Mounds Park Academy
| Mounds Park Academy | |
|---|---|
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| Address | |
|
2051 Larpenteur Ave. E. St. Paul, Minnesota 55109 USA | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent, college preparatory, day |
| Established | 1982 |
| Head of school | William Hudson Ed.D.[1] |
| Enrollment | 500 |
| Color(s) | Blue and White |
| Athletics conference | Independent Metro Athletic 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 St. Paul, Minnesota, United States, 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).
History
Mounds Park Academy was founded by Bob Kreischer 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 around 700 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
The Academy has had a 1:1 laptop program in the upper school since 2000.[2]]]
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.
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.
Fine Arts
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.
Athletics
The Academy offers: volleyball, soccer, football, basketball, hockey, Nordic skiing, Alpine skiing, baseball, softball, track and field, cross country running, tennis, and golf. MPA’s athletic teams compete in the Independent Metro Athletic Conference of the Minnesota State High School League.[3][4] Mounds Park Academy has won 9 MSHSL State Team Championships and had 18 MSHSL Individual Champions.[5]
Extracurricular Activities
MPA offers over 70 extracurricular opportunities. Almost all students in participate in at least one activity.
Upper School (9-12) Activities: Admission Ambassadors, Debate Team, Diversity Club, Environmental Club, Entrepreneurship Club, French Club, Gay/Straight Alliance, International Thespian Society, Math League, National Honor Society, Newspaper (Free Thinker), Peer Leaders, Quiz Bowl, Robotics Team, Sailing Team, Social Consciousness Club, Spanish Club, Speech Team, Spring Show, Student Council, Winter Show, and Yearbook (Gnomon).[6]
Middle School (5-8) Activities: Band, Book Festival Chess Club, Choir, Coding Club, Destination Imagination (7&8), Dynamic Cartoons, Fencing, French Cooking, Karate, Lego Robotics, Mad Science , Math Counts (7&8), Math Masters (5&6), Middle School Dances , Middle School Play, MPA Spring Musical, Orchestra, Piano Lessons , Quiz Bowl (7&8), Sailing Club (7&8), Science Club, Sports Club (5th Grade), Student Council, Swim Team and World Language Contests.[7]
Lower School (PreK-4) Activities: Golf, Guitar Lessons, Karate, Piano Lessons, STEAM Club, Swim Team, Tumbling, and Dynamic Cartoons.
Upper School Graduation Requirements
| English | 4.00 credits | 9th—English 9
10th—Western Literature 11th—Composition and American Literature, AP English Language and Composition 12th—Semester Courses: Global Voices, Creative Writing, Contemporary Women Writers, Men's Studies, Fiction and Literary Adaption, Sci Fi and the Politics of Imagination |
| Math | 3.00 credits | 9th—Geometry, Honors Algebra 2/Trigonometry
10th—Algebra 2 with Trigonometry, Honors Algebra 3/Advanced Trigonometry, Honors Pre-Calculus 11th—Functions/Probability/Trigonometry (FPT), Honors Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus 12th—Statistics and Discrete Math, Honors Pre-Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Calculus, Advanced Topics in Calculus |
| Science | 3.00 credits | 9th—Physical Science, Honors Biology
10th—Biology, Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry 11th—AP Biology, Chemistry, Honors Chemistry 12th—Physics, Honors Physics, Anatomy and Physiology, Environmental Studies, AP Biology |
| Social Studies | 4.00 credits | 9th—World History, Honors World History
10th—World History, AP World History 11th—Modern United States History 11th and 12th Grade Semester Courses: Constitutional Law, Government and Economics, Social Entrepreneurship, 21st Century Global Issues, World Religions |
| World Language | 3.00 credits | Grades 9-12—French, Spanish
AP French Language, AP Spanish Language |
| Physical Ed. | 1.00 credits | 9th—Physical Education
10th—Physical Education |
| Health | 0.25 credits | 9th—Health |
| Fine Arts | 3.00 credits | Art, Drama, Instrumental Music, Vocal Music In the area of fine arts, students are encouraged to take courses in each of the three areas although it is not required. |
| Service Project | 0.50 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. 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. The projects are displayed and presented at the annual Service Fair in the week prior to Commencement. |
| Senior Performance | 0.25 credits (Each member of the MPA senior class gives a 5-minute speech or performance to his or her peers and the MPA community.) | |
| Senior Seminar | 0.25 credits | |
| Total Academic Credits Required: | 22.25 credits | |
| Total Credits Required for Graduation: | 28.00 credits[8] | |
Facilities
- Athletic facilities include 8 tennis courts, a 400m outdoor track and soccer stadium, four-court Lansing Sports Center with 200m running track, full weight room, training rooms and stadium seating for 800 people.
- Fine arts facilities include a black box theatre, scene shop, multi use art gallery, ceramics, painting, drawing and photography studios, band, orchestra and choir rooms, and The Nicholson Performing Arts Center.
- Other facilities include a commons space for upper school students, outdoor courtyard, robotics lab, recital hall, playground, 6 science labs, library and a makerspace opening in Fall 2017Coordinates: 44°59′39″N 93°00′50″W / 44.9941356°N 93.0140089°W[9]
Transportation
Starting in the 2017-2018 Academic Year, MPA will be offering bussing from 4 Twin Cities communities: St. Paul/Roseville, Shoreview/North Oaks, Woodbury, and Stillwater. District 622 (North St. Paul, Oakdale, Maplewood) provides students living within its boundaries with transportation to MPA.
References
- ↑ "Mound Parks Academy - Head of school". Retrieved 4 September 2013.
- ↑ Making History: Mounds Park Academy 1982-2002. 2002. p. 28.
- ↑ "Mounds Park state champ stays a step ahead". Star Tribune. 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
- ↑ "Senior notches triple crown". Star Tribune. 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2011-06-21.
- ↑ "Athletics Philosophy". www.moundsparkacademy.org. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
- ↑ "Upper School Clubs Groups". www.moundsparkacademy.org. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
- ↑ "Activities and Athletics". www.moundsparkacademy.org. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
- ↑ "Graduation Requirements After 2016". www.moundsparkacademy.org. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
- ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mounds Park Academy