Families of Shortreed, 

We hope you have had a lovely weekend outside in some of this lovely weather! I know some of the Habs hockey and OKC Thunder basketball fans might not be too happy, but remember... it could be worse, you could be a Canucks fan! 

It was an epic Track and Field Championships for our Shortreed Eagles team on Wednesday, as they not only excelled on the track and in the field events but also represented our school with positive behaviours while cheering on all the athletes, including those from other schools. Our runners finished in the top 3 in 70% of the races and won 48% of the races! Many others won or placed near the top in Ball Throw, Long Jump, and Shot Put too! A huge thank you to Coach Jess Wright, and the support of Mrs. Hlady, for their time and efforts in the practices. 

We were excited to welcome back some former Shortreed students to our gym on Thursday, as the BGMS Choir and Grade 6 Band performed for our school. A special shout-out to Band Teacher Mrs. Mills, who has built a strong music program in our community but is moving on to a new role at a larger school. We look forward to the next teacher continuing to grow this awesome program for our community and future students of BGMS and ACSS. 

Our grade 5 students have started thinking about and getting involved in transition activities for BGMS for grade 6. Principal Powell and Vice-Principal Guthrie visited Shortreed to talk about life at BGMS. They were joined by a few WEB leaders who helped share some of the awesome things that happened during their years as Raptors. 

Our school is participating in Bike (& Roll) to School Week again this year and it starts tomorrow (Monday). The purpose of this week is to encourage active transportation to school and work. Students are encouraged to ride their bikes or scooters, rollerblade, or skateboard to school. If you live farther from school, consider parking farther away and having your child roll to school from there. Please do not ride e-scooters or e-bikes as these are only for those aged 16 and over in our community. Helmets also must be worn, and don't forget to lock up your bike. As our bike racks can get pretty full, scooters can be brought into classrooms this week. 

Each time a child rolls to school, they will receive a sticker to put on our board... as well as get one entry into our draw to win some fun prizes at the end of the week. If your child enters the Wheels Parade, they will receive a separate entry into a draw for a gift card to Cranky's Bike Shop! 

NEW THIS YEAR - We are moving our Wheels Parade to Friday, June 5, at the end of the Bike/Roll to School Week this year. In years past, we had it on Sports Day, but with the rapid growth of our school, Sports Day has become pretty rushed. We thought having the Wheels Parade on the final day of Bike/Roll to School Week would be a perfect way to end that week! Your child's house colour was likely shared with you last week, so students can decorate their bikes/scooters/themselves in their house colour OR whatever theme/character they want! 

If you want to learn more about this program or get more tips on biking and safety, visit https://hubcycling.ca/.

SAFETY NOTICE: We have been observing an increase in families stopping on the road to drop off their children. This is extremely dangerous because it obviously increases the risk of them being hit by a car, but also increases the risk of serious injury if a vehicle is rear-ended, as the children would be out of the seatbelts and even partially out of the car. Please park on the street or in the church parking lot and have them use the crosswalk to safely get to school. If you are parking on the road, please do not block driveways or the church entrance. 

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.  June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, and at Shortreed, we use this to honour and celebrate the resilience, strength, and success of Indigenous Peoples on these lands as well as across Canada. We start in September by honouring survivors and focusing on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and then lead up to a celebration on June 21 for National Indigenous Peoples Day. There is so much to celebrate and we look forward to do that later this month. 

The Week Ahead

• June 1-5 - Bike/Roll to School Week
• Wednesday, June 3 - PAC Popcorn Day; Club Wednesday #3 
• Thursday, June 4 - PAC Sundaes (classes sign up for this)
• Friday, June 5 - Wheels Parade 1:45 (this is moved away from Sports Day this year)

Upcoming Dates and Events:

• Monday, June 8 - Gr. 5's visit BGMS
• Tuesday, June 9 - Proud to be Me Day - Parade TBA
• Wednesday, June 10 - Gr. 4 Field Trip
• Thursday, June 11 - Gr. 5 Open House at BGMS 6:00
• Friday, June 12 - Sports Day!; PAC Hot Lunch Pizza; SD35 Aboriginal Spring Gathering 4:30 (Aldergrove park)
• Monday, June 15 - KIUAN Dance Performance 1:05
• Wednesday, June 17 - Grade 5s at Waterslides; ACSS Grad Walk 1:10-1:30
• Friday, June 19 - School National Indigenous Peoples Day
• Sunday, June 21 - National Indigenous Peoples Day
• Monday, June 22 - Grade 5 Farewell 1:00-3:00 
• Wednesday, June 24 - Final Assembly 1:05
• Thursday, June 25 - Final Day of School; Dismissal at 11:30; Report Cards sent home

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:

• Summer Health Information (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 summer health for school-aged children and youth. Please see below for helpful reminders to support your child.

   

  Keeping Kids Healthy and Safe this Summer – Tips for Parents

  Summer is a time for fun and relaxation. Below are some tips to help your kids stay active, healthy and safe during the summer months.  

   

  Sun Protection  

  Help avoid sunburns by applying a sunscreen with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or more at least 20 minutes before heading outside. Avoid the hot sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. if you can. Seek places with lots of shade, such as parks with big trees. Take an umbrella to the beach and cover up with sunglasses that protect against UV rays, a wide brimmed hat, long sleeves and loose-fitting long pants. 

   

  Heat and Smoke Preparedness 

  With increased likelihood of hot temperatures, remember to keep children cool inside and outside. Watch the media for heat and smoke events. The WeatherCAN app can help.  

   

  Sustained indoor temperatures over 31°C can be unsafe. If there is no source of cool air, don’t rely on fans alone during very hot weather. Relocate to a cool, shady outdoor space, or head to a library, mall or community cooling centre. Make sure you and your family know the signs and symptoms of heat illness and how to get help. Learn more on the Sun and heat safety page.

   

  Summer can also bring smoke from wildfires. Learn about the health impacts of smoke and change outdoor plans if needed. Find out how to be ready for smoke and know about the air quality in your community at Fraser Heath’s Wildfire smoke page and in this postcard.

   

  Eat Well, Stay Active and Hydrate 

  Encourage your children to drink water regularly. Build the habit of always carrying a water bottle with them wherever they go.

   

  Healthy, active outdoor play is one of the best ways to improve physical and mental health. If your children are involved in sports, learn about heat precautions that can be taken during practice. If your children love the water check out these tips on water safety.

   

  Local farmers’ markets and u-pick farms are fun outdoor activities where you can enjoy seasonal produce. Did you know that over half of the blueberries harvested in B.C. are sold frozen in your local grocery store? Enjoy these nutrient-dense berries as fresh or frozen, with yogurts and in smoothies.

   

  Find more summer health tips in Fraser Health’s Healthy summer guide. 

• 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

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Shortreed Elementary PAC Spring Silent Auction! With the generous support of businesses in our community and all those who bid, we raised over $2300 towards our Outdoor Classroom Shelter! 

The Neufeld Farms fundraiser delivery date is June 5th at 2pm in the Church Parking Lot. Please note that PAC does not have a place to store items if not picked up. Please make sure that if you are unable to pick up at that time, you arrange for someone else to pick it up. 

We would like to welcome our New PAC Executive Team for the 2026/2027 Year:

President: Jodi Stiglic
Vice President & Hot Lunch Coordinator: Kyla Des Mazes
Treasurer: Krista Shuryn
Secretary & DPAC Rep: Susan Ngo
Communications Coordinator: Kaelin Nelson 
Fundraising & MAL: Ashley Buzzard, Tasha Mash
Members At Large: Jen Cooksley, Paula Halvorson, Ben Lanteigne
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator: Jodi Stiglic, Tasha Mash
Scholarship Coordinator: Ashley Buzzard
Constitution & Bylaws Committee: Jodi Stiglic, Susan Ngo, Paula Halvorson
Spooky Gym: Ashley Buzzard
Fun Fair Coordinator: Jen Cooksley

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.

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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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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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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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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