Lower School Archives

September 23, 2021

Parent Rebekah Cook and her family live in St. Paul, MN, and have a second grader at MPA.

What do you love about MPA?
I love the communication from faculty and staff. I always feel like I know what to expect and when things are happening, which gives me a sense of agency and allows me to be an active participant in my child’s education.

What initially attracted you to MPA?
My good friend, Summer, works at MPA. She would share about what she was teaching and the discussions she would have with her students, and I was like, “I WANT THAT FOR FRANKIE. How do I get that?!” Also, we visited several different schools and at no other school did kids have such confidence. We were strangers walking down the hallway, and kids would say, “Hi!” Or when visiting their classroom, a teacher would ask them a question and they would all be so eager to respond and share–so eloquent and confident. That’s all we wanted for Frankie–to feel confident and safe to be herself!

How is your child encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
Frankie is curious, empathetic, highly opinionated, and has some natural leadership abilities, but it can sometimes come across at “bossy.” One of Frankie’s goals from her first grade teacher was to not get distracted by others in the room and to put all of her focus on her own work so she could feel challenged and proud. I LOVED this! Her teacher didn’t discourage her to be different or to simulate, but to identify her weaknesses and strengths and channel all of that to make her the best she can be! Read More

Maintaining The MPA Experience

September 23, 2021

from Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

It always seems as though the battery on my cell phone is running low. Maybe it’s because I have an older model, or often forget to close apps and plug it in. It is probably the combination of all those factors, although I often blame it on Waze, a crowd-sourced GPS traffic app I use every day that requires a great deal of power to operate.

I think we can all agree that the last 18 months of the pandemic have drained our collective batteries. COVID-19 has been like the Waze app—always open, always draining, hard to close down. Similarly, political discord, social unrest, racial tension, and climate events have also acted like apps that are constantly open and continually draining our reserve. My kids chastise me to close out my apps when I am done using them. (I wish they would do the same with their dirty dishes!) I have decided to follow their advice. Instead of allowing the pandemic to dominate my home screen, it will become just one of many apps on my phone. We must take COVID-19 very seriously, to be sure, but we must also move forward.

That said, our priority is to be on-campus for in-person learning all year. While we are carrying forward many lessons learned during the pandemic, we know how important it is for students to bring their whole selves to school each day. The Minnesota Department of Health (and all available public health guidance) agrees that the benefits of being physically present in school are significant and creating conditions that help safeguard in-person instruction is a priority.

We’ve designed our plan with the MPA mission in mind. Not only are we committed to keeping in-person learning available to students, but we know that preventing on-campus spread may help to reduce the amount of community spread within the Twin Cities. We want to “do right” by doing our part. Layered mitigation remains our shared responsibility: symptom monitoring, prompt reporting of symptoms and exposure, minimizing gatherings and travel, and higher risk activities (particularly for the unvaccinated) in addition to masking, hygiene practices, enhanced ventilation, onsite testing, and the variety of other strategies we have successfully employed during our COVID response.

Thanks to our shared commitment to all of our recommendations and guidelines, we’ve been able to not only have students be in person and learning with their teachers and classmates, but they’re experiencing all that an MPA education has to offer including safe athletics, robust support services, continuity of theatre classes and curriculum, resumed music education, clubs and activities, and a return to many on campus events.

We should celebrate our community’s commitment to vaccinations: 97% of eligible students and 98% of eligible adults have been fully vaccinated. Once vaccines become available for younger ages, which may be much sooner than we thought, we strongly urge parents to seek vaccines for those under 12 as well. When that occurs, we look forward to relaxing a number of protocols that are currently in place.

It’s Time For MPA’s Fall Preview

September 23, 2021

Invite a friend, neighbor, colleague, or family member to join us for MPA’s largest PreK-12 admission event, the MPA Fall Preview! Held virtually on Sunday, November 7 starting at 2 PM, this event will be a structured program that will allow prospective students and parents to get a sense of what makes MPA an exceptional place to learn and grow.

Kindly invite your friends and neighbors to RSVP in advance for this engaging program at moundsparkacademy.org/RSVP. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Admission at 651-748-5577 or admission@moundsparkacademy.org. We can’t wait to meet them!

Lower School Division News

September 23, 2021

from Renee Wright, Lower School Director

Monday Morning Meetings In Lower School
On many Mondays Lower School students gather for a Monday Morning Meeting. Our first Monday Morning Meeting of the school year took place on Monday, September 20 at 8:30 AM via Zoom. Coming together for these meetings unites the Lower School and sets the direction for the week ahead.

Our Monday Morning Meeting follows an agenda which encourages student participation. To start the meeting students get moving for “Brain Dance” led by Ms. Espeland. Brain Dance is composed of eight developmental movements that fire up the central nervous system and encourage the brain and body to work together. Often times, students are moving to the music they are learning about in music class. This week students were moving to the music of Esperanza Spalding, a well-known jazz string bass player, singer, composer, and teacher. Students also meet new faculty/staff during the “Who’s Who at MPA?” segment of the meeting. This week students met third grade teacher, Mrs. Colianni. She shared information and virtual photos about herself and her family. Another important agenda item is “Student Splash” when students present what they are learning in the classroom. This week fourth graders presented information about our Conflict Manager program which empowers fourth graders to help Lower School students solve conflicts on the playground. Other fourth graders shared a science lesson on variables. During the “Word Wizard” segment of the agenda a fourth grade student is quizzed on the meanings of the Words of the Week. It is inspiring to see our fourth graders show their vocabulary skills as word wizards. Lastly, as a way to chart the course for the week students hear about events of the week during the “Joyful Journey” segment of the meeting. This week the students heard about Homecoming and the special things they can look forward to next week. These meetings last about 30 minutes and end with the MPA School song as a way to show school spirit and start the week on a high note.

Monday Morning Meeting is a wonderful way to start the week. The meetings are a beautiful collaboration between teachers and students. Everyone benefits from the Monday Morning Meeting experience. Lower School students experience and get comfortable with public speaking and find it rewarding to present at the meeting. Teachers believe the meetings build community within Lower School. These meetings are a highlight of the week for everyone!

Conflict Managers
Fourth graders at Mounds Park Academy received conflict management training during the first few weeks of school for their role as Conflict Managers. Each day for the rest of the school year two fourth graders (on a rotating basis) will assist Lower School students with conflicts as they arise on our playground. This is a wonderful leadership opportunity for the fourth graders and a terrific service to our LS students. It is honorable to see how seriously our fourth graders take this responsibility.

Homecoming Happenings
September 27 – October 1 is Homecoming Week at Mounds Park Academy! This is an exciting time to come together as a community to show school spirit and celebrate our fantastic school. Lower School students will be involved in many of the special events throughout the week as a way to help students experience the Homecoming tradition at MPA. Below you will find the list of Lower School events throughout the week and special opportunities your child may want to participate in.

Monday, September 27: Pajama Day for all LS students.
Friday, October 1: Spirit Day! Students should wear their Homecoming T-Shirt and non-uniform bottoms. We encourage the MPA colors blue and white!

Recess Events:

Recess Photo Booth: Students will have the opportunity to get their photo taken with MPA spirit props at the Homecoming Photo Booth during recess. Photos will be made available to families on Schoology.
Thursday, September 30: All Lower School Students will gather together at the end of recess to sing and sign the MPA School Song as one group. Ms. Espeland will lead the song and our communication office will document this special event with a video. This will also be shared on Schoology for parents to enjoy.

Coloring Sheet
Lower School students took home an MPA Panther coloring sheet this week to promote Homecoming. Encourage your child to color the Panther and return the sheet to school during the week of September 27. We will hang their beautiful pictures in the LS hallway for everyone to enjoy!

Ways To Foster Lifelong Reading Habits

Provide a wide variety of reading material. Children need to experience reading fiction and non-fiction, magazines, graphic novels, and comic books. Children need access to lots of texts to help them discover their interests. You never know what will absorb a child when reading.
Celebrate all reading. Children will read more if given choices in what they read. Do not push children to read harder books, give up picture books or comics, or limit their reading choices when they are selecting books for pleasure. Praise them for reading and show interest in the books they choose.
Limit screen time. The more time children spend using electronic devices and watching television, the less they read. Encourage children to read books or magazines in print to develop reading stamina.

Credit: Eight Ways for Parents and Teachers to Foster Wild and Lifelong Reading Habits, by Donalyn Miller. Miller is an education and literacy consultant.

Dates To Remember

September 27 – October 2: Homecoming Week
September 30, October 7, October 8: Parent/Teacher Conferences
October 8: No Classes
October 20 – 22: No Classes/Fall Break

Homecoming Celebration And Spirit Week Reimagined

September 16, 2021

September 27 – October 2
Join us as we reimagine our annual Homecoming festivities in light of COVID-19 health and safety concerns. We are offering division-specific opportunities for students as a part of a weeklong celebration, building spirit for MPA Athletics and our entire community.

Upper School Activities:

MPA Student Council Spirit Week Dress Up Days: September 27 – October 1
Upper School student only BBQ: October 1, 5-8 PM, Benz Courtyard
Upper School student dance: October 2, 8-11 PM, Benz Courtyard
Free Homecoming-themed MPA t-shirts for all Upper School students

Middle School Activities:

Middle School Game Day: October 1, 10 AM-3 PM, South Lawn (Parent Volunteers needed!)
Spirit Week Dress Up Days September 27-October 1
Free Homecoming-themed MPA t-shirts for all Middle School students

Lower School Activities:

Pajama Day for all Lower School Students: September 27
Spirit Wear Day with Homecoming T-shirt and non-uniform bottom: October 1
Homecoming Spirit Photo Booth and Special Appearances by the MPA Panther: September 27-October 1
Homecoming Panther Coloring Sheets available for students
Free Homecoming-themed MPA t-shirts for all Lower School students

MPA Athletics Schedule Saturday, October 2
Please note: Only athlete household members may attend in person. Join in the fun and cheer on our Panthers by streaming games live! Learn more at https://www.moundsparkacademy.org/athletics/

Varsity Girls Soccer vs New Life Academy 11 AM (available for streaming)
Varsity Boys Soccer New Life Academy 1 PM (available for streaming)
Varsity Volleyball 9 AM-2 PM (continuous streaming viewing)
JV Boys Soccer New Life Academy 11 AM (not available for streaming)
Varsity Girls Tennis vs Como Park and Cretin Derham Hall (not available for streaming)

Homecoming Parent Gathering
Parents, would you like to share your MPA Spirit and support our student athletes? Join the MPA Parents Association for an all-parent coffee and community building meet-up on Friday, October 1 from 7:45 to 10 AM. You’ll find us under the big white tent in the west parking lot, rain or shine. Meet other MPA parents, help to decorate the outdoor fields, and write messages of encouragement for our athletes. Go Panthers!

The Responsibility of Bold Innovation

September 16, 2021

from Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I have to admit I am a big fan of dystopia books, film, and television. Favorite books include “The Stand” by Stephen King and “Swan Song” by Robert McCammon, movies such as “The Day After Tomorrow” and “I Am Legend”, and television shows like “The Leftovers” and “The Walking Dead.” It’s not that I like gloom and doom or enjoy blood and gore. Rather, I see dystopian literature, films, and television as windows into the human condition, what humans are capable of in the face of horrific conditions, great suffering, or terrible injustice, and the triumph of the human spirit.

Living through the last several weeks, let alone the last 18 months, has been all too much like a dystopian novel. Wildfires in the west, hurricanes in the south, the drought here in Minnesota combined with the lingering effects of the pandemic, all present a series of challenges that are testing the fabric of our society. Like characters in a dystopian movie, we are learning a great deal about ourselves, what we value, and what we are willing to do to endure.

Imagine my surprise last week when dystopia seemed to invade my professional life when I came across the article “Schooling in the ‘Fifth Season’” by Justin Reich in the latest edition of one of my favorite education journals, Educational Leadership. What caught my attention was a quote from a study conducted by the United States Change Research Program, “Humans are re-engineering the geo-chemistry of the planet to be inhospitable to our current civilization. As average temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more common, there will be more fires, more floods, more freezes, more novel disease events, and accompanying migration, civil unrest, and conflict.” (Reidmiller, et al., 2018) While I’m not sure I agree with this assessment, I believe that conducting school no just like we did 18 months ago would be a mistake. Educational systems must be inherently structured to pivot and change and to become more agile and proactively responsive. Read More

Connecting With The MPA Parents Association

September 16, 2021

Homecoming Coffee
Join us for an all school morning coffee to celebrate Homecoming on Friday, October 1 from 7:45-10:00 AM. Have a hot cup of coffee and, if you choose, show your support for our athletes by helping to decorate the tennis courts and soccer field fence as well as writing messages of encouragement for our student athletes. We’ll be under the tent in the west parking lot, rain or shine. Go Panthers!

Faculty and Staff Appreciation Sign Up
Fall at MPA is filled with traditions…The first day of school, picture day, after school sports, that first missed homework assignment and Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week. Help the PA keep the tradition of supporting our faculty and staff by donating snacks and beverages during this busy week. They’ll be available all week for staff to grab at their convenience. Donations can be brought to your assigned drop off door during morning drop off (LS, MS, or US). To sign up, click the link below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F084DACA622A5FB6-fall1

Parents Connect: Wednesday Morning Walks
The Parents Association invites parents and guardians to get together Wednesday mornings after drop off with Michelle Mick. We’ll meet at the flagpole near the LS entrance. LS, MS and US families are welcome. Chat with new parents and connect with friends. Younger children are welcome to walk with us.

Remember to bring a mask to all events! Hope to see you there!

Parents Connect: Monday and Thursday Mornings in the Garden
Get your hands dirty after drop off, helping in MPA’s gardens. No experience necessary. Come and help weed, plant, dig, or sow, all are welcome. How long you stay is up to you. If Michelle Mick is not at the flagpole, go around the corner, in the Library gardens, next to Door #2.

A Commitment To Growth

September 9, 2021

from Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

On Wednesday morning I had the pleasure of attending the first Lower School CHAMP assembly of the new school year. If you are not familiar with CHAMP, it stands for “Character Happens At Mounds Park.” My day began greeting students as they entered school wearing a rainbow of designated colors unique to their grade level. The assembly would ordinarily take place in person, but instead students gathered via Zoom to engage joyfully in song, learn about the attribute of the new year, and listen to a book read by librarian Nancy Lage. Afterwards, classroom teachers invited students to share their thoughts and experiences on the theme.

Now in its eleventh year, the CHAMP program will continue to focus on its primary philosophy of guiding students to act with a specific set of traits to produce responsible citizens. As explained by Renee Wright, Lower School Director, classes will continue to focus on the eleven attributes in order to endorse real-life application of Friendship, Compassion, Respect, Inclusiveness, Courage, Self-control, Responsibility, Cooperation, Mindfulness, Integrity, and Perseverance. The focus this year will be on being accountable and students will focus on being accountable to self, family, school, and community. Read More

Lower School Division News

September 9, 2021

from Renee Wright, Lower School Director

Our first CHAMP assembly took place on Wednesday, September 8. I am excited to share that our focus for this school year will be on ACCOUNTABILITY. Students will practice using CHAMP character traits to be the best version of themselves on campus, at home, and in their community. They will learn the importance of making good choices and take responsibility for their words and actions. At our assembly we were all inspired by the book, “I Am Human…A Book of Empathy,” by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Being human means we are full of possibility. We learn, dream big, and wonder. At times we make mistakes but learn from them. We mindfully strive to act with compassion and empathy to others and ourselves.

As a follow-up to the CHAMP assembly teachers led a community circle in the classroom to talk about being responsible. Students shared their thoughts and ideas to the following questions:

What does it mean to you to be responsible?
What have you done in the past week that shows responsibility?

Encourage your child to be responsible at home. Being responsible is an important quality for school success. You can help your child develop these qualities by establishing reasonable rules and procedures in your home and reinforcing them consistently. Expecting your child to complete simple tasks or chores is important to building responsibility. Break jobs down into smaller steps and praise your child’s efforts. Children feel good about being contributing members of the family.

Parent and School Partnership
Mark your calendar for parent/teacher conferences. Please see the dates below when conference times will be offered.

Thursday, September 30–3:30-7 PM
Thursday, October 7–3:30-8 PM
Friday, October 8–8 AM-4 PM (No Classes)

You will receive a communication soon from the Lower School Office with information on how to sign up for a conference. Please make attending conferences a priority. Conferences are extremely important and provide teachers the opportunity to team with parents to help students be successful. Lower School homeroom conferences are scheduled for 25 minutes and specialists conferences are scheduled for 10 minutes.

After-school Pick-up Name Request
If you pick-up your child in the drive-up lane after school it would be helpful if you would place a sign with your last name on the dash, so it is visible in the window on the right side of your vehicle. This will help speed up pick-up procedures. Thank you in advance for your attention to this new procedure!

Dates to Remember

Monday, September 13: Picture Day
September 27-October 2: Homecoming Week
October 20-22: No Classes/Fall Break

The Magic Of A Noisy Classroom

September 2, 2021

After several months of quiet and sometimes eerie peacefulness, the hallways and classrooms are abuzz with energy and joy this week. And so, it should be as the MPA family comes together again for a new school year. With 139 new students and an overall enrollment of 577, much of our time over the last week has been dedicated to building community and developing relationships with one another.

There are volumes of research demonstrating that when students feel like they belong, self-esteem, positive peer relationships, classroom engagement, academic achievement, positive attitudes toward school and learning, resilience, and many other positive attributes increase. One of those volumes collecting dust in the stacks of the University of St. Thomas Library is my own dissertation on the importance of creating a school culture that is grounded in relationships.

Late last week, I was drawn to a classroom by the laughter emanating from it. Rather than be concerned, I simply smiled, for I learned early in my career as a teacher and administrator that there is magic in a noisy classroom. What on the surface may seem a bit chaotic or messy can in reality be a very intentional experience with students engaged in their own education, building relationships, and learning collaboratively, in a robust and captivating place. Read More