Upper School Archives

MPA’s 2025 Athena Award Winner

April 3, 2025

Congratulations to Delaney Cunnington ’25, MPA’s 2025 Athena Award Winner!

This program honors outstanding female high school senior student-athletes based on excellence in individual athletics or participation and accomplishments in team sports. Delaney was a member of soccer, gymnastics, and track and field during her time as a Panther.

During her time competing for MPA, she has racked up numerous accolades, including a state title on the uneven bars in 2024, among others.

Congratulations again, Delaney! The selection for the award was warranted, and we can’t wait to see what you do this track season.

A Leadership Transition Update

April 3, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As we enter the final stretch of the school year, I want to take a moment to share an update on the leadership transition and the exciting road ahead for Mounds Park Academy. As many of you know, this will be my final year serving as head of school at MPA. It is a bittersweet season—filled with reflection, gratitude, and anticipation for what’s to come. Serving this community has been the greatest privilege of my professional life, and I remain deeply invested in ensuring a smooth, thoughtful, and mission-aligned transition.

Over the past several months, I have been working closely with Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon, who was appointed by the Board of Trustees to serve as the next head of school, effective July 1, 2025. Having the opportunity to partner with her during this full year of transition has been a true gift. It is rare in independent schools to have this kind of intentional, overlapping leadership—and we are using it fully to MPA’s advantage.

It was good to see so many of you at the Coffee & Conversation events with Dr. Brogdon and me. For those of you who were able to attend, I hope that you saw the synergy and warmth between the two of us. You may have also viewed a video of the two of us discussing leadership and the transition. If you haven’t, please click here. Know that an additional two videos will be released very soon. My hope is to alleviate whatever anxiety the community might feel about the transition. Read More

MPA’s Leadership Transition

April 2, 2025

This message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the April 4 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

Dr. Bill Hudson and Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon have been working closely this year to ensure a seamless head of school transition in July. We’re excited to introduce the first in a series of three short films, offering an inside look at their collaborative efforts.

“One of the things, that as I’ve gotten to know you, that I appreciate most is how you view education–and there seems like there’s a lot of synergy between the two of us,” says Dr. Hudson during their conversation. “So, in your own words, if you had to explain, it, how would you? How would you capture and name it?” he asked.

“I believe that education should be, first of all, joyful,” Dr. Brogdon replied. “A day shouldn’t go by where students, faculty, and staff don’t find a reason to smile and laugh about something, be proud about something, be able to look back and say, ‘we did this together,’ in some way. I strongly believe that the educational experience for everyone should be about creating and asking questions.”

“That’s what education is all about,” Dr. Hudson agreed.

Dr. Hudson and Dr. Brogdon’s shared vision for MPA, rooted in collaboration and joy, sets a strong foundation for our future. Listen to their conversation here and stay tuned for more conversations to come!

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Upper School Division News March 27, 2025

March 27, 2025

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Mark Your Calendars

Monday, March 31: No Classes, Eid al-Fitr
Tuesday, April 1: US World Language Finals
Tuesday, April 1: Coffee & Conversation With The Heads, 7:45-8:45 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library
Wednesday, April 2: US World Language Finals
Wednesday, April 2: US Boys Basketball Banquet, 5:30-8:30 PM, Family Commons
Thursday, April 3: US Science Finals, 8:45-10:15 AM
Thursday, April 3: US English Finals, 12-1:30 PM
Friday, April 4: End of Quarter 3
Friday, April 4: US Math Finals, 8:45-10:15 AM
Friday, April 4: US Social Studies Finals, 12-1:30 PM
Saturday, April 5: ACT Test Date
Monday, April 7: MS/US Students & Screens Parent Meeting, 1:45-3 PM, Recital Hall
Wednesday, April 9: PA Cultural Celebration Day, 3-6 PM, Family Commons
Thursday, April 10: Senior Service Project: Empty Bowls, 4:30-6:30 PM, Family Commons & Peacock Family Teaching Kitchen
Thursday, April 10: HeadSpace: Personalized Pathways Through Universal Design For Learning, 7-8 PM, Virtual Meeting
Monday, April 14: No Classes, Professional Development
Wednesday, April 16: US G10 College Counseling Parent Night, 6:30-7:30 PM, Recital Hall

What do you get when you have 27 MPA community members traveling together on a Spring Break trip to Morocco and Spain? This is the question that went through my mind as I boarded the Delta airliner on Saturday, March 8.

The diverse group of travelers, comprised of 9-12 grade students, parents, and faculty chaperones, embarked on a remarkable educational and social expedition through the enchanting cities of North Africa and Southern Spain. Beginning our journey in Morocco, we explored the historic streets of Casablanca, wandered through the ancient medina of Fes, and discovered the coastal charm of Tangier. Our journey continued north as we crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, bridging the cultures (and continents) to immerse ourselves in the rich history of the captivating Spanish cities of Grenada, Seville, Cordoba, and Madrid. Read More

Join Us For Cultural Celebration Day At MPA!

March 27, 2025

The MPA Parents Association invites you to Cultural Celebration Day on Wednesday, April 9 from 3:15-5:30 PM in the Family Commons! Engage with community members who will be sharing their cultural heritage. Enjoy sweet and savory rice dishes from around the world, an international tea bar, and experience beautiful music and dance performances!

Go home with some cool body art from an expert henna artist, try your hand at global crafts, learn how to make masala chai (spiced tea from India), master the steps to Bhangra, a traditional Punjabi folk dance, and chat with community members who will have booths set up to share their culture and/or offer samples of their cuisine.

Food and drink tickets ($1 each) will be sold at the event. Zabiha, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available. Read More

Eid Mubarak, Honoring Eid al-Fitr, And Celebrating Inclusion At MPA

March 27, 2025

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As we approach the joyous celebration of Eid al-Fitr, I’d like to reflect on the significance of this holiday and the shared values it uplifts—especially within our Mounds Park Academy community. Eid marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, self-reflection, and compassion. It is a time for gratitude, generosity, and joyful connection—values that resonate deeply with our mission and culture at MPA.

Here at MPA, we strive to cultivate a school where every student, family, and faculty member feels respected and celebrated. Our diversity is one of our greatest strengths—it creates a vibrant environment for learning, growth, and deeper understanding. Celebrating cultural and religious traditions, such as Eid al-Fitr, is essential to fostering an inclusive community and honoring the unique identities of all who make up MPA.

On Tuesday evening, I had the privilege of joining over 100 members of our community—students, families, and faculty—for Iftar, the meal to break the fast at sunset. This beautiful evening was organized by our Upper School Muslim Student Association and MPA art teacher, Samah Fahmy. Students shared their beliefs, sang the call to prayer, and led the Maghrib prayer before we all enjoyed a delicious potluck meal together. I was truly honored to be part of such a meaningful celebration of faith, culture, and togetherness. Read More

The Right School Fit

March 19, 2025

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

As parents ourselves, we realize that a child’s educational journey only happens once, and that the goal is to find a place where they will love learning, be challenged, feel supported, and continue to be inspired.

We also understand that choosing the right private school fit for your family is a big decision. You’re balancing the importance of finding a community that aligns with your family’s values, a school’s academic and educational approach, the opportunities and offerings, and the overall feelings you have.

The “right school” will mean something different for every family. But above all, your children should feel seen, supported, and empowered at school. Whether it’s through experiential learning or myriad extracurricular opportunities, a warm, inclusive community or a small class size, a school’s culture has a significant role in shaping your child’s confidence, curiosity, and sense of belonging. You’re considering all of these things to ensure your child finds a school community where they will truly thrive.

As you and your family navigate the school selection process, we encourage you to explore our blog post, “Ten Things To Consider When Choosing A Private School.” Through insights from our current community members, this article will help you explore the cultural, communal, and pedagogical aspects that matter most when choosing a private school.

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Five Things To Know About MPA From Elizabeth Jacobson Faye

March 12, 2025

Leadership opportunities, getting to explore her passions in the arts, and bonding as a class–these are the five things Elizabeth ’27 wants you to know about MPA.

1. Tenth grade takes an annual trip to Deep Portage.

Every year the sophomore class gets to go to Deep Portage together. It was so fun riding the bus and doing activities while getting to know my grade a bit better.

2. Creativity is encouraged.

In concert choir, we do a competition between sections where our section leaders take a popular song, change the lyrics to make them choir-related, and then we perform for a panel of faculty judges. This year my section (the altos) won, which was exciting.

3. MPA has a variety of offerings.

MPA offers lots of different art classes. Personally, as someone who loves art, it is really cool to try things I’ve never done before like ceramics. Read More

MPA Host Families Needed!

March 7, 2025

We are so fortunate to welcome international students from around the world to MPA through our International Student Program. A $10,200 per student stipend is paid to host families to cover the cost of room, board, and transportation from August to June. Typically, families host for at least one full year and sometimes for a student’s entire MPA experience. As you warmly welcome this student into your home, you will gain a first-hand understanding of another culture, a lifelong relationship with your students, and so much more.

If you are interested …
Contact Cory Becker-Kim, international student program director, at international@moundsparkacademy.org or 651-748-5541. Get started on the host family application form here.

If you know someone outside our community who is interested …
Please share mpa.link/host with them. When they reach out, share your name, and become an approved host family, you will receive a $200 referral bonus in the form of a Visa gift card.

Thank you in advance for your interest and/or for recommending this opportunity to your friends, neighbors, and colleagues.

MPA Spring Sailing: All Are Welcome, Grades 7-12!

March 6, 2025

Join the MPA Spring Sailing Team! Practices will be held from 3:30-6:30 PM, Tuesday through Thursday, plus races on Saturdays from April 1, 2025-June 1, 2025.

Teams of students from area schools, including White Bear Lake, Mahtomedi, Mounds View, Mounds Park Academy, Hill-Murray, and more, are coached out of White Bear Sailing School! No experience is necessary to join the team, and all equipment is provided. The focus of high school sailing is on building competitive sailors and teams who compete at the local, regional, and national levels each year. Students are allowed to sail for three days before registering to test out the program and find their love for sailing. Register here!

Need more information? Contact Natalie Waters Seum, MPA team advisor, at nwatersseum@moundsparkacademy.org.