Dear Families, 

It’s hard to believe we’re getting into the last week of May. With a few weeks left in the school year, students are working hard to complete projects and assignments and some students, like our grade 6’ers, are preparing for Provincial Achievement Tests. We have a lot to look forward to as we start to wind down and celebrate all the achievements we have made. 

Kiwanis Diversity Cup 

This year, our grade five students will have the chance to participate in the Kiwanis Diversity Cup! Every year, more than 600 youth and their families participate in the Diversity Cup, which is hosted by the Kiwanis Clubs of Calgary in partnership with Kidsport and the Calgary Police Service Diversity Resource Unit. The Diversity Cup has been running for 19 years and aims to engage youth who typically do not have the opportunity to play organized sports. This year's tournament will take place at Forest Lawn Athletic Park, located at 4808 14th Street Southeast, on June 14th and 15th, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 5:00 p.m. each day. 

Provincial Achievement Tests (Grade 6) - Begin on Wednesday May 28th

Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) are administered annually to all Alberta students in grades 6 and 9. These standardized tests reflect the essentials that all Alberta students are expected to achieve, regardless of school choice or location.

PATs help:

• determine if students are learning what they are expected to learn
• report to Albertans how well students have achieved provincial standards at given points in their schooling
• assist schools, authorities and the province in monitoring and improving student learning

The tests occur in January, May and June for English and Français/French language arts, math, science and social studies.

Students are encouraged to eat well and get enough rest prior to writing the PAT. They should bring some extra snacks to school and a water bottle so they can stay fueled and hydrated.

The PAT schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, May 28 - 9 a.m. –11 a.m. - Grade 6 English Language Arts and Literature Part A

Thursday, June 12 - 9 a.m. –10 a.m. - Grade 6 English Language Arts and Literature Part B

Friday, June 13 - 9 a.m. –9:30 a.m. - Grade 6 Mathematics Part(ie) A

Tuesday, June 17 - 9 a.m. –10:15 a.m. - Grade 6 Mathematics Part(ie) B

Wednesday, June 18 - 9 a.m. –10 a.m. - Grade 6 Social Studies

Communi-Tea - May 29 - 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

We warmly invite all our Indigenous students and families to gather with us in the spirit of community, connection, and renewal as we welcome the changing seasons and the arrival of spring. This is our second Communi-Tea this year, and it is an opportunity to build a stronger sense of community and belonging for our Indigenous students and their families. We believe in the power of connection, building relationships and gathering valuable input from our students and families to deepen the partnership between home and school. Enjoy a selection of refreshments, Bannock, and delicious treats while your children play and connect on the East playground. It’s a perfect chance to meet and engage with other families in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. We look forward to seeing you there and sharing this special time together! 

Field Trips – Thanks to Education Matters 

Thanks to generous Education Matters grants, we can provide some of our students with field trip opportunities to places like the Calgary Zoo and Calgary Farmyard. We appreciate all our donors and are so thankful for your contributions. If you are interested in donating to Valley View School, please visit Education Matters and select Valley View School. 

Outdoor Learning Space Update 

We are excited to share that the final prototypes our students created for the Outdoor Learning Space have been submitted to vendors for final design development. After careful consideration, the School Councils of both Valley View School and Ian Bazalgette School have selected Year Round Landscaping for their outstanding design concept. We look forward to unveiling the final design to students and families in the near future. A grant application has also been submitted to the Provincial Government, and we are hopeful that, much like with last year’s East Playground project, we will receive funding to bring the Outdoor Learning Space to life. We are deeply grateful to the School Councils of both schools and to the Provincial Government for their continued support. 

Upcoming Dates: 

Wednesday May 28 – ELAL Part A PAT (Grade 6) 

Friday May 30 - Early Dismissal at 12:15 PM (Grades 1-6 attend; Mon/Wed Science Kindergarten attend; no school for Community Kindergarten)