Lower School Division News April 18, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars

  • Friday, April 19: Pairing Assembly, 2:20-3 PM
  • Friday, April 19: Spring Auction, 6:30-11 PM, Dellwood Golf Club, bid from home >
  • Wednesday, April 24: HeadSpace “Inspiring Global Responsibility,” 3:15-4:15 PM, Library
  • Thursday, April 25: LS/US Haiti Cultural Celebration, 1-3 PM, Family Commons, Gallery
  • Tuesday, April 30: LS Parent Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, Library
  • Thursday, May 2: Grades 4-8 Family Dinner, 5:15-6 PM, Family Commons
  • Thursday, May 2: Grades 4-8 Transition Meetings, 6-6:45 PM
  • Friday, May 3: New Family Panther Party, 4-5:30 PM, volunteer >
  • Wednesday, May 15: CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-9 AM, Family Commons
  • Wednesday, May 15-Friday, May 24: FastBridge Testing (K-4)
  • Friday, May 24: Senior Walk, 1 PM, MPA Campus
  • Monday, May 27: No Classes, Memorial Day
  • Tuesday, May 28: Field Day, 8:30-11 AM, Soccer Fields, South Lawn
  • Tuesday, June 4: Last Day of School, All School Yearbook Assembly and Signing, 8-10:30 AM
  • Tuesday, June 4: Early Release, 10:30 AM

We’re feeling spring fever in Lower School! Thank you to all parents who participated in the recent Parents Association Cultural Celebration and to those who continue to contribute to the Lower School duty-free lunches. We so appreciate your support! As we gear up to end the year strong, please review the updates below:

CHAMP News
At our CHAMP assembly on April 17, we focused on the CHAMP attribute of friendly. We enjoyed learning a rap and dance to the song “The Good Friends” by artist Mr. B. Our next CHAMP assembly is May 15, and we will be learning about having self-control. Please send your child(ren) to school on May 15 wearing their CHAMP colors!

Caution: Prime Drink
We have noticed that some students are bringing Prime drinks to school for snack and lunch. Please note that Prime has ingredients that contain tree nuts and is manufactured in a facility where additional nuts are present and processed. Therefore, the Prime drink does not meet our Lower School allergy-aware policy. Please refrain from sending the drink to school with your child.

LS Visiting Author: Yangsook Choi
We had such fun meeting and learning from our visiting author, Yangsook Choi! After flying all the way from Seoul, she led our PreK-grade 2 students in a workshop on writing and illustration, inspired by her book “A Letter to My Friend.” Then, the students in grades 3-4 learned about the artistic process of storytelling inspired by “The Name Jar.” Lastly, 20 budding authors and illustrators from the Lower School got feedback on their work from Yangsook and gave feedback to their peers. The author shared that she was so impressed by our students and teachers at MPA! See all the photos here!

May Sprit Days: Wear Your MPA Gear
On Fridays in May (May 3, 10, 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 show our Panther pride throughout the month of May!

A Note About What to Wear on CHAMP + Spirit Days
We have received some questions about this, so please note that students are invited to wear their CHAMP shirts (on CHAMP days) and MPA spirit wear (on spirit days) along with uniform bottoms.


Parent Engagement Strengthens Our School Community

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Spring is a season of renewal, a time when both nature and our school community come alive with energy and activity. At MPA, spring is particularly vibrant, filled with concerts, performances, games, meetings, celebrations, and cherished traditions like the Moving Up Ceremony, the Senior Walk, and the First Grade Poetry Picnic.

As we embark on this busy season, I want to ensure that all parents and guardians are fully informed and engaged. You can expect to receive invitations to a variety of special events and gatherings in the coming weeks. I encourage you to stay connected by regularly reading Panther Post and the division news linked from it and keeping an eye on your email for important updates and announcements. We are committed to communicating with you in a timely and effective manner and we hope that’s helpful—especially during seasons like this.

While I understand that everyone leads busy lives, we believe that parent engagement is vital to the success of our school community. Your participation in events and activities enriches the educational experience for your child and strengthens our overall community. I value your input and involvement and want to make it as easy as possible for you to participate in the ways that work best for you.

Here are a few upcoming events where I hope to see you …

Connect With MPA’s Incoming Middle School Director
I am excited to welcome Paul Errickson, our incoming Middle School director, to MPA May 2-3. Paul will be meeting with teachers, students, and administrators during his visit. Parents are invited to join Paul for coffee on Friday, May 3 at 8:15 AM in the Library. He will also be in attendance at the transition meetings, dinner, and concert the evening of May 2.  Read More


Global Responsibility: A Pathway to a Connected Future

Heads Message from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Over spring break, I traveled to South Korea and China to meet with parents, students, teachers, and educators in both countries. The trip’s purpose was to further enhance our school’s commitment to global responsibility and awareness. I first traveled to South Korea with Cory Becker-Kim, MPA’s international student program coordinator, to establish a stronger presence in the Korean educational marketplace and introduce MPA to interested students and parents. Our goal there was to showcase the unique approach to education that defines MPA: a holistic, experiential, liberal arts education that nurtures the whole child.

In China, I had the privilege of visiting eight schools and one university and met with a number of school leaders and educational officials. Throughout my visit, I enjoyed engaging in profound discussions about the future of education and the importance of global citizenship. I was struck by the genuine interest in our educational approach, particularly our focus on fostering global responsibility and citizenship.

Global responsibility is a key anchor of our school’s mission statement. It is also part of the first priority of 2024ward, our strategic plan: “Empowering students to live, learn, and thrive in today’s complex, global society.” This commitment is rooted in our belief that we must prepare our students for the world that awaits them—a world that demands global thinking, effective communication, and responsible contributions.

Read More


MPA Artists Receive 26 MSAA Awards

The Art Department is thrilled to share the list of students honored in the 2024 Minnesota Scholastic Art Awards:

  • Zephyr Bulera ’24, Painting, Honorable Mention, “Ziibi”
  • Clara Deneault ’25, Drawing, Honorable Mention, “Fragmented Still Life”
  • Arlo Dickson ’26, Drawing, Honorable Mention, “Kaleidoscope”
  • Leo Eakin ’24, Drawing, Honorable Mention, “Manhattan Bridge”
  • Paul Fertig ’25, Painting, Honorable Mention, “Poisoning Mother Nature”
  • Grace K. ’27, Painting, Gold Key, “Untitled”
  • Aixa Kellermann ’24, Digital Art, Honorable Mention, “Coyotes Are Invading New York!”
  • Aixa Kellermann ’24, Drawing, Honorable Mention, “Great Blue Heron”
  • Aixa Kellermann ’24, Mixed Media, Gold Key, “Watcher”
  • Nicole Kim ’26, Fashion, Gold Key, “Dress with Red, Blue, and Yellow”
  • Nicole Kim ’26, Fashion, Silver Key, “The Color of the Earth”
  • Ash Klann, ’26, Painting, Honorable Mention, “Actuality”
  • Ash Klann ’26, Painting, Honorable Mention, “Mechanized”
  • Ellie L. ’27, Drawing, Silver Key, “Shading Practice”
  • Ellie L. ’27, Drawing, Honorable Mention, “Autumn Feast”
  • Lilly Liao ’26, Drawing, Silver Key, “Charcoal Drapery”
  • Elena M-S. ’27, Drawing, Honorable Mention, “Still Life in Yellow”
  • Elena M-S. ’27, Painting, Silver Key, “Winter Scene”
  • Elena M-S. ’27, Photography, Gold Key, “Anni”
  • Lia Sonka ’24, Ceramics, Honorable Mention, “Lotus and Lily”
  • Lia Sonka ’24, Ceramics, Silver Key, “Cacti”
  • Lia Sonka ’24, Painting, Honorable Mention, “Wildflowers on Repeat”
  • Yuhan Zou ’25, Drawing, Silver Key, “Duomo di Milano”
  • Yuhan Zou ’25, Painting, Honorable Mention, “White Bird”
  • Yuhan Zou ’25, Painting, Honorable Mention, “Pieta”
  • Yuhan Zou ’25, Painting, Honorable Mention, “Breathe”

The Scholastic Art Awards is a highly competitive, nationally recognized competition for students ages 13-18. Gold Key awards will go on to competition at the national level.
The list of awards represents a variety of mediums, styles, and techniques, as well as countless hours of work over the course of years of skill development. We are so proud of the accomplishments of these artists! See an album of their award-winning work here.

 


Community Meets Experiential Learning

Upper school student working with lower school student on STEM projectThis message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the April 11, 2024 issue of InsideMPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

Earlier this week, we celebrated the solar eclipse with a day of cross-divisional activities, STEM education, and a community-wide viewing. Upper School students transformed the Family Commons into a space laboratory and spent the morning leading Lower School students through experiential activities that explained the science behind the eclipse and why it was such a phenomenon. Students rotated from station to station where they were taught the physics of the eclipse, experimented with black lights and photons, demonstrated the movements of planets, and practiced safe viewing with their eclipse glasses. They were over the moon, pun intended, to learn from their older peers who engaged with them in a way that defines our PreK-12 school.

The sense of community here not only creates a safe, inclusive environment for our students and their families–it extends to supporting lifelong learners on their journey of a joyful education. The laughter echoing through the Family Commons was heard throughout the school, and the look of pure awe on our littlest Panthers’ faces was not just for the phenomenon in the sky; they were looking up at the leaders of the student body, and at their own future at MPA. One day, perhaps for the next eclipse years from now, they will be the Upper School students leading the way and providing new Lower Schoolers with these memorable moments at school.

Even though we couldn’t see the eclipse through cloudy skies, what we did see was a PreK-12 community, gathered in joyful excitement to learn and be together.


Speech Team Wins Section Title To Return To State

MPA SpeechAfter winning the Minnesota State High School League’s Class A title last year, the Mounds Park Academy speech team put itself in a position to repeat by taking the Section 4A title on Saturday at St. Croix Lutheran Academy, sealing another berth to state for the Panthers. Eight students won their respective events, helping key the trip back to the state tournament, which will be held on Friday, April 19, at Shakopee High School. Congratulations to the following students for taking the top spots to punch their tickets to state:

  • Paul Fertig ’25 – Extemporaneous Speaking
  • Akshay Somayajula ’24 – Great Speeches
  • Guy Schwieger ‘26 – Humorous Interpretation
  • Zainab Lodhi ’25 – Informative Speaking
  • Ash Klann ‘26 – Original Oratory
  • Annika Binstadt ’25 – Poetry Reading
  • Andrea Pugh ’26 – Prose Reading
  • Maggie Banks ‘24 Storytelling

Sean Holland ‘25, Amila Avdic ‘27, Amal Sastry ‘25, Mari Minear ‘25, Mina Kim ‘26, Nico Bergh ‘27, Rowan Mulrooney ‘25, Oslo Norcross ‘27, Zoya Nayak ‘25, Nabila Artan ‘26, Lucy Mayer ‘27, Pahwa Yang ‘24, and Greta Hanson ’24 will join the eight, having all placed in the top three in their fields to represent MPA at the state competition. Just missing out on state berths had Jake Wyant ‘27, Warner Reid ’26, Sidd Sastry ‘27, Victoria Lin ‘27, and Soumya Raman ‘24, who all still earned placements during the section tournament.

Following the state tournament, some action still remains for the Panthers on deck. In May, the team will travel to Nebraska to compete at the NIETOC National Tournament. Those participants had to qualify throughout the season and include the following:

Maggie Banks, Nico Bergh, Kelvyn Boddipalli, Paul Fertig, Greta Hanson, Mina Kim, Ash Klann, Hannabella Li, Zainab Lodhi, Mari Minear, Rowan Mulrooney, Zoya Nayak, Oslo Norcross, Andrea Pugh, Amal Sastry, Sidd Sastry, Guy Schwieger, Akshay Somayajula and Pahwa Yang.


MPA Sailing: All Are Welcome, Grades 7-12!

MPA Sailing

Interested in giving the sport a try? The team is welcoming friends of any team member to come out and see what sailing is all about on April 9.

The MPA Sailing team sails out of White Bear Sailing School with and against teams from White Bear Lake, Mahtomedi High School, Stillwater High School, Saint Croix Prep, Mounds View High School, Hill Murray, and Totino-Grace, gaining crucial communication skills and cooperation on the water.

The White Bear Sailing School features three MPA alums in prominent roles as Toby Sullivan ’19 is the waterfront director, Josh Sullivan ’16 is head coach, and Henry Seum ’23 is a summer coach.


Cultural Celebration Day Is A Week Away!

CC Day

Are you ready for Cultural Celebration Day at MPA? The celebration, which will be held on April 11, from 3-6 PM in the Family Commons, is just a week away! Organized by the MPA Parents Association, the night will feature many of the different backgrounds at our school.

Cultural Celebration Day will entail sweet and savory street food from around the world, including a boba tea bar hosted by Treats, a cereal bar and Boba shop based out of St. Paul. In addition to the food from different cultures, the event aims to teach the steps to Sirtaki, a Greek folk dance, and feature a Kathak dance workshop, a classical Indian dance form, presented by the Katha Dance Theater. Other offerings include going home with some cool body art from an expert henna artist, trying your hand at global crafts such as Greek laurel wreath making or Rangoli, and learning how to use chopsticks. Speaking to community members with booths set up to share their culture and or offer samples of their cuisine is strongly encouraged! Food and drink tickets ($1 each) will be sold at the event. Zabiha, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available.

Looking to help out at Cultural Celebration Day? Sign up to volunteer! Please email sanwarPA@moundsparkacademy.org with any questions regarding Cultural Celebration Day at MPA!


Lower School Division News April 4, 2024

LS Division Newsfrom Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director

Mark Your Calendars 

  • Thursday, April 4: LS Art Show Opening, 6-7 PM, Gallery, US Commons, Rossbach Art Walk, Family Commons
  • Thursday, April 4: LS Music Program 7-8 PM, Nicholson Center
  • Monday, April 9: US/LS Solar Eclipse Party, 8-10:30 AM, Family Commons
  • Tuesday, April 9: HeadSpace “Mental Health Crisis,” 3-15-4:15 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
  • Wednesday, April 10: No Classes, Eid al-Fitr, PreK Panther Care > Panther Care >
  • Thursday, April 11: PA Cultural Celebration Day, 3-6 PM, Family Commons
  • Wednesday, April 17: LS CHAMP Assembly, 8:15-9 AM, Family Commons
  • Wednesday, April 17: LS Duty Free Lunch, 12:15-12:45 PM, Family Commons
  • Thursday, April 18: Spring Book Club With Dr. Hudson, 6-7:30 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
  • Friday, April 19: Pairing Assembly, 2:20-3 PM
  • Friday, April 19: Spring Auction, 6:30-11 PM, Dellwood Golf Club
  • Wednesday, April 24: Spring Musical Preview Performance, 1:35-3 PM, Nicholson Center
  • Thursday, April 25: LS/US Haiti Cultural Celebration, 1-3 PM, Family Commons, Gallery
  • Friday, April 26: Spring Musical Performance, 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center
  • Saturday, April 27: Spring Musical Performance, 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center
  • Sunday, April 28: Spring Musical Performance, 2-4 PM, Nicholson Center
  • Tuesday, April 30: LS Parent Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
  • Friday, May 3: New Family Panther Party, 4-5:30 PM, MPA Campus

I hope all our families enjoyed a restful and fun spring break! The children have enjoyed getting back into their learning routines and gearing up for the end-of-year festivities.

CHAMP News
At our CHAMP Assembly on March 27, we focused on the CHAMP attribute of accountability. Our song about being accountable was set to the awesome Rolling Stones song, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” During the month of March, the Lower School students also enjoyed reading passages about important women in our world during our lunchtime announcements. We learned so much about Amelia Earhart, Oprah Winfrey, and more! Our next CHAMP Assembly is April 17, and we will be learning about being friendly. Please send your child to school on April 17 wearing their CHAMP colors!

Reminder: Lower School Art and Music Show on Thursday, April 4
On Thursday, April 4, the kindergarten through grade four students will be showcasing their artistic and musical talents during the Art and Music Show from 6-8 PM. Please join us in the Rossbach Art Walk, Gallery, and the Nicholson Center to enjoy all the talent that our students have to offer.

Reminder: LS Visiting Author: Yangsook Choi on April 15
Soon, we will have the pleasure of welcoming Yangsook Choi, author of the beloved children’s book “The Name Jar,” as our visiting author. Yangsook is from Seoul, Korea, and she is an incredible writer and illustrator. She will lead writing and illustration workshops for our PreK through grade four students while she is visiting. Please remember to order your copy of “The Name Jar” to be signed by the author by Friday, April 5.

Neighborhood House Food Drive, Led by Fourth Grade
The fourth-grade students are finishing up the book “Home of the Brave” by Katherine Applegate. This story, about a young refugee boy who relocates to Minnesota, is the catalyst that inspired this food drive to collect items for Neighborhood House in St. Paul. Lower School students and their families are asked to donate items between March 28 and April 8. A flyer from Neighborhood House with a wish list of suggested items has been shared on Schoology. This is not an exhaustive list, and personal care items, as well as other foods, are also welcome. Please keep MPA’s food allergy policy in mind when purchasing items. More information about Neighborhood House can be found here. Last year MPA sent over 2,000 pounds of food to Neighborhood House. Let’s see what we can do together this year!

2024 MPA Spring Auction on April 19
We hope to see you at the 2024 MPA Spring Auction: Together, We Can Move Mountains program on Friday, April 19 at Dellwood Country Club. This is your chance to attend a night of fun, inspiration, and community building while supporting MPA with fellow parents, alumni, and friends.


Introducing The Center for Inclusive Teaching & Learning

Heads message from Jennifer Rogers-Petitt, director of development and community engagement

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.

From an early age, I loved stories. I would make them up for myself at playtime. When I began to devour them in books, I couldn’t put them down, and when I started to write down the fantastical comings and goings of my active mind, I never wanted to stop. As I’ve gotten older, had children, and experienced the highs and lows that life offers, I’ve continued to go back to the stories that have opened my eyes, inspired my heart, and made me think. As a fundraiser, I witness the power of our personal and collective stories every day when:

  • I hear from an alum that their appreciation for MPA grows the more they experience in life;
  • I hear from parents about their journey to MPA and their hopes and dreams for what it can offer their children; and
  • I hear the joys and wishes of our faculty and staff as we dream about continuing to do right by our mission and the children in our care.

When I first came to MPA, my own story unfolded: someone not from Minnesota who had never experienced the independent school world and a fundraiser who had always wanted to be thoughtful about how I approached my work. Throughout my career, I have witnessed that if we dream big, tell stories, and stay true to our mission, we will once again spark the beautiful generosity of our community. I’ve now had six years of seeing that generosity come to life at MPA in so many ways: our incredible Family Commons and Martin Lenz Harrison Library, new tools and technology for students, a renovated outdoor track, new scholarship opportunities, COVID crisis funding, underwriting our diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, an innovation fund for teachers, and now, the Center for Inclusive Teaching & Learning. Throughout it all, I have talked with hundreds of community supporters and heard and shared stories of our collective impact through these funds.

Read More