Dear Families, 

The work on our School Development Plan is underway and we are looking back at our results from last year and assessing our next steps moving forward. Families were engaged at the last School Council meeting and will be updated again at an upcoming meeting. Teachers will be focusing their time on Friday Oct 20 on consolidating the SDP for this school year and engaging in professional learning around key resources and routines. 

Student Voice 

Next week we will be gathering student representatives together in a student voice meeting with administrators. Student voice is critical in advancing the work at Valley View School. We are looking forward to listening to students share their thoughts and ideas about how to make Valley View School a better place. 

Secret Path Week – October 17 – 22 

Secret Path Week is a national movement commemorating the legacies of Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack. We will #DoSomething to move reconciliation forward by creating awareness and sharing information about Secret Path week over the morning announcements at school. A reconciliACTION is a meaningful action that moves reconciliation forward. ReconciliACTIONs aim to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples together in the spirit of reconciliation to create awareness, share, and learn. 

Alien Inline Skating 

Thanks to generous community donors, we will have Alien Inline at our school starting at the end of October, into November and in February. You will receive communication from the school about skating days, as well as the subsidized cost per student. Please read through the communication carefully and plan for your child to have a fun experience.   

Extended Absence

We recognize enrichment activities and travel may present unique learning opportunities for your child. It is important to remember that these absences can create gaps in student learning and social development. It will be your responsibility as a parent/guardian to support your child’s learning if you choose to allow your child to miss school days for these activities. Please take note that the following absences will be unexcused:

• If you take a vacation or family holiday during school days.
  • CBE provides many opportunities for families to holiday during winter, spring and summer breaks.  We encourage you to book holidays during these breaks.
• If your child needs to start late or leave early from school, due to non-school related extracurricular activities (athletic activities, enrichment programs, music programs, theatre performances, etc.)

 It is helpful for us when we have been notified in advance of your child’s absence. Please call our office to inform us of days when your child will be away. 

Parent Focus Group Invitation from Alberta Education 

On Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, Alberta Education will host a focus group with the intention of seeking feedback from parents. The focus group will meet from 7 - 8:30 p.m. via Zoom. 

Purpose: To collect insight from a parent perspective to update the old “My Child's Learning: A Parent Resource" website into a brand new space that will be hosted on new.LearnAlberta.ca.  

10 – 12 parents will be identified from metro, urban and rural school divisions, representing children of varying grade ranges (K-12) to participate in this focus group.  

Please complete this “expression of interest" survey of you’re interested. 

It will remain open until Monday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.  

Alberta Education Focus Group - Expression of Interest to Participate 

Lockdown Reminder

We will be having a practice lockdown on Tuesday October 17 at 1 pm. It is a standard expectation that each school practices 2 lockdowns per year. Calgary Police Service will be on-site to support with this practice lockdown.

Upcoming Dates: 

Friday October 20 – Non-Instruction Day (No School for Students)