Dear Mountain Park Families,

It was such a great week at Mountain Park. The Science Machine visited and wowed our students with lots of experiments, each time explaining the science! Enjoy a few pictures below. It was wonderful to see so many of you at our Curriculum Night events. Teachers will email the presentations so that any parents unable to attend can obtain all information shared. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or me with any additional questions. This week we also learned we have been assigned a new School Resource Officer. Our previous officer has been reassigned to Hopewell Middle. We will still share him with RHS, but I wanted to be sure you know his name and face. Welcome Officer Joseph!

Quick reminder....There is no school for students Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, September 2-4. We'll see you all back on Thursday. If your family is traveling and you did not take advantage of the remote day policy, please consider it for our next extended break for students, October 14-16. Each student may receive up to 5 remote days for the semester. Requests must be made at least 5 school days in advance to allow teachers adequate time to gather instructional materials. Turn in the form found here to Mrs. Gantenbein at gantenbienm@fultonschools.org.

Within the next week, students in grades kindergarten through 5th will bring home a report summarizing their performance on the iReady Diagnostic. The Diagnostic is administered in reading and math three times each year: beginning, middle and end. If you have any questions, please refer to the Understanding Your Student's i-Ready Diagnostic Results document or contact your child’s teacher. Your child’s teacher will discuss this report and other diagnostic data at your child’s fall conference.

Is your fourth or fifth grade student interested in serving the Roswell Community? The Interact Club is a newly formed club at MPE. Our motto is Service Above Self. This club brings together students to develop leadership and the POWER of service. Please ask your child to come to Miss Curtis’ room (227 on Kindergarten hall) before 7:40am to pick up an interest form. If you have any questions about Interact club, please contact our MPE staff leaders Leigh Maier (maierel@fultonschools.org) and Mackenzie Curtis (curtism5@fultonschools.org). We will be in touch with further information!

Mountain Park Elementary is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its new playground with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception on September 10, 2024, at 8:30 AM located on the lower field behind the school.

This event is open to the public - everyone is welcome to attend! Guests will park at the top parking lot and proceed directly to the field to check in.

The new playground, situated on the lower field behind the school, will provide a dedicated, safe, and age-appropriate environment for upper-grade students to enjoy. Community access to the playground will also be available after school hours, expanding recreational opportunities for our community.

Funding for the playground was generously provided through donations, grants, and fundraising events organized by The MPE Foundation. The Golden Gala held in November 2023 at Brookfield Country Club raised $70,000, and an additional $90,000 was raised through the “Play on Mustangs” FUN RUN on March 28, 2024, in partnership with Activate. Many community sponsors and donors helped make this possible including The Gray Family, Shenk Dental, Focus Point Windows and Doors, Silver Oak, and Dover House Mediation. The Foundation also received a $25,000 grant from the Resurgens Charitable Foundation and $11,000 from the MPE PTA.

Installation was completed on August 20 and the total cost of the playground is approximately $200,000. The playground has been approved by the Fulton County School District and meets all ADA requirements.

We hope you will attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception scheduled for September 10, 2024 at 8:30am on the lower field behind Mountain Park Elementary school located at 1895 Mountain Park Rd, Roswell, GA 30075. Park in the top parking lot and proceed directly to the field to check in.

For more information about the Foundation or the ribbon-cutting event, please email mountainparkfoundation@gmail.com or contact Sarah Hailey at 404-520-6693.

Mark your calendars! Our Fall Book Fair is September 11th - 13th.

All classes will PREVIEW the Fair on:

• Monday, September 9th
• Tuesday, September 10th

Books can be PURCHASED on:

• Wednesday, September 11th from 7:20am - 2:20pm
• Thursday, September 12th 7:20am - 2:20pm
• Friday, September 13th 7:20am - 11:00am

Payments can be made by cash, credit card, check or through our digital option, eWallet. You can learn more about setting up an eWallet account Here.

• All of the info for our Fair, including classroom purchasing times and info for how to shop the Fair virtually, can be found on the Mountain Park Elementary Media Center Website.

Calling all volunteers! We need you to make our Fair successful. If you are interested in volunteering for one of our 2-3 hour time slots, please use the Sign Up Genius link below:

Sign Up Genius - Book Fair Volunteers Needed!

Also - please note that you'll need to complete a registration process to volunteer. It is really quick and simple! The link is here: Fulton County Schools Volunteer Registration

Back to School Special ends 8/30- $30

Prices increase by $5 until February

5th Grade Ads: Deadline is 12/20 (no exceptions)

There is a new and easy way for MPE families to send in photos for use!

If for some reason you have not registered with Pick Up Patrol and need a registration link, please send an email to Shannon Anderson at Andersons5@fultonschools.org. Remember, you must submit all transportation changes using the app. The default transportation will be how they normally go home. If your student normally goes home a certain way, there’s no need to enter it on that day. Plan changes are only for when it differs from the default plan. Also, if you need a carpool or walker number, email andersons5@fultonschools.org or call the front office. Thanks so much!

MEDIA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The media center is seeking volunteers for the 2024-2025 school year. Individuals who volunteer are asked to commit to a designated weekly time, as our volunteers play a crucial role in allowing us to serve our students. We are still in need of 1 person for Wednesday morning 7:10-8 slot. Also, we are seeking 1 person each day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday for our 8:45-9:45 slot. Finally, we are seeking 1 person on Mondays for our 1:30-2:20 slot. If you are interested in committing to 1 day a week at one of the time slots listed, please contact Vicky Jaksic, Media Specialist, at jaksicv@fultonschools.org.

Mr. Suvin Varghese is our new cafeteria manager. You may reach out to him directly with questions about your child's lunch account, restrictions to be placed if needed, and any general cafeteria questions. We are excited to welcome him to the MPE family! You may reach him directly at vargheses@fultonschools.org.

The Fulton County School Nutrition Program is dedicated to serving all students nutritious, safe and customer acceptable meals in support of academic achievement. We believe that each month you should be able to click the below link and be taken directly to the current month's menu!

https://nutrition.fultonschools.org/MenuCalendar

Remember that every Friday is Spirit Day! Encourage your students to wear their MPE Mustang Spiritwear!

August 29 | 4/5 Curriculum Night - 6:00 PM

August 30 | RHS vs Walton 7:30 PM

September 2 | Labor Day - NO SCHOOL

September 3 | NO SCHOOL

September 4 | NO SCHOOL

September 11-13 | MPE Book Fair

Dates and venues are subject to change.

We are still in need of a few positions on our full board. If you are interested in learning more about any of the following positions, please email Janet Park @ janet.park88@gmail.com

• Grandparents Day - help prepare for the event on 11/22 and 11/23
• Spring Fling - secure vendors for the event on 4/25
• Science Lab - lead one grade in two labs, labs are already prepared, need leads to run the lab
• Holiday Extravaganza Basket Coordinators - answer questions regarding baskets via email, help organize baskets in the library on 11/7 and 11/8 for two grades
• Drama Club - the Drama Club is looking for Shadow Volunteers to fill several positions for the 2025/2026 MPE production. The positions they're looking for include Shadow Directors (TWO), Shadow Producer, Shadow Carpenter, Shadow Props and Shadow Choreographer.
• Business Partner Fullfillment Management - work from home, manage the excel sheet to ensure business partners are being given what was promised throughout the year

Last chance to pre-order your spirit wear is this Friday, August 30th. We have some great Mustang Spirit wear that we encourage your students to wear on Fridays! Items purchased by this deadline will be delivered to your student within 2-3 weeks.

Every Friday our amazing Dad's Club relieves the teachers for a morning of carpool take over. Come join in on the fun opening car doors for the students. The kids love having the dads there while music is playing and the blow up man is dancing. Sign up through our sign up genius (link below) or reach out to Corey Perlman, corey@impactsocialmedia.com, with any questions.

Dad's Club Carpool Takeover

We are just $2,000 short of our goal! Your membership provides funding for important MPE programs, field trips, cultural art experiences for students, supplies and materials, and much more! By supporting our programs, you are investing in the future of our students and our community! To find out additional information on the various PTA memberships, please click the link below!

https://www.mpepta.com/join

There is an exciting new outdoor adventure designed for young explorers and their families. As you walk along the trail at Leita Thompson, keep your eyes peeled for amazing creatures inspired by real animals in our local environment.

In the Creative Minds Art Club, we champion the artist in everyone. Our mission is to inspire confidence in artistry and reveal the magic of creation.

Students will come into a WORKING ARTIST STUDIO where they will learn techniques for their OWN creations. Some projects will be teacher-led, but the goal is to allow students to find their inspiration and create from there — we value process and experimentation over final products, because that’s where real learning and creativity lie.

Classes are limited to 10 so that each student receives 1:1 time working on their projects.

In the Creative Minds Art Club, it’s more than just an art project, you'll leave with a sense of accomplishment and newfound confidence.

RISE UP! 4 Christ is a free after-school character development program for elementary children with the purpose of teaching students how to apply relevant Biblical truths in their everyday lives.

RiseUp! provides a creative, fun and memorable environment for kids to hear about God's amazing love for them. We meet one Friday a month in the gym, from 2:30-3:45 pm.

Parents are welcome to volunteer as well! Head to www.riseup4christ.com to learn more and register!

Mountain Park PTA is thrilled to partner with Maura Roberts Photography for our annual family photo fundraiser! Choose a 15-minute appointment from one of four available days, with sessions held outdoors at unique locations each date:

September 22nd – Bulloch Hall

September 27th – Roswell Mill

October 27th – Barrington Hall

November 10th – Roswell Square

The $40 cost covers your sitting fee and 15-minute session with Maura Roberts. This fee is donated directly to MPE PTA and is non-refundable should you need to cancel your appointment. Digital files and photo packages will be available for purchase at your viewing appointment.

Sign up and pay online at Maura Roberts Photography: 2024 MPE Photo Fundraiser (signupgenius.com)

If you’re unable to secure a spot and would like to be added to the waitlist, please complete the form at the link below

https://forms.gle/2Nr3iTJgZiQMQB5d7

For questions, contact mpephotofundraiser@gmail.com

My name is Samantha Scalabrino, and I am a licensed therapist with The Summit Counseling Center. I work at Mountain Park to provide private, individual counseling to students in need. I have worked as a therapist for 20 years and have previous experience working in schools for children with behavioral difficulties and with special needs.

Students who use my services have a wide range of needs: they may be experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, thoughts of self-harm, and/or behavioral challenges. They may need to learn skills to help with their emotional regulation, manage their ADHD, navigate family transitions such as a divorce or death, or deal with peer conflict/bullying. Students are conveniently seen at school for their sessions, so caregivers do not have to worry about making the time to take them to an appointment.

The first two intake sessions—one with the parent and one with the student—are free of charge. Summit provides financial assistance to families who qualify for extra support and matches insurance rates. Please reach out if you think your child would benefit from counseling and would like more information. My email address is sscalabrino@summitcounseling.org. You can also call Summit directly at 678-893-5300 and visit our website at Mental Health Help in Schools | The Summit Counseling Center.

The weekly Mustang Flyer newsletter keeps you informed about important information regarding the school community, upcoming events, and opportunities for you to get involved.

Please submit your news items, including any visual media such as photos, flyers, and videos, to mpemustangflyer@gmail.com. Submissions are accepted until Tuesday for that week's newsletter.

We would like to thank our amazing sponsors of 2024-2025. With the support of these sponsors, meals and gift cards to local establishments will be provided to staff throughout the year! If you are interested in becoming a business partner please reach out to Katie Jones at mpepta@gmail.com

Platinum:

Aurora Cineplex | Jared Davis, State Farm | Lucia's | Terp Construction

The Summit Counseling Center | The Tutor Doctor | Jones & Kolb | Jared Davis

Gold:

Back to Rock Alpharetta | Elite Skillz Fitness | Mighty Dog Roofing

Modern Cottage Design | Mathnasium - West Roswell

Silver:

Harmony Chiropractic Center | Moxie Blossoms | Outback Steakhouse | SmartMed

Bronze:

Hello Garage | Megan & Natalie Real Estate | Tolbert-Yilmaz School of Dance

Building Kidz of Roswell | We Rock The Spectrum