Vanessa Valgardson

 Hi! My name is Vanessa Valgardson and believe it or not I began my teaching career in 1997 - in the day of overhead projectors and even chalkboards! This year I am delighted to be the homeroom teacher for 8i, the FRENCH IMMERSION PE teacher (6i, 6j, 7i, 7j, 8i, 8j), and as well I teach FSL8, Spanish 6 and 8, and outdoor Education for grades 6, 7 and 8.
I was born and raised in Lethbridge, Alberta and I was a French Immersion student from kindergarten to grade 12. I completed 2 degrees from the University of Lethbridge - a BA in Modern Languages, and then I did a BEd with a major in French and a minor in Spanish. I knew by the age of 13, while I was working for the summer at the YMCA putting on birthday parties for kids every Saturday, that I loved children and wanted to be a teacher.
I began my career here at Gilbert Paterson Junior High where I ran the kindergarten in the morning and then helped teach a grade 9 French Immersion class of 40 in the afternoon. I later transitioned into a grade seven Immersion homeroom when they closed the kindergarten, and I taught 7 different classes a day! I spent 14 years teaching a grade 6 English homeroom as well as a large variety of options at GS Lakie Middle school, and now I am back to being a TIGER.
I am proud to say I have started a few new programs during my career....I began the very successful Spanish program at Gilbert Paterson, I started the very first Archery program in middle schools in Lethbridge and as well I’ve run a fishing option, survival course and raised rainbow trout.
Besides teaching, I have 3 other passions in my life.
As you can see by the options I teach, I LOVE the outdoors and especially fly fishing. There is nothing more relaxing and challenging at the same time, than wading a beautiful, remote mountain river, from sunrise to sunset, in search of trout.
My third passion is basketball which I began playing in grade six. I played through junior high and high school. I played for 4 summers on the Alberta Provincial Elite teams which gave me the opportunity to play in the 1989 Canada Games and I was able to travel all over Canada with these teams. When I was 16 years old I was identified as one of the top 25 players in Canada and I was invited to Toronto to try out for our national team. I ended my playing career at the University of Lethbridge where I played 5 years and was lucky enough to be the team captain in my final year and lead my team to victory at the Canada West play-offs and then to forth place at Nationals. I then was an assistant coach at the University of Lethbridge for 2 years and spent 13 years after that coaching grade 8/9 and 7/8 girls at Paterson and then at Lakie. I decided to take a break from coaching (which at the time was a very difficult decision) when my fourth, final and most valued passion came along....
My family consists of my wonderful husband Jordan and my two beautiful and amazing daughters Marisol Lucia and Mirabel Josette. There is nothing I cherish more than spending time at home with my girls and husband.
I am really excited for this upcoming year and I am looking forward to getting to know each and every child in my class. Please don't ever hesitate to contact me or even pop by.
"Life isn't worth living unless you are being loved by a child". -Buzz LightYear