What a Joyful GPSF Day!

Written By Ryan Wasserman

It was a heartwarming day watching our students connect with their grandparents and special friends. Whether they were participating in fun activities, enjoying a snack, or working on projects together, the day was filled with laughter, joy, silliness, and love. Be sure to check out the photos below!

Dear Soundview Families,

Today, we had the pleasure of hosting one of our favorite events: Grandparents and Special Friends Day (GPSF)! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us to help grow and strengthen our wonderful Soundview community. Your presence made this day truly special. A big thank you also goes out to our faculty, staff, and volunteers whose efforts made the event a resounding success. For those who would like to relive the moments from GPSF, you can view pictures below.

During GPSF Day we received numerous inquiries from grandparents and special friends who are eager to stay connected with the school, stay informed about the activities their grandchildren are involved in, and explore ways to volunteer and support our fundraising efforts. If you'd like to share the contact information for your child's grandparent or special friend, including their name, email, and mailing address, please share with us HERE.

As a reminder, there will be no school for students next week, from November 25th to 29th, as we take time to reflect and celebrate Native American Heritage Month and Thanksgiving Day. I wish you all a restful and joyous break with your loved ones. Soundview offices will be open next Monday and Tuesday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, and closed Wednesday through Friday. School will resume at the usual time on Monday, December 2nd.

Strong admissions are vital to the health of our school and community. Victoria is guiding tours of our school and accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year. If you know families seeking an ethical, rigorous, and compassionate education, please encourage them to contact Soundview. Word-of-mouth is the best way to grow our community! For more details or to schedule a visit, families can connect with Victoria HERE.

  • A quick reminder for current families: sibling early admissions are now open, with a priority deadline of December 6th, 2024. For other applicants, the deadline is January 31st, 2025.

Here are the December reminders or opportunities to look forward to:

  • Our Board of Trustees’ “State of School” meeting will be rescheduled from December to January. Details to follow. Our board will provide an overview of their important role in our school, summarize the steps for the head of school transition, and give an update on Soundview’s strategic priorities and future financial planning. There will also be an opportunity to get to know more about incoming Interim Head of School Chrissy Sinclair.

  • Come join Soundview Parent and Guardian Association (SPGA) on Wednesday, December 4th from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm in the Soundview Performing Arts Center for our next meeting. We’ll be working to stock the faculty lounge with snacks and treats for the holiday. Look for more details from SPGA soon. If you require childcare while attending the meeting, please sign up HERE. 

  • Our 4th ParentMap ParentEd Talk will take place on Wednesday, December 4th from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The topic is Boosting Brain Power Through Play with Tom “Teacher Tom” Hobson, an early childhood educator, international speaker, education consultant, teacher of teachers, parent educator and author. You can register to watch the live stream with these helpful details:

    • Soundview community members can register HERE.

    • The password for complimentary ticket access is SOUNDVSCH

    • After the talk concludes, all registered attendees will be emailed a link to watch the recorded session at their convenience.

  • Soundview Human Rights Rally: December 10th marks Human Rights Day, and our third through fifth-grade class will commemorate this significant occasion with a meaningful celebration with our first annual Human Rights Rally. The students will start at 1:20 pm in the PAC with important speeches surrounding human rights. They will then take their created, impactful posters to display throughout the school and host a public gathering at the front entrance, inviting the entire community to join in raising awareness and honoring the importance of human rights. The event will end at 2:00 pm, and we warmly welcome parent participation in this meaningful event. You can contact Mr. MacCully HERE about participating To learn more about Human Rights Day and the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, please visit HERE. 

  • We also wanted to give you a heads-up to save the date for Project Night, coming up on Thursday, December 12th. This is a fantastic opportunity for you and your child to explore the incredible work they’ve been doing in class, and celebrate their accomplishments. You’ll walk through the classrooms and hallways, experiencing the creativity and learning of every grade. You will enter through the Performing Arts Center and pick up a program that will guide you through the event. Parking will be available on campus after 3:45 pm. Here are the details:

    • Early Childhood through Second-Grade Project Night: 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

    • 3rd through Eighth-Grade Project Night: 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Around the world and in different communities, November is a month of recognition and awareness:

  • December 1st is World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day is a global movement to unite people in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Since 1988, communities have stood together on World AIDS Day to show strength and solidarity against HIV stigma and to remember lives lost. You can learn more about this day HERE. 

  • December 2nd is the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. The focus of this day is on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery, such as trafficking in persons, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labour, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict. This date commemorates the adoption by the United Nations on December 2nd, 1949 of an agreement to reduce and eradicate slavery of all forms. You can learn more about this HERE.

  • December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). This day is a globally recognized observance dedicated to promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. We celebrate this day to appreciate the contributions which people with disabilities make to our societies, and also to express solidarity with them in their struggle to overcome the barriers and challenges which they still face, due to stigmatization and exclusion. You can learn more about this day HERE. 

I am thankful to be part of your students' educational journey here at Soundview. Our school truly represents family and community, it’s a very special place. 

With gratitude,
Chris 
Chris Watson, Soundview Head of School 

One more thing…
On November 22nd, 1954 The Humane Society of the United States was founded to prevent cruelty to animals in laboratories, slaughterhouses, and puppy mills. The organization was originally called the National Humane Society and was established by former members of the American Humane Society. The HSUS was created to address the root causes of cruelty and suffering to animals by working in tandem with local organizations. The organization's focus includes animal welfare, animal protection, animal ethics, humane education, animal law, and wildlife conservation. Its mission was to promote the humane treatment of children and animals. You can learn about this organization by visiting HERE. 

Ryan Wasserman
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