Good afternoon VAS Families

This Week

  • Monday, February 17: Family Day, no school for all students
  • Tuesday, February 18: Class Photo Day

Coming up

  • Friday, February 28- Non-Instructional Day- no school for all students

Class Photo Day

Tuesday, February 18- the day students return after Family Day- is CLASS PHOTO DAY! Bring your smile:)

Message from PhysEd

Our students have been rocking the gym as they learn the ins and outs of curling! Using the Rocks and Rings program, they’ve been practicing how to throw guards (stones that protect other rocks), draws (stones that stop in the house to score points), and takeouts (stones that knock opponents’ rocks out of play). It’s been a stone-cold blast watching them slide into the strategy of the game!

Speaking of top-tier curling, the Tournament of Hearts—Canada’s National Women’s Curling Championship—begins this Friday! 🏆 We encourage families to watch a game together. It’s a great way to see how professionals use the same skills we’ve been learning in class. Plus, it’s a fantastic chance to talk about teamwork, strategy, and sportsmanship!

Thank you,

M. David Pakosh

Carnaval Merci! 

Thanks to the teacher Carnaval Committee, students and parent/guardian volunteers for the work to prepare a fun-filled week of ice castle building, snowshoeing and tasting “sugar on snow” and a visit from Bonhomme! We appreciate the help to freeze ice blocks and organize events throughout the week. Merci beaucoup!

Music Note from Mme Forbes

This month to celebrate Carnaval, we are learning to play the spoons, with some traditional Quebecois music for students in Kindergarten to grade 3. The songs they are learning are posted on the music google classroom, and I will also attach links here at the bottom of the message. 

Grade 4s are continuing learning to play the recorder, and grade 5s are working on learning to play the ukulele. 

The students have received their music tests back, and I want you to understand the same thing that I told the students. This test is simply to benchmark where the students are, and where they are struggling most, so that I can ensure I am teaching the concepts where the students are still beginning their learning. Please be sure to encourage your child by praising the areas where they were more successful. 

The students are all at different levels, and I am starting to implement diverse learning opportunities as often as I can, to allow all students of all music levels to thrive.

Please find the links to some of the YouTube videos we have shared in music class below.  Have a musical week! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUXU-gs4OAc

Watch this to see a demonstration of someone playing the spoons, along with fiddle music. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gpXMgTDUKQ

French version of how to play the spoons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc7lnBPalcU

English version of how to play the spoons

Mme Forbes

Music Specialist

Survey Reminder

Please review the attached School Development Plan presentation and School Budget and Fees information. This was presented at our January 21, 2025 School Council meeting. Once you have reviewed the information, please complete the below survey (13 min) with your feedback on the SDP and Budget/Fees for future planning.  We appreciate your feedback, as this helps us with our future planning.

A PDF of the presentation is available here: School Planning Presentation Jan 21 2025 

SURVEY is OPEN: February 1- 17, 202

*Please note- this survey can be translated into several languages when you click on the "globe symbol" before you start the survey.

Outdoor Learning Lab Survey

Has your child/family completed this yet? We currently have a low response rate and are looking for more student voice! https://forms.gle/R3JKdADNysbaAy9q7 Many teachers have also posted this in their Google Classrooms- one response per student please. Merci!

Supporting Families

Check out these Alberta Health Services Resources to support your children with good sleep habits and how emotional regulation. Articles: Healthy Children Sleep Tips and Healthy Children Managing Emotions Tips 

Report Cards

Report Cards came out on Monday, January 27, 2025. You can view, download, or print online report cards from Monday, Jan. 27 until May 30, 2025, through your parent MyCBE account. How is My Child-Doing in School 


Our very best wishes to you on this Family Day weekend! Enjoy Family Day and time together.

We look forward to another amazing week of learning and community-building at VAS!