Dear Families, 

Students and staff had a fantastic time during our Spirit Week and Halloween festivities. It was delightful to see our students all dressed up during our costume parade. Now, everyone is eagerly anticipating the upcoming Fall Break, which is set to begin on Thursday, November 9th for students.  

On November 9^th, all staff from Valley View School will be engaged in the system PD related to Indigenous Education. We will be off-site with the other Science Schools focusing on braiding Indigenous and Western Approaches to Science, addressing the Heart Domain (To Belong), and renewing our professional connections with each other. We’re looking forward to learning together with colleagues on this day. 

Please be aware that the next weekly parent message will not be sent until Friday, November 17th. 

Picture Retakes – November 7 

Did anyone miss their original photos or retake photos? Or do you just want another opportunity to have a school photo taken? Life Touch will be back at Valley View School on November 7 to take photo retakes. 

Remembrance Day Service – November 8 

Students have been actively engaged in learning about Remembrance Day and the profound contributions made by veterans, including Indigenous veterans, who sacrificed their lives for Canada. We would like to bring your attention to Wednesday, November 8, which is National Indigenous Veterans Day, a day dedicated to acknowledging the significant contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples who have served in the military for our nation. On this day, our students will take part in a Remembrance Day assembly to pay their respects to all veterans and show their tribute by observing a moment of silence. If your child(ren) are involved in Scouts, Brownies, Cubs, Guides, etc., they can wear their uniforms that morning.

Métis Week November 13-19 

Métis Week will occur from November 13 – 19 and the purpose is to celebrate the heritage, history and contributions of Métis people in Alberta and Canada with events held across the province. Students at Valley View School will be learning more about Métis week and the rich culture and heritage of the Métis people. 

Parent Teacher Conferences November 23 & 24 (In-Person)  

Student Learning Conferences are an opportunity for you to see your child's progress in relation to the Curricular or Program of Study outcomes at this time in the school year. During the meeting, you will see some of your child's learning evidence and be able to ask questions to your child's teacher. Mrs. Skibbe and Mr. Hawken will be available for conferences so you can learn more about how your child is doing in music and phys-ed. Conference Booking will be available starting Thursday November 16 at 9:00 am. Please log into your MyCBE account to book a conference time.  

With student learning conferences just around the corner, many parents ask how they can help their child at home with their literacy and numeracy skills. There are many ways for you to support your child at home and stay connected to their learning. For example:  

-help them to build a solid foundation in their first language by emphasizing the importance of oral communication  

-sign out books from the public library 

-play card games and board games with your child(ren)  

-take a genuine interest in their learning and ask lots of questions  

-provide the routines and structures they need to build healthy habits for lifelong learning  

-Alberta Education offers resources for parents including e-tutoring, Student Learning Hub (resources to support student growth and learning and links for educational materials to develop literacy and numeracy, along with health and wellness information). 

If you are looking for more ways to support your child in their learning, please reach out to your child’s teacher. 

Digital Citizenship Plan Posted 

The Valley View Digital Citizenship Plan for the 2023-2024 school year is now posted on our school website. Please take some time to review the goals for this year. 

Cookie Dough and Art Cards Fundraisers 

Valley View School and the School Council will be launching two fundraisers in November. The first is the long-awaited cookie dough fundraiser. This fundraiser offers families an opportunity to purchase cookie dough or cinnamon buns, and all profits are used for school council initiatives. 

The second fundraiser is Art Cards where each student will create a winter holiday card and receive a copy of their card as a keepsake. If you wish to purchase copies of your child’s cards to share with friends and family this winter season, you will have the option to purchase box sets. The money raised will go back to Valley View School and be used for literacy and numeracy initiatives. More information will be shared once the cards become available for purchase. 

Lost and Found 

Our lost and found is quickly accumulating. We request that you label your child’s clothing and personal belongings so they can be returned quickly. If lost and found items are not claimed by the end of the month, they will be donated to a local charity. 

Adding Multiple Fees to Parent Accounts 

If you need more information on how to add multiple fees to your parent account, please see the attachment on this site. Step-by-step guidance is provided for your reference. 

Family Violence Prevention Month 

Alberta has the third highest rate of self-reported spousal violence among Canadian provinces, yet family violence is preventable. November is Family Violence Prevention Month (FVPM) in Alberta. It is a time to increase awareness of the warning signs of family violence and the resources and supports available so we can work together to end family violence and build healthier relationships in our communities. For more information, please visit the Alberta Government website. 

Upcoming Dates: 

Thursday November 9 – System Indigenous Education PD Day (No School for Students) 

Friday November 10 – Tuesday November 14 – Fall Break (No School) 

Wednesday November 15 – School Resumes 

Friday November 17 – Early Dismissal at 12:15 PM ((Grades 1-5 attend; Mon/Wed Science Kindergarten attend; no school for Community Kindergarten)