Lower School Archives

May 30, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

You may have heard that I turned 60 last Friday. To my surprise, I was serenaded by the fourth grade in the morning and again in the afternoon by all those gathered for the Senior Awards Ceremony. It was a memorable day, to be sure. I am still coming to terms with turning 60, mostly because I think of myself in my late 40s. As a milestone, however, it reminds me to approach this phase of my life in gratitude for a life well lived and for the many more opportunities ahead of me.

In Roman times, every mile was marked by a stone along roadways with a number that signified the number of miles coming or going from Rome. Today, a milestone signifies a momentous life event or accomplishment, such as a birthday, marriage, graduation, or retirement. Like the days of old, these events mark our journey through life and are a way to measure growth, literally or figuratively. Milestones serve as reminders to pause and reflect and celebrate what matters most in our lives.

There are many milestones at MPA this time of year. In just over a week, we will celebrate the high school graduation of 61 remarkable young adults. We will hold a Moving Up Ceremony to mark the matriculation of the fourth grade to Middle School and the eighth grade to Upper School. Tonight, we will celebrate the careers of dedicated educators Scott Wilson and Kristy Petrich. Read More

Future Collegiate Athletes Share Emotions

May 30, 2024

Congratulations to the six MPA students who were celebrated on College Athlete Recognition Day! Izzy Espinosa, Jay Green, Else Kunze-Hoeg, Ben Murr, Nora Pederson, and David Steinberger will all continue on to the collegiate level to compete in their respective athletics. Aiming to capture some of the emotions shown through on the day of celebration, the six shared sentiments from the day.

Jay Green
School: Macalester College
Sport: Football, track and field
Why did you choose Macalester College? “I chose Macalester because, right away, I think I’m going to be able to play, and the academics are really good.”
What are some of the emotions you are feeling today? “I’m feeling really excited and good about it.”
Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this position? “I want to thank my parents, family, and all my coaches. They always pushed me and got me to where I wanted to be.”

Ben Murr
School: Luther College
Sport: Cross country, track and field
Why did you choose Luther College? “It felt like a really good fit for me. The opportunities to have a flexible cross country program where I could still pursue academics and my other interests pretty heavily is something that really interested me and made me want to choose the school I did.”
What are some of the emotions you are feeling today? “It’s pretty exciting. This is something I wasn’t expecting going into my college search, and it’s pretty incredible that I get to do it.”
Who would you like to thank for helping you get to this position? “I’d like to thank my parents for always encouraging me to do running and track and my coaches, coach (Adam) Pettipiece, Declan (Dahlberg ’18), and Ms. (Bev) Docherty, especially, for really pushing me through these past couple years of cross country despite the pandemic messing with things.” Read More

Welcome To MPA, Andria Mattlin!

May 28, 2024

Welcome to MPA, Andria Mattlin! Andria joined us as the admission and communication assistant and began on May 28. We are so excited to introduce her to our community!

From what school/organization are you coming?
I am coming from St. Paul Public Schools.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
After graduating from the University of St. Thomas with a degree in public relations, I worked as a communications coordinator for a school district. Realizing I wanted to return to the classroom, I completed Hamline University’s teacher licensing program and taught elementary school for 12 years in St. Paul. I am thrilled to combine my passions for education and communications here at MPA.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I first visited MPA as a prospective parent and was so impressed by the confidence displayed by students and the warm and welcoming nature of the staff. I love the connection across the school community and how individuality is celebrated.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
I hope to bring laughter to MPA each day and celebrate the school community’s achievements, both big and small.

What’s your big dream?
My big dream is to positively impact those around me and see orcas in the wild.

What are you and your family passionate about?
My husband Andrew and I have one son, Dawson, a rising kindergartener at MPA. We enjoy reading, spending time with our extended family, and visiting the Children’s Theatre Company.

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I can make balloon animals, a not-so-useful skill I learned from a book my grandma gave me as a child.

All Students Benefit

May 23, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

I recently went through some boxes in my mother’s house and came across a collection of my elementary school report cards. Year after year, very similar comments went something like this: “Bill would do much better if he learned to raise his hand and not blurt out answers during class discussions.” “Bill needs to be better about handing in his assignments.” “Bill scored highly on tests, but his lower grades reflect the absence of homework.” And “If Bill would only try harder, his grades would be higher.” I talked too much, didn’t raise my hand, and didn’t turn in my homework, but I scored very high on tests. Nonetheless, I felt like a failure, which only compounded the problem.

Many years later, I ran into my fifth-grade teacher, who was delighted to know I had earned a doctorate and was experiencing success in my career. “I always knew you’d do well. You had the highest IQ in the class.” I was stunned and wondered what my academic career would be like if we knew then what we know now about ADHD.

While ADHD affects how we learn, there is no correlation with intelligence. It is similar for learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Neurodiversity is used more frequently to promote the idea that conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurodevelopmental conditions are natural variations of the human brain rather than disorders to be cured. People with learning differences may have difficulty acquiring or demonstrating knowledge in traditional ways, but that doesn’t mean they cannot succeed in rigorous coursework or at schools like MPA.

The percentage of students with learning differences has consistently been on the rise in schools across the country. In a recent survey of independent heads of schools from across the United States, 85% said that supporting the learning needs of neurodiverse students is a priority for them. This reflects a 52% increase in just one year, from 2023 to 2024.

Reflections From The MPA Class Of 2024 Lifers

May 20, 2024

Near the end of their final year at MPA, we had the honor of interviewing many of the MPA Class of 2024 Lifers about their time at MPA, the only school they’ve been at for their entire academic career. A group of dedicated athletes, talented musical artists, Peer Leaders, and proud self-proclaimed robotics “nerds,” each of them shared memories and reflections of MPA past and present, looking toward the future well prepared by MPA. Devneet Biring, Jay Green, Greta Hanson, Sylvia Hawley, Micah Hudock, Khushi Jain, Else Kunze-Hoeg, Logan Miller, Ben Murr, Nora Pederson, Hunter Scheible, David Steinberger, and Molly Vergin will graduate on June 8 and join MPA’s Joanne Olson Club, reserved for students whose entire K-12 or PreK-12 journey has taken place here at MPA.

Choosing a school for 13 years means you’re growing up within a strong community that ensures every child here is known. So we asked: How has MPA’s community supported and shaped you over the years?

Jay: Everything I do pretty much revolves around sports, so what’s been really helpful for me is the community. If I’m in the hallway and I see a parent or a teacher, they always ask me how my game was, and that’s something that I really have enjoyed in my time here because it makes me feel seen. That was very consistent from even when I was in kindergarten, just playing in gym class versus now, when I play three sports at a time. That’s something that’s shaped me into a better person. I think now my focus is trying to give that same opportunity to the younger kids that I see and am coaching. I think the community does a very good job of supporting everyone in it. From my perspective, I feel like I’ve been very well-supported by pretty much everyone around me.

Khushi: I agree with that. Being both a tennis athlete and a nerd in robotics has pushed me to do more of what I love. Through tennis, I’ve learned more about myself, about mental health, and other things. Through robotics, I’ve learned how to be a leader, how to speak up, and how to get the team together. Through all these different clubs and activities that MPA has, I’ve learned different skills from each.

Micah: There are a lot of people who have a lot of different interests in a lot of areas. Everyone’s kind of encouraged to do their own thing and have their own interests, and no one is trying to fit into a category. Everyone’s cool to do whatever they want.

Ben: Elaborating on that, I’ve really enjoyed being able to know my class. To actually know people—having a small, very close-knit group—has really helped us understand each other on a deeper level than just, “There’s a person from my class in the hallway.” I find that nice.

Nora: I like how integrated everybody is, whether in sports or other things. For example, in basketball, we did this kid’s camp with the boys’ and girls’ teams where we got to work with Lower and Middle School students, so now when I see them in the hallway I can say hi. And with different classes like choir and orchestra, you get to know people in all grades. With track, since it’s a co-ed sport, I get to talk and know people that I wouldn’t normally. It’s just interesting knowing more than one grade.

Sylvia: The relationships we’re able to build are pretty unique to this school because of the small class sizes. Throughout all my years here, I think all the teachers really make an effort to build a relationship outside of the classroom, to know you on a more personal level. That has allowed me to feel comfortable sharing non-class material with them and getting to know them as people. I think that has shaped my love for learning but also made me want to do more. Read More

Celebrating This Year’s Retirees

May 16, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

In 2017, when Edutopia, a well-respected educational foundation, asked its readers to describe the traits of a life-changing teacher, very few of the responses were about test scores or academics. People overwhelmingly said that great teachers make their students feel safe and loved, believe in their students, model patience, and help their students reach their full potential—all qualities that remain largely unmeasured. I can’t think of a better way to describe the impact of fourth-grade teacher Scott Wilson and library assistant Kristy Petrich, who are retiring from MPA this year.

Many people will be surprised to learn that teaching is Scott’s second career. From 1987-1998, Scott owned and operated a successful restaurant in Winter Park, Colorado. He went back to school and earned a master’s degree in elementary education at the University of St. Thomas. Scott began substitute teaching at MPA in 1999 before becoming a permanent teacher in the 2000-01 school year. Since then, Scott has taught kindergarten, first, second, and fourth grades at MPA.

Colleagues and students describe Scott as kind, gentle, patient, and wise. Scott has always been flexible and supportive of his colleagues. “I once heard someone refer to him as the ‘Lower School Handyman’ because if there’s a flat tire, someone stuck in a ditch, or in need of a help hanging lights or fixing a faucet, he is there,” shared fellow fourth-grade teacher DeeDee Stacy.

Lower School Division News May 16, 2024

May 16, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, May 17: LS PreK Music Family Share, 9-9:30 AM, Panther Center
Friday, May 17: LS Grade 1 Poetry Picnic, 2-3 PM, Playground Area; Martin Lenz Harrison Library (rain location)
Thursday, May 23: LS Grade 3 Field Trip, 9:30 AM-12:30 PM, Off Campus
Friday, May 24: PreK-Grade 12 Spirit Wear Day!
Friday, May 24: Senior Walk, 1-1:45 PM, South Entrance
Friday, May 24: LS G1 Ms. O’Keefe Class Play, 8:45-9:15 AM, Room 21
Friday, May 24: LS G1 Ms. Steingraeber Class Play, 8:45-9:15 AM, Room 21
Friday, May 24: LS Grade 3 Showcase, 1:45-3 PM, Family Commons
Monday, May 27: No Classes, Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 28: LS Field Day, 8:30-11 AM, Soccer Fields, South Lawn
Wednesday, May 29: LS/US Grade 4 Introduction to the Instruments Concert, 10:30-11:20 AM, Panther Center
Wednesday, May 29: LS G3 Ms. Wermager Class Play, 1:15-1:45 PM, Black Box
Wednesday, May 29: LS G3 Ms. Stewart Class Play, 2:15-2:45 PM, Black Box
Thursday, May 30: Development Open House & Volunteer Breakfast, 7:30-9:30 AM, Family Commons
Thursday, May 30: Retirement Gathering, 4-6 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Friday, May 31: LS G4 Mr. Wilson Class Play, 1:15-1:45 PM, Black Box
Friday, May 31: LS G4 Ms. Kimmerle/Stacy Class Play, 2:15-2:45 PM, Black Box
Monday, June 3: LS End of Trimester 3
Monday, June 3: LS G2 Ms. Scalia Class Play, 8:15-8:45 AM, Black Box
Monday, June 3: LS G2 Ms. Fisher Class Play, 9:15-9:45 AM, Black Box
Monday, June 3: LS/MS Grades 4 and 8 Moving Up Ceremony, 1:30-3 PM, Nicholson Center
Tuesday, June 4: Last Day of School, All School Yearbook Assembly and Signing, 8-10:30 AM, Nicholson Center
Tuesday, June 4: Dismissal, 10:30 AM, no afternoon care or transportation home
Tuesday, June 4: Kindergarten Graduation And Class Picnic, 9:15 AM-2 PM, Family Commons, Gallery, Playground
Wednesday, June 5-Friday, June 7: No PreK
Monday, June 10: First Day of PreK

While we are on the threshold of the end of the academic year, and the new beginnings that summer offers, it is important to reflect on our journey thus far. What skills has your child gained over the past 10 months? What were some bumpy spots in their development as humans this year? What were some breakthroughs, triumphs, and successes? These questions could be fun to bring up at the dinner table at home, as we help our students not only set goals for the future but to look back and realize just how far they have come already.

CHAMP News
At our final CHAMP assembly for the academic year, we learned about demonstrating self-control. Mr. Sheehan also helped us to understand self-control in the context of playground games and gave us some great tips for being good sports… and great CHAMPs! The children also heard from their Upper School friends about three different ways that they can help take action in our local communities by participating in the hygiene product drive, the plastic film recycling drive, and the clothing drive. Please check out Schoology in the coming days for more information on these worthy initiatives, which are part of the Senior Service Projects in the Upper School. The students also presented the new trash bin that they earned as part of our Earth Day Challenge. Special thanks to our kindergarten community, who spearheaded this initiative!

May Sprit Days: Wear Your MPA Gear
On Fridays in May (May 17, 24, and 31), Lower School students are invited to wear their MPA gear (sweatshirt or t-shirt) as their top, with uniform bottoms. Let’s continue to show our Panther pride throughout the month of May!

Field Day on May 28
Please look out for more information from our PhyEd team on the upcoming Field Day which will take place on the morning of May 28. The team is looking for parent volunteers to help make the event a success. Please check your email for more. Read More

MPA’s Portrait Of A Graduate And Competency Framework

May 9, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As the school year draws to a close, we begin to celebrate the progress and growth of students, including art shows, concerts, competitions, special events, and ceremonies. The pinnacle of our academic year is commencement on Saturday, June 8. This event is a significant milestone for our school and for the 61 members of the MPA Class of 2024 as we come together to celebrate their achievements and honor their journey.

Other accomplishments are also worth celebrating, such as our progress toward realizing our strategic plan. In particular, I want to call attention to the work of a committee comprised of faculty, staff, and administrators that has been working throughout the year to create a competency framework grounded in our mission and actualizing the MPA Portrait of a Graduate. I’ve written many times before about competency-based (or mastery-based) learning and developing our unique MPA competency framework (these articles date back to 2015, but see “A Roadmap for Continuous Improvement” and “2024ward: An Update” for the two most recent). Before I share the latest update, I’d like to provide some context.

The first priority of 2024ward challenges us to “Empower students to live, learn, and thrive in our increasingly complex and globalized society.” We do this by creating customized pathways of learning for students through curricular innovation and leveraging advances in educational technology. In addition to maximizing the use and integration of technology, MPA has been on a multi-year journey to continually enhance our school’s strengths in hands-on, experiential, project-based learning. Read More

MPA Trio Selected For All-State Choir

May 9, 2024

Congratulations to Warner Reid ’26, Truman Wilgocki ’26, and Chali Yang ‘26, who auditioned and were selected to be members of the 2024-25 All-State Choir program. They were three of 1,491 students who auditioned for the various music ensembles that comprise All-State. Warner will sing in the Mixed Choir under the direction of Jake Runestad, while Truman and Chali will perform as part of the Tenor Bass Choir under the direction of Dr. Derrick Fox. The All-State Choirs convene this summer on the campus of St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN. Camp will conclude with a concert featuring all three All-State Choirs. Warner, Truman, and Chali, we are so proud of you!

Ms. DesLauriers Teams Up With Pilot Light

May 9, 2024

It was from a former colleague that Liz DesLauriers heard about Pilot Light, a Food Education organization that works nationwide to refine lessons and evaluate food education.

“A former co-worker told me about this,” DesLauriers said, who joined on a fellowship for the 2023-2024 school year. “I’ve always done a lot of food education in my classroom, so this step to doing this fellowship wasn’t that much of a change or a big difference from what I am already doing.”

Since the discovery, DesLauriers has found Pilot Light to be a way to further ignite her cuisine teaching in her French classroom to benefit MPA.

“Since joining the fellowship, I’ve definitely put deeper meaning into my food education lessons and approached it from different angles,” she said. “I was using food as a venue for culture, which I still do a ton, but now I’m bringing in different aspects of where your food comes from, how does your food benefits you, and what you can do with food your food yourself as a young student to feel healthier or feel creative. I feel like we are diving deeper into cultures because of that.”