Families of Shortreed, 

We hope you have enjoyed the weekend and had some time to listen, discuss, and reflect for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 

Your child will be bringing home their photo proofs from Darby Photos this week. Please note the deadline and ensure you place your order before then. 

Yesterday, for School Improvement Day, our staff had the opportunity to gather, learn, and discuss Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL involves planning with all students in mind, so we work proactively to meet the needs of all learners, including English Language Learners and those with diverse learning needs. Thank you to Ms. Choi and Ms. Seller for leading us for the portion around supporting our English Language Learners. Even after being here more than 7 years, I continue to be inspired by the engagement, reflection, and commitment of Shortreed staff!

Our first Cross-Country Meet of the year is tomorrow. We have close to 40 runners representing our school at the Aldergrove Bowl. For parents of these athletes, we are still short drivers so if you can drive, please be sure to reply to the email sent out on Monday. 

For the first time, our grade 5s have the opportunity to play in a Langley Schools Soccer league! Practices start tomorrow after school and then continue on Mondays through October/November. Thank you to Coach Mostat for heading this up and to Coaches Sidhu and Bailey for their support! Go Eagles!

We will be starting our fundraising drive for the Terry Fox Foundation next week. Watch for opportunities to donate online through School Cash Online, or by bringing in Twoonies for Terry (or other bills/coins). 

If you need to pick up your child for an appointment, please try to avoid picking them up at lunch playtime. Between 12:00 and 12:35, our students are all outside, and it is difficult to find individuals at that time. It also affects supervision if we are trying to find individual students for dismissal.  

Digital consent forms were emailed by the district last week. Please make sure these are completed as soon as possible. Also, please make sure your child's paper forms are returned this week (student information, reunification, fruit/veggie program, and Aboriginal Education (if applicable)).

Thank you to our PAC for the FREE popcorn day for everyone last week!

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. This has been an incredibly important week for us at Shortreed as we led into today's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and our assembly on Friday. It was powerful to walk around the hallways and see the depth of learning of our students, based on the Indigenous children's books they have been reading. The children are so important to this journey of reconciliation as they will be the ones carrying this for the years ahead. We want every child to walk through our doors and feel like they belong... and they matter. One of the goals of the Orange Shirt Day movement (that led to NDTR) is to ensure that EVERY CHILD MATTERS. I am thankful to be on these lands and learn from Máthxwi people to ensure that every child walks through our doors and knows they matter. 

Good Things to Talk About

Over the past few weeks, we have been listening, learning, and remembering as we prepared for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On Friday, classes shared their learning, and we conducted a gallery walk. We then gathered in the afternoon for an assembly and a round dance. Thank you to Melissa Epp for sharing some powerful words and welcoming us to Máthxwi lands, and to Ms Elson and Melissa for drumming with Máthxwi students. Thank you to the staff and students for taking the time to move deeper into the learning and understand the true meaning behind wearing our orange shirts.

Our grade 5 students have been out on the field and playground at recess and lunch, volunteering their time as Lunch Leaders. Their role is to support the younger students for minor incidents and work with them to practice their WITS (Walk Away, Ignore, Talk it Out, Seek Help). Thank you to Mrs. Parsons for facilitating this with the grade 5 teachers. 

Our grade 4/5 Cross Country Team has been running around the field and through the community (our Terry Fox Run route) in preparation for their first meet this week. Thank you to the team members who have been running at lunch, and to our coaching staff for their support. 

The Week Ahead:

• Wednesday, October 1 - Gr. 4/5 XC Meet #1 3:30, Soccer practice 2:45 
• Thursday, October 2 - Gr. 4/5 XC Practice 12:00
• Sunday, October 5 - World Teachers/Educators Day

Upcoming Dates and Events:

• Monday, October 6 - Gr. 4/5 XC Practice 12:00, Gr. 5 Soccer practice 2:45
• Tuesday, October 7 - Gr. 5 Soccer vs James Hill (home) 3:00
• Wednesday, October 8 - PAC Hot Lunch - Subway; Gr. 4/5 XC Meet #2 3:30
• Friday, October 10 - Terry Fox Run at 1:30
• Monday, October 13 - Thanksgiving (schools closed)
• Tuesday, October 14 - Gr. 5 Soccer at Blacklock 3:00
• Wednesday, October 15 - Gr. 4/5 XC Meet #3 3:30
• Thursday, October 16 - PAC Meeting 6:30
• Monday, October 20 - Gr. 5 Soccer practice 2:45
• Tuesday, October 21 - Gr. 5 Soccer at Douglas Park 3:00
• Wednesday, October 22 - PAC Treat Day (Cob's Bread), Cross-Country Championships 3:30
• Thursday, October 23 - Informal Learning Updates sent home
• Friday, October 24 - Pro-D Day (no school for students)
• Monday, October 27 - Kindergarten Trip to the Pumpkin Patch; Gr. 5 Soccer practice 2:45
• Tuesday, October 28 - Photo Retakes
• Friday, October 31 - Haunted Gymnasium, Halloween Costume Parade 1:30 (caregivers welcome to attend). 

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:

• Communicating With Your School 

  Schools and families continue to work together to ensure success for students. If you have an issue or concern but don’t know who to speak with, the District encourages you to read these helpful Communicating with your School guidelines for parents/guardians found on our District website here. As an additional reference, review this one-page resource 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.
    

• A reminder that juice boxes are not permitted at the school. Please send your child with a refillable water bottle each day. 
• 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

Hot Lunch Orders can be made now (the first order deadline is today, Sept 30). 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.

Upcoming Community Program

Multi-Sport & More

Tuesdays

Oct 6-Dec 8 (no class nov 10)

4-5:30pm

Grades 2-5

$25/student

At Parkside Elementary
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/xploresportz-multi-sport-and-more-grade-2-5-fall-aldergrove-tickets-1657437693759?aff=oddtdtcreator

If cost is a barrier to participating, please reach out to Stephanie Eby.

Family Smart - 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. 

October Events:  

ADHD – The Real Deal
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: It’s more than overwashing your hands

Join us online. It's free. - More info to come...