Families of Shortreed, 

Happy March! We hope you had a lovely weekend; it sure felt like spring today! 

We are looking forward to seeing all our Shortreed families at Student Inclusive Conferences this week. A reminder that if you have not signed up for a time, you need to contact your child's teacher to find a time that works for you both before Spring Break. Due to conferences, we have an early dismissal at 12:33 on Wednesday (students need not bring a lunch that day), and there are no scheduled classes on Thursday for students as this is the SIC Day. Students come to school on Thursday only during their scheduled conference time (if they have one scheduled on that day). Some reminders:

• Please do your best to either not have siblings present or keep them busy with a quiet activity. 
• Remember to bring in your Family Reflection Sheets so we can capture your input into the conference and document. 
• Keep the focus on celebrating growth and goals for Term 3.

Our PAC Family Movie Night is Friday as we show Bad Guys 2 on thebig screen in our gym. There is no admission to this event, but please bring your pillows and blankets, sit back, and enjoy the show. A concession is available.  Please note that every child must come with an adult supervisor as the school, nor the PAC, are in charge of supervision of the students at this family event. The doors open at 6pm with the show starting at 6:30.

Our Grade 5 basketball team plays its final full game of the season tomorrow (Monday) as they travel to James Hill. They practice Tuesday morning at 7:45. Grade 4s practice on Thursday at 4:00 and Grade 3s practice after school on Friday. 

As we approach the end of term 2, we would like to remind you about the importance of regular attendance. When students miss more than 5-10% of the year, not only do their academic skills (reading, writing, math) suffer, but their social-emotional well-being does as well. Research has shown that students experience greater difficulty with learning, focus, and friendships as school absences increase. if you need some support with this, please reach out. The image below is based on a full year of 180 days of school. 

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. Through our work with Indigenous educators, leaders, and speakers, we have come to understand the importance of that sense of belonging. We do not take our mantra of "You Belong Here" lightly as we strive for every child to feel that sense of belonging at our school. Last week was Respect and Diversity Week at our school, and it was yet another reminder of the importance of encouraging children to bring who they are to our school. For far too many years, Indigenous students had to hide who they were; through our work to better understand and learn from the past, the focus on belonging helps us to ensure that every child can see themselves on the walls in the hallways, in the library, on the playground, and in the classrooms of our school. 

Good Things to Talk About

The Olympic Spirit was on display in our gym throughout February as Mrs. Rossnagel (our Thurs-Fri PE teacher) led Olympic-inspired activities for the students. Kids had the chance to play games and activities designed to simulate snowboarding, curling, luge, speedskating, and hockey! 

For Respect and Diversity Week, and throughout the month of February, many classes focused on kindness and embracing who they are. Displays in our hallways discussed ways you could help someone who had been hurt at school, what makes our students unique, and how to spread kindness in the school!

We had our term 2 assembly on Friday, during which we discussed kindness, diversity, athletics, behaviour expectations, and recycling. We also practiced our Shortreed Chant and watched a slideshow of images from Jan-Feb. Be sure to check out the video (on Facebook/IG) of our kids singing along to the music in the slideshow. 

Our final session of Term 2 Club Wednesdays took place last week, as the students had another opportunity to explore an area of strength, interest, or curiosity. A huge thank you to our staff for doing the hard work behind the scenes to make this happen. We hope your kids enjoyed Club Wednesdays!

Our Grade 5 Basketball Team had 2 challenging games last week. On Monday, they hosted Nicomekl and played hard to come back from an 8-point deficit to tie the game up in the final minute and finish in a 26-26 tie. On Wednesday, they travelled to Uplands to play one of the top teams in the league. Shortreed held Uplands to its fewest points of the year but the shots just wouldn't fall for the Eagles as they came up short with a 22-16 loss. The coaches were so proud of their effort and determination, as many players stepped up to score and/or shut down some of Uplands' talented players. 

The Week Ahead

• Monday, March 2 - Gr. 5 Basketball at James Hill 3:00; Start of Term 2 SIC
• Tuesday, March 3 - Gr. 5 basketball practice 7:45
• Wednesday, March 4 - Early Dismissal at 12:33 for SIC
• Thursday, March 5 - SIC Day (students only attend their SIC if they have one booked); Gr. 4 Basketball 4:00
• Friday, March 6 - Grade 3 Basketball 2:45-4:15; PAC Movie Night 6:30

Upcoming Dates and Events:

• Monday, March 9 - Grade 5 Basketball playday 3:00-6:00 at ACSS; Purdy's Orders Due
• Wednesday, March 11 - PAC Treat Day (Cobs Bread)
• Thursday, March 12 - last day of SIC
• Friday, March 13 - last day before Spring Break
• Monday, March 30 - Schools Re-open
• Tuesday, March 31 - Rock Your Socks Day (Spirit Day - World Down Syndrome Day); Purdy's Orders pick up in PAC room
• Thursday, April 2 - Term 2 SIC Reports sent home
• Friday, April 3 - Good Friday (Schools closed)
• Monday, April 6 - Easter Monday (Schools closed)
• Tuesday, April 7 - Fire Drill 10:00
• Wednesday, April 8 - PAC Hot Lunch (Golden Leaf)
• Thursday, April 9 - PAC Meeting 6:30

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:

• Middle and Secondary Schools on the Willoughby Slope

  This week the Langley Board of Education announced the names of the two new schools in the Smith neighbourhood of the Willoughby Slope. The schools are currently under construction and are expected to be completed in fall 2027.

   

  The new secondary school is named Emery Dosdall Secondary. The late Emery Dosdall was a longtime Superintendent in the Langley School District as well as a former Deputy Minister of Education in the BC government. You can read more about it in the media release here.

   

  The new middle school is named stɑtl̓əw̓ Middle School. stɑtl̓əw̓ is a word that means ‘little river’ or ‘little creek’ in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language, and the name stɑtl̓əw̓ signifies an acknowledgment of the land, the preservation of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language, and a renewed commitment to truth and reconciliation. Phonetic pronunciation [stot – low].You can read more about it in the media release here.

• U-Connect offers programming at the elementary, middle and secondary level. For elementary and middle years (K-8), U-Connect offers multi-grade classes with a focus on small classes and a collaborative approach to learning between school and home. The secondary program is for students in grades 9 to 12. Students in the secondary program have the option of the blended pathway program and blended mornings. U-Connect also offers online-only courses for Langley students in grades 10-12. The school will be hosting Information Sessions this spring; please see the image for more information.

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• Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) are hosting Kindergarten Orientation Sessions for newcomers to Canada. They are also happy to make contact with newcomers to support their settlement into schools. Click here for more information. 
• 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

Purdy's orders are now open! Visit https://group.purdys.com/campaign/000025970
Customer number is 25514 and Campaign ID: #000025970 
View PDF: https://issuu.com/.../purdys_chocolatier_2026_spring...
Orders are due Monday, March 9th
Pick up is Tuesday, March 31st from the PAC room.

Shortreed's Spring Everything For a Dollar Sale will be held on May 1st, and we will start collecting donations as of April 13th.

Spring Hot Lunch Orders are now live on 

Please join us for our next PAC Movie Night on Friday, March 6! We will be showing Bad Guys 2 with doors opening at 6 and the show starting at 6:30. 

Save the Date! Our PAC Fun Fair is Friday, May 22 from 3:30-7:30. 

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.

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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XploreSportZ Multi-Sport and More | Aldergrove | Spring Break Program

March 23 @ 9:00 am - March 27 @ 3:00 pm

$100

Prepare for an enriching experience with PacificSport Fraser Valley’s Multi-Sport Spring Break program! This program is tailored for young adventurers eager to explore different sports. Our week long program offers a variety of different sports unveiling a new activitys throughout the day. Our Multi-Sport and More Programs fosters a holistic development, prioritizing fun, Inclusivity, and personal growth within a nurturing, non-competitive atmosphere. Join us for week of fun, exploration and joyful discovery at PacificSport’s Spring Break program.

This Program is a great way to introduce your child to sports in a friendly, safe, and fun environment. Our facilitators are qualified coaches and deliver top-notch experiences.

When: March 23-27, 2026 from 9:00am to 3:00pm
Where: Shortreed Community School
Who: Ages 5-10
* maximum 20 participants
Cost: $100 + fees

Please reach out to Teagan at tjohnstone@pacificsport.com if you have any questions!

Registration Deadline – March 20th 2026

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FamilySmart presents two “InTheKnow” events this March, 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/

Self-Harm: There is Always Help, There is Always Hope

Realizing that your child is self-harming can be scary and confusing. Learn from a young person with lived experience and a therapist as they talk about why some kids harm themselves and some healthy coping strategies.

Tuesday, March 3, 6:30 pm

Thursday, March 5, 6:30 pm

Parenting When Anxiety Shows up as Anger

Anxiety in our kids can show up as anger, and that can make parenting extra challenging. Discover some strategies that can help us before, during, and after these hard moments.

Wednesday, March 11, 12 pm

Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 pm

Tuesday, March 31, 6:30 pm

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