Posted: March 9, 2025
Families of Shortreed,
Welcome to the final week before Spring Break. Saturday was International Women’s Day and we shared a post on social media showing a number of female staff members and thanked all our Shortreed women for the difference they make in the lives of our students. In addition to the staff, we also want to acknowledge all the moms, aunties, and grandmothers who play such an essential role in our children’s lives. Your strength and care are a key piece of the Shortreed community and we thank you for this!
Although the vast majority of our Student Inclusive Conferences occurred last week, a few will still occur this week.
This week is our Jump Rope for Heart week, during which we get active in the gym and raise funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. If you can, please donate here or bring in coins to support this important cause (more information has been emailed).
Our grade 5 basketball team practices on Tuesday and then travels to Langley Secondary School on Wednesday to participate in their year-end celebration playday from 3-6pm. Our grade 2 basketball players have their final practice of this session on Monday from 2:45-3:30.
We have a couple of assemblies this week with an acrobat, Quinn Beasley, performing on Thursday afternoon, and our slideshow assembly on Friday.
This is principal Claire Burns’ final week at BGMS before she moves on to RC Garnett Elementary School after spring break. I want to personally extend my sincere appreciation for Mrs. Burns’ tremendous efforts and care for all the Raptors over the past few years. I have witnessed her unwavering passion and leadership skills both as a colleague and parent and I am thankful our community has had her for the past few years. We will miss her and wish her all the best! We also look forward to working with principal Aaron Powell as he moves into his new role from his vice-principal at ACSS.
As always, we want to acknowledge that we do our important work to ensure every child belongs on the unceded ancestral and traditional lands of the Màthxwi (Matsqui) First Nation. We acknowledge this to honour the land and the people and share our commitment to learning on our journey for Truth and Reconciliation. As yesterday was International Women’s Day, I feel it is important to share a little about the matriarchal society that many First Nation communities have. Over thousands of years, many Indigenous communities have looked to women to lead as they were the “backbones of the cultures and communities… and were the voices of the children… and the lands and water” (from Stepping Into the Circle). A strong matriarch leads Matsqui in Chief Alice McKay and councillor Brenda Morgan. Melissa Epp is an educational leader in the region as she is a key voice with curriculum development and professional development in the Langley and Abbotsford School Districts. These female Matsqui leaders are also moms, grandmas, and a great grandma to Shortreed students and families! We are thankful for their strength, resiliency, and determination on these ancestral lands and we honour all Indigenous women for International Women’s Day.
Good Things to Talk About
Thank you to everyone who came out to participate in and engage in important conversations during our Student Inclusive Conferences. We loved hearing and seeing the pride in our students as they shared some evidence of their learning in Term 2. We appreciate the parent/caregiver voice in reflections from Term 2 and goals for Term 3. Thank you to our teachers and support staff for their efforts in preparing and attending the conferences.
Our Grade 5 Basketball team finished their regular season with another gritty win last week against the James Hill Seawolves. Strong rebounding and aggressive offence and defence led them to a 40-35 win in the Shortreed gym. The team only lost one game all season, and that game was by only 2 points.
Many of our students had a chance to read some letters of affirmation from students at our middle school, BGMS. Kids loved reading them and had huge smiles on their personalized letters. Thank you to BGMS teacher Kristine Waddell who led this initiative!
The Week Ahead
Monday – Jump Rope for Heart event starts
Tuesday – EQ Drill, Gr. 5 basketball practice 7:45
Wednesday – PAC Treat Day (Cobs); Gr. 5 Basketball Playday at LSS 3-6
Thursday – Assembly – Quinn Beasley 1:00pm
Friday – Last day for SIC, last day before Spring Break; assembly at 1:30
Month at a Glance:
Monday, March 31 – Schools reopen, Trestle Tree/gymnastics in the gym all week
Friday, April 4 – SIC Documents sent home
Wednesday, April 9 – PAC Hot Lunch – Mother India
Friday, April 11 – Fire Drill 11:00
PEACEful Schools and Homes
At Shortreed, we have been using some of the PEACEful Schools strategies from the Complex Trauma Resources Centre. Although the teaching is focused on supporting children who have experienced trauma, it is helpful for ALL children. The PEACE in peaceful stands for the following strategies:
- Predictable routines
- Emotional literacy
- Attuned relationships
- Calming activities
- Empowerment
They also have information for families. We know the importance of predictable routines for students and children – they do much better when they know what to expect (for the most part). We also know that students need to understand their emotions, have attuned relationships, and have a chance to participate in some calming activities. We shared this info with families over the last couple of months. This week, we are sharing information on Empowerment:
EMPOWERMENT
Find and celebrate successes; build off of existing skills and interests; develop mastery.
Offer choices to give the child a sense of control. Often traumatic events involve loss of control and/or chaos. The caregiver can help children feel safe by providing them with some choices or control when appropriate.
Give the child a voice in home expectations, routines, and activities (for example: “my job, your job”) at home.
Service Learning: when the child helps others in need, this expands who they are and fills their own need (i.e. reading to younger children, taking shelter dogs for walks, time with elders, etc.)
- Read the full PEACEeful Homes document as a PDF here.
Information and Reminders
- Strive for FIVE Days (or Less) – Attendance is crucial to your child’s learning as it helps with academics, social-emotional well-being, and peer connections. We understand children get sick, but please send them to school as many days as possible and strive for FIVE or fewer!
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 and state the following information:
- Student First Name and Last Name
- Grade
- Division
- Length of Absence
- Reason (illness, late, appointment, vacation)
- If your family needs support for breakfast before school, our breakfast program runs from 8:20-8:35 each day. Students must register and come every school day. You can register here.
- 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.
- Please bring inside shoes for your child. This helps to keep our school clean and dry. If you need some help with shoes, check out our FREE Shoe and Boot Exchange at the office.
PAC Info
FUN FAIR 2025!Mark your calendars! This year’s event will be May 23rd, 3:30 to 7:30 pm. Email shortreedpac@gmail.com if you want to help out!
Community Events and Information
Click here to check out the Langley School District’s community bulletin board.
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International Student Program Homestay Families
Embark on a rewarding journey of cultural exchange! The District is seeking homestay families to host International Student Program (ISP) students for the 2025-2026 school year and beyond. There are many benefits including learning a new culture, sharing your family traditions, and developing life-long friendships. Homestay families are provided $1200 per month to offset costs. Start your journey here: https://www.studyinlangley.com/student-life/
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Screenagers – Elementary School Age Edition: Community Screening and Expert Q&A – April 9, 2025
Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston examines the growing impact of screen time on young children, exploring the challenges families and educators face in managing digital use. Through personal experiences, expert insights, and the latest research, the film addresses key issues such as social media pressures, video gaming, screen time limits, and the effects of early exposure to technology.
Offering practical strategies for fostering healthy digital habits, Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition is a must-watch for parents, teachers, and caregivers looking to guide children toward balanced tech use. View trailer: https://youtu.be/EzzzeCny6oU
FREE EVENT: Join other Langley parents and caregivers for a 55-minute documentary screening followed by a Q&A with expert panelists.
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1140497717607292
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Raising Digitally Resilient Kids
The Raising Digitally Resilient Kids parent workshop outlines how parents and guardians can support children’s well-being and help them balance the risks and benefits of digital media. Based on insights from MediaSmarts’ research with youth, the workshop provides an overview of online risk categories and provides resources and essential strategies that participants can take to manage these risks.
https://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/workshops/raising-digitally-resilient-kids?mc_cid=cadc5a99de&mc_eid=43f3fb04f2
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