Posted: July 9, 2024
Families of Shortreed,
It has been such an honour to serve this school for the past six years and I am thrilled and thankful to get another year with all of you at Shortreed. I am also relieved and excited to be able to work with Mrs. Tarasoff as VP for at least another year. We both know this community well and all the amazing things and people within it… so we are looking forward to working with you again in 2024-2025.
As we finish up things in the office this week at Shortreed, I wanted to reach out one last time this school year to share some good things and some information for next year.
As always, we want to acknowledge that we do our important work to ensure every child belongs on the unceded ancestral territories of the Màthxwi (Matsqui) First Nation. We acknowledge this to honour the land and the people and share our commitment to learning in our journey for Truth and Reconciliation. Kevin Lamoureux shared that it is his hope that after all that Indigenous Peoples have been through in schools in our history, students can walk through the doors of schools and exhale… as they know they are loved, they are safe… and they belong. Our staff has ongoing conversations about how to support students to work hard to ensure that students do exhale when they arrive at school. I know this takes time for us to build trust with some students and families but we are committed to this. It has been an honour to work on these ancestral lands, with this wonderful community, and create positive changes so more and more students can exhale as they come into the building.
In the final week, we started the week off with honouring our grade 5s as part of their Gr. 5 Farewell ceremony. Each student was honoured and the cohort of students was celebrated. Kieran, Amelia, Sukhmani, and Efe all shared some lovely words to our families and staff about their time at Shortreed. After each student was honoured, families and grade 5s had a chance to enjoy time together and take photos. Thank you to Mrs. Parsons, Ms. Garcha, Ms. Cho, and Ms. Coghill for their efforts in preparing and running the event. Thank you to all those families who helped with decorations and treats too! (we are working on a digital folder of images/slideshows for the grade 5s).
On Tuesday, we surprised families with a token of our appreciation for all you do for our students and school. Staff was out and around the school grounds saying thank you and giving a flower to each family member who stopped by. Thank YOU ALL for another great year at Shortreed!
After school on Tuesday, about 15 grade 5s (and their families) put on a mini-craft fair and sold products they had made. The gym was packed as students worked to make a few bucks for their efforts. Thank you to everyone who came out to support them!
On Wednesday, we had our final assembly of the year, and we took the time to honour some key people in our community. We celebrated Miss Petersen as she moved into retirement; former students from Shortreed, BGMS, and ACSS lined up in the gym to give her a hug and a flower. We are so thankful for her 17 years of dedication to our school, and she will be missed!!!
We honoured staff who are moving on to new positions:
We honoured our incredible PAC executive and a few key volunteers who helped make Shortreed the wonderful community it is.
We also watched a slideshow of images from third term, and our grade 5s were cheered as they left the gym… which meant that it was time for our next grade 5 group to move up to the benches (a Shortreed tradition). We look forward to seeing these Eagles continue to soar!
With staff leaving and some further growth in our community, we have some staff to welcome into our community (and some who we can announce will be returning).
- Ms. Sekhon will be an SEA starting in February. Steffany Ford will be joining us to cover her leave.
- Mrs. O’Neill will be returning as an SEA after a year’s leave.
- Ms. Rogers will continue to serve our community as YCW.
- Ms. Gostelow will continue as a kindergarten teacher.
- Ms. Southcott will return from maternity leave and continue as a K teacher.
- Ms. Anderson will be back as a grade 1/2 teacher.
- Ms. Fournier will be back but teaching grade 2 next year.
- Ms. McLeod will be one of our grade 5 teachers (in for Ms. Cho).
- Ms. Henry will be one of our grade 1 teachers.
- Ms. Dornian and Ms. Wilson will be working together in a grade 2/3 classroom.
- Ms. Gill will be one of our grade 4 teachers.
- Ms. Garcha will be back but she will be teaching grade 3 with Ms. Loverock next year.
- We still have one grade 4 position to be filled.
- We have 4 SEA positions to be filled.
Our school supply lists are now posted on our website. This is a reminder that you can order online OR download/print lists and shop at other stores. We encourage you to reuse supplies when you can (sharpeners, scissors, rulers, etc.).
For the school calendar for next year, click here (it will be updated throughout the year). You can add the school calendar to your digital calendar here.
Our office is now closed and will reopen on August 26, 2024. Throughout the summer, administrators will check emails every few days.
Be sure to check out the links below for opportunities for you and your kids this summer. On behalf of the staff of Shortreed, have a wonderful summer!!!
Community Events and Information
Check out events and activities around Langley by clicking here for the Community Bulletin Board.
Aldergrove Fair Days – July 19-21!!!
Gulf and Fraser (now Beem Credit Union) is excited to bring Moonlight Movie in the Park back to Aldergrove this summer.
- This is a by donation event so all can attend. Lots of family fun and fundraising for the Starfish backpack program.
- There will be a concession stand, Popcorn, activities and, of course, the movie Elemental.
- Where: Aldergrove Athletic Park
- When : Thursday August 29
- Time: 6:30pm gates open, Movie: 8pm
- Featured Movie: Elemental
Summer Fun Pass for Children and Youth: Township of Langley
Looking for opportunities for your child to get fit and healthy? The Township of Langley’s Summer Fun Pass gives children and youth the opportunity to be active and enjoy unlimited drop-in access to pools, fitness centres, and gymnasiums at TOL recreation facilities throughout the summer. Additionally, children and youth will receive free admission to Family Night and Youth Night events at The Outdoor Experience at Aldergrove Community Centre. The Summer Fun Pass is available to children (4-12 years old) and youth (13-18 years old) for a one-time cost of $25 including tax. The pass is valid from Friday, June 28 to Monday, September 2. For more info and to purchase: https://ow.ly/4MhZ50ShqVC
Art Camps after summer school – PARKSIDE
12-2:30pm $25/week
Ages: Gr 1-7
Week 1 – Full
Week 2 – https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/art-camp-at-parkside-arts-crafts-tickets-921058419527?aff=oddtdtcreator
Week 3 – https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/art-camp-at-parkside-pots-painting-plants-tickets-921061669247?aff=oddtdtcreator
Play in the Park (PHILIP JACKMAN PARK)
10-11:30am Free
Ages: All ages (with parent supervision)
July 17, 31
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/play-in-the-park-tickets-928643015257?aff=oddtdtcreator
Summer Youth Group (ACSS portables)
10am-12pm Free
Ages: entering grade 6-9
July 18 – Tie Dye
July 25 – Big Games & Beads
Aug 1 – Snack Making
Aug 8 – Sensory Crafts
Aug 29 – Hot Dogs & S’mores
Youth Swims (Aldergrove Outdoor Pool)
Free
Ages: entering grade 6-10
Tuesdays, 10am-12pm
July 9, 16, 23, 30, Aug 6
July 15th – 19th – Multi-Sport and More Summer Program – $50 – Ages 6-10 – 9:00am – 3:00pm at Shortreed Community School REGISTER HERE
July 22nd – 26th – Multi-Sport and More Summer Program – $50 – Ages 6-10 – 9:00am – 3:00pm at Shortreed Community School REGISTER HERE
July 29th – Aug 2nd – Multi-Sport and More Summer Program – $50 – Ages 6-10 – 9:00am – 3:00pm at Parkside Centennial Elementary School REGISTER HERE
