The Week Ahead

Posted: September 15, 2024

Families of Shortreed,

I hope your children enjoyed the first week in their new classes. We know that sometimes it is hard to leave their former classmates, teachers, and support staff, but seeing all the smiles in the classrooms throughout the week was great.

Our kindergarten gradual entry is complete, so we are excited to have our newest Eagles come for full days starting tomorrow. This is a reminder to kindergarten parents of the Kindergarten Playdate this Sunday from 2:00 to 3:00 on the playground. It is a great way to connect with new friends and meet others in the community. The K team and admin will be there and the PAC executive will be offering coffee and treats.

Photo Day is this Wednesday! We are excited to have Darby Photos back with us again this year.

Don’t forget about our Back to School BBQ and Meet the Teacher Night this Thursday! The BBQ will run from 5-6, and the Meet the Teacher will be an informal event from 6-7. If you did not register for the BBQ, you are still encouraged and welcome to come. Please note that the Meet the Teacher event is not a good time to have a private conversation with the teacher as parents are coming and going. If you need to meet with the teacher about specific information about your child, please contact them to make an appointment. We hope to see you all there! Thank you to staff for being there and to all the volunteers for helping with the BBQ!

Our Feeding Futures lunches from the Lunch Lady will start again this year, with our first one on Friday. More information will be released tomorrow. This program is different from the PAC Hot Lunch program, so please watch for that information coming out soon, too.

The Cross-Country Running season is starting very soon with the first meet on Tuesday, September 24 at the Aldergrove Regional Park (bowl). The cross-country team is open to any grade 4/5 students who are interested in donning the Eagles jersey and trying their best in about a 2km run/race. Mr. Wejr will come around to the grade 4/5 classes to talk to the students and determine who is interested. If your child is interested, please have them let Mr. Wejr know and forms will be sent out this week.

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. September is a significant month of learning on our journey as we lead up to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th. We encourage our students and staff to wear orange shirts on Friday, September 27th. This past week, the stɑl̓əw̓ pow-wow took place in Langley. This incredible celebration has only gone on for 3 years and as we learn more about our history, this gathering is a reminder of how powerful Indigenous Culture is coming back due to the strength, resiliency, and determination of Indigenous Peoples across this country. The Indian Act (written in 1867) banned traditional celebrations and ceremonies, and so the majority of Indigenous Peoples in the late 1800s through the mid-1900s were robbed of the pow-wow experience (as well as all other traditional/cultural ceremonies and celebrations. It was until the 1950s when they were allowed to happen again in Canada. Since then, the drumming, dancing, and celebrations of the pow-wow experience have continued to grow and thrive… including this larger pow-wow in Langley. Congratulations to the organizers and participants of the 2024 stɑl̓əw̓ pow-wow!

Tuesday – PAC Meeting 7:00 (all caregivers welcome – agenda is below)
Wednesday – Photo Day! Teenage Social Media – parent presentation at BGMS (see below for info)
Thursday – Back to School BBQ 5:00, Meet the Teacher 6:00-7:00
Sunday – Kindergarten Playdate 2:00-3:00

Shortreed Calendar: Did you know Shortreed has a digital calendar to view and subscribe to? Once you subscribe, you will get all our school events right to the calendar on your phone and/or devices at home. Click here for more info. You can also connect with us on Instagram and Facebook and join the PAC Facebook Group.

Month at a Glance

Tuesday, September 24 – Grade 4/5 Cross Country meet #1
Friday, September 27 – Orange Shirt Day (School event for NDTR)
Monday, September 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Schools not in session)
Tuesday, October 1 – Grade 4/5 Cross Country meet #2
Friday, October 4 – School Improvement Day (no school for students)
Saturday, October 5 – World Teachers Day
Tuesday, October 8 – Grade 4/5 Cross Country meet #3
Friday, October 11 – Terry Fox Run 1:15
Monday, October 14 – Thanksgiving (schools closed)
Wednesday, October 16 – Cross Country Finals
Friday, October 18 – PAC Meeting 9am

Information and Reminders

The District’s community partner, Fraser Health, is sharing important information with families regarding Vaccination Status Reporting and Regulation (VSRR). Families are encouraged to review the following newsletter to help keep our community healthy and safe:
Keep Immunizations Up to Date – Elementary. For other languages, read here.
Back to School Health Guide – Fraser Health
Prioritize Sleep
Ensuring your child gets enough sleep is an important part of a healthy back-to-school routine. Quality sleep helps with concentration, mood and overall well-being. Aim for nine to 11 hours of quality sleep per night.
Eat Well
Support your child’s learning and development with scheduled meals and snacks. Breakfast kickstarts their morning, while snacks and lunches nourish them throughout the day. Pack a water bottle to help them stay hydrated.
Boost Immunity
As with any public environment, school exposes children to various germs. Ensuring they are up-to-date on their vaccinations helps protect them and others. Specific immunizations are recommended for children prior to entering kindergarten as well as in grades six and nine. Help your child avoid the spread of illness by encouraging them to wash their hands regularly, teaching them to cover their coughs and sneezes and keeping them home when sick.
Keep Active
Adding physical activity to your child’s routine sets them up for success. Activities like walking or biking to school, playing sports, dancing, swimming or helping around the house are great ways for your child to stay active. Set limits on screen time and promote outdoor play as much as possible for overall well-being.
Make Time for Talking and Connection
Going back to school can be a cause of anxiety or stress for children. Make it a point to encourage open communication and support your child to talk about their feelings and help them feel heard and understood. Integrate downtime into their routine where they can relax or focus on a special interest or hobby.
Find more school health tips and resources on Fraser Health’s website:
School Health – Fraser Health Authority
Langley Community Services offers support and assistance to families looking for childcare in Langley. The Childcare Resource & Referral (CCRR) Program offers free consultation, support, assistance with affordable childcare benefit applications, and referral services to parents seeking childcare in Langley. Parents may contact the Langley CCRR office for a list of childcare providers in their neighbourhood or for more information at (604) 533-4425.
Parent Consent – Each year, Langley Schools asks families to complete a set of parent consent forms for their child. These consent forms are required by our schools to ensure the health, safety, and security of all students. Langley Schools uses a secure web form to collect this information. Beginning mid-September, please watch for an email request (subject Parent Consent Request) that contains one link for you to submit consents for all children in your family attending any Langley School. If your email address or contact information has changed, please call your school to correct it in our files. If you have not received an email regarding Parent Consent Request by the end of the month or have any questions/concerns, please contact your school administrator.
SchoolMessenger in the Langley School District – The Langley School District uses a notification system called SchoolMessenger to communicate information to families. As we welcome our new families to our schools, some parents/guardians may receive a text message notifying them about SchoolMessenger. For more information about the system and how to opt-in to receive text messages, visit the District webpage here.
Strive for FIVE Days (or Less) – Attendance plays a crucial role in 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 less!
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.
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.
We all know kids love juice boxes… but these are often extremely high in sugar and can cause a sticky mess in classrooms. Please opt for water as much as you can.
A reminder that we are a “nut aware” school and have some students with life-threatening allergies to nuts. Please avoid packing snacks or lunches with nuts as the oil from a student’s hands can be enough to create a significant medical incident.
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.
Be sure to check out the Back to School Guide from Fraser Health, which has some important reminders and advice.

PAC Info

Welcome new families and students! We look forward to seeing you at the Back to School BBQ on September 19th at 5:00. It is a FREE event, but donations are greatly appreciated.

Our first PAC meeting is Tuesday, September 17 at 7pm. All parents/caregivers are welcome! Agenda is here.

Our 1st fundraiser of the year is Neufeld Farms. Orders are due by September 30th @12pm, and pick up will be on October 10th at 2:30pm in the church parking lot. You can order through the website here. Thank you for your support!

Community Events and Information

Child Day Event at Church in the Valley – October 4, 2024

A free one-day expo that aims to connect families of pre-K learners with important resources is planned for next month. Child Day will be held on Friday October 4 from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Church in the Valley, and will feature community agencies, a marketplace, door prizes and more. See attached poster for details and ticket information or learn more here:

https://buytickets.at/inclusionlangleysociety/1302946