Good morning parents/guardians,
We are experiencing some great fall weather that will continue into next week. Monday looks to be the only day next week with low temperatures with the chance of rain/snow. Please ensure that your child is prepared for the weather. Round #1 of Student Progress Conferences occurs this Thursday and Friday. Conferences are scheduled through an online booking system that went live this past Friday. Information regarding booking conferences is located in this weekly update.
Upcoming Dates
- Monday, October 21
- Grade 9 Field Trip (River Watch): HRs 9-1, 9-2, 9-5.
- Boys Soccer Semi-Finals @ RT Alderman.
- Senior Girls Basketball games @ Mountain Park.
- Tuesday, October 22
- Grade 9 Field Trip (River Watch): HRs 9-3, 9-4, 9-6.
- Wednesday, October 23
- Gr. 6 Immunizations.
- Boys Soccer Finals: TBD.
- Thursday, October 24
- Student Progress Conferences.
- 430-800pm: In-person @ MSS in main gym.
- No drop-in, by scheduled appointment only.
- Friday, October 25
- Non-Instructional Day: No school for students.
- Student Progress Conferences.
- 830am-300pm: Virtual via Microsoft Teams.
- No In-person, only virtual.
- Monday, October 28
- School Council / Enrichment Society Meeting.
- 600pm @ MSS in staffroom.
Gr. 9 River Watch Field Trips: Monday/Tuesday
- Monday: Grade 9 Field Trip (River Watch): HRs 9-1, 9-2, 9-5.
- Tuesday: Grade 9 Field Trip (River Watch): HRs 9-3, 9-4, 9-6.
Teachers have prepared students for this learning opportunity over the last few weeks. On both days, Gr. 9 students need to arrive to school on time and be fully prepared. Students who are not prepared for their day on the river will remain at MSS.
MSS Enrichment Society - Casino Night Volunteers
Our casino night fundraiser is quickly approaching and we are in need on volunteers as some positions still need to be filled. A successful casino generates ~$70-80k to support learning excellence and well-being.
Volunteer opportunities for "Marshall Springs Casino Event - Saturday November 2nd & Sunday November 3rd, 2024" are now open. Please click on the following web link (or copy it into your web browser if clicking doesn't work) to go to the signup sheet:
To sign up, just follow the instructions on the page. It only takes a few seconds to do. Revenues generated from casino nights (~70k+) support technology, athletics, music/band, field trips, core academics, physical education, CTF classes etc.
Student Progress Conferences - Round #1
Our first round of student progress conferences will take place on Thursday, October 24 & Friday, October 25. The online booking system went live on Friday, October 18 @ 8:00am. An email was also sent to parents/guardians last week containing online conference booking information.
- Thursday, October 24: 4:30-8:00pm.
- In-person: MSS Main Gym.
- No drop-ins, by scheduled appointment only.
- Friday, October 25: 8:30am-3:00pm.
- Virtual: Microsoft Teams.
- No In-person conferences - Only Virtual.
- Non-Instructional Day: No classes for students.
We will be using school conference manager again this year for all conference bookings. You can access conference manager through your MyCBE \ PowerSchool account. If you do not have an account, please sign-up by CLICKING HERE.
Staffing Update - Homeroom Restructuring
We have received our fall budget from the CBE and are happy to announce that, due to enrollment growth and additional one time funding from Alberta Education, we will be adding two additional full time teachers and one additional educational assistant to the MSS staff. These changes will come into effect in early November 2024. These changes will allow us to reduce class sizes, increase the number of targeted learning support sessions in Springs Time, and add more support to student learning needs in classrooms.
We are currently in the planning stages and are exploring options. MSS students in Grade 6 and Grade 7 will be reallocated to new homerooms within that specific grade. Please note that when reallocating students to their new classes, we take into account class complexity, learning styles, and general class dynamics when making these decisions to allow for the best possible combination of student growth and achievement academically, socially, and emotionally. We will be asking Grade 6 and Grade 7 students with whom (1 student) they would like to be with IF they are reallocated to a new homeroom, and will try our best to accommodate their wishes. Due to the number of anticipated movements, we may not be able to accommodate all requests. A one question survey will be posted to all Gr. 6 and Gr. 7 Homeroom Google Classrooms for students to complete. We ask that this one question reallocation survey be completed by Monday, October 21, 2024 @ 8:00pm.
Once the changes are made (Option classes will not be changing), parents/guardians will be notified in advance and your student will receive a new timetable with their new teachers. Our new teachers will be team planning alongside current MSS teachers who teach the same subject matter to allow for consistent pacing and assessment. Rest assured, the teachers joining MSS will be working together to transition classwork, assessment, IPPs, and planning for your student with great thought and care.
We are excited for these staffing additions and expect them to help us provide an even better learning experience for your children.
Athletics Update
Basketball and Soccer activities continue this week. Practice and game/meet schedules are posted on our athletics board near the main gym and can also be found on the athletics website.
- Athletics Home Page: CLICK HERE
- Soccer: CLICK HERE
- Basketball: CLICK HERE
Halloween at MSS - Thursday, October 31
Many have been asking about the school expectations for Halloween Day on Thursday, October 31. Halloween will continue to be a day of learning at Marshall Springs. Students are welcome to wear their costumes for the full day or even part of the day if they choose. We encourage students to wear their costume over their regular clothes or bring a change of clothes in the event that they become uncomfortable or find that it interferes with their activities like gym or outdoor play. The guidelines for costumes are:
- Must be school appropriate.
- No weapons in any way, shape, or form.
- No masks - faces must be visible.
- No blood or gore.
The reason behind these guidelines is that we want school to continue to be a safe, caring and welcoming place. We want to make sure that no one is scared or fearful in coming to school. We thank all families for helping us continue to make our space a safe one. We will not be having parties in learning spaces, so we ask that you do not send in food/drinks/treats for sharing.
Papa John's Pizza Day Fundraiser
MSS has teamed up with Papa John's for Pizza Night on Wednesday, October 23. Any orders placed on this night will receive 15% off regular menu prices and MSS will receive 15% from orders when the promo code MSS15 is used. This promotion is only valid at Bridlewood, Silverado, Seton, Copperfield & Buffalo Run locations.
PJ Fundraiser Promo Poster: CLICK HERE
Cafeteria Menu: October 21-25, 2024
The cafeteria will be serving a special Thanksgiving meal on Monday, October 21 for $6.00. There will also be fried chicken and Potato Fries (all Halal).
Thank you,
Kevin Godfrey
Proud Principal
Marshall Springs School
IG: @principalkmg