Welcome back MPS Families! We have truly missed our students and have enjoyed having our learning community together again. Our focus remains on meaningful learning, reconnecting with each other, and re-establishing our daily routines and expectations.
Today, we enjoyed some fun Halloween activities with the students and we are looking forward to gradually resuming extracurricular activities starting next week. Some adjustments have been made to help us transition smoothly back to school, and further refinements will continue as needed. Please check our school calendar and website for the latest updates.
I want to emphasize that we are deeply grateful for the many gestures of support from our community for our teachers. Being back with our students brings us great comfort, and we look forward to continued success, learning, and growth together.
Student Protest
Please be aware that the student walk-out that occurred yesterday was not a CBE event. It was a regular school day and, as usual, students were expected to be in class unless excused by a parent or guardian. Student learning continued as scheduled. We do not prevent students from leaving class for this reason; however, any students who were not present in class were marked as an unexcused absence.
Grade 8/9 Eastern Canada Trip
Missed the Eastern Canada Trip Meeting?
Please find all forms and information on our school website: https://mountainpark.cbe.ab.ca/off-site-activities
If you have any questions, please email Ms. LeBlanc at hlleblanc@cbe.ab.ca.
Forms to be handed in:
· Parent Letter to Acknowledge Financial Commitment
· MPS Application
The due date for forms will be extended until Friday, November 14th at 1pm.
IPP Return Reminder
A reminder to all families to please return your child’s signed Individual Program Plan (IPP) to their IPP advocate as soon as possible. If you have any questions or need another copy, please contact your child's IPP advocate.
School Council
We welcome new and returning members of our community to attend upcoming monthly meeting dates that have now been set for 6pm in our MPS Learning Commons as follows: Nov 18, Dec 10, Feb 4, Mar 11, April 8, and May 13. Dates can also be located in our online MPS Calendar on our website. We will be hosting both in-person and virtual offerings. MPS School Council is eagerly looking for volunteers. Positions available this year include:
Healthy Hunger - Mondays and Wednesdays approximately 1-2 hours during lunch time
Secretary – Ensures all the recordings for school council are in order for Society meetings
Key Communicator – member represents MPS School Council at Board meetings with CBE and our Board of Trustees (approximately 3 meetings in the year)
Casino – Our major fundraiser of the year is coming up! Please consider contributing your time on either Dec 11 and 12. If you are interested, please sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4BA9A928A6F49-58308634-mountain
Please send any inquiries for School Council directly to the following address: mpsschoolcouncil312@gmail.com
Healthy Hunger
A reminder to parents that we will continue our Healthy Hunger program next week. 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. A win-win!
We offer lunches every Wednesday, with additional lunches on Mondays in support of the Band program. We will offer lunches from a variety of restaurants, and families can order as many or few as they choose.
- It’s easy to order, just go to www.healthyhunger.ca
- 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 or Lunchroom for Grade 6 students (to ensure the food finds its way to them!)
- Check out the lunches that we’ve posted so far - you can sign up for as many as you like, and pay online when you’re done ordering (no need to send $ to school - yay!)
- The cut-off for orders is 5 days before the lunch - orders for Monday lunches are due the Wednesday before, and orders for Wednesday lunches are due the Friday before.
Note: Grade 6 Students have their Healthy Hunger assigned based on the classroom they eat their have lunch in – not by homeroom. Please double check to make sure you have the correct lunchroom. If you need confirmation on this, please call the main office at 403-777-6442.
School Start-Up Packages | Forms Past Due
A reminder that CBE requires each student to complete forms online each year via the parent portal (MyCBE – Online Forms), including Demographic Verification updates, Annual Volunteer and Media Release forms. We appreciate parents / guardians attending to this as soon as possible.
Attendance
If your child is going to be absent, have a medical appointment or late, please email the attendance email at mpsattendance@cbe.ab.ca.
If your student needs to leave school early, please let the office know whenever possible via the attendance email at mpsattendance@cbe.ab.ca. This will ensure the student is ready in the office when you arrive, reducing waiting time and class disruption.
MPS Learning Lounge
Next week, we will re-launch our in-person Learning Support Sessions, available for all students each morning before classes in the MPS Learning Commons. We are targeting two core subject areas each day in alignment with our 2025-2026 School Development Plan: Mathematics and Literacy. Various subject area teachers are present to provide an additional layer of support for those students who wish to access it 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
CLUBS
MPS Coffee House
Love music? Whether you sing, play guitar, piano, percussion, or all of the above; Coffee House is your stage! Join us for a chill, creative space where students perform solo or in groups, share their musical talents, and support each other. No pressure, just passion. Come jam, vibe, and make some noise!
When: Wednesdays at lunch recommencing on Wednesday, Nov 6
Where: Band Room
Any questions? Please see Mr. MacDonald, Mr. Heney, or Ms. Wahl.
Chess Club
Get ready to sharpen your mind and make your move—Chess Club kicks off (again) next week! Whether you're a grandmaster in the making or just learning how the knight moves, everyone is welcome. Come for the strategy, stay for the fun, and challenge your friends to a battle of brains. Chess Club meets every Thursday at lunch recommencing Nov 6th in Room 113. Please see Mr. MacDonald if you have any questions.
Pokémon Go Club
Hey Trainers! Looking to hone your catching skills and make new friends? Pokémon Go Club happens every Monday and Wednesday at Lunch. Meet Mr. Stickel and others at the front doors to start catching them all!
Band
November Newsletter: Link
Band Spirit Wear! Extended! Get your MPS Band Spirit Wear here!
Volunteers needed! Get your security clearance up to date with the school office.
On Going Fundraisers
TruEarth Laundry Strips: http://tru-earth.sjv.io/MPSMPS 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!
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
November 3 – Monday
Junior Girls Basketball Practice @ 7:45-9:00am
Senior Girls Basketball Practice @ 4:00-5:00pm
November 4 – Tuesday
Junior Boys Basketball Practice @ 7:45-9:00am
Jazz Band Rehearsal @ 12:00pm
Senior Boys Basketball Practice @ 4:00-5:00pm
November 5 – Wednesday
Senior Girls Basketball Practice @ 7:45-9:00am
November 6 – Thursday
Jr. Girls Basketball Practice 7:45-9:00am
Girls and Boys Soccer Wrap-Up Game @ 12:15 – 12:48 (main soccer field)
Senior Boys Basketball Practice @ 4:00-5:00pm
November 7 – Friday
Junior Boys Basketball Practice @ 7:45-9:00am
Jazz Band Rehearsal @ 8:00am
Remembrance Day Activities in Homeroom
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.
Have a wonderful weekend and a Happy Halloween!
Angela Takla
Principal, Mountain Park School
Natasha Duffy
Assistant Principal, Mountain Park School