Middle School Archives

November 7, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

With a joyful spirit, MPA students went to the polls on election day. The library was transformed into a bustling polling place, with ballots, voting booths, and older students assisting younger ones. Lower School students had fun voting for spirit wear options or “express yourself” clothing on monthly out-of-uniform Fridays, while Middle and Upper School students participated in the presidential vote. Witnessing our students actively engage in this democratic practice was both heartwarming and hopeful, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to this meaningful event.

This mock election was part of a larger, month-long focus on civic engagement and civil discourse at MPA. Throughout the fall, we’ve committed to enhancing a culture where students learn to engage thoughtfully, respect diverse perspectives, and analyze information critically. Grounded in MPA’s founding principles and John Dewey’s philosophy of experiential learning, our mission-driven goal has always been to empower students to become well-informed, active participants in society. The Election 2024 Plan, led by teachers Summer McCall and Katie Murr, offered students a variety of opportunities to explore civic engagement, from age-appropriate discussions to civil discourse training, all designed to prepare them for constructive, thoughtful conversations.

The excitement of Tuesday gave way Wednesday to a range of emotions throughout the school as the results of the national election became known. Developmentally, students responded to the news in a variety of ways and teachers were prepared to accompany and support them however they were feeling. We were prepared to offer safe spaces for students to come together to process the election outcome and to address and call out when students were not respectful of one another. I know teachers worked hard yesterday (and will continue) to make sure that every student had a chance to say what they are thinking and feeling while also being aware of the impact their words have on others.

The Seven Senses: Sensory Supports at MPA

October 31, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director and director of the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning

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.

Sir Ken Robinson’s prolific Ted Talk, “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” exquisitely describes the traditional school model’s habit of separating the head from the body. In other words, traditional schooling is unevenly focused on academic skills, leaving out the other side of the human development coin: the body and the senses. The integration of the mind and the body is imperative to the development of a human being and underscores our whole child approach at Mounds Park Academy. Thanks to MPA’s Building Opportunities for Learning Distinction (BOLD) Innovation Fund that families supported during the 2022 Spring Auction, and along with our learning specialist and PreK-5 school counselor, we were able to make the sensory room initiative a reality in the spring of 2024. Repurposing a corner of the Lower School workroom last year, the counselor and I offered short, daily “sensory breaks” for students in the Lower School to find emotional regulation and calm during the bright and busy school days. Since then, we have hired Mx. Lewis as of this September, our student success teaching assistant based in the sensory room who collaborates with the teachers, counselor, and learning specialist in the Lower School.

But you might be asking, what exactly is sensory processing and what is a sensory room? With October marked as Sensory Processing Awareness Month, this is a timely question. And here is where our “seven senses” come in. Yes, we all learned in elementary school that there are five human senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. However, did you know that researchers have more recently discovered two additional senses? Those include the proprioceptive and vestibular senses.
Read More

Middle School Division News October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, November 1: No Classes, Grading Day
Sunday, November 3: Taste of Ninth Grade, 11 AM-12:15 PM, Family Commons
Sunday, November 3: PreK-G12 MPA Preview, 12:30-2 PM
Saturday, November 16: MS Tech Day, 9 AM-1 PM, Black Box
Sunday, November 17-Saturday, November 23: Fall Campaign
Thursday, November 21: Give to the Max Day
Thursday, November 21: Give to the Max Day Assembly, 2-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center

It is hard to believe that we are wrapping up our first quarter of the school year! While the weather hadn’t shown signs of changing (until today), your students have already exhibited a ton of growth. There has been a lot of learning, with many successes and some failures (“We learn more from failure,” we remind them) so far this school year, and we will capture your child’s first quarter marks to share them with you on Monday, November 11. We encourage you to sit down with your student and look through their quarter one grades and comments in Schoology for areas of commendation and areas of potential growth.

Heading into November and the second quarter, we have some exciting changes and our i-Term registration ahead. Please keep an eye out for the 2025 i-Term Brochure and sign-ups coming out in early November. This year, along with some of the old favorite offerings, we have some exciting new opportunities if your child is looking to travel (New York, National Parks) or just wants to stay home and learn more about the science of death or knitting.

Your Involvement In Accreditation Is Essential

October 24, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

I am still on a high from last week’s Grandparents and Special Friends Day. It was a joyful event, and I enjoyed the many conversations I had with our guests. To see the pride our students have in their school and the delight in the eyes of their grandparents and special friends warmed my heart. I heard over and over what a wonderful school we are and how special MPA is. One parent shared that their dad never quite understood the value of the school given the cost until he witnessed the extraordinary teachers and warmth of the culture. “His experience was life-giving,” said the parent.

Events like Grandparents and Special Friends Day can serve as a mirror to reflect the school’s mission and values in action and to affirm whether we really are who we say we are. At MPA, we don’t take that for granted and strive to hold ourselves accountable to our mission and values. Our accountability extends to all members of our community: students and their families, faculty and staff, alumni, trustees, and benefactors.

I want to share with you an important process that underscores Mounds Park Academy’s commitment to accountability, improvement, and excellence: our participation in the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) accreditation process. As you may know, Mounds Park Academy is a proud member of ISACS, an organization whose mission is to promote the development of strong learning communities characterized by high academic achievement, social responsibility, and independent governance. ISACS was founded in 1908 and serves more than 240 member schools in 13 states.

Ms. Sonka’s Passion For Sumi-e Sparks Lessons

October 10, 2024

When Renee Sonka, Middle and Upper School visual arts teacher, first started work on her painting “Dancing Flower Collage,” a Sumi-e styled piece, she wasn’t sure how she felt about it.

“I painted the flowers a couple of years ago, and I was unhappy with them, actually. I put them in the cabinet for a long time,” Sonka said before looking at the piece with fresh eyes recently and touching up the piece. “The collage turned it from an okay painting into a more than okay painting.”

Revisiting the artwork proved to be a worthwhile decision as once Sonka was pleased with the piece, it proved to be a winner. “Dancing Flower Collage” was awarded the National Capital Area Chapter Award in the 61st Annual Juried Exhibition, presented by the Sumi-e Society of America.

“Most years, I will get a piece in, but not every year. To get in is an honor, and to get an award beyond getting in is a huge honor,” Sonka said on the achievement, netting her the first National Capital Area Chapter Award of her career. Read More

Middle School Division News October 10, 2024

October 10, 2024

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, October 11: No Classes, All School Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM, Panther Care >
Monday, October 14: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples Day
Tuesday, October 15: Election 2024 Through Civil Discourse: A Sample Lesson for MS/US Parents, 6-7 PM, PCR, register here >
Wednesday, October 16: LS/MS Grandparents and Special Friends Day, 8 AM-3 PM, information here >
Wednesday, October 16: LS/MS Grandparents and Special Friends Day Performance, 11 AM-12 PM, Nicholson Center
Thursday, October 17-Friday, October 18: No Classes, Fall Break, Panther Care >
Friday, October 25: Bring a Friend to MPA Day, 8 AM-3 PM
Friday, October 25: MS G5/6 Halloween Party, 3:15-4:30 PM, Family Commons
Friday, October 25: MS G7/8 Dance, 6-8 PM, Family Commons
Thursday, October 31: End of Quarter 1
Friday, November 1: No Classes, Grading Day

Greetings from Middle School. It is hard to believe that we are already moving into the middle of October with family conferences this week, our Fall Break next week, and the end of our first quarter of school coming up at the end of the month! I hope to see most of you with your child(ren) in here to partner with their teachers and talk about what they’ve learned, what is working well with their learning, and what areas might need a bit more support or attention to get the most out of them as learners. If you were unable to sign up for conferences, please write to any of your child’s teachers to see if they are available to meet.

Commemorating Indigenous Peoples Day

October 10, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

“Makhoche kin de dakhota thamakhoche.” (Maw-ko-chay keen day dah-ko-tah tah-mah-ko-chay) This is the land of the friendly people, the Dakota.

You may be noticing the school calendar over the next week or so is a bit wonky. This is true for several different reasons, including parent-teacher conferences and the long-standing tradition of taking “MEA days” as a fall break. This year, we are also commemorating Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, October 14.

As we recognize Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, we have a unique opportunity to reflect on the profound impact that Native cultures, histories, and contributions have had—and continue to have—on our country. This day calls on us to honor the rich heritage of Indigenous peoples while also acknowledging the struggles they have faced throughout history.

Mounds Park Academy acknowledges the language and history of the Wahpekute and the larger Očhéthi Šakówin nation and its connection to these cultures through the land on which the school resides. Mounds Park Academy acknowledges that our school rests on Dakota homeland and that Indigenous Peoples have the longest relationship to this land. Read More

Preparing Students For A New Workplace

October 3, 2024

There’s a current TikTok trend that involves high school teachers reading emails that they’ve received from their students out loud. They often start with “Hey,” or “Whatsup,” if they contain a salutation. And let’s just say that rarely do they close with a “Thank you.”

While perhaps entertaining, this trend illustrates a disheartening disparity in how young people are being prepared for the workplace of the future. Rapidly changing trends and expectations shape how progressive independent schools like Mounds Park Academy equip students with essential workplace skills for life beyond the four walls of a classroom.

The trend popped into the head of admission and communications director Natalie Waters Seum recently, when she was chatting a newer MPA student. They were talking about how she might navigate the academic bumps in the road that will inevitably come in a rigorous college-prep school. Natalie encouraged her to reach out to her teacher for clarification and support and asked her if she knew how to do that well. While it shouldn’t have been, her response was pleasantly surprising. She retold with great detail what she had learned during the “How To Write An Email To A Teacher” lesson in Mr. Dean’s ninth-grade seminar class. The lesson covers topics such as formal letter structure, salutations, tone, attachments, and more. Notably, the lesson also teaches MPA students to share the solutions they’ve already tried—helping encourage them to take responsibility for their own academic journeys. This lesson is one of the hundreds of ways that MPA intentionally prepares MPA students for a new workplace daily. Read More

Coming Home

September 26, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

I’m old enough to remember those nostalgic Folgers coffee commercials in which a son surprises his family by coming home for the holidays. The warmth, laughter, and love conveyed in those moments brought home the idea that “home” is far more than just a physical place—it’s about the emotions, traditions, and connections we share with one another. That commercial tugged at my heartstrings every time, often bringing a tear to my eye.

Within families, traditions arise and are celebrated, nurturing emotions of acceptance that go beyond the concept of a home as a physical or geographical location. Likewise, Homecoming at MPA has a distinctive meaning as a PreK-12 school. Throughout this week, students of all ages have shown their school spirit in countless ways. From the annual Lower School coloring project and the Homecoming-themed CHAMP Assembly to Middle School poster-making and Upper School dress-up days, the energy has been palpable. Our student-athletes have even been greeting everyone with a smile outside door one each morning. The week culminates with a pep fest tomorrow and athletic contests and activities on Saturday, September 28, and all students, regardless of their grade level, are warmly invited to attend and celebrate together.

Merriam-Webster defines homecoming as “the act of returning to your home or to a place that is like your home.” At MPA, we often refer to our school as a second home—a place where both students and adults are known and valued. This sense of belonging is deeply embedded in our school’s DNA, and it is a crucial element of who we are. Research consistently shows that emotional safety and a strong sense of community are essential for personal growth and academic success.

Middle School Division News September 26, 2024

September 26, 2024

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, September 27: MS G5/6 MAP Testing
Friday, September 27: MS Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, PCR
Friday, September 27: PreK-12 Spirit Wear Day
Friday, September 27: G3-12 Homecoming Assembly, 2:30-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
Friday, September 27: Hall of Fame Dinner, 6-8 PM, Family Commons
Saturday, September 28: Homecoming, information here >
Monday, September 30-Wednesday, October 2: MS G8 Wolf Ridge Overnight Trip
Tuesday, October 1: School Photo Retakes, 8-10 AM, Indoor Track
Wednesday, October 2: MS G7 & New G8 Signs of Suicide Screening
Tuesday, October 8: HeadSpace: Civil Discourse in a Polarized Society, Election 2024, 7-8 PM, via Zoom >
Thursday, October 10: All School Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
Friday, October 11: No Classes, All School Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM, Panther Care >
Monday, October 14: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Tuesday, October 15: Election 2024 Through Civil Discourse: A Sample Lesson for MS/US Parents, 6-7 PM, PCR, register here >
Wednesday, October 16: LS/MS Grandparents and Special Friends Day, 8 AM-3 PM, information here >
Wednesday, October 16: LS/MS Grandparents and Special Friends Day Performance, 11 AM-12 PM, Nicholson Center
Thursday, October 17-Friday, October 18: No Classes, Fall Break, Panther Care >

From helping students learn how to open their lockers and navigate Schoology to setting them into classroom routines, getting the school year up and running takes quite an effort.

Over the past two weeks (and into next week for our eighth graders), we have gotten to know many of our Middle School students through two diverse ways. With the fifth and sixth grade overnight trips, many of our faculty joined our students on hikes, in treetops, and even for a “polar plunge.” Teachers got to know students, students got to know them, and everyone got to know each other better. Through laughter and tears, smores and snores, our students were challenged in various ways, and their teachers and classmates were there to support them and help them learn from these meaningful experiences. You can see some of the actions captured by our teachers on the school’s Flickr page.

The experiences that our students have on these trips helps us to talk with them about stepping out of their comfort zones, challenging themselves, and supporting others. They also serve as metaphors for ways to take on challenges in the classroom, such as how scaling the climbing wall, one hold at a time, helps us to tackle a big project or homework load or how the team building needed for a group to orient through an unknown forest might encourage students to look to a peer for help when feeling lost or needing a friend. We are already reaping the rewards of this experience as we notice new friendships, new feelings of connection, and increased empathy.

Next week, our eighth graders will have their overnight trip to Wolf Ridge in Finland, MN; I’m excited to join and ask them to think about leadership skills and legacy as they spend their final year in Middle School. Read More