January Updates
Wow! January has just flown by! We are very happy to have some nice weather to end the month!


Staffing Changes
We are very fortunate to be able to add a staff member to Vista Heights. We would like to welcome Mrs. Dineen Brace to Vista Heights as our Resource Teacher. Mrs. Brace will be supporting our students with small group support, and supporting personalized learning in our classrooms.


Flexible Recess
Many schools in the Calgary Board of Education offer a flexible recess break. Vista Heights had a trial of flexible recess during the last week of school, and will be continuing this practice moving forward. This means that teachers will be taking their students outside for a 15-minute recess break when it makes sense for their learning. Often a scheduled recess can interrupt student learning as they have to drop everything at that moment to go outside. This gives students the opportunity to have the playground or field with just one other class. At lunchtime, half of the students are outside from 12:00-12:20, and then come in to eat their lunch. The other half of the students are eating first from 12:00-12:20, and then head outside for the remainder of the lunch hour. The exception is when it is below -20. We have blue days where students have different activities they can choose as it is too cold to be outside.


Report Cards

Report cards will be going home with your child on Thursday, January 30. There have been some changes to Assessment and Reporting this year. Teachers shared this information during the parent teacher conferences in November. You will see the indicator NATR for mathematics. This indicator means that the strand of mathematics has not been fully taught and assessed. Your child will receive a number indicator for the strands that have been fully taught and assessed. The mathematics strands have also changed from last year. CBE has created a video that explains all of the changes. 
Please click on the picture to view the video.            Assessment & Reporting



Professional Day Reminder

            

There is no school for students on January 31, 2020. It is a professional day.




SoundKreations Artist Residency
We will be working with an artist in Residence from February 3-7. The students will be learning about Slam Poetry. We will have a Celebration of Learning at 1:30 on Friday, February 7, 2020. Thank you to School Council for this great learning opportunity for our students!      

Students come first

"We believe that everyone can learn. Each student is unique and worthwhile. We acknowledge, recognize and celebrate the diversity of our learners. Success for each and every student is the goal of our work." (CBE Values).

Thank you for your continued support!
Karen Bose 

                   
                                           


Dear Vista Heights Families:


I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish all families an enjoyable Winter Break. We have had a very busy 4 months, and we look forward to continuing our great learning in January. We will see all students back and ready to learn on January 6, 2020!


Best regards,


Karen
           

October Update

I hope all families had a wonderful long weekend with family and friends!

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conferences were held on September 19 and 20.  Thank you for meeting with teachers to share information about your child to ensure they are successful in school.  I enjoyed meeting many of you as you entered the school.

Cold Weather

As the weather gets colder, please send your child with warm clothing.  We continue to go outside for recess until the temperature reaches -20.

School Council

We need your help!

We are holding our casino on October 18 and 19 at Pure Casino.  We have run low on volunteers for the Vista Heights School Enhancement Society casino night. We are in desperate need of volunteers in order to hold our casino.  Casino Funds are used for a variety of things for our school which have included building our school playground, field trips, Artists in Residence.

Would you, your spouse, family or close friends be able to help out? 

The shifts are as follows:

Chip runner or Cashier: October 18 and or 19th 10:00am-6:00pm (day shift)

Chip runner or Cashier October 18 and or 19th 6:00p-2:00am (Evening shift)

Count room: October 18 and or 19th 11:00pm-3:00am (closing shift)

Last time this fundraiser brought in over $65,000! 

Please contact Justin Murray at justinm188@gmail.com if you are able to help out

Our next school council meeting will be held at 6:30 on November 12, 2019. 

Hallowe’en

Students are welcome to dress up for Hallowe’en in the afternoon only on October 31. 

Students must not bring any accessories for their costumes that are of a violent or scary nature (no weapons, knives etc), and no masks.

Safety Precautions

We are required to hold 6 fire drills, and 2 lockdowns each school year. We held our first fire drill on October 7, 2019.  The staff and students were able to exit the building in 1 min and 17 seconds.  We continue to refine our school safety procedures which include:

·      Locking all doors

·      A Fan-Out Procedure

·      Visitors – are expected to register at the office

·      Volunteers – must complete a Police Information Check (PIC) and wear nametags at all times

·      Substitute Teachers – are provided with emergency information upon entering the school

Upcoming Events

Nov 1 – Professional Development Day ( No school for students

No School

Have a wonderful long weekend! 

No school Friday October11 and Monday October 14! 

See you on Tuesday!