North Otter News - September 21, 2026
Families of North Otter,
We hope you had a lovely weekend in the sun and that your child had a memorable first week in their new classroom with their new classmates.
Teachers and support staff worked closely with students to help them learn the classroom routines (and remind them of school routines). These predictable routines are essential to having an effective classroom for learning, so we truly appreciate the efforts of staff and students in making this a priority for September.
Our grade 4-7 students have been "all smiles" with the new playground that was installed near the end of last year. Thank you to everyone in the community who helped make this happen!
I've noticed some keen soccer players, great music, and dedicated parents playing on the soccer fields on Fridays after school. A huge thank you to Jamie and Angela for the time and energy for this awesome tradition.
We had over 50 students interested in joining our Grade 4-7 2026 Otters Cross-Country running team this year. Some of these students have other activities, so we are still confirming numbers. If your child is interested and you haven't received an email from me (Mr. Wejr), please let me know. Meets will be on Wednesdays in October at Aldergrove Regional Park. Thank you to Mrs. Peters, Ms. Davis, Ms. Alamwala, and Ms. Attwood, who will be helping out this year!
Don't forget that Thursday is Meet the Teacher from 4:00-5:30! Teachers will be at their classroom doors, inviting you and your child to see the classroom. PAC will also have hot dogs and drinks available by donation, with funds going to our school musical production. This is a casual event to see the classroom and meet the teacher; if you would like a more in-depth conversation about your child, please reach out to the teacher to find a time that works for both of you. We are also hosting a Grade 7 Parent info session in the library at 5:00. If you are hoping to see the classroom, please come between 4:00 and 5:00 and then attend the grade 7 session after that.
Friday is our annual School Improvement Day, when staff gather to learn together and plan for the year ahead. Students are not in school on this day. NOE staff will discuss literacy, numeracy, and our overall vision for our kids and staff at North Otter.
Please do your best to wear an orange shirt on Tuesday, September 29, for our school version of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (and Orange Shirt Day).
At North Otter, we are honoured to work, learn, and play on the unceded ancestral and traditional lands of the Máthxwi and Kwantlen First Nations. We share this not only to acknowledge the lands but also to express our dedication to learning on our journey of truth and reconciliation. September is an important month as we learn, reflect, and remember all those Residential School survivors and those who never returned home. Learning will continue in age-appropriate ways through important picture books and discussions as we lead into Nation Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The Week Ahead
- Thursday - Meet the Teacher 4:00-5:30; Gr. 7 Parent Meeting 5:00
- Friday - School Improvement Day - no school for students.
School Information and Reminders
- A reminder that fees for school supplies ($55) can be paid through your School Cash Online account. Teachers purchase the supplies for their classes, so there is no need to shop.
- 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.
- As the Langley School District shared, electric bikes and scooters are not permitted on school property.
- If your child rides their bike or scooter to school (we LOVE this!), please remind them to dismount and walk once they are on school property.
- Like cell phones, smartwatches (watches that can call, text, game, etc.) have become a significant distraction in class. Because they function like cell phones, students should keep these watches at home or in their backpack during school time.
- 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
SchoolMessenger
The Langley School District uses a notification system called SchoolMessenger to communicate information to families throughout the school year. As we continue to welcome new families to our District, some parents/guardians may receive a text message notifying them about SchoolMessenger. If you need to update your contact info on file, please reach out to your school. For more info about SchoolMessenger, visit the District website here.
Communicating With Your School
Schools and families continue to work together to ensure success for students. If you have an issue or concern but don’t know who to speak with, the District encourages you to read these helpful Communicating with your School guidelines for parents/guardians found on our District website here. As an additional reference, review this one-page resource here.
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.
Families play an important role in helping students achieve success as well as helping create a compassionate learning community. Just as students are expected to follow the District’s Student Code of Conduct, there is an expectation for parents/guardians to uphold the District’s Parent/Guardian Code of Conduct.
Student Accident Insurance Plan
The District is pleased to offer families access to two voluntary student accident insurance options for the 2026/2027 school year.
Although enrollment is optional, these plans can provide additional accident-related coverage and benefits beyond those available through standard health care programs. Please note that enrollment is completed online directly through the provider. Families may choose either of the following options: Insure My Kids OR Study Insured
Transportation: My Ride K-12 App
Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the Langley School District’s Transportation service will be using the My Ride K-12 (app or website) to share up-to-date bus rider information with parents/guardians and students. The application allows parents/guardians and students to view assigned bus stops and pick-up/drop-off times and receive notifications about bus delays or route changes. To access your child’s bus rider information, sign-up and login to the My Ride K-12 app by following instructions found on the District website here.
Parent Consent Forms on MyEdBC
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. Beginning in this school year, Langley Schools will be using the MyEdBC parent portal to collect this information. During the second third week of school (this has been delayed for elementary), please watch for an email from the MyEdBC system notifying families to log in to the MyEdBC parent portal to complete the online consent forms.
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.
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 consent forms by the end of September or have any questions/concerns, please contact your school administrator.
PAC News
Join us for a hot dog and drink during Meet the Teacher on Thursday, September 24! Cost is by donation, and the funds raised will go towards the school musical.
Join us for our first PAC meeting on Wednesday, October 14 at 7:00 PM in the library. All parents/caregivers are welcome.
Month at a Glance
- Monday, Sept 28 - Fire Drill 10:00
- Tuesday, Sept 29 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (School Day) - Orange Shirt Day
- Wednesday, Sept 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - schools closed
- Monday, Oct 5 – World Teachers' Day (and support staff!)
- Wednesday, Oct 7 – Cross-Country Meet #1
- Friday, Oct 9 – Terry Fox Run (Assembly and Run) - time TBD
- Monday, Oct 12 – Thanksgiving - schools closed
- Wednesday, Oct 14 – Cross-Country Meet #2; PAC Meeting 7pm
- Thursday, Oct 15 - Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill
- Wednesday, October 21 – XC Meet #3 3:15
- Thursday, October 22 – School Photo Day; PAC Halloween Dance 6pm
- Friday, October 23 – Provincial Pro-D Day (no school for students)
Community Opportunities
LEAP (Outdoor Education) Parent Information Session
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Imagine your child’s classroom in the open air! Join us on Thursday, October 1st @ 5pm at Fort Langley Elementary for our LEAP (Langley Environmental Awareness Program) Information Session. This meeting is for families interested in Kindergarten enrolment for the 2027-2028 school year, as well as any current grade 1-7 students who might want a change and an opportunity to learn in the great outdoors. For more about the outdoor education program and to watch our new stunning promotional video please visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdXcrUJSzfI.
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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 10th to November 28th 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/