 2017

One-dimensional teaching creates one-dimensional learners, and today’s world is too complex for linear thinking. From PreK through 12th grade, MPA students explore topics and ideas through multiple disciplines, examining problems and situations with insight from the sciences, math, arts, and humanities.

Recently, hurricanes ravaged Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean, dominating our news cycles and public consciousness. How would MPA faculty approach a lesson on Harvey and Irma?

Science faculty would examine weather patterns, track the storms, evaluate the destruction, and analyze climate change. Math teachers might use hurricane-related figures in their problems or examine all of the calculations involved in monitoring or categorizing the storm or evacuating millions of people.

Social studies teachers might examine early explorers’ descriptions of Florida as uninhabitable swampland, debate land-use issues surrounding the control of water, and discuss how history might inform how best to rebuild. English teachers might use survival narratives or writing exercises as part of their hurricane-related curriculum. Engineering classes could examine the destruction with an eye toward the buildings that withstood the storm, and ones that didn’t. Technology would be used in meaningful ways throughout all of these lessons.

What Are You Afraid Of?

September 14, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I am deathly afraid of heights. The higher floors of office buildings or hotels terrify me. Scary movies, too. My mother still teases me about making my father stay up with me to watch A Nightmare on Elm Street when I was home from college one summer.

What are you afraid of? Lower School students gave voice to their fears yesterday morning in the first CHAMP Assembly of the year and made plans to overcome them throughout this school year. Some responses included speaking in front of a crowd with confidence, scary movies, swimming, starting at a new school, competing at a karate tournament, and doing their best in kindergarten.

CHAMP stands for Character Happens At Mounds Park, and is the Lower School character development program. This year’s character trait is courage, defined as “facing your fears with confidence and being brave.” Nelson Mandela was used as a role model as students learned about the courage he demonstrated when he peacefully fought apartheid in South Africa.

Introducing Courage

September 14, 2017

On September 13, a rainbow of MPA Lower School students excitedly awaited a big announcement at their first CHAMP assembly of the year. Everyone was dressed in red, orange, yellow, green, blue or purple to represent their grade levels, but all sat together to form a colorful audience for the reveal of a new CHAMP trait. The students cheered as one special word rang out in the cafeteria: courage.

CHAMP, MPA’s Lower School character education program, was originally designed by MPA teachers and founded upon the character traits of friendship, compassion, respect, self-control, responsibility, cooperation, integrity, and inclusiveness. These characteristics are what students at MPA are inspired to demonstrate on a daily basis.

Courage was introduced as the newest CHAMP trait with a read-along of The Little Yellow Leaf by Carin Berger and the unveiling of new encouraging posters for every classroom to serve as reminders. The Little Yellow Leaf was one of the inspirations behind adding courage to the CHAMP program. It’s a story of friendship and encouragement that leads a small voice to a big, bold decision.

Dreaming Big With Ms. Koen

September 7, 2017

This week, the AnnMarie Thomas Makerspace opened its doors to the hands and brains of our students. Ms. Koen, Makerspace Coordinator, could best describe it with just one word: exciting. We held a Q&A with her inside the new addition to campus for a full look at Opening Week!

MPA: How does it feel to be in this brand-new space?
Ms. Koen: Exciting! The space is beautiful, and having students here brings it to life. I can really see that their wheels are turning. The Makerspace allows for collaboration with teachers, as they bring their classroom to the space and transform it. Once here, the Maker movement and mindset come to life organically. Each space in here is purposed for the dreaming, the doing, and the making. Read More

“When Everyone Comes Back”

September 7, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” I was recently at a meeting when someone shared that famous quote from Peter Drucker to emphasize the importance of culture as foundational for organizational success. Clearly strategy is important, yet it will certainly fall flat without engaged, motivated, and cohesive employees who share a common purpose.

As we approach Homecoming in a couple weeks, I found myself thinking about the strong culture at MPA. Educational research is clear that a strong culture leads to higher levels of student achievement. In the ISACS survey administered last year, 85 percent of students agreed that MPA is a caring community, high above the independent school benchmark. A whopping 96 percent of parents agreed as well, also above the benchmark. In the words of one parent, MPA “is a positive nurturing environment. It provides the best well-rounded education I think you can get in Minnesota.”

Head’s Message: Meet Dr. AnnMarie Thomas

August 31, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

How do we raise children who are creative, lifelong learners? It’s a question educators and parents alike continually wrestle with, especially in light of our rapidly-changing world. It’s also a question that Dr. AnnMarie Thomas, Associate Professor in the School of Engineering and the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas, has dedicated her life’s work to answering. The solution, in part, is creating and maximizing opportunities for students to follow their own intrinsic path to discovery and take control of their learning. The newly completed Makerspace gives MPA students an amazing advantage and exemplifies our school’s commitment to preparing students to “live, learn, and thrive” in today’s complex, global society.

I am pleased to announce that our new Makerspace will be named in honor of Dr. Thomas. The AnnMarie Thomas Makerspace is the only creative center of its kind in the Twin Cities for students in grades PreK through 12. Given the long-standing approach at Mounds Park Academy of hands-on, experiential learning that integrates science, technology, math with the humanities and the arts, the Makerspace fits perfectly alongside the work of Dr. Thomas.

The Book Cellar Offers Rest And Rejuvenation

August 31, 2017

Librarian Nancy Lage has been watching a corner of the Library evolve into The Book Cellar since last year. While students voted on the name, Ms. Lage and Ms. Petrich developed the idea, collaborating with students and former Middle School faculty member Mr. Schwieger to create a space for reading and research for Upper School students, but even more importantly, rest, and rejuvenation. “Kids need a change of scenery sometimes,” Ms. Lage said.

Junior Ethan Berning made the sign for the entrance while Juniors, Lily Madore and Mats Dahlberg painted the entryway with a medieval design, giving it a distinct look and feel. Beyond the entrance, the space transforms into a cozy nook with leather furniture, a wall dedicated to inspiring and kind notes, a Keurig for tea and hot chocolate and soft, glowing lights dangling from the ceiling. Through The Book Cellar’s wide windows are unique animal sightings and greenery, including a nearby tree with the reflected illusion of being lit by the twinkling lights.

We Make Meaning

August 24, 2017

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Walking through the halls today, one can feel the energy and joyfulness as the MPA community comes together once more. I have been struck by the goodwill and genuine warmth as I see students greet one another, parents reconnect with each other, and teachers welcoming students to their classrooms.

Our Solar Eclipse Viewing Party on Monday was evidence of the strength of the MPA community. There was a wealth of opportunities available to view the eclipse offered by towns and libraries, museums, and nature centers throughout the metro area, yet more than 400 choose to experience it here at MPA. Coupled with educational activities, the event expressed what makes MPA unique—hands-on, experiential, and joyful learning.

Joyful is also the word I would choose to describe Back to School Night. Even those who lament getting up early or the return of homework were swept up in the joy of coming back to school. I am continually surprised by how much a child can grow in just a few short months and how much more mature they become. I enjoyed hearing many wonderful stories of summer adventures and achievements.

Back to School With Joy

August 20, 2017

It seems like just yesterday we were sharing, Ideas for a Learning-Rich Summer. Now, here we are preparing for the start of school. The back-to-school transition is upon us, and our school community is bustling with excitement.

Everyone, children and adults alike, handles transition differently. Some people naturally embrace it, celebrating and welcoming the change. Others worry about the unknowns or focus on what they didn’t accomplish, instead of what they did, dampening their enthusiasm for what lies ahead.

Wherever you are on the back-to-school-enthusiasm spectrum—and we find that most Mounds Park Academy students and family are high on the scale—we hope that our Lower School families in particular will find some useful tips below as you prepare for the 2017-2018 academic year.

Celebrate The Summer

For parents of school-age children, particularly those in elementary school, summer days can swing from moments of pure joy to ones of frustration. You can wish for the summer to never end one minute, and then beg for late August to arrive the next. That’s why we think it’s important to reflect on the summer as a whole and celebrate the adventures, big and small, that made up your 2017 summer. Here are some suggested ways to celebrate the summer:

Spend a carefree afternoon. Summer should include some relaxation, yet in today’s world, relaxation can be rare. So lounge by a lake, on a beach or in a hammock in these remaining days of summer and enjoy some quiet time.
Create a photo book of summer memories. This could be as simple as creating a collage with photos printed on a home printer. Engage your child in its creation and reflect on their favorite parts of the summer.
Draw pictures of your best family memory or write a story about it. Grab the crayons or the markers and some paper and draw or write away. Don’t let your child have all the fun, though. Release your inner
Focus on what you accomplished, not what you didn’t. Many people start the summer with a long list of potential summer activities. Often we run out of time to pursue them all. Celebrate what you did do instead of starting the school year with a pang of we-didn’t-quite-get-to-that regret.

“I take time to reflect and write down everything I did (big or small) that I can remember. My list usually ends up being so long that I cannot believe I did so much in such a short time. I end up being very excited about all the things I did that summer and look forward to making a new school-year list.” – Karen Rossbach, MPA Lower School and Upper School Art Teacher

Ideas for a Learning-Rich Summer

June 8, 2017

By Dr. Bill Hudson, Mounds Park Academy Head of School

Summer was made for students. That might sound counterintuitive for the head of an independent PreK–12 school to say, but please hear me out.

Consider the words that best describe the students who call MPA home: freethinkers, free spirits, risk takers, right makers. Dreamers and doers. Throughout the school year, we promote these qualities across our academic and extracurricular activities. We create days that are filled with wonder so that students emerge from each year even more joyful, confident, and creative than they were in the fall.

Then summer comes. Extra time, a slower pace, and beautiful weather, all set the perfect stage for MPA students, and all children, to continue developing those qualities on their own and with their families.