Lower School

MPA Competes At Harvard National Speech And Debate Tournament

February 23, 2024

MPA Speech team at HarvardThe Mounds Park Academy Speech traveled to the prestigious Harvard University National Speech and Debate tournament this past weekend. The tournament included teams from 38 different states, categories exceeding 300 entries each, and is a precursor to the NSDA National Tournament in June. On one of the country’s largest stages in the activity, 14 MPA students shined through three days of competition. Congratulations to the following students on their outstanding achievements:

  • Akshay Somayajula ’24: Top 100 Double-Octafinalist Oratory
  • Amal Sastry ’25: Top 60 and tiebroken from Extemp Speaking Octafinals
  • Nico Bergh ’27: Top 50 and Octafinalist in Humorous
  • Guy Schwieger ’26: Top 50 and Octafinalist in Humorous
  • Zainab Lodhi ’25: Top 25 and Quarterfinalist in Informative
  • Ash Klann ’26: Seventh Place and Semifinalist in Oratory
  • Paul Fertig ’25: Sixth Place and Finalist in Extemp Speaking

The Harvard National Tournament is considered the most prestigious high school Speech and Debate Tournament outside of the official National Tournament. In her speech accepting her nomination to the United States Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson referenced her experience and success at the Harvard Tournament as the reason for her rise to National Champion, and eventually, the highest bench in the country.

Welcome To MPA, Michael Pappas!

February 22, 2024

Michael PappasWelcome to MPA, Michael! Michael joins us as the communications coordinator. We are so excited to introduce him to our community!

What school/organization are you coming from?
I previously worked for Adams Publishing Group.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I graduated from St. Cloud State University before heading to work for the Union-Times and County News Review as the sports editor.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
The school seemed like a very welcoming place for everybody.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA? 
I plan to help push MPA to make it even better than it currently is by helping in whatever way I can. Read More

Lower School Division News February 22, 2024

February 22, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

  • Thursday, February 22: Head of School Search Parent/Guardian Listening Session, 7 PM, see email for link
  • Friday, February 23: Head of School Search Parent/Guardian Listening Session, 8:15-9 AM, Gallery
  • Friday, February 23: LS Grade 4 Battle of the Books, 8:45-10 AM, Library
  • Saturday, February 24: Head of School Search Parent/Guardian Listening Session, 10-10:45 AM, click here to join >
  • Wednesday, February 28: LS Grades 3/4 Orchestra Hall Field Trip, 9-11:30 AM
  • Friday, March 1: Grade 3 Battle of the Books, 10:20-11:20 AM, Library
  • Friday, March 1: SnoDaze Assembly, 2:20-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
  • Friday, March 1: LS End of Trimester 2
  • Wednesday, March 6: CHAMP Assembly, 8:15 AM (wear CHAMP colors!)
  • Monday, March 11: Trimester 2 Report Cards emailed home
  • Monday, March 11-Sunday, March 24: No Classes, Spring Break
  • Monday, March 25: Classes Resume at 8 AM
  • Thursday, April 4: LS Art and Music Show

Lower School
Thank you, Lower School parents and the Parents Association, for helping us celebrate a wonderful Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week! It was heartwarming to visit the teaching kitchen each day and snack on delicious treats. My heart always skipped a beat when I saw the coffee cart rolling down the hallway, and I could enjoy a cup of caffeine and a cherry Pop-Tart (oh, how I missed these when living abroad!). As Trimester 2 is coming to a close, please read on for more updates:

CHAMP News
At our CHAMP assembly on February 21, we celebrated Black History Month by exploring some well-known Black Americans who have contributed greatly to our world. We focused on the CHAMP attribute of courage and heard the beautiful words of Amanda Gorman, the first-ever Youth Poet Laureate. We were able to hear Amanda recite her poem “The Hill We Climb,” filmed at President Biden’s inauguration. Amanda is a member of the “speech difficulty club,” (her words) and is a courageous figure for many reasons. Our next CHAMP assembly is March 6, and we will be learning about being cooperative. Please send your child to school wearing their CHAMP colors!

2024 MPA Spring Auction on April 19
Be on the lookout for information about the 2024 MPA Spring Auction: Together, We Can Move Mountains, scheduled for Friday, April 19 at Dellwood Golf Club. This is your chance to attend a night of fun, inspiration, and community building while supporting MPA with fellow parents, alumni, and friends. Read More

A Sacred Space Inside: The Power of Positive Affirmations

February 22, 2024

Lower School student talking on microphone at champ assembly

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Editor’s Note: Periodically, you will find a guest Head’s Message here from members of the administrative team. We hope you will enjoy reading their thoughts and reflections about life at MPA.

I recently came across, on Instagram of all places, a video clip from an episode of Oprah’s “Super Soul Sunday” featuring the great Dr. Maya Angelou. Dr. Angelou, a female Black American poet and civil rights activist, has inspired millions through her writings and teachings. In this conversation, Dr. Angelou recalled advice she gave to her son when he was growing up:

“He said, ‘I don’t have any friends. How can I get some friends?’ I told him two things. First, in order to get a friend, you must be a friend. And second, there is a place in you that you must keep inviolate. You must keep it pristine, clean, so that nobody has the right to curse you or treat you badly. Say no, when it’s no … Because that place must remain clean, clear.”

As the message sank in and I sat there on my couch, in my pajamas on a Saturday morning, this teaching reminded me of the words of my grandfather. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, my abuelo was a commanding figure in our family. I used to love sitting around the big mahogany table at the tail end of family dinners when the grownups would start drinking coffee and the cousins scattered off to play—this is when the juicy family drama would come out! Sometimes, the grownups would reminisce about the old days, and I often heard renditions of my mother’s great escape from South Bend, Indiana in the late 1950s. At that time, my grandfather returned from serving in the US Navy during the Korean War and was attending Notre Dame University as an engineering student. My mother and uncle were young children in elementary school, and my grandmother worked as a seamstress. One day, they came home and found that slur words for Hispanic people had been painted on the side of their bungalow house. Fearing worse was to come, my grandmother packed up my uncle and mother and escaped on the first train out of South Bend, leaving my grandfather to finish his engineering degree alone. It was years before the family was properly reunited. Read More

Congratulations MPA Skiers!

February 8, 2024

MPA Skiers Alpine and NordicThree members of the MPA Alpine Ski Team earned All-Conference Awards for their efforts at the IMAC Alpine Conference Championship Meet at Buck Hill. Congratulations to Sidney Lundeen ’27, Henry Schwartz ’25, and Jaclyn L. ’29.

Two members of the MPA Alpine Ski Team earned Honorable Mention All-Conference Awards for their efforts at the IMAC Alpine Conference Championship Meet at Buck Hill. Congratulations to Myah Hoeschen ’27 and Jacob Wyant ’27.

Two members of the MPA Alpine Ski Team qualified for State at the Section 4A Alpine Ski Meet. Congratulations to Jaclyn L. ’29 and Vittorio Bloyer ’24. They will be participating at the State Alpine Meet at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, MN on February 13. Read More

MPA Students Experience Music Clinic At University Of Wisconsin

February 8, 2024

Oslo, Julia, and LucyThree exceptional MPA students had the opportunity to attend a prestigious orchestra clinic at the University of Wisconsin-Madison this week. Julia Anderson ’27, Oslo Norcross ’27, and Lucy Mayer ’27 attended intensive rehearsals, guided by university faculty, and all of their hard work culminated in a live concert performance.

“Our MPA musicians are so dedicated to music making and I love that they were able to experience this event,” said Hannah Lawson, MPA’s director of orchestras. “As their director, I want to give my students as many performance opportunities as possible and I’m so proud that they accepted the challenge and can carry this experience with them forever.” Read More

Lower School Division News February 8, 2024

February 8, 2024

fourth grader working in the makerspacefrom Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

  • Friday, February 9: No LS/MS Classes, Conferences
  • Friday, February 9-Thursday, February 15: LS Uniform Sale, 8 AM-3 PM, Atrium
  • Monday, February 12: PreK to Kindergarten Transition Parent Coffee, 8:15-9:15 AM
  • Wednesday, February 14: LS Valentine’s Day Party, 8:30-2:20 PM, Lansing Sports Center, Allergy Aware Guidelines
  • Thursday, February 15: Re-enrollment Deadline
  • Thursday, February 15: LS/MS Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
  • Friday, February 16: No Classes, Professional Development, Panther Club Closed
  • Monday, February 19: No Classes, Presidents’ Day
  • Tuesday, February 20: LS Parent Quarterly Coffee, 1:15-2:45 PM, Gallery
  • Friday, February 23: LS Grade 4 Battle of the Books, 8:45-10 AM, Library
  • Wednesday, February 28: LS Grades 3/4 Orchestra Hall Field Trip, 9-11:30 AM
  • Wednesday, February 21: CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-9 AM
  • Friday, March 1: LS Grade 3 Battle of the Books
  • Friday, March 1: SnoDaze Assembly, 2:20-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center

It looks like an early spring is on its way, and there is a palpable hint of warmth in the air. After living in Beijing, China for several years with my family, I will always treasure these special days in late January and early February, when many cultures around the world celebrate the Lunar New Year. In Beijing, that meant gorgeous red lanterns, lively music, sparkling fireworks, and stuffed red envelopes. As we head into the year of the dragon, please read on for more updates:

CHAMP News
At our CHAMP assembly on January 31, the children were introduced to our Lower School “Rainbow Voices.” With this new shared expectation, students are learning about four different voice volume levels and practicing them where appropriate. This whole-Lower School guideline is part of our initiative to continually refer to common understandings across the children’s day, reducing confusion and increasing personal agency and a deeper sense of belonging. Our next CHAMP assembly is scheduled for Wednesday, February 21. We will be focusing on the CHAMP attribute of “courageous” with a special focus on Black History Month. Please be sure to send your child to school on February 21 wearing their CHAMP colors! Read More

Meet International Student Alum Wei Zhan ’22

February 6, 2024

Wei Zhan '22What are you currently doing, professionally and/or personally? What experiences or relationships have inspired you along the way?
I went to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and am now attending Santa Monica College. Engaging with a diverse and talented group of individuals fueled my passion along the way.

How was your experience at MPA different than other schools?
MPA has an inclusive and open atmosphere, embracing individuals from all backgrounds and creating a welcoming environment for everyone. Read More

Being An MPA Student Is…

January 30, 2024

MPA students working together in a small groupThis message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the January 27, 2024 issue of InsideMPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

Being a student at MPA is a lot of things.

It’s being part of “A generally really diverse, inclusive environment. I fit in like on day one.”

It’s also a place where you will find “Words of encouragement, even when I didn’t really think I needed it,” and opportunities that make you think, “This experience has just made me a much more confident speaker and critical person.”

And even in addition to all of that, it’s “This safe, nurturing, supportive place where I could really explore and learn so many new things.” Read More

Parents Association News January 11, 2024

January 11, 2024

New! Parents Association Trivia Night
Friday, January 26, 6-8 PM
Join us for a joyful evening of dinner and socializing at MPA hosted by Trivia Mafia! Compete to be trivia champions! For parents and guardians of students in PreK-12, $5 per person (adult or child), dinner from Cossetta, childcare available for grades K-6. For more details and to register, click here.

Dr. Hudson’s Book Club
Monday, February 12, 6 PM
One more announcement for our parent readers! Dr. Hudson’s Book Club will be back on February 12, 6:00 PM in the MPA Library. We will be reading “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride. Childcare will be provided. Sign up here to get your copy of the book.

Parent Volunteers Needed for Lower School Valentine’s Day Party
Please contact msotoPA@moundsparkacademy.org if you want to help organize the festivities!