Families of Shortreed, 

We hope your child had a great first week of school for 2026! Our staff worked diligently to support the students in getting back into routines. We know that "predictable routines" are a key factor in social-emotional development, so we did our best to make this a focus over the past week. 

Spirit Wear orders were shipped early last week and should be arriving soon. We will organize them and get them out to you as soon as we can. We have our January PAC Meeting on Thursday at 6:30 in the library. All are welcome!

A reminder that kindergarten registration across the Langley School District started last week and runs until February 17, 2026.  If your child will be five years old by December 31, 2026, you will be able to register your child online. Instructions and information about required documents is available on the District website and catchment school websites. For information, please visit this webpage here.

Basketball continues this week with grade 5s on Tuesday and Friday morning at 7:45 and grade 3's on Wednesday after school. Grade 3's need to register here. We are waiting to hear more about basketball for grades 2 and 4 students. 

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. If you have been reading the news the past few months (including the front page of the Province today), you may have come across some articles about Indigenous art and cultural artifacts being returned to Indigenous communities. This is an important step in reconciliation, as museums and organizations acknowledge that these pieces of art and culture were either taken or purchased at a significant discount (due to the impact of colonization) and placed on display throughout the world. Some items have family connections that go back centuries, and some communities are continuing their journey to restore culture through cultural pieces like masks. Youth are dancing and singing again, and culture continues to build. Close to 20 years ago, I recall learning about the efforts of people to return the art and artifacts to the communities. Although there is still a long way to go, I am thankful for the tireless efforts of Indigenous individuals in searching for artifacts and for the museums, churches, and organizations that are starting to return these items home. 

The Week Ahead

• Tuesday, January 13 - Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45-8:45
• Wednesday, January 14 - PAC Hot Lunch - A&W; Gr. 3 Basketball 2:45-4:15
• Thursday, January 15 - PAC Meeting 6:30
• Friday, January 16 - Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45-8:45, lockdown drill 1:05

Upcoming Dates and Events:

• Tuesday, January 20 - Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45-8:45
• Wednesday, January 21 - Gr. 3 Basketball 2:45-4:15
• Friday, January 23 - Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45-8:45; Spirit Day - Crazy Headwear Day!
• Monday, January 26 - Gr. 5 Basketball game at Blacklock 3:00
• Tuesday, January 27 - Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45-8:45
• Wednesday, January 28 - PAC Popcorn Day; Gr. 3 Basketball 2:45-4:15
• Friday, January 30 - Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45-8:45
• Monday, February 2 - Gr. 5 Basketball hosts Simonds/U-Connect 3:00
• Tuesday, February 3 - Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45-8:45
• Wednesday, February 4 - Club Wednesday Session #1; Gr. 3 Basketball 2:45-4:15
• Friday, February 6 - Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45-8:45
• Monday, February 9 - Pro-D Day (no school for students)
• Wednesday, February 11 - Gr. 5 Basketball game at Parkside 3:00
• Thursday, February 12 - Spirit Day - Red/White/Pink Day!; Gr. 3 basketball 2:45-4:15; PAC Meeting 6:30
• Friday, February 13 - Design/Assessment Day (no school for students)

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:

• 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

PAC Minutes from December can be found on our PAC Page.

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.

XploreSportZ Multi-Sport and More | Aldergrove | Jan – March 2026

FamilySmart presents two “InTheKnow” events this January, 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/

Connecting with Our Kids When Anxiety Leads to Social Isolation:

When kids spend a lot of time alone because of their anxiety, it can be frustrating and challenging for parents. Learn some strategies that can help us connect with our kids when they are socially isolated.

Supporting Safety at Home When Your Child Has a Mental Health Crisis:

When your child or youth has had a mental health crisis, knowing how to keep them safe can be overwhelming. Our concerns can include suicidal thoughts, self-harming, aggression or any situation where you or your child is concerned about their safety. Learn about some ways that can help us plan to keep them safe at home.

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.

Healthy Minds BC has provided preventive and early intervention tools and resources to support the mental health of neurodiverse students. Parent Resources can be found here. 

Aldergrove Family Resources