Families of North Otter. 

We are definitely getting spoiled with this lovely fall weather, so I hope you had a chance to get outside and enjoy it with friends and family. 

On Friday, we had a fantastic day for our kids and staff at the North Otter Pumpkin Patch at Steele Park! PAC executive and parent volunteers ordered pumpkins from Venechuk Farms and worked with some Grade 7 students to place them throughout the forest in Steele Park. Classes walked over there, and students had a chance to find their "perfect pumpkin" for Halloween. Huge thanks to all the volunteers who made this happen; this is the start of a wonderful North Otter tradition!

Friday was also a North Otter Theme Day, as we encouraged students and staff to dress up for Farmer Friday! Students donned their best farmer wear and had some fun on our latest Theme Day. 

Our Otter Athletes were representing our school well this past week in volleyball and cross-country. Our Girls Volleyball team played really well and showed strong camaraderie as they faced Fort Langley Elementary. The girls showed their skill development but lost in a close match. Our Boys Volleyball team also played FLE and got better with each set. They lost the first set, then won the 2nd and 3rd in a loud, supportive gym full of North Otter fans. Come out and cheer on the teams this week as they play against Coghlan in the North Otter gym. The boys play Monday after school, and the girls hit the court Tuesday. 

Our Cross-Country athletes ran in the 2nd meet of the year last week. Over the 2 meets, many Otter runners have improved, and many have finished in the Top 10 and 20, qualifying for the Langley School District Cross-Country finals next week. Thank you to the coaches and families for their support! The team has one final practice Monday at lunch before their final meet on Wednesday. 

North Otter staff have put in many extra hours each week to get the classes and schools to the solid place we are in this school year. We know how wonderful our staff is so they deserved a little perk of a Barista in the staff room one morning last week. We truly appreciate our staff and all the time, effort, and dedication they bring to this school every single day! 

Auditions for our 2027 School Musical have finished, and roles have been offered! There was a big buzz in the building on Friday as students learned about their new roles and opportunities in the musical. Huge thanks to Mrs. Sutlow, Ms. Russell, and Ms. Palitti for all their extra hours in making this awesome event for our school community! 

A reminder that Thursday is our School Photo Day and Friday is a Pro-D Day, so there is no school for students. 

Please support our Grade 7 Fundraisers coming up soon! 

• Supply Store This Week The North Otter Grade 7's will be hosting our first ever "Supply Store" on Tuesday the 20^th after school (2:00-2:30pm). They will be selling fun pens, pencils, erasers, bookmarks, and stickers outside by the gym to raise money for the Grade 7 Leaving Ceremony and Grade 7 camp. The items will range from 50 cents to 4 dollars. Cash only!
• Return It Depot Account - Grade 7 Fundraiser Have extra bottles or cans around the house that you'd like to return? Drop them off at the Return It Depot under our school phone number (604-856-3355)! We greatly appreciate your support!

Our North Otter PAC Family Halloween Dance is coming up this Thursday! Please see the PAC section below for more information. 

We are collecting coats for the Langley School District Foundation (to be distributed to children in need of good coats). If you have a coat in decent shape that you no longer use, please drop it off at the office before October 30. 

The Week Ahead

• Monday, Oct 19 - XC Practice at lunch; Boys VB Home Game vs COG
• Tuesday, Oct 20 - Girls VB Practice at lunch; Girls VB Home Game vs COG; Gr. 7 Fundraiser (Supply Store) after school
• Wednesday, Oct 21 – XC Meet #3 3:15
• Thursday, Oct 22 – School Photo Day; Boys VB Practice at lunch; PAC Halloween Dance 6pm
• Friday, Oct 23 – Provincial Pro-D Day (no school for students)

A reminder to subscribe to our school calendar here. 

School Information and Reminders

• Parent Consent Forms on MyEDBC Ready for Families
  Parent consent forms can now be received on MyEDBC. Families are asked to please log in to the MyEDBC parent portal and complete the process. A set of consent forms will need to be completed for each child attending a Langley school. It is advised to access MyEDBC and complete the parent consent forms using a desktop or laptop as the process requires the full site version (which is not mobile-friendly). For step-by-step instructions, please read here. More information can be found on the District website here.
  
• Halloween is coming soon... muhahahahahah! We encourage students to wear their costumes (or dress in black/orange) on Friday, October 30. More information will be coming out on our pumpkin carving and costume contests. As we look forward to Halloween, we kindly ask families to help ensure that costumes are appropriate for our elementary school setting. Costumes should not be excessively scary, gory, or violent, and should respect all cultures, identities, and traditions. If your child's costume involves a weapon or scary mask, please leave it at home for Halloween. If you have any questions, please email Mr. Wejr or Mrs. Davenport. 
• Don't forget to follow us on Instagram for images and updates about life at North Otter. You can also follow us on our NEW Facebook Page (note that this is different from the North Otter Elementary PAC Facebook Group, as the school page is more about sharing photos and less about questions/conversations for parents at the school). 
• If you need a lunch for your child each day at school, please let your child's teacher know or email the school, and we can set that up. 
• We are looking for a family who can house some materials/props for our musical this year. A larger, dry storage area would be much appreciated. If you have space to accommodate these items and can help transport them, we would be extremely grateful. Please contact the school to discuss.

District Information

Information About School Status During Inclement Weather

Snow closures and power outages are an annual occurrence 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 www.sd35.bc.ca. Updates are also posted to X (formerly Twitter) @LangleySchools and Facebook at www.facebook.com/langleyschooldistrict. 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 CKNW 730AM, Country Radio 107.1FM, Pulse 107.7FM, CBC 690AM or CBC 88.1FM for updates.

In the event of inclement weather, the District may implement a delayed start or early dismissal at school sites. This information will be communicated to families via one or more of these methods: SchoolMessenger, email and/or text and on the District website. For District bus riders, schedules may change depending on the school status. Bus riders will be notified of changes via one or more of these methods: My Ride K-12 App, email, phone, and/or District website.

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.

Daylight Saving Time Information for Families: Fraser Health

Earlier this year, British Columbia adopted permanent daylight saving time, with the final clock change taking place on March 8, 2026. As a result, the province now observes Pacific Time (PCT) year-round, eliminating the twice-yearly switch between Pacific Standard Time (PST) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).

During parts of the winter, particularly between late November and early February, many children will travel to school before sunrise. Fraser Health is sharing this information to support families as they adapt to year-round Pacific Time and maintain healthy sleep habits and safe travel to and from school.

What Families Can Do

Support healthy sleep and well-being by:

• Spending time outdoors during morning daylight hours whenever possible.
• Encouraging physical activity and social connection through after-school programs and activities.
• Maintaining consistent bedtimes and wake-up times.
• Turning off screens at least one hour before bedtime, as evening screen use can make it harder to fall asleep.

Support safe travel to and from school by:

• Helping children choose well-lit routes with sidewalks and designated crossings.
• Encouraging children to wear reflective or high-visibility clothing and use a flashlight when travelling during darker morning hours.
• Reminding children to use designated crossings, scan traffic, and make sure vehicles have stopped before crossing.

If driving:

• Use extra caution when driving near schools, crosswalks, intersections and shared pathways.
• Be aware of one's surroundings and refraining from cell phone use, make eye contact, and shoulder check before turning or changing direction.
• Travel at slow speeds and stop completely at stop signs and crosswalks.

Additional school health resources can be found on our website at fraserhealth.ca/schoolhealth.

Student Safety in Schools (Elementary Schools)

The Langley School District is committed to fostering safe and caring schools that promote mutual respect, cooperation, and social responsibility, and support optimal learning. Trauma Informed Practices and Procedures promote the creation and maintenance of safe, inclusive, equitable, welcoming, and nurturing school environments. The District expects all students to follow the Student Code of Conduct AP 350. This expectation is also in line with the new Provincial Firearm Violence Prevention Act (FVPA).

 The District is sharing a reminder that no one can have “any weapon for any purpose” on school property. This means that weapons are not allowed to be used as part of an educational project, drama production, or themed costume. Examples of weapons include but are not limited to knives, bb guns, and toy guns. Failure to follow these expectations may result in confiscation, intervention, and consequences. 

Election Day – Use of School Sites (October 24)

On Saturday, October 24^th (provincial election), many school gyms across the District will be used as election polling stations. As guided by Section 81 of the Election Act “accommodation in a school that is the property of a Board of School Trustees under the School Act must be made available by the Board for use as a voting place.”

Please take note of extra pedestrian and vehicle traffic in the area of these sites on these days. The District appreciates the support and cooperation from families and members of our community. The District is encouraging everyone who is eligible to do their civic duty and vote. For a list of school sites being used, visit the District website here.

Programs of Choice – Deadline to Register is Monday, October 26^th

Langley School District offers a rich diversity of programs that are designed to meet the specific needs and interests of students. Programs include Fine Arts, French Immersion, Fundamental, Langley Environmental Awareness Program (outdoor education), Montessori, and UConnect. Registration for Kindergarten entry (for most programs) begins on Monday, October 5^th at 12 noon, and closes on Monday, October 26^th at 12 noon. For UConnect, please contact the school directly. For more information and instructions to register your child, visit our District website here and review our FAQ choice programs resource here.

PAC News

PAC Halloween Dance! 

We are excited to welcome families to our PAC Halloween Dance from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The first 30 minutes of the evening will feature family-friendly and younger-child-focused music before transitioning to more traditional dance music for the remainder of the event. Families are welcome to arrive as early as 5:30 p.m. to enjoy activities and refreshments. Highlights of the evening include:

• Face painting (beginning at 5:30)
• Kona Ice (beginning at 5:30)
• Gourmet Grub food truck
• Popcorn and water, Candy bags
• Temporary tattoos
• Halloween finger lights

Costumes are encouraged but not required. We kindly ask that costumes be respectful and appropriate for a family-friendly school event. Please note that this is a PAC-sponsored event, and all children must be supervised by a responsible adult. While one adult may supervise multiple children, an adult must remain on site for the duration of the event. Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring children remain safely supervised throughout the evening.

The Zen Den gate will be closed during the event. Children will still have access to the outdoor area; however, it will remain within a secured and supervised space. We look forward to celebrating with our school community and hope to see you there!

North Otter Winter Market

We’re excited to share that the North Otter Winter Market is returning in 2026, and we’d love for you to be part of it!

Last year’s market was a huge success thanks to amazing vendors . We hope this year will be a bigger and busier event, filled with holiday cheer, unique handmade goods, and a festive community spirit.

Event Details: North Otter Elementary - Saturday, November 7, 2025 - 10am - 3pm

To apply for a spot at this year’s market visit: https://forms.gle/8f9rU45n5KD1qd2GA - Spaces are almost gone! Be advised. We will be sending out an invoice with payment options upon approval. Please do not submit payment without approval.

We hope you’ll join us to make this year’s market another memorable kickoff to the holiday season!

Family Photo Sessions are back on November 25th!

We’re super excited for our family picture day with Made the Grade Photography! Sessions are $40 and are 12-15 minutes long - plenty of time for shots of the entire family, parents together, kids together and individual kid shots too.

Every session comes with an included 8×10” portrait of your choice, though there will be packages for those looking for a bit more, and digital download options as well.

Space is limited so be sure to book your spot today! To purchase your session, login to Munchalunch under fundraisers click ‘Family photos “ https://munchalunch.com/

North Otter PAC Hot Lunch Program

Hot lunch can be ordered online through the Munchalunch website here.

Month at a Glance

• Monday, Oct 26 - Fire Drill 10:45; Boys VB Practice after school
• Tuesday, Oct 27 - Girls VB Practice after school
• Thursday, October 29 - PAC Treat Day - Halloween Donuts
• Friday, October 30 - Halloween at School!; Informal Learning Updates sent home; D&D Club after school  
• Monday, Nov 2 – Girls VB Practice 2:30; Boys VB Game @ WIX
• Tuesday, Nov 3 – Boys VB Practice 2:20; Girls VB Game @ WIX
• Wednesday, Nov 4 – Chris/Elise at Supts Meeting for AM
• Thursday, Nov 5 – Staff meeting 2:25-3:40
• Friday, Nov 6 – Boys VB Practice at lunch; PAC Hot Lunch (hot dog); D&D Club after school 
• Saturday, Nov 7 - North Otter Winter Marker 10-3
• Sunday, Nov 8 - National Indigenous Veterans Day
• Monday, Nov 9 - Girls/Boys VB Practice 2:30
• Tuesday, Nov 10 - School Remembrance Day Assembly 10:45; Girls VB Home Game vs Peterson Rd
• Wednesday, Nov 11 - Remembrance Day - Schools closed
• Friday, Nov 13 - Theme Day: PJ Day; Boys VB Practice at lunch; D&D Club after school; PAC Treat Day - Milk/Cookies 
• Nov 16-19 - Scholastic Book Fair
• Monday, Nov 16 - Boys VB Game at PRE; Girls VB Practice 2:30-3:30
• Tuesday, Nov 17 - Girls VB Game at FLE; Boys VB Practice 2:20-3:20
• Wednesday, Nov 18 - PAC Hot Lunch (White Spot)
• Friday, Nov 20 - Design and Assessment Day (no school for students)

Community Opportunities

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Safer Schools Together Parent Information Sessions

Safer Schools Together is once again providing Family Information Sessions on a variety of topics. These are good opportunities for parents and guardians to increase their knowledge on the evolving world of digital citizenship, social media, AI, etc. Sessions are recommended for those in care of children aged 10 & up. 

The first two sessions available are titled:

• Establishing Safe, Caring, and Respectful Digital Communities
• Establishing Family Practices for Safeguarding Against Cyberbullying and Sextortion

https://pages.saferschoolstogether.com/erase-family-sessions

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Talk with Me, Play with Me, Learn with Me - Aldergrove 

Talk with Me, Play with Me, Learn with Me is a fun and engaging Langley Literacy Network program designed for Kindergarten students and their caregivers. The program will run in Aldergrove on Saturday mornings from 10am –11am, Saturday, October 10^th to November 28^th in the Family Place portable on the grounds of Shortreed Community Elementary. It is an opportunity to read, play, learn, and connect. Each week, families will explore new books and activities that support early literacy and learning. Plus, every participating family will take home eight new books to build their home library! 

Registration is required, and space is limited. Sign up today at: https://langleyliteracynetwork.com/talk-with-me-play-with-me-learn-with-me/