Class Of 2018: Alissa Krohn, Oakdale, MN

Alissa krohn '18As the 2017–18 school year comes to an end, we’re sharing the college choice stories of several members of the Class of 2018!

In what grade did you come to MPA? 4th Grade

How did you come to choose the college that you did? I was looking for colleges with strong chemical engineering programs, and I greatly appreciated Notre Dame’s strong community and commitment to using one’s education to make a positive difference in the world. I also liked that Notre Dame has a synchronized figure skating team, as this sport has been a major part of my life throughout high school.

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Celebrating The Class Of 2018

dr Hudson eating lunch with seniorsby Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

If you happened to drive through the north parking last Friday, you no doubt noticed the playfulness of the seniors as they celebrated their last day of school. From filling the parking lot with cars parked askew, to the American Ninja obstacle course inside the north entrance that we all needed to traverse, to serving ice cream at 8 AM in the morning, the seniors showed a bit of mischievous humor. For that to serve as a last impression would be a mistake. They are a group of accomplished, multi-faceted, enormously talented, and genuinely good people.

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Your New Parents Association Executive Board!

MPA kindergarten classThank you to those of you who voted for your new Parents Association Executive Board. The following slate was approved and will begin leading the PA and serving its families on July 1, 2018: Kim Jakway, President; Seema Anwar, President-Elect; Meredith Forgosh, Secretary; Barry Madore, Treasurer; Ginnie Peterson, Grade Representatives Lead; Russ Purdy, Upper School Division Lead; Susan Knapp and Tara Lafferty, Co-Middle School Division Leads; Tiffany Scott Knox, Lower School Division Lead.

In addition, a special thanks to those who are leaving the Parents Association Executive Board for their service this year, and, in many cases, for many prior years: Wendy Cusick, President; Cari Simonson, Secretary; Tricia Hutton, Treasurer, Christine Larson and Heidi Nelson, Co-Lower School Division Leads, Amanda Campbell and Elizabeth Esch, Co-Upper School Division Leads.


Congratulations to MPA Quiz Bowl!

2018 quiz bowlCongratulations to MPA Quiz Bowl on a fantastic season! On May 26 and 27, freshmen Isak Dai, Ryan Ghose, Hana Miller and Peter Manolis competed at the High School National Championship Tournament for Quiz Bowl. They played in 10 total matches and had a finished record of 5-5, and one of their last matches of the season came down to a buzzer beater on the very last question.

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Upper School Percussion & Woodwind Concert

US woodwind ensembleOn Friday, June 1, the Upper School Percussion and Woodwind Ensembles will be performing their annual end-of-the-year recital! You’ve never seen or heard anything like it! It will be a mix of classical and crazy, as the Woodwind Ensemble will be performing a multi-movement work by Beethoven, while the Percussion Ensemble is going completely non-traditional. Please join us at 6:30 PM in the Recital Hall for this incredible way to wrap up MPA’s concert season! In the meantime, please enjoy this Throwback Thursday to last year’s performance!


Volunteer With MPA This Summer!

MPA at MSP maker faireThe MPA Office of Admission is excited to be a part of several fun summer events around the Twin Cities, and we are looking for volunteers to help us share MPA! MPA will be at the MSP Mini Maker Faire and Grand Old Day this weekend, the Twin Cities Pride Festival, and also hosting a Twin Cities Mom’s Blog Community Heroes event here at MPA! Volunteers can sign up here on a first come, first served, basis. Thanks so much for considering and we can’t wait to see you this summer!


One Last Day At MPA

Senior brock bliese with kindergarten friendThere were so many ways we celebrated the Class of 2018’s last day of school last week, but among the most cherished was the class pairing up with the kindergartners to talk about the future and all things MPA. First, the seniors presented a “time capsule” slideshow, displaying some of the major historic events that have occurred since the Class of 2018 were kindergartners themselves! Then, then scattered in the Upper School commons (strategically avoiding the “seniors only” ping-pong area) to interview one another about their plans for the future, what they want to be when they grow up, and how they plan to acheive their goals. Look back at the Class of 2018’s last day at MPA here!


Class Of 2018: Pranay Somayajula, Woodbury, MN

Pranay '18As the 2017–18 school year comes to an end, we’re sharing the college choice stories of several members of the Class of 2018!

In what grade did you come to MPA? 7th

How did you come to choose the college that you did? I realized that for my interest in politics and political science, the best place for me to be is Washington, D.C. Because of its location, George Washington was clearly the right college for me.

What are you most excited about as you embark on your college experience? I’m really excited for the opportunity to be in a bigger environment and interact with students from a diverse array of experiences, backgrounds, and viewpoints.

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Class Of 2018: Annika Ide, Hudson, WI

Annika Ide '18As the 2017–18 school year comes to an end, we’re sharing the college choice stories of several members of the Class of 2018!

In what grade did you come to MPA? I came to MPA in kindergarten and I’ve loved it ever since. I had two older sisters who had attended MPA since before I was born, so this school has always been a big part of my life. When I was a baby, my mom used to stand me up on her lap in the car while we waited for my sisters in the lower school pick-up line. I would wave to kids and teachers (many of whom still work at MPA!). My family has been a part of MPA for 22 years.

How did you come to choose the college that you did? My sisters both attended UW Madison, so it’s always been on my radar as an option. It came down to the Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon and UW Madison. In the end, I couldn’t pass up being a Badger!

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Constitutional Law Goes To Court

Constitutional Law Goes To CourtOn Wednesday, May 23, seniors in the MPA Constitutional Law class headed to the Minnesota Judicial Center to present arguments on current U.S. Supreme Court cases to panels of judges from the Minnesota Court of Appeals.

Filling four courtrooms in the building, each group of seniors presented their case for 30 minutes, including 15 minutes for both sides of the argument, similar to the way cases are truly argued before the Supreme Court. Each group has been working on one of six cases that the Supreme Court heard during this term.

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