Dear Families, 

We are excited to welcome all your children back to school on Thursday August 31! There are many opportunities and experiences being planned for a successful year at Valley View School. I am thrilled to be the new principal at Valley View School and you can read my welcome message on the school website.

Our Teachers and New Staff 

Next week, teachers will be in on August 28, 29, and 30 to begin planning and preparing for school start up. They will engage in collaborative work around new curriculum implementation and long-range planning, while getting to know their new teams and colleagues. For a listing of our staff, please visit our school website. 

Welcome Emails from Teachers 

Early next week, you will be getting a welcome email from your child’s teacher introducing themselves and sharing some back-to-school information, including the first day of school meeting place. Please be on the lookout for this email. Only call the school for this information if you do not receive an email from your child’s teacher by Wednesday August 30. Detailed back-to-school information can also be found on our school website. Kindergarten students will have a staggered entry opportunity during the first two days of school. Kindergarten students will not be taking the bus on these days. Kindergarten teachers will be communicating this information in the back-to-school welcome email. 

Family involvement and positive home-school communication will have lasting positive impacts on your child’s success. Connecting with your child’s teacher on any matter of concern will always be your first step. The classroom teacher will have more knowledge and understanding about your child and will lead the work in supporting them.    

Traffic Safety and Punctuality

As you get ready to bring your child back to school, please remember the importance of being on time to school and being safe around Valley View School. We want all families to respect and follow the traffic safety laws. 

Traffic Safety 

·       Follow the safety patrollers' signs and signals at the 41^st street crosswalk on the east side of the school when they begin their duties later this month.  

·       Use the new “Kiss and Go” right after the crosswalk on 41^st street to drive up, park, kiss your child, and drive away. This lane is not for parking. If you wish to wait in the school grounds with your child prior to school starting, you must park in the surrounding neighborhoods. We appreciate your cooperation! 

·       Do not use the staff parking lots for drop-off or pick-up at all. Please use the designated "Kiss and Go" or surrounding street parking. 

·       Do not park in any of the designated bus lanes assigned by the City of Calgary. 

·       Walk with your child on the sidewalks and not through the parking lots. 

Soft-Entry is from 7:50 am – 8:00 am. When your child arrives during this block of time, they put their belongings away, say hello to their classmates, get settled, and begin a task which teachers have prepared for the morning. At 8:00 am, attendance is taken and your child transitions to a new task.  

We expect students to be on time for school. At Valley View School, this means they are at their desks at 8:00 am ready to learn. If students come to school after 8:00 am, they must go to the office and sign in.  

When your child comes to school on time, they: 

-have some time to familiarize themselves with the agenda for the day 

-make connections with peers and classmates 

-have a smoother transition 

-boost their performance 

-feel good about themselves 

-build healthy lifelong habits 

PowerSchool 

Over the coming weeks you will be asked to complete important demographic forms, consent forms, book a time slot for the meet the teacher night, and pay student fees. All of this is done in your MyCBE parent portal. Please ensure that your account is active and ready to go. If you need assistance, you can access support through the main page of the MyCBE login page. 

School Fees 

School fees for the 2023-24 school year are due when assigned. For school fee inquiries, please contact the school directly. For information about school fees, transportation fees, and lunchroom supervision fees, please visit the CBE website. For your information, if your child is staying at school for lunch, there is a mandatory lunchroom fee that can be paid through your MyCBE account. These fees can be paid in installments and are due by the end of the school year. 

Opt-In for School Messages 

We don’t want you to miss out on any school messages so make sure you’re up to date with opting in. For more information, visit https://calgary.schoolmessenge... 

Upcoming Dates 

September is always an energizing month as we get back into learning. Some important dates to mark on your calendars include: 

1. Thursday August 31 – First day of school; staggered entry for Kindergarten 

2. Friday September 1 – Early Dismissal for Grades 1-5 students at 12:15 pm; staggered entry for Kindergarten 

3. Monday September 4 – Labour Day (School Closed) 

4. Tuesday September 12 – First School Council Meeting at 6:00 pm 

5. Wednesday September 13 – Picture Day 

6. Tuesday September 19 – Terry Fox Run 

7. Thursday September 21 – Meet the Teacher and Fall BBQ hosted by School Council and the Rotary Club from 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm 

8. Friday September 23 – Non-Instructional Day (No School for Students) 

9. Tuesday September 26 – School Council Annual General Meeting (AGM) at 6:00 pm 

10. Friday September 30 – Truth and Reconciliation Day (School Closed) 

We will be sharing regular weekly messages every Friday afternoon, starting on Friday September 1. These messages will highlight the learning and activities going on at Valley View School, as well as other important information families need to know. You can also check us out on social media through our X feed @valleyviewcbe for highlights. 

Thank you and once again, we look forward to working with your child(ren) this school year. 

Sincerely, 

Shafina Dharamsi (Principal) and Daryle Todos (Assistant Principal)