Posted: March 10, 2024
Families of Shortreed,
Ramadan Kareem to all our families who honour this important week!
Friday was International Women’s Day, and we are so thankful to have so many strong, dedicated women on our staff, our PAC, and in our community! Thank you for being such wonderful role models for our students!
We hope you had a lovely weekend and have found the Student Inclusive Conferences worth your time. It has been lovely to sit in on some and see the growth in understanding in our students and families. The first time we did the SIC, parents relied on the report cards and didn’t have a deeper understanding of their child’s strengths and struggles. After a few years of SIC, we have seen the conversation change as caregivers are more informed and have a larger voice. Thank you for coming!
This week is our Jump Rope for Heart Week! More info, including a chance to donate, will be emailed tomorrow. Friday is another Spirit Day so get out those Mismatched Socks!
A reminder that this is the final week of school before Spring Break. Schools will be closed for 2 weeks.
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. I was at the BC Boys Basketball Provincial Championships on the weekend and there was such a buzz about a 6th ranked team from Haida Gwaii. The Gidgalang Kuuyas Naay Breakers are from a small, remote community and often must travel 8+ hours for their games! They knocked off the #3 and #2 seeds and came up just short of winning the whole thing. Watching the Haidi Gwaii song/anthem being played at centre court (and the team proudly singing along!) before the provincial championship game was a reminder of how far Indigenous communities have come. As we have shared, the children were once ripped away and sent to faraway schools or put up for adoption… yet this team full of Indigenous athletes from Haida Gwaii showed that First Nation Peoples are still here… still resilient and strong as ever. We not only learn the horrific truth of our history; we also honour and celebrate incredible courage and success! Congrats to the Gidgalang Kuuyas Naay Breakers boys basketball team!
This week’s newsletter will feature some good things from around the school, including some odd-numbered divisions that were missed last week.
Good Things to Talk About
Beaming With Pride! I LOVED walking around the school, popping into a few different conferences, and seeing so many students proudly sharing their learning with their families. Students as young as kindergarten were showing their learning and skills in action as they went through portfolios, read, and shared some numeracy skills. Thank you to everyone who could make it and to all our teachers for the extra hours. Conferences continue this week.
Happy International Women’s Day! At Shortreed, we have the incredible privilege of working with some amazing, dedicated, caring, strong women whom we wanted to honour on International Women’s Day on Friday! Thank you to all the women who make Shortreed the wonderful school it is!!!
A Cool March—Why not have a little snow in March? The kids loved being outside, building, and creating with the snow we had on our field on Monday. This was one last chance to embrace the white stuff!
A Closer Look at a Salmon – Mr. D took his and Mrs. Thompson’s class through a journey of the inside of a salmon! He went through each body part and the importance of each as part of a salmon dissection. Mrs. Thompson’s class is part of the Salmon Enhancement program and are raising salmon in their classroom; while doing this, they are learning from people like Mr. D and Mrs. Sherwin (retired staff member and leader of EcoTigers) about the importance of salmon in our province.
Div 17 – It’s a Trap! There was some excitement in Miss Petersen’s class as they made a leprechaun trap, and the little leprechaun even left a surprise in it (a leprechaun figurine and a pot of gold/shamrock display!). They also did a directed draw of a leprechaun and read a few stories leading up to St. Patrick’s Day!
Div 15 – Button Blankets – Cultural Presenter Krystal Delong, from the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation, came into Ms. Fournier’s class to work with her students to create their own small button blankets! Krystal was taught this skill from her grandmother and this artform is so important to her family. Our students loved learning from her! (for some reason, the photo is blurry… sorry!)
Div 9—Embracing Our Differences—Ms. Gandoin’s students read three different books: The Sandwich Swap, Jabari Jumps, and Your Name is a Song. The common theme throughout them is that we all have strengths, and we can embrace these and who we are. After reading and discussing the books, students did an assignment in which they had to share their strengths and those things that make them who they proudly are!
Div 5 – Money, Money, Money, Money! Students in Ms. McCulloch/Ms. Penner’s class have been working on their financial literacy as they spent time practicing working with coins and bills. After learning about the different denominations, they practiced their skills with some pirate math games… searching for that buried treasure of Canadian coins! Arrrrrr!
Div 3 – What’s the MATTER? Students in division 3 have been learning about the different states of matter and WHY they are solids, liquids, and gases. After learning about what makes each state different, they discussed changes to these states and what happens to the particles when they are heated and/or cooled.
The Week Ahead
Monday – Jump Rope for Heart Week begins; Gr. 5 Basketball scrimmage 3pm; PAC Donut Orders due
Tuesday – Gr. 5 Basketball practice 7:45; Vancouver Warriors Lacrosse presentation 11:00
Wednesday – Gr. 5 Basketball Celebration Playday 3-6 at ACSS
Thursday – Purdy’s Orders pickup
Friday – Last day before spring break; Spirit Day – Mismatched Socks!
Month at a Glance
Monday, April 1 – Easter Monday – schools closed
Tuesday, April 2 – Schools back in session
Wednesday, April 10 – Hot lunch (Brick Alley Bistro)
Friday, April 12 – PAC Meeting 9am; SIC Reports sent home
Tuesday, April 16 – KIUAN Dance performance 1:15
Thursday, April 18 – Fire Drill 11:00
PAC Info
Hive Donut Orders are due Monday, March 11! A digital form is here. Pick up on Thursday and Friday (2-3pm – depending on when you ordered).
Purdy’s Orders will be available for pickup on March 14.
Doing some spring cleaning??? Save your stuff for the Shortreed Dollar Sale coming up on April 26th! More info coming out soon.
Information and Reminders
Spring Health for Kids – from Fraser Health
The spring season is approaching which means warmer weather and more outdoor activities. It’s also an opportunity to foster new healthy habits for our children. Here are five practical tips for school-aged kids to make the most of this season.
Get active
Warmer weather makes spring the perfect time to get outside and play. Take a walk around your neighbourhood or head to a local park or hiking trail. You can also stay active close to home with some backyard jump rope or hopscotch.
Think fresh
Springtime often brings up images of fresh fruits and produce. Now is a great time to teach children about where food comes by helping them to start their own home garden. You don’t need a large space to get started. Strawberries, tomatoes and lettuce can all be grown from pots on a sundeck.
Be sun safe
Sun burns are possible even in spring. Use a sunscreen that has Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or more. When possible, schedule outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon and early evening. If you and your children are out in the sun during mid-day hours, wear long sleeves, loose-fitting long pants and a hat with a wide brim.
Support positive mental health
The best way to support positive mental health in your children is by forming strong and caring relationships with them. Make time for connection each day. Talk to them about their feelings and experiences.
Practice road safety
Biking is a great way to exercise and spend quality time with your family. Remember to keep safety top of mind. Protect their heads with a well-fitted helmet and teach them the rules of the road, such as the hand signals for stop, right and left-hand turns.
Find more tips for a healthy spring in Fraser Health’s Spring Health Guide: https://ow.ly/HR5150Pez9Y
- 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 here.
- Friday Dance Sessions! Does your grade 2-5 child love to move? Come to Ms. Kaur’s room 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 here for the Community Bulletin Board.
FREE! PacificSport Fraser Valley Xplore Sportz Single Day Camps at Shortreed!
Grades K-5
Monday and Wednesday – Mar 18, 20, 25, 27 – 9am-3pm
Register for each individual date for a day of sports, movement, and fun!
Links for registration:
FREE! Big Brothers, Big Sisters Day Program – at Parkside
Grades 3-5
Thu, Mar 28 – 10am-12pm OR 12:30-2:30pm
Free – Registration Required
FREE! Community School Program Fun Grades 4/5 – at Parkside
SD35 staff and volunteers will lead the program. All supplies are free, including a small snack. Registration is required.
Tuesdays 10am-12pm – Gym Time
Thu, Mar 21 10am-12pm – Paint and build a birdhouse
Free – Registration Required.
Explore nature in your backyard or local park with fun family activities and games! This spring break, join a Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Interpreter in discovering the world through your senses.
