Hello Arbour Vista families,
Autumn has arrived, and there is a great sense of energy across Arbour Vista. This week, many of our students will be representing the school at the Junior and Intermediate Cross Country events. We know they will do us proud by demonstrating determination, sportsmanship, and school spirit. Best of luck to all of our participants!
Viper Strike Wednesday
We are excited to introduce a new school spirit tradition: Viper Strike Wednesday!
Beginning this week, every Wednesday will be an opportunity for students and staff to celebrate our school community and show their Viper pride. School spirit activities help foster a sense of belonging, strengthen connections, and build a positive school culture where everyone feels part of something special.
Participating is easy! Each Wednesday, students are encouraged to:
Wear their school colours
Wear their school clothing or apparel
Add a touch of Viper spirit to their outfit
Whether it's a school t-shirt, hoodie, jersey, or simply our school colours, we hope everyone will join in the fun.
Our first Viper Strike Wednesday is Wednesday October 7th. We look forward to seeing the hallways filled with Viper pride!
Go Vipers! 🐍
World Teachers’ Day - October 5
On Monday, October 5, we celebrate World Teachers’ Day and recognize the incredible dedication, care, and commitment of our teaching staff.
Every day, our teachers inspire, support, and empower students to learn, grow, and succeed. We are grateful for the positive impact they have on our school community and thank them for all they do.
Happy World Teachers’ Day to our amazing teachers!
Get to know the UGDSB’s Family Portal
The UGDSB Family Portal puts your child’s school information in one secure place. See bus updates, IEPs, School Cash Online, and more—anytime. It’s easy to use, with single sign-on for many tools (and we’re adding more).
Get started: https://family.ugdsb.on.ca/
Need help? Please see this FAQ or contact your school office for support.
Volunteering For Sports & Field Trips
If you are interested in participating as a volunteer for school events such as sporting activities, class trips, and more, please ensure that you have a valid Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC). If you’re unsure about the status of a previous VSC, please contact Mme Schletz in the main office for assistance.
School Council
We’re excited to invite you to our first School Council meeting of the year!
🗓️ Date: Tuesday, October 6
🕡 Time: 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
📍 Location: School Library
This is a great opportunity to connect, share ideas, and learn more about how you can be involved in supporting our school community. We hope to see you there!
Dance-a-thon- Donations, Snack Order Deadline and Volunteers
If you haven’t seen a Danceathon pledge envelope come home yet, check those backpacks. Let’s get fundraising to support enhanced student experiences such as dancED at EAV. If you’re getting together with family and/or friends, it might be a good time to ask if they would make a donation.
Don’t miss out on preordered snacks for the Danceathon! The last day to order on School Cash Online is this Thursday, October 8th. Kindergarten students cannot purchase snacks at the Danceathon, so make sure to pre-order if you want snacks for your student(s).
Want to be part of the fun? Sign up here to volunteer before or during the event. Please note that kindergarten and primary volunteer spots tend to fill quickly.
~Arbour Vista School Council
CCAT DATES
CCAT (Canadian Cognitive Abilities Test) is a standardized assessment in Grade 3 used to measure a student's reasoning and problem-solving abilities. The test looks at three areas of reasoning:
Verbal Reasoning – understanding relationships between words and using language to solve problems.
Quantitative Reasoning – using numbers and mathematical concepts to think through problems.
Nonverbal Reasoning – recognizing patterns, relationships, and visual-spatial information using pictures and diagrams.
The administration dates for 2026 are as follows:
Week of Oct 27-29: CCAT practice tests
Week of Nov 2-6: CCAT Testing Dates
Halloween Celebration - Friday, October 30
Our school will celebrate Halloween on Friday, October 30. Students are welcome to participate by dressing up in a costume or wearing black and orange.
We ask families to carefully consider costume choices, as students will be wearing them throughout the school day. If your child chooses to wear a costume, they should arrive at school already dressed in it. Please also send regular clothing, as some students may wish or need to change out of their costume during the day. Classroom-specific activities will be communicated by your child's teacher, as applicable.
If your child does not participate in Halloween activities, please inform their teacher. Alternate activities will be available.
Costume Expectations
As a school community, we are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all. Costumes should not appropriate identities or cultures, reinforce stereotypes, or demean others. This includes cultural or religious attire used as costumes, blackface or brownface, transphobic costumes, body-shaming or objectifying costumes, and costumes that make light of situations that have caused harm to individuals or communities.
Please Note:
Costume accessories (e.g., toy weapons, props, wands, etc.) should remain at home.
Students should not share candy, drinks, or treats. Students may bring a special treat for themselves in their lunch.
Costumes should not be frightening or excessively scary, as some younger students may be uncomfortable.
Please clearly label all costume items with your child's name.
Masks are not permitted as part of costumes.
We look forward to a fun, safe, and inclusive day for all students.
Food Orders
All food orders will close on Oct 8th. Be sure to set a reminder to ensure you get your orders placed on time. No late orders will be accepted.
Have a great week!