Dear Families,
We hope you had an enjoyable winter break, and we wish you a happy new year! Welcome back to school! We are excited about the many learning opportunities for our students in the new year.
K–3 Literacy and Numeracy Screening Assessments
As you are aware, the Provincial Government asks schools to administer universal screeners for students in K-3. This includes mandatory screening assessments in September and January for all students in grades 1 to 3, with a follow-up assessment in June for those students requiring additional supports after completing the January assessment. Additionally, required screening assessments are administered in January for all children in Kindergarten, beginning in January 2026. The January assessments will begin the week of January 19th.
Kindergarten Registration Begins January 12th + Valley View School Open House for the Science Alternative Program is on January 15th
Come to Valley View School on the evening of January 15th from 6 to 7 p.m. to get information about registering for the Science Alternative Program.
In Science, students explore and investigate big questions related to the world around them. When students learn through the lens of science, they move beyond factual recall and develop the science-related attitudes, skills and knowledge needed to solve problems and make decisions. Students become lifelong learners by maintaining their sense of wonder about the world around them
In Science, students are provided with opportunities to develop the competencies required of engaged thinkers and ethical citizens with an entrepreneurial spirit.
Visit the Open House page on our school website for more information.
If you are interested in exploring other alternative programs in the CBE, you can visit the Open House page on the CBE main website.
Science Alternative Open House – Ian Bazalgette School January 29th
Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
Time: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Address: 3909 26 Ave. S.E.
Event Details
PowerPoint in the Main Gymnasium
5:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Informal Self-Directed Tours: Families will have an opportunity to explore the school and to enjoy the Science.
5:45 - 6:30 p.m.
School Safety Patrols
We are excited to announce that our School Safety Patrol program will be starting up very soon! This program is a fantastic way for our grade 4/5 students to develop leadership skills while helping keep our school community safe during the busy morning and afternoon commutes.
Training Day: January 13th
To ensure our patrollers are fully prepared, the AMA (Alberta Motor Association) will be visiting our school on Tuesday, January 13, to conduct comprehensive training with our Grade 4 and 5 students.
During this session, students will learn:
- Proper positioning and signals at crosswalks.
- How to assess traffic gaps safely.
- Teamwork and communication skills.
- The importance of consistency and reliability.
How You Can Help
As we roll out the program, we ask for your support in making it a success:
- Follow the Stop Signs: Please keep a close eye out for our patrollers and their orange vests/stop signs. When the stop signs are out, vehicles must come to a complete stop.
- Model Safe Behavior: Remind your children to wait for the patrollers' signal before crossing, even when you are walking with them.
- Be Patient: Our patrollers are young leaders learning a big responsibility. A friendly wave or a "thank you" goes a long way in building their confidence!
We are so proud of our Grade 4 and 5 volunteers for stepping up to take on this important role. Thank you for helping us keep our streets safe for everyone.
Understanding Assessment & Reporting
We know it is important for parents/guardians to understand how their children are doing in school. Research shows that students are more successful with active parent/guardian involvement.
The report card is one component in communicating student learning. In addition to the report card, schools communicate with parents/guardians about student progress on an ongoing basis in a variety of ways.
Assessment happens every day, in every classroom, throughout the school year. Assessing a student’s progress is one of the most important ways we support the continued learning of our students.
The CBE has developed some resources related to assessment and report cards, and to help you learn more about your child's learning. These resources can be found under Supporting Documents.
El Sistema Calgary Multicultural Orchestra Foundation (Free After-School Music Program) – Restarting Activities on January 12th, 2026 - 10 New Spots Available
We are delighted to announce the return of our popular after school orchestra program, offered by El Sistema Calgary Multicultural Orchestra Foundation. Classes will resume on Monday, January 12th, 2026, for returning students, and this year El Sistema Calgary will accommodate up to 10 new additional students from Valley View School on a first-come, first-served basis.
This is a wonderful opportunity for students to develop their musical skills in a supportive, free-of-charge, and engaging after school musical environment. For enrollment, further details, or any questions, please feel free to contact Jose directly at josegduque@elsistemacalgary.ca or 403-660-6283.
Please keep in mind that this is not a CBE or Valley View School program; El Sistema Calgary is an independent charitable music program.
We look forward to the joyful sounds of the orchestra filling our school once again.
Upcoming Dates:
Thursday January 15 – Science Alternative Open House at 6 p.m.
Friday January 16 - Early Dismissal at 12:10 PM (Grades K-6 attend; Tues/Thurs Science Kindergarten attend)