MPS Weekly Update | May 22, 2026
Spring Reminders
The beautiful weather we have long awaited is finally here… With it, we want to remind students of a few expectations that will help keep our school community clean and safe while focused on learning in the remaining weeks of the school year:
Bikes, Scooters & Skateboards
We are happy to see so many students choosing active transportation to and from school. For everyone’s safety, students are asked to walk their bikes, scooters, and skateboards while on school grounds. The City of Calgary strongly recommends helmet use for all wheeled activities, and helmets are required by law when riding bikes and e-bikes.
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.
Provincial Achievement Tests
Students in grades 6 and 9 have begun writing PATs. Teachers have worked with students in advance to ensure they are familiar with both the format and technology used, along with helpful test-writing strategies that can be applied across subject areas. We recognize that this can be a stressful time for students and frame this assessment as one snapshot among many throughout the year that help inform what students understand. Simple strategies at home such as getting sufficient sleep and having a good breakfast, are great ways to support students the day of the test. A reminder that classes run as usual on all days with scheduled PATs and attendance in the afternoons is expected.
Thank you for your support.
Action Required | Next Year Registration
If families with students in grade 6-8 are not returning to MPS next year, please send an email to naduffy@cbe.ab.ca as this information is critical to our planning related to resources and staffing.
MPS Community Event | May 28th 5:30-7:30 PM
We have combined two fantastic events into one date for our whole community to enjoy! We are excited to announce our Second Annual ‘Beats on the Black Top’ Jazz Band performance and ‘MPS around the World’ gallery walk on May 28th, 2026. Bring the family and your lawn chair for an evening of music, food and celebrating our community.
SWAT Team | Update
Since January, our Student Wellness Action Team have been working with Ms. Takla and Ms. LeBlanc to examine our school data related to well-being. The Calgary Board of Education, including Mountain Park, recognizes 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. Based on the data analyzed, our SWAT team determined that the best way to increase well-being at MPS is by looking at students' sense of belonging and connection within the school.
Last year, MPS planned our first annual community event titled “MPS around the World," with a specific focus on the question: "How do our unique experiences, histories, and cultures come together to form our shared Canadian identity?" We are building on the tradition this year in celebrating the various cultures and core values that make up the community of MPS. The majority of this work has been taking place during our homeroom time on Fridays with the culminating event on Thursday, May 28.
School Fees
We encourage all parents and guardians to review your MyCBE PowerSchool account for any outstanding fees. These are located under the Student Fees & Service Registration tab and include field trips, option course fees, noon hour activity fee and athletics.
Apply Now for Yellow School Bus Service for 2026-2027
Families are now able to apply for yellow school bus service for the 2026-27 school year. Service levels and fees are outlined below. Registration is available through your MyCBE account. (If you do not already have an account, learn how.)
Families must apply by Sunday, June 14, 2026 for students to be added to routes for the start of the next school year. We continue to accept registrations after the deadline; however, students are added to the closest existing bus stop with available space. Processing times for registrations submitted after the June 14 deadline will be delayed. It may take until mid-October before your child is able to ride the bus.
Confirmed routes will be posted in MyCBE in August.
Track Meet Day | June 1
If you are interested in volunteering for the school Track Meet Day, please reach out to Mrs. Gaunt via email (brgaunt@cbe.ab.ca) to express interest. We will need approximately eight security-cleared volunteers for the day. Thanks so much for your willingness to support Wolverine Athletics.
Grade 9 Farewell | Save the Date | June 11
Please mark the date of Thursday, June 11 starting at 4:30 pm in your calendar. Invitations went home with grade 9 students this week to attend this festive farewell. We are looking forward to celebrating our wonderful grade 9 students and their time at MPS, before sending them off to high school!
Baby Photos | Past Due
As part of our Grade 9 Farewell evening, we are asking all Grade 9 students to send in a favorite baby/toddler photo. If you have not already done so, please email student photos to Ms. LeBlanc as soon as possible to be included in the Farewell Celebration Presentation.
Eastern Canada Fundraiser
Krispy Kreme Donuts
To help support our Grade 8 and 9 students who attended the Eastern Canada trip, we will be selling Krispy Kreme donuts at lunch in the Learning Commons on the following days.
- Thursday, June 4th
Donuts will initially be limited to two per student and will be $2 each.
School Council
We welcome new and returning members of our community to attend upcoming monthly meeting dates that are set for 6pm in our MPS Learning Commons.
Next meeting - Tuesday, May 26.
Dates can also be located in our online MPS Calendar on our website. Please send any inquiries for the School Council directly to (mpsschoolcouncil312@gmail.com).
MPS Learning Lounge | Help Available
May is a great month to brush up on core subject areas and finish the year strong! All students are welcome to make use of our Learning Support Sessions each morning before classes in the MPS Learning Commons. Various subject area teachers are present to provide an additional layer of support as follows:
- Monday - Thursday from 8:40-9:10 am
- Front doors will be unlocked for student entry from 8:35-8:45 am only. Students must be here 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 only.
Band
- May Newsletter
- Jazz Band : Tuesdays at lunch and Fridays at 8:00 am. Everyone is welcome!
- Beats on the Blacktop: Jazz Band - May 28th, 5:30-7:30 pm.
- Students need to arrive by 5:00pm for set-up.
The MPS Spring Band Concert | June 4th
- The final concert is only two weeks away!
- Please make sure you have confirmed attendance by completing either these forms: Music 6 or Band 7/8/9/Jazz or by emailing Ms. Wahl (dewahl@cbe.ab.ca).
- Grade 6's should arrive by 5:45. They will start at 6:00pm and will be done by 6:30pm.
- Band 7-9 will need to be there by 6:45. The concert starts at 7:00pm.
- Admission by donation.
- Please remember to bring cash for the raffle tables and concession.
- We will have raffles for a guitar, Vertigo Theatre tickets, Coco Brooks, and much more! We will also be accepting bottle donations for the band.
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.
We appreciate your support!
Upcoming Activities
May 25 – Monday
- Grade 6 PAT - ELA Part A
May 26 – Tuesday
- Grade 8 Badminton Wrap-Up Party @ lunch in Mr. Summach's room (210)
- ENVOE 9 Bolder Climbing @ Elevated in am
- Jazz Band Rehearsal @ 12:00 pm
- Dungeons and Dragons @ 4:00-5:00 pm
- School Council Meeting @ 6:00 in the Learning Commons
May 27 – Wednesday
- Grade 7 Badminton Wrap-Up Part @ lunch in Ms. Klassen’s room (110)
- ENVOE 9 Bolder Climbing @ Elevated in am
May 28 – Thursday
- Beats on the Blacktop @ 5:30-7:30
May 29 – Friday
- Jazz Band Rehearsal @ 8:00 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