Posted: April 6, 2025
Families of Shortreed,
We hope your April has started out well and that you had a chance to enjoy some sunshine! It looks like we have a wet week ahead, so please make sure your child has boots and jackets at school.
Students were sent home with their Term 2 SIC Reports on Friday, so please check their backpacks for these.
Our PAC Everything for a Dollar Sale is coming up soon! Please hold on to those items and donate them to our sale. See below for more info. Donations can now be brought into the school. Last week, we took another critical step in installing the shelter over our outdoor classroom. This has been a long journey, but we are getting closer. Thank you to our PAC executive for all their efforts with this.
April is typically a quieter month when it comes to school-wide events (the calm before the storm of May-June?!?), so it is a chance for the students to get back into their learning routines for term 3. One thing that starts up every April is our Shortreed Eagles Track and Field Practices. Students in grades 3-5 can practice some running technique and strategy with Ms. Wright (a Shortreed parent) and Mostat at lunch on Thursday and Friday of this week. Please make sure your child brings outdoor running shoes for practice. We are working toward our school track meet on Friday, May 9.
The girls on our grade 5 basketball team will have a chance to play the girls from Parkside on Wednesday as they travel there for a girls-only exhibition basketball game. Information about spring basketball clinics (grades 3-5 girls and grades 3-4 boys) was emailed last week so please check your inbox and reserve your spot soon.
We have another PAC Hot Lunch on Wednesday, and we have a chance to get some food from Mother India. Our school will practice another emergency drill on Thursday with a Fire Drill at 1:05.
As always, we want to acknowledge that we do our important work to ensure every child belongs on the unceded ancestral and traditional lands of the Màthxwi (Matsqui) First Nation. We acknowledge this to honour the land and the people and share our commitment to learning on our journey for Truth and Reconciliation. One of the things I have observed over the years through my conversations with Indigenous Peoples, leaders, and elders is the power of listening. I see so many examples of people trying to share their message and stories in so many different ways and such a rapid manner (posts, videos, etc), without providing the space and taking the time to listen and reflect. It is more important than ever for us to slow down and take a moment to listen. Listen not to respond, but listen to learn and be curious. I think of how many times the voices of people have been silenced, especially those voices of people who have been marginalized. The sharing of stories is important but not as important as slowing down, listening, reflecting, and learning. Listening helps us understand different perspectives and reflect on our biases. I am so thankful for the opportunities I have had to listen and learn from so many Indigenous leaders and elders. They have helped to ground me, slow down, and truly listen to the stories of the people and ancestors who have been here for over 10,000 years.
Students have enjoyed climbing, hanging, balancing, rolling, and swinging in the gym with our Trestle Tree and gymnastics equipment. Our gym is taken over by excited kids on the equipment each spring. Thank you to Mrs. Tarasoff for coming in over spring break to set it up and help others with safe use of the equipment.
We had a little fun with the kids on Tuesday, April 1 as we had a very “serious” emergency drill that we have not done for about 5 years. For our Flood Drill, we had all the students in the school, be at least 18″ off the ground to keep warm and dry during a flood. We then had our Flood Team come around in their rain gear to measure and make sure the kids were high enough. Some staff went above and beyond and had the students remove their shoes and socks… and Ms. McLeod even brought in a life vest and floaty! The best comment of the day was overheard by some grade 4 students who were ahead of me at the end of the day as they said, “I can’t believe Mr. Wejr didn’t prank us today!”. (Note that we did check in with staff significantly affected by the flood a few years ago to make sure it was ok for us to proceed with this “drill”.)
April is National Poetry Month in Canada, and Mrs. Kirk has been sharing some examples of poems in the library. Students recently read a poem from Jack Prelutsky called Bleezer’s Ice Cream and then got to choose their own creative ice cream flavour! Check out their flavours on the board across from the library (or on our social media channels).
The Week Ahead
Monday – Trestle Tree continues in the gym
Wednesday – PAC Hot Lunch (Mother India); Girls Basketball at Parkside; DPAC Presentation/Film – Screenagers 6:30
Thursday – Gr. 3-5 running practice 12:00, Fire Drill 1:05
Friday – Gr. 3-5 running practice 12:00
Month at a Glance:
Wednesday, April 16 – Class Photos
Friday, April 18 – Good Friday – schools closed
Monday, April 21 – Easter Monday – schools closed
Wednesday, April 23 – PAC Popcorn Day
Friday, April 25 – PAC Dollar Sale 1-6pm
Wednesday, April 30 – Club Wednesday Day 1
Wednesday, May 7 – PAC Hot Lunch (McDonald’s); Club Wednesday Day 2
Friday, May 9 – Shortreed Gr. 3-5 Track Meet; Informal Learning Updates sent home
Information and Reminders
Outside Play and Physical Activity Information (from Fraser Health)
Health, safety, and wellness continue to be a priority in our schools. To help support our students and families, we are sharing important information from our community partner Fraser Health about outside play and physical health for school-aged children and youth. Please see below for helpful reminders to support your child.
Get Outside and Play!
Physical activity is a necessary requirement for optimal health – and the benefits are even greater if you can do it outdoors. Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence helps to develop cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength and bone density, and being outdoors is known to improve mental health.
There are many benefits to unstructured, outside play. When children and youth spend time outside, they:
1. Sit less, move more and play longer – key to cardiovascular health and fitness.
2. Have healthier eyes – spending more time outside reduces nearsightedness risks.
3. Sleep better – sunlight helps regulate sleep hormones and sleep patterns.
4. Enjoy improved mood – exercise reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression.
5. Feel more connected to nature – experience calm and develop mindfulness.
Planning active outings doesn’t have to be challenging or costly. Here are some ideas that you can try this week:
· Try a new activity – check out geocaching or seaweed searching.
· Unplug and connect – here are some ideas to decrease recreational screen time
· Go for a scavenger hunt – try this nature scavenger hunt, plant scavenger hunt or backyard activity
· Go for a walk or hike – try these 10 hikes to take your kids on this summer
· Play in a forest or park – try a new regional park every day for a week
· Explore a local stream – check these beautiful watershed walks in the region
· Swim at the pool, waterpark or beach – check beach safety conditions first or stay cool at a local spray park
· Ride a bike or scooter – explore the Hope Bike Park or check out the pumptrack at Vedder Rotary Trail
· Visit farms, fish hatcheries and bird sanctuaries – this local family fun guide has unique ideas
Find more ideas to keep your kids active through the year on Fraser Health’s website:
Transportation Registration 2025-2026
Transportation registration for 2025-2026 is open. Please note the instructions to register are different for each category of rider. To help in the planning and creation of bus routes, registrations must be submitted by April 11th for eligible riders or May 30th for courtesy riders. The District cannot guarantee approval after the deadline. New and existing riders can find more information on our Transportation Registration webpage here.
- Strive for FIVE Days (or Less) – Attendance is crucial to your child’s learning as it helps with academics, social-emotional well-being, and peer connections. We understand children get sick, but please send them to school as many days as possible and strive for FIVE or fewer!
Attendance/Absence – If your child is going to be absent, arriving late, away or leaving early due to an appointment, please notify the school of your child’s absence by emailing SCEAttendance@sd35.bc.ca or calling 604-856-4167 and state the following information:
- Student First Name and Last Name
- Grade
- Division
- Length of Absence
- Reason (illness, late, appointment, vacation)
- If your family needs support for breakfast before school, our breakfast program runs from 8:20-8:35 each day. Students must register and come every school day. You can register here.
- Our school parking lot is closed between 8:15-9:00 and 2:00-2:45 (other than daycare, buses, and vehicles for people with a disability). The church across the street graciously allows us to use their parking lot for pick-up and drop-off so please park there or along 28th Ave. Do not park in the “no parking” (coned) areas along the yellow curbs. No u-turns.
- West Coast Recess – As we have done over the past few years, every day is an outside day at Shortreed. Unless there is a severe rainstorm (or snowstorm), we will be heading outside. Please make sure your child has a coat to wear outside. We have a good selection of coats in our FREE Coat Exchange near the office, so come by and check them out.
- Please bring inside shoes for your child. This helps to keep our school clean and dry. If you need some help with shoes, check out our FREE Shoe and Boot Exchange at the office.
PAC Info
Mark your calendars! This year’s event will be May 23rd, 3:30 to 7:30 pm. Email shortreedpac@gmail.com if you want to help out!
Community Events and Information
Click here to check out the Langley School District’s community bulletin board.
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Free Swim Lesson Opportunity for Students – Inspired Swim’s Making Waves Program
The Langley School District Foundation is excited to announce a new partnership with Inspired Swim, a leading provider of private swim instruction. This initiative is designed to make water safety education more accessible to families in our district.
Through Inspired Swim’s Making Waves Program, Inspired Swim will provide free swim lessons to students who may not otherwise have access.
Parents can apply for free lessons using the form linked here: [Apply Here]
Thank you for helping make water safety accessible to all children in our community!
For more details, visit www.inspiredswim.com or contact zach@inspiredswim.com
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International Student Program Homestay Families
Embark on a rewarding journey of cultural exchange! The District is seeking homestay families to host International Student Program (ISP) students for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond. There are many benefits including learning a new culture, sharing your family traditions, and developing life-long friendships. Homestay families are provided $1200 per month to offset costs. Start your journey here: https://www.studyinlangley.com/student-life/
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Screenagers – Elementary School Age Edition: Community Screening and Expert Q&A – April 9, 2025
Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston examines the growing impact of screen time on young children, exploring the challenges families and educators face in managing digital use. Through personal experiences, expert insights, and the latest research, the film addresses key issues such as social media pressures, video gaming, screen time limits, and the effects of early exposure to technology.
Offering practical strategies for fostering healthy digital habits, Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition is a must-watch for parents, teachers, and caregivers looking to guide children toward balanced tech use. View trailer: https://youtu.be/EzzzeCny6oU
FREE EVENT: Join other Langley parents and caregivers for a 55-minute documentary screening followed by a Q&A with expert panelists.
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1140497717607292
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Raising Digitally Resilient Kids
The Raising Digitally Resilient Kids parent workshop outlines how parents and guardians can support children’s well-being and help them balance the risks and benefits of digital media. Based on insights from MediaSmarts’ research with youth, the workshop provides an overview of online risk categories and provides resources and essential strategies that participants can take to manage these risks.
https://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/workshops/raising-digitally-resilient-kids?mc_cid=cadc5a99de&mc_eid=43f3fb04f2
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