Posted: January 14, 2024

Families of Shortreed,

We hope you had a wonderful weekend in the sun while also staying warm! We had quite the first week (weather-wise) as we had snow, a power outage, and extreme cold! Just when we said we could settle back into routines, we had a few distractions outside! 🙂  It looks like it warms up a bit this week, but this also brings some snow. Please make sure your children are prepared to be outside for recess and lunch tomorrow (sunny, cold weather but not extreme cold) and Tuesday/Wednesday (possible snow). If the wind picks up tomorrow, we will keep them inside.

A reminder that kindergarten registration starts tomorrow. Please note that if you do not live in our catchment BUT you already have a child in our school, you can register as catchment. If your child turns 5 in 2024, you should register them for kindergarten. You can find more info here.

We are excited to be offering Club Wednesdays again this year for Term 2. Watch for the signup sheets to come home at the end of this week. CW will run Feb 7-14-21-28.

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. This acknowledgement is a commitment to learning more and acting in ways to reconcile the past. Through some conversations with my family, I was reminded again of the privilege that started my family’s presence in Canada. When my family came from the Czech Republic (then Czechoslovakia) over 100 years ago, they purchased 100s of acres of land in the Shuswap for a very small fee. We now know that this was unceded (land that was never given up) land of the Secwepemc First Nation. This gave my family, who came to Canada with very little, a huge chance to start a new life in Canada. Because of this, I always acknowledge and honour, and am grateful for, the land that I now live and work upon in the Màthxwi (Matsqui) First Nation.

This week’s Good Things focuses on the odd-numbered divisions. We hope you take a few minutes to read up on the good things as well as some reminders for the weeks ahead.

Good Things to Talk About

Fun in the Snow – We experienced more snowfall than we thought we would on Monday and this led to some fun times outside in the fields! There was just enough snow to allow students the chance to build snowpeeps and sled down the small hill at the back of the school.

Who Turned Out the Lights? Ok… perhaps this was not a good thing to deal with BUT, between the power outages and the extreme cold on Friday, it was amazing to see how our staff came together to support the students and each other during some challenging times.

Hooping it Up – Coaches Mostat and Wejr were pumped to have their first grade 5 basketball practice of the season on Friday! The team will practice for about 3 weeks (Tuesdays and Fridays at 7:45am) and then start playing games against schools from Aldegrove and the Langley City area. The team is open to students of all genders and abilities. Please contact Mr. Wejr for more info.

What Do You Need to Be Warm?  In the library, Mrs. Kirk engaged the students’ feelings around the cold weather with a reading of Neil Gaiman’s book “What You Need to Be Warm”. They heard about how people keep warm around the world and watched an artistic video read from the book. They then shared what THEY need to be warm. We LOVED their responses. Be sure to check them out on the board in the library (as well as a few examples on social media).

Let’s Play!  The kids were excited to have the Pacific Sport Let’s Play Wheelchairs back in our gym. Students get to experience being an athlete in a wheelchair and learn some new skills in the gym!

Instrument-al Learning – Mrs. Muller introduced students at each grade level to different instruments (and categories of instruments). For the younger students, she used a wonderful book to read aloud and describe different types of musical instruments.

Div 19 – Labelling Their Learning – Ms. Coghill’s little writers have started labelling things in their journals. This is a huge step to try to sound out the worlds they are trying to use in their writing. Parents – be warned that your stickies may be taken and labels used around your house for all sorts of household items! 🙂

Div 17 – Kindergarten Number Corner – Miss Petersen’s class was practicing their numbers, days of the week, measurements, colours, and patterns during Number Corner. A new item is put on the calendar each day, and students use descriptions to reflect and predict the pattern. This month’s focus is measurement so students not only practice patterns and numbers (and dates) but also learn more about various ways to measure things in our lives.

Div 15 – BINGO!  Ms. Fournier’s students have been working hard to learn and remember their “heart words”. Heart Words are those words that are irregular and don’t really work to sound out/decode (i.e. walk or she), so they need to be memorized. They practiced these with a fun game of BINGO last week.

Div 13 – Math Multiples – If you hear Ms. Kaur’s students reciting multiples of 10s, please give them a high 5 (or 10!). These little mathematicians have been practicing counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s and are getting close to becoming masters of this skill. Multiples and doubles are key parts of the fundamentals of math and help our students in endless ways.

Div 11 – More on the Floor? Ms. Cheema’s students have been practicing their skills in 2-digit subtraction with regrouping.  To help them remember the regrouping strategy (“borrowing”), they use the saying, “More on the Floor? Go next door and get 10 more!”. Students were saying this phrase to themselves and using manipulatives such as unifix cubes to practice this important math skill.

Div 9 – Ruling Their Patterns – Mrs. Gandouin’s students have been learning about increasing and decreasing patterns, identifying the pattern rule, and continuing the next step of a pattern. They have been using skip counting and drawing patterns to show their learning of the pattern rules and next steps.

Div 7 – Ms. Johnson’s students have been learning the science of snow… but more info will come out next week.

Div 5 – Hello to Hola! Ms. Penner has had a helping hand (or paw!) at teaching the students about the calming nature of animals and how they can help with self-regulation and Social Emotional Learning. She brought in her lovely dog, Hola, to spend time in the classroom. The students snuggle with Hola and take her for walks when they need a chance to stretch or calm their bodies.

Div 3 – Thankful Thursday! Mostat’s students practiced gratitude by writing letters to people in their lives about why they are thankful for them. They loved delivering their letters, and both the givers’ and the receivers’ hearts were full! Gratitude is such an important activity to become emotionally and mentally healthier humans!

Div 1 – New Year, New Goals – Mrs. Parsons’ class spent some time reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the new year. They discussed and then decided upon some things they want to try, a word they want to focus on (and keep at the forefront), a few ways they can grow, and how they can work to make the school a better place! We look forward to seeing our grade 5 leaders make a difference at our school.

The Week Ahead

Monday, Jan 15 – Kindergarten Registration Begins, PAC Meeting 6:30
Tuesday, Jan 16 – Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45, Earthquake Drill 10:00
Wednesday, Jan 17 – Eco-Tigers 12:00
Friday, Jan 19 – Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45, PAC Hot Lunch

Month at a Glance

Friday, Jan 26 – PAC Treat Day, Spirit Day – Backwards Day
Wednesday, Jan 31 – Eco-Tigers 12:00
Monday, Feb 5 – Gr. 5 Snowshoeing trip
Wednesday, Feb 7 – Club Wednesday 1:15
Friday, Feb 9 – PAC Meeting 9:30
Monday, Feb 12 – BC Lions Energy Assembly 1:15
Wednesday, Feb 14 – Club Wednesday 1:15
Friday, Feb 16 – Pro-D Day
Monday, Feb 19 – Family Day – schools closed
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

You can download a list of the important dates in the district for 2023-2024 here.  

PAC Info

You are invited to the next PAC meeting on Monday at 6:30. Agenda is here.

Information and Reminders 

• 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!”

• Information About School Status During Inclement Weather

  Snow closures and power outages are annual occurrences in Langley School District. So, where do you go to get information about the status of schools during periods of inclement weather? If you are able to access the internet via computer or smartphone, current information about Langley schools can be accessed on all school websites or the Langley Schools Website. Updates are also posted to X (formerly Twitter) @LangleySchools and Facebook. If you don’t have internet connectivity but your phone is working, call a relative or friend in an area that has not been affected by the storm and ask them to check the district website for you. Local radio stations are also informed of school status in Langley. Tune in to CKWX 1130AM, CKNW 980AM, Country Radio 107.1FM, Pulse 107.7 or CBC 690AM or 88.1FM for updates.

  Please note that Langley District schools are all considered ‘open’ until a decision to close is required. Decisions on school closures are usually made by 6:30am. As always, it is a parent’s decision whether to send their child to school based on safety and individual circumstances. If you feel it is unsafe for you or your child to travel to or attend an open school for any reason, please keep your child home and report an absence to the school.

• 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.

The Township of Langley is presently doing a survey to see what residents think about putting daycares into local parks.  The provincial and federal governments will provide funding to build the daycares and provide $10 a day daycare on Township-owned property that is level and ready to go.  The Township has chosen 13 parks to investigate the feasibility. In Aldergrove, they are Jackman Park beside Parkside and Aldergrove Athletic Park by the high school and Betty Gilbert.  Please complete the survey at https://www.tol.ca/en/connect/child-care-facilities-planning.aspx

Free Clothes! Clothes2U (www.clothes2u.ca) will be giving clothes for baby to adult, toys, diapers/incontinence items, linens, personal and smaller household things FREE on Sat. Jan.27. Come to the rear of St. Dunstan’s Church, 3025-264 st. Aldergrove. Entry fee is $4/person, kids 10 and under admitted without charge. Event hours are 1 PM to 3 PM Jan.27. To volunteer or for more information, email: clothes2u2002@gmail.com or call 604-857-4617

Winter Xplore SportZ Program at Shortreed – Pacific Sport Fraser Valley offers a K-3 Co-ed sports program for January-March for only $20! Click here for more info.

For more information or to complete the application visit https://form.jotform.com/adminlangley/winter-group-program-application

Aldergrove Minor Baseball registration is now open for the 2024 season. Register at www.aldergroveminorbaseball.com.

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