Families of Shortreed, 

Happy December!!! We hope you enjoyed the beautiful weather over the weekend and had a chance to head outside. 

Thank you to everyone who has been able to attend our Student Inclusive Conferences. Although most occurred last week, conferences will continue this week. 

Our Shortreed Spirit Wear order closes on Monday night! Please check your email and School Cash Online account for the chance to order. You can see the different options here. 

A reminder that our 2025 Santa Breakfast is happening THIS FRIDAY. This is a huge event that the Shortreed Staff prepares and hosts, and we hope you can attend. A few notes about this year’s event:

• Santa will be in the gym for photos at 7:15 (only 1 photo pose per family so we can keep the line going).  Breakfast starts at 7:30. 
• Families (students, parents/caregivers, and siblings) are invited to breakfast between 7:30-8:40 am. Please note that it gets very busy after 8:00, so to avoid long lineups, please come before then. Halal and GF options will be available. 
• Due to the high number of students, we cannot offer drop-off after breakfast. We will have supervision outside starting at 8:15 (we cannot offer supervision before 8:15). If you need to leave before then, please arrange supervision with another parent/caregiver. 
• When you arrive, students can place their backpacks in the hallway near the library at the division cones and then head into the breakfast. You can enter through the main gym doors. When you are finished, you can exit through the southwest doors. Please ensure that you head out once you have finished breakfast so we can have more room for other families.
• The breakfast is FREE, but we are collecting donations (cash is preferred as well as non-perishable food items) for our Shortreed families and local food bank.
• Families are encouraged to wear ugly Christmas sweaters or festive attire. 
• For students in daycare or whose families cannot attend, we will invite them down to a breakfast with Santa after the bell (new this year!). By doing this, EVERY child at Shortreed will receive a pancake breakfast (if they would like one). Please watch for a signup for any parents/caregivers who can help with serving and cleanup for the students who have the later breakfast. 
• Each class will also get some time with Santa for a class photo.

We look forward to seeing you at our 2025 Santa Breakfast!

Christmas Concert information was sent home and emailed this past week. Here are some important reminders:

• We ask that family members choose one concert to attend.
• All students should do their best to be at all three concerts. 
• We have afternoon concerts on Tuesday, December 16 and Wednesday, December 17 at 12:45 (doors open at 12:15). We encourage people to attend one of the afternoon concerts. 
• We have an evening concerton Wednesday, December 17. We are hoping the evening concert will be attended only by those who work during the day and are unable to attend the afternoon concerts. For the evening concert, as we have so many people who attend, we are once again dividing the show as follows:
  • Grade K-2 students will perform at 6:20-7:00. Students can be dropped off at their classrooms at 6:00 and family members of K-2 students can head into the gym. After the K-2 performance, those family members of the K-2 students will be encouraged to head out through the exterior doors to make room for the families of Grade 3-5 students. They can pick up their child(ren) at their classroom exterior doors. 
  • Grade 3-5 students will perform from approximately 7:10-8:00 and should arrive at their classrooms at 6:40. Families of grade 3-5 students can line up inside the school and will enter the gym at about 7:00pm. Families can pick up their child at their classroom after the end of the concert. 
• Please stay for the entire afternoon concert or the entire half of the evening concert (do not leave right after your child performs). This ensures that our last groups have a full audience too! 

Join our school in/on our float in the Aldergrove Christmas Parade on December 13!  Sign up here to be on/near our Shortreed Express float! 

We have a few ACSS students who, with our Community Coordinator Stephanie Eby, will be running a couple Grade 4/5 FREE Basketball workshops this week on Wednesday and Friday from 4-6pm. You need to register to reserve your spot, and you can do that here. 

With the cold, wet weather here, this is an important reminder to make sure your child comes to school with boots and a coat each day. Our students spend at least 45 minutes outside each day, even if it is raining. Also, please have a change of clothes in their backpacks, just in case they slip and fall in the mud/water. 

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. As we lead into December, I am reminded of the importance of gathering as families and as a community. I love all the community and family events that occur at this time of year. Up until the 1950s, Indigenous People were not allowed to gather; we are so thankful our country knows better and does better, and we encourage gatherings for all people in our communities. Lower Faser Valley Aboriginal Society is hosting their Aldergrove Winter Solstice Gathering at Shortreed this Thursday!

Good Things to Talk About

We have loved seeing so many of our families and students at our Student Inclusive Conferences this past week. I have got to sit in on a few, and my heart gets full seeing students so proud of sharing their learning... and parents so proud of their child(ren). Thank you to the staff for the incredible amount of work they have put into these, and to families for making the time to come in!

Our annual Shortreed Winter Market took place this past Saturday, with a steady flow of people weaving through our gym and checking out products from local vendors. Speaking with the organizers, Ms. Coghill and Mrs. Parsons, they were quick to comment on how many Shortreed families came out to support and how much it meant to them and the grade 5s! Thank you to our grade 5 volunteers who ran the concession and raffles as part of their fundraiser. 

Our Shortreed Snake Club "wrapped up" their sessions on Friday with the finale of 2 live snakes wrapping around and showing love to our student participants! It was all smiles in the library for the excited kids. A huge thank you to grade 5s Kalia and Sadie for running the club and to Mrs. Kirk for sponsoring and facilitating. 

Our Eagles Grade 5 Soccer Team had their end-of-season Wrap Up Party on Monday. They celebrated their inaugural (and undefeated) season with some cake and medals for each athlete. 

Gr. 3 and 5 Basketball practices continued this past week. It has been amazing to see so many kids excited about basketball! 

The Week Ahead

• Monday, December 1 - Gr. 3 basketball 2:45, Shortreed Spirit Wear Orders close at 11:59pm. 
• Tuesday, December 2 - Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45
• Wednesday, December 3 - PAC Hot Lunch - McDonald's; Grade 4/5 Basketball Sessions 4-6
• Friday, December 5 - Santa Breakfast! 7:30-8:40; Grade 4/5 Basketball Sessions 4-6

Upcoming Dates and Events:

• Monday, December 8 - Gr. 3 basketball 2:45
• Tuesday, December 9 - Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45
• Thursday, December 11 - Find the Elves 8:25-8:45; PAC Meeting 6:30
• Saturday, December 13 - Aldergrove Christmas Parade 6:00 - join us in the parade! 
• Tuesday, December 16 - Christmas Concert #1 12:45
• Wednesday, December 17 - Christmas Concert #2 12:45; Concert #3 in the evening (info coming soon)
• Friday, December 19 - last day of school before break; Shortreed Sing Along 1:15
• Monday, January 5 - Schools Reopen

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:

• Winter Health (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 Winter Health. Please see below for helpful reminders to support your child.

   

  Keep Your Child Healthy During Winter

  As the chilly winter season approaches, there are things you can do to help keep your children healthy and well.  

   

  Get Ready For Winter At Home And In The Community 

  Winter can bring extreme weather and it's important to have plans to be safe during cold weather, storms and power outages, including staying warm, having a carbon monoxide detector and planning for emergencies. Learn about programs that can support your family: 

  ·        Get ready for winter: Snow and cold safety for you and your home - Fraser Health Authority

  ·        Indoor air quality - Fraser Health Authority

   

  Bundle Up For The Cold 

  Dressing appropriately for cold weather keeps your child comfortable and protected. Wearing multiple layers is a great way to trap body heat and provide insulation against the cold.

   

  Keep a warm hat, gloves, scarves and warm, waterproof boots handy. Remind your child to wear these items before heading outside to play or going to school.  

  Learn about hypothermia and frostbite as children can be more susceptible. 

   

  Protect Against Winter Illnesses  

  Winter brings an increased risk of colds and flu. Ensure your child receives their annual flu vaccine and talk to a health care provider about any additional vaccines that may be recommended. Teach your child good respiratory etiquette such as regular hand washing, covering their coughs and sneezes and staying home when sick. If they are sick and cannot stay away from others, masks can help to reduce the risk of spreading illness. Learn more about masks here.

   

  Keep Their Bodies Moving 

  It is important to keep your child active during winter as regular physical activity is important for good health. Outdoor activities such as skating, sledding and going for walks as a family are all great ways to keep active. On colder days, indoor play and activities such as dancing, yoga or sports are great ways to promote movement. Look for drop-in programs at local community centres or indoor sports facilities.

   

  If you play on frozen lakes or ponds, be sure that the ice has been tested for strength and safety. Learn more on the Lifesaving Society's website. 

   

  Find more tips for a healthy winter on Fraser Health’s Winter Health page.  

  
  
• 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 CKWX 1130AM, CKNW 980AM, Country Radio 107.1FM, Pulse 107.7 or CBC 690AM or 88.1FM for updates.

   

  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.

• 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

We have an ONLINE Silent Auction to help raise funds for our Outdoor Shelter. 

Bidding is open now and will end December 12 at 9:00pm. Please note that, because this is a free auction site, there are ads, and you will need to scroll down to see the description of the items.

I would like to give a huge thank you to all the people and local businesses who have donated to our auction, and for their generosity. The following parents donated:

• Nikki MacLeod - Vancouver Giants Box Tickets
• Tonya Wejr - Kick It Up A Notch Academy of Dance
• Leila Roberts - Silver Icing
• Krista Keam - Moen Faucets

View the auction at www.32auctions.com/shortreed2025

Thank you again for your continued support,

Your PAC Executive Team

Happy Bidding!!!

Hot Lunch Orders can be made now. Go to www.munchalunch.com/schools/shortreed/ to order. 

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.

Pacific Sport Fraser Valley Winter Break Camps! 

Are you looking for something to do during Winter Break?! Look no further!
NEW - daily registration option! If you are not needing a program all week, you do not need to miss out!

Where: Shortreed Community School
When: Dec 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31
Time: 9am - 3pm *(Dec 24 is 9am - 1pm)
Cost: $40 per day *(Dec 24 is $25)

Registration opens November 24 at 9am. Spaces are limited! pacificsportfraservalley.com/events

Week 1:

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.

FamilySmart will be offering several online event sessions from our ‘InTheKnow’ series this December. You can register at the link below:

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

Understanding, Supporting and Connecting with Teens with Depression

“When our teens are struggling with depression, we can feel lost about how to best support them. Learn from Karen Peters, Registered Clinical Counsellor, and Victoria Keddis, a parent with lived experience, as they talk about how depression shows up in teens and ways of journeying with them through it.”

Just a few clicks on your phone and you'll be entered to win thousands of dollars in The Lucky Langley 50/50 & Raffle Fundraiser! ⁠ Purchase your tickets today and build brighter futures for the students of Langley! And enter for your chance to win the cash jackpot or 2 Air Canada tickets to anywhere they fly in North America, just in time for Christmas! ⁠

⁠Buy your tickets today by clicking here! 
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