Upper School Archives

The Seven Senses: Sensory Supports at MPA

October 31, 2024

from Jennifer Le Varge, Lower School director and director of the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning

Editor’s Note: Periodically, you will find a guest Head’s Message here from members of the administrative team. We hope you will enjoy reading their thoughts and reflections about life at MPA.

Sir Ken Robinson’s prolific Ted Talk, “Do Schools Kill Creativity?” exquisitely describes the traditional school model’s habit of separating the head from the body. In other words, traditional schooling is unevenly focused on academic skills, leaving out the other side of the human development coin: the body and the senses. The integration of the mind and the body is imperative to the development of a human being and underscores our whole child approach at Mounds Park Academy. Thanks to MPA’s Building Opportunities for Learning Distinction (BOLD) Innovation Fund that families supported during the 2022 Spring Auction, and along with our learning specialist and PreK-5 school counselor, we were able to make the sensory room initiative a reality in the spring of 2024. Repurposing a corner of the Lower School workroom last year, the counselor and I offered short, daily “sensory breaks” for students in the Lower School to find emotional regulation and calm during the bright and busy school days. Since then, we have hired Mx. Lewis as of this September, our student success teaching assistant based in the sensory room who collaborates with the teachers, counselor, and learning specialist in the Lower School.

But you might be asking, what exactly is sensory processing and what is a sensory room? With October marked as Sensory Processing Awareness Month, this is a timely question. And here is where our “seven senses” come in. Yes, we all learned in elementary school that there are five human senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. However, did you know that researchers have more recently discovered two additional senses? Those include the proprioceptive and vestibular senses.
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Upper School Division News October 31, 2024

October 31, 2024

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, November 1: No Classes, Grading Day
Sunday, November 3: Taste of Ninth Grade, 11 AM-12:15 PM, Family Commons
Sunday, November 3: PreK-G12 MPA Preview, 12:30-2 PM
Sunday, November 3: US Boys Soccer Banquet, 5:30-7:30 PM, Lowell Inn
Thursday, November 7: US Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
Thursday, November 7: US G9 Parent Meeting, 6-7 PM, Recital Hall
Thursday, November 14: US G10 Parent Meeting, 6-7 PM, Recital Hall
Thursday, November 14: US Vocal Concert, 7:30-9 PM, Nicholson Center
Sunday, November 17-Saturday, November 23: Fall Campaign
Thursday, November 21: Give to the Max Day
Thursday, November 21: Give to the Max Day Assembly, 2-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center

I am writing this note from my quasi-comfortable airline seat at 38,000 feet somewhere over eastern Russia as I make my way back to the Twin Cities from visiting Vanke Meisha Academy, our partner school in Shenzhen, China. I spent the past week visiting the school where I met and spent time with the students, faculty, and staff VMA. Prior to my arrival in Shenzhen, the perception I had of China was primarily based on what I had been taught as a student and witnessed via the US media. My week in Shenzhen, however, has made me realize that experiencing something firsthand allows me to draw my own conclusions and not be limited to what others share.

Traveling to new locations is an important way to learn about different cultures, traditions, and environments beyond what we can see in books or online. When we visit new places, we engage with the local people, taste authentic foods, and witness unique landscapes, which deepens our understanding of the world. Experiencing things firsthand allows us to appreciate diversity and build empathy towards others. It also challenges our perspectives, encouraging us to think critically about our own lives and habits.
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Your Involvement In Accreditation Is Essential

October 24, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

I am still on a high from last week’s Grandparents and Special Friends Day. It was a joyful event, and I enjoyed the many conversations I had with our guests. To see the pride our students have in their school and the delight in the eyes of their grandparents and special friends warmed my heart. I heard over and over what a wonderful school we are and how special MPA is. One parent shared that their dad never quite understood the value of the school given the cost until he witnessed the extraordinary teachers and warmth of the culture. “His experience was life-giving,” said the parent.

Events like Grandparents and Special Friends Day can serve as a mirror to reflect the school’s mission and values in action and to affirm whether we really are who we say we are. At MPA, we don’t take that for granted and strive to hold ourselves accountable to our mission and values. Our accountability extends to all members of our community: students and their families, faculty and staff, alumni, trustees, and benefactors.

I want to share with you an important process that underscores Mounds Park Academy’s commitment to accountability, improvement, and excellence: our participation in the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) accreditation process. As you may know, Mounds Park Academy is a proud member of ISACS, an organization whose mission is to promote the development of strong learning communities characterized by high academic achievement, social responsibility, and independent governance. ISACS was founded in 1908 and serves more than 240 member schools in 13 states.

Ms. Sonka’s Passion For Sumi-e Sparks Lessons

October 10, 2024

When Renee Sonka, Middle and Upper School visual arts teacher, first started work on her painting “Dancing Flower Collage,” a Sumi-e styled piece, she wasn’t sure how she felt about it.

“I painted the flowers a couple of years ago, and I was unhappy with them, actually. I put them in the cabinet for a long time,” Sonka said before looking at the piece with fresh eyes recently and touching up the piece. “The collage turned it from an okay painting into a more than okay painting.”

Revisiting the artwork proved to be a worthwhile decision as once Sonka was pleased with the piece, it proved to be a winner. “Dancing Flower Collage” was awarded the National Capital Area Chapter Award in the 61st Annual Juried Exhibition, presented by the Sumi-e Society of America.

“Most years, I will get a piece in, but not every year. To get in is an honor, and to get an award beyond getting in is a huge honor,” Sonka said on the achievement, netting her the first National Capital Area Chapter Award of her career. Read More

Upper School Division News October 10, 2024

October 10, 2024

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, October 11: No Classes, All School Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM
Monday, October 14: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples Day
Tuesday, October 15: Election 2024 Through Civil Discourse: A Sample Lesson for MS/US Parents, 6-7 PM, PCR, register here >
Wednesday, October 16: US G12 No Classes
Wednesday, October 16: US G10/11 Pre-ACT & Mock ACT Practice Tests, 8 AM-12 PM (Early Dismissal)
Wednesday, October 16: US G9 Special Programming, 8 AM-3 PM, Off-Campus
Wednesday, October 16: US G10/11 Early Dismissal
Thursday, October 17-Friday, October 18: No Classes, Fall Break
Thursday, October 24: LS/US Blood Drive, 12-6 PM, Gallery
Friday, October 25: G1-9 Bring a Friend to MPA Day, 8 AM-3 PM
Friday, October 25: US Senior Retreat, 8 AM-5 PM, Camp St. Croix
Friday, October 25: US Senior Retreat Dinner, 5-7 PM, US Commons
Wednesday, October 30: US Instrument Concert, 7:30-9 PM, Nicholson Center
Thursday, October 31: End of Quarter 1
Friday, November 1: No Classes, Grading Day

In 2001, I returned to my alma mater to serve as the assistant director of the middle school. For me, my middle school experience was one that I would have much rather forgotten. I was “that kid.” The one who was often moved to the front row from the back of the room as I was busy serving as the class clown and disrupting the learning of myself and others. My relationship with my teachers was, to say the least, strained and my parents and I could have been on a first-name basis with my school administrator. It was extremely ironic that for my first school administrative role, I served on the other side of the figurative and literal desk.

Thankfully, my parents, teachers, and administrators worked in partnership to support me. A similar partnership is also available and strong at MPA. Parent/teacher conferences play a pivotal role in fostering effective communication and collaboration between educators and parents, forming an important relationship in a student’s educational journey. According to KidsHeath.org, “Conferences help students reach their full potential by providing a space for open dialog, collaboration, and support.” They also provide a dedicated space for parents to gain insight into their child’s academic progress, social development, and progress within the school environment. Read More

Commemorating Indigenous Peoples Day

October 10, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

“Makhoche kin de dakhota thamakhoche.” (Maw-ko-chay keen day dah-ko-tah tah-mah-ko-chay) This is the land of the friendly people, the Dakota.

You may be noticing the school calendar over the next week or so is a bit wonky. This is true for several different reasons, including parent-teacher conferences and the long-standing tradition of taking “MEA days” as a fall break. This year, we are also commemorating Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, October 14.

As we recognize Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, we have a unique opportunity to reflect on the profound impact that Native cultures, histories, and contributions have had—and continue to have—on our country. This day calls on us to honor the rich heritage of Indigenous peoples while also acknowledging the struggles they have faced throughout history.

Mounds Park Academy acknowledges the language and history of the Wahpekute and the larger Očhéthi Šakówin nation and its connection to these cultures through the land on which the school resides. Mounds Park Academy acknowledges that our school rests on Dakota homeland and that Indigenous Peoples have the longest relationship to this land. Read More

Preparing Students For A New Workplace

October 3, 2024

There’s a current TikTok trend that involves high school teachers reading emails that they’ve received from their students out loud. They often start with “Hey,” or “Whatsup,” if they contain a salutation. And let’s just say that rarely do they close with a “Thank you.”

While perhaps entertaining, this trend illustrates a disheartening disparity in how young people are being prepared for the workplace of the future. Rapidly changing trends and expectations shape how progressive independent schools like Mounds Park Academy equip students with essential workplace skills for life beyond the four walls of a classroom.

The trend popped into the head of admission and communications director Natalie Waters Seum recently, when she was chatting a newer MPA student. They were talking about how she might navigate the academic bumps in the road that will inevitably come in a rigorous college-prep school. Natalie encouraged her to reach out to her teacher for clarification and support and asked her if she knew how to do that well. While it shouldn’t have been, her response was pleasantly surprising. She retold with great detail what she had learned during the “How To Write An Email To A Teacher” lesson in Mr. Dean’s ninth-grade seminar class. The lesson covers topics such as formal letter structure, salutations, tone, attachments, and more. Notably, the lesson also teaches MPA students to share the solutions they’ve already tried—helping encourage them to take responsibility for their own academic journeys. This lesson is one of the hundreds of ways that MPA intentionally prepares MPA students for a new workplace daily. Read More

Coming Home

September 26, 2024

from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

I’m old enough to remember those nostalgic Folgers coffee commercials in which a son surprises his family by coming home for the holidays. The warmth, laughter, and love conveyed in those moments brought home the idea that “home” is far more than just a physical place—it’s about the emotions, traditions, and connections we share with one another. That commercial tugged at my heartstrings every time, often bringing a tear to my eye.

Within families, traditions arise and are celebrated, nurturing emotions of acceptance that go beyond the concept of a home as a physical or geographical location. Likewise, Homecoming at MPA has a distinctive meaning as a PreK-12 school. Throughout this week, students of all ages have shown their school spirit in countless ways. From the annual Lower School coloring project and the Homecoming-themed CHAMP Assembly to Middle School poster-making and Upper School dress-up days, the energy has been palpable. Our student-athletes have even been greeting everyone with a smile outside door one each morning. The week culminates with a pep fest tomorrow and athletic contests and activities on Saturday, September 28, and all students, regardless of their grade level, are warmly invited to attend and celebrate together.

Merriam-Webster defines homecoming as “the act of returning to your home or to a place that is like your home.” At MPA, we often refer to our school as a second home—a place where both students and adults are known and valued. This sense of belonging is deeply embedded in our school’s DNA, and it is a crucial element of who we are. Research consistently shows that emotional safety and a strong sense of community are essential for personal growth and academic success.

Upper School Division News September 26, 2024

September 26, 2024

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Mark Your Calendars

Friday, September 27: PreK-12 Spirit Wear Day
Friday, September 27: G3-12 Homecoming Assembly, 2:30-3 PM, Lansing Sports Center
Friday, September 27: US Homecoming BBQ, 5-7 PM, Courtyard
Friday, September 27: Hall of Fame Dinner, 6-8 PM, Family Commons
Saturday, September 28: Homecoming, information here >
Saturday, September 28: US Homecoming Dance, 8-11 PM, MPA Campus
Tuesday, October 1: US Quarterly Coffee, 8-9 AM, PCR
Tuesday, October 1: School Photo Retakes, 8-10 AM, Indoor Track
Friday, October 4: US Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
Saturday, October 5: Debate Tournament, 7 AM-4 PM, MS & US Classrooms
Tuesday, October 8: HeadSpace: Civil Discourse in a Polarized Society, Election 2024, 7-8 PM, via Zoom >
Wednesday, October 9: US Cum Laude Program, 7:30-8 AM, Recital Hall
Wednesday, October 9: US PSAT Testing, 8 AM-3 PM
Thursday, October 10: All School Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM
Friday, October 11: No Classes, All School Conferences, 8 AM-5 PM
Monday, October 14: No Classes, Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Tuesday, October 15: Election 2024 Through Civil Discourse: A Sample Lesson for MS/US Parents, 6-7 PM, PCR, register here >
Wednesday, October 16: Grade 9 Special Programming, 8-3 PM, Off Campus
Wednesday, October 16: Grades 10 & 11 Pre-ACT & Mock ACT Practice Tests, 8 AM-12 PM (early dismissal)
Wednesday, October 16: Grade 12 No Classes, Time Set Aside for College Applications and College Visits
Thursday, October 17-Friday, October 18: No Classes, Fall Break

With Homecoming season upon us, we are approaching a fun and exciting time for students and their families. I find myself reflecting on the possibility of Upper School students being placed into situations where they may have to make difficult decisions, and I want to send this letter to ask you to do all that you can to make it a happy and safe time for your child. Nothing is more valuable to teenagers than their friends, and nothing is more valuable to parents than the safety of their children. Unfortunately, these two don’t always interact well with one another. Statistically, Homecoming weekend has been one of the most dangerous in a high school student’s life. Each year, we lose far too many teenagers to motor vehicle crashes, with an increase in intoxicant-related traffic fatalities on Homecoming Dance Night. Accidents (especially automobile crashes) are the leading cause of death for young adults between the ages of 15-19, and the reality is that many of those deaths are caused by teenage impaired or distracted driving. Sometimes, even the best kids encounter situations where alcohol and drug use occur, and our children could find themselves in an environment with unexpected expectations. As a parent or guardian, you have the opportunity and responsibility to help ensure the safety of your children and others by helping them make the right choices.

Congratulations, National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students!

September 23, 2024

It all started last fall, with more than 1.3 million juniors in high schools nationwide taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) and then entering the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. Based on PSAT performance, a nationwide pool of about 16,000 Semifinalists was announced recently.

Representing MPA and earning their place among the top one percent of high school seniors, Navreen Biring and Paul Fertig were announced as National Merit Semifinalists! Congratulations to Navreen and Paul, who will now complete an extensive application to proceed further in the competition. They will provide their academic record, an essay, a school recommendation, and SAT or ACT scores that confirm their qualifying performance on the PSAT.

Three additional seniors, Annika Binstadt, Mari Minear, and Amal Sastry, are recognized as Commended Students in the National Merit program. Their scores placed them in the top 50,000 students nationally.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success and notes that they represent a valuable national resource, contributing to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We are so proud of these five MPA students!