Dear Families,
Over the next week our students will be engaging in work related to Orange Shirt Day and Truth and Reconciliation. Orange Shirt Day is on September 30 annually. It began in 2013 when residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad shared how her orange shirt was taken away on her first day at residential school. This story is an opportunity for students and staff to reflect on history, legacy and implications, to discuss stories of survival and strength and to share ways we can work together toward truth and reconciliation. It is also an opportunity to commit to commemorating the children who attended residential schools, recognizing their experiences, honoring them and sharing a collective commitment to ensure that every child matters and that each student is welcome, safe, respected and cared for in their learning community every day.
In the spirit of reconciliation and hope, all CBE schools will be acknowledging Orange Shirt Week. We have planned activities and learning opportunities for students throughout the week as we engage in purposeful learning. The intention of the week is to recognize and honour residential school survivors, their families and communities. On Thursday October 26, we ask that all staff and students wear orange shirts to school to acknowledge Orange Shirt Day. On this day we will have the opportunity to learn from Elder John Snow, from Stoney Nakoda, about the land we live, work and play on. This work is aligned with our TRC Commitment for 2024-25 which is:
Heart - To Belong: Build and apply an understanding of Indigenous community values such as reciprocity and respect, and how these are lived in relationships with Indigenous students, families, Elders, community members, and the land.
Body - To Do: Engage the school community to learn about the land where your school is located. Have students, staff, and families share their learning and make commitments to Truth & ReconciliACTION through the CBE Land Acknowledgement.
We are looking forward to working alongside Elder Snow again this year.
Please note that Monday September 30th will be a non-operational day to commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation across the Calgary Board of Education. This means there will be no classes and schools and workplaces will be closed for the day.
Fall Equinox September 22nd
We continue to engage in learning more about Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being and this year, we are grateful to have our Learning Leader, Mrs. Trotter, help guide this work. Mrs. Trotter has shared the following with our staff, as we look ahead to the Fall Equinox.
“It is another time of celebration; it is another time of reflection; and, also to prepare (for) how we are going to go into the next season...” Saa’kokoto, Fall Equinox Teachings (2021).
September 22 marks the fall equinox. This day heralds the shifting of the seasons; as we say farewell to summer, we notice the days grow shorter, a chilly crispness in the morning air, and leaves start to turn colour. O'ko (Blackfoot for fall) is an important time of gathering and preparation. Many signs and teachings come from the land during this time.
Our staff will be reflecting on this question to help guide our learning:
What signs and teachings of O’ko are revealing themselves in the land around you?
The start of a new season offers us the opportunity to learn from the land. In land-based learning, the land itseld becomes the teacher. The lesson isn't planned; it unfolds naturally. Blackfoot Elder Saa’kokoto has shared that the value of kakyosin (ga-gee-oh-sin) represents wise awareness. Niitsitapi knowledge teaches us to be observant so we can learn from the daily lessons that Mother Earth provides.
Spending time on the land will foster a deeper connection to the land and enhance our relationship with natural spaces. Students are encouraged to experience their surroundings through their senses, emotions, and imagination. As they explore with curiosity, perception, and contemplation, they engage with the world as whole beings—mind, heart, body, and spirit.
Meet the Teacher Sign-Up Reminder
Please take the time to sign up for a Meet the Teacher session using your MyCBE account. There are 2 offerings available for Thursday September 26th for you to choose from:
5:30 p.m.– 6:10 p.m.
6:15 p.m.– 6:55 p.m.
Teachers will be sharing their sessions in the following locations:
LOCATIONS:
Kindergarten: Room 21
Grade ½ Community: Room 4
Grade 1 Science: Room 1
Grade 2 Science: Room 8
Grade ¾ Community: Room 15
Grade 3 Science: Room 16/18
Grade 4 Science: Room 10
Grade 5/6 Community: Room 28
Grade 5 Science: Room 29
Grade 6 Science: Room 25
Meet the Staff at VVS
We want to introduce our entire staff to you as we have many new educators and support staff on board this year. Please refer to our staff list for all staff members.
Fall BBQ Thursday September 26th
We’re looking forward to seeing you at the Fall BBQ on Thursday September 26th!
Event Details:
- Date: Thursday, September 26th
- Time: 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Location: Outdoor area between Ian Bazalgette and Valley View schools, near the Valley View west playground
All families from Ian Bazalgette and Valley View schools are invited to attend. This event will offer a chance to meet teachers, learn about your child’s upcoming year, and enjoy a delicious BBQ.
Please RSVP by September 19th using the form linked below so we can prepare enough food for everyone. If you have children at both schools, just complete one form per family.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc93qd6Sctw_jEmxBqZ7P7CILgBduCKLVAxLuSNg_aG_uU6SQ/viewform
No Soccer Cleats at School
Please do not send your child to school wearing soccer cleats. They are not suitable shoes for indoor or outdoor activities. For indoors they are dangerous and slippery, and they damage the floors. For outdoor use at school, they are dangerous to other children not wearing protective clothing such as shin pads and extremely dangerous if they are on any playground equipment and not just playing soccer.
Upcoming Dates:
Thursday September 26th – Orange Shirt Day; Meet the Teacher and Fall BBQ (4:30 pm – 7:00 pm)
Friday September 27th – Non-Instructional Day (No School for Students)
Monday September 30th – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (School Closed)