Upper School

Your Gift, Their Future

November 9, 2023

from Bill Hudson, head of school

Confidence in the future is at an all-time low for Americans. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center found that many Americans hold negative views about our collective future. It’s not hard to see why. Global strife, an uncertain economy, political vitriol, social discord, and climate change, to name a few, all contribute to the current uneasiness many feel.

Yet, I remain a firm optimist. While I don’t discount our current reality, I have faith in the future because MPA students inspire me each and every day. I see eighth graders working together to imagine, research, design, and build future cities that showcase their solutions to a citywide sustainability issue. I see Upper School students grappling with and researching complex topics in debate, forming arguments grounded in evidence and the result of critical thinking. I see Lower School students learning about and practicing essential social skills such as kindness, respect, listening, and conflict resolution. Read More

Upper School Division News November 9, 2023

November 9, 2023

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Mark Your Calendars

  • Monday, November 13: 11th Grade Mock ACT Testing, 11:30-3 PM, MPA 
  • Thursday, November 16: Give to the Max Day Lip Sync Assembly, 2:20-3 PM, Lansing Center 
  • Thursday, November 16: Grade 10 Parent Meeting, 6-7 PM, Recital Hall 
  • Thursday, November 16: Upper School Vocal Concert, 7:30-8:30 PM, Nicholson Center 
  • Friday, November 17:   9th Grade Bring-A-Friend to MPA Day 
  • Monday, November 20: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall 
  • Wednesday, November 22: No Classes, Thanksgiving Break 
  • Thursday, November 23: No Classes, Thanksgiving Holiday Break 
  • Friday, November 24: No Classes, Thanksgiving Holiday Break 
  • Thursday, November 30: Upper School Conferences, 3:30-8 PM, MPA 
  • Friday, December 1: No Upper School Classes, Upper School Conferences, 8-5 PM, MPA 
  • Saturday, December 2: US Semi-Formal Dance, 8-11 PM, Maplewood Community Center 
  • Monday, December 4-Friday, December 8: MPA Book Festival 
  • Wednesday, December 6: Founder’s Day Breakfast, 7-8 AM, Family Commons 
  • Wednesday, December 6: Class of 2028 Feed Your Mind Dinner, 6-8 PM, Family Commons 
  • Thursday, December 7: Upper School Parent Coffee, 8-9:30 AM, PCR 
  • Friday, December 8: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall 
  • Tuesday, December 19: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall 
  • Tuesday, December 19: Class of 2028 Parent Coffee, 6:30-7:30 PM, MPA 
  • Wednesday, December 20: MPA Caroling, 7:30-8 AM, MPA 
  • Thursday, December 21-Tuesday, January 2: No Classes, Winter Break 
  • Wednesday, January 3: Classes Resume 

A few weeks ago, my family and I celebrated one of many traditional Upper School “rites of passage” when our son received his driver’s permit. We anxiously awaited the envelope addressed to him from the State of Minnesota that contained his permit card, which would give him the permission necessary to get behind the wheel of our car and drive. When it arrived, however, I must admit that I was surprised by what I saw. It wasn’t that his picture had more of a smirk than a smile or that he had decided to be an organ donor like his parents, but rather my focus was on the difficult to read “signature” displayed at the bottom of the card. I have known for quite some time that his penmanship was similar to what patients once saw at the bottom of a doctor’s prescription pad, but I was a bit taken aback by what I saw.  

In a recent Washington Post article, author Gina Rich shared that “handwriting is a fine motor skill that isn’t innately learned; it needs to be taught and practiced.” As I thought about this quote, I realized that handwriting is a timeless and fundamental skill that plays a critical role in the process of learning and mastering material. This was a hard reality for me as MPA has for decades been a one-to-one laptop school where academic technology has played an important role in the education of students. While technology has, and will continue, to make vast strides in education, there are compelling reasons to advocate and find time for students to use handwriting as an essential tool in their learning process.   Read More

Parents Association News and Events November 9, 2023

November 9, 2023

MPA Book Festival
December 4-8
Book Festival is coming up! Just in time for Winter Break reading or holiday gifts! Come and share the love of books and reading with your family. The Book Festival is in-person again this year! Support the joy of reading at MPA!

Used Book Sale
Our students love to browse the used book selection for interesting titles! The PA will be hosting a Used Book Sale at school during Book Festival week. We are asking for donations of gently used books for readers of all ages (hardcover and paperbacks). Please no textbooks, encyclopedias, or travel guides. Donation carts will be set up at the North and South entrances from November 13-December 1 for convenient donation drop-offs. All proceeds benefit the MPA library.

MPA Book Festival Book Club with Dr. Hudson
Dec 7, 6-7:30 PM, MPA Library
“Mad Honey” by Jodi Picoult
Please join Dr. Hudson and fellow book-loving parents for a discussion of Mad Honey. Author Jodi Picoult describes her novel as having “all of the things: alternating narratives, suspense, courtroom drama, and a love story at its core. It’s about authenticity, identity, and it explores the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become our true selves.” Please sign up here to let us know you will be coming and to get your copy of the book here. Read More

Nurturing A Joyful Environment

November 2, 2023

from Bill Hudson, head of school

We had a marvelous turnout for Grandparents and Special Friends Day with more than 450 guests. I received a handwritten thank you note from a grandparent that expresses much of what I heard from multiple grandparents/special friends throughout the day. It read, “It truly was a morning to remember. My grandchildren are thriving at MPA, and it is easy to see why—the nurturing, caring, high-standard environment you and all the teachers and staff have created was a joy to behold.”

Joy isn’t always associated with education. In an era of emphasis on high-stakes testing, rote learning, and fears about falling behind academically, the importance of joy in education is often overlooked. Or worse, students working (occasionally laughing) together on a project, joyfully carving a pumpkin, excitedly creating a play from scratch, singing with gusto, or delighting in the music they create from their musical instrument isn’t considered “real learning.” What is real, however, is the declining mental health and increased anxiety our children are experiencing, which is being called the “crisis of our times” by United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Read More

Parents Association News and Events November 2, 2023

November 2, 2023

Thank You, Lower School Parent Volunteers
The PA wishes to thank Cathi Murray and Megan Brogger for leading the planning and coordination of the Lower School Halloween Festivities!  If you would like to learn how to get involved, you can email msotoPA@moundsparkacademy.org to learn about upcoming opportunities.

Thank You to Our Community Coffee Hosts
Thank you to our gracious coffee hosts for the Neighborhood/Community Coffees this past weekend: Staci Banks-Herberger, Christine Larson, Seema Anwar, Erika Beernink, and Michaela Jahnke. Stay tuned for more coffees in different neighborhoods in 2024!

Thank You
Last Friday, the Parents Association thanked the College Counseling Office and Upper School Faculty for all of their hard work on letters of recommendation for our seniors applying to college.

MPA Book Club with Dr. Hudson
Tuesday, November 7, 6 PM in the MPA Library
Please join Dr. Hudson and fellow MPA parents for a great discussion of David Grann’s bestseller, “Killers of the Flower Moon”. This non-fiction page-turner that reads like a novel. Read More

A Love Note To Parents

October 26, 2023

from Dr. Jenn Milam, Middle School Director

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.

Being a parent means wearing a million and one hats, managing endless lists of appointments, practices, and playdates, all while working hard to instill what we believe are all of life’s most important lessons. As they say, the days are long, and the years are short. And while we’re wrapped up in the day-to-days, it can be easy to find ourselves, as grown-ups, running on autopilot, giving very little thought to our well-being and sense of balance and awareness. When we arrive in these moments, tending to others’ needs before our own, it can lead to frustration, feelings of anxiousness, maybe even loneliness and disconnection, or worse, a sense of spinning and dysregulation that lends itself to burnout and exhaustion.

Parenting is, without a doubt, one of the most challenging adventures of adult life. To be sure, navigating our young people’s lives while attempting to find balance in our own and to model what it means to be a wholly authentic person, a kind human being, and a productive citizen requires, too, a commitment to caring for ourselves, developing skills to process emotions, and sharing fully our own learning and growth, even when we mess up. Ashley Cooper, MPA school counselor, always speaks from an affirming position about emotions and emotional regulation, reminding us that “all emotions are normal and deserve to be acknowledged.” This is why, today, as we make our way through fall and into the busy holidays, the dimmer days of winter, and more rigorous days of school, I’m writing to you, parents and caregivers, to remind you of the importance of caring for yourself emotionally and mentally. Moreover, I hope to illuminate the importance of self-care as a means by which you may teach your young people, through living, intentional modeling, and purposeful discussion, how to develop healthy and proactive skills to practice positive emotional regulation. Read More

Upper School Division News October 26, 2023

October 26, 2023

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

A Look Ahead

  • Friday, October 27: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
  • Sunday, October 29: US Boys Soccer Banquet, 4:30-6:30 PM, Family Commons
  • Monday, October 30: US Cross Country Banquet, 4:30-7 PM, Family Commons
  • Wednesday, November 1: Grade 9 Parent Meeting, 6-7 PM, Recital Hall
    • Upper School Instrumental Concert, 7:30-8:30 PM, Nicholson Center
  • Friday, November 3: End of Quarter 1
  • Thursday, November 9: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
  • Monday, November 13: US Grade 11 Mock ACT, 11:30-3 PM
  • Thursday, November 16: Give to the Max Day, Lip Sync Competition, 2:20 PM, Lansing Sports Center
    • Grade 10 Parent Meeting, 6-7 PM, Recital Hall
    • Upper School Vocal Concert, 7:30-8:30 PM, Nicholson Center
  • Friday, November 17: 9th Grade Bring A Friend to MPA Day, register here
  • Monday, November 20: Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Recital Hall
  • Wednesday, November 22-24: No Classes, Thanksgiving Holiday Break
  • Thursday, November 30: Upper School Evening Conferences, 3:30-8 PM, MPA
  • Friday, December 1: No Upper School Classes, Upper School Conferences, 8-5 PM, MPA
  • Monday, December 4-Friday, December 8: MPA Book Festival
  • Wednesday, December 6: Founders’ Day Community Breakfast, 7-8 AM, Family Commons

Often, we hear about professional development days and conferences for teachers. Topics may include classroom management, working with neurodiverse learners, or specific strategies and curricula for Advanced Placement courses. It is, however, just as important for school administrators to get out of the building and take advantage of learning opportunities. During the past three days, I was provided with a tremendous professional development opportunity from which I personally hope to grow professionally and from which I know the MPA upper school community can benefit.

I was invited to serve on a visiting accreditation team for the Independent Schools of the Central States (ISACS). Once every ten years, independent schools like MPA engage in a significant self-study reviewing all aspects of their school. Themes such as curriculum, finances, governance, and student services are examined by the school, from which a thorough report is written. The final self-study report is then shared with members of a visiting team to review and use as a basis of a scheduled three-day visit to campus. I visited a school just outside of Cleveland that was established 133 years ago. During my time there, I met with students, teachers, and administrators who affirmed what was in the shared report and added context to the items written about. Even though theirs is a single-gender community located on two campuses, I found relevant connections to MPA. Several of their courses and programs are like ours. Like us, their teachers are unwaveringly committed to their students and do all they can to support them. And the conversations and interactions between students focused on music, homework, and fantasy football just as ours do in Maplewood. Read More

MPA Athletic Updates

October 26, 2023

MPA Panthers Qualify for State Cross Country Meet

On a very rainy day earlier this week, Megan Snider, Eddie Snider, and Ben Murr qualified to race at the State Cross Country Meet! Megan and Eddie were both Section Champions, with Megan setting a new school record by almost 15 seconds! Ben will run in his first Cross Country State Championship to cap off his senior year. The boys team also had a strong third-place finish. Congratulations to the entire team and their coaches, alums Declan Dahlberg and Ellie Quam, and Middle School science teacher Courtney Nagle. Go Panthers!

MPA Rowers Compete in Boston Boston At The Head of the Charles

MPA students David Steinberger and Andy Taylor competed in the world’s largest international regatta at the Head of the Charles in Boston, placing 22nd out of 47 teams in the Men’s Youth 4x+. The boys masterfully executed their race plan and went stroke for stroke against the best rowers in the world. This top-half placement secures an automatic bid next year at this world-renowned rowing race. Up next for MPA rowers is The Head of the Hooch in Tennessee, where Abby Appleton, David Steinberger, Andy Taylor, and Bella Carson will continue their dominance in representing the best of Minnesota rowing! Read More

MPA Students Selected For Art Invitational 

October 26, 2023

Please join the art department in congratulating the following artists, who had work selected for inclusion in the Shattuck St. Mary’s 18th Annual Art Invitational.

Their work will be part of a juried exhibition at Shattuck St. Mary’s School.  The exhibition opens October 26 and runs through November 14.

  • Leo Eakin: Drawing, 3rd Place Award
  • Aixa Kellermann: Drawing
  • Teagan Swanson: Art and Design
  • Thura Zaw: Drawing
  • Yuhan Zou: Drawing

 

 

Parents Association News and Events October 26, 2023

October 26, 2023

Thank You!
The Parents Association would like to thank everyone who donated items and participated in the Fall Staff Appreciation Week. We are grateful to our community for helping to keep our staff fed and hydrated during conference week.

Community Coffees This Weekend! 
Saturday, October 28, 9-11 AM
The MPA Parents Association invites parents to stop in to a neighborhood community coffee being held throughout the Twin Cities this Saturday, October 28! Please join the one nearest to you anytime between 9 AM and 11 AM. There will be MPA table signage at each of the coffee shops so families can identify the MPA group. Stay tuned for additional locations to be added later this year.

  • North Oaks: Taste of Scandinavia
    845 Village Center Dr, North Oaks, MN 55127, hosted by Christine Larson
  • Woodbury: Dunn Bros
    10060 City Walk Dr, Suite 104, Woodbury, MN 55129, hosted by Staci Banks-Hehenberger
  • Stillwater: You & Me Cafe
    826 4th St. S, Stillwater MN 55082, hosted by Seema Anwar
  • South Minneapolis
    4908 Washburn Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55410, hosted by Erika Beernink at her home
  • St Paul
    1916 Fairmount Ave, St. Paul MN 55105, hosted by Michaela Jahnke at her home

A huge thank you to all of our gracious hosts! If you have any questions, please contact Julie Bixby at jbixbyPA@moundsparkacademy.org. We hope to see you there!

Lower School Halloween Party Volunteers
We are seeking volunteers to help out during the LS Halloween Party in the Lansing Center. Kids will enjoy games, crafts, activities, and an obstacle course. Join us for part of the day or the whole day. Sign up to volunteer here by Friday, 10/27. The LS Halloween parade will follow the party at 2:30 PM.  Should you have any questions, please email msotoPA@moundsparkacademy.org.

Volunteer in the MPA Garden!
We are looking for volunteers to help with the MPA garden before the weather gets too cold. No previous gardening experience is necessary. No long term commitment is necessary either. We typically meet either Thursday or Friday mornings after drop off, but can also meet at other times as well. If interested, please contact Sara Carroll at smtanaka@gmail.com or Tenia Kalogeropoulou at tenia2@yahoo.com. Read More