Upper School

Teaching And Learning

April 22, 2025

Dr. Brogdon in the Teaching and Learning conversationThis message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the April 22 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

A few weeks ago, we shared the first video in our Head Of School Conversation series featuring both Dr. Bill Hudson and Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon. They continue to work together closely as the head of school transition approaches in July, and we’re thrilled to share the second video in the series where they candidly talk about their work together.

Watch “A Head Of School Conversation: Teaching And Learning” here >

Set in the Makerspace, they cover the importance of curiosity, rigor with purpose, independent thinking, innovation, learning by doing, supportive teachers, and dreaming big.

“I think about soft skills that are now the necessary skills, and we talk a lot about challenge, and being able to fail, and being able to get picked back up again by those who are around you or even yourself,” says Dr. Brogdon. “We’re not willing to explore things that might seem scary or challenging if we don’t know somebody’s going to be around or that we have the stamina within us that someone has helped us to develop to move forward.” Read More

MPA Students Selected For Youth Art Month Student Exhibit

April 17, 2025

Photo of Earl Martin's, Class of 2025, Best in Show winner from the Youth Art Month Student Exhibition. The MPA Art Department is very excited to share that several students were selected to participate in the 2025 MN Youth Art Month Student Exhibition! MPA is well represented in the exhibition by these Lower, Middle, and Upper School artists:

  • Andrew ’35
  • Maya ’33
  • Luke ’33
  • Evie P. ’31
  • Devin W. ’31
  • Ella B. ’31
  • Jenny Liao ’28
  • Grace Nelson ’26

With special congratulations going to our award winners:

  • First Place Elementary Flag Design: Ashlyn ’33
  • Second Place Elementary Division: Tillie ’34
  • Best in Show: Earl Martin ’25

The exhibit is presented by Art Educators of Minnesota and is sponsored by Blick Art Materials. We are so proud of the MPA representatives! Click here to see all the artwork of our participants.

Take A Journey Down The Yellow Brick Road

April 17, 2025

The Wizard of Oz performance by MPA in 2016. from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

There’s a special kind of magic that fills our school in the weeks leading up to the spring musical. Laughter rings through the Nicholson Center, lines are rehearsed in quiet corners, musicians fine-tune their performance, and sets begin to take shape. That energy is alive and well this year as we prepare for our reimagined production of “The Wizard of Oz“—a performance that reflects not just creativity, but the heart of an MPA education.

This year, 56 students from grades seven through 12 are involved in the production as cast members, crew, and orchestra musicians. And it’s not just our seasoned theatre students who are participating. Among them are athletes, musicians, first-time performers, and students who joined simply because a friend encouraged them or because they were curious. They come from different friend groups, different grades, and different backgrounds, but theatre brings them together in a way that is powerful and transformative.

As director James Lekatz shared, “The most powerful gift theater gives is the incredible strength to create community. These students aren’t in the same friend groups, but they are coming together for this production. The audience is made up of friends, family, and strangers, coming together for one night to support students doing incredible things. Theater brings people together to experience a brief moment together.” Read More

A Celebration Of Our Community’s Cultures

April 15, 2025

Cultural Celebration Day at MPAThis message is from MPA’s Office of Admission from the April 16 issue of Inside MPA. Click here to get in touch with Admission and learn more!

Last week, our community celebrated Cultural Celebration Day with a school-wide festival of cross-divisional activities, art, music, traditions, cuisine, and more.

The Family Commons was transformed not only into an exhibition of our community’s many cultures and heritages but also into a space for West African drum lessons, Myanmar’s New Year Festival dance, handmaking Chinese paper lanterns and Tibetan prayer flags, designing Henna body art, and learning the steps to Bhangra, an Indian folk dance. Passports in hand, visitors browsed station upon station, meeting a different person sharing their culture at each one. From Egypt to Italy and Thailand to France, we listened, we learned, and we became closer to one another through this special type of sharing that we value so deeply at MPA.

The strong sense of belonging at MPA fosters not only a welcoming and inclusive space for students and their families, but also encourages lifelong learning rooted in joy and curiosity. Cultural Celebration Day is just one example of our school being filled with the sound of laughter, music, and wonder. Read More

Cultures Come Together, Celebrate

April 10, 2025

Lower School students dancing at Cultural Celebration Day. On Wednesday, April 9, the Parents Association hosted Cultural Celebration Day, an evening celebrating the diversity of backgrounds at MPA with food, music, dance, and community.

Some of the highlights of the event were beautiful dance performances by MPA parents and students, colorfully decorated tables set up by the hosts sharing their cultures and cuisines, the ever-popular henna artist, Bilkis, Boba by Treats, and a West African drum workshop. It was wonderful to experience the energy and engagement of community members. We hope to see you all next year!

A big thank you to the Cultural Celebration Day Planning Committee, cultural booth hosts, MPA staff, MPA student hosts, and event volunteers, who all helped make this event successful.

Upper School Division News April 10, 2025

April 10, 2025

Upper School student man a booth at Cultural Celebration Dayfrom Mark Segal, Upper School director 

Mark Your Calendars

  • Friday, April 11: New Student Enrollment Deadline
  • Monday, April 14: No Classes, Professional Development
  • Monday, April 14: US G11 SAT, 8 AM-1 PM, Room 150-151
  • Wednesday, April 16: US G10 College Counseling Parent Night, 6:30-7:30 PM, Recital Hall
  • Friday, April 18: US Senior Performances, 8-9:15 AM, Nicholson Center
  • Thursday, April 24: Spring Musical: “The Wizard of Oz,” 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center, Tickets >
  • Friday, April 25: MS/US Robotics Team Banquet, 5-8 PM, Family Commons
  • Saturday, April 26: Spring Musical: “The Wizard of Oz,” 7-9 PM, Nicholson Center, Tickets >
  • Sunday, April 27: Spring Musical: “The Wizard of Oz,” 2-4 PM, Nicholson Center, Tickets >

As the school year enters its home stretch, maintaining student motivation and engagement is increasingly important for academic success. Research from the American Psychological Association finds that student performance often declines during the fourth quarter, confirming that “spring fever” is a true and real educational phenomenon. The Association’s findings share that “while not a legitimate medical condition, ‘spring fever’ refers to the common feeling of restlessness, decreased motivation, and a desire for outdoor activities that can affect students as the weather warms and the school year nears its end.”

I would imagine this is especially true in communities like the Twin Cities, where our temperatures have been cold, and the students and educators arrived and went home from school in the dark. With proper support, open lines of communication, and strong, trusting relationships, students can maintain their momentum and finish the school year strongly. Read More

The Vibrant Season Of Spring

April 10, 2025

Dr. Hudson and a Lower School student look off the roof. from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

As we step into the vibrant season of spring, I find myself drawn to the quiet beauty and symbolism this time of year brings. The longer days, the budding trees, the chirping of birds, the honking of geese, and the first signs of green pushing through the soil remind us of the steady, hopeful rhythm of renewal. For those of us in education—and perhaps especially in the Upper Midwest where winter holds on tightly—spring is more than just a season. It is a metaphor for the growth, energy, and transformation that we see unfolding daily within our school community.

At MPA, spring invites us to pause, reflect, and celebrate how far we’ve come this year. We see this in the confidence of a kindergartner who now walks into school independently, in the curiosity of a fourth grader asking big questions, and in the thoughtful determination of a senior finalizing their post-secondary decision. These moments—large and small—mark the progress of a school year that, like spring itself, began in stillness and has blossomed into joyful, dynamic growth.

Spring also gives us the gift of perspective. Just as trees begin to leaf out again after a long winter, our students begin to show us the fruits of their learning. They take risks, solve problems, express ideas, and test out who they are becoming. These moments of discovery and stretch are not always linear—they often arrive with a mix of messiness and magic—but they are the very heart of a transformational education. And they mirror what we as adults know to be true: real growth takes time, intention, and courage. Read More

A Special Thank You From Dr. Hudson!

April 10, 2025

Dr. Bill Hudson addresses the crowd at the Spring Auction. from Dr. Bill Hudson, head of school

“From the depths of my heart, thank you for the extraordinary outpouring of love and support at Friday’s Gala. It was a beautiful and unforgettable evening—one that I will cherish always.

I am especially grateful to everyone who contributed to the Hudson Fund for Resilient Students. Your generosity will have a lasting impact, helping MPA students navigate unexpected challenges and continue to thrive in every way.

As I move through these final months as head of school, I look forward to connecting with many of you. Though my chapter in this role is coming to a close, please know that MPA will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2025 MPA Spring Auction: Gala of Gratitude an extraordinary success. Because of our community’s deep generosity, we raised more than $870,000 in support of MPA, including an incredible $164,565 for the MPA Fund and over $707,000 for this year’s Fund A Need, The Hudson Fund for Resilient Students. Click here to help further support the Hudson Fund!

Read More

MPA Speech Team Wins Section Title

April 10, 2025

The MPA speech team poses together with the section title. Our MPA speech team is state-bound! Congratulations to the Section 4A champs and reigning state champions. The team title was powered by a complete effort that saw 20 students earn a berth to the state meet:

  • Warner Reid and Hazel Reid: First place, Duo
  • Paul Fertig: First place, Extemporaneous Speaking
  • Mari Minear: First place, Great Speeches
  • Kelvyn Boddipalli: First place, Humorous Interpretation
  • Oslo Norcross: First place, Informative Speaking
  • Ash Klann: First place, Original Oratory
  • Alyona Vietrova: First place, Poetry
  • Lucy Mayer: First place, Prose
  • Amila Avdic: Second place, Discussion
  • Guy Schwieger and Nico Bergh: Second place, Duo
  • Amal Sastry: Second place, Extemporaneous Speaking
  • Rowan Mulrooney: Second place, Great Speeches
  • Zainab Lodhi: Second place, Informative
  • Nabila Artan: Second place, Oratory
  • LuaClaire Robert: Second place, Poetry
  • Andrea Pugh: Second place, Prose
  • Sidd Sastry: Third place, Extemporaneous Speaking
  • Mina Kim: Third place, Great Speeches

Congratulations are also in order for coach Tanner Sunderman, who was awarded Central MN NSDA Coach of the Year! Tanner has been forwarded to the national level for consideration.

The MPA speech team is now preparing for another title defense in what would be their third consecutive state championship. The Panthers will get that chance on Friday, April 25, when they head to Shakopee High School for the Class A state tournament. Good luck, Panthers! We can’t wait to see how you’ll do.

Join Us For Family Allyship For LGBTQ+ School Community Members

April 9, 2025

Lower School students celebrating. Mark your calendars for an interactive workshop on Wednesday, May 14, from 6-8 PM in the Family Commons that will provide MPA parents and staff with the tools and language they need to be supportive allies to transgender and nonbinary community members at MPA! This event is being hosted by MPA’s Rainbow Club and Gender Inclusive Schools. Please RSVP here!

Together, we will practice responses to challenging questions on LGBTQ+ topics and explore ways to communicate affirmation and celebration of LGBTQ+ community members visibly. Basic definitions for LGBTQ+ terms will be provided along with age-appropriate resources to facilitate positive and accurate discussions with your family about gender identity and sexual orientation at home. Read More