Information

National Day of Awareness for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (Red Dress Day)

Tuesday is the National Day of Awareness for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. This is a heavy, heavy topic, especially for kids, but it is one that we need to recognize. As with Orange Shirt Day, we can talk with kids about how indigenous people in Canada have and continue to lose family members at a much greater rate than non-indigenous people do, and that's both sad and not OK. If you see people wearing red on Tuesday, you know they're thinking about this challenging part of Canada's history and present. If you want to learn more, one place you can look is here.

National Teacher Appreciation Day

This Tuesday is also, by tradition, National Teacher Appreciation Day. Out of respect for the National Day of Awareness for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls, though, we are going to observe this special day on Wednesday instead. Don't forget to tell your teachers how much you appreciate them!

Safe Shoes

We have noticed a jump in the number of shoe choices that are not appropriate for school lately. Specifically, we'd like to address Heelys or any other shoes with built-in wheels, and soccer cleats. Wheeled shoes inside the school are not safe or appropriate. Kids wearing them will be asked to either switch shoes or remove/deactivate the wheels. Even better, though, is that those shoes just don't come to school. Similarly, soccer cleats can be quite slippery on the inside floors, and are a bit 'much' for recess soccer. When some students are playing in soft shoes, and nobody has on shin guards or ankle guards, the cleats become a dangerous choice. We have been working on reminding students that lunchtime soccer is not, in fact, the World Cup, and that the goal of those games is safe fun for everyone. Families, please remind your children that their Heelys and their cleats should be kept for after school times.

Kindergarten Welcome

Every year, we welcome the incoming Kindergarten students to a special event. This year, that day will be on the afternoon of June 2. Kindergarten families of this year, please note that your kids will be dismissed at 12:33 that day so we can meet our incoming Kindies. Everyone, please note that the parking lot and driveways are likely to be extra-full that afternoon.

Calendars

Basic calendars for 2027-28 and 2028-29 have now been approved by the Board of Education and are available here. You can also find a more detailed calendar for the 2026-27 school year here.

Future Catchment Changes

In case you missed the Friday email from Ms. Davies, please see this letter from Superintendent Mal Gill regarding the catchments for the new middle and secondary schools in this region.

Langley Children's Choir

If your kids came home singing about Pizza Hut or McDonald's on Thursday, it must have been inspired by our special visitors. The Langley Children's Choir came to visit first thing in the morning. We were excited to see Ms. Dotto and Ms. DeVido (who taught music at two of our 'previous' schools) and singers from our own school as well as our old schools. We couldn't help but film a bit of video to share with you.

If your children are interested in joining the Langley Children's Choir next year, it is open to kids in grades 3-6, and registration information can be found by emailing langleychildrenschoir2025@gmail.com.

Gardens

You may have noticed that the garden boxes are starting to fill. Ms. Reid & some students have planted two boxes with strawberries, and at last count we saw 30 blossoms which, if left undisturbed, will turn into 30 strawberries (some apologies may be due to the students who enthusiastically (but over-optimistically) told me that we'd all have unlimited strawberries there all summer). Mr. Uthaikhaifar's class has planted a range of plants including thimbleberry, wild strawberry and potatoes. Ms. Hornby and Ms. Van Deventer and their classes have a range of food plants started indoors to fill two more. And there's more to come. We are thrilled to note that the beds that have been prepared and planted are no longer being used as play climbers, and students are being very respectful of them.

This Month in the Arts

Safety first!

So one of the things I have noticed as I wave goodbye to families at the end of the day is how many students are in moving cars but don't have their seatbelts on. Sometimes I call out to them to buckle up. I don't know if they do or not, but I sure hope so. Please, drivers, have your kids buckled up. It keeps them safe, and it avoids a ticket. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Youth Vaping Information (from Fraser Health)

Health, safety, and wellness continue to be a priority in our schools. To help support our students and families, we are sharing important information from our community partner Fraser Health about youth vaping for school-aged children and youth. Please see below for helpful guidelines and resources to support your child.

Vaping is popular among youth. Daily or near-daily use can increase the risk of mental and physical health harm.

In 2023, 26 per cent of youth in grades seven through 12 in British Columbia reported having vaped. The most common age that B.C. youth first tried vaping was 13. 

How to support youth to prevent, delay or reduce vaping 

It is important to be supportive and recognize that setbacks may happen. You can help by being a positive role model and offering guidance in the following ways: 

• Have open conversations about vaping. Listen to your child’s beliefs and offer accurate information to help them understand the risks involved. 
• Practice refusal skills with your child by discussing ways they can say no to vaping, especially in situations that feel uncomfortable to them. 
• Be honest about your own use of tobacco, cannabis or vaping products. Share any health impacts or challenges you’ve experienced. 
• If you vape, avoid vaping around children to limit their exposure to second-hand vapour. Consider quitting or reducing vaping to improve your own health. For help, contact Quit Now, a provincially funded nicotine cessation program. 
• Store vapour products securely and out of reach of children and youth. 
• Tip sheet for parents: Talking with your teen about vaping 

Learn more about vaping products here.

For more information about child and youth substance use, including services, programs and resources available for children and youth, visit Fraser Health's website. 

Quote of the Week

Something to Read (or watch)

Star Wars Day? What???

Monday is Star Wars Day, where unashamed fans of Star Wars wear their enthusiasm for all to see (or maybe we actually do it all the time). The first recorded reference to this 'celebration' was actually way back in 1979 when the British press used the phrase 'May the Fourth be with you' in connection with the UK General Election when Margaret Thatcher was elected Prime Minister (source: wikipedia, because I was too young to remember much besides the actual movie back then). If you have a Star Wars shirt or similar, feel free to wear it on Monday. But please leave the lightsabers at home. And if you're really committed, like Yoda you must talk, hmmm?

I thought it might just be me, but there actually have been more whale sightings around the lower mainland than I remember in years past. But it's not just me. There have been more over the last few years, and this year appears to be on the same track. The pictures some people got yesterday and today of orcas passing under the Lions Gate Bridge blew me away! Sadly, when I went to White Rock beach this afternoon, I didn't see the gray whales that were reportedly feeding somewhere in that area this weekend. Maybe next time. If you saw any of this cetacean action, please share your story!

Calendar Items to Remember

Monday, May 4

• Star Wars Day
• Pop-up Strong Start - 12:30

Tuesday, May 5

• National Day of Awareness for Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls (Red Dress Day)

Wednesday, May 6

• National Teacher Appreciation Day Observed
• PAC Staff Appreciation Lunch
• Ready-Set-Learn 123 - 12:30

Thursday, May 7

• Grades 3-5 Vancouver Bandits walking field trip

Friday May 8

• Informal Learning Updates go home

Thursday, May 14

• timəθət ct ceʔ Cup

Friday, May 15

• Professional Development Day