Isolation to Collaboration, Reaction to Purpose and Focus, Compliance to Engagement     (Tony Wagner, 2005)

We hope everyone found time to relax and have fun.

The school is buzzing with excitement as staff are getting rooms ready, collaborating and learning together.

We welcome several new staff members to our Valleycliffe community: Breanne Roy (Intermediate), Will Prescott (ELL and Primary), Jodie Petruzzelli (District Counsellor), Heidi McClelland (Librarian and Intermediate).

September 4^th, 2018. (8:49-9:49) ONLY 1 hour.

All grade 1 to grade 6 students return to their last year’s classroom. New students to the school will join a same grade peer group Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Details of first day (hour).

8:47-warning bell, students go to classrooms while parents are invited to stay to have coffee/tea to mingle while the students reconnect with their classmates

8:49-attendance-classroom activities

9:20-school assembly in the gym

9:40-back to class to be dismissed (9:49)-please pick up your child outside after the teacher has dismissed them

September 5^th-6^th -7^th the students will return to same classroom. Kindergarten students will be attending scheduled mini-days this week. If your child goes home for lunch or leaves during lunch please send a note, this is a safety precaution for the school.

Friday, September 7^th we hope to have students placed into their enrolling classroom.

Outside supervision: The forest will be closed during outside breaks the first week of school September 5-6-7.

Thank you to everyone who was able to support the Living Classroom through the summer months. Your work was noticeable J certainly a testament to the Valleycliffe community that we care!

We also thank Trevor, Arnold and Jody for making our school sparkle. Everything is shiny.

Bells & PA system: Very excited we have new PA system-we can communicate outside and inside. NO more buzzer!! Our bell will ring at 8:47 start at 8:49, 10:53 start at 10:55 and 12:43 start time 12:45. Teachers will dismiss at 3:00, no bell.

Class placements: The staff will be creating classrooms and hopefully be ready by the end of the week.  Your child should know their classroom teacher by the end of Friday, September 7^th. Prior to Friday please organize a meeting place with your child as they may exit from a different room at the end of the day.

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and

to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of

true education.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Dear families,

Thank for welcoming me to the Valleycliffe community. It has been a pleasure being your new principal. I have enjoyed getting to know all the children and meeting families at different times. I look forward to continuing the journey at Valleycliffe next year and meeting more families.

It has been a wonderful year full of learning. We look forward to next year to continue on with our School Improvement Plan which focuses on Critical Thinking. Continue to encourage your child to stop and think; is this a good question, do I already know the answer to my question, and will my question help me learn more?

The school is now closed for the summer and will reopen on Monday, August 27th.  I am away at a conference July 2-6, 2018. However I can be reached by email lbouchard@sd48.bc.ca if you have any questions.

It is time to launch into summer routines. I wish everyone a happy, safe and fun time. I hope to see some familiar faces around town.

Sincerely,

Lynne Bouchard