Posted: December 17, 2023

Families of Shortreed,

Well, here we are… the final week of school for 2023! This is a really exciting week because it is Christmas Concert Week! For the concert, we encourage you to bring cash donations or non-perishable items to be donated to Sources Food Bank.

This is a reminder of the info that was sent out over the past month:

• Due to our growth over the past few years, we have had to make changes to ensure more seats for parents and families to watch. This year, we will be having THREE performances.
  • Tuesday, December 19th at 1:00 pm
  • Wednesday, December 20th at 1:00 pm
  • Wednesday, December 20th at 6:20 pm.
• All students are expected to be at all concerts. If they cannot make it for a very important reason, the school must be notified by a note, email, or phone call beforehand.
• Students should wear “nicer than everyday” clothes for the concert. For the evening concert on December 20th:
  • K/1 students and their siblings must arrive at the school at 6:00 pm and go to their classroom. Parents of K/1 students will be seated first, and then if there is any extra room in the gym, other parents will be seated.
  • Grade 2-5 students who do not have siblings in K/1 need to arrive at the school at 6:45 and go to their classrooms. Around 6:50, there will be a 15-minute intermission, when all K/1 parents will exit the gym, pick up their kids and go home. The grade 2-5 parents will then be seated in the gym to watch their concert portion. Parents with children in both groups will remain in the gym for the entire performance.
• Please consider coming to one of the afternoon performances (if possible) and leaving room at the evening performance for parents who can only make that showtime. Parents not attending the evening show to watch still need to drop their children off at the school from 6:00-8:00 pm so all students are in attendance for the evening performance. Students will be supervised by their teachers for this entire time.

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. Our acknowledgement is a commitment to learning the truth of the local history and creating actions and positive change for indigenous students/families and all children in our community. This week is another reminder of the teachings of the nearby Indigenous communities to put children at the centre of what we do. Our children will be at the centre of our attention through our concerts, where they will be given a chance to shine with their gifts (another Indigenous teaching). We love the focus of community and children in December. 

This week’s newsletter will focus on the more general “good things” around the school. The next newsletter will come out on January 7, 2024!

Good Things to Talk About

Elves on the Shelves – Well, the Shortreed elves were not just on the shelves… they were on and under the playground equipment, on the toilet, in the window, in the outdoor classroom and Gaga Pit… and on the roof! Shortreed students had a chance to run around and find the elves and then enter for a chance to win a prize. Thank you to staff for getting out there in the rain and to all those students and families who participated.

Metis Christmas Mittens – Ms. Elson treated the grade 2 classes in the library by sharing her knowledge and teaching about Metis celebrations of Christmas. She read the book, Metis Christmas Mittens by Leah Marie Dorion, and then the students had a chance to colour their own Christmas Mittens.

Alllll Aboard! The elves in the K classroom hinted to the K students that they would be going on an adventure that day. They were given golden tickets, and then the Conductor showed up to take them along the tracks outside and then back to their classrooms, where their tickets were punched, and they were treated to a showing of the Polar Express and treats! Polar Express Day is always a highlight of our December! The day before this, the K students had “Grinch Day,” which was a ton of fun, so it was an exciting week for them!

A Parade of Elves!  Students, staff, and families from Shortreed donned their festive gear and walked/rode with the Shortreed float in the Aldergrove Parade! It was a beautiful night and likely the largest crowd we have ever seen! Thank you to everyone who came out to walk and ride with us! A HUGE thank you to the Macklin Family (Gail, Misty, and Dean) for designing, decorating, donating, and driving the float again this year!

Blades of Steel – Ms. Kaur and Mostat’s classes walked over to the rink this past week to work on their skating skills. We love how close we are to the rink and how we can really embrace skating at our school.

The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer – Mrs. Thompson and Ms. Johnson’s classes walked to Jackman Manor to sing for the lovely residents there. We are so thankful for our relationship with Jackman Manor as the students get to share their gifts with them and bring a few smiles to the people there.

Red, Green. and White – We had another Shortreed School Spirit Day on Friday and so many students and staff wore their festive colours of red, green, and white.

The Week Ahead

Monday – Dress Rehearsal for Christmas Concert
Tuesday, Dec 19 – Concert run-through (students only) 8:50; Afternoon Concert #1 – 1:00
Wednesday, Dec 20 – Afternoon Concert #2 – 1:00; Evening Concert 6:20/7:00
Thursday, Dec 21 – pyjama day, PAC free treat day; Shortreed carolling; last day of school before Winter Break; Term 1 SIC Document sent home
Friday, Dec 22 – No School

Month at a Glance

Monday, Jan 8 – Schools re-open
Monday, Jan 15 – PAC Meeting 6:30
Tuesday, Jan 16 – Earthquake Drill 10:00
Wednesday, Jan 17 – Eco-Tigers 12:00
Friday, Jan 19 – PAC Hot Lunch

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

PAC Info

Here are the minutes from our latest PAC Meeting.

Information and Reminders 

• It’s that time of year when we see a rise in illnesses impacting students and staff in our school. We hear from families about colds, respiratory illnesses, and stomach bugs circulating in our community. As a reminder to help keep our school community healthy and well, we are sharing this online resource from our community partner Fraser Health. Here you will find information about protecting your child from communicable diseases and managing their illnesses: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/health-topics-a-to-z/school-health/illness-and-immunizations/illness-in-the-classroom
• Our breakfast program is up and running! Please register here.
• 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.

• As the weather cools, 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.

• 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.

Did you know that families are eligible for support with dental services for children?

• Many families do not have private dental insurance, but they may be eligible to apply for the following programs.

  • Healthy Kids Program – children under the age of 19 years may be eligible for basic dental services.
  • Canada Dental Benefit – children under the age of 12 years who do not have access to a private dental insurance plan.
  • UBC Dentistry – offers a free dental program for children 12 years and younger.  Please see the attached application form.
  • Affordable dentistry options for children – Fraser Health Authority

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/.

Langley Children’s Choir is looking for singers!

Openings are now available for singers in grades 3 to 8.  What are we looking for?

• School choir members (if your school has one)
• Good attitude and enthusiasm!
• Advanced vocal skills, and the ability to focus
• A firm commitment to the group

• Make new friends who like to sing, too
• Learn about how to sing better and learn lots of music
• Perform at other schools (a day off!)
• Have fun on a choir tour or camp in the spring

Xplore SportZ Winter Break Program at Shortreed – Register here. (limited to 24 spots and only a few left!)

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

The Lucky Langley 50/50 Raffle – Supporting the Langley School District Foundation. Buy tickets here.