Upper School Archives

April 20, 2023

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

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

In late March of 2016, I vividly remember visiting Mounds Park Academy for the first time. The warm welcome I received from the community was unlike anything that I ever experienced. Very quickly it was clear that the MPA mission was alive, well, and integrated into all aspects of daily life on campus. One aspect, however, stood out more than the other five—the joy of learning. There was a certain joie de vivre felt as soon as I walked through the Lansing Center doors.

Joy is a transformational emotion that can have profound effects on our lives. A feeling of great happiness and pleasure, joy has the ability to uplift our spirits and energize us. The power of joy lies in its ability to shift our mindset from one that is fixed to one that is more open and growth-centric. Joy has a contagious quality and when we share it with others a ripple effect of positivity and happiness occurs. This is witnessed daily at MPA. Read More

Upper School Division News April 20, 2023

April 20, 2023

from Mark Segal, Upper School director

Important Dates and Upcoming Events

April 21: A Night of Pure Imagination Spring Auction, 6:30 PM, Intercontinental Hotel, St. Paul Riverfront
April 26: PA Cultural Diversity Day, 3-7 PM, Family Commons and Peacock Teaching Kitchen
April 26: The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center
April 28: No Classes, Professional Development
April 28: The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center
May 6: Grade 10-12 Prom, 8-11 PM, St. Croix River Boat
May 11: Middle and Upper School Orchestra Concert, 7-8:30 PM, Nicholson Center
May 17: Middle and Upper School Band Concert, 7-8:30 PM, Nicholson Center
May 19: Class of 2023 Last Day of Classes
May 24: Upper School Vocal Concert, 7:30-9 PM, Nicholson Center
May 25: Senior Performances, 10-11:30 AM, Recital Hall
May 25: Senior Walk, 1-1:45 PM, MPA Campus, Spirit Wear Day PreK-12
May 25: Upper School Awards Assembly, 1:45-3 PM, Nicholson Center
May 25: MPA Retirement Gathering, 4-6:30 PM, Family Commons
May 26: No Classes, Professional Development
May 29: No Classes, Memorial Day
June 3: MPA Commencement 2023
June 7: Last Day of School, Early Dismissal 10:15 AM

Over the past 25+ years I have come to realize that the sprint toward the end of the school year is starting earlier and earlier. This year is no different. As you see in the Looking Ahead section of this post, there are a tremendous number of gatherings, activities, and events scheduled between now and the end of the year. I am excited to join you in celebrating student accomplishments as we make our way toward graduation, final exams, and the very special annual yearbook assembly.

Thank you, in advance, for all you do, as parents, friends, and supporters of each MPA Upper School student to work in partnership so they can experience the greatest amount of success. Read More

Parents Association News & Events April 20, 2023

April 20, 2023

Cultural Diversity Day
Wednesday, April 26, 3-7 PM
Take a gastronomic tour around the world as we share sweet and savory delicacies from around the world and an international drinks bar. Sign up here to attend a cooking demonstration in our wonderful new teaching kitchen.

Go home with some cool body art from an expert henna artist. Try your hand at global crafts like French decoupage, Brazilian carnival masks, and Taíno petroglyphs. Enjoy musical performances by our talented MPA community! 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.

If you would like to volunteer, please sign up here.

Panther Party
Friday, May 5, 3:45-5:45 PM
Come volunteer at the Panther Party, Friday, May 5, 3:45-5:45 PM. Interested in taking some time to welcome newly admitted families to MPA? We need your help. The Panther Party is looking for folks to welcome new families, answer questions, and socialize. Please sign up here, under the first item: Parent Volunteers to Welcome and socialize with new families in the Family Commons.

Meet Upper School Science Teacher Mitch Thomsen

April 19, 2023

When and how did you first come to MPA?
August 1991. I had moved back to Minnesota in 1989, got married and taught for a year at St. Bernard’s school in St. Paul. I wanted to make a change and interviewed at MPA and St. Thomas Academy. I was offered a job at both schools. I really liked the atmosphere at MPA, knew Chris Jensen, and felt that MPA was the best place for me.

What memories do you have of your first days at MPA?
The joyful return of the students at Back to School Night. Camille Wainwright doing interesting demos in chemistry. Chris Jensen keeping the biology classes moving. I remember feeling that I was in a “fast” crowd. Here, at MPA, all the faculty were very talented and hard-working. The goal is creative, student-involved education and everyone, everywhere was doing this. The school was alive with positive action. I felt I needed to “raise my game” if I was going to be an effective part of this hard-charging group. There was such a collegial feeling between all the teachers. The male teachers had to wear a shirt and tie. This is where I started my biology tie collection. Mostly I was quiet and I listened. There was a lot to learn.

What’s the best thing about being a teacher at MPA?
I have the freedom to do what is best for my students. I can explore new ideas with colleagues and come up with interesting things for myself and the students to do. I can bring in new best practices and keep my classes current with what is happening in the world now. I can use the garden area as an ongoing research resource. I have connections with Ramsey Washington Metro Water Shed District and their expertise and support has been critical to the success of the rainwater gardens at school. I have the support of the administration and they have been instrumental in encouraging me to be involved in the garden, new classes, and new technologies. I have a wonderful relationship with my fellow science teachers. Every day is like a department meeting as we talk and share new ideas, and activities in a very collegial setting. We work together well as a team and we support and help each other. Read More

MPA Speech Sends 18 Students To State!

April 17, 2023

Congratulations to MPA’s Speech Team for an excellent performance at the MSHSL section tournament! Not only did they win triumphantly, but they will also be sending 18 students to the state competition as well.

Congratulations and good luck to the coach—Tanner Sunderman—and to Annika Binstadt, Lucy Schwieger, Max O’Connor, Frances Martin, Amal Sastry, Akshay Somayajula, Cynthia Ghannoum, Mari Minear, Nico Bergh, Guy Schwieger, Zainab Lodhi, Rowan Mulrooney, Zaara Nayak, Soumya Raman, Nabila Artan, Greta Hanson, Pahwa Yang, and Maggie Banks!

Cultural Diversity Day At MPA

April 14, 2023

Take a gastronomic tour around the world as we share sweet and savory delicacies from around the world and an international drinks bar. Attend a cooking demonstration in our wonderful new teaching kitchen, go home with some cool body art from an expert henna artist, and try your hand at global crafts like French decoupage, Brazilian carnival masks and Taíno petroglyphs. You will also be able to enjoy musical and dance performances by our talented MPA community! Chat with community members who will have booths set up to share their culture and/or offer samples of their cuisine. Please sign up to volunteer here.

Would you like to share your culture through cuisine, music, dance or art? We invite you to be a part of our cultural showcase—please email seema_anwar@hotmail.com.

Defined By Our Independence

April 13, 2023

from Bill Hudson, head of school

The independence of Mounds Park Academy is fundamental to who we are. I bristle when people talk about MPA as a “private” school, partly because of an implied privilege or elitism, but more importantly, because independence allows the school to be purely mission-driven and not beholden to a larger entity such as state, federal, or religious oversight.

Independent schools share certain fundamental characteristics of purpose, structure, and operation that define a school’s independence:

Independent incorporation as a non-profit 501(c)(3) institution with clearly stated educational goals and non-discriminatory policies in admissions and employment.
An individually developed mission and guiding principles as the foundation for the school’s program.
A self-perpetuating governing body whose role is to plan for the future, set overall policy, ensure the school’s financial sustainability and independence (primarily through setting tuition and generating charitable giving), and appoint and support the head of school.
An administration free to implement the school’s mission by designing and articulating its program, hiring and developing a capable and qualified faculty and staff, and admitting those students whom the school determines it can best serve.
A commitment to continuous institutional growth and quality manifested by participation in the ISACS septennial accreditation process.

Parents Association News & Events April 13, 2023

April 13, 2023

Upper School Parent Coffee, This Friday!
Friday, April 14, 8-9:30 AM
Join us for our quarterly Upper School Parent Coffee in the PCR. In addition to all Upper School parents, rising ninth-grade families are warmly invited to attend! Two topics will be covered: “If I knew then what I know now” and the scheduling/registration process and questions. Please join us!

Please note: Due to low turnout, the Thursday, April 13, 5:30 PM, Gluten-Free Cooking Class with Kate Thrane has been canceled.

PA LGBTQ+ Affinity Parent Group
Sunday, April 16, 1 PM at the Unity Cafe
Join other parents and caregivers at the Unity Café at 843 Rice St, Saint Paul, MN 55117. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Andretta at 651-329-4255 or email her at garbowmelissa5@gmail.com. Read More

Sowah Mensah’s MPA Residency

April 13, 2023

MPA’s music department was fortunate to host Sowah Mensah as an artist in residency from April 10-14. Sowah is a current professor at St. Thomas and Macalester, and is world-renowned as a “master drummer” from Accra, Ghana. As an ethnomusicologist, he teaches in many settings and even directs Sankofa, a Ghanaian Folklore and Dance Ensemble in the Twin Cities. Sowah enjoys an active performance career in addition to teaching. He has toured in China, the United States, Latin America, and has worked with notable forces in the Twin Cities music scene, including Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, Chanticleer, Minnesota Center Chorale, St. Paul Civic Symphony, and more.

Sowah has been collaborating with Mr. Warner all week, and also working with Ms. Wantock’s Upper School percussion ensemble to create amazing music with different percussion instruments of Africa in a unique and collaborative style. The MPA community is invited to observe the final performance on Friday, April 14. This is an enriching opportunity for the school and its students, and it was fascinating to observe him guide the young musicians to facilitate confidence, competence, and expression through playing the different instruments. Sowah’s step-by-step teaching methods broke down the challenging aspects and made it a fun experience to learn and perform in African, whether students were in Upper or Middle School! We’re incredibly grateful that he shared his expertise, culture, and knowledge with MPA and its students! To view the full album of photos from the week, click here.

Community Support For MPA’s Track

April 6, 2023

from Bill Hudson, head of school

You wouldn’t know it, but somewhere below several inches of snow lies the MPA track. While we wait for spring to arrive, our track and field teams and physical education classes make do, anticipating the day they can move outside. And yet, the track itself is in bad shape after many brutal Minnesota winters. Imagine what it would be like to have an outdoor track that reflects the excellence of our students and athletes. I believe that if we can imagine it, we can achieve it.

MPA athletic programs have enjoyed a rich tradition of success by providing student-athletes with the tools necessary to succeed on and off the field. MPA athletics are not simply extra-curricular programs; they complement our academic experience, provide balance to our students’ lives, and foster school spirit. Through inclusive teams and a no-cut policy, everyone can be an athlete at MPA.

For example, MPA student-athletes have won ten state championships in track and field events. And yet, we cannot host home events because of the condition of the track. We haven’t had an outdoor track worth of our students’ achievements and capable of hosting competitions. Click here to watch the 2023 Fund A Need video, and learn more about the impact of this project! Read More