| Mounds Park Academy | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 2051 Larpenteur Ave. E. Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55109 USA |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Independent, college preparatory, day |
| Established | 1982 |
| Head of school | Michael Downs |
| Enrollment | ~600 |
| Color(s) | Blue White |
| Athletics conference | Tri-Metro Conference |
| Mascot | Panther |
| Website | www.moundsparkacademy.org |
Mounds Park Academy, founded in 1982, is an independent, PreK-12, co-educational, college preparatory day school in Saint Paul, Minnesota serving students from throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The school is accredited by and is a member of the Independent Schools Association of the Central States. It is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools and The College Board.
The school is a 246,000-square-foot (22,900 m2) facility, on a campus of more than 32 acres (130,000 m2).
The Mounds Park Academy Mission Statement: "We teach students to think independently, communicate effectively and act with respect and integrity in a diverse community that models intellectual ambition, global responsibility and the joy of learning."
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Mounds Park Academy was founded by Bob Kreisher and Sandy Kreischer Smith in 1982. That fall, there were 100 students enrolled. By 1986, MPA had quadrupled its enrollment and celebrated its first graduating class of nine students. Today MPA has approximately 600 students in Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade, and graduates as many as 75 students each year. MPA was originally going to be located in the Mounds Park neighborhood of St. Paul. By the time the school opened, the location had changed to Larpenteur Avenue; however, the school's name and mission stayed the same.
Technology at Mounds Park Academy is integrated into the overall PK-12 program.
The entire campus at Mounds Park Academy is wireless, with several types of computer workstations and four labs located throughout the school. Many Lower School classrooms and the Library have computers available for quiet study or research. The Library features an online catalog system and research-oriented databases.
Mounds Park Academy was one of the first schools in Minnesota to initiate a 1:1 laptop program. All teachers at MPA, as well as all students in the Upper School, are provided with a laptop computer, which is used for in-class learning as well as homework assignments.
In the fall of 2011, MPA introduced a 1:1 iPad program in the Middle School. iPad applications are being integrated into the Middle School curriculum to enhance learning experiences...
All students in lower and middle school participate in music, theater, and visual arts. In upper school, students take fine arts courses as electives. There are multiple bands and orchestras, singing ensembles, and art classes in which students can participate. A variety of theater classes are also offered to upper school students. Each year, there is a middle school play, an upper school winter show, and an upper school spring musical.
Mounds Park Academy offers many athletic opportunities: volleyball, soccer, football, swimming and diving, dance team, basketball, hockey, Nordic skiing, baseball, softball, track and field, cross country, tennis, and golf. MPA’s athletic teams compete in the Tri-Metro Conference. [1][2]
MPA offers over 70 extracurricular opportunities including fine arts, academics, social awareness, and athletics. Almost all students in the Upper School participate in at least one activity.
The school offers a variety of clubs and groups including: Amnesty International, Book Club, Debate, Environmental Club, Equestrian Club, French Club, GLBTQ Alliance, Habitat for Humanity, Inkslingers, International Thespian Society, Library Advisory Club, Mosaic, National Honor Society, Newspaper (The Voice), Peer Leaders, Quiz Bowl, Science Club, Snowboarding Club, Spanish Club, Speech, Spring Musical, Student Council, Tutors Guild, Winter Show, and Yearbook (Gnomon).
Credits: In order to graduate, MPA students must have 4 English credits, 4 social studies credits, 3 mathematics credits, 3 science credits, 3 world language credits, 2.5 instrumental, theater, visual arts, vocal, or physical education, and .5 health credits.
The Service Program at Mounds Park requires each student to complete a minimum of 60 hours over four years in order to graduate. Thirty hours are required for the Senior Service Project regardless of how many hours a student has completed during the first three years.
Senior Service Project: All MPA seniors submit a service project proposal individually, complete a minimum of 30 hours of focused service, keep a record or journal of their experiences, and prepare an end-of- the- year “exhibit” or presentation based on their experience. All projects are displayed and presented at the annual Service Fair in the week prior to Commencement.
Senior Performances: Each member of the MPA senior class gives a 15-minute speech or performance to his or her peers and the MPA community.
In April 2011, the former director of information technology at Mounds Park Academy was convicted of using a school-issued credit card to purchase a total of $229,000 worth of items such as computers and media players, which he wrote off as school expenses and then sold online. Jason Clayton Aune, 36, pleaded guilty to four counts of theft by swindle and was sentenced to one year in jail and ordered to pay restitution.[3]