Parents Association

Parents Association News And Events February 5, 2026

February 5, 2026

Feature image of two MPA parents chatting. In case you missed it, here is our February edition of the Parent Press.

Join Us At Trivia Night!

Join us for the third annual Parents Association Trivia Night on Friday, February 27, from 6-8 PM in the Family Commons! In a time when community and connection matter more than ever, this evening is the opportunity to come together, get to know fellow parents, and have some fun along the way.

Hosted by the Parents Association, the night will feature dinner and socializing, with a friendly competition for the chance to hold the title of Parents Association Trivia Night champion. Regardless of your trivia knowledge, we hope to see you for this night of connection and competition. Click here to register!

Ways To Contribute

Lower School Valentine’s Day Party

Calling for volunteers from Lower School families! Please sign up to volunteer at the upcoming Lower School Valentine’s Party on February 12!

Basketball Game Concessions

Support the girls and boys basketball teams and MPA Athletics by keeping the crowd happy and fed during the games! No previous experience needed.

Upcoming Events:

Middle School Quarterly Coffee | Thursday, February 12 from 8-9 AM | Porter Conference Room

Mark Your Calendar For Trivia Night!

February 3, 2026

Parents enjoying trivia night at MPA. Join us for the third annual Parents Association Trivia Night on Friday, February 27, from 6-8 PM in the Family Commons! In a time when community and connection matter more than ever, this evening is the opportunity to come together, get to know fellow parents, and have some fun along the way.

Hosted by the Parents Association, the night will feature dinner and socializing, with a friendly competition for the chance to hold the title of Parents Association Trivia Night champion. Regardless of your trivia knowledge, we hope to see you for this night of connection and competition. Click here to register!

Details

  • All parents and guardians of students in PreK-12 are welcome.
  • Upper School and college students are welcome to play trivia with their parents, although this is primarily a parent event.
  • Childcare will be provided for students in kindergarten through sixth grade by Upper School student volunteers. Please note that the Parents Association is unable to provide childcare for children in PreK or younger.
  • Dinner will be provided for parents and children at a cost of $6 per person.
  • You may register and pay in advance using the form below or pay at the door. Registration is appreciated to help us plan food quantities. Registration must be completed in advance for childcare.

Parents Association News And Events January 29, 2026

January 29, 2026

A student making a Valentine's Day card. Lower School Valentine’s Day Party

Calling for volunteers from Lower School families! Please sign up to volunteer at the upcoming Lower School Valentine’s Party on February 12!

Basketball Game Concessions

Support the girls and boys basketball teams and MPA Athletics by keeping the crowd happy and fed during the games! No previous experience needed.

Upcoming Events:

Middle School Quarterly Coffee | Thursday, February 12 from 8-9 AM | Porter Conference Room

Parents Association Trivia Night | Friday, February 27, 6-8 PM | Family Commons

Contribute To The Do Right Helping Hands Food Drive!

January 26, 2026

An MPA parent helping out at the food drive.We are proud to continue our community-wide effort to support families in need across our local area. Each week from now until spring break, we are collecting and delivering nonperishable food, household essentials, and personal care items to benefit the following:

  • Two local schools
  • Local clinic on the East Side
  • Open Cupboard/Today’s Harvest
  • MPA’s own community pantry, supporting MPA families

If you are able, we invite you to drop off needed items at doors one and seven on any weekday.

Volunteer Opportunity

Volunteers are needed weekly! If you would like to join us on campus to help sort, package, and prepare deliveries for our partner organizations, click here!

Most Needed Items 

Canned Goods:

  • Tuna
  • Chicken
  • Sardines
  • Vegetables
  • Baby Corn
  • Beans
  • Fruit
  • Coconut Milk

Starches:

  • Rice
  • Pasta
  • Mama Brand Instant Noodles
  • Canton Egg Noodles (Dried)
  • Corn Tortillas
  • Maseca (corn flour)

Easy Meals:

  • Mac & Cheese
  • Ramen
  • Soup
  • Hamburger Helper
  • Canned Pasta (ravioli, SpaghettiOs, etc.)
Dried:

  • Beans
  • Lentils

Spices:

  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Chili Powder
  • Cumin
  • Bouillon Cubes

Sauces/Oils:

  • Cooking Oil
  • Sesame Oil
  • Pasta Sauce
  • Black Bean Sauce
  • Oyster Sauce
  • Sriracha
  • Soy Sauce
  • Hoisin Sauce
Household Items:

  • Trash Bags
  • Dish Soap
  • Paper Towels
  • Toilet Paper
  • Laundry Detergent

Personal Hygiene:

  • Shampoo/Conditioner
  • Body Wash/Soap
  • Lotion
  • Deodorant
  • Sanitary Pads
  • Toothpaste
  • Toothbrush

Other:

  • Diapers
  • Formula
  • Jelly
  • Instant Coffee
  • Cases of Water
  • Shelf Stable Milk
  • Cereal
  • Snacks (chips, cheese crackers, granola bars, fruit pouches, cookie packs, etc.)
  • Applesauce

Please follow MPA’s allergy guidelines and refrain from bringing in anything with peanuts or tree nuts as ingredients or in the precautionary allergen labeling.

If your family needs support, please don’t hesitate to reach out confidentially to Ashley Goetzke at agoetzke@moundsparkacademy.org. We would be honored to assist through our MPA pantry.

If you have any questions about the food drive, please contact MPA Parents Association co-presidents Laura Nicholson at laurahnicholson@gmail.com and Jasmin Stees at jasminstees@yahoo.com.

Parents Association News And Events January 22, 2026

January 22, 2026

Two Upper School students cutting fruitCare For Faculty & Staff!

Once again, the Parents Association will host a conference dinner for the Lower and Middle School divisions on Thursday, and snacks to fuel our teachers on Friday. Sign up to contribute perishable and nonperishable items for our upcoming events. Thank you!

Upcoming Events:

Middle School Quarterly Coffee | Thursday, February 12 from 8-9 AM | Porter Conference Room

Parents Association Trivia Night | Friday, February 27, 6-8 PM | Family Commons

Parents Association News And Events January 15, 2026

January 15, 2026

An Upper School student talking with a parentCare For Faculty & Staff!

Once again, the Parents Association will host a conference dinner for the Lower and Middle School divisions on Thursday, and snacks to fuel our teachers on Friday. Sign up to contribute perishable and nonperishable items for our upcoming events. Thank you!

Upcoming Events:

Lower School Family Forum | Friday, January 16 from 8:15-9:45 AM | Martin Lenz Harrison Library

Middle School Quarterly Coffee | Thursday, February 12 from 8-9 AM | Porter Conference Room

Parents Association Trivia Night | Friday, February 27, 6-8 PM | Family Commons

In case you missed it, here is the January edition of the Parent Press!

Parents Association News And Events January 8, 2026

January 8, 2026

An MPA teacher working with students in class. In case you missed it, here is the January edition of the Parent Press!

January brings several opportunities to connect with school leadership. The Upper School Quarterly Parent Coffee will be held on Thursday, January 15, from 8-9:30 AM in the PCR. Upper School college counselors Lisa Pederson and Justin Quam will begin the morning by outlining how they support students and families throughout the college exploration, search, application, and decision-making process. Upper School director Mark Segal will then share important upcoming Upper School calendar events and address parent questions. We look forward to welcoming you to this informative and engaging community gathering.

Here is the full list of upcoming division coffees and other opportunities:

ISACS Parent Series: Elevating Discipline With the Brain in Mind | Tuesday, January 13, 6:30-7:30 PM, Via Zoom >

Upper School Quarterly Coffee | Thursday, January 15, 8-9:30 AM, Porter Conference Room

Lower School Family Forum | Friday, January 16, 8:15-9:45 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library

Middle School Quarterly Coffee | Thursday, February 12, 8-9 AM, Porter Conference Room

 

NEW! MPA Ski & Snowboard Club

December 18, 2025

MPA skiers at the Afton Alps We are very excited to announce MPA’s Ski & Snowboard Club for grades seven through 12 at Afton Alps! If 15 students—who don’t already have season passes—sign up, we will be eligible for Ski Club discount tickets. If we can hit our goal, lift tickets will be $39 and rentals will be $37. Click here to sign up!

We plan to go every other Friday, after school. Students and families will need to provide their own transportation. Permission forms are available for anyone who would like to coordinate a carpool.

Waivers and rental forms must be completed in advance. Please fill out these forms and either send them to Sean Andrews at sandrews@moundsparkacademy.org or drop them off in the tech office on campus.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Sean Andrews at sandrews@moundsparkacademy.org!

Join Us For MPA Family Open Gym!

December 18, 2025

A Lower School student with a basketball in the Lansing Center.

We are excited to welcome back the MPA Family Open Gym—a long-standing tradition returning for the first time since before the pandemic! Please join us on January 11, January 18, January 25, and February 8 from 1-3 PM in the Lansing Sports Center for one or more of the open gyms. Click here to register!

Important Notes:

  • Arrive between 1-1:15 PM at Door 7 on the north end of campus. Doors will be locked outside of the arrival window, and fobs will not work.
  • Please wear your MPA nametag or bring an ID to check in and receive a name tag.
  • Supervision will not be provided. Upper School students may attend on their own, but Lower and Middle School students must attend and remain with a parent or guardian.
  • More concession stand volunteers are needed. Sign up here!

We look forward to gathering together for an afternoon of fun and community. We hope to see you there!

Parents Association News And Events December 11, 2025

December 11, 2025

A student and parent at the MPA Book Festival. “Stories In The Snow” at the Book Festival has lived up to its name this week! Thank you to all the families who have joined and the parent volunteers who made it happen. There is still one day left to make purchases!

Please join us tomorrow during the following times or order online:

  • 7:30-8:30 AM
  • 12-1 PM

As we head into winter break, please look ahead for upcoming events in 2026 via the MPA calendar.