Middle School Archives

October 6, 2022

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

One of my favorite times of the year is early fall, when the first round of student artwork is displayed throughout the school. Bare walls come alive with beauty, creativity, and splashes of color. With just a few weeks of the semester to cultivate ideas and build skills, I am astounded by students’ accomplishments. This year is no exception. A quick walk about the school will be rewarded with marvelous displays of shape, lines, textures, shading, and values.

I am sometimes asked why MPA considers the arts an integral part of our academic program. Shouldn’t a college-prep school focus solely on subjects such as math, science, and English? The arts are considered electives or optional in many schools, but not at MPA. Unfortunately, many schools are forced to cut art education to free up funding and make time for standardized assessments. In contrast, we firmly believe that art education is essential to developing skills, mindsets, and attributes in the whole person both during their time at MPA and throughout their lives.

Many of us are familiar with the term growth mindset. A growth mindset is a belief about the malleability of intelligence and is associated with a wide variety of positive academic outcomes, including curiosity, resilience, and improved achievement. Guided by their teachers, students see that there is more than one way to approach a problem and that every solution, when well executed, offers a unique perspective. As a result, they learn that instead of mistakes being a failure to replicate an ideal, they are opportunities to expand ideas and use the process as an opportunity to creatively problem solve. “I love the process of designing a visual challenge,” says Middle and Upper School art teacher Renee Sonka. “Preparing students to meet that challenge, and then stepping back to see the incredible variety of beautiful solutions that result from that process.” Read More

Parents Association News & Events October 6, 2022

October 6, 2022

Fall Parent Brunch
October 12, 10AM-12 PM
Parents, please join us for a morning meet-up at Churchill Street in Shoreview. Now that school is back in session, parents deserve a mid-morning break. Head over to this great community gathering spot to meet, connect, and chat with other MPA parents. The PA is covering the cost of the private dining room for the morning, and parents can order what they like and pay for it at the counter. Churchill Street is at 4606 Churchill Street, in Shoreview, MN! Preschool-aged siblings are welcome.

It’s not too late to attend. Email Staci Banks at sbanksPA@moundsparkacademy.org.

Halloween Will Soon Be Here
October 28, 8:30 AM-2:20 PM
Our annual Halloween Party is back! Please contact Jasmin Stees at jasminstees@yahoo.com if you have any questions or would like to volunteer. We’ll have a SignUp Genius coming soon. Read More

Welcome to MPA, Jodi Hurley!

October 5, 2022

What position will you be holding at MPA?
School Counselor

From what school/organization are you coming?
District 622 employee – was at Hill-Murray last 15 years

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Criminal Justice and a Masters Degree in Counseling and Education. I began my career as a counselor for at-risk youth at St. Joseph’s Home for Children. I then moved to the school setting and worked with middle and high school students. For the last fifteen years, I have been working at Hill-Murray as a Licensed Counselor, led the Peer Listening Program, and was the Head Boys’ and Girls’ Track and Field Coach.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
I wanted to become a member of the MPA community as I found it to be a very welcoming atmosphere. I heard about the emphasis on high academics and support for every student to strive for excellence.

What’s your big dream?
Someday I hope to move to Alaska and live off the grid.

What are you (and your family, if you so choose) passionate about?
I am married and have three grown boys (ages 23, 21, and 18). We are always up for a challenging hike, playing any sport, and enjoy being out in nature. We value spending time together and ending the day with a great meal.

What’s a fun fact about you that our community would love to know?
We have a Sun Conure Parrot named Oscar and we let him fly freely in the backyard (weather permitting). When he is ready to come inside he will fly to a branch near our window and chirp until we open it and put him back in his cage.

Tools For A Successful, Happy, And Healthy School Year

October 4, 2022

from Dr. Jules Nolan, MPA school psychologist

Among the excitement and speedy pace of returning to school, we tend to feel a lot of varying emotions. Friendships and routines are re-ignited, new ones are formed, and our students begin to settle in amidst change all around them. This fall, we asked Dr. Jules Nolan, MPA school psychologist, for advice on supporting children in a new school year to equip you and your family with tools for a successful, happy, and healthy year.

Dr. Nolan’s Top Three Tips
First, remember that anytime we experience big changes in our lives (new school year, new house, new baby) our brain goes into “safety” mode and spends thinking resources scanning the environment to ensure safety. This is a largely unconscious process but can manifest in our bodies like nervousness and feeling uncertain. During times like this, we are likely to be forgetful, feel scattered, and have a hard time initiating tasks or persisting when things get tough. In children and teens, this can look like low frustration tolerance, reluctance to try new things, high emotionality, tiredness, and so on. Our brains are calmed by routine, familiarity, pattern, and predictability. It is important to fortify your routines so that you are getting up and going to bed at the same time, eating at the same time, choosing clothes the night before, setting out what you need to remember the night before, etc. Essentially, your brain gets busy with seeking the familiar, and that makes it hard to make small decisions, remember things, and so on. Routine and structure calm the brain and this phase will pass quickly (a few weeks) if you focus on predictability, routine, and structure.

Second, remember that even if you have had a great and smooth “back to school,” after a few weeks of “honeymoon,” you may begin to see changes in your students like loss of motivation, lack of interest in studying, and lower performance. Remember that this is a good time to teach your children about motivation. Some people mistakenly think that intrinsic motivation (feeling motivated by the subject matter or the satisfaction of completing something) is the “good” kind and that extrinsic motivation (using tangibles, activities, or praise) is the “bad” kind. The truth is that people who use both kinds of motivation to do the things they don’t like to do–but must complete–are the most successful. Think of what you use to keep you working on things you despise (taxes, laundry, cleaning, etc). Often, we use external motivators to keep us engaged and that make us successful. The best motivators are those that your children choose themselves, but remember that work always comes first and the “break” time should be no more than a few minutes. We do best with many intervals of working and breaking rather than one long work period followed by a long break.

Third, be careful not to over-schedule your family. All of the activities and experiences we want our children to have can actually hinder development and lower confidence, especially in young children. A child who has structured lessons and coaching in several areas can come to feel that they are not good enough as they are. Dr. Lisa Damour, NYT bestselling author of “Under Pressure” tells us that we should think about what we could do at 100% of our effort, and then scale back to about 75%. Our teens can also easily get overscheduled. If your child’s sleep, eating, or socializing is suffering, you need to pare down their schedule. Read More

Meet Sophia Spisak ’23

October 4, 2022

What do you love about MPA?
I love how MPA is such a close-knit community. I really value the relationships I have with my teachers and friends, and I still keep in touch with some of my Middle School teachers. It’s wonderful to have such close connections. I also love that MPA gives students the opportunity to try so many different things–most students aren’t just known for one passion.

How are you encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
Since MPA is a PreK-12 school, I’m able to learn from students of different ages. When I was in Middle School, I always looked up to my team captains as my role models, and I wanted to be just like them because they were so kind and caring. Being the older kid now lets me learn from younger teammates and set a positive example.

Why do you believe your teachers teach the way they do?
It is very clear how much MPA teachers care about their students; they always teach with joy and authenticity. I believe they teach this way because they care about us so deeply and want to see us succeed outside of the classroom. Read More

Supporting Autonomy

September 29, 2022

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

Is there a cliff involved? It’s a question I frequently ask myself or my husband Ross. It comes from MPA’s former school psychologist, Steve Kahn, and is one of the best pieces of parenting advice I have ever received. In fact, it came up over this past weekend when Ross had reached a point of frustration with our 16-year-old daughter. He was venting over her making time for soccer, friends, and her boyfriend but not for her behind-the-wheel driving experience. “At this rate, she’s never going to get her license!” he exclaimed. Calmly, I looked at him and said, “Is there a cliff involved?”

My article last week focused on forging a strong parent-school partnership and I wrote about parenting being demanding, lonely, and hard. It’s hard to find the balance between allowing our children to have agency and to make their own choices without overparenting, micromanaging them, or preventing them from failing. This is particularly difficult when it comes to school. Many of us have a hard time keeping school performance and homework in perspective.

You’ve heard me say a number of times that parental engagement plays an important role in academic success. Researchers Wendy Grolnick (Clark University) and Eva Pomerantz (University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign) analyzed decades of research on parent involvement and found that it is “an important and necessary ingredient in children’s academic adjustment” and can contribute to student motivation, engagement, and learning. Studies have found that this is especially true when parents’ role is affectively positive (showing joy, love, and satisfaction helping their children) and when it promotes children’s autonomy.

Many years ago, when I was conducting research for my dissertation and when learning management systems such as Schoology were first introduced, I interviewed a ninth grader who bemoaned the fact that his parents often knew before he got home for school that he didn’t turn in an assignment or was called to the principal’s office. “Geez,” he said, “I don’t even get a chance to take care of it myself before I get in trouble at home.” Sound familiar?! Read More

Middle School Division News September 29, 2022

September 29, 2022

from Dr. Jenn Milam, Middle School director

As we find ourselves in Week 5 together, we are learning more about each other and our needs, limits, and boundaries. As I have shared with all of you, it is important that middle schoolers feel safe to push boundaries and test limits (it often feels like it’s their job most days!) and it’s also important for them to realize that their actions, words, and habits impact those around them. This year, our Middle School faculty and staff spent some time reflecting on our mission to develop our new MPA Middle School Community Expectations. We have been teaching these, explicitly and implicitly, in all we do daily to help our young people find their way in relation to one another and to themselves.

Our MPA Middle School Community Expectations

BE KIND.
Demonstrate care, compassion, and appreciation for self and others.

BE PREPARED.
Bring all the necessary materials to class and a brain ready to learn.

CHALLENGE YOURSELF.
Learning is about taking risks, trying new things, and connecting with others. It’s okay to fail or make mistakes – we all do!

LANGUAGE MATTERS.
Choose your words carefully. Use language that is affirming, kind, and supportive to yourself and others.

CELEBRATE OTHERS.
Be inclusive and seek to honor the goodness in all humans.

Of course, we’ve all been through a tumultuous time the last two and half years and we are all so grateful to be back together in what feels as close to a typical school year as we’ve had since 2019! I hope my sharing these expectations with you helps you to see see and feel even more deeply our commitment to developing thoughtful, caring, emotionally intelligent, bright young people!

Space Princess Warrior—Congratulations To Our Cast and Crew!
We are delighted to begin rehearsals for our Middle School show and congratulate all who were selected as cast and crew members. Please work with your student to know the rehearsal schedule (available on Schoology), note it in their planners, prepare and have a plan for pick-up, and communication. Just like sports, students are responsible for arranging transportation, pick-up, and snacks with parents.

If you have questions or need information, please email Ms. Mastel (hmastel@moundsparkacademy.org) or have your student stop by to see her in her class.

Planners—Use Them—Check Them—Be Accountable!
Student planners were distributed last week, and we have been working diligently and learning to use them consistently, productively, and in a way that supports self-regulation, executive functioning, organization, and success. Please ask your student about their planner, ask them to show you their progress, and remember that their planner is their first line of organizational super-power!

Snacks—Please Send Them!
Middle Schoolers are always hungry. ALWAYS! And each day, most teachers take time, either during advisory or Block 3, to offer a snack time. For obvious reasons, we cannot provide snacks for all students (allergies, preference, preparation, etc.) but we welcome you to coordinate with your student a snack they can bring to school to give them just enough to make it to lunch.

On this note, eating breakfast is often hard for Middle Schoolers – they are tired, not awake enough to eat, are using every minute to sleep/snooze before coming to school. Especially if your student is not eating breakfast, their snack is ESSENTIAL!

Excellent ideas for snacks include, but are not limited to:

Carrots and hummus
String Cheese and Crackers
Goldfish or pretzels
Yogurt tube and fruit (already cut and prepared)
Sliced apple and sunflower butter (no peanuts/tree nut butters)
Celery and ranch dip
Small half sandwich

On a related note, if your student is staying after school for sports practice, they also NEED an after-school snack that they may eat in preparation for an hour and a half of activity. NO ONE likes a “hangry” (pre)teen…it would be wonderful if students came prepared for their day not just academically, but nutritionally, as well.

We Do Recess! Dress for the Weather!
As the weather turns cooler, it’s important that your student dresses to go outside for recess. Unless it is raining or –11 degrees or colder, all Middle School students are expected to go outside at recess. Time outside, in the fresh air and sunshine, is great for mental health and well-being, especially in the colder months and the activity is important for growing bodies and brains!

Please take some time to sort through mittens, gloves, hats, headbands, and coats as the leaves start to turn and the cooler weather is upon us – it’ll be snowing before we all know it! It’s cool to be warm!

Parent Connection Opportunities—Coming Soon
We’ve had quite a full start to the new year with Curriculum Night, New Parent Dinner and now Fall Conferences. For most of us, this is in addition to already managing a very full family life, sports practices, private lessons, tutors, and social lives. I am working with our Parents’ Association representatives to schedule some informal gatherings of Middle School Parents, including but not limited to parent coffees, lunch break conversations, and possibly even a book study! If you have a particular interest or suggestion, I am happy to hear from you! I look forward to connecting with you all in a variety of ways!

Conferences begin TOMORROW!
We are really excited to welcome you to campus for our Fall Conferences beginning tomorrow, Thursday, September 29. Middle School students are expected and invited to participate as active members of the conference team. As a reminder, each conference is scheduled for 10 minutes, and we ask that you do your best to help us stay on schedule, recognizing that most teachers are scheduled back-to-back for several hours, and all MPA families are making their way through conferences.

Please be on time for your scheduled conferences and know that teachers have been asked to set a timer to help guide their use of time and maintain the flow of their schedule. If you have not scheduled a conference, please do not “drop-in” on a teacher as they have not prepared for your conference and have other families who are likely waiting. Please reach out to teachers, individually, to schedule a time either during or after the conference times, if you have not scheduled through Pick-A-Time.

Finally, once you begin your conference, if you find that you will need additional time to discuss your concerns or work through an issue, we ask you to schedule another time to continue that conversation outside of the conference window.

Be well and take care of each other!

IMPORTANT DATES AHEAD

September 29: All School Conferences (3:30-7pm)
October 6: All School Conferences (3:30-8pm)
October 7: All School Conferences (8am-4pm) – no classes
October 19: GPSF Day (morning), 11:30am early dismissal
October 20-21: Fall Break – no classes
October 28: HALLOWEEN at MPA! LAST DAY of Q1! NO STUDY HALL!
5/6 Halloween Carnival (3:30-4:45pm)
7/8 Dance (7-9pm)
October 31: GRADING DAY – NO CLASSES!
November 4: ISACS Conference—No Classes

Parents Association News & Events September 29, 2022

September 29, 2022

Faculty and Staff Appreciation
Thursday, September 29-Thursday, October 6
As the school year at MPA kicks into high gear and we prepare for Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences, the Parents Association is continuing the annual tradition of Fall Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week! With more Faculty and Staff than ever before, the MPA PA invites you to check out this link and consider signing up for a snack or beverage donation. You can also sign up to spend time in the teaching kitchen, serving our staff during this fun week. There are even evening volunteer options for you or, if you are the parent of an US student looking for service hours, students can volunteer at the evening Staff Dinners by showing up or emailing Tara Lafferty at tmattrn@aol.com. Donated items can be placed at PA Carts located just inside the Lower School and Upper School entrances.

Please adhere to MPA’s Food Allergy policy. MPA Food Allergy Information and Snack Safely Website Snack Safely Guide. Questions? Please contact Tara Matthews Lafferty at TMattRN@aol.com

Gardening at MPA: Harvest Day
Saturday, October 1, 9-11 AM
Join us for a gardening day this Saturday from 9-11 AM. We’ll be harvesting what we’ve grown in the garden along with continuing upkeep. All families are welcome. Questions? Contact Michelle Mick at mwesselyPA@moundsparkacademy.org.

Fall Parent Brunch
October 12, 10-12 PM
RSVP by October 5
Parents, please join us for a morning meet-up at Churchill Street in Shoreview. Now that school is back in session, parents deserve a mid-morning break. Head over to this great community gathering spot to meet, connect, and chat with other MPA parents. The PA is covering the cost of the private dining room for the morning, and parents can order what they like and pay for it at the counter. Churchill Street is at 4606 Churchill Street, in Shoreview, MN! Preschool-aged siblings are welcome.

RSVP by October 5 to Staci Banks at sbanksPA@moundsparkacademy.org.

Wednesday Morning Walks Through the Farmers Market
Wednesdays at 8 AM
The Parents Association invites parents and guardians to get together Wednesday mornings after drop off with Michelle Mick. We’ll meet at the Farmers Market at 1850 White Bear Avenue, near the Aldrich Arena. The market currently offers fresh produce, eggs, honey, bakery, cheese, Ayurvedic items, gluten free options, and flowers. We can stroll through the market followed by a longer walk if desired. LS, MS and US families are welcome. Chat with new parents and connect with friends. Younger children are welcome to walk with us. Questions? Contact Michelle Mick at mwesselyPA@moundsparkacademy.org.

Gardening at MPA
Thursdays at 8 AM
Calling all those who want to spend some time outside at MPA in the gardens! You’re invited to spend time tidying up, building, sowing, and spuddling around in the dirt surrounded by beautiful flowers and greenery. Come for a few minutes or stay for an hour or two.

All are most welcome including friends and family. We’ll meet outside under the flagpole at the LS entrance, with gardening tools in hand! No gardening experience necessary. Questions? Contact Michelle Mick at mwesselyPA@moundsparkacademy.org.

Community Grants Initiative, an Exciting Opportunity for Students and Faculty
(Formerly known as Microfunding)
The Parents Association Community Grants Initiative provides grant-based funding for projects and programs, existing or new. The funds are available for use by student clubs and organizations, as well as for teacher-led initiatives that support the mission of the MPA PA. To access these grants, interested groups must fill out an application. Priority will be given to applications received from September 1-October 31. Applications received outside of that window will be reviewed and approved on a rolling basis. Interested in learning more? Review our application and procedures here. Questions? Email Natalie King at nkingPA@moundsparkacademy.org.

A Source Of Stability

September 22, 2022

from Bill Hudson, head of school

It was wonderful to see so many of you over the past week! We had a fantastic turnout at the New Parent Dinners, Curriculum Nights, and Homecoming. I enjoyed the many engaging conversations I had, the strong community spirit, and the beautiful stories about how well the school year has started. The strong partnership between families and the school is something I think is quite unique about MPA. This partnership is crucial for student success, built upon trusting relationships, open and transparent communication, and shared values. Perhaps now, more than ever before.

Parenting is demanding. Because of the VUCA world we live in, research shows that today’s parents are spending more time on child-rearing activities than ever, with mothers spending an average of 104 minutes a day tending to children in 2012 versus only 54 minutes in 1965. Unfortunately, the added time spent with their kids has meant sacrificing their own sense of social fabric, as adults are increasingly unaffiliated and uninvolved with other adults.

Parenting is lonely. Studies found that more than one-third of adults 45 and older felt lonely in 2020, a number that jumped to 71% when it came to Millennials. Adults today report a significant decline in the number of close relationships with friends, neighbors and coworkers and a decrease in involvement in houses of worship.

Parenting is hard. The complexities of child-rearing in today’s world, along with the increasing anxiety many parents are experiencing because of rapid societal change, a racial reckoning, political discord, economic volitivity, and a public health crisis, have left parents feeling acutely vulnerable. Many parents look to schools as a source of stability in this time of uncertainty. Read More

Parents Association News & Events September 22, 2022

September 22, 2022

Faculty and Staff Appreciation
Thursday, September 29-Thursday, October 6
As the school year at MPA kicks into high gear and we prepare for Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences, the Parents Association is continuing the annual tradition of Fall Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week! With more Faculty and Staff than ever before, the MPA PA invites you to check out this link and consider signing up for a snack or beverage donation. You can also sign up to spend time in the teaching kitchen, serving our staff during this fun week. There are even evening volunteer options for you or, if you are the parent of an Upper School student looking for service hours, students can volunteer at the evening Staff Dinners by showing up or emailing Tara Lafferty at tmattrn@aol.com. Donated items can be placed at PA Carts located just inside the Lower School and Upper School entrances.

Please adhere to MPA’s Food Allergy policy. MPA Food Allergy Information and Snack Safely Website Snack S afely Guide. Questions? Please contact Tara Matthews Lafferty at TMattRN@aol.com

Sports Swap, Last Chance!
3-5:30 PM through Friday, September 23
The Sports Swap is here! The PA is selling gently used equipment this week after school in the Atrium. Priced to sell, the funds will be used to purchase playground equipment for LS and MS students and/or the US athletics department. Unsold items will be donated to charity. Questions? Reach out to Christine Larson at clarsonPA@moundsparkacademy.org.

We could still use a few volunteers. To volunteer, please click here. Read More