Newsletters
MMS Newsletter – November 2024
Parent Committee Meeting
Our Parent Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, November 6 from 7 - 8pm. All Parents/Guardians are strongly encouraged to attend the meeting. We look forward to hearing your ideas!
Parent Teacher Interviews and Report Cards
Parent Teachers interviews will be occurring on the evening of Thursday, November 21 from 5 – 7pm and during the morning of Friday, November 22 from 9am – 12pm. Appointments can be made via a link that will be shared with families next week. Families are also welcome to contact their student’s teacher directly to make an appointment. Report cards will be going home with students on Wednesday, November 20.
Remembrance Day Ceremony at Mackenzie Middle School
MMS students and staff will be commemorating and remembering the sacrifices and services that our Veterans have paid for us. We will be learning about these services and sacrifices in our lessons and we will also honour and demonstrate our gratitude during a Remembrance Day Ceremony. Our ceremony will be held on Friday, November 8 at 2pm in our gym.
Anishinaabemowin Language Classes
Meegwetch to Elder Phyllis Racette for teaching our students how to speak Anishinaabemowin. Interested students spend 30 minutes on Tuesdays to work in groups to learn conversational phrases. Our goal is to be able to demonstrate hospitality and use the language to welcome an Elder or visitor. We learn using small groups to create scenarios and play games!
MMS Drum Group
Our students who are interested in learning how to drum meet once a cycle for 30 minutes. They meet with Coco Ray Stevenson once a month to learn the protocol and songs. Students are led by our student leaders and our Band teacher Mr. Cormier.
Our grade 8 Drum group sang an honour song for the Kids Help Phone staff who visited our community on October 7 at Northgate Park.
They are also going to sing an honour song at the Elders and Knowledge Keepers Gathering on Wednesday, November 6 at the Watson Arts Centre.
Our grade 6 and 7s will have opportunity to perform when they learn more about the protocol and the songs.
Dress for the Weather
Fall season is here and that brings a change in the weather. Recess can be very chilly. Warm jackets, toques and mitts are essential for our students to feel comfortable outside.
Improv for Grade 7s Coming Soon!
Marsi, meegwetch, thank you to Mr. Martijn van Luijn. He will be leading Improv sessions for interested grade 7 students in term 2. Details and sign up will be coming soon!
Gerdan Performance at MMS
MMS students and staff and the DRCSS Choir welcomed the Ukrainian choir group Gerdan on Monday, October 28. It was an amazing, inspiring and educational performance. It was especially moving when our MMS students who are Ukrainian dancing students were invited to go up and dance while Gerdan sang for them. It was also wonderful to see our staff Mr. Barkman and Ms. Slobodzian dance as they were Ukrainian dance instructors in our community. Дякую, thank you to Ms. Slobodzian for organizing this wonderful opportunity!
Curling Season is Here!
Curling season has started at MMS. Students meet on Tuesdays at the rink to learn and practice skills. Each session will involve learning and practicing skills and ending with a short game. We are pleased to welcome some curling students from Ochre River School! Marsi, meegwetch, thank you to our coaches: Mrs. Sahulka and Mrs. Futrell from Barker School and Mrs. Jayna from Ochre River School. Special thank you to Mr. Hadway for coming out to support us on our first on-ice session, we hope to see him again!
Hooray for our Student Committee!
Our student committee and supervising teachers Mrs. Lenius, Mrs. Adams and Mme Thomas planned and organized a fun day for our students on Halloween. We had an assembly with fun games and a video presentation showcasing the amazing talent in our school. The afternoon was choice time for students to attend a dance, movie or games room. It was a great day!
Every Child Matters Hockey Game
Students and staff attended the Every Child Matters Hockey Game on Friday, November 1. It was an opportunity for our students to learn about Indigenous culture and make a positive step towards Truth and Reconciliation. Marsi, meegwetch, thank you to Norman Lacquette, Aynsley Smith and the DRCSS for organizing this event!
Hide Camp
Mrs. Hope’s grade 8 class attended a field trip on October 9 at Northgate Park. Students started the day with a 5km hike in beautiful Northgate Park. After a hot dog lunch and roasting Bannock on a stick, students were given an on the land learning opportunity with Knowledge Keeper Grace Masse. Grace Masse is from Brochet and skilled in knowledge about living on the land in a good way. She travels across Canada sharing information with different school divisions. Students rotated through stations in learning how to tan a moosehide, stretch a hide, skin, make a bone tool and soften a hide. Marsi, meegwetch, thank you to Melissa Ferland for inviting us. She is the Indigenous Education Facilitator for our Division.
Mom’s Panty Fundraiser
A huge thank you to our school community for supporting our MMS fundraiser. Funds raised support our school activities, such as field trips. We are grateful to the volunteers who came in to help organize our event. Special mention to Lesia Jensen, Kelly Kuzyk, Linda Boyko, and Sharon Paziuk! We will also be posting information on when the orders will arrive. Our school collected just over $56 000 in sales. More information about our profit and selling prizes will be in the next newsletter.
Basketball Season Coming Up!
Tryouts for Basketball will be occurring at the end of November once volleyball season winds up. Please listen to morning announcements for dates and times.
Grade 7/8 Boys Volleyball Update
The Grade 7/8 boys volleyball team has trained and completed hard the last 7 weeks. We took part in the Gilbert Plain tournament, Neepawa tournament, and our home tournament. Each week the boys have improved their skills and are now feeling great about heading to divisionals early and mid November. GO MAGIC GO! Coach: Stacey Penner, Coach, Henderson Elementary
Grade 8 girls Volleyball Update
The Grade 8 girls volleyball team has worked extremely hard over the last two months and has proven successful in tournaments and games. The girls travelled to Gilbert Plains, Grandview, Ste. Rose, Swan River, and will be travelling to Neepawa on the 16th. They also hosted an excellent home tournament here in Dauphin, where they came in third. Grade 8 girls will play in divisionals on Nov. 5th in Gilbert Plains. Coach: Ms. Yarema
Scholastic Book Fair
November 18 to 22
Monday to Thursday 9:00 to 3:30
Thursday Evening 5:00 to 7:00
Friday 9:00 to 12:00
Funds will go back to support our Library!
Important Dates in November
November 5 – Gr. 8 Girls Volleyball Divisionals @ Gilbert Plains
November 6 – Parent Committee meeting, 7pm
November 7 – Gr. 6/7 Boys Volleyball Divisionals @ Grandview
November 8 – Indigenous Veterans Day
November 8 – MMS Remembrance Day Ceremony, 2pm
November 11 – Remembrance Day, no classes
November 12 – Admin Day, no classes
November 13 – Gr. 8 Boys Volleyball Divisionals @ Gilbert Plains
November 14 – Gr. 6/7 Girls Volleyball Divisionals @ Grandview
November 20 – Report cards go home with students
November 21 – Parent Teacher interviews 5 – 7pm
November 22 – Parent Teacher interviews 9am – 12pm, no classes