Middle School Archives

A Guide To A Joy-Filled, Learning-Rich Summer

June 26, 2025

With the transition from school year to summer, families are presented with a unique chance to reimagine learning beyond the classroom. Summer has the potential for a joyful, enriching season where curiosity, creativity, and growth thrive together, whether it’s through imaginative play, new skills, outdoor exploration, or reflection. An intentional, balanced approach to summer can help children of all ages gain confidence, expand their skills and passions, and return to school feeling ready, refreshed, and inspired.

As parents navigate the summer season, many will ask: How do we make this summer count?

At Mounds Park Academy, we believe summer isn’t just a break, it’s a chance to grow in new ways. It’s still a season for joyful learning while adding outdoor exploration, and building key life skills that carry beyond the classroom. A well-balanced summer should focus on essential skills and goals for the child, blending movement, creativity, independent time, and meaningful experiences that bolster academic success during the school year.

Summer is the time that students can lean into their own interests, either by engaging in more choice reading, enrolling in a specialty sports camp, or taking out their sketchbook while lying under their favorite tree. The beauty of this time is that incorporating purposeful learning does not mean hours of worksheets and practice tests; it is experiential and a little bit more open-ended. Thoughtfully piecing together a summer that includes your child’s interests and needs while also pairing it with concrete goals is the first step to tailoring the perfect summer for your child and family. Read More

I Will Always Be Cheering You On

May 29, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

When I walked through the doors of Mounds Park Academy for the first time as head of school, I was filled with a sense of awe for this extraordinary institution and immense gratitude for the opportunity to lead it. Today, as I write my final head’s message, I find myself feeling those same emotions once again.

MPA is not just a school. It is a place where dreams are nurtured, voices are heard, and people are known, deeply and truly. It is a place where belonging isn’t just a value on a poster, but a daily practice. It is a place where students grow not only in intellect and skill, but in empathy, courage, and character. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to walk alongside you—students, families, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and friends—as together we lived out the mission to dream big and do right.

Over the past 12 years, we have celebrated many milestones: the construction of new learning spaces like the Martin Lenz Harrison Library and the Family Commons; the launch of transformative programs in competency-based learning, diversity and belonging, and global partnerships; the growth in enrollment, philanthropy, and student support; and perhaps most meaningfully, the everyday moments of discovery, laughter, resilience, and care that happen in classrooms, hallways, and on playgrounds.

Living Out Our Mission

May 22, 2025

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the May 22 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

Since our founding, MPA’s mission statement has been simple, but powerful: “We teach students to think independently, communicate effectively, and act with respect and integrity in a diverse community that models intellectual ambition, global responsibility, and the joy of learning.” One of the most significant parts of the MPA experience is service learning. Designed to help students grow through acts of compassion and contribution, service learning at MPA encourages them to use their energy and talents to make a real impact–not for reward or recognition, but because it’s the right thing to do and helps improve our community both locally and globally.

“I learned that I really like to help people. I realized that it made me happy when I got to feel like I was being helpful, when I was given a task to do that would benefit others,” says MPA senior Lizzie Moldan about her work with Solid Ground. “I also really like working with kids, and this opportunity to tutor made me realize that even more than I did before.”

MPA students complete at least 60 hours of service during their four years of Upper School, including a capstone Senior Service Project that lets them dive deeper into a cause they care about. By giving back, students strengthen their connection to the many communities they’re part of and learn the power of empathy, leadership, and building positive relationships. Read More

Honoring Our Retiring Teachers And Staff

May 22, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As the school year draws to a close, we enter a season of reflection—celebrating the growth of our students, the resilience of our community, and the extraordinary commitment of the educators and staff who make MPA such a remarkable place to learn and grow.

It is my great privilege to honor three exceptional individuals who are concluding their formal chapters at Mounds Park Academy: our retiring faculty and staff. Their impact cannot be measured solely in years—though their collective experience spans more than a century—but in the countless lives they’ve touched with wisdom, compassion, and care.

Anne Devout Atchison: 42 Years of Service
In May 1982, even before MPA opened its doors, Anne wrote a letter to founder Bob Kreischer expressing her hope to teach at a school “that adheres so closely to my own teaching philosophy.” She added, “I would enjoy working with a staff who shared my enthusiasm and desire to create a school which challenges each individual to become the best of themselves.” More than four decades later, it is clear that Anne didn’t just find that school—she helped build it.

Throughout her distinguished career, Anne has exemplified all that makes MPA special. A gifted classroom teacher and insightful leader, she responded to the evolving needs of students by creating the fifth-grade seminar class—a program that continues to support students in developing critical social and emotional skills. Her classroom became a sanctuary of ideas and imagination, where students were challenged to write with clarity, think deeply, and read for the sheer joy of discovery. Read More

Middle School Division News May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025

from Paul Errickson, Middle School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, May 23: MS G7 Washington, D.C. Trip
Monday, May 26: No Classes, Memorial Day
Wednesday, May 28: MS Field Day, 12:30-3 PM, Varsity Field
Thursday, May 29: MS Field Day (Rain Day), 12:30-3 PM, Varsity Field
Thursday, May 29: MS G5 Science Fair, 2:30-3 PM, MS Hallways and Room 128
Friday, May 30: MS G5/6 Canoe Trip, Off Campus
Friday, May 30: MS G7/8 Music Trip, Valleyfair
Tuesday, June 3: End of Quarter 4
Tuesday, June 3: MS G4 and 8 Moving Up Ceremony, 1:30-3 PM, Nicholson Center
Tuesday, June 3: G8 Lock-In, 6 PM
Wednesday, June 4: Last Day of School/Early Release, 10:30 AM
Wednesday, June 4: Yearbook Assembly, 8:15-9:45 AM, Nicholson Center

It is hard to believe that this is my last Panther Post of the school year. Are we really wrapping this school year up in the next two weeks? This year has been filled with so much joy; it is hard to capture it all in one post. One of the things I am most proud of is the fact that every Middle School student was able to “Dream Big” or “Do Right” this year through our Dream Big, Do Right Advisory Challenge.

This year, we made sure to meet, as a Middle School, once or twice a month in our Middle School Meetings. This time was meant to bring us together as a community, reflect on the year, and have students make announcements and share their work—from poetry to prose, Spanish skits and music performances, we had play previews and i-Term highlights shared. One constant throughout our Middle School meetings was the Dream Big, Do Right Advisory Challenge. At each meeting, a new advisory was chosen to do something for our MPA or the broader Twin Cities community, either by dreaming big or doing right.

Reflections From The MPA Class Of 2025 Lifers

May 22, 2025

Approaching the end of their final year roaming the halls of MPA as students, we had the honor of interviewing many of the MPA Class of 2025 Lifers about their experiences at MPA, the only school they’ve attended for their entire academic careers.

All incredibly talented students with well-versed backgrounds in the arts, athletics, and academics shared memories and reflections of MPA past and present, looking toward the future well prepared by MPA. Ari Williams, Henry Schwartz, Camdyn Magnuson, Quentin Hawley, Navreen Biring, Lucia Braith, and Rowan Mulrooney are all set to graduate on May 31, joining the Joanne Olson Club, reserved for students whose entire K-12 or PreK-12 journey has taken place here at MPA.

Choosing a school for 13 years means becoming part of a close-knit community where every child is truly seen and supported. So we asked: How has MPA’s community supported and shaped you as a student, a human being, and a young person?

Henry: The teachers get to know you really well. Recently, Ms. Murr in class made a recommendation for a book that I might like based on how she knows me. I know you wouldn’t get that anywhere else. It’s really cool. It teaches you how to ask questions because the teachers have that kind of connection with you, and it’s not scary to go up to them, even if it’s your first year having this teacher.

Rowan: My entire identity has been shaped by Mounds Park Academy, but especially when referring to the college application process, I would not nearly have been able to do what I did without the help of Dr. Quam. Especially hearing from other schools, their systems that they have set up for college health are not nearly the same. Especially with teachers, it’s very one-on-one and very helpful. Read More

Portrait Of A Founder

May 15, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of Jim Gardner, a founding board member of Mounds Park Academy, alumni parent, alumni grandparent, and generous benefactor. Jim lived a life of quiet impact, marked by deep love for his family, steadfast generosity, and tireless commitment to the institutions and communities he believed in, including MPA, YMCA Camp Widjiwagan, and the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Jim and Joan enrolled their son, Matt, at MPA before we had a building, a curriculum, or even teachers. They were drawn to Bob and Sandy Kreischer Smith’s vision of a school that would see their child as a whole person and nurture him as an engaged learner. On the car ride home from his admission interview in May 1982, they made the decision to enroll. That act of faith—choosing an idea over certainty—helped bring MPA to life.

When Matt tragically passed away in 2006, Jim and Joan created the Matthew Gardner Scholarship, which continues to support students of modest means. That legacy—like their son—is deeply woven into the fabric of this school.

Jim’s contributions didn’t stop there. A friend and board member, Karen Benz, recruited Jim early on to help with MPA’s first budget. He was a banker, a property manager, and, at the time, one of the few people with a home computer capable of creating spreadsheets. He once joked, “For some reason, at this point, I was put on the board and made treasurer of an organization that looked like it might go broke.” But Jim knew that if we were to build trust with families, we had to finish our first year in the black. And under his careful watch, we did. Read More

Five Things To Know About MPA From Aili R.

May 14, 2025

A lot of things make MPA special, but for eighth grader Aili, these are the top five things that stand out the most!

1. MPA allows students to express themselves.

There is a large variety of after-school activities and electives available for us to choose from. There are instrumental groups, theatre productions, sport teams, and so much more. Everyone is welcome to join, and all are very welcoming and friendly.

2. We have fun assemblies and social events.

MPA has many assemblies, such as Give To The Max Day and pairing assemblies, and events throughout the school year, such as concerts and shows, that allow us to interact with peers and students from other grades. During these events and assemblies, we get the opportunity to participate and support our friends.

3. I love that MPA is PreK-12.

As a PreK-12 school, I am able to have friends of all ages and grades. This allows me to be able to have friends from Upper School through extracurriculars instead of only students in my grade. Read More

The Power Of PreK-12

May 13, 2025

What is it about a PreK-12 learning environment that is uniquely powerful? Beyond just academics, this type of community fosters a sense of continuity, belonging, and deep-rooted connection that enriches the student experience. From the first day of school to graduation, students are surrounded by a familiar group of peers who nurture their growth and support their dreams. At MPA, this all-encompassing model creates a dynamic environment where meaningful relationships flourish, learning is intentionally built upon, and students are empowered to thrive.

Social Benefits

An amazing part of attending a PreK-12 school is that students are able to foster long-term, meaningful relationships with their peers (across all grades and divisions) and the adults in the building who know them well. Most adults can easily tell you about a teacher who impacted their lives–imagine if those teachers could stay in your life for an extended period of time and watch you grow. At the end of the year, after our seniors celebrate their last day of classes with each other in the Upper School commons, the next place they often head is to the Lower School to see the teachers who were fundamental in the foundation of their academic journey.

We often say it takes a village. When students truly find their village, they find a home here where they are supported, known, and seen for exactly who they are. And we have seen what happens to students who spend time in the MPA village. They blossom into confident, self-assured, generous students who dream big and do right.

Academic Benefits

At MPA, we have a comprehensive and cohesive curriculum because we are a PreK-12 space. Because we all work in the same building, we know what comes next and how to prepare students for the next step in their education. Communication between teachers and divisions allows for a smooth transition. Our faculty members are able to have conversations about where they have found success with each student and some challenges that each student might encounter in the future. Those conversations allow students and parents to come into a new grade or division without feeling like they are completely starting over each year. We are able to build and add to what we already know about a student. Read More

A Project About People

May 8, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

At Mounds Park Academy, we often speak about creating a school where every student feels seen, valued, and safe. But it’s not enough to say it—we must live it. That’s why I want to share something close to my heart: our initiative to provide additional inclusive, all-gender restrooms specifically in the Upper School.

This project is not just about construction or facilities—it’s about people. It’s about honoring the dignity of every student, employee, and guest who walks through our doors. It’s about ensuring that our school reflects the values we teach: empathy, respect, and belonging.

All-gender restrooms are becoming common in schools across the country because they work. They provide privacy, safety, and affirmation. For some of our students, these spaces are essential to feeling like they belong. For all of our students, they are a lesson in how we care for one another in community.

The renovated restrooms outside of the head’s suite in Upper School will feature fully enclosed stalls and updated designs that prioritize comfort and privacy. This is not just a step forward for some—it’s a benefit to everyone.

We are just $42,000 away from making this vision a reality, and we need your help to cross the finish line.