Middle School

Middle School Division News June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

from Jenn Milam, Middle School director

Important Dates And Upcoming Events

  • June 2: 5/6 Canoeing Adventure
    • 7/8 Valley Fair Performance and Fun Day
  • June 3: MPA Commencement 2023
  • June 5: Grade 8 Independent Research Showcase
  • June 6: Passion Project Showcase, 1 PM
    • Middle School Moving-Up Ceremony, 2 PM
  • June 7: Last Day of School
    • Early Dismissal 10:15 AM

As of your reading of this Panther Post, we have just 3 and a 1/3 days of school remaining! It’s been a JOY-FULL year with lots of growth, awesome adventure, and so much of which to be proud. When I asked Middle School teachers to share some of their highlights from this year, they shared… 

  • FUTURE CITIES, TEAM VAXA, wins Minnesota state competition and advances to nationals in WASHINGTON, DC!  
  • Shared time in DC with our MPA Alums! 
  • Beckett and Kalyx’s limbo competition, where they both were able to clear two feet, four inches!  
  • Sixth grade wrote amazing historical plays about civil war spies for next year’s class!  
  • Seventh graders loved writing poetry outside in the sunshine! 
  • Each class learned a lot about themselves and others on their class trips!  
  • Social Change Club and those passionate about Turkey/Syrian earthquake relief raised $1000 for their cause with the help of the sixth graders service project for Valentine’s Day!  
  • The seventh graders had a great enthusiasm for reading The Giver!  
  • Roller-skating was a blast and iTERM was epic!  
  • French 1 and French 1B had a lovely picnic with the fourth graders 
  • Seventh graders really took their CO2 dragsters to the next level of physics awesomeness!  
  • The most Middle School clubs, EVER, being run 100% by students!  
  • Fifth graders successfully navigated their first year of Middle School with joy and lots of heart! 

And finally, the Middle School team and I set as our goal for this year to BRING THE JOY! And we did it – we even spent one of our professional development days at Four Season Curling, where we learned to curl and had a fierce battle to win! We were intentional in our care for ourselves and for others, and I’m proud of our division and how we experienced this year together whole heartedly!  

Thank you for your love, your partnership, support and care! Let’s make next year our best yet!   Read More

Parents Association News & Events June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

All-School St. Paul Saints Game!
Sunday, July 30, 2:07 PM at CHS Field
Join us for a midsummer Saints game! Reconnect with school friends and enjoy America’s favorite pastime. You’ll see the St. Paul Saints vs. the Toledo Mud Hens at CHS Field. This is an all-school event. Tickets cost $16 for students and $17 for adults. Tickets can be picked up at Will Call before the game under the name “MPA Panthers.” We’ll be seated together in section 115.

Watch your email for this information from your grade reps. For more info, email Christine Larson at clarsonPA@moundsparkacademy.org or Molly Oliver at molly.oliver1@gmail.com.

Buy your tickets here:
Adults $17
Students $16

Dr. Hudson’s Summer Book Club
Thursday, August 3 at 6 PM
In the mood for some summer reading? Join fellow MPA book-lovers for a lively discussion of the magical book, The “House in the Cerulean Sea” by TJ Klune. “An enchanting story, masterfully told, “The House in the Cerulean Sea” is about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.”

An MPA family has offered to host Book Club at their home on White Bear Lake, and the PA will be purchasing books for those who would like to take part. Please let us know if you plan on attending the book club and whether or not you would like a copy of the book provided to you through this Google form. We will arrange book pick-up and share the address via email once the books arrive. Questions, contact Staci at sbhehe42@icloud.com. Read More

Kao Kalia Yang Shares Her Story Of Hope

June 1, 2023

World-renowned author Kao Kalia Yang treated the junior class and Lower School students to readings from her books and shared words of wisdom during a visit on May 30. After two years of Zoom visits with the junior class, Yang was able to visit campus in person for an inspirational morning that expanded to include most of the Lower School.

The junior class read her memoir “The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir” this spring, which tells the story of the ramifications of the Vietnam War on the Hmong people and the Yang family’s journey to settle in Minnesota via a refugee camp in Thailand. While Yang writes beautifully of the challenge and triumphs in her immigrant experience, the chance to hear her read from the memoir deepened the experience and added dimension to the work. After Yang read, she took questions from the juniors and formed response packed with wisdom and poetry. The juniors eagerly shared their admiration with her as she signed their books. The intimate 75 minutes was a highlight for the year and a meaningful way to punctuate the American Studies course.

An author of four children’s picture books as well, Yang also met with the Lower School children in two separate sessions. She shared her autobiographical book, “From the Tops of the Trees” about her life as a Hmong refugee child, born in the Ban Vinai Camp in Thailand. The students were inspired by her story of hope and resilience. Fourth graders created thoughtful questions in advance to share with Ms. Yang. It was an amazing experience for the children.

The Bold Innovation Fund provided the support for this important opportunity.

Welcome To MPA, Stephanie Kollm!

May 31, 2023

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Library Media Specialist

From what school/organization are you coming?
South Washington County Schools

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have an undergraduate degree in English, Spanish and Secondary Education from Xavier University, a Master of Arts in English Literature from Villanova University and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I taught high school English for six years before working in higher education marketing. After spending some time at home with my children, for the past two years I have been busy learning the ins and outs of school libraries at an elementary school in Woodbury.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
The sense of community and genuine care for the well-being of students and faculty was clear from the moment I stepped on campus. There is a strong commitment to academic rigor while allowing students to pursue their passions. I am excited to work with students in preK-12th grade, too.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
I plan on building upon the strong community of readers to help foster a love of literature throughout the school. My goal is to empower students to select books that advance their knowledge, expand their worlds and help them develop empathy for others.

I also will work with the MPA community to build the technology, research and creative thinking skills that students will need when they go pursue their big dreams.

What’s your big dream?
I think I’m about to be living it: Spending my days in a beautiful library, surrounded by great books and sharing that love of reading with others. I love to explore new technologies too, and MPA seems like the perfect place to do so.

What are you (and your family, if you so choose) passionate about?
My two girls and I love horseback riding. We’ve been taking lessons together for the past three years and are going to our first hunter/jumper shows this summer. Our family loves to explore parks and new places. Our favorite recent trip was a tour of six national parks out west. We are always planning our next adventure together. And, of course, I love to read.

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
I spend a lot of time at the dog park with my Goldendoodle Buster.

Welcome To MPA, Sean Andrews!

May 31, 2023

What position will you be holding at MPA?
Curriculum and Technology Integration Specialist

From what school/organization are you coming?
Bay Ridge Prep

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I received my master’s in Learning and Emerging Technologies from Empire State College. While in this program, I also started at the Kidonan School, a school for students with Dyslexia, where I was trained in Orton-Gillingham, a multi-sensory approach for teaching language skills to students with dyslexia, and was also the assistive technology coordinator. This led to publishing my master’s thesis on using digital resources to teach students with dyslexia. Unfortunately, the school closed, but I stepped up to direct the school’s camp, Camp Dunnabeck, which continues to support students with dyslexia to this day.

After Kildonan, I moved to Brooklyn and worked as the Educational Technologist and eventually the Director of Technology at Bay Ridge Prep, a K-12 independent school. There I was a tech team of one, managing student devices, integrating classroom tech, troubleshooting issues, teaching classes, and leading clubs such as Makerspace and Snowsports Clubs

I look forward to continuing to leverage technologies to support the students of Mounds Park Academy!

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I’m most looking forward to working with a team of experts so I am able to focus my efforts on supporting students and staff utilizing educational technologies rather than also having to worry about managing the technology infrastructure on top of that. I am also really looking forward to getting into the Makerspace and supporting the development of project-based learning. I can already tell that MPA is a supportive community, and I greatly look forward to working with the staff and students.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA?
I would like to help innovate classroom curricula and student initiatives to help them build confidence as well as broaden and strengthen their skill sets to become innovative leaders in whichever field they enter.

What’s your big dream?
To leverage technologies to improve the effectiveness of our educational systems, preparing students to be productive citizens in a world that is evolving exponentially. This includes seriously looking at and responding to the ethical usage of immerging technologies.

What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about improving access to quality education and minimizing the achievement gap. I think education is our best investment and by supporting students to think critically, be creative, and act compassionately, we create a ripple effect that can lead to improvements in every aspect of life. Many of our societal issues, such as poverty and violence, stem from poor education. I believe in negative utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is doing what is best for the most amount of people to improve society, while negative utilitarianism is about making improvements where there is the most suffering, raising us all up together, and maximizing happiness.

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know? 
What really inspired me to go into teaching was working as a snowboard instructor. I’ve worked at Belleayre Mountain in NY, Mount Snow in VT, and even Afton Alps in MN as a freestyle coach.

Honoring The Class Of 2023

May 25, 2023

from Bill Hudson, head of school

Today is one of my favorite days, a day that embodies who we are as a school community. The entire school gathered for the annual Senior Walk and together celebrated the 60 seniors and their impact on MPA. The joy in the eyes of each student along the pathway, the pride in the eyes of faculty and staff, and the sense of accomplishment reflected in the eyes of our senior class bring tears to my eyes.

I’ve seen countless young people move on from high school to college over the 30 or so years I’ve been a teacher and administrator. Each class is unique and holds a special place in my heart. This senior class strikes me as incredibly genuine and resilient. They have weathered the pandemic, a racial reckoning, and social and political discord. They have prevailed through personal trauma and difficulties and emerged strong and authentic.

The college choices of our senior class are evidence of the uniqueness of each student and the diversity of their interests. Fifty-nine seniors will be attending 39 different colleges and universities in 20 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, and Scotland. They have chosen large research universities, public and private institutions, small liberal arts colleges, Ivies, art schools, and women’s colleges. Students will be attending schools in urban and rural locations that are near and far. Read More

Parents Association News & Events May 25, 2023

May 25, 2023

All-School St. Paul Saints Game!
Sunday, July 30, 2:07 PM at CHS Field
Join us for a midsummer Saints game! Reconnect with school friends and enjoy America’s favorite pastime. You’ll see the St. Paul Saints vs. the Toledo Mud Hens at CHS Field. This is an all-school event. Tickets cost $16 for students and $17 for adults. Tickets can be picked up at Will Call before the game under the name “MPA Panthers.” We’ll be seated together in section 115. You can see the section here.

End of Year Grade Events
The end of the year is coming soon! Watch your email for all the details from your grade representative.

  • Pre-K: Details coming soon
  • Kindergarten: Wednesday, June 7, 11 AM-12:30 PM at Richard Walton Park, Oakdale
  • Grade 1: Wednesday, June 7, 1-3 PM at Richard Walton Park, Oakdale
  • Grade 2: Details coming soon
  • Grade 3: Wednesday, June 7, 3:30-5:30 PM at Richard Walton Park, Oakdale
  • Grade 4: Wednesday, June 7, 10:30 AM at Seaquest, Roseville
  • Grade 5: Sunday, June 4, 2:30 PM arrival time, St. Croix Riverboat at Taylor’s Falls,
  • Grade 6: Wednesday, June 7, 4 PM, at Can Can Wonderland, St Paul
  • Grade 7: June 7, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM, Casey Lake Park, North St Paul (sharing with grades 7,8,9 & 11)
  • Grade 8: June 7, 10:30-12:30 PM, Casey Lake Park, North St Paul (sharing with grades 7,8,9 & 11)
  • Grade 9: June 7, 10:30-12:30 PM, Casey Lake Park, North St Paul (sharing with grades 7,8,9 & 11)
  • Grade 10: June 7, 10:45-12:45 PM, Wakefield Park Community Building, Maplewood
  • Grade 11: June 7, 10:30-12:30 PM, Casey Lake Park, North St Paul (sharing with grades 7,8,9 & 11)
Vote for Next Year’s PA Board Members
  • Co-Presidents: Staci Banks and Christine Larson
  • Vice President/Community Grants: Seema Anwar
  • Secretary:  Cristin Moran
  • Treasurer: Adi Boeder Risner
  • Lower School Division Lead: Michael Soto
  • Middle School Division Lead: Molly Oliver
  • Upper School Division Lead: Julie Bixby
  • Communications Lead: Susan Knapp
  • Staff Development Lead: Tara Lafferty
  • Grade Rep Coordinator: Open

You may vote here.

Meet The Johnston Family

May 24, 2023

The Johnston FamilyKate Johnston is an MPA Class of 1998 alum. Now, her son Emmett is a ninth grader at MPA.

What do you love about MPA?
MPA has a special energy that is warm and welcoming. It is an inclusive community that truly cultivates joy and a love of learning. I love that MPA prioritizes music and art. I also love that MPA encourages curiosity and creativity and is committed to teaching the whole child. I love the small class sizes and amazing teachers that make it a school where each child is truly seen, heard, and valued. MPA teachers and staff build strong relationships with students and encourage them to shine their unique light.

What initially attracted you to MPA?
I graduated from MPA and have always been grateful for the amazing education I received. When my husband and I were considering a school change for our oldest son, we decided to look at MPA. We wanted small class sizes and a school that was inclusive and committed to growth and progress. When we visited the school, I was happy to see that MPA continued to grow and change in many ways while staying committed to its mission and values. The energy was wonderful, and it felt like a place that could be an incredible partner for us as we raise our boys. Our son is in his second year at MPA, and we feel blessed to have him there. Read More

Because I Had A Teacher

May 18, 2023

from Bill Hudson, head of school

“Because I had a teacher, I know how good it feels when someone is happy to see me. I know that I can always ask for help. I feel like I have a friend on my side…Because I had you, I learned to believe in me.” From the book, “Because I Had a Teacher” by Kobi Yamada.

If you are like me, you have a favorite teacher who you continue to hold close to your heart. Mrs. Long was my third-grade teacher and had a tremendous impact on me. I attribute to her my curiosity and love of learning. My parents recalled how I would come home from school each day with a list of what “Mrs. Long said…” I would go on and on at the dinner table with all that Mrs. Long said that day, and 50 years later, I still hold her dear.

On Thursday, May 25, we will honor six members of the MPA faculty who are retiring this year or during the years of the pandemic. Together, they have more than 200 years of service to MPA. It is impossible to measure the impact these wonderful teachers have had on their students. Indeed, they have touched the hearts and minds of so many.

Please join us to honor the distinguished careers of MPA retirees from 2020-2023 at the Mounds Park Academy Retirement Celebration. It has been our tradition to celebrate retirees at a reception at the end of the school year. I know that the month of May is busy, but I promise that you will not regret attending. Join us in the Family Commons and Martin Lenz Harrison Library from 4-6 PM, with a brief program at 4:30 PM. Read More

Middle School Division News May 18, 2023

May 18, 2023

from Jenn Milam, Middle School director

Important Dates and Upcoming Events

  • May 22-26: Washington DC, Grade 7 Trip
  • May 26: No Classes, Teacher Professional Development Day
  • May 29: No Classes, Memorial Day
  • May 31: Middle School Track and Field Day, 8:15-11:15 AM
    • Inventor’s Fair (Grade 5), 2:20-3 PM
  • June 2: 5/6 Canoeing Adventure
    • 7/8 Valley Fair Performance and Fun Day
  • June 3: MPA Commencement 2023
  • June 6: Passion Project Showcase, 1 PM
  • Middle School Moving-Up Ceremony, 2 PM
  • June 7: Last Day of School
    • Early Dismissal, 10:15 AM

When you receive this issue of News and Notes, there will be 11 and 1/3 days remaining in our 2023-2024 school year! It’s been an amazing year with lots of growth, lots of fun, and plenty of JOY! I hope you’re enjoying all the performances, opportunities to be with us, and are looking forward to a great summer with your family. When someone told me some time ago, “the days are long, but the years go fast,” I didn’t really grasp that meaning – but boy, were they right! This year has flown by, and as a mom of high schoolers, it feels like each year gets a little faster.

Make sure to slow down, savor the sunshine, be present in that last ball game or performance, take in all the smells, the sounds, the sight of your growing young person—before you know it, they’ll be taller than you, and on their way to their next big adventure!

CLASS of 2029—Washington DC Trip–Early Bird Registration Extended to May 19!
All students currently in sixth grade who wish to travel to Washington DC next year (May 2024) should visit the World Strides website and get registered ASAP! If you register and put down your $49 deposit by Friday, an EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT of $125 will be applied to your trip cost! Payment plans are flexible and available.

Please also refer to the email sent for more details, trip number and informational meeting recording! If you have questions, please reach out to Dr. Jenn Milam (jmilam@moundsparkacademy.org).

NOTE: This is the last extension of the early registration discount—please take advantage and get registered! This trip is meant to be for the entire class, so please consider registering and sending your student on this amazing experience. Read More