JO N US FOR THE 2022/23 SCHOOL YEAR!
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To curate opportunities for learning and discovery that are as dynamic as the world around us.
To be an exceptional educator that embraces the unique talents of every child. Our adaptive model of educational delivery supports different learning styles to ensure that every student is capable of achieving their personal best.
ndependence, Creativity & Citi enship At River Valley School, we value social and character development as much as academic development.
River Valley School (RVS) is an inclusive, independent school that provides outstanding educational opportunities for our students from preschool through to grade 6. While consistently ranking among Alberta s top schools, we are as different from other schools as our students are from one another. We trace our roots to 2003, when the River Valley School Society evolved from the Calgary Montessori School. Since our inception, everything we do has been guided by our Mission and our Vision and supported by our five guiding principles: We cultivate and facilitate experiences that inspire and support academic excellence, creativity and risk taking for our students. We believe people are capable of greatness when they are engaged and inspired. We connect and involve our students, staff and families to ensure RVS is a dynamic and responsive place to learn, now and in the future. We are a community that is conscious of the strength of partnerships and their power to affect change. We nurture young leaders who value the importance of making a difference in the world. We operate an ethical and responsible not for profit organization with a strong governance model.
As a community, we learn and grow together, respecting the values, opinions and beliefs of all students, teachers, and administrators. Our team works together to create a school where learners feel confident and free to appreciate each other, make good ethical decisions, and take ageand stage- appropriate risks, leading to enhanced understanding and broadened inquiry. River Valley School students know they are safe to try new things, make mistakes, discover new approaches, and explore innovative ways of seeing, contributing to and changing the world. We invite you to visit our campus to learn about our outstanding programs and meet our outstanding students, teachers and staff. Kindest regards,
Carolyn Breland Head of School
We are a growing school of approximately 250 students with a beautiful campus in Bowness, Calgary, Alberta. We operate with low pupil-teacher ratios, maximi ing instructional time and the personali ation of learning for students in preschool to grade 6.
We provide an inquiry-based Progressive program for full & half day Pre-JK Grade Six and we are the only school in Alberta to operate PRE-JKto (3-YEAR-OLDS) AND K NDERGARTEN (5-YEAR-OLDS) theK Arrowsmith JUN OR NDERGARTENProgram (4-YEAR- for students with identified learning TO GRADE 6 challenges.OLDS) More information about these programs can be found at http://rivervalleyschool.ca/overview/our-programs/ Our elementary students are immersed in
Our early learning students participate in
the Alberta Education Curriculum in core hands-on, inquirythe andneeds play-based learning To meet of our families, we own areas and including operate math, our own subject English guided by the Alberta's Early Learning and & after language arts,care socialfor studies, science and busing service and provide before school our students, Childincluding Care Curriculum Framework. Student achievement holiday day camps throughhealth. our Little & Big Kids Cluband engagement is carried out through varied program. project-based learning opportunities, Learners explore core academic areas exploration, collaboration, and such as numeracy, literacy and At RVS, we provide exceptional educationdifferentiation and interactions aligned with in our instruction. humanities, and are introduced to
our organizational values. These values are the cornerstones of our organization and serve to ensure that the programs we develop & the n addition to core subjects, students enjoy library, physical and outdoor education, programming in music, French, art, lead drama, provide consistently in the best interest of all. We art leadership and drama. twe is the perfectisbalance of physical and outdoorexperience, education, library, by exampleplay, andcreativity foster character formation through not and academics, and S.T.E.A.M. explanation. exploration! specialist areas such as French, music,
River Valley School values the benefits of creative, cross-curricular learning opportunities. Along with core subjects, we offer quality specialist programs in:
Music Art Drama French Language Physical Education Outdoor Education Library nformation & Communication technologies ( CT) services.
For learners who require additional support our
Resource
Team
provides
a
pull-out
program to work with individuals or small groups in specific areas such as reading, math and social skills. A Speech & Language Pathologist and an Occupational Therapist are also employed to work with students with assessed needs in those areas.
At River Valley School, our job is to harness the innate curiosity in children. The wonder children possess is encouraged, stimulated and celebrated through our inquiry-based programming where learning is focused on big ideas and questions that engage them. Students participate in hands-on and project-based lessons where their senses and questions are the drivers of their learning experience. This dynamic experience permeates not-only through our academic core subjects but in our specialist areas of study as well. We know that when a child s curiosity is piqued, it makes for deeper, more profound learning.
Our before and after school program operates Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 6 PM from September to June. Camps are also available for spring and summer breaks. Our little Kids Club (age 3 5) and Big Kids Club (grades 1-6) are both Alberta Child Care Accredited programs owned and operated by River Valley school. Childcare is provided by highly qualified and certified staff and overseen by a Kids Club Coordinator. Within the program, students enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, arts and crafts, sports, games and free play!
River Valley School offers three bus routes that service specific communities in South West Calgary Central / nner City Calgary North West Calgary Routes are reviewed every year by our Transportation Coordinator. Families outside these areas are also welcome to use stops on any of these routes if it is convenient for their purpose.
As experts in early childhood and elementary education, we know that young students need to feel emotionally safe, regulated and known in order to properly learn and develop. We prioritize a relationship-based approach and offer a small, warm, nurturing environment where our students feel genuinely cared about and supported. This builds confidence and establishes a strong foundation for kids to explore who they are their passions, gifts, hopes and dreams. Within our small class sizes, teachers and instructional aides bring a fresh curiosity about each child, and seek the best ways of guiding him or her to their greatest success. ndividuality is celebrated.
Member of A SCA (Alberta ndependent Schools & Colleges of Alberta) Accredited by Alberta Education. Alberta Child Care Accreditation for Early Learning and Before & After School care (OSC)
SMART boards and/or projectors in all classes 1:1 iPads for all students (grades 1-6) Design Thinking, coding and robotics with our Educational CT Coordinator zSpace, augmented reality lab nformation and communication technologies ( CT) are integrated within the curriculum areas
Three term-based reporting periods per year with: Three Progress Reports Three Student Progress Meetings Daily and weekly communications through platforms including Seesaw and Google Classroom Monthly and Bi-Monthly Newsletters
Creative problem solving is our raison d etre ( reason for being ) Our curriculum, activities and group projects are grounded in design thinking, which gives students a road map to identify challenge, gather information, generate ideas, and test solutions. Both indoors and out, we provide conditions and ways of learning to stretch our students creative muscles, not only in Music, Art and Drama classes, but in ALL subjects. Children learn creative processes such as mind mapping, growth mindset, divergent thinking, deferring judgment, risk taking, self-assessment and reflection.
As an RVS family, you become part of a unique and close-knit school community. Our Faculty and Parent Network ensure each member of the school feels a sense of belonging. We value home-to-school communication and utilize platforms such as SeeSaw and Google Classroom to strengthen that integral relationship. River Valley School is also a Proud Community Partner. We pledge to be good neighbours because we know that good neighbours build stronger communities. We take on meaningful partnerships and outreach work with our local community and beyond. Also, as strong environmental stewards, we are mindful of our responsibilities to this planet and keenly aware of the environment around us.
3127 Bowwood Drive NW Calgary AB. T3B 2E7 (403) 246-2275 admissions@rivervalleyschool.ca
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