Families of Shortreed, 

We hope you had a lovely weekend... even with the loss of that hour! (A reminder to make sure you moved your clocks forward). It looks like it will be a chilly and wet week, so please make sure your child has a coat and boots with them (and possibly gloves and toques). We have a number of unclaimed coats in the lost and found, so please check there if your child's is missing. 

We know that for some of our families, you are almost halfway through the season of Lent. We appreciate this time as an opportunity for reflection, kindness, and personal growth. May the weeks ahead inspire thoughtful moments, renewed focus, and actions that strengthen everyone participating.

Today (Sunday), we celebrate International Women’s Day—a time to recognize the amazing contributions of girls and women in our school and around the world. We honour their creativity, leadership, strength, and the many ways they help make the Shortreed community a better place. Let’s continue to support and uplift one another as we learn, grow, and work toward a future where everyone can belong... and everyone has a chance to shine.

Thank you to everyone who came out to our Student Inclusive Conferences this past week! We have enjoyed seeing our kids so proud to share their learning and watching caregivers engage with their children's education. Although most conferences are completed, a few are scheduled for this week.

Our Grade 5 Basketball team has their final celebration playday of the season at ACSS on Monday. They will play 6 mini games and enjoy the healthy competition one last time this season. The team travelled to James Hill Elementary to play them last week. The uber-talented Seawolves came out to a fast start, and although the Eagles held their own in the 2nd half, they lost 38-16. Our grade 3 basketball players have their final practice this Wednesday, while the grade 4s practice on Thursday. 

Thank you to our PAC volunteers and to everyone who came out to enjoy our Family Movie Night! 

The Jr. Canucks Hockey program is coming to work with our K-2 classes on Monday and Thursday this week. PAC will be offering a Cobs Treat Day on Wednesday for those who ordered. Don't forget that tomorrow (Monday) is the last day for Purdy's Orders! (see below for more info)

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 I walked around to observe or sit in on a few Student Inclusive Conferences, I was reflecting on how this is so strengths-based and a great example of the Indigenous practice of placing the child at the centre of the circle. For many of our students, especially in the older grades, they were leading the sharing and were so proud to share their growth and gifts with families. 

The Week Ahead

• 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

Upcoming Dates and Events:

• 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:

• 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 

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.

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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Still looking for some options for spring break? We have camps and drop-in programs. Make sure to register to guarantee your spot!

Art, Crafts, Cooking Camp Week 1

March 16-20

9:30-11:30am

Grades 2-5

Parkside Elementary

$50

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1981960198306?aff=oddtdtcreator

Art, Crafts, Cooking Camp Week 2

March 23-27

9:30-11:30am

Grades 2-5

Parkside Elementary

$50

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1981961121066?aff=oddtdtcreator

Gym Play

Mar 17, 19, 24, 26

10am-12pm

Grades 2-5

Parkside Elementary

FREE

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/spring-break-gym-play-tickets-1984418132052?aff=oddtdtcreator

For questions, reach out to Stephanie Eby

Stephanie Eby

Community School Coordinator

604.862.5943

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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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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/

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

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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