Middle School

MPA Parents Association Book Festival 2023

November 16, 2023

December 4-8

The Book Festival is coming up just in time for Winter Break reading or holiday gifts. Each year at MPA, our community supports the Martin Lenz Harrison Library and the joy of reading through the Book Festival. The Parents Association, in partnership with the Library, organizes the sale of new and used books. Book Festival goals include getting books into the hands of our students while supporting Library initiatives. Whether that is the prompt purchase of the next book in a popular new series, school subscriptions to the New York Times, or helping to fund events, the Book Festival exists to enrich and celebrate the Library experience for all MPA students. This is a time-honored MPA tradition that every family is encouraged to participate in! 

We welcome you to support the joy of reading and the Martin Lenz Harrison Library at MPA in the following ways:

Come Shop
Red Balloon Bookstore and Usborne Books will be in the MPA Gallery, December 4-7, 7:45 AM-4 PM, and on December 8, 7:45 AM-12 PM. Credit cards or checks only, please. A portion of all sales benefit the Library. In addition, join us the evening of December 4 until 7 PM for an MPA Shopping Night at Red Balloon in St. Paul.

If you prefer to shop online, you can order from Red Balloon here. Online merchandise from Usborne Books, Kane Miller Books, and SmartLab STEM kits available through PaperPie Learning (formerly Usborne Books & More) can be found here.

You can also shop at Red Balloon Bookstore on Grand Avenue in St. Paul all week. Please mention at check-out or in the comments that you would like your purchase to benefit MPA.

Used Book Sale
Donate your gently loved books for all ages to our Used Book Sale. Carts are at the North and South entrances through December 1 for convenient donation drop-offs. Please, no textbooks, encyclopedias, or travel guides. All proceeds benefit the MPA library. Read More

Giving For The Future

November 16, 2023

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.

Why a lip sync battle? I have been asked that question more than a few times as director of development and community engagement at MPA. I inherited this tradition that started in 2016: an end-of-day all-school assembly on Give to the Max Day. Some have wondered what teachers and staff battling it out with a friendly lip-sync competition has to do with fundraising at an independent school like MPA.

Every year, when we gather to watch the teams put themselves out there in person and our compilation video at the end of the night, this gathering reminds me of why I love MPA. This year, reflecting on how we’ve celebrated as a community on Give to the Max Day in years past feels especially meaningful.

Of course, Give to the Max Day isn’t just about well-rehearsed dance moves or (at times) silly costumes. It’s about the joy, fun, and sense of shared purpose and community a day of giving can spark. And what better way to spark joy than through a lip sync battle? Please know that all community members are welcome to join us in the Lansing Sports Center at 2 PM.

In preparation for this chance for our community to support the area that matters most to them— academic innovation, access, the arts, and athletics—I asked teachers, staff, students, and alums why each area resonates with them. Our third-grade teaching team, Ms. Stewart and Ms. Wermager, shared this with me:

“As new teachers at MPA, we both feel lucky to be in a community where students are encouraged to explore, create, and test out their ideas. One of our focus areas is to provide students with many opportunities to make and create in our classrooms. We wouldn’t be able to implement these activities without funds and materials, so we appreciate that MPA provides us with what we need to make these experiences possible.”

I hope you’ll follow along on MPA’s social media channels to hear more inspiring stories about why an MPA education means so much to our students, staff, and alums.

Today, I am giving to support the type of academic innovation in the classroom that I know my own students have benefitted from. I also support access to an MPA education for every student who can benefit from our whole-child academics, prioritizing collaboration over competition. After making a gift to ensure our incredible arts faculty and staff have the resources they need to continue to guide every student to embrace their creativity and expression, I will give my standing ovation for our Middle School students as they perform in the Middle School play this weekend. And while we’re tallying up final gifts tonight, I’ll know my gift in support of athletics at MPA helps our student-athletes, like the Varsity Swim Team, at their state tournament.

We have a big goal today and many challenges remaining to unlock even more financial support for our students and staff. Join with me and thousands of alums, parents, grandparents, and friends to give generously for today’s students and the future we can all hope for, knowing they’ll be the trailblazers and leaders shaking the world and stirring the human spirit.

Parents Association News and Events November 16, 2023

November 16, 2023

Two New Volunteer Opportunities for MPA Parents/Guardians
The Panther Committee is hoping for your input if you are passionate about Athletics at MPA. If you have a sporty LS student and see MPA athletics in your future, this is a great place to join the team! If you have a MS student who plays club sports and you’re not sure how that translates to MPA sports, this is the spot for you. If you have a US athlete who is hoping to play their sport in college, we may be able to connect you with like-minded families. The Panther Committee will determine topics of interest and work closely with Dan Haase, athletic director, to support MPA athletics. The first meeting will be Friday, November 17 from 1-3 PM in the Porter Conference Room.

If you are interested in topics of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at MPA this is a perfect opportunity to share your passion. The DEIB Committee will determine topics of interest and work closely with Lamar Shingles, Director of Equity and Belonging, to make an impact at MPA. The first meeting will be Tuesday, November 28, from 4-6 PM in the Porter Conference Room.

Thanksgiving Pie Distribution
Tuesday, November 21, 1:30-3 PM
Before Thanksgiving, the Parents Association will be handing out Pies to our MPA staff in the Family Commons. Stop by to help out. There is no sign up necessary!

LS Parent Quarterly Coffee
Tuesday, November 28, 6-7 PM in the Gallery
Join us for the LS Parent Quarterly Coffee. The topic will be “Responsive Parenting: Understanding Developmental Stages.” We will discuss the common stages of development in the Lower School, to help us understand our children better. Read More

Your Gift, Their Future

November 9, 2023

from Bill Hudson, head of school

Confidence in the future is at an all-time low for Americans. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that many Americans hold negative views about our collective future. It’s not hard to see why. Global strife, an uncertain economy, political vitriol, social discord, and climate change, to name a few, all contribute to the current uneasiness many feel.

Yet, I remain a firm optimist. While I don’t discount our current reality, I have faith in the future because MPA students inspire me each and every day. I see eighth graders working together to imagine, research, design, and build future cities that showcase their solutions to a citywide sustainability issue. I see Upper School students grappling with and researching complex topics in debate, forming arguments grounded in evidence and the result of critical thinking. I see Lower School students learning about and practicing essential social skills such as kindness, respect, listening, and conflict resolution. Read More

Middle School Division News November 9, 2023

November 9, 2023

from Jenn Milam, Middle School director

Mark Your Calendars

  • Thursday, November 16: Give to the Max Day, Lip Sync Competition, 2:20 PM
  • Friday, November 17: Bring-A-Friend to MPA Day
  • Friday, November 17-Saturday, November 19: Middle School Show, Puss ‘N Boots
  • Wednesday, November 22: Thanksgiving Holiday Break begins
  • Monday, November 27: Classes resume, and Spring Musical Auditions begin
  • Monday, December 4: MPA Book Festival Begins
  • Tuesday, December 5: Middle School PA Coffee Talk, 6 PM
  • Wednesday, December 6: Founder’s Day Pancake Breakfast, 7 AM
  • Thursday, December 14: Middle School Band, Orchestra and Choir Concert, 7 PM
  • Wednesday, December 20: Last Day of Classes before Winter Break
  • Wednesday, December 20: MS Grades 5/6 Feed My Starving Children, 8-11:30 AM, Off Campus
  • Wednesday, December 20: MS Roller Skating, 12-3 PM, Off Campus
  • Thursday, December 21: Winter Break Begins
  • Wednesday, January 3: Classes Resume

As the weather inevitably gets cooler, it can feel a little less motivating for all things–especially getting up early, maintaining consistent homework habits, and maintaining a pace we’ve set for ourselves since the start of the year. It’s more than OK to take some time to re-evaluate habits, commitments, and hurriedness as we move into the holiday season, which brings with it stress, too. Moreover, the end of one quarter and the beginning of the next should prompt some reflection about what is working and what may need adjustment.

A summative quarter-one grade report will be available to you next week in Schoology. You can expect to receive a letter from me with instructions on how to access them and some tips on using quarterly grades as a moment to teach growth mindset, goal setting, and self-reflection. Read More

Parents Association News and Events November 9, 2023

November 9, 2023

MPA Book Festival
December 4-8
Book Festival is coming up! Just in time for Winter Break reading or holiday gifts! Come and share the love of books and reading with your family. The Book Festival is in-person again this year! Support the joy of reading at MPA!

Used Book Sale
Our students love to browse the used book selection for interesting titles! The PA will be hosting a Used Book Sale at school during Book Festival week. We are asking for donations of gently used books for readers of all ages (hardcover and paperbacks). Please no textbooks, encyclopedias, or travel guides. Donation carts will be set up at the North and South entrances from November 13-December 1 for convenient donation drop-offs. All proceeds benefit the MPA library.

MPA Book Festival Book Club with Dr. Hudson
Dec 7, 6-7:30 PM, MPA Library
“Mad Honey” by Jodi Picoult
Please join Dr. Hudson and fellow book-loving parents for a discussion of Mad Honey. Author Jodi Picoult describes her novel as having “all of the things: alternating narratives, suspense, courtroom drama, and a love story at its core. It’s about authenticity, identity, and it explores the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become our true selves.” Please sign up here to let us know you will be coming and to get your copy of the book here. Read More

Nurturing A Joyful Environment

November 2, 2023

from Bill Hudson, head of school

We had a marvelous turnout for Grandparents and Special Friends Day with more than 450 guests. I received a handwritten thank you note from a grandparent that expresses much of what I heard from multiple grandparents/special friends throughout the day. It read, “It truly was a morning to remember. My grandchildren are thriving at MPA, and it is easy to see why—the nurturing, caring, high-standard environment you and all the teachers and staff have created was a joy to behold.”

Joy isn’t always associated with education. In an era of emphasis on high-stakes testing, rote learning, and fears about falling behind academically, the importance of joy in education is often overlooked. Or worse, students working (occasionally laughing) together on a project, joyfully carving a pumpkin, excitedly creating a play from scratch, singing with gusto, or delighting in the music they create from their musical instrument isn’t considered “real learning.” What is real, however, is the declining mental health and increased anxiety our children are experiencing, which is being called the “crisis of our times” by United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Read More

Parents Association News and Events November 2, 2023

November 2, 2023

Thank You, Lower School Parent Volunteers
The PA wishes to thank Cathi Murray and Megan Brogger for leading the planning and coordination of the Lower School Halloween Festivities!  If you would like to learn how to get involved, you can email msotoPA@moundsparkacademy.org to learn about upcoming opportunities.

Thank You to Our Community Coffee Hosts
Thank you to our gracious coffee hosts for the Neighborhood/Community Coffees this past weekend: Staci Banks-Herberger, Christine Larson, Seema Anwar, Erika Beernink, and Michaela Jahnke. Stay tuned for more coffees in different neighborhoods in 2024!

Thank You
Last Friday, the Parents Association thanked the College Counseling Office and Upper School Faculty for all of their hard work on letters of recommendation for our seniors applying to college.

MPA Book Club with Dr. Hudson
Tuesday, November 7, 6 PM in the MPA Library
Please join Dr. Hudson and fellow MPA parents for a great discussion of David Grann’s bestseller, “Killers of the Flower Moon”. This non-fiction page-turner that reads like a novel. Read More

A Love Note To Parents

October 26, 2023

from Dr. Jenn Milam, Middle 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.

Being a parent means wearing a million and one hats, managing endless lists of appointments, practices, and playdates, all while working hard to instill what we believe are all of life’s most important lessons. As they say, the days are long, and the years are short. And while we’re wrapped up in the day-to-days, it can be easy to find ourselves, as grown-ups, running on autopilot, giving very little thought to our well-being and sense of balance and awareness. When we arrive in these moments, tending to others’ needs before our own, it can lead to frustration, feelings of anxiousness, maybe even loneliness and disconnection, or worse, a sense of spinning and dysregulation that lends itself to burnout and exhaustion.

Parenting is, without a doubt, one of the most challenging adventures of adult life. To be sure, navigating our young people’s lives while attempting to find balance in our own and to model what it means to be a wholly authentic person, a kind human being, and a productive citizen requires, too, a commitment to caring for ourselves, developing skills to process emotions, and sharing fully our own learning and growth, even when we mess up. Ashley Cooper, MPA school counselor, always speaks from an affirming position about emotions and emotional regulation, reminding us that “all emotions are normal and deserve to be acknowledged.” This is why, today, as we make our way through fall and into the busy holidays, the dimmer days of winter, and more rigorous days of school, I’m writing to you, parents and caregivers, to remind you of the importance of caring for yourself emotionally and mentally. Moreover, I hope to illuminate the importance of self-care as a means by which you may teach your young people, through living, intentional modeling, and purposeful discussion, how to develop healthy and proactive skills to practice positive emotional regulation. Read More

Middle School Division News October 26, 2023

October 26, 2023

from Dr. Jenn Milam, Middle School director

A Look Ahead

  • Friday, October 27: 5/6 Halloween Carnival, 3:15-4:30 PM, Family Commons
    • 7/8 Fall Dance, 7-9 PM, Family Commons
  • Tuesday, October 31: Halloween at MPA, Middle School students may wear costumes to school!
  • Friday, November 3: End of Quarter 1
  • Thursday, November 16: Give to the Max Day, Lip Sync Competition, 2:20 PM, Lansing Sports Center
  • Friday, November 17: Bring A Friend to MPA Day, register here
  • Friday, November 17-Sunday, November 19: Middle School Play, Puss ‘n Boots, Black Box
  • Wednesday, November 22-Friday, November 24: No Classes, Thanksgiving Holiday Break
  • Wednesday, November 29: MS Grade 7/8 BIPOC Affinity Group, 2:20-3 PM, Former Library Space
  • Monday, December 4-Friday, December 8: MPA Book Festival
  • Wednesday, December 6: Founders’ Day Community Breakfast, 7-8 AM, Family Commons

We are just a few days from the end of Quarter 1, which means that we will experience our first “full-court-press” of the year as we seek to support students in submitting all assignments (even the late ones!), demonstrating their learning on assessments, and continuing to refine positive organization and self-management skills.

Please help us at home by checking in on Schoology, ensuring all missing/late assignments are submitted, offering encouragement toward responsibility and attention to detail, and if you have specific questions, reaching out to the appropriate teacher. As a reminder, Middle School does not send home report cards, but you will receive a note from me at the end of the first quarter outlining how to access grades and how to have a constructive conversation about progress and adjustments that may need to be made as we move into the second quarter.

It’s Playoff time: Athletic Practice and Game Schedules
A special shout out to our 7/8 BOYS SOCCER and 5/6 BOYS SOCCER (WHITE) team for advancing in their sectional journey. The older guys play today at Cretin Durham Hall at 6:15 PM, and our younger team plays tomorrow (Friday) at St. Odilia at 5:50 PM. I know both teams would love a spirited sideline if you’re available to take in a game! ? Roll Pants! ?

Please bookmark the MPA Middle School Athletics website and select the sport for your student! You can also find Upper School Athletics schedules, as well, on our MPA website!

If your student is interested in a WINTER sport and has not registered, please reach out to Dawn Zimmerman at dzimmerman@moundsparkacademy.org to share your interest!

Tardies Are Not Cool!
As I have shared in many conversations, notes, and newsletters, tardies create an issue not just for your student but for others and the flow of instruction. All Middle School students should be on campus between 7:45 and 7:50 AM, allowing for enough time to visit their locker, use the restroom, fill a water bottle, and tend to any unfinished business before the school day. Please work with your students and family to make necessary adjustments that prioritize being on time and ready to learn each day!

#IAmNotACostume: A Note about Cultural Appropriation
As our young people begin selecting costumes for this favorite October tradition, it is important that we are sensitive to issues of cultural appropriation. “Cultural Appropriation is the act of taking significant elements (symbols, dress, words, practices, etc.) from a culture that is not your own and removing all original context or meaning, usually with the goal of using these elements for entertainment, marketing, or exploitation.” (http://www.lspirg.org/costumes) When selecting a costume for Halloween, I would ask that you engage your student in a conversation about the purpose of their costume (Is it just for fun? Or is there an underlying message behind it?), ask them to consider if anyone may take offense to their costume and the representation it suggests (Is it possible that others may view the costume as a mockery of a particular culture? Does the costume seek to make a token of traditional cultural symbols not held by your family culture?) and encourage them to reflect upon the way that their costume may be experienced by those around them, thus seeking to build empathy and critical thinking—two values we hold dear here at MPA.

We want Halloween to be a fun, imaginative, and magical celebration of the fall season in a way that not only values the childhood experience but, so too, those cultures, (re)presentations, symbols, and traditions deeply held and honored by each of us in our unique lived experiences.

For more information on cultural appropriation and Halloween costumes, you might find some of these links helpful:

Change to Halloween at MPA—Tuesday, October 31
While we will still have our 5/6 carnival and our 7/8 dance this Friday, October 27, we have elected to move our costume-wearing day to share the excitement with Lower School and their parade! All Middle School students are invited to wear their Halloween costumes to school on Tuesday, October 31. We ask that it limit distractions from learning and that “big kids” be mindful of our younger friends when selecting costumes. Students may not wear masks that cover their entire face or bring any type of weapon to school, even if it is part of a costume.

The Halloween carnival is for grade five and six students and is held immediately after school on Friday, October 27, from 3:15-4:30 PM. The cost to attend the event is $20. Your students may bring their money to the office or on the day of the event. The fee covers pizza, snacks, drinks, and goodies.

The 7/8 Fall Dance is also being held on Friday, October 27, from 7-9 PM. The cost to enter the dance is $10 for each student.

NOTE: If either of these events poses a financial hardship for your family, please reach out to the Middle School office. We do not want anyone to miss if they want to attend!

Weather Is A Changin!
As a reminder, we have recess daily! We also go outside every day unless it is raining, or the temperature is below -10 degrees. It is time for you to make sure that your middle schooler has a coat, gloves, hats, and all other weather gear to be outside—even if they won’t always wear them!

That’s all for now. Take care of each other and be well.

PS: I hope you will take the time to read my guest Head’s Message this week, which can be found here.