A Historical Surprise Right in Our Back Yard
By Tina Jenkins Bell BAPA School Liaison Before either Beverly or Morgan Park was annexed as an official Chicago neighborhood, Morgan Park Academy, 2153 W. 111th St., was one of the first schools to offer military or classical education in the area, according to information found in the Morgan Park Academy (MPA) Archive and Museum, […]
MPA Coach to Retire
Lynda Pariso will retire in June after 41 years, bringing to a close a physical education (PE) teaching and coaching career that touched the lives of generations of children at Morgan Park Academy. Over the course of her career, Pariso taught PE classes for all ages and led PE curriculum development, and coached several sports. She served as Director of Athletics for the past 21 years. “I don’t know how it will feel […]
Student Featured in Documentary About Civil Rights Tour
Five months after they visited the American South on a life-changing tour through civil rights history, Morgan Park Academy students are set to be featured in a documentary film, Confronting the Living History of the Civil Rights Struggle, produced about the experience by The Nation magazine. Beverly/Morgan Park neighbor Caitlin Robinson, an 8th grader, was among the […]
MPA Student Advances to History Fair National Finals
By Jim Reedy A trio of Morgan Park Academy 8th graders earned recognition at the Illinois State history fair finals, including one student who advanced to the national competition. Braelyn Hall’s exhibit on “The Power of Black Advertising” was one of nine individual projects in the junior division selected by Illinois judges to compete in the National History […]
Morgan Park Academy Teacher Receives Outstanding Educator Award
For the second time in three years, a member of the Morgan Park Academy faculty has received the University of Chicago Outstanding Educator Award for excellence in teaching and mentorship. Derek Smith, who teaches high school English and social studies, was recognized for this national award after being nominated by Aariel Batchelor, a University of […]
Chinese Classes Create Cultural Exchange
On the last day of the inaugural semester of the Learn Chinese for Free program Tim He, a staff member from Cornerstone Education, taught participants how to paint Guo Hua using traditional Chinese brush and ink. Each person learned how to hold a brush and use specific strokes, and soon the class began painting bamboo […]