Lower School Archives

January 12, 2018

Kindergarten teacher

How many years have you been at Mounds Park Academy?
I have taught kindergarten at MPA for 34 years.

What do you love about Mounds Park Academy?
I love waking up every morning excited to go to school to learn! I love learning about my students, their families, my colleagues, myself, our community, and the world.

I love when students take one of my lessons and bridges it with a family experience. For example, I introduced Japan for “Letter Jj” and we talked about the Japanese Peace Bell in Duluth, Minnesota. Shortly thereafter, I received a picture of one of my students ringing the bell while on vacation with her family. This proves that what we do is purposeful and meaningful. Our students make connections between their life experiences and school learning.

I love the people with whom I teach. I have had the honor of working with an incredible group of teachers. They have shared their talents, expertise, and life with me throughout the last 30 years. Each one of them has helped me grow and become the teacher I am today. I am grateful.

I love being in a PreK-12 school and watching my former students travel on their life journeys. When last year’s senior class members were in kindergarten, the theme was The Wizard of Oz. I fondly remember the little ones who joined me on the yellow brick road 14 years ago. Oh, the joy of watching them turn into the young men and women they are today. One student from this class indicated she would be president someday. Perhaps I will receive an invitation to the White House to visit her!

I love MPA because all who enter through our doors immediately feel our warmth, our joy, and our passion. They are inspired to dream big and do right. What a gift! Read More

Meet Dr. Ranjan Dahiya

January 12, 2018

Lower, Middle, and Upper School Parent
Woodbury, Minnesota

What do you love about Mounds Park Academy?
The community.

How is your child encouraged to dream big and do right at Mounds Park Academy?
Through their teachers and friends. And from seeing the achievements of other students.

If your child has attended another school, how has your experience at Mounds Park Academy been different?
More challenging and more rewarding. Smaller class sizes. Mounds Park Academy has very engaged teachers who have the time to give valuable one-on-one feedback.

What would you tell another family considering Mounds Park Academy?
We were impressed by how welcoming the students and teachers were when our students started at MPA. And the teachers are very good at building students’ foundational skills.

In what ways has Mounds Park Academy prepared your child for life in the 21st century?
They address multiple aspects of education including critical thinking, productive communication, and technology skills. Read More

Living Lives of Health and Wholeness

January 11, 2018

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Today, Middle School students met in mixed-grade level groups to explore the character trait of perseverance, a core pillar of our Middle School Character Education Program. Each group collaborated to complete two separate challenges related to fostering perseverance and then processed their experience with their teachers. Learning from failure, working together, developing skills such as persistence and tenacity were all a part of the lesson, but in the spirit of MPA, there was also a lot of joyful learning taking place.

Character education is but one part of an overall Mounds Park Academy wellness program. The MPA Strategic Plan, Momentum 2020, has as its first goal, “Empower students to live, learn, and thrive in the 21st century globalized society.” Academic and career success are important and MPA provides students a rigorous and relevant curriculum. But as a school committed to educating the whole child, we also understand that in order to reach one’s full potential, students must also have the knowledge and skills necessary live lives of health and wholeness.

Mental illness and anxiety among young people are on the rise. For instance, by the age of 18, 15-25 percent of adolescents will have experienced a major depressive episode. We also know that suicide is the second leading cause of death for Americans ages 15-34. A recent New York Times article quoted research from the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA that found the percentage of college freshmen reporting feeling overwhelmed rose from 18 percent in 1985 to 29 percent in 2010 and surged to 41 percent last year. These facts paint a grave picture—one that illustrates clearly how critical our work is in this area.

Fostering Citizen Scientists

January 4, 2018

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Just before break, the Washington Post reported that seven words were being banned from official documents being prepared for the 2018 budget at the Centers for Disease Control including “evidence-based” and “science-based.” The national conversation around “fake news” and questions about the veracity of climate change have placed science and science education at center stage. In addition, the steady drumbeat calling for more STEM education has ignited a passionate discourse about science education, particularly within a liberal arts education. In the midst of this often-polarizing discussion, I have repeatedly seen evidence that MPA does science ‘right’ by focusing on applied learning, critical thinking, and a grounding in fostering students to become citizen scientists.

The MPA science curriculum is founded on the principles of active and inquiry-based learning as first developed when the school was in its infancy. Our phenomenal science teachers continue to provide rich, thoughtful, experiences and opportunities for experimental design, while at the same time giving students the background and content they need to succeed in college and beyond. MPA students are encouraged to think critically about science by using their successes and failures in the lab as learning opportunities. What worked? What didn’t? How could it have been improved? Did it prove anything? These questions are best answered through learning by doing.

Meet Ms. Mastel

December 27, 2017

Drama Faculty
MPA Parent

What do you love about MPA?
So many things! As a teacher and a parent, I love that drama is part of the curriculum at MPA. It really shows the dedication of teaching the whole child. I also love that at MPA the “joy of learning” is imbedded into the school’s mission.

How is your child encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
My daughter is given options and choices for her own learning. She is taught skills that encourage independence, self-confidence, and advocacy. But the focus doesn’t stay on the individual—Lily’s teachers have projects that foster collaboration, team building, and simply being a good friend. During a recent “music share,” my daughter was nervous and forget her song … she looked at one of her friends who mouthed the first line and then Lily was ready to go. The next day, that friend began crying when a cookie fell to the ground at the school picnic and Lily immediately turned to comfort her. These are foundations that will last a lifetime.

If your child has attended another school, how has your experience at MPA been different?
Lily was originally enrolled at a different elementary school, until I was hired at MPA. I remember the moment during my tour when I started to look at the school as not just a potential teacher, but as a parent who wants the best for her child. She has more opportunities for physical education, art, drama, music, computers, and for creativity in the Makerspace. Many schools have cut art programs, meanwhile MPA has it as a required class through eighth grade. Also, the small class sizes cannot be beat! Read More

Preview the Joy of MPA at Pajamarama

December 22, 2017

by Leah Abbe Bloem, Orchestra Director

Pajamarama is pure joy at its finest! This year’s event will be once again combined with the Lower School Admission Preview and held on Thursday, February 1. The evening will begin at 5 PM for prospective families and 5:30 PM for current families.

This Mounds Park Academy original event is a concert created by Upper School orchestra students for Lower School students and their families. The creative endeavor gives Upper School students a chance to entertain and engage with the younger children with unabashed delight. They get to remember what it was like to be a little kid, hearing an orchestra for the first time, in such a welcoming, happy, and fun atmosphere.

Celebrating the MPA Community
We are very fortunate to have pre-kindergarten through high school students all on one campus, which builds a strong sense of community that feels like home. The Upper School orchestra students learn the music and plan a carnival with the understanding that the performance is not about them, but rather what they are giving to, and sharing with, the broader community.

The strong connection between Upper and Lower School students is evident every day at MPA, including at this event. Each student is kind and supportive of one another. At the event, the little ones are encouraged to try games again and again until they win, with cheers from the older students. Even those waiting in line will tell their peers in front of them to try again if they didn’t win the first time.

Experiencing the Joy of Musical Performance
Pajamarama is important because it gives the Upper School students a chance to look past the technical side of music education and experience the joy of sharing a musical performance. It also provides the opportunity for the orchestra students to really consider who their audience is and create an experience for them. The Upper School students learn about games and music that they may not even know in order to make each and every audience member feel valued and celebrated. They enjoy having the chance to give back to a school and community they love so much.

Creativity at Mounds Park Academy
Pajamarama began as a Disney concert approximately ten years ago. When I started teaching the orchestras four years ago, I decided to add the carnival portion to the night as well as to make the performance more interactive.

In most ensembles, it is common for the director to make the majority of the decisions regarding music and programming. However, for this performance almost all of the games and music have been planned, designed, and carefully developed by the Upper School orchestra students. Consequently, it is a powerful exercise in directing an entire artistic experience that they then perform for the community. The Upper School students both embrace their honed musical and artistic skills and simultaneously return to the delight of their youth through the games and activities with their younger friends.

Delighting Kids of All Ages
Students and parents alike love the performance. Upper School parents tell me how much fun it is to watch their child act like a little kid again and jump right into all the games, dancing, and singing. It is a reminder that we are all kids at heart and that we don’t have to grow up too fast. Along with the carnival, we also have milk and cookies at the end of the night, while our characters read bedtime stories.

At first glance, one would assume that the Lower School students enjoy the performance the most. However, watching these high-school-age students interact with their younger counterparts always proves that they are just as excited as the grade school students. In rehearsals, the Upper School students are slightly hesitant to sing songs by Raffi and dance to the Hokey Pokey while trying to play their instrument, but once they get a chance to dance and sing with the younger kids, one can see nothing but smiles on all of their faces.

Prospective families should RSVP in advance here! We look forward to welcoming you to Pajamarama!

Meet Jonas Lim

December 8, 2017

Lower School Parent

What do you love about MPA?
The quality of the teachers, and the genuine concern, focus on, and love for the students. The philosophy of educating the students to be intelligent and socially responsible individuals.

How is your child encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
The class curriculum provides my daughter the opportunity to try different things and develop the skills necessary to accomplish anything or everything she wants to do. MPA encourages and informs my daughter about what is right, but also teaches her to respect that everyone is free to have their own opinion.

What would you tell another family considering MPA?
I would tell you that your child will receive focused attention by the teachers. Your child will be allowed to be whoever she wants to be. Your child will be encouraged to be a unique individual at her own pace. Your child will become socially responsible and able to tackle the challenges of today’s ever changing world.

In what ways has MPA prepared your child for life in the 21st century?
It has given her the chance to develop the skills and intellect needed for today’s world. For example, I like the fact each child is given the opportunity to work on different projects and present those project to other students and/or parents. This allows the child to build confidence necessary for the 21st century, whether it is in communicating with others at a job or articulating their dreams. Read More

The Importance of Play and Movement

December 7, 2017

by Renee Wright, Lower School Director

Lower School students participated in Sports Week the week of November 27. This Lower School tradition is a joyful way to promote physical activity, and as I watched the students immersed in sports activities, I reflected on my own childhood and realize how much I had missed in being a student prior to the enactment and implementation of Title IX. I did not have the opportunity to try out different sports or compete on a sports team. How joyful to watch our students—girls and boys alike—celebrating sports and cheering on each other.

Throughout the week students had the opportunity to tell their sports story and were reminded of the importance of being physically active. On sports dress-up day, students came dressed as soccer players, skiers, dancers, football players, skaters, and more. I was so impressed with the pride Lower School students showed when sharing their sport or talking about the physical activities they participate in individually, on a team, or with their families. When asked why sports are important to them, kindergarteners shared, “Because it is fun to play sports with friends, being active gives you more energy, and playing sports makes your body healthier.”

The kindergarteners were right in identifying the importance (not to mention the fun) of staying physically active. Research shows that sports participation is a significant predictor of a young adult’s participation in physical fitness activities. Three in four adults aged 30+ who play sports today played sports as school-aged children. Only three percent of adults who play sports did not play when they were young (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Harvard University/NPR, 2015). Read More

Lower School Kid Of The Game

November 30, 2017

MPA students in grades PreK-4 are invited to be a Lower School Kid of the Game at an MPA Boys Varsity Basketball home game!

The Kid of the Game will first be introduced before the game, then join the Panthers and coaches on the court for pregame warm ups, and receive an MPA basketball gift and concession stand item. Being a Lower School Kid of Game is free and siblings are welcome to be Lower School Kid of Game on the same night.

“Screenagers” Viewing And Discussion

November 16, 2017

How much time does your child spend looking at screens? On average, children spend six and a half hours a day on screens, and that’s not including in the classroom or while doing homework. Do you think violent video games desensitize people to violence? Have you experienced people using screens to avoid face-to-face interactions? Does your child ever make comments online that he or she wouldn’t make in person? These are all questions that every parent struggles with and MPA would like to help better equip you to navigate this important issue.

We had so many members of our community join us for a viewing of Screenagers, followed by energetic and intriguing discussion. For those who were not able to attend, we will be hosting an additional viewing on campus on January 9 from 8-10 AM in the Recital Hall. Please join us!