Posted: February 4, 2024

Families of Shortreed,

We hope you enjoyed the beautiful day today and had a lovely weekend.

We are excited to offer Club Wednesdays again this term, with the first session starting this Wednesday at 1:15. We tried to get all students into their first or second choices, but this was not possible for many of the students (who chose the popular clubs). For the vast majority of our students, we were able to get them into one of their top four choices. A huge thank you to Mrs. Tarasoff and the teachers for their efforts in getting all our students into a club.

Shortreed Merch will be on sale soon!!! Spirit Wear orders will be sent out via School Cash Online this week and will close in a couple of weeks. We have a new design for 2024 that we are excited to present as an option this year for hoodies, crews, and shirts. To see what can be ordered this year, click here.

Student Inclusive Conferences are coming up in March. On Wednesday, March 6, students will be dismissed at 12:33. Thursday, March 7, will be SIC Day/Evening, with conferences happening throughout the day (so students will not be in classes that day).

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. As we move into the middle of February, our grade 5 classes discuss the importance of equity in schools across the country (Have a Heart Day on Feb 14). The students are always surprised to hear that there are still schools in Indigenous communities that lack clean running water and basic resources for students to learn. By sharing this info, we create more awareness, and with that awareness, we hope for change so every child in Canada can have equitable basic learning conditions. 

We hope you take a few minutes to read up on some of the good things happening at our school as well as some reminders for the weeks ahead. Please note that some classes (odd-numbered) will be featured next week as they were missed this week.

Good Things to Talk About

Movie Night in the Gym!  It was a jam-packed gym on Friday night at Shortreed as families brought their pillows and stuffies and snuggled up for a showing of the latest Trolls movie. Although this was one of the busiest movie nights we have had, it was also one of the calmer ones, so we appreciate the respectful behaviour shown by the children and their families. A huge thank you to our PAC volunteers who worked the concession and organized the event!

Lunar New Year is Coming! Lunar New Year is happening next weekend, so we will learn about various celebrations this week. Ms. Choi, one of our ELL teachers, worked with a few of our grade 4 students to create an artistic dragon and Lunar New Year display on the ELL board. This is the Year of the Dragon!

The Season is Underway! Our grade 5 basketball team had its first scrimmage of the season this past week as they played the Seawolves from James Hill. As we have only had a few practices, a lot of the time was spent reviewing and teaching the rules… but the gym erupted when they got their first hoop of the year! The team players Langley Fundamental in an exhibition game on Monday after school.

We Are Families! Mrs. Muller has continued to teach more about instruments with the intermediate students. They recently reviewed the different families of instruments (strings, percussion, woodwinds, brass) and then played a fun review game that also got them up and moving (and laughing).

Passing in the Gym – Mrs. Tarasoff teaches weekly PE classes on Mondays and Tuesdays. This past week, she focused on the fundamental movement skill of passing. Students were taught and practiced overhand and underhand throwing, along with chest passes.

Div 19 In the Zone! Ms. Coghill’s class has been diving deeper into the Zones of Regulation these past few months as they have acted out and shared their scenarios of what it looks like for them in each zone. This past week, they drew out their scenarios and shared a description of what they were doing that made them in the red, yellow, blue, or green zone. Once our students know their zone, they can develop strategies to move them closer to the green (calm and alert) zone (and strategies to prevent them from getting into the red zone!).

Div 17 – To be featured next week.

Div 15 – To be featured next week

Div 13 – Winter Art – When my family goes walking, we often point out how beautiful the white bark of the birch trees looks in the backdrop of the forest… well, as I walked down the hall the other day, I saw even more beauty in front of Ms. Kaur’s class. Students were so proud of their beautiful artwork of Winter Birch Trees with a lovely colourful watercolour backdrop. They worked on this art piece for a number of days, so be sure to check it out on display outside the classroom.

Div 11 – Emotionally Moving Artwork – Ms. Cheema’s class created some beautiful cherry blossoms inspired by the book “Sakura’s Cherry Blossoms.” The book shares about the challenging and exciting experience of moving to a new country; many of our students can relate to the emotional journey of a move like this.  Be sure to check out the art pieces on display outside of their classroom. They also had a blast at the Walnut Grove Pool last week!

Div 10 – Order Up! We missed Mrs. North’s class last week so we are featuring them this week. They have been practicing their order of numbers and putting larger numbers into the correct order. They played math games specific to this skill and worked as a team to put a large set of numbers into the correct order.

Div 9 – Search the Room! Ms. Gandouin’s class has been working on 3-digit Place Value, which is identifying each digit’s value in a number. In the photo, students were instructed to search the room for cards, flip the card, and identify the 3-digit number on each card. Students have been enjoying a number of different math games to practice their learning… but don’t remind them they are practicing MATH!

Div 7 – To be featured next week.

Div 5 – 3-Digit Number Sense – Our grade 3/4 students in Div 5 were excited to welcome Ms. McCulloch as their new teacher this week! They settled in and continued their learning of 3-digit numbers and their place values in math. Students practiced representing numbers in a variety of ways (standard, expanded, and by using pictures like base ten blocks). Ms. McCulloch also took some time to assess their reading levels for term 2 so she can best support them in their reading progress.

Div 3 – To be featured next week.

Div 1 – Safe and Comfy Schools for ALL – Mrs. Parsons’ class has been learning about Shannen’s Dream and equity of resources and opportunities for ALL schools in Canada. Shannen Koostachin was a student when she started this movement to create safe and comfy schools for ALL students in Canada. It was only ten years ago (4 years after she tragically passed away) that Shannen’s community of Attawapiskat finally received a new school that did not make their children and teachers sick! Div 1 students have been learning about the movement Shannen started, so they also wrote a poem about her and wrote letters to Prime Minister Trudeau.

The Week Ahead

Monday – Gr. 5 Basketball hosts Langley Fundaments 3:00.
Tuesday – Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45
Wednesday – Hot Lunch; Club Wednesday 1:15-2:15
Friday – Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45; PAC Meeting 9:00

Month at a Glance

Monday, Feb 12 – BC Lions Energy Assembly 1:15; Gr. 5 Basketball vs Douglas Park 3:00; Blueberry forms due
Tuesday, Feb 13 – Gr. 5 Basketball at Nicomekl 3:00
Wednesday, Feb 14 – Club Wednesday 1:15
Friday, Feb 16 – Pro-D Day
Monday, Feb 19 – Family Day – schools closed
Tuesday, Feb 20 – Gr. 5 Basketball at Parkside 3:00
Wednesday, Feb 21 – Club Wednesday 1:15, PAC Treat Day
Thursday, Feb 22 – Spirit Day – Crazy Headwear Day
Friday, Feb 23 – Lockdown Drill 1:00
Monday, Feb 26 – Design and Assessment Day (no school for students)
Tuesday, Feb 27 – Gr. 5 Basketball at Simonds 3:00
Wednesday, Feb 28 – Club Wednesday 1:15; Pink Shirt Day
Friday, March 1 – Aboriginal Program Spring Into Wellness Family Gathering at HD Stafford 5:00
Monday, March 4 – Gr. 6 Basketball vs Uplands 3:00
Wednesday, March 6 – Early dismissal at 12:33 for SIC
Thursday, March 7 – SIC Day/Evening – students do not attend class so conferences can occur.
Friday, March 8 – Hot lunch/treat day (Cobs)

Click this link to download a list of the important dates in the district for 2023-2024.

PAC Info

PAC Meeting this Friday at 9:00.

Blueberries are back!!!

Hot Lunch orders for Spring and Summer are now open at munchalunch.com! Lunch options include Chopped Leaf, Tim Bits, Brick Alley Bistro and more! Hot lunch is a fundraiser for the PAC to keep fun things going at the school! Some purchase prices on food has gone up and PAC has done our best to keep prices as low as we can.

• Returning Parents: Sign in at munchalunch.com/login
• New Families: Visit munchalunch.com/schools/Shortreed and click on the “Register Here” button and follow the instructions. Once your account has been created you can add your child(ren) to your account. You will need their teacher and division #.
• Payment Options:
  – Pay online through munch-a-lunch
  – Cash or cheque orders: Email PAC (shortreedpac@gmail.com) to arrange special arrangements.
  NOTE: If any of your orders are left unpaid after the cut-off date, (either online, cash, or cheque) it will be automatically removed.
• Order Options:
  You can order all meals and treats ahead and pay for everything OR
  Order the food and pay for the food individually. You CANNOT order all meals and treats but pay in increments. What is ordered MUST be paid IN FULL before the cut off.
• Absent on Hot Lunch Day: If your child is absent on a hot lunch date you can email PAC (or let the admin assistant know) to have your child’s lunch set for pick up at the office (will be available after 12:30) or you can donate your child’s lunch to a child in need.
• WE ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE SPECIAL REQUESTS OF WHO A DONATED LUNCH GOES TO.
• Late orders will not be accepted.
• Forgot to Order? Some extras will be available for purchase on the day of hot lunch/treat days, but we cannot guarantee what will be available and cannot hold these items for students.

ATTENTION SHORTREED COMMUNITY we need your HELP!!

Information and Reminders 

• Please note that we have had a significant increase in students requesting snacks at school. The snacks given out at our Eagles Nest are designed to be for students who cannot afford snacks, have forgotten snacks, or, on the odd day, may need a bit more food. Students in these situations are welcome to use the snacks program. We also have a fruit and veggie program that is also available.
• Our breakfast program is up and running! Please register by clicking this link.
• Friday Dance Sessions!  Does your grade 2-5 child love to move? Come to the gym at 7:45 on the last and first Fridays of the month to learn Bhangra, line dance, and other forms of dance!
  ” I dance to bring meaning, to bring possibility, and to bring inspiration to others. I dance because it makes me whole, so would you like to try some dance moves with me on Friday mornings!”
• If you are in need of boots and/or a coat, please check out our free Boot and Coat exchange near the office and gym. If you cannot find something there, please contact Mr. Wejr.

• 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.

• 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.
• Not Feeling Well? If your child has cold or flu-like symptoms, please keep them home until they have improved and they are well enough to attend school. This will help keep our staff and students as healthy as possible.

Community Events and Information

Check out events and activities around Langley by clicking on the Community Bulletin Board.

Langley Thunder Box Lacrosse registration is now open for the 2024 season. More info at https://www.langleythunder.ca/.