Middle School Archives

Connecting With The Parents Association This November

November 4, 2021

Thank You!
The PA extends hearty thanks to Renee Roach and Leslie Todero for organizing a wonderful Lower School Halloween Party! Thanks, also, to all of you who helped Leslie and Renee organize the party and to all the party-day volunteers! So much goes into planning these events, and it is awesome to have such great help. Well done, all!

Spruce Up, This Saturday Afternoon
Help spruce up Mr. Thomsen’s outdoor area. Saturday will involve more tidying up, removing weeds, saplings, and helping to improve the access to MPA’s prairie and pond for students to learn and enjoy. Saturday, November 13, 2-4 PM, meeting near the Upper School entrance. If you have any questions, please email Michelle Mick at michelle_wessely@yahoo.com.

Saturday Morning Parent Meet Up!
Join us Saturday, November 13 from 9:00-10:30 AM at Swede Hollow Cafe, 725 East 7th Street, St Paul, MN. Dropping Upper Schoolers off at debate or sports? Running errands during Saturday activities? Drop in and make some connections with other MPA parents. We will meet outside, weather permitting, or in the upper conference room. Hope to see you there!

Help Create This Year’s Middle School Café
The Parents Association invites you to envision the Middle School Café. This is a remarkable opportunity to help host the event at school, get into the building to catch a glimpse of your kid and meet new parents! The Middle School Café is a program aimed at building community within the Middle School and is anticipated the week of January 24 this coming year.

We’re forming the Middle School Café planning committee now which will brainstorm ways to use the $3,000 budget allocated by the PA Board. The planning committee will meet weekly from November 8-January 14 to brainstorm the Café theme and organize the plan to deliver the Café. During the week of January 17 the committee and volunteers will create the Café. Volunteers will also be asked to host the event and debrief during the week of January 24.

If you’re interested in being on the Middle School Café planning committee please email Christine Larson, PA Middle School Co-Lead at chrisandmatt1289@gmail.com. If you can’t commit to the committee, no worries, there will be advertised opportunities closer to the Café.

PA LS Co-Lead Position Open
The PA Board is looking for an additional member. The Lower School Co-Lead position is currently open. As a Lower School lead, you would be working in tandem with Michelle Mick to create community and connect people throughout MPA. Lower School Leads also attend and vote at monthly board meetings, oversee and support the Lower School PA events, and serve as conduit between families and school administration. Contact Michelle Mick at michelle_wessely@yahoo.com if you are interested.

Microfunding Grants Available
Microfunding provides funds for projects and programs, existing or new. It is open to student organizations, teachers and parent volunteers. Requests must benefit the mission of the MPA PA. Requests that are recurring from year to year are discouraged. This program is supported by the Parents Association dues, which are paid by MPA families. The PA encourages student groups to use these funds. We look forward to supporting MPA student organizations, and classrooms for many years to come. Please fully review the procedure and application forms before submitting. Applications are available here.

Meet Retired Faculty Member Mary Beggin

November 4, 2021

Mary Beggin

Position while at MPA
Teacher of second, third, and fourth grade

How many years did you work at MPA?
20

What do you miss most about MPA?
I miss the children with their laughter, hugs, and their excitement that they showed each day! I also miss my colleagues and our chats each morning.

What have you been up to since leaving MPA?
I love my retirement! I am able to travel to see my children and grandchildren. I am sleeping in, staying up late, reading lots of books and making cards. I am finally able to get back to spending time with my husband and friends and enjoying outings. I am able to walk and exercise each day and feel so relaxed and happy. I also have been able to sub and do what I loved-just teach!

Vaccination Clinic At MPA Monday

November 3, 2021

Given the FDA authorization of COVID-19 vaccinations for children age 5 and older, MPA will be hosting an on-campus vaccination clinic on Monday, November 8 from 4-8 PM.

In addition to welcoming MPA community members, this clinic will be open to anyone and is being offered in partnership with Health Care Strong. Please help us spread the word by sharing this page with your network.

We will be offering Pfizer vaccinations for anyone age five or older (including adults) as well as Pfizer or Moderna booster shots for those who are eligible.

LEARN ABOUT HEALTHCARE STRONG >

ADVANCED REGISTRATION REQUIRED HERE >

PRINT, COMPLETE, AND BRING CONSENT >

DETAILS FOR ALL

The vaccination clinic will be led by Health Care Strong, with assistance from members of the MPA community who are medical professionals. All injections will be provided by a highly-trained medical professional and the 15-minute observation period will be staffed by medical professionals as well.
Please enter at door 2, the Atrium, which is to the left of the flag pole near the south entrance.
COVID-19 vaccinations are free and do not require insurance.
Do not attend the clinic if anyone in your household has had COVID-19 within the past 14 days, has any symptoms of COVID-19, or is currently quarantining due to close contact exposure.

DETAILS FOR CHILDREN

Any student or adult age five (on the day of the clinic) or older may be vaccinated at this event.
The second dose of this two-dose series will be administered on campus on Monday, November 29, 4-8 PM.
Students to be vaccinated should wear short-sleeved shirts and be rested. They should have had something to eat prior to arriving.
Students younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and must present a vaccination consent form (print above and bring or sign at the clinic).

DETAILS FOR ADULTS

Students 18 or older do not need parental consent to be vaccinated.
Click here to determine your eligibility for a booster.

We’re grateful to share that 97% of our eligible students are vaccinated and 98% of our faculty and staff. That level of vaccination has contributed to our ability to keep the MPA community healthy, safe, and happy on campus. Just as we have with our families with older children, we strongly urge you to consider vaccinating your younger children at this time.

If you are unable to attend on Monday, please visit mn.gov/vaxforkids to learn more about other options and get information. We hope to offer future opportunities on campus as well.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to covid@moundsparkacademy.org should you have any questions or need any additional information or resources.

FDA RESOURCES & INFORMATION >

Emergency Use Authorization Ages 5-11 >

Emergency Use Authorization Ages 12+ >

Fall Campaign Kick-Off

October 28, 2021

Don’t Miss This Year’s MPA Fall Campaign Kick-Off

November 5, 2-4 PM under the tent in the West Parking Lot.

The MPA Fall Campaign volunteer committee invites you to attend a family gathering to celebrate MPA and the start of this year’s fundraising drive. Join us before, during and after drop off and bring your students along! We will gather to enjoy popcorn, cider, music, conversation and simply being together as an MPA community.

Learn more about the Fall Campaign and how the community joins together to bridge the gap between the cost of an MPA education and tuition.

Thank you to our volunteer parent committee members: Christine Larson (Chair), Heidi Baldwin, Jenn Gatti, Clarence Knox, Barry Madore, Bridget Mayer, Brett Schreiber, and Eric Whittington.

Searching For A Second Home

October 28, 2021

from Natalie Waters Seum, Director of Admission and Communication

Once per month throughout the school year, a member of the Institutional Advancement team will be writing a guest Head’s Message in place of Dr. Bill Hudson’s. We hope these articles provide families with additional perspectives from throughout the MPA administrative team.

If you’ve been through the admission process in recent years, you’ll recognize this question: “What drew you to MPA? What do you want out of a partnership with a school that will help your child grow and learn?” In short, we’re asking families what they are searching for in a new school community.

In my (brief) time in admission, I’ve come to realize there are three relatively simple things that most families seek. They want their child to be:

known and understood—not just a number;
loved for who they are—not who others thing they should be; and
challenged, appropriately—not too much and not too little.

When we searched for a kindergarten for my now-junior, Henry, we were looking for those very same things. My mother-in-law, Robbie Seum, was the Upper School director at the time and it was generally assumed that MPA would be the perfect fit for our family. The sticker shock spurred us to cast a wider net and I brought her with me to every open house in the east metro. Afterward, I wallpapered my dining room walls with Post-it flip charts that detailed the pros and the cons of every school we explored. In the end, it was her wisdom—the wisdom of a trusted friend—that truly helped us make the right decision. As friends, and family in this case, our values were aligned. She knew that we were searching for Henry to be known, understood, loved for who he is, and challenged appropriately and she knew that’s what MPA offered.

Fast forward to this week and I have the privilege of thanking 33 “Robbies” for recommending MPA to a friend, family member, or colleague who completed the application process and perhaps enrolled. Along with the thank you notes are either tuition credits or refunds that range from $125 to $1,000. I’m only able to thank the current families whom we are aware of—there are so many more of you recommending MPA in your networks that we’ll never be able to properly thank, so please consider this a personal note of thanks to you.

Both internal MPA data and external research show the importance and power of these community member referrals. Internally, it continues to be the most important way families come to MPA and the primary indicator that a family will eventually enroll. Why? It is all about aligning values. People in your network have similar values as you—you are searching for similar things—and they trust your recommendation as someone who has found what they are searching for. Nielsen data shows that “92% of respondents trusted referrals from people they knew.” None of this is news to me and it’s likely not news to you either because you very likely came to MPA due to a community member referral, just like we did.

The families of our 138 new students this year are having an incredible experience according to the New Family Survey. On a scale of 1-5, they rate their transition a 4.7 on average. They rate their experience with the admission process a 5.0. On that same survey, they named 40 faculty and staff who have been particularly helpful and 30 students—what an incredibly warm and welcoming community we have!

If you would like to share MPA in your network and perhaps receive a tuition credit next year at this time, please learn how here. Or, simply reach out to me at nwatersseum@moundsparkacademy.org. Sharing your love of MPA with people who are searching is, by nature, a generous act of kindness—you are trying to help the prospective family find a wonderful school community and a second home. And I promise we will take exceptionally good care of them.

Lower School Division News

October 28, 2021

from Renee Wright, Lower School Director

End of Trimester 1 Report Cards
It is hard to believe that we are approaching the end of Lower School Trimester #1. The first trimester of the school year ends November 12. Teachers have been reflecting on your child’s progress and will begin putting together a written report to summarize that progress based on your child’s individual needs, the goals discussed at the October conferences, and grade level expectations and outcomes. It is important to remember that we don’t expect skill mastery at this point in the school year and believe it is important to acknowledge effort and the progress your child is making academically, socially, and emotionally. These reports will be sent out to parents for review via email on November 22, 2021. Make sure to take time to read the report card to get a good understanding of your child’s progress. Share all or part of the report card with your child in a developmentally appropriate manner. Remember to praise your child for their hard work and accomplishments. Engage your child in a conversation about school and share highlights from each subject area. Let your child know that school is important, and the key things leading to success are putting forth strong effort, persisting through challenges, making responsible choices, and making steady progress.

CHAMP Assembly
Kindergarteners and their teachers will host a virtual CHAMP Assembly on Wednesday, November 10. The focus of the assembly will be on respect and how it relates to accountability. Teaching students to show respect is essential to being a contributing member of our classrooms, school, home, community, and world. Kindergarten students will play an important role in delivering the message about respect at the assembly. Classroom activities and discussions will follow the assembly. The integration of CHAMP into classroom work increases engagement, helps students make connections, and encourages students to apply these skills in the global world.

How can parents teach and reinforce respect at home?

Have rules in your home about respect.
Give children a voice in decision making.
Speak politely to your children.
Give your children your full attention.
Discipline your children with respect.
Teach children manners.
Try to understand why your child is being disrespectful or behaving in a disrespectful manner.
*See the full article on respect at parents.com.

Halloween In Lower School
Halloween is a magical time in Lower School and promotes imagination, playfulness, and connection. Halloween will be celebrated at MPA on Friday, October 29. Students are encouraged to wear costumes. They must be non-violent, cannot include items that are made in the likeness of weapons, and must be respectful and non-offensive to culture, gender, and stereotypes. The Parent Association will host Halloween parties outdoors (weather permitting) for every Lower School grade level. Volunteer parents will help with the festive parties. Students will enjoy Halloween treats and Halloween games. Later in the day students will parade in costume for their family and friends on the outside sidewalk to spread some Halloween cheer. Family members and friends are welcome to join us for the parade at 2:30 PM that afternoon.

National Lights On Afterschool Event
In connection with the Works Museum our Panther Club staff will host a virtual family engineering night on October 28 at 6:30–7:30 PM. The focus of this event is a Creative Cardboard Challenge in honor of the National Lights on Afterschool initiative. Families can gather creative supplies from their home, use their imagination, and build innovative things out of cardboard. The ZOOM link for the event can be found on the MPA calendar.

Birthdays in Lower School
We continue to celebrate the birthdays of Lower School students. All students are allowed to have a non-uniform day on their birthday or half-birthday as a special privilege and treat. Each student is presented with a special gift from Mrs. Wright for their birthday to make them feel appreciated and special. Our Lower School birthday bulletin board is a way to share with our community the birthdays each month. This board is designed and displayed by our wonderful Lower School parent volunteers each month.

No Classes Monday, November 1
There are NO classes on Monday, November 1 due to a “grading day” for all faculty. PreK Panther and Panther Club will be open that day but note that pre-registration is required. Please contact the Lower School Office or Russ Purdy if you wish to register. Late registration fees may apply.

Dates to Remember

October 28: Family Engineering Night with the Works Museum at 6:30 – 7:30pm
October 29: Halloween Festivities and 2:30pm Parade
November 1: No Classes
November 24, 25, 26: Thanksgiving Break/NO CLASSES
November 29 – December 2: SPORTS WEEK in Lower School. (More information to follow)

Middle School Division News

October 28, 2021

from Dr. Jenn Milam, Middle School Director

Happy Fall, Y’all
I do hope each of you are well and were able to enjoy our extended Fall Break! Returning after some rest and relaxation has helped to bring everyone’s disposition to a place of greater balance and calm.

Our Parent’s Association is thrilled to be hosting some FALL GATHERINGS for families! I hope you’ll take the opportunity to be engaged, meet new people, and begin to build your parent network all while having a little fun!

Class of 2026 – 8th Grade Family Night
Karen Weiss and Sally Doherty are hosting 8th grade families at Little Foot Farm (13575 40th Street South – Afton, MN 55001) on Friday, October 29th from 6-8PM. Join for hot dogs, s’mores and beverages. Dress for the weather and come for some fun! The kindness of your RSVP is requested, and questions can be sent to Christine Larson (chrisandmatt@hotmail.com).

Class of 2028 – 6th Grade Family Night
A “more fun than fright night” is being held on Saturday, October 30th from 3-5PM at Como Regional Park (1340 Como Avenue – St. Paul). Come for yard games and s’mores and dress for the weather! RSVP is gratefully accepted to Christine Larson (chrisandmatt@hotmail.com).

If your class isn’t having a get together yet, don’t fret! Reach out to your grade level representatives and plan something fun!

IMPORTANT: COVID Protocols and Symptom Response
Just a reminder that any/all symptoms through our AUXS app and/or via email to COVID@moundsparkacademy.org.

Please do not email your divisional offices, directors, or teachers of an absence due to symptoms. It is important that all notifications are sent to Jennifer Rogers-Petitt, our COVID Health and Safety lead, so that you can be supported and informed of possible next steps including, but not limited to, the need to remain home, secure a negative test prior to return, and/or quarantine per CDC guidance.

iTERM Registration Starts Now!
Registration forms have been handed out and emailed to parents. Please read it carefully, review the online iTERM brochure, and return the form with your student’s three top choices to the Middle School office no later than Friday, November 5. Students who do not return the form will be placed into an iTERM course based on space availability at my discretion.

If you have already signed up for the trip to Puerto Rico or Quebec, you do not need to return an iTERM course form.

Halloween at MPA
As we look forward to celebrating Halloween at MPA together, it is important that we adhere to our MPA community expectations and guidelines regarding costumes, discourse, and representation. Halloween can be a magical time for imagination, playfulness, and connection. Middle School students are invited to wear their Halloween costumes to school on Friday, October 29.

The following are guidelines for Halloween costumes at MPA:

Weapons or items that are made in the likeness to represent weapons, are not allowed. These can include, but are not limited to, guns, swords, pitchforks, knives, pocketknives, and/or spears.
Masks that completely cover a student’s face and head are not allowed. A student needs to be able to be recognized at school, participate in classes throughout the day, and not have their identity obscured by their costume.
Symbols, words, or other representations that are currently, or have been historically used to trigger and/or discount others’ identities are not allowed. These can include, but are not limited to symbols of white supremacy, gang affiliation, racial or ethnic tokenism, homophobia or transphobia, and ableism.
Middle School costumes must also adhere to the dress code expectations that all “personal body parts” are covered, regardless of a student’s gender identify or gender presentation.

#IAmNotACostume: A Note about Cultural Appropriation
As our young people begin selecting costumes, 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.” (https://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 appropriate and Halloween costumes, you might find some of these links helpful:

• Laurier Students’ Public Interest Research Group

• NPR/MPR News

• National Geographic

NOTE: MPA faculty, staff, and administration reserve the right to ask a student to remove items/costumes if they are deemed inappropriate, offensive, or otherwise not in line with the spirit of fun and celebration.

Halloween Carnival—GRADES 5 + 6
The 5/6 grade Student Council has been busy planning for the annual Halloween Carnival. The carnival is for 5th and 6th grade students and is held immediately after school on Friday, October 29, from 3-4:30 PM. Cost to attend the event is $10 and is required the day of the event – please . The fee covers pizza, snacks, drinks, and goodie bags for attendees.

If you would like to donate items, snacks, or perhaps volunteer (limited volunteers are invited), please email Jess Powell, Student Council faculty advisor, at jpowell@moundsparkacademy.org.

NOTE: The 7/8 Dance is not being held on Friday, October 29. We are hoping to hold our winter dance in December and continue to watch COVID case numbers and work toward ensuring that we can hold a dance safely together. Stay tuned!

End of Quarter 1–Friday, October 29
Friday is the end of first quarter. Your student’s advisor will be working with them to ensure that all assignments are submitted, and they finish strong. Please take a moment in the coming week to check-in with your student to ensure they are following up, asking for clarification, and seeking support where needed. Any assignments not submitted by Friday, will not be accepted.

No Classes Monday, November 1–Grading Day
At the end of each quarter, you’ll notice on the calendar there is a GRADING DAY—this allows teachers to finalize grades and prepare for the next quarter. Please make note on your calendars that there are no classes on Monday, November 1. We will warmly welcome students after the long weekend on Tuesday, November 2 for the start of Quarter 2.

Colder Weather is Upon Us!
A hallmark of the MPA experience is that we go outside to recess every day that the weather is above -15 degrees. We are also fortunate enough to have an amazing sledding hill once the snow falls. Please begin encouraging your Middle Schooler to dress appropriately for the weather, wear a coat, bring mittens/gloves/hat, and if they’d like, bring snow boots and snow pants when the time comes.

Recess is an important part of our day – it’s good for the brain, body, and soul! Students are not allowed to stay indoors for recess – so having cold weather gear is important and makes for happier kiddos!

Planners! Use Them, Check Them, Be Accountable
Student planners were distributed last week, and we have been working diligently on learning to use them consistently, productively, and in a way that supports self-regulation 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!

If your student continuously shares that their planner is “missing”, we need to know that as it is an essential part of our teaching effective executive function and self-management strategies – we will happily provide them another planner!

Water Bottles—A Necessity!
A full day of learning is a full day that requires water – PE, academic classes, arts classes, lots of movement and activity! Students need water bottles, and they need to drink water consistently. Please send a water bottle, that can be kept at school, labeled with your student’s name, with them each day. We do not have cups, disposable water bottles, or any other way for student to remain hydrated!

More Middle School Parent Chats
We had so much fun at the last two and enjoyed the time to be together, let’s do some more!

1. Wednesday, November 10, 8:15-9:30AM
  - On campus at MPA! Bring your coffee/tea and your wonderings! We can even take a spin through the building and peek in our kids!
2. Thursday, November 11, 5:30-7PM
  - Off-Campus Social! Place to be determined – hoping to catch those who can’t sneak away during the day!
3. Friday, November 19, 11:30-1PM
  - - Let’s meet for lunch at Panera Bread in Maplewood!
  It’s always fun to get together and chat with some awesome MPA Parents! Hope to see you there!
  
  Important Dates
  - 1. Oct 29: End of Quarter 1—All Assignments and Assessments Due
      - HALLOWEEN @ MPA, Students are invited to wear costumes to school!
      - 5-6 HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL, 3-4:30 PM, Cost is $10!
    2. Nov 1 GRADING DAY – NO CLASSES
    3. Nov 2 Quarter 2 Begins
    4. Nov 19-21 Middle School Show

Meet MPA English Teacher Maddy Wolfe ’12

October 27, 2021

How many years have you been at MPA?
How do I possibly answer this concisely?! I went to MPA for high school, and then a few years ago I helped out in various roles before starting graduate school. This is my second year here as a teacher.

What do you love about MPA?
It feels cruel to choose just one, but I’d have to say the people and the community are what I love most about MPA. The relationships I started to make with teachers and administrators in high school have far surpassed the four years I attended, and now as a faculty member they have become the foundations of my adult life.

How does MPA inspire students who dream big and do right?
MPA inspires students to dream big and do right through the emphasis on teaching to the whole child. MPA recognizes that a child’s education is so much more than just one or two subjects. It is about nurturing them into growing up to be the curious, smart, conscientious adults our world needs.

What would you tell a parent considering MPA?
I realize that there are so many factors when choosing a school for your child, and it’s often a huge decision to make. However, MPA truly is even better than it seems on the surface. It’s an intimate, connected community that will encourage and support your child to be the best version of themselves, regardless of their name, gender, race, ethnicity, or interests they may have.

In what ways are you preparing students for life in the 21st century?
More than ever before our students thinking broadly and globally. They are connected to people all over the world and are constantly subjected to a myriad of opinions and viewpoints. In my classes, we do so much more than just read texts; we think critically about the world around us and respond thoughtfully and thoroughly, in order to help students become expert communicators and thinkers.

What do you hope for MPA students in 20 years?
I hope they are living their values out in the world and being the change our world needs, however big or small. I also hope they come back and share what they’ve done and where they are, because we are all behind them supporting them, cheering them on!

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your MPA experience?
MPA has been a part of me since I was 14 years old, and it has fused itself onto my soul in many ways. There is a reason I’ve kept coming back here after years of working and living in other places all over the world. I have a hard time picturing who I would be without MPA, and the overwhelming gratitude I feel is so immense it fuels my work every day with students. Thank you, MPA, for everything you have given me.

Boosting Human Connection And Community

October 20, 2021

from Dr. Jules Nolan, MPA school psychologist

As human beings, we are social creatures: having a sense of belonging is a central need. COVID-19 restrictions and safety considerations combined with increasing political polarization have deprived too many people of being connected to each other and feeling part of a community. At Mounds Park Academy, all of us have been working extra hard at building community because we know just how important it is for our health and well-being—and that of our children.

Building community across cultures, beliefs, economic backgrounds, and other points of difference can be challenging and requires open-mindedness, patience, empathy, and understanding. Many children have an immature way to create a sense of community. Too often they connect with the idea that “If I am nice to you, and we are mean to everyone else, then we are connected.”

Uniting in the exclusion of someone else is the easiest way to feel connected. The lack of connection and sense of belonging in the broader world right now is fueling this behavior in grownups. We see it in the tribalism around masking and vaccines and the vitriol spewed in public and online forums across the country. Watching what is going on at school board meetings across the Twin Cities and the country reminds me how grateful I am to work with MPA!

Flight-or-flight reactions increase during times of fear and uncertainty
When we are in conflict with someone, our brain gets stressed and processes information in the most primitive part: the amygdala. The amygdala acts as a manager, assigning emotions like fear or anger to environmental stimuli and triggering the flight-or-fight response. The stress hormone cortisol is released, making us more impulsive, less thoughtful, and often more angry. Read More

Meet The Oliver Family

October 13, 2021

The Oliver Family lives in St. Paul, MN. They joined our community in 2021–Kellen is in third grade and Cameron is in fifth grade.

What do you love about MPA?
We love the community. As a new family, it was important to us to find a school that offered and encouraged a sense of “welcome.” We found this through the enrollment process, when we met “buddies,” met online with several teachers and administrators, and then when school began where (possibly most significantly) we have found that students and teachers say “hello” and smile beneath their masks at drop-off, pick-up, in the halls and on the playground. We have really enjoyed this sense that everyone has a place at MPA and everyone gets seen at MPA.

What initially attracted you to MPA?
In our recent school search brought about by our family’s move from Los Angeles, CA, we were attracted to MPA’s small size and with that, a greater chance for our children to have individualized attention–both academic and emotional. We were inspired by MPA’s commitment to encourage and teach children to be independent thinkers and to honor, respect, and contribute to our diverse community and world. We also appreciate the emphasis on collaboration.

How are your children encouraged to dream big and do right at MPA?
We are new to MPA, so still assessing how the school’s “Dream Big, Do Right” is implemented on a daily or yearly and individual basis. However, already, our young boys have been given choices that guide their learning, from language to music to reading and science projects. This opportunity has encouraged them to take responsibility for their development to some degree and to look inside themselves as well as in their community of students and teachers for answers. We look forward to more of these chances to ask big questions, explore what excites us, and seek new knowledge during our years at MPA. Read More