This Week at MGPS
Go Dragons!
Our Newest Voters Make Their Voices Heard
On Election Day, our seniors in the Problems of Democracy (POD) class did more than learn about democracy. They took part in it. The class to the polls so our eligible seniors could cast their ballots, many of them for the first time.
Voting is one of the most important rights and responsibilities we have as Americans. It's how we choose our leaders, shape our communities, and make sure our voices are heard on the issues that matter to us. In a small town, those votes count even more. Local and state elections often come down to just a few votes, and the decisions made affect our roads, our schools, and our families.
Teaching students why voting matters is one thing. Walking them through the door, helping them get registered, and standing there to guide them as they vote for the first time is something they'll remember. When young people vote early, they're more likely to keep voting for the rest of their lives. We hope this is the first of many trips to the polls for our seniors.
A big thank you to Mr. Senske for making this part of his lesson plans and for supporting and encouraging our students every step of the way. You're helping raise informed, engaged citizens, and our community will be better for it.
Artist in Our Halls: Zede Lacpapan
Sometimes art turns up in the most unexpected places. High schooler Zede Lacpapan turned a plain classroom whiteboard into his canvas, drawing a full SpongeBob scene freehand with just a dry-erase marker.
Zede's drawing features a spooky "Scary Bob" (complete with a mustache and the warning "He will eat you"), Patrick with a board nailed to his head and a hammer in hand, and a laid-back fish sipping a drink. Every character is full of expression, from the wide, wild eyes to the sleepy, unimpressed stare. The linework is clean and confident, and there's no eraser to save you on a whiteboard.
What stands out most is that Zede drew this without tracing or a reference sheet. That takes a sharp eye, a steady hand, and real creativity. He took characters everyone knows and gave them his own funny, slightly spooky twist, which is exactly what artists do.
Zede, thank you for sharing your talent with us. Keep drawing, keep creating, and keep making us smile. We can't wait to see what you create next, and we'll try not to erase it.
All Aboard the Annual Hay Ride
Our elementary students loaded up for one of their favorite traditions of the year: the annual hay ride. Bundled up and full of excitement, they rode through town and stopped at local businesses to trick-or-treat, and they came back with big smiles and even bigger bags of candy.
A huge thank you to Sheriff Trent Naser for organizing this event for our students every year. His time and care give our kids a safe, fun way to celebrate the season and connect with the community. Thank you also to all the local businesses who opened their doors and handed out treats. You make our students feel welcome and celebrated.
This tradition is a great reminder of how lucky we are to live in a community that loves its kids.
Little Readers, Big Imaginations
Independent reading time in kindergarten looks pretty cozy. These two readers found their perfect spots, one stretched out on the couch with a dinosaur book and the other kicked back with her feet up, a stuffed buddy, and a book held high. With a solar system rug under their feet, their imaginations are clearly ready for lift-off.
Moments like this are what we love to see. Our youngest students are learning that reading isn't just something we do at school. It's something we get to enjoy. Every page they turn builds their confidence, vocabulary, and love of books.
Families, keep reading at home every night, even for just a few minutes. Those little moments add up to big readers.
Honoring Those Who Served
On November 11, we pause to honor the men and women who have served our country. Veterans Day is a day to say thank you to everyone who has worn the uniform, stepped forward when our nation needed them, and sacrificed so much to protect the freedoms we enjoy every day.
Many of our veterans are our neighbors, grandparents, parents, and friends. They have given their time, their strength, and sometimes years away from the people they love. Their courage and service are the reason our students can learn, grow, and dream in a free country.
To every veteran in our community: thank you. We are grateful for you, proud of you, and honored to call you part of our MGPS family.
Families, take a moment this week to thank a veteran or talk with your children about what Veterans Day means. Small conversations like these help our kids understand the true cost of freedom and the value of service.
A Little Kindness Goes a Long Way
World Kindness Day is November 13, and it's the perfect time to remember how much a simple act of kindness can mean. A smile in the hallway, holding the door, saying thank you, or inviting someone to sit with you at lunch might seem small, but it can change someone's whole day.
Kindness is something we work on every day at MGPS. We want our students to notice when someone needs a friend, speak up when something isn't right, and treat others the way they want to be treated. When kindness becomes a habit, our school becomes a place where everyone feels like they belong.
This November, we challenge our students, staff, and families to spread a little extra kindness. Write a thank-you note, help a neighbor, compliment a classmate, or check in on a friend. Kindness is contagious, so let's start an outbreak.
Families, ask your child at supper tonight: "What's something kind you did today, or something kind someone did for you?" You might be surprised by what you hear.
Winter Is Coming (Eventually)
We've been lucky this fall with seasonably warm weather, but those chilly mornings remind us that winter in North Dakota is never far away. Sooner or later, the snow will fly, so now is a great time to get ready.
Dress for the weather. Even on warmer afternoons, mornings can be cold, especially for students at recess. Please send your child with a warm coat, hat, gloves, and boots. Students go outside for recess, so labeling their winter gear helps lost items find their way home.
Stay informed. If school is delayed or canceled, we'll let families know as early as possible. Please make sure the school office has your current phone number and email so you don't miss an update.
Travel safely. Roads can turn slick fast. Please slow down, give our buses plenty of room, and allow extra time in the mornings.
We'll enjoy the warm days while they last, but let's be ready when winter finally shows up. Stay warm, MGPS.
Learning new tools to serve our students better.
Our MGPS staff recently completed training on Cariina, a new all-in-one platform built for K–12 schools. Cariina brings many of our day-to-day school processes into one place with a single login. Things that used to take paper forms, phone calls, and emails, like permission slips, field trip approvals, maintenance requests, transportation changes, and technology help requests, can be handled more quickly and easily online.
The goal is simple: spend less time on paperwork and more time on what matters most, our students.
We're starting with a soft launch. Instead of changing everything at once, we'll add small pieces a little at a time. That gives our staff time to learn the system, work out any bumps, and make sure each change actually makes life easier for staff and families. Over time, families may see some new online forms and easier ways to connect with the school.
Thank you to our staff for jumping into the training with open minds. Learning a new system takes patience, and we appreciate how willing our team is to grow and try new things. Families, thank you for your patience as we roll it out. We'll keep you updated as new features go live.
Growing Together with CP²R
Our MGPS staff recently trained on CP²R, a new teacher evaluation system. CP²R stands for Capacity, Presence, Passion, and Relevance, the four areas it uses to look at great teaching. It was developed right here in North Dakota by educators from Minot State University and their partners, and it's approved by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction.
CP²R includes classroom observations, where administrators visit classrooms, see learning in action, and then talk with teachers about what's going well and where they'd like to grow. What we appreciate most is that CP²R is built around growth, reflection, and relationships, not checking boxes. It recognizes that great teaching is about more than skills. It's about how teachers connect with students, bring energy to their work, and make learning meaningful.
Our teachers already pour their hearts into their classrooms every day. CP²R gives us a shared language to celebrate that work and keep growing together. Thank you to our staff for embracing this new process with open minds and a commitment to our students.
Below are a few important dates:
November 11 - No School / Veterans Day
November 13 - REGULAR SCHOOL DAY
November 23 - Picture retake day
November 25 - No School / PT Comp Day
November 26 - 27 - No School Thanksgiving Break
December 10 - @ 6:30 PM K-12 Christmas Concert
December 11 - Enrichment and Intervention. Students welcome 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
December 17 - Finals
December 21 - Finals
December 22 - Finals makeup day and Early out @ 12:30 PM
December 22 - End of Semester One
December 23 - Winter break
