Upper School Archives

January 28, 2021

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

One of the highpoints of the fall for me is spending time with our senior class talking about leadership. In a series of four seminars, I walk with them through various leadership theories as well as several definitions and metaphors. One of my favorite leadership metaphors is one I learned from a mentor many years ago.

“Leadership is being in the middle of the herd moving it roughly westward.”

I share it with them at the end of the second session and ask them to think about what it means, how it applies to leadership, and come prepared to our next meeting to discuss. The ensuing conversation is often rather lively and as we unpack the metaphor and it yields many very different interpretations:

Leaders who are too far out in front of the herd may realize too late that they are alone, having forgotten to bring others along with them.
Sometimes a leader needs to be out front to chart a bold and new path.
If a leader is at the tail end, the herd lacks direction. On the other hand, sometimes a leader needs to step back in order to consider lay of the land and craft a broader vision.
Those who lead from the middle are often better in touch with other members of the herd and can nudge them forward in a common direction.
Leaders in the middle can push and pull from within, depending on what is needed. They help others feel valued as a part of the solution as the team moves ahead.
When consensus and buy-in are required for the success of the project, leading from the middle may be best.
From time to time, a leader does need to pull back, trust in the team, in order to consider the whole to refine a vision, and allow others a chance to take the lead.

Save The Date For The 2021 Virtual Spring Auction

January 28, 2021

Save the date! The 2021 Spring Auction: The Best Is Yet To Come is going virtual! The MPA volunteer planning committee is pleased to share sponsorship packages are now available with amazing perks, at-home meal kits, and great ways to get involved and give back to the school you love. Save the date for April 16 and visit moundsparkacademy.org/springauction to learn more, purchase a sponsorship package today, or donate an auction item from our wish list!

Expect student performances, hear from Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School, and other MPA community members, and bid on and win some amazing silent and live auction items. Proceeds support MPA’s educational programs, new curricular initiatives, COVID-19 response expenses, athletics programs, the arts, and so much more.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Rogers-Petitt, director of development and community engagement at jrogers@moundsparkacademy.org.

Community Education: A Check In On Suicide Awareness And Prevention

January 28, 2021

Save the date for Thursday, February 11 at 7 PM, for a Community Education Event: A Check In On Suicide Awareness And Prevention. Families and students in grades 7-12 are invited to virtually attend a mental health education event facilitated by MPA staff and leading school psychology professionals. The conversation will be hosted by Upper School Director of Guidance, Randy Comfort, and Middle and Upper School Counselor, Ashley Cooper, along with a team of school psychologists from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Important topics of mental health will be addressed by MPA parent and professor, Dr. Todd Savage, along with professors Dr. Scott Woitaszewski, and Dr. Anne Zaslofsky. With COVID-19, school stress, and other life challenges, it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between what is normal and something more serious. During this session, attendees will receive up-to-date information about depression and suicide, discuss how to support someone who may be struggling with their mental health, explore supports available at MPA, and engage in a Q&A session.

Join Via Zoom >
Meeting ID: 986 1824 2972
Password: 218800

“Some Good News” Returns February 5

January 28, 2021

If you loved the first episode of the series “Some Good News,” created by the cast and crew of this year’s Middle School play, stay tuned for episode two on February 5!

Inspired by John Krasinski’s “Some Good News” series, the Middle School students (with Upper School students mentoring) were responsible for pitching ideas, collaborating, and writing stories, interviews, jokes, and sketches to produce four webisodes in the series. This approach allows the cast to go beyond acting, but to be involved in writing, filming, and directing.

The Middle School Theatre Department is proud to offer students and community members meaningful theater experiences year after year. Given the unique challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Middle School production is fully virtual so all community members far and wide can experience the joy of the students involved in this special project. Read More

Math League Finishes With 75 Total Points

January 26, 2021

MPA’s Math League team had their fourth meet this week, finishing with a team total of 75 points.

The top scorers were senior Sean Park and sophomore Qiya Zhang, each earning 10 points out of a possible 14 points, both in the difficult C and D events. Juniors Leo Yu earned nine points and Amy Xiang earned eight points, and senior Lareina Gu earned 8 points as well. Freshman Ella Li earned six points and sophomore Anthony Troullier earned 4 points. Senior Josiah Grabanski, filling in for Amit Manicka (who had a college class at about the same time), earned a solid four points in events C and D.

The team earned 16 points out of a possible 24 points in the team round.

Cretin-Derham Hall, which was leading our section and the state in AA (four points head of MPA and three points ahead of Highland Park), earned 67 points. MPA will be ahead in the State standings after this past meet and might move into the top spot! Congratulations and good luck, Panthers!

Congratulations Ms. Pederson!

January 25, 2021

Lisa Pederson, MPA’s Director of College Counseling, has been named one of the twelve recipients from across the country of the 2021 Counselors That Change Lives Award! This honor is given by Colleges That Change Lives (CTCL), a non-profit organization dedicated to the ideal of a student-centered college search.

Ms. Pederson was nominated by Jill Sauber, Associate Dean of Admissions at St. Olaf
College. “Lisa does not hesitate to recommend colleges based on the best fit for her students rather than those that are based on ranking. I have witnessed the research she does for her students, the insightful questions she asks when on counselor tours, the subtle pushing she does to college reps to get honest answers and a true understanding of the institution,” says Sauber.

Ms. Pederson shined in this spring’s challenging circumstances. Sauber recalls, “When high schools pivoted to distance learning last spring, I heard from numerous families at Mounds Park Academy that Lisa made their seniors feel recognized, appreciated and celebrated from afar. They praised her for the ability to handle the changes positively and thoughtfully.” Read More

The Strength Of MPA Is In Our People

January 21, 2021

by Dr. Bill Hudson, Head of School

“Welcome back to campus!” I said this morning as I greeted a Middle School student on their way into school. “What are you more excited about, being back together with your friends or seeing your teachers in person?” I asked. He paused for quite a while, pondering the rather unfair choice I was asking him to make. However, his response was emphatic, “Both!” Asking such a question of a Middle School student can be rather risky, but I wasn’t surprised with his response. The strong, personal relationships students have with their teachers is a hallmark of MPA.

MPA is incredibly fortunate to have an exceptional faculty who are genuinely dedicated to their students and truly committed to the school. Most teachers remain at MPA for their entire career and we all benefit from their experience and wisdom. At the same time, we’ve had teachers who experienced life transitions that took them in different directions, whether a move to a new city or sometimes experiencing a change in career. Enrollment, program changes, and external factors may also impact our faculty workforce. For instance, our COVID-19 health and safety plan led us to hire several additional teachers and teaching assistants to reduce classroom density. Read More

MPA Speech Hosts “Figure It Out Bout”

January 21, 2021

MPA Speech had a fantastic tournament, called the “Figure It Out Bout,” that was designed to be an educational experience for competing in a virtual world! Teams from all over the state, from Austin to Dassel-Cokato, to our neighbor Stillwater, competed.

As customary, MPA was exempt from placing as a team since we hosted. Technically, MPA placed third, with half the entry of Stillwater and Shakopee, who were first and second respectively. Senior Ryan Ghose won two categories, Humorous and Prose, and was the Tournament Individual Sweepstakes champion–an award that signifies an extraordinary individual effort determined by who earned the most points on the day. Ryan swept both categories on 1’s, meaning he never lost a round. Junior Charlotte Bergh was also a tournament champion in Ex Reading. Seniors Sana Punjani, Salmah Elmasry, Anna Gaudio, and Emma Cohen also placed top three. Sophomore Cynthia Ghannoum, seniors Isak Dai and Livia Wooldridge, and the duo of seventh graders Evie B. and Teagan O. all made the final round as well.

This was the first tournament in which the MPA Middle School Speech Team competed, and we’re so excited to say all seventh and eighth graders who competed either placed or were in a tiebreaker to get into a final round. Congratulations to Teagan and Evie, Annika B., and Yusuf A.!

Save The Date For Virtual Maker Fest

January 21, 2021

Save the date for MPA’s Virtual Maker Fest! On Saturday, February 20 from 11 AM-1 PM, MPA will host a variety of community makers to showcase their projects, passions, and hands on how-to demonstrations through Zoom. Participants will be able to the presentations by visiting different breakout rooms. More event details for Virtual Maker Fest 2021 will be coming soon! Please click here to sign up as a presenter!

If you have any questions, please email Nicole Koen at nkoen@moundsparkacademy.org.

“Some Good News” Premieres Tomorrow, January 22!

January 21, 2021

The upcoming webisode series “Some Good News,” created by the cast and crew of this year’s Middle School play, premieres tomorrow, January 22 at 7 PM on YouTube! Inspired by John Krasinski’s “Some Good News” series, the Middle School students (with Upper School students mentoring) were responsible for pitching ideas, collaborating, and writing stories, interviews, jokes, and sketches to produce four webisodes in the series. This approach allows the cast to go beyond acting, but to be involved in writing, filming, and directing.

If you love and support the Middle School Theatre offerings every year, please consider making a gift that is right for you to help offset lost revenue from ticket and concessions proceeds this year. Every dollar you give will directly support the students and staff making these experiences a reality. Click here to make your gift and help us reach our goal in support of the Middle School Theatre Department. Simply add Middle School Play in your gift designation on the easy giving form. If you have questions or want to learn more about giving opportunities at MPA, please contact Jennifer Rogers-Petitt director of development and community engagement at jrogers@moundsparkacademy.org.