Families of Shortreed, 

What a gorgeous weekend of weather! We hope you all had a chance to get outside and take in some of those warm rays!

Our annual Spring PAC Everything for a Dollar Sale is coming up this Friday from 1:00-6:00 in our gym! Donations are accepted upt until Thursday, so please leave any gently used items (clothing, shoes, household, garden, sports, auto, toys, etc) near the gym. Hope to see you there on Friday. (Please note that students are only allowed in the gym with adult supervision.)

Our Grade 3-5 Track and Field Practices continue this week with Grade 3-4 Long Jump practice after school on Tuesday from 2:45-3:15 and running practice on Thursday at lunch. Mrs. Rossnagel will practice long jump with the grade 5s at lunch soon. 

Grade 4 Swim Program continues this week on Tuesday. Tuesday is also another spirit day at school with "Career Day"! Students are encouraged to wear something that represents a career. 

We are hosting the April Elementary Principals' Meeting on Wednesday morning, so all principals from Langley Schools will be in our gym and visiting our classrooms to get a quick glance of what we do at Shortreed. 

Our Grade 5 Girls Basketball players will have an exhibition game against the Parkside girls on Wednesday after school. Come out and cheer them on! 

Please note that there is an event at the Catholic Church on Thursday and Friday, so parking is not available in the church lot on those days. Please park along 28th or the side streets. Our parking lot is closed for families. Also, we have received some concerns from neighbours that some people are parking in front of their driveways and in marked stalls in the complex across the street. Please avoid doing so as this can create significant challenges for our neighbours. 

For those families who ride the bus to school, please see the information below to register for the 2026-2027 School Year. 

Our grade 4 students started their Operation Waterproof Swim Program this past week at the Aldergrove Community Centre. Students took a quick assessment and were grouped to teach them the critical skills of swimming and being in the water. The kids represented our school so well and had a blast in the water! Our grade 5s will have their program in May. 

We were thrilled to see our students share their various gifts with us as part of the 2026 Shortreed's Got Talent! We watched live performances of dancers, singers, drummers and pianists, comedians, and martial arts. We also watch video submissions of various athletes, insect aficionados, dancers, and actors. Congratulations to everyone who participated, and a huge thank you to Ms. Coghill and Mrs. Parsons for organizing. 

At Shortreed, we are honoured to work, learn, and play on the unceded ancestral and traditional lands of the Máthxwi First Nation. We share this not only to acknowledge the lands but also to express our dedication to learning on our journey of truth and reconciliation. With our Shortreed's Got Talent event that happened on Friday, I was once again reminded of the Indigenous teaching of embracing and nurturing the gifts of every child. We saw our kids shine up there in ways we have not seen before. Through nurturing these gifts, we can help better align education with the strengths and passions of our students. 

The Week Ahead

• Tuesday, April 28 - Gr. 4 Swim Program; Spirit Day - Career Day(wear something that represents a future career!); Gr. 3-4 Long Jump Practice 2:45-3:15. 
• Wednesday, April 29 - Elementary Principals Meeting in gym - 9-12
• Thursday, April 30-May 1 - Church Parking lot closed all day due to an event
• Thursday, April 30 - Gr. 3-5 Track (Running) practice 12:00-12:25
• Friday, May 1 - PAC Dollar Sale 1:00-6:00

Upcoming Dates and Events:

• Monday, May 4 - Spirit Day - Star Wars Day; Gr. 2 Trip to Zoo
• Tuesday, May 5 - Gr. 4 Swim Program, Gr. 5 Trip to Orpheum
• Wednesday, May 6 - PAC Hot Lunch; Club Wednesday #1 1:20-2:20
• Thursday, May 7 - Class/Group Photos; Gr. 3-5 Track (Running) practice 12:00-12:25
• Friday, May 8 - Shortreed Grade 3-5 Track Meet (9:00-12:00)
• Monday, May 11 - Gr. 1 field trip
• Tuesday, May 12 - Gr. 4 Swim Program
• Wednesday, May 13 - Kindergarten Welcome Event 12:45-4:00 by appointment (current K students dismissed at 11:30)
• Thursday, May 14 - Gr. 3-5 Track Team (Running) practice 12:00-12:25; PAC Meeting 6:30
• Friday, May 15 - Pro-D Day (no school for students)
• Monday, May 18 - Victoria Day (schools closed)
• Wednesday, May 20 - PAC Treat Day (TCBY); Club Wednesday #2; Gr. 3-5 Track Team (Running) practice 12:00-12:25
• Friday, May 22 - Spirit Day - Anything But a Backpack Day; PAC Fun Fair!!!; Gr. 3-5 Track Team (Running) practice 12:00-12:25
• Monday, May 25 - Gr. 3-5 Track Team (Running) practice 12:00-12:25
• Wednesday, May 27 - ACSS/LSS Regional Track Meet 9:30-2:00
• Friday, May 29 - Earthquake Drill 10:00

You can see our digital calendar here. We encourage you to add our school calendar to your phone/device by clicking here. 

Information and Reminders:

• Transportation Registration 2026-2027

  Transportation registration for 2026-2027 is open. Please note the instructions to register are different for each category of rider. To help in our planning and creation of bus routes, registrations must be submitted by May 4^th for eligible riders and June 9^th for courtesy riders. The District cannot guarantee approval after the deadline. New and existing riders can find more information on our Transportation Registration webpage here.

• Summer Session 2026 – Elementary/Middle/Secondary

  Are you looking for skill-building or new learning opportunities for your child to keep them engaged during the summer? The District offers a variety of courses as part of Summer Session. Online registration begins on Wednesday, April 22^nd for Elementary (Grades 1 to 5), Monday, April 27^th for Middle (Grades 6 to 8), and Wednesday, April 29^th for Secondary (Grades 9 to 12) at 11:30am each day for Langley School District students. For important dates, times, and courses available to Grade 1-12 students, please visit our webpage here. 

• Our Shortreed Breakfast Program runs each school day from 8:20-8:35. This is free for any students registered, and they must come each day they are in school. To register, click here. 
• We know that illnesses occur and absences can happen. 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 doing either of the following:
  • E-mail SCEAttendance@sd35.bc.ca or call 604-856-4167 and follow the prompts for the attendance line, and leave a message with information including:
    • Student First Name and Last Name
    • Grade
    • Division
    • Length of Absence
    • Reason (illness, late, appointment, vacation)

  • Please be aware that if your child is often late, they will miss significant lessons, as much of the literacy and math instruction takes place at the beginning of the day. If your child is ill (flu-like symptoms), please keep them home until they are no longer contagious and can participate in regular school activities. Homework will be provided upon request. Please avoid long absences due to holidays, as this can seriously jeopardize your child’s academic achievement. Homework may not be provided as assignments based on lessons your child missed, as it can be more confusing than helpful. If you will be away for an extended period, please notify the school, as this may impact enrollment.

  • We STRIVE for FIVE absences or less at Shortreed. We know that children will get sick, but it's important to minimize absences.

• There is no parking or pickup/drop-offs in our school parking lot. Please park along 28th Ave or 273rd Street. The Catholic Church allows us to park there for pickup and drop-off. Do not block the driveways of any residences. 

PAC News

Have any questions? Email us at shortreedpac@gmail.com. 

Join our Shortreed PAC Facebook Group too!

Community Events

To read about some fantastic family opportunities across Langley, check out the Community Bulletin Board.

Langley RCMP Youth Cadet Camp application and info are below:2026 Langley RCMP Youth Camp Application WORKING FILE.pdf This is open to children born in 2015 and 2016.

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Home Alone at Shortreed

Friday, May 15

9am-1pm

Ages 10+ yrs

$40

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1985772643432?aff=oddtdtcreator

Reach out if you have any questions or if finances are a barrier to participating.

Stephanie Eby 

Community School Coordinator

seby@sd35.bc.ca or 604.862.5943

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McHappy Day and the Langley School District Foundation

On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, McDonald’s Langley locations will celebrate McHappy Day, raising funds to support families and children in our community. Proceeds will be split between three local charities, including the Langley School District Foundation!

This year, the goal is to raise $28,000. Your support will help fund Out-of-School Programs for Langley students.

Volunteers Needed!

Volunteers will help create a fun and welcoming atmosphere while supporting fundraising efforts.

Volunteer activities may include:

Greeting guests in the lobby

Helping with games or activities for families

Collecting donations in the drive-thru donation bucket

Encouraging guests to support McHappy Day fundraising

No experience is needed — just bring your energy, enthusiasm, and community spirit!

Volunteer Times

Volunteers are needed throughout the day from: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM. You are welcome to volunteer for as little as 1 hour or longer. We welcome:

Individuals, Families, Students completing volunteer hours, Community groups. School groups such as band, cheer teams, and dance teams

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Talk with Me, Play with Me, Learn with Me

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 Saturday mornings from 10–11am, April 4^th to May 23^rd at the Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary School Welcome Centre. 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/

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Parkside Just Be Four (JB4) Preschool - Registration Open for September 2026

Langley School District operates a licenced 4 year old preschool program at Parkside Centennial Elementary.  Registration is now open for September 2026-2027.

Classes operate on Tuesdays/Thursdays from 12:45 - 3:15.

Please complete the contact form here, and our staff will contact you to secure a space for your child.  Please contact Charlene Redekop at credekop@sd35.bc.ca for further information.

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Gifts and Gatherings is a 90-minute program from 8:30am - 10am hosted weekly at one of the Langley Strong Start sites. Any family member or caregiver is welcome to participate along with children ages 0-5 years. Families will explore activities that emphasize indigenous perspectives, highlighting the many interconnected gifts of land, people and animals. Experiences may include: art, sensory exploration, story-time, table top activities and more.  During each session, participants will receive a gift that will allow families to continue to explore their learning at home. The program is intended to build connections between families and the school and to support children in their transition into Kindergarten. Please see the flyer at the link below with locations and dates.

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Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) Reading Advisor 

FVRL Reading Advisor is a free resource for everyone living or studying in communities served by FVRL, including Langley. The Reading Advisor service offers personalized book recommendations for readers of all ages, making it an excellent support for students and staff across the Langley School District. All that is required is to fill out a short form about your reading interests, and trained library staff respond with a customized reading list based on genre, themes, age level, and preferred formats (print, eBook, audiobook, graphic novel, etc.) This is ideal for boosting reading engagement, supporting diverse learning needs, and possibly helping teachers quickly discover high‑quality texts for classroom use. This free community resource extends the capacity of school libraries and connects learners with a broader range of inclusive and accessible materials and would be a great resource to share with students and other staff to help them find some new great reads for over spring break. Happy Reading!

https://www.fvrl.bc.ca/my-reading-adviser

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FamilySmart presents “InTheKnow” events this March and April, and we’d love to see you!  All our events are free, and parents/caregivers can register for the date that works best using the link below:

https://familysmart.ca/online-events/

Emotion Regulation Part 2: Deepening Our Understanding

Our kids’ big emotions don’t always make sense. This is the second video conversation to understand why some kids cope more easily than others, how to determine what our child needs during those hard moments, and some strategies that can help.

Wednesday, April 29, 6:30 pm

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MediaSmarts has launched a new, free, self-guided workshop to help families develop healthier technology and screen-time habits. Building Better Tech Habits provides practical, research-informed strategies for managing family screen use and addressing common digital challenges at all ages. The workshop can be accessed 24/7 via the link here and completed any time, making it easy to fit into busy schedules.

Aldergrove Family Resources