Head’s Message

February 18, 2016

When I was a child, I vividly remember calling my grandparents on Sunday afternoons. They lived in the same state, but a couple of hours away, out in the country. We would each take turns unfurling the long, curly phone cord to tell them about our week, but only for a few minutes each, as we were admonished about the cost of long distance phone calls. The connection was often fuzzy, compelling the parties on either side of the line to shout, or at least speak unnaturally loudly, to carry our voices across the wire. Fast forward forty years to 2016 and we have a country in which most people carry phones in our pockets that connect us instantly, anywhere in the country, for a monthly fee, with relative clarity. Read More

February 11, 2016

It was bedtime in the Anderson home and Julia’s mother asked her to get ready for bed. Leah was unprepared for her daughter’s response. “No, Mom. I can’t go to bed. It’s windy outside and I have to go outside and do a science experiment.” Julia and her father bundled up to go outdoors to record the temperature. When she returned indoors, Julia went to work recording her observations and forming a hypothesis. But Julia wasn’t finished. She went out one more time to check the temperature to test her hypothesis in order to finish her experiment. Read More

February 4, 2016

As we begin re-enrollment for the 2016-2017 school year, I’d like to share an insight with you from Rowan, a Mounds Park Academy third-grader: “When there’s a problem, I think to myself, ‘I know how to work this out because my teachers taught me how.’ They teach us all these special things that get us ready for the world.”

Rowan, I couldn’t agree more. For more than 30 years, MPA teachers have engaged thousands of students in an experiential, college-preparatory education where critical thinking and deep content knowledge are used as the basis for developing essential skills in conflict resolution, perseverance, creativity, and collaboration. MPA teachers truly do teach the special things that prepare students for our changing world, and they do so with incredible passion and commitment. Read More

January 28, 2016

There are few opportunities to step away from my duties as Head of School. Last Friday was an exception, however. I had the pleasure of sitting back while sixth grader Ella Fruchterman took the reins as Head of School for the day. Won in the Best of MPA live auction, ‘Head for the Day’ is an opportunity for a student to experience what it is like to lead the MPA community.

It was a great day for me and I hope it was for Ella, too. I learned a great deal about Ella and what it is like to be a middle school student at MPA. Ella is a bright, cheerful student who enjoys her classes and loves her teachers. She is also an accomplished equestrian, placing nationally here in the United States and in Canada in a number of competitions. Ella is successfully able to balance the many hours necessary to train with her horse with her academic responsibilities. I think she is a good example of how MPA students are able to pursue their passions while challenging themselves intellectually. Read More

January 21, 2016

Never underestimate the power of word of mouth. Think about the last really good restaurant or movie you went to. Chances are you did so because someone you know made the recommendation. Marketing and advertising are important and social media has made both faster and easier. However, we ultimately fall back on the recommendation or endorsement of someone we trust. Read More

January 14, 2016

Did you buy a Powerball ticket? Multiple tickets, perhaps? A recent article in the New York Times included the following observation: “Jumping on the bandwagon is an age-old motivator of psychological behavior.” Stephen Goldbart and his colleague Joan DiFuria wrote in a Psychology Today article titled Lottery-itis!, “We want to be with the in-crowd, to be ‘part of the movement,’ not ‘feel left out.’” I’m not a gambling man, but I must admit that I have been sucked into the Powerball vortex with the possibility of being the lucky winner. In fact, I am writing on Wednesday so by the time you are reading this, I may be Minnesota’s most recent multi-millionaire. Read More

January 7, 2016

When I became Head of School, I moved offices from the south end of the building to the north. Practically speaking, it made a lot of sense given the suite of offices and the proximity to the Porter Conference Room and the Business Office. However, one of the most difficult sacrifices I made was giving up one of the best views of the school–the playground. I miss hearing the laughter and squeals of delight and witnessing the pure joy of children being children.

I recently read an online news story from Minnesota Public Radio about an educational reform movement in Texas that is re-instituting and re-emphasizing recess. While many schools cut recess time to make room for standardized testing and test prep, there is solid evidence that recess, playtime, and physical education are all integral to not just physical development, but social, emotional, and academic success. Read More

December 17, 2015

You may or may not know that I have taken up running this year. After many, many years between my athletic career in my younger days and my begrudging acceptance of middle age, I have embraced running as a return to physical fitness and I hope, mental sharpness. Along the way, I’ve joined the “cult” of runners and found partners among the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and parent community of MPA. Just this past weekend, Ross and I hosted an informal brunch after the Reindeer Run around Lake Harriet. Since we live only six blocks away, I thought it would be nice to have a few people over. Little did I know we would have such a wonderful turnout at our home!

I cannot express the joy I felt in opening up our home to middle and upper school students, their parents, and my colleagues. To me, it captured the amazing spirit of community that exists at MPA. I thought to myself, “At what other school would one find such a gathering?” And, “Where else would I, as Head of School, feel this comfortable?” Only at Mounds Park Academy, I’m certain. Read More

December 10, 2015

I’m sorry to be a “Debbie-Downer.” If you are a fan of Saturday Night Live, you know the skit I am talking about. Debbie-Downer is the family member who, in the midst of a joyful family occasion, drags down the mood by offering pessimistic and sad bits of information and news. Please forgive me for being a Debbie-Downer at this time of year but I’ve been troubled over the last several days after having read a recent article in The Atlantic magazine entitled “The Silicon Valley Suicides.” The article goes in depth to understand why there have been so many student suicides in Palo Alto, California. Why, in the cradle of innovation, creativity, and optimism, should young people be so despondent?

There are a number of reasons attributed to the terrifying reality, but two important factors have risen to the top: stress and parental expectations. There will always be stress in our lives and the lives of our students. The way we think about stress and what we choose to do about it can affect the impact of a stressful event. Read More

December 3, 2015

The acts of terrorism and violence in Paris, around the world, and even locally in the 4th Ward of Minneapolis have had many of us on edge. As I write, the news has just broken of the terrible shooting rampage in San Bernardino, California. As parents and educators, we struggle for the right words and the right way to help our children understand and make sense of such violence. It becomes even more complicated when violence is linked to race or political ideology, or when terrorism is linked to the refugee crisis. Fears about a particular nationality or religion have been projected onto immigrants who themselves are fleeing from violence.

My son Mateo and I have had a number of very meaningful conversations over the last several weeks about violence, terrorism, and war. I’ve worked hard to help him understand that there are more “good” people than “bad” and that violence is not born of a particular faith tradition. We’ve also talked about the need to be compassionate and that all people have dignity and are deserving of respect.

Mounds Park Academy is committed to building an inclusive community where students and adults feel safe, have a voice, and are empowered to be who they are. Read More