Good evening families of Simons Valley School,
Here are some important information pieces this week:
Key Dates for November 2024
- Nov 19 - Fun Lunch
- Nov 20 - Photo Retakes
- Nov 21 - School Council Meeting (7 PM)
- Nov 28/29 - School Conferences (Sign up process will be communicated this week)
- Nov 28 - 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Nov 29 - 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM
See more dates on our Calendar page.
Gratitude
Thank you to our Kindergarten team for all the incredible work they have done to prepare students for the rigors of school over these past few months. All our Kindergarten students know what is expected of them and are not afraid to try their best. We appreciate the support from our families as our students get used to these rigors of school. It is fantastic to watch this process, and we are fortunate to have such a wonderful kindergarten program.
Lego Donations
As we are preparing for the re-opening of our library and the move of our grade 5 team into the portables, we would like to request the donation of any second-hand Lego that you may not be using. We are looking at creating a makerspace area and would like to start building our inventory of Lego. Any secondhand Lego can be dropped off at our main office. Thank you.
Extended Student Absences
It is important to notify the front office should your student have an extended absence from school. You will need to complete a form that describes the nature of the absence prior to your leave. The Calgary Board of Education believes there is a strong positive correlation between attendance and effective education. The Education Act, only excuses students from attending school due to illness or other unavoidable cause, religious holidays, suspension/expulsion, or permission from the Board. Schools are not mandated to provide schoolwork for extended absences. There are a lot of important learning moments that cannot be replicated by a textbook or worksheet and therefore it becomes the parent’s responsibility to review and support their child’s learning, so they do not fall behind during the extended absence. Consistent attendance in school is critical for children to complete their education successfully. Extended absences can interfere with their ability to achieve success in learning and social development.
Portables Update
As many of you have noticed, we are in the final stages of preparing the portables for students. To move in, there are certain inspections and approvals required in this final stage. We are having a meeting this week to review the status of these inspections and hopefully can get some more clarity on a possible move in time. We will keep you posted as the details emerge.
Bullying Prevention Week | November 18-22
On November 18-22, the Calgary Board of Education recognizes National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. During this week and throughout the school year, CBE staff and students collaborate to learn about, promote and implement bullying prevention strategies to maintain school spaces that are safe, inclusive and where students feel as though they belong. Together, staff, students, parents, caregivers and the community all have a role to play in ensuring our schools are safe. Our general school saying that has been shared with our students is to respect yourself, respect others, and respect our spaces. We encourage parents/guardians to have conversations with their students about how they do this each day.
Volunteering and Police Information Check (PIC)
We encourage parents to be a part of their student’s learning experience when possible. We know many families have busy schedules, but if you can volunteer on a field trip or school event, we appreciate it. Please contact the office to get your PIC started so that you can volunteer this year. The process can take 2-4 weeks.
Have a great week.
Chris Hooper, EdD
Principal