Week of: January 13th – 17th, 2025
January 13th (Day 1):
- Grade 8 Girls basketball practice 3:15
January 14th (Day 2):
- Grade 8 Girls Basketball game @ Father Leduc 4pm
January 15th (Day 3):
- Grade 8 Girls basketball practice 7:00 am
January 16th (Day 4):
- Beach Day (school wide theme day)
- Entrepreneurship Market 12:30-2:30 (homeroom teachers can sign up to bring classes)
- Elementary Pizza Lunch (for those who ordered)
January 17th (Day 5):
- Grade 8 Basketball teams Millwoods Christian Tournament
School News
Book Recommendation for All Parents
https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/book
Dear Parents,
As you may know, many adolescents across Canada and worldwide are facing a growing mental health crisis. Research indicates that rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges have risen significantly in recent years. Academic performance among teens across over 30 nations has also declined over the last decade.
According to the book The Anxious Generation by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, one likely explanation is the dramatic shift from a “play-based childhood” to a “phone-based childhood” in the early 2010s. This shift saw children and adolescents spending significantly more time on smartphones, social media, video games, and online content while engaging less in healthy, developmentally beneficial activities such as face-to-face interactions, physical exercise, sleep, and reading.
In The Anxious Generation, Haidt outlines specific recommendations to address the youth mental health crisis and improve academic performance. As a school community, École Champs Vallée School is committed to supporting students’ well-being, and we wanted to share these insights with you. Tackling these challenges will require collective action from parents, educators, and policymakers.
Haidt suggests four key reforms—or “new norms”—to create a healthier, more balanced childhood in the digital age:
- No smartphones before Grade 9 at the earliest
Delay children’s access to round-the-clock internet by providing basic phones (with limited apps and no internet browser) until at least Grade 9 (around age 14). - No social media before age 16
Allow children to navigate the most vulnerable stage of brain development without the pressures of social media, which often fosters unhealthy social comparisons and exposes them to algorithm-driven content. - Phone-free schools
Ensure that classrooms remain spaces for learning and personal connection by storing all personal devices (e.g., phones, smartwatches) in lockers or pouches during the school day. - Encourage independence and free play
Provide children with more opportunities to engage in real-world activities, social interactions, and unstructured play. These experiences build resilience, social skills, and confidence.
You can learn more about implementing these recommendations at freetheanxiousgeneration.com, which includes practical tips for parents.
At École Champs Vallée School, we are exploring ways to align with these recommendations to foster a healthier and more balanced environment for our students. We welcome your thoughts, questions, and ideas as we work together to support our children during this critical stage of their development.
Sincerely,
École Champs Vallée School
Additional Resources:
- Adolescents Nationwide in Mental Health Crisis: The Atlantic
- Educational Performance Decline: The Atlantic
Ski Club at Rabbit Hill, Grades 5-9
Dear Parents/Guardians,
This is an after school event. Please sign in to Powerschool to sign-up and pay for your child to participate in Ski Club for the following Thursdays: January 23, February 20, & March 13, 2025.
Cost breakdown:
Lift Pass and Rentals – $54.00 + $7.00 Bus Fee
Lift Pass $24.00 + $7.00 Bus Fee
Lessons = FREE of charge
Those who have season passes or their own equipment will only pay the $7 bus fee.
Schedule:
Depart ECVS by bus at 3:45pm to Rabbit Hill
Meet in the chalet at 8:10pm
Depart Rabbit Hill at 8:30pm back to ECVS, arriving by 9pm
Students must have these mandatory items:
Helmet – all ECVS club participants MUST wear a helmet when skiing/snowboarding (can be rented)
Proper clothing – snow jacket, snow pants, gloves
Food – bagged lunch or money to purchase food from the cafeteria
The Terrain Park is OFF LIMITS
If a parent/guardian is able to volunteer their time at the hill AND/OR help transporting equipment with a truck from the school to the hill on these ski days, please email both:
[email protected] & [email protected]
Fundraisers
Did you know we have ongoing fundraisers that you can order any time? Tru Earth has eco-friendly laundry products and Mabel’s Labels have the best personalized labels for all your school and sports needs. Here are the links to check them out:
Tru Earth – http://tru-earth.sjv.io/cvfs
Mabel’s Labels – https://mabelslabels.ca/en-CA/fundraising/support
Be sure to support the Champs Vallée Fundraising Society!
Student Absences
To notify the school of an absence or to sign your child out; please complete the ECVS: Online Absence Reporting Form
Vacations
Students are expected to attend school on scheduled school days and take holidays according to the school year calendar. If parents/guardians choose to take their child out of school at times other than school holidays, teachers will not provide work for that time. Any missed work or tests will be made up when the student returns, at the teacher’s discretion.
Relocating or Transferring Schools
Please inform the school office as soon as possible if your family is moving or transferring schools. The office staff can only accept this information from a parent or guardian, not from a student.
Teachers and administrative staff need time to update grades, generate report cards, and prepare other necessary documents for student records to ensure a smooth transition to the new school.
Updated Information
To ensure you are receiving pertinent information from the school please let the office know if you need to update your contact information including your phone numbers and email addresses.
Hot Lunch
Please visit ecvs.hotlunches.net to place your order for future hot lunch dates
ELEMENTARY Ski Day at Rabbit Hill, Grades 4-6
Dear Parents/Guardians,
On Wednesday, February 5th, students in grades 4-6 are invited to participate in a school ski day at Rabbit Hill. Students do not need any previous experience and lessons are free of charge. ALL students must take an introductory lesson/skill check no matter what their level. This could be anywhere from 5-50 minutes, depending on ability.
Please sign in to Powerschool to sign-up and pay for your child to participate.
Cost breakdown:
- Lift Pass and Rentals – $54.00 + $7.00 Bus Fee
- Lift Pass $30.00 + $7.00 Bus Fee
- Lessons = FREE of charge
- Those who have season passes or their own equipment will only pay $7.00 bus fee
Schedule:
- Depart ECVS by bus at 9:00am to Rabbit Hill
- Meet in the chalet at 2:00pm
- Depart Rabbit Hill at 2:15pm back to ECVS, arriving by 3:00pm
Mandatory items:
- Helmet: all students MUST wear a helmet when skiing/snowboarding (can be rented)
- Proper clothing: snow jacket, snow pants, gloves
- Food: bagged lunch or money to purchase food from the cafeteria
- The Terrain Park is OFF LIMITS for all students for this event
Volunteers for this day are very welcome!
Whether skiing/snowboarding or staying in the chalet, we would love to have you join.
Transporting equipment is not possible on the school buses. If a parent/ guardian is able to volunteer their time and has a truck for transporting equipment, that would be a great help. If you can volunteer in any way, please contact: [email protected].
Thank you,
Kyla MacKay
Community News
