MPS Weekly Update | May 16, 2025
What an exciting and busy time of year! From ongoing field trips to badminton tournaments and four full-house evenings of our musical spring production of 'Annie Jr', this week has flown by. Here are some updates for the week ahead:
Spring School Dance | May 22
We will be having our last school dance of the year on Thursday, May 22nd from 5pm – 8pm. All grade 6-9 Mountain Park students are welcome to attend. The cost will be $5 at the door and there will be a concession stand open with snacks, drinks, and pizza for purchase. Students voted on a “floral” theme! We are in need of parent volunteers for this event. If you are able to volunteer and have your volunteer clearance, please reach out to Ms. LeBlanc hlleblanc@cbe.ab.ca.
MPS Community Event | May 29
We have combined two fantastic events into one for our whole community to enjoy! We are excited to host 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 | June 10
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 security-cleared volunteers to make this day a success.
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.
We are in the final stages of our planning of 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 and staff 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. there is still time to do so! Please contact Ms. LeBlanc at hlleblanc@cbe.ab.ca
Band Update
May Newsletter: Link
Grade 7 Band & 8/9 Band to ABA: The bands will head to Red Deer on Tuesday, May 20th. Students must be in their concert dress (blacks) with their water bottles, instruments, and music in the band room at 10 AM. They will attend regular classes before leaving and arrive back at 6:00 pm.
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 up in PowerSchool. Thank you for ensuring this is paid.
Ongoing Band 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!
- 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 19 – Monday
Victoria Day – School Closed
May 20 – Tuesday
Band 7-9 to Red Deer
Dungeons and Dragons @ 4:00-5:00pm
May 21– Wednesday
May 22 – Thursday
Chess Club @ lunch in Room 113
May 23 - Friday
Jazz Band Rehearsal 8:00-9:00am
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.
Have a wonderful long weekend,
Angela Takla
Principal, Mountain Park School