The regions River Valley School offers busing from are:
Additional notes: We currently have three bus routes that service specific communities within the SW, Central and NW Quadrants of the city. Please note that families outside these areas are welcome to use stops on any of these routes if it is convenient for their purpose. A family discount is available for the second and subsequent children.
How we see River Valley School
When discussing schools we often talk about curriculum, or resources, or instructional approaches, and while all of those things are important, so is the presence of a supportive, safe, familiar, and consistent learning environment. And, rightly, that’s where the program at River Valley School begins. The school describes itself as a community, and the description is apt. A safe environment, of course, is one in which a child feels a sense of belonging, and within which she is valued, able to play a role and have a voice. Instruction at River Valley is student-centred, informed by an overt intention to build upon students’ individual strengths and interests. There is a comfortable enrollment level, one that allows for a nice breath of programming while also maintaining that sense of place and belonging. Families look to River Valley to create a strong beginning to their children’s education as well as their social lives, and indeed that’s exactly what they find.
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How River Valley School sees itself
"We are an independent school offering an exceptional early childhood and elementary school experience from Age 3 - Gr. 6. The wonder children possess is celebrated through our inquiry-based program where learning is driven by big ideas and questions. We facilitate experiences that inspire academic excellence and student well-being. Beyond our core subjects, RVS provides a robust offering of specialist programs including Art, Drama, Music, French, Outdoor Ed., Phys. Ed., Tech and Library. Wonder Lives Here."
River Valley School is equipped with a full size soccer field. This space is used for both our outdoor education and athletic programs!
We offer indoor and outdoor Phys. Ed. Programming
Our Early Learners can enjoy a smaller quieter space suited just for them!
We offer two new play structures encouraging play, exploration and socialization!
Our brand new Augmented Reality Lab by zspace!
Students become champions of the Design Thinking process and explore 21st-century learning skills such as entrepreneurship, critical thinking and digital literacies like coding, web design and robotics.
Technology is just one of the tools we use to create innovation in our classrooms. Each student Grade 3 and up receives a 1:1 Ipad Ratio. We also have Smart Boards in each classroom and laptops that float from one classroom to the next.
Grab a book and enjoy our library!
A warm and welcome place to enter the school!
How people from the school’s community see River Valley School
Top-down influence on the school’s direction and tone
Carolyn Breland, Head of School
B.Ed, MA
River Valley School is an innovative and inclusive independent school that harnesses the innate curiosity in children to ensure that every student, regardless of age or ability, will flourish academically and socially. Everything we do is grounded in our mission to embrace the unique talents of our students, while curating opportunities for learning and discovery. Our teachers and staff support different learning styles to ensure that every student is capable of achieving their personal best. With close to 15 years of history, River Valley School has created an environment where children feel loved and safe enough to explore to the full breadth of their individual ability. At the same time, RVS students feel encouraged to take on the rigours required to develop the foundational skills, resilience, and confidence to thrive in the 21st Century.
As a community, we learn and grow together respecting the values, opinions and beliefs of all. Students, teachers, and administrators work together to create a school where learners feel confident and free to appreciate each other, make good ethical decisions, and take age- and stage appropriate risks, leading to enhanced understanding and broadened inquiry.
RVS 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.
I am honoured to be the Head of School at River Valley School, and invite you to visit our campus to learn about our outstanding programs and meet our talented students, teachers and staff. I look forward to meeting you when you visit, and sharing more about what makes our school truly exceptional.
Carolyn Breland
Head of School
THE OUR KIDS REPORT: River Valley School
Next steps to continue your research:
Continue researching River Valley School with OurKids.net, or visit school website.
