The Week Ahead - November 17-21, 2025
Families of Shortreed,
It was a quick week with the kids this past week, and it was a quieter one with minimal school-wide events occurring.
Earlier this week, I sent out information about signing up for our 2025 Fall Student Inclusive Conferences (SIC). The key information we need you to know:
- All parents/caregivers need to sign up for an SIC timeslot at https://shortreed.schoolappointments.com/ (you will need to register, even if you had an account last year). The online signup is open until 11:59 pm on Tuesday, November 18. A reminder that the conferences are the term one report card, and most students are really excited for their parents to come.
- The student must come with you to the conference. If possible, we encourage you to just come with your child who is sharing their learning (or have a quiet activity to engage siblings).
- We can only have one conference per student. If this presents a challenge, consider having one parent attend the fall conference and the other parent attend the spring conference.
- Wednesday, November 26 is SIC Day at elementary schools across the district. On this day, students are only required to attend their scheduled conference time slot (if they have one on this day). Thursday, November 27 is an early dismissal at 12:33 for SIC as well.
Our annual Santa Breakfast is happening on Friday, December 5! All Shortreed families are invited. See the invitation below for more info. If your child and family is unable to attend, students will get a chance for a pancake breakfast with Santa after the bell!
Our Christmas Concerts are about a month away! We will have more information coming out this week (email and paper version). Please note the concert dates of Tuesday, December 16 (afternoon) and Wednesday, December 17 (afternoon and evening).
Shortreed will once again be participating in the Aldergrove Christmas Parade this year on Saturday, December 13. We have some big plans for the kids on the float and walking with us, so please stay tuned for more info. The parade is in the evening, so save the date if your child (and you) wants to be part of this exciting opportunity!
Our amazing PAC Everything for a Dollar Sale is happening this Friday starting at 1:00! Refer to the PAC section below for details on how to donate and support the sale. All proceeds support our kids!
Our Grade 5 Soccer team practices on Monday and travels to Nicomekl on Tuesday for their final game of the season.
Grade 3 and 5 Basketball is starting up this week, with four sessions happening before Christmas. Grade 3s will practice after school on Mondays, and Grade 5s will practice before school on Tuesdays (starting at 7:45 a.m.). The Grade 5 team plays in a league that begins in February. We are hoping to offer basketball for grades 2 and 4 after Christmas as well.
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 to not only acknowledge the lands but also to share our dedication to learning on our journey of truth and reconciliation. It was announced this weekend that the Vatican will be returning 62 cultural items (artwork, carvings, tools, etc.) to Canadian Indigenous communities as part of its act of reconciliation. Following contact with Europeans, it is widely noted and documented how many beautiful and important Indigenous artifacts were stolen by settlers, and given to various European leaders, that have since ended up in museums (on display and in storage), businesses, homes, and organizations around the world. As you can imagine, Indigenous communities in Canada have spent years trying to locate and bring home these irreplaceable items. This move by Pope Leo and the Vatican is an example of how organizations and people around the world continue (or start) on their journey of reconciliation, illustrating that there is still a long way to go. So many of us had no idea all this was happening, and we now know that when we see Indigenous artifacts on display outside of Indigenous communities, we should always question how they got there. Some have been purchased as artwork and others have been loaned; however, there are still thousands of items that were stolen and on display around the world.
The Week Ahead
- Monday, November 17 - Gr. 5 Soccer practice 2:45; Gr. 3 Basketball Practice 2:45
- Tuesday, November 18 - Gr. 5 Basketball at 7:45; Fire Drill 11:00; Gr. Soccer game at Nicomekl 3:00; Last day to sign up for SIC
- Wednesday, November 19 - PAC Popcorn Day
- Friday, November 21 - PAC Dollar Sale 1:00-6:00
Upcoming Dates and Events:
- Monday, November 24 - Student Inclusive Conferences begin; Gr. 3 basketball 2:45
- Tuesday, November 25 - Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45
- Wednesday, November 26 - Student Inclusive Conference Day (students only attend their conference appointment time)
- Thursday, November 27 - Early Dismissal at 12:33 for SIC
- Friday, November 28 - Pick up Growing Smiles order at 2:45
- Saturday, November 29 - Shortreed Winter Market (gym)
- Monday, December 1 - Gr. 3 basketball 2:45
- Tuesday, December 2 - Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45
- Wednesday, December 3 - PAC Hot Lunch - McDonald's
- Friday, December 5 - Santa Breakfast!
- Monday, December 8 - Gr. 3 basketball 2:45
- Tuesday, December 9 - Gr. 5 Basketball 7:45
- Thursday, December 11 - PAC Meeting 6:30
- Saturday, December 13 - Aldergrove Christmas Parade - 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
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.
- 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:
- 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
Join us on Thursday at 6:30 for our PAC Meeting! All parents/caregivers invited.
Purdy’s Chocolate Fundraiser.
OPEN NOW!
https://fundraising.purdys.com/9102-132456
Use customer # 25514
All orders DUE Tuesday, November 18th at 11:59pm
Pick up Thursday, November 27th. We will not send this home with your student unless permission is given.
Shortreed Dollar Sale.
Collecting donations NOW. Donations can be dropped off outside of the PAC room door. If you have a lot of donations, please contact PAC to arrange a time to drop off.
We need volunteers to help make this a successful event. Please sign up here if you can help. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F054AABAB29A6F49-60304029-fall
Dollar Sale is on Friday, November 21st starting at 1:00pm.
Online Silent Auction coming soon……
Please watch for a follow up email and Facebook posts. We have some great new items this year from Principal/Vice-Principal/Librarian of the day, Reserved Christmas Concert Seating, Vancouver Giant’s box seats for the December 28th @ 4pm game, Alder Ally, Krause Berry, Farms, and much, much more.
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.
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!
The 10th Annual Charity Shopping Night at Willowbrook Mall is next week! Tuesday, Nov 18 from 7-10pm.
Get your friends together and prepare to shop till you drop (possibly with a glass of champagne in your hands!). A truly fun and festive night in support of the amazing students of Langley!
Tickets available here.
FamilySmart - FamilySmart services are free with no waitlists, and we serve parents and caregivers experiencing mental health or substance use challenges with their children or youth. This includes talking and collaborating, offering possible resources, helping parents navigate community resources, and sharing monthly events.
November Events:
FamilySmart is hosting 3 events this November - two on Zoom and one in person. All of our programs are free - parents or caregivers can register on our website -https://familysmart.ca/monthly-events/ if interested.