MPS Weekly Update | March 21, 2025
We have enjoyed our conversations with you during School Conferences this week and want to remind all parents and guardians that this is not the only time to communicate with your child’s teachers. As partners in learning, we value open lines of communication throughout the school year.
We are happy to share that we welcomed our valued facility operations staff are back at MPS as of today. This means that activities before and after school can continue to be offered without restrictions, effective April 1st.
Lots to share as we head into Spring Break… thank you for taking time to read these updates:
Outdoor School with Kamp Kiwanis | April 23-25, 2025
We are excited to share that the trip is a go! We had a great response from students interested in this outdoor learning opportunity and a separate message to the parents of students attending will be forthcoming.
For anyone who missed the first parent information meeting, we will offer a second virtual meeting on Tuesday, April 8th at 6pm. Please mark your calendars and watch for the Microsoft Teams link to come in our first week back. This is a repeat meeting and will not contain different information than the meeting held on Feb 27th. Please note, it is a mandatory requirement that at least one parent/guardian attend one of these meetings.
Remaining fees will be available and information packages will be sent home on April 1st Final payment and all forms are due on April 8th. Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our front office.
Athletics Update
Badminton season of play is starting April 1st. There is a team for each grade level, and we encourage all students interested to come and tryout. If you have specific questions, please see the coaches of the grade you are trying out for: Badminton Season Information Poster
Go Wolverines Go!
Community Engagement | School Planning Survey Open
We have launched our annual engagement tool to gather feedback from our community in relation to our School Development Plan, Fees and more. Your voice is important to us so please take the opportunity to share your insights using this link. The survey will remain open until March 31, 2025.
Student Well-Being Action Team (SWAT) Update
Over the last couple of months, a group of 8 grade 8 and 9 students have been working with Ms. Takla and Ms. LeBlanc to examine our school data around well-being. The Calgary Board of Education, including Mountain Park, recognize that students, and employees, thrive in a culture of well-being. This is reflected in the CBE's 3 year education plan, and Mountain Park's School Development Plan. With this, our SWAT team determined that the best way to increase well-being at MPS is by looking at students' sense of belonging within the school.
In May, we are hoping to hold a school event labeled “MPS Around the World," with a specific focus on the question; "How does our unique experiences, histories, and cultures come together to form our shared Canadian identity?" We would like to highlight, and celebrate, the various cultures that make up the population of MPS. However, we cannot do this alone. We are asking students to start the conversations at home about where their cultures, values, and beliefs come from. We understand that many of our students come from a variety of backgrounds, and we would like to honour and celebrate all of them. The majority of this work will take place during our homeroom time on Fridays with a culminating event near the end of May.
If you are interested in supporting this initiative, by sharing ideas/resources, volunteering, etc. please contact Ms. LeBlanc at hlleblanc@cbe.ab.ca
Reminder | Fees
We encourage all parents and guardians to review your MyCBE PowerSchool account for outstanding fees. These are located under the Student Fees & Service Registration tab and include field trips, optional course fees, noon hour activity fee and athletics.
Invite | Indigenous Education Mini Round Dance
Mark your calendars! On Thursday, April 10, the CBE Indigenous Education Team invites Grade 9 Indigenous students, their families, and their school staff to join the second annual CBE Grade 9 Transitions Mini Round Dance—an evening to honour self-identified Indigenous students who are transitioning from Grade 9 to high school.
Hosted at Ernest Manning High School, this event will include a bagged lunch feast, Indigenous artisans, special dances, an honour song, and a giveaway. All CBE students, families, and staff are welcome to attend.
MPS Learning Lounge
A reminder that in-person Learning Support Sessions continue to be available for students each morning before classes in the MPS Learning Commons as follows:
· Monday - Thursday from 8:30-9:00 AM
· Front doors will be unlocked for student entry from 8:25-8:35 AM only. Students must be here by 8:35 at the latest 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 only.
Band
April Newsletter: Link
Band Bottle Drive: We will be doing a bottle drive April 5th. If you are able to assist with driving or if your student can attend, please fill in the form, HERE.
Band 8/9 & Jazz Band to Elementary Feeder Schools: April 8th, 8:00am. Forms due back April 1st.
Jazz Band every Tuesday at lunch and every Friday morning from 8:00 am – 9:00 am. Doors will open at 8:00 am.
The Music Instrument Rental Fee is on Powerschool and can be paid.
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. Click here to shop.
Bottle Drive – Drop off your empties and support the band!
1) 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.
2) Deerfoot Bottle Depot (near Douglasdale Professional Centre) 11440 29 St SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 3V5. Please tag the bags as LG782.
We appreciate your support!
Upcoming Activities
March 24 – March 28
SPRING BREAK – NO SCHOOL
March 31 – Monday
Welcome Back!
April 1 – Tuesday
Grade 7 Badminton (female) – 8:00-9:00am
Grade 6 Badminton (female) – 4:00-5:00pm
Jazz Band @ lunch
Dungeons and Dragons 4:00-5:00pm
Annie Rehearsal @ 4:00-5:30pm
April 2 – Wednesday
Grade 7 Badminton (male) – 8:00-9:00am
Grade 8 Badminton (both) – 4:00-5:00pm
Annie Rehearsal @ 4:00-5:30pm
April 3 - Thursday
Grade 6 Badminton (male) – 8:00-9:00am
Grade 9 Badminton (both) – 4:00-5:00pm
Chess Club @ lunch in Room 113
Annie Rehearsal @ 4:00-5:30pm
April 4 - Friday
Grade 7 Badminton (female) – 8:00-9:00am
Jazz Band @ 8:00am
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 out our MPS Calendar for key dates and upcoming events.
From all of us at MPS, we wish you and your families a wonderful Spring Break!
Angela Takla
Principal, Mountain Park School