CBE Wellbeing Student Survey
This week, we sent out a School Messenger to families containing an important message regarding our CBE Wellbeing Survey. We use this student perception data to help inform our work and identify opportunities to better support students. Please ensure you have completed the annual authorization forms located in SchoolEngage. We are attaching the Wellbeing Student Survey Letter for your reference.
Wrestling
Starting on October 13 the wrestling season of play will begin. Practices will be occurring on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:45am - 9:00am. This is a no cut team where students who attend practices regularly will be on the team. The goal is to build strength, stamina and good sportsmanship as we learn new skills in the sport of wrestling. If your child is interested or if you need more information please reach out to Mrs. Gaunt at brgaunt@cbe.ab.ca as she will be the head coach.
Mountain Park School Wrestling Team Host Tournament
Wrestling season of play will be starting on October 13 and we have the amazing opportunity to host a tournament on November 5 from 4:00-9:00 pm and November 6 from 2:30 pm-9:00 pm We will need some parent volunteers to help make this event a success. Please reach out to Mrs. Gaunt via email brgaunt@cbe.ab.ca if you would be free to help either of those evenings or any portion of the time, you do not need wrestling experience to be able to help. The Wolverine Wrestling team greatly appreciates your willingness to volunteer your time.
Struggling with Attendance?
The CBE is offering a free in-person session to explore the possible reasons behind school refusal and share practical strategies for parents and caregivers to support their child in building confidence and improving attendance.
The session is being held Wednesday October 14th at 6:30-8:30pm at Sir John A. MacDonald School, Registration required. Further information and link to register here.
Community Reminder | Neighbourhood Driveways
Before and after school is always a busy time of day with buses and vehicles picking up and dropping off students. Please ensure that neighbourhood driveways near the school are kept clear at all times. A few minutes on a daily basis causes access issues and frustration for our wonderful neighbours. Parents/guardians are asked to wait in their vehicles in designated areas only and ensure they are not blocking driveways, even for brief periods of time. Thank you!
Free Online Well-Being Sessions for Families and Caregivers
Parents and guardians are invited to join a live online series focused on supporting child and youth well-being. Hosted by the Recovery Alberta Community Education Service (CES) Program in collaboration with experts from the Calgary community, these sessions are designed to equip families with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to navigate the challenges and opportunities of raising children and teens today.
MPS CLUBS
Dungeons and Dragons club starts next week!
Starting on October 13th, Dungeons and Dragons club will be meeting on Tuesdays after school in the Learning Commons, from 4:00pm - 5:00pm.
Setting off into student led adventures, this club is a great opportunity for students to make new friends, stretch their imaginations, and slay the occasional goblin.
Whether your child is a beginner or an expert, all skill levels are welcome.
For more information, please email Mr. Summach at consummach@cbe.ab.ca.
Collar and Claws Club | Come lend a paw!
Do you love animals? Would you like to do something awesome to help support animal rescues in the city? Please join Collar and Claws Club starting Monday October 5 after school in room 121 until 4:45pm. There will be something for everyone! Learn about animals who need a forever home, organizing, crafting, collecting, advertising, and more. Come check it out.
SPARK Club | Small acts - Big impact!
Do you want to turn small acts of kindness into something big? SPARK Club will start this Tuesday at lunch in room 121. We will work together to collect donations for community organizations that support people who need a helping hand. Bring your creativity, great ideas, and caring attitude to support organizations in need.
MPS Chess Club
Chess Club will be starting up on Thursday, October 1 at lunch in rtoom 116. No sign up is necessary. Grade 6s are welcome but must ask their Lunch Supervisors before joining Chess Club for the lunch period. Please see Mr. MacDonald for any other questions.
New Connections Lunch Club
New Connections Lunch Club is a welcoming space for students to meet new people, build friendships, and make connections while enjoying lunch together. Students are welcome to join us in Room 202 during the first half of lunch.
October Dates: October 14, 21, and 28.
MPS Morning Learning Lounge | Now Open
Our Learning Lounge is now open for learning support sessions, available for all students on select mornings before classes in the MPS Learning Commons. We are targeting two core subject areas each day in alignment with our School Development Plan: Mathematics and Literacy. Various subject area teachers will be present to provide an additional layer of support for those students who wish to access it as follows:
- Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:40-9:10 am
- Front doors will be unlocked for student entry from 8:35-8:45 am only. Students must arrive by 8:45 at the latest in order to make effective use of this support. Students arriving after this time will need to wait until the doors re-open at the morning bell.
- Students are welcome to attend as often as needed but must come prepared to learn with assignments, homework, test review or specific topics they require support with (ex. polynomials, persuasive essay writing, etc.).
- Students will be provided access to computers when required to utilize D2L and written assignment work.
Healthy Hunger
For those who are new to Healthy Hunger, it is an online platform that allows families to order hot lunches delivered to their kids at school - a fun treat for the kids & also one of Mountain Park School’s main fundraisers. The proceeds from this fundraiser help offset costs for various field trips throughout the year and provide enriching opportunities for all students at MPS.
We will offer lunches from a variety of vendors, and families can order as many or few as they choose. It’s easy to order; just go to Healthy Hunger.
- Click on ‘Register Student’ to set up your account (or sign in if you have an account already).
- You can add and manage all of your children in the same account.
- For each student, ensure you’ve selected Mountain Park School, and the correct Homeroom/Class to ensure the food finds its way to them.
- Check out the lunches that we’ve posted so far and if you are interested, you can pay online when you’re done ordering (no need to send $ to school).
- Note: the cut-off for orders is 5 days in advance. Orders for Wednesday lunches are due the preceding Friday.
- Please let us know by 11:30am if your child is away and you would like to pick up their Healthy Hunger lunch. We will have it waiting for you in the office after 12:30pm. If we don't hear from you, the lunch will be donated.
MPS School Council and Music Parents Society thank you for your support!
Attendance
If your child is going to be absent from school or picked up early, please send an email to mpsattendance@cbe.ab.ca. This ensures the teacher is aware the student is leaving early and can have them to the office without disrupting the class or having you wait.
Lates
Some parents may have noticed that we have begun sending out additional notifications at the end of the day via School Messenger from our MPS Attendance line. You will receive this notice when your child is late (unexcused) for one or more classes that day. Punctual class attendance is essential for success in school and we ask that you speak to your child about the importance of being on time to avoid missing critical classroom instruction. Thank you for your support.
Physical Education
Students will be expected to change for physical education every day. Students are encouraged to wear clothes that allow full engagement in physical activity and can include: T-shirt, shorts, sweatpants, long-sleeve T-shirt, or leggings. Should you wish, we have MPS t-shirts available for $20.00 and shorts for $30.00; you can purchase them from your child's physical education teacher with cash at this time.
Communication
Brightspace by D2L
In addition to the Weekly Update posted each week to our School Website, parents and guardians can expect to see classroom weekly updates in each class D2L ‘shell’. If you are new to D2L, this is a virtual classroom environment where teachers post weekly updates, resources and pertinent information for each class. This is particularly helpful for regular home-based review or if your child misses any of their classes. Click here for a helpful video for parents who are new to D2L.
Open communication and collaboration are key strategies to a successful partnership between school and home. Should you have any questions or concerns about your child at any point during the school year, your first point of contact should be your child’s teacher. All teacher email addresses can be found here. Alternatively, feel free to contact our front office to leave a message for the appropriate teacher.
Beverages
To help keep our school clean and support healthy choices, students are encouraged to bring non-spill water bottles to school. Slurpees, iced-cap-style drinks, open pop, and energy drinks should not be brought into the building. Sealed beverages may be stored in student lockers until lunchtime or after school.
Band
- October Newsletter: Link
- Band Spirit Wear! Show off your love of band with spirit wear. You can even customize it with your instrument! The store closes October 4th.
- Cookie Dough/Perogie Fundraiser:
Ongoing Fundraisers
- TruEarth Laundry Strips: A true eco-friendly product. No plastic jugs, just compressed soap strips that clean your laundry, toilet bowls, laundry stains, kitchens, and dishes! This is an ongoing fundraiser.
- Bottle Drive – Drop off your empties and support the band!
- South Pointe Bottle Depot (behind The Home Depot on 130th Avenue SE) 5126 126 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 0H2. Please let them know the funds go to the Mountain Park School Band.
- Deerfoot Bottle Depot (near Douglasdale Professional Centre) 11440 29 St SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 3V5. Please tag the bags as LG782.
MPS Band Parents Society appreciates your support!
Upcoming Activities
October 12 – Monday
- Thanksgiving - NO SCHOOL
October 13 – Tuesday
- Junior Boys Basketball Practice @ 8:00-9:00 am
- Wrestling Practice @ 8:00 am
- SPARK club in Room 121 @ 12:10 pm
- Jazz Band Rehearsal @ 12:10 pm
- Senior Girls Basketball Practice @ 4:00-5:00 pm
- Girls Soccer Game @ Dr. George Stanley School @ 4:30 - 5:30 pm
- Junior Boys Basketball Game @ Mountain Park @ 4:30 pm
- Senior Boys Basketball Game @ Mountain Park @ 7:30 pm
October 14 – Wednesday
- MP Kmiec Visit - Grade 9
- Collars and Claws Club in Room 121 @ 12:10 pm
- Coffee House @ 12:10 pm
- Senior Boys Basketball Practice @ 4:00-5:00 pm
- Boys Soccer Game at Mountain Park School @ 4:30-5:30 pm
October 15 – Thursday
- Junior Girls Basketball Practice @ 8:00-9:00 am
- Senior Girls Basketball Practice @ 8:00-9:00 am
- Choir @ 12:10
- Girls Soccer Game
- Junior Boys Basketball Game @ Dr. George Stanley School @ 5:30 pm
- Senior Boys Basketball Game @ Dr. George Stanley School @ 6:30 pm
October 16 – Friday
- Co-Ed Soccer Practice @ 8:00 pm
- Jazz Band Rehearsal @ 8:00-9:00 pm
- Senior Boys Basketball Practice @ 8:00-9:00 am
CBE Days of Significance
The CBE is committed to building a culture of appreciation and inclusion, where students and staff can see themselves valued, respected and celebrated. For more information on key dates, please visit the CBE Dates of Significance webpage.
Don’t forget to check our MPS Calendar regularly for key dates and upcoming events.
Thank you for your support,
Angela Takla
Principal, Mountain Park School
Natasha Duffy
Assistant Principal, Mountain Park School