MPS Weekly Update | May 2, 2025
Hard to believe it’s already May, but we couldn’t ask for better weather and our students have enjoyed more time outdoors as a result. Outdoor School was a huge success last week, where nearly 90 Wolverine campers and staff spent two nights in beautiful Kananaskis. Students had a fantastic time learning new skills and making connections in nature, totally disconnected from technology. It was an epic adventure with memories made for years to come…
Plenty happening in the weeks ahead… please see below for details:
Surge Basketball Game – Grade 8 | May 7
Reminder for the Grade 8 students that have signed up for the Surge Basketball Game on May 7. Fees are due before the trip and can be paid through your CBE account. If you have any questions, please call the main office.
Royal Tyrrell Museum Field Trip – Grade 7 | May 7
On May 7 the Grade 7’s will be going to Royal Tyrrell Museum. Fees are now due and can be paid through your CBE account. If you have any questions, please call the main office.
Astrodome In-School Experience! 🚀
We’re thrilled to bring the Astrodome in-school field trip to our Grade 6 and Grade 9 students!
- Grade 9s will experience it on May 5th
- Grade 6s will explore it on May 7th
This immersive science experience is sure to be a highlight! Please refer to the Astrodome letter sent home with students for more details and reach out to your child’s science teacher with any questions.
Fees are online, please log into your PowerSchool account to pay. If you have any questions, please call the office.
We’re so excited for this out-of-this-world experience!
CBE 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.
MPS Community Event | Save the Date
We have combined two fantastic events into one for our whole community to enjoy! We are excited to announce our First Annual ‘Beats on the Black Top’ Jazz Band performance and ‘MPS around the World’ gallery walk on May 29th, 2025. Please see our poster for more details.
Grade 9 Farewell | Save the Date
This year's Grade 9 Farewell Event will take place on the evening of June 19th at the school. More information regarding time and cost will be shared in the near future.
Track and Field Meet
Mountain Park School’s Track and Field Meet is fast approaching. The team needs parent volunteers to help run the meet which is occurring on June 10th from 8:30am- 4:00pm. No track and field experience necessary.
If interested, please email Mrs. Gaunt at brgaunt@cbe.ab.ca. We will need about 8 volunteers to make this day a success.
Mountain Park School Trip Interest Survey
We’re starting to plan student trips for the next school year and would love your input! If you’re interested in your child participating in a future school trip, please take a moment to fill out our interest form.
Click here to share your interest.
Your feedback will help guide planning and ensure we can offer meaningful and exciting opportunities for students!
Library News
Many students have overdue library books and it would be great to get these books returned to the learning commons so others can enjoy the books before the end of the school year. If you are still reading the books please renew your books with Mrs. Lybbert in the Learning Commons.
Believe in your-shelf and your ability to return your over dues! Please get these items to the library as quickly as you can.
SWAT Team | Update
Over the last couple of months, our SWAT Team members 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.
In May, we are planning a school 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 would like to highlight, and celebrate, the various cultures that make up the community of MPS. However, we cannot do this alone!
We are asking students to continue 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 on Thursday, May 29th (please see our poster for more details).
If you are interested in supporting this initiative by sharing ideas/resources, volunteering, etc. we would love to hear from you! Please contact Ms. LeBlanc at hlleblanc@cbe.ab.ca.
Summer Math 15 Online Course Information
Grade 9 students interested in taking Math 15 this summer can now access information about the course and registration process. This online course helps boost confidence in key grade 9 math skills before starting high school and is ideal for students who are self-directed in their learning.
Key Dates:
- Registration opens May 5 and closes May 9 (no late entries)
- Course begins June 24
An email with full details is being sent home by Grade 9 Math teachers. Please reach out to your child’s Math teacher directly if interested.
Band Update
May Newsletter: Link
Grade 7 Band: Early Morning Practice - 8:00 am, Tuesday, May 6th and May 13th, to prepare for the ABA Festival.
Grade 8/9 Band: Early Morning Practice - 8:00 am, Monday, May 5th and May 12th, to prepare for the ABA Festival.
Coco Brooks Fundraiser! - The Band is starting a spring Coco Brooks fundraiser. More information available HERE
Jazz Band every Tuesday at lunch and every Friday morning from 8:00 am – 9:00 am. Doors will open at 7:45 am.
The Music Instrument Rental Fee is on Powerschool and can be paid.
Ongoing Band 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!
- 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!
MPS Learning Lounge
May is a great month to brush up on core subject areas to finish the school year strong! All students are welcome to make use of our in-person Learning Support Sessions 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.
Upcoming Activities – May
May 5– Monday
Band 8/9 Full Rehearsal @ 8:00-9:00am
Grade 6 Badminton Practice @ 8:00-9:00am
Grade 9 Badminton Practice @ 4:00-5:00pm
Annie Rehearsal @ 4:00-6:00pm
May 6 – Tuesday
Band 8/9 Full Rehearsal @ 8:00-9:00am
Grade 8 Badminton Practice @ 8:00-9:00am
Jazz Band @ lunch
Outdoor School Meeting @ lunch
Grade 6 Badminton Practice @ 4:00-5:00pm
Dungeons and Dragons @ 4:00-5:00pm
Annie Rehearsal @ 4:00-6:00pm
Grade 9 Tournament @ Dr. George Stanley 4:00-9:00
May 7 – Wednesday
Grade 7 Royal Tyrrell Museum field trip
Grade 8 Calgary Surge Basketball Game
Grade 9 Badminton Practice @ 8:00-9:00am
Annie Rehearsal @ 4:00-6:00pm
Grade 8 Badminton Tournament @ Dr. Martha Cohen @ 4:00-9:00
May 8 – Thursday
Chess Club @ lunch in Room 113
Annie Rehearsal @ 4:00-5:30pm
Grade 8 Tournament @ Dr. Martha Cohen 4:00-9:00pm
May 9 - Friday
Jazz Band Rehearsal @ 8:00-9:00 am
Grade 9 Badminton Tournament @ Dr. George Stanley 1:00-6:00pm
Annie Rehearsal 1:30-6:00pm
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.
Enjoy the marvellous spring weekend ahead...
Angela Takla
Principal, Mountain Park School