A Recap Of The Parents Association Community-Wide Meeting

Our spring Community-Wide Parents Association Meeting was a great opportunity to connect with parents and administrators.

For those who were unable to attend, Jasmin and Laura shared a recap of Parents Association-sponsored events from January through March, including the Do Right Helping Hands Food Drive, staff conference meal/snacks, Lower School Valentine’s Day party, Upper School hot cocoa bar, trivia night, transportation for the Upper School ice skating party, and division coffees. Thank you to everyone who volunteered and participated—these events are only possible because of you.

We also looked ahead to April–June events and shared open volunteer roles for the 2026-27 school year, including Upper School lead and staff appreciation chair. If you’re interested, please reach out to Jasmin Stees (jasminstees@yahoo.com) or Laura Nicholson (laurahnicholson@gmail.com).

Finally, thank you to Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon and Mr. Paul Errickson for providing an overview of MPA’s nine competencies. These competencies and their associated skills help shape projects, tasks, and assessments—guiding teachers to focus not only on what students know but also on what they can do.

Call For Parent Leadership

We are in need of three Parent Association Board Leads for the next school year. Please consider volunteering your time and talents to MPA!

Staff Appreciation Coordinator

Help lead the charge in celebrating MPA staffulty! The staff appreciation coordinator organizes conference dinners and snacks and works with grade reps and parent volunteers to bring appreciation events to life.

This role collaborates with school administration as needed and is invited to attend monthly Parent Association Board meetings, as availability allows. Perfect for someone who loves thoughtful details and bringing the community together to show gratitude.

Upper School Lead

The Parents Association is looking for a friendly, engaged volunteer to serve as our Upper School Lead. This person acts as a bridge between the Parents Association Board and Upper School administration, helping keep communication strong and partnerships moving forward in support of our students and families.

The role includes quarterly check-ins with Mark Segal and Jay Dean, helping out with Upper School coffees, and sharing input on both Upper School–specific initiatives and larger school-wide events.

The Upper School lead is also invited to attend monthly Parent Association Board meetings as their schedule allows. It’s a great way to stay in the loop, bring forward parent perspectives, and make a meaningful difference in the Upper School community.

Communications Lead

Love clean design and polished communication? The communications lead formats and edits our weekly Panther Post entry and monthly Parent Press newsletter (content provided by board members). Canva is currently used, but you’re welcome to work in the design platform of your choice. The role also includes creating flyers for special events as needed. 

Board meeting attendance is optional, and all work can be completed from home—a flexible way to make a big impact behind the scenes.

Board Member At-Large

Support the Parents Association goals by attending meetings, contributing to discussions, volunteering for committees, and assisting with special projects and events.

If you would like more information about any of these volunteer positions, please contact Jasmin Stees at jasminstees@yahoo.com or Laura Nicholson at laurahnicholson@gmail.com. They will be happy to provide additional details.

Upcoming Events!

Parents Association Book Club with Dr. Lori-Anne Brogdon | Thursday, April 16: 6 PM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library, RSVP >

Please join Dr. Brogdon and fellow book-loving parents at the MPA library for a discussion of Richard Osman’s "We Solve Murders." Blending sharp humor, clever twists, and heartfelt moments, We Solve Murders delivers the same irresistible charm and smart plotting that fans of "The Thursday Murder Club" love—with a fresh new cast and a thrilling, modern edge. Perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with both laughs and layered intrigue. We hope to see you there! Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

Lower School Family Forum | Friday, April 17: 8:15-9:45 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library

2026 Spring Auction: Rooted In Purpose | Friday, April 17: 6:30-11 PM, The Lowlands, St. Paul

Join us for the 2026 MPA Spring Auction: Rooted In Purpose, on Friday, April 17, at the Lowlands in St. Paul! We will gather in celebration of the people and purpose that make Mounds Park Academy such a special community, while raising critical support for our students, staffulty, and programs. More details can be seen by clicking here.

Upper School Parent Social | Saturday, May 2: 8-10 PM Lucky Guys Distillery, Hudson, WI, RSVP >

Join us for a fun evening of connection and celebration as we look ahead to end-of-year festivities! We’ll gather after sending off the prom boat—come toast the moment and enjoy time together. Light appetizers will be provided. All Upper School parents are welcome—whether or not your student is attending prom.

Save The Dates

Upper School Quarterly Coffee | Monday, May 4: 8-9:30 AM, PCR

National Teacher Appreciation Day Hosted By The Parents Association | Tuesday, May 5: 8 AM-3 PM, Peacock Family Teaching Kitchen

Middle School Quarterly Coffee | Thursday, May 7: 8-9 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library

Coffee And Conversation With The Head Of School | Friday, May 15: 8-9 AM, Martin Lenz Harrison Library

Division End-of-Year Parties

Please mark your calendars for fun celebrations to close out another wonderful school year!

Lower School

Monday, June 1 | 3:30-5:30 PM

Fun City, Maplewood

Middle School

Wednesday, June 3 | 12-2:30 PM

Urban Air, Coon Rapids

Upper School

Wednesday, June 3 | 10:30-12:30 PM

Smash Park, Roseville

We can’t wait to celebrate together and make the end of the year extra special!

Paw Prints

Parents Association Trivia Night

Our third annual Parents Association Trivia Night featured friendly competition (and a little bit of smack talk) among MPA parents, faculty, and student attendees. Chef Chris and the SAGE team served up a delicious meal featuring teriyaki chicken, roasted tofu, spring rolls, fried rice, and fudge brownies for dessert. After dinner, the battle began!

Three rounds of trivia featured questions on topics like pop culture, history, current events, and science. At the end, "Fish ‘n’ Chips" took the coveted winner’s title, with second place going to the "Octopus Squad." 

Lower School Family Forum

Mr. James Ewer welcomed Dr. Julie Winn to MPA, spoke about new efforts with the Lower School curriculum, and the Lower School Closing Ceremony, which will be on Monday, June 1, from 2-3 PM in the Nicholson Center. 

April Pop-Up Appreciation 

Early April snow, ice, and rain weren’t fooling around! So the Parents Association brought in some sweet treats to spread spring cheer and celebrate our staffulty on Friday, April 3. 

The MPA PA is 100% parent-led! If you want more information on how to get involved or have ideas to share, we want to hear from you. Please reach out to us at PA@moundsparkacademy.org at any time.