Dear Families,
Thank you for all your support and contributions to the Terry Fox Run! Yesterday’s event was a great success, with both staff and students running to support cancer research. We are happy to share that we raised over $1000 for the Terry Fox Foundation! We are still accepting donations, so please send a Toonie with your child next week if you haven’t done so already.
Orange Shirt Week – September 22nd – 26th
Over the next week, Valley View School will be recognizing Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Our students will participate in several learning activities to help build their knowledge and understanding of residential schools and our history. Our Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action Commitment will guide the work for the week. At Valley View School our TRC Commitment is as follows:
Heart – To Belong
Build understanding of Indigenous values like reciprocity and respect, and apply these in relationships with Indigenous students, families, Elders, communities, and the land.
Body – To Do
Learn about the land your school is on. Encourage students, staff, and families to reflect and share commitments to Truth and ReconciliACTION through the CBE Land Acknowledgment.
Students will talk about what the Calls to Action mean, read stories related to Orange Shirt Day, and make classroom commitments to reconciliACTION. We will gather outside for a school-wide circle where students will share their actions. Elder John Snow from Stoney Nakoda will also be at Valley View School to share his experience at residential school and talk about reconciliation with the grade six classes.
We encourage all staff and students to wear orange on Friday September 26th.
Deadline to Complete Demographic Forms Has Passed
Please take some time this weekend to verify your child’s demographic information on MyCBE. These forms are a legal requirement from Alberta Education for funding purposes.
Mount Royal University Practicum Students
We’re excited to welcome Mount Royal University practicum students to our school next week! Laura, Lana, Emma, and Regan will be working alongside Mrs. Fowler, Mrs. Kemski, Mrs. Ellahib, and Mrs. Ramos as they begin their Year 2 practicum. We look forward to a great year of learning and collaboration with the MRU students!
Bike Locks
If your child is riding their bike to school, please ensure they have a bike lock and use the racks located on the west side of the school. Thank you.
Transportation Safety Notice
Safe Streets
* Keeping streets safe is a shared responsibility.
Drivers:
* Be patient, even when you are running late. Take time to make safe and smart decisions.
* Obey the posted speed limit and drive cautiously when children are present.
* Watch for school buses. They have big blind spots, poor manoeuvrability and need lots of space to move.
* Scan for pedestrians between parked vehicles as pedestrians may step out unexpectedly.
* Do not enter school bus loading zones, stop or park in designated zones only so buses can safely pull into their designated space.
* Avoid making U-turns in a playground zone or near crosswalks.
* Always obey school safety patrols.
* Pedestrians have the right of way at all intersections and crosswalks (unless controlled by traffic signal/device or as directed by a police officer).
* Watch for pedestrian activated signals (flashers), a pedestrian may be using the crosswalk.
* Do not double park to drop-off/pick-up students. This puts the students at risk as they get in and out of the vehicle in the traffic lane.
* Stop for pedestrians crossing at all marked and unmarked crosswalks and intersections.
* Stay alert and focused. Do not drive distracted, that means no talking/texting on a phone.
* Never pass a vehicle at a crosswalk or in a playground zone.
* Never stop or park within 5 m (one car length) of a crosswalk, intersection or stop sign. This will allow pedestrians to be seen as they step off the curb.
* Turn with caution and always watch out for people crossing the street.
* If possible, drive with students on the passenger side in the vehicle. This will allow passengers to get out of the vehicle on the sidewalk rather than into traffic.
Ways to avoid the congestion around the school:
* drop-off/pick-up further away and walk to school
* take advantage of early drop-off
* carpool with friends and neighbours
* walk, ride a bicycle or scooter/skateboard to school
* use the school bus transportation service.
(According to the National Collision Database, school buses are the safest means of transporting to and from school. As of 2018, students are about 80 times more likely to get to school safely on a school bus than by car.)
Pedestrians:
* Do not jaywalk or cross the street from between parked vehicles, especially buses.
* Only cross the street at a safe spot, such as a corner or intersection.
* Watch for turning vehicles and traffic that may not see you.
* Look all directions before crossing.
* Make eye contact with drivers before you begin crossing the street.
* Stay alert and focused (do not text/talk on your phone, listen to headphones) while crossing the street.
* Be visible, walk as a group and wear brighter clothing.
Upcoming Dates:
Thursday October 25th – Meet the Teacher and Fall BBQ from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Friday October 26th – Orange Shirt Day; Early Dismissal at 12:10 PM (Grades K-6 attend; Tues/Thurs Science Kindergarten attend)