​Dear Parents/Guardians
Welcome back to the new 2023/2024 school year.  Currently our school population is trending upward. We were projected with 676 students for this school year, and we have already exceeded this number.  I would like to welcome all students, staff, parents, and especially our four new staff members to SVS: Mike Collins PE Specialist, Julie Garner, Music Specialist, Frank Moeller, Learning Leader and Jason Chong, Grade Six Teachers.  We are also pleased to have Stacy Janzen Grade Four Teacher and Nabila Jessa Grade Three, and Susanna Ng Grade Three returning to SVS as temporary teachers this school year.
Just a few important reminders regarding student safety for travelling to and from school on a daily basis.  Safety Buddies will be welcoming students as they arrive in the front “Hug and Go" area immediately in front of the main doors of the school with staff supervision.  Please do not leave vehicles unattended as By Law, Enforcement will ticket any unoccupied vehicle left in this zone. It creates unsafe driving conditions for others as they attempt to enter and exit from the curb.  The Staff Parking Lot is never to be used for student drop off or pickup as students are not visible to cars or buses.  If required, the Staff Parking Lot will be chained from 8:45-9:15 in the morning and from 3:00 pm to 4:00 in the afternoon to prevent flow of traffic.
Student cell phone use will be limited to teacher discretion in support of ongoing classroom learning.  Cell phones should be powered down or silenced and placed in student backpacks for the duration of the school day.  Absolutely no pictures are to be taken of any students with cell phones during school hours or on the school property.  Please monitor your student's use of all social media sites on a regular basis and encourage them to only engage in positive interactions with peers when on these sites.  Students can always use the office phone to contact parents throughout the day if required. Parents may always call the main office to contact their student or pass on information to the front end office staff as needed.
Advocating for your student is crucial, and parents are encouraged to contact Classroom Teachers, Music or P.E. Specialists, Learning Leaders, and School Administration with any questions regarding academic or social concerns.  After school conversations, emails or early morning meetings are best conducted in a scheduled private setting to ensure student confidentiality and allow teachers to focus on instruction and classroom management when students are present.
I look forward to a fun filled and rigorous academic school year as we implement the new curriculum and continue to develop a culture of wellness and care for our students to thrive in and reach their own personal best, both academically and socially.
Christopher Snow
Principal
Simons Valley School​