Parents Association

Parents Association Book Festival Announcement

March 31, 2022

LogoBook Festival
Tuesday, April 5-Sunday, April 17
MPA’s beloved annual Book Festival is almost here! We’ll have many fun book-centered activities, including stories to help unwind in the evening, and our padlet board for sharing your favorite read. Click here to add to the padlet board. The Book Festival’s goal is to promote the joy of reading and connect with the MPA community through our shared enjoyment of reading. This year we have a hybrid model with some on-campus events and online book purchasing from our booksellers, Usborne and Valley Bookseller, more details coming soon.

Used Book Sale
The Book Festival Committee is asking for donations of gently used books and music that will be available for sale (25 cents for paperbacks, $1 for hardcovers) during the Book Festival. Look for donation carts at the North and South entrances from March 24-April 15. We welcome books for all ages!

Proceeds from the used book sale and purchases made through the booksellers benefit the MPA library so every purchase you make will help support our wonderful library, a great resource for both students and families. 

MPAPA One Book, One Community: Book Club with Dr. Hudson April 14, at 6:30 PM
Please join us for a lively discussion of Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel! The PA will be purchasing books for those who would like to take part. Let us know if you plan on attending the book club, and whether or not you would like a copy of the book provided to you. Please fill in this google form to order the book and sign up for the book club.

Parents Association February Events & More

February 10, 2022

Thank You!
A huge thank you to everyone who participated in and donated to Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week! This is always a fun week for all staff as they stop in the Peacock Teaching Kitchen to satisfy their cravings. Offerings included healthy choices, salty snacks, dark chocolate, and that infamous Twinkie! Tara and Shari included a Good Riddance box, celebrating Harry Styles’ 30th birthday (with Twinkies and Hohos), and regional results of Groundhog’s Day. Thank you again from Tara Lafferty, Shari Jacobus and the MPA Parents Association.

Lower School Valentine’s Day
This year in lieu of a party, the PA Valentine’s Day committee will be handing out gift bags. We’re sad to miss our beloved tradition but have to keep our kiddos safe!

February Walks
February 11, 18 and 25, 8 AM
Join Michelle Mick Fridays starting February 11 for a little brisk walk around the MPA grounds. Look for Michelle and her black Suburban with the MPA sticker on the rear window, in the lower school parking lot, just after drop-off at 7:55-8 AM. Read More

Parents Association February Events

February 3, 2022

Parents Connect

Middle School Café Reimagined—Together We Tube Pre-Event Fun
The Parents Association is hosting an afternoon of family fun for Middle Schoolers at the Badlands Snow Park on Friday, February 25 from 2:30-5:30 PM. It will be a totally tubular experience complete with a dinner option offered in partnership with the Vikings Table food truck. In an effort to raise awareness of our event and the Minnesota Vikings Foundation mission we’re organizing a non-perishable food drive. Students will be asked to bring in canned goods to their advisories. The advisory that collects the largest quantity of items will be acknowledged at the Badlands on February 25! To learn more about the Vikings Table mission and community work click here.

Food Drive Details
Who: All MS students during their advisory
What: Non-perishable food item drive
When: Monday, February 7 through Friday, February 11
Where: Student Advisories

Volunteer Options at the Badlands Snow Park
We appreciate your interest in helping and need adult volunteers to keep our kids safe on the hills. Click here to sign-up for an hour shift during our totally tubular event.

Lower School Valentine’s Day
This year in lieu of a party, the PA Valentine’s Day committee will be handing out gift bags. We’re sad to miss our beloved tradition but have to keep our kiddos safe!

Concessions Stand Volunteer Opportunity
Our sincere apologies for the starts and stops related to the concessions stand volunteer opportunities. In the interest of safety, the stand was not opened when we were hoping due to COVID. It looks like we’re now ready for launch!

Traditionally, Upper School families have volunteered to run the stand. Since many families are looking for a chance to get into school and connect more with MPA, we were wondering if ALL families would like to help. Lower or Middle School students are welcome to participate with a parent/guardian. Upper School students can earn Service Hours. Thanks for considering this fun volunteering opportunity! Spots are limited so sign up today.

Volunteer shifts are available on February 8, 11, 12, 14, 22 and 25. You can learn more details and sign up here.

February Walks
Join Michelle Mick Fridays starting February 11 for a little brisk walk around MPA grounds. Look for Michelle and her black Suburban with the MPA sticker on it just after drop off.

SnoDaze All-School Nature Walk, Dodge Nature Center, February 22, 3:45-5:45 PM,
Let’s kick off the week of SnoDaze, and celebrate the joy of winter in Minnesota! Bundle up the family and meet at Dodge Nature Center after school on February 22. Their naturalist will take MPA Families on a winter exploration of the grounds. We will end with some free time to gather around the bonfire to chat, as well as kick-sled across the frozen ponds. This is an all-school event, so if your students are busy with other activities, parents are welcome to come and enjoy winter’s splendor without kids in tow. RSVP to Staci Banks, sbhehe42@icloud.com.

Microfunding Grants
Looking for Microfunding for your club or classroom? It’s not too late to apply for these PA grants. Please send your applications to Natalie King, our micro-funding chair at natalieking10414@gmail.com. Applications can be found here.

Keep the Spring Break Vibes Alive, March 25, 1:15-2:15 PM, Yogafresh
Save the date for some self-care and community connection! In March, Yogafresh, yoga-fresh.com, will offer a tailored class experience for MPA parents that weaves gentle movement, breathing and meditation into the practice with some additional tools and resources to tap into when things feel stressful at home (or work). There will be more details on this event as we get closer to March, as things are COVID-situation dependent.

MPA Parents Association Events & Updates

January 27, 2022

Parents Connect

Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week
The school year is flying by and the second round of conferences is coming up for Lower School and Middle School. This coincides with the second Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week, January 31-February 4 for all of MPA. Please consider donating a beverage or snack. Teachers have reported increased thirst and cravings during conference week and we can help! Contact Tara Lafferty with questions, TMattRN@aol.com or 201-563-4622. Thank you from Tara, Shari and the Parents Association!

Donations can be dropped off at PA Carts located inside the Lower School, Middle School or Upper School Entrances. Please adhere to MPA Peanut/Tree Nut Awareness for Beverages and Snacks. No peanuts or tree nuts please. Refer to the MPA Food Allergy Guidelines for more information.

For snack ideas, please click here
To sign up, please click here

January Walks with Dogs
Due to doggie health—or lack thereof—we will be meeting in the Lower School parking lot at Michelle Mick’s black suburban. We’ll start right after drop off for a little brisk walk around the MPA grounds to get a little exercise, Friday, January 28 around 8 AM. We look forward to seeing everyone and trying to spot the sounds of spring, optimistic as that may be!

SnoDaze All-School Nature Walk, Dodge Nature Center, February 22, 3:45-5:45 PM,
Let’s kick off the week of SnoDaze, and celebrate the joy of winter in Minnesota! Bundle up the family and meet at Dodge Nature Center after school on February 22. Their naturalist will take MPA Families on a winter exploration of the grounds. We will end with some free time to gather around the bonfire to chat, as well as kick-sled across the frozen ponds. This is an all-school event, so if your students are busy with other activities, parents are welcome to come and enjoy winter’s splendor without kids in tow. RSVP to Staci Banks, sbhehe42@icloud.com.

Attention Middle School Panthers and Parents
The annual Middle School Café is going tubular this year! Stay tuned and get excited. While we can’t unveil all the details just yet (sorry!), we can say, SAVE THE DATE, Friday, February 25 from 2:30-5:30 PM.

Keep the Spring Break Vibes Alive, March 25th, 1:15-2:15 PM, Yogafresh
Save the date for some self-care and community connection! In March, Yogafresh, will offer a tailored class experience for MPA parents that weaves gentle movement, breathing and meditation into the practice with some additional tools and resources to tap into when things feel stressful at home (or work). There will be more details on this event as we get closer to March, as things are COVID-situation dependent.

MPA Connecting for Understanding: An Open Dialogue about Neurodiversity

January 20, 2022

The MPA Parents Association invites you to Connecting for Understanding: An Open Dialogue about Neurodiversity.

Do you think there is a “normal” brain? What does that mean? Or does having a “normal brain” simply mean having a brain that functions well within the given structures of our current systems? As parents, how do we talk with our students, when they, or their classmates, don’t have brains that fit within the parameters of “normal” learning or “normal” classroom behavior? What does it mean to be neurotypical vs. neurodiverse? How do we discuss these topics with accurate information and compassion to create understanding within our school community?

Please join us as we welcome Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Dr. Jonathan Miller, on January 27, 6:30-7:45 PM for an interactive dialogue about neurodiversity and the many ways in which our children learn. This event is for Lower, Middle, and Upper School parents.

This is the first in a series of community-building open dialogue events hosted in partnership between the Parents Association and MPA. Upcoming webinars will cover issues around race and LGBTQ+ topics. Please join in the conversations!

January Parents Association Events

January 20, 2022

Parent Education Night
Save the Date for a Zoom Parent Education Night! January 27, 6:30-7:45 PM. Please join MPA families to learn about neurodiversity in our school community.

Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week
January 31-February 4. Keep an eye out next week in the Panther Post for a Sign Up Genius and more details. Contact Tara Lafferty with questions, TMattRN@aol.com or 201-563-4622

January Walks with Dogs
Join Michelle Mick Friday, January 21 & 28 for a walk in a local dog park. Bring your dog or not, we’ll meet at Battle Creek Dog Park, a lovely, big, off-leash dog park with 35 acres at 8:15 AM. Parking is off Upper Afton Road, in the parking lot next to the dog park. Look for Michelle and her dog (Rufus), near the entrance of the dog park.

For your GPS, the address is: 2350 Upper Afton Road, Maplewood, MN 55119. The contact person is Michelle Mick, and please feel free to SMS or call 651-328-7312 if you can’t find us!

Attention Middle School Panthers and Parents
The annual Middle School Café is going tubular this year! Stay tuned and get excited. While we can’t unveil all the details just yet (sorry!), we can say, SAVE THE DATE, Friday, February 25th from 2:30-5:30 PM.

Microfunding Grants
Looking for Microfunding for your club or classroom? It’s not too late to apply for these PA grants. Please send your applications to Natalie King, our micro-funding chair at natalieking10414@gmail.com. Applications can be found here.

Connect With MPA Parents This January

January 13, 2022

Parent Education Night
Save the Date for a Zoom Parent Education Night! January 27, 6:30-7:45 PM, please join MPA families to learn about neurodiversity in our school community.

Attention Middle School Panthers and Parents
The annual Middle School Café is going tubular this year! Stay tuned and get excited. While we can’t unveil all the details just yet (sorry!), we can say, SAVE THE DATE, Friday, February 25th from 2:30-5:30 PM.

January Walks with Dogs
Join Michelle Mick Friday, January 14 for a walk in a local dog park. Bring your dog or not, we’ll meet at Battle Creek Dog Park, a lovely, big, off-leash dog park with 35 acres at 8:15 AM. Parking is off Upper Afton Road, in the parking lot next to the dog park. Look for Michelle and her dog (Rufus), near the entrance of the dog park.

For your GPS, the address is: 2350 Upper Afton Road, Maplewood, MN 55119. The contact person is Michelle Mick, and please feel free to SMS or call 651-328-7312 if you can’t find us!

Microfunding Grants
Looking for Microfunding for your club or classroom? It’s not too late to apply for these PA grants. Please send your applications to Natalie King, our micro-funding chair at natalieking10414@gmail.com. Applications can be found here.

Parents Connect: January Events

January 6, 2022

January Events

We are looking forward to connecting with MPA families in 2022! Upcoming events and opportunities to look forward to include Family Education Evenings, All-School Sno Daze activities, Lower School Valentine’s Day party, and Middle School Café. Keep your eye on the Panther Post for sign-ups and opportunities to volunteer!

January Walks with Dogs

Friday, January 7 and 14, join Michelle Mick for a walk in a local dog park. Bring your dog or not, we’ll meet at Battle Creek Dog Park, a lovely, big, off-leash dog park with 35 acres at 8:15 AM. Parking is off Upper Afton Road, in the parking lot next to the dog park. Look for Michelle and her dog (Rufus), near the entrance of the dog park.

For your GPS, the address is: 2350 Upper Afton Road, Maplewood, MN 55119. The contact person is Michelle Mick, and please feel free to SMS or call 651-328-7312 if you can’t find us!

Parent Winter Walk at 7 Vines

January 28, 5:45-9 PM, $55. Come enjoy a winter evening and snowshoe walk with other MPA Parents at 7 Vines Vineyard in Dellwood, MN! Ticket Price includes snowshoe rental (with help putting them on!) for a walk around the vineyard lit by twinkling candlelight ice luminaries, a complimentary beverage (mulled wine, kombucha, fancy coffee), four rounds of Bingo for prizes, s’mores, cocoa, and cider. 7 Vines will have exclusive pricing on food and wine that evening, as well. Attendance is limited to 100, and the Parents Association has reserved some spots for this event, but it does sell out. Please let us know if you are interested in joining in the fun by January 10. Contact Staci Banks, sbhehe42@icloud.com, or Venmo the cost of the tickets to @Staci-Banks-Hehenberger. Unfortunately, tickets are not refundable.

Connecting With MPA Parents

December 16, 2021

Thank You!
A huge thank you from the MPA Parents Association goes out to all the volunteers who took part in the Annual Holiday Gift Wrapping event on Monday, December 13. Paper, ribbons and bows were flying as volunteers wrapped a total of 192 gifts for 15 very grateful Faculty and Staff. And only one reported paper cut! Thanks again to everyone who made this event possible!

One Last December Walk with Dogs
Join Michelle Mick Friday, December 17 for a walk in a local dog park. Bring your dog or not, we’ll meet at Battle Creek Dog Park, a lovely, big, off-leash dog park with 35 acres at 8:15 AM. Parking is off Upper Afton Road, in the parking lot next to the dog park. Look for Michelle and her dog (Rufus), near the entrance of the dog park.

For your GPS, the address is: 2350 Upper Afton Road, Maplewood, MN 55119. The contact person is Michelle Mick, and please feel free to text or call 651-328-7312 if you can’t find us!

Parents Connect: January Events
We are looking forward to connecting with MPA families in the new year! Upcoming events and opportunities to look forward to include Family Education Evenings, All-School Sno Daze activities, Lower School Valentine’s Day party, and Middle School Café. Keep your eye on the Panther Post for sign-ups and opportunities to volunteer!

January Walks with Dogs
Friday, January 7 and 14, join Michelle Mick for a walk in a local dog park. Bring your dog or not, we’ll meet at Battle Creek Dog Park, a lovely, big, off-leash dog park with 35 acres at 8:15 AM. Parking is off Upper Afton Road, in the parking lot next to the dog park. Look for Michelle and her dog (Rufus), near the entrance of the dog park.

For your GPS, the address is: 2350 Upper Afton Road, Maplewood, MN 55119. The contact person is Michelle Mick, and please feel free to SMS or call 651-328-7312 if you can’t find us!

Winter Wonderland Walk at 7 Vines
January 28, 5:45-9 PM, $55.00. Come enjoy a winter evening with MPA Parents at 7 Vines Vineyard in Dellwood, MN! Ticket Price includes a complimentary beverage (mulled wine, kombucha, fancy coffee), four rounds of Bingo for prizes, making s’mores while chatting around the fire, and the use of snowshoes (with help putting them on!) for a walk around the vineyard lit by twinkling candlelight ice luminaries. If you start to feel hungry, 7 Vines will have exclusive pricing on food and wine that evening. Hot Chocolate and cider are free of charge! The Parents Association has reserved some spots for this event, but it does sell out. Please let us know if you are interested in joining in the fun by January 10. Contact Staci Banks, sbhehe42@icloud.com, or Venmo the cost of the tickets to @Staci-Banks-Hehenberger. Tickets are unfortunately not refundable.

Connect With The Parents Association

December 9, 2021

December Walks with Dogs
Join Michelle Mick on Friday, December 17 for a walk in a local dog park. Bring your dog or not, we’ll meet at Battle Creek Dog Park, a lovely, big, off-leash dog park with 35 acres at 8:15 AM. Parking is off Upper Afton Road, in the parking lot next to the dog park. Look for Michelle and her dog Rufus (pictured), near the entrance of the dog park. For your GPS, the address is: 2350 Upper Afton Road, Maplewood, MN 55119. The contact person is Michelle Mick, and please feel free to text or call 651-328-7312 if you can’t find us!
Holiday Gift Wrapping
This much-loved tradition is returning! MPA teachers and staff bring in their Holiday gifts and parent volunteers wrap them. This gift of time is greatly appreciated and will really get you into the Holiday spirit. Monday, December 13 from 8 AM-3 PM in the Porter Conference room. You can sign up here.