Dear Families, 

We’re excited about all the learning and opportunities coming up over the next few weeks. Next week we will celebrate Literacy Week, and this will be followed by recognizing Black History Month. We want students to be actively engaged in their learning both in school and outside of school and hope you will take advantage of the upcoming opportunities, like Literacy Week. 

Literacy Week 

It’s Family Literacy Week from Jan 20 – 27 and there are many activities you can do with your child(ren) to support a strong foundation in literacy.  

What is literacy?  Literacy is critical in helping us make sense of our world. From the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep, we are constantly making meaning of the world around us. (Alberta Education) 

At Valley View School, we are providing each family with a “Winter Literacy BINGO card” (attached) which you can complete over the week. We challenge each family to get at least one row or column completed! You can also make a trip out to the Calgary Public Library or try the Libby App where you can borrow books digitally (including audio books!). The CBE also has additional literacy week activities (also attached).

We will also have a literacy spirit week next week! Each day will be a unique day to celebrate literacy in our world: 

Monday – We are “wild” about reading (wear animal print) 

Tuesday – Be a “fan” of reading (wear sports attire) 

Wednesday - “Hunt” for a good book (wear camouflage) 

Thursday - “Read” my shirt (wear shirts/hoodies with appropriate words) 

Friday – Reading makes you “bright” (wear sunglasses and bright coloured clothing) 

Our school will also have some fun literacy activities planned for the week which include teacher reading swaps and decorating classroom doors with a favourite book character. 

Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year (for new/prospective students only) 

Registration is now open for families considering the Science program or Community program for the 2024-2025 school year. Please register them using School Engage. You can access the registration through the MyCBE portal and then select School Engage. For students who are currently registered at Valley View School, you do not have to register them again. They are automatically considered in our enrollment. Thank you. 

Thanks to all who attended the Science Program Open House on January 18. If you were not able to attend the Science Program Open House, you can view the presentation on our school website.

School Development Plan Update 

We have been making gains with our School Development Plan goals for this year. As we communicated in the Fall, our goals are: 

-to improve reading, specifically word recognition (literacy) 

-to build conceptual understanding in mathematics, specifically number (mathematics) 

-to support responsible decision-making (well-being) 

In literacy, we have implemented a systematic approach to teaching reading using a program called UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Intervention). This approach is important in helping our students learn how to decode words and build fluency in their reading. Our teachers will be visiting teachers at Cappy Smart School in the coming weeks to observe their UFLI lessons and share best practice with colleagues. 

In mathematics, all classroom teachers engage students in consistent math routines to help build their understanding of math concepts. The use of manipulatives is widely used, and we are working on building our resource collection and inventory. We thank the VVS School Council for purchasing math trollies for each classroom teacher, so that math manipulatives are more readily available and accessible to students. 

For well-being, we have been working on building a common approach to solving problems and resolving conflicts in a solution-focused manner. At VVS, we have a team of educators and support staff who have been working on a vision for our school and have been instrumental in making some key shifts in order to better respond to student needs and behaviour. Student Voice is also critical in our decision making, as we engage representatives from each class to share their ideas and perspectives about how to make VVS a better place for everyone. 

East Playground Update 

Thanks to the generous support of the Valley View School Council, and a Community Facility Enhancement Program Grant, we are now able to begin work to build a new East Playground on our school grounds. Construction is expected to begin this Spring and more information will be shared as we move along. 

Water Filling Stations 

Thanks to the VVS School Council for purchasing 2 water filling stations for our school. We’re looking forward to having these installed in the coming weeks! 

Upcoming Dates: 

Friday January 26 – Early Dismissal at 12:15 PM (Grades 1-5 attend; Tues/Thurs Science Kindergarten attend; no school for Community Kindergarten)