Middle School Archives

July 22, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Cait Osell! Ms. Osell comes to MPA as a Middle School English teacher, and we are happy to introduce her to our community.

From what school/organization are you coming?
I worked for Hired, a non-profit organization.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I graduated from the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University in 2014 with a degree in English and secondary education. During my time there, I was also able to spend six months in Ireland attending the University College Cork. My teaching career started in Shakopee Public Schools from 2015-2023, from which I moved to something a little different, doing adult education with a Minneapolis nonprofit, Hired. I love English Language Arts and getting others to love it, too!

What did you find appealing about MPA?
MPA immediately stood out to me because of the agency and autonomy it gives to students. It’s important to me that students have a say in their education and environment, and that, paired with a supportive, fun, and welcoming staff, made me realize MPA was exactly where I wanted to be. I believe in doing good and dreaming big as well, and that’s exactly what I plan to do!
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Welcome to MPA, Mr. Ryan Dougherty!

July 22, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Mr. Ryan Dougherty! Mr. Dougherty takes over as the facilities manager, and we are pleased to introduce him to our community.

From what school/organization are you coming?
I am coming from Saint Therese Senior Services.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have worked in various settings, most recently as a maintenance director on a senior living campus.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
My first maintenance position was at St. Paul Academy, and I miss the culture of a school.

What lasting impact do you plan to have on MPA and its students?
I look forward to being a valued member of the team.

What’s your big dream?
To “retire” as a fishing guide. Read More

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Sidney Fellows!

July 22, 2025

Welcome to MPA, Ms. Sidney Fellows! Ms. Fellows will be joining as the school nurse, and we are so happy to introduce her to our community.

From what school/organization are you coming?
I am coming from Skyview Middle School in ISD 622.

Tell us about your education and past experience.
I have a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in nursing. I maintain several licenses and certifications relevant to school nursing, including a school nurse license, a public health nursing license, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). I have previous healthcare experience working for District 622, Twin Cities Orthopedics, and Davita Kidney Care.

What did you find appealing about MPA?
MPA stands out as a supportive community where students succeed and thrive. Each student is valued for their own unique talents, and it’s evident how supportive students are of their peers. MPA is a place where people truly care about one another.
Read More

The Summer Scoop With Alli Capasso

July 9, 2025

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the July 9, 2025 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

In this issue of Inside MPA, we’ve connected with Alli Capasso, assistant director of admission, to ask about how her summer is going so far and what the admission process currently looks like in July.

What are the advantages of starting the application process over the summer?

Summer is the perfect time to begin your school search with less stress and more space to reflect. Families who start the application process now have time to explore, ask thoughtful questions, and envision the best fit for their child—without the competing demands of a busy school year. At MPA, the admission team is here all summer to guide you every step of the way.

What do you hope every new family experiences in their first year at MPA?

I hope they find a community! Our students are known, seen, and accepted for exactly who they are. I hope our parents find “the village” that will help raise their children to be problem-solvers, risk-takers, and people who will stand for justice and kindness in the world. Read More

A Message From Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon!

July 1, 2025

from Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, head of school

Dear MPA community,

I hope this message finds you well, enjoying these long summer days. I love the many ways Minnesotans find joy and energy spending time outdoors, taking in the sun.

It is incredibly exciting to officially arrive at Mounds Park Academy! I would like to extend my gratitude to the Board of Trustees for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading MPA and their continued support as I begin my new role as the school’s fifth head of school.

Thank you also to the faculty, staff, students, families, and alumni for the warm welcome! I have appreciated connecting with many of you throughout this past year at school events. While I always want summer to last as long as possible, I very much look forward to deepening our connections this school year. Read More

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.