Upper School Archives

October 8, 2018

On Sunday, November 4, at 2 PM, prospective students and their families are invited to Mounds Park Academy’s campus for its fall Admission event, the MPA All School Preview! This will be a wonderful opportunity to get to know the people and the spaces that inspire students to dream big and do right. It will be similar to an Open House in that there will be time to explore, however a formal program will also help participants get to know MPA.

Lower School (grades PreK-4) families will start with a hands-on learning experience in the AnnMarie Thomas Makerspace, the only Makerspace of its kind in the Twin Cities for students in grades PreK-12. Newly opened, this space is a contemporary and physical manifestation of MPA’s long-standing belief that learning should be hands-on, experiential, and joyful. Following that activity, parents will move to an adjacent space to hear from Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School, and Renee Wright, Lower School director, about what differentiates this division, while the children continue their activity. Parents and children will come back together and then head off on a student-led tour that will include visiting with homeroom teachers and specialists in their cozy classrooms. Read More

Coffee With The Parents Association

October 4, 2018

The Parents Association is trying something new, and you’re warmly invited to join! The PA will be hosting several neighborhood coffee events, where you can come and meet MPA parents who live in your neighborhood. Parents of all grades are welcome! On Saturday, November 3, your coffee hosts will be at the following locations:

JUST ADDED! Amore Coffee–St. Paul
879 Smith Ave, W.
St. Paul MN 55118
9-11am

Dunn Brothers Coffee–Minneapolis
5008 Xerxes Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55410
9-11 AM

Quixotic Coffee–Highland Park
769 Cleveland Ave S
St Paul, MN 55116
8-10 AM Read More

Invite A Friend To Our Fall Preview

October 4, 2018

Invite a friend to visit and get to know MPA! On Sunday, November 4 at 2 PM, prospective students and their families are invited to campus for its fall Admission event, the MPA Preview! This wonderful opportunity will be similar to an Open House in that there will be time to explore, however a formal program will also help participants get to know MPA.

From hands-on learning experiences in the Makerspace to cozy classrooms visits, families will enjoy student-led tours that will include meeting MPA’s exceptional teachers, visiting the state-of-the-art Makerspace and Lansing Sports Center, and getting to know all spaces that matter most to them.

Kindly invite your friends and neighbors to RSVP in advance for this engaging program at moundsparkacademy.org/RSVP. If you have any questions, contact the Office of Admission at 651-748-5577 or admission@moundsparkacademy.org. We can’t wait to meet them!

Thank You For An Amazing Homecoming!

October 4, 2018

Thank you to all our athletes, parents and families, volunteers, alumni, faculty and staff, and students who made Homecoming such a success! We had a great turnout at the Fun Runs and our Lower School National Anthem singers made several of us tear up at their performances. The food trucks served good smells along with their yummy food and our athletic teams had strong, competitive showings. The community laughed, shared stories, decorated faces, grabbed fun swag, threw beanbags and frisbees, and jumped in the bouncies. The air was crisp and the sounds of fun and laughter carried from the soccer field to Lansing Center.

It takes teamwork to bring all of the marvelous fun, good food, great sports, and community connections together. Thank you, everyone, for being a part of the team! Enjoy the joyful moments with our photo collection!

Making Homework Positive, Meaningful, and Low Stress

October 3, 2018

by Renee Wright, Lower School Director

How do I get my child to do homework without doing it for her? What should I do if my child is struggling with his homework? How do I motivate my child to do homework? Have you ever asked yourself these questions as a parent? If so, you are not alone. Most parents of school-age children have encountered homework challenges and struggles.

Many parents believe that their involvement in homework will make a positive difference. In a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, 85 percent of parents reported that they checked in with their child to see that homework had been completed. But does helping with homework impact school success? Most experts agree that it does, however, defining the right level of parental involvement is important.

In another study, researchers Erika A. Patall, Harris Cooper, and Jorgianne Civey Robinson found that the effects on parent involvement appear to strongly be influenced by four factors:

the nature of the homework assignment;
the involvement strategy used by the parent;
the child’s age and ability level; and
the time and resources in the home.

Homework assignments that are project-based and involve in-depth research, thought, and creativity enable parents to engage in meaningful discussions and enhance parent participation. In addition, when parents use strategies that support student independence and autonomy homework support is the most beneficial. Researchers also noted that age and ability influence the amount of help required by parents. Parents report spending more time helping their elementary age children than their secondary aged children. Parents of struggling students also spend more time helping with homework.

Lower School teachers at Mounds Park Academy participated in dedicated scholarly research on homework and established an agreed upon purpose and protocol for homework. They defined the purpose of homework as giving students the opportunity to engage in focused practice to further develop skills, extend lessons, encourage critical thinking, and develop good work habits. Homework, they determined, should also serve as a communication tool between the teacher and the family.

Happy Homecoming, Panthers!

September 27, 2018

It’s Homecoming! Fall has arrived, campus-wide Homecoming decorations are underway, and the Panther even made a guest appearance at the South Entrance this morning.

We can’t wait for you to join us for a full day of activities and athletic events this Saturday, September 29. The day starts bright and early with our 200M Fun Run at 8:30 AM, followed immediately by our 2-Mile race. Join us in the Lansing Center for coffee and breakfast treats at the Concessions stand, hosted by the MPA Spirit Committee. Head into the Lansing Center at 9 AM to hear our 3rd and 4th graders sing the National Anthem to kick off our annual Volleyball tournament. Go back outside and warm up as you race a friend through the obstacle course bouncy house. Make your way over to the tennis courts to cheer on our Panthers as they compete against Cretin Derham Hall and Woodbury! After tennis, go to the big tent and decorate your face, get a tattoo, pick up a t-shirt, claim a frisbee, or sip from a Homecoming cup. Read More

September 27, 2018

There is still time to join us in thanking the MPA faculty and staff during All School Conferences! During week of October 1, please consider participating in the long-standing MPA tradition of parents and families showing gratitude toward our wonderful staff and faculty. By donating beverages or gift cards, volunteering in the PA Room during the week, and helping staff and plan the evening meals on October 2 and October 4, you are saying “thank you!” in a significant way! Sign up to volunteer here!

Annual MPA Blood Drive

September 27, 2018

Make a difference by donating blood at the annual MPA Blood Drive! Hosted by the Upper School Student Council and the MPA first graders, the blood drive is a tradition that brings the community together for a cause. The drive is Thursday, October 25, from 12-6 PM in the Gallery.

Plus, as a “thank you” for giving blood at the drive, all donors will be automatically entered to win a $500 gift card! Click here for more details and thank you for your support!

School Safety: Reflection, Research, and Action

September 27, 2018

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

Parenting is tough work. It seems that in today’s world, there are many more things to worry about than 25 years ago. One of those worries is school security. Despite the unlikelihood of a school shooting, the frequency and the publicity of such occurrences have parents and educators alike very concerned. The school shooting in Parkland, Florida last spring still looms large in my memory and has led to further reflection, research, and action on the part of MPA’s administration regarding school safety.

Tragic as it is, it is important to note that less than one percent of violent deaths are “school associated,” yet such instances do indeed feed our fears. No new threat or instance has provoked this communication or MPA’s updated approach that you will read more about below, but rather it reflects our ongoing commitment to keeping our students safe.

First of all, instead of talking only about school security, I would rather focus our efforts and thinking on school safety, a larger umbrella that includes both school security and school culture. It may seem to split hairs, but there is a difference. Security refers to the practices, protocols, hardware, and other such measures and is increasingly referred to as “hard” security. School culture is the set of values and beliefs that connect people to one another. As head of school, my job is to strike the right balance between school security and school culture. Read More

Y’all Come Back Now. You Hear?!

September 20, 2018

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

I am showing my age and asking you to perhaps share yours. Growing up in the 70s, that phrase is very familiar to me. I heard it an inordinately, embarrassing number of times, sprawled on the living room floor, watching reruns of the “Beverly Hillbillies” television show. It is not proper English for a number of reasons and it may well be a stereotype of the South, but I think it conveys a family-like warmth and means, “We all belong here.”

“We All Belong Here” is the message of homecoming at MPA and the reason we celebrate all next week, culminating in a day-long celebration on Saturday, September 29. At many schools, homecoming pertains only to older students, athletes, and alumni. At MPA, homecoming is an inclusive, community-wide celebration. Throughout the week, and on Saturday, students of all ages will take part in the festivities. Parents, grandparents, and all family members are invited to join in the fun. It is for all of us. Read More