Families of Shortreed, 

We hope you had a lovely weekend... and found a way to stay dry! To all our Shortreed families celebrating tomorrow... Happy Diwali!!! We encourage students to wear traditional and celebratory attire to mark the day. 

A reminder that Friday is a Pro-D Day, so Shortreed staff will spend the day learning, but school is not in session for students. 

Our Eagles athletes continue their season this week with our Grade 5 Soccer team travelling to Douglas Park Community Elementary on Tuesday, and our qualified runners competing in the 2025 Langley Schools Cross-Country Championships. Congrats to Lucas M, Abel F, Isaac F, and Braxton C for qualifying. 

We shared this last week but here is a reminder about Halloween at Shortreed:

We encourage students to wear their costumes. Please ensure that costumes are age-appropriate and suited for all elementary-aged children. Costumes that are gory or glorify violence can frighten our younger students, so please leave these costumes at home. 

• If your child needs a costume, during the week of Halloween, we will have a free costume rack set up in the front office for you to choose from. If you have any "like-new" costumes you would like to donate, please bring them to the school and we will add them to the rack. 
• If the costume contains a weapon (ie. nunchuks, sword, etc) or prop, we will ask the student to keep it in their backpack until the parade. Too often, the use of these results in a child getting hurt or the prop getting ruined.
• We will have our Spooky Gym open throughout the day for our classes to walk through. The gym is not scary but it is all decorated with an incredible display by parents/families at Shortreed! Please watch for a request for volunteers being shared by PAC. 
• We have a Jack-o-Lantern display in the Spooky Gym so we invite families to bring in their carved pumpkins (and pick up at the end of the day) to add to the festive fun!
• At 1:30 on Halloween, we invite families to come out and cheer us on in our 2025 Shortreed Halloween Parade! You can watch from outside your child's classroom or along the side of the playground at the school. 

Informal Learning Updates (formerly called interim reports) will be sent home on Thursday. 

A reminder that proofs and order information for school photos were sent home a few weeks ago. Please ensure you place your order before October 24. If you need a retake on October 28, follow the instructions on the forms. If your child missed their photo, no problem, they will be automatically registered for a retake.

Don't forget to complete the online permissions for Walking Field Trip, Media Release, etc. We have some awesome opportunities for our students throughout the year in our community, and we need your permission for them to enjoy these. Please check your email for the forms. 

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. On Saturday, my wife and I took our dog for a walk in Aldergrove Park. Every time we go there, I am reminded of my friend (and former Indigenous Cultural Presenter in Langley), Carman McKay, who shared with me that the best way to slow down and ground ourselves is to get close to Mother Earth. We are so lucky to be able to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors here on these Máthxwi lands. Next time you are feeling a little overwhelmed with the speed of life... head outside, walk gently, and get close to Mother Earth

Good Things to Talk About

Our students were so respectful and listened to the instructions of their teachers in our first earthquake drill of the year. We participated in the Drop, Cover, and Hold practice and then evacuated to our backfield. Each time we do a drill is a good time to discuss with your families about your level of preparation for a big one. Are you prepared for 72 hours? 

These grade 5s have never looked better! They were pumped to receive their Shortreed Class of 2026 Hoodies this past week. With over 80 of the same hoodies, be sure to label them so they do not get lost. Thank you to Mrs. Parsons for facilitating the order. 

Congratulations to our Grade 5 Soccer Team, who defeated Blacklock Elementary 8-1 in their second league game of the season. The team plays 7-a-side each game, and the students are loving wearing the Eagles jersey and playing against other teams in Langley!

Our Grade 4-5 Cross Country team had their 3rd and final meet of the season last Wednesday. Several athletes had their personal best this week, with Sidak M, Thomas R, and Magnus T coming SO close to qualifying for the championships. 

The Week Ahead

• Monday, October 20 - Diwali, Gr. 5 Soccer practice 2:45
• Tuesday, October 21 - Gr. 5 Soccer at Douglas Park 3:00 (leaving at 2:15); Gr. 2 Trip to Pumpkin Patch
• 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 - Photo orders due; Pro-D Day (no school for students)

Upcoming Dates and Events:

• Monday, October 27 - Kindergarten Trip to the Pumpkin Patch; Gr. 5 Soccer practice 2:45; Neufeld Farm orders due
• Tuesday, October 28 - Photo Retakes
• Friday, October 31 - Haunted Gymnasium, Halloween Costume Parade 1:30 (caregivers welcome to attend). 
• Monday, November 3 - Gr. 5 Soccer Practice 2:45
• Tuesday, November 4 - Lockdown Drill 10:00, Quincy Mack Assembly 1:15, Gr. 5 Soccer Home Game vs Uplands 3:00
• Wednesday, November 5 - PAC Hot Lunch (Panago)
• Thursday, November 6 - No Stone Left Alone (Gr. 5) 10:30
• Friday, November 7 - Remembrance Day Assembly 11:00
• Saturday, November 8 - Indigenous Veterans Day
• Monday, November 10 - Design/Assessment Day - no school for students
• Tuesday, November 11 - Remembrance Day - schools closed
• Thursday, November 13 - 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:

• 
• 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.

   

• 
• Programs of Choice – Deadline to Register is Monday, October 20^th

  Langley School District offers a rich diversity of programs that are designed to meet the specific needs and interests of students. Programs include Fine Arts, French Immersion, Fundamental, Langley Environmental Awareness Program (outdoor education), Montessori, and UConnect. Registration for Kindergarten entry (for most programs) begins on Monday, October 6^th at 12 noon, and closes on Monday, October 20^th at 12 noon. For UConnect, please contact the school directly. For more information and instructions to register your child, visit our District website here and review our FAQ choice programs resource here.

• Student in Distress and School Safety

  Health and safety are a priority in the Langley School District. Our schools follow procedures to help keep students, staff, and the community safe. Depending on the situation, communication to parents/caregivers is needed to keep families informed about incidents in our school, such as during lockdowns, hold & secures, and room clears, or in the event of a student in distress. Sometimes these situations may not be emergencies but events that require a school response. It is important to note that the decision to send communications to families is dependent on a variety of factors including the nature of what happened, who has witnessed or was directly impacted by what happened, as well as student and staff privacy. Communication is unique and dependent on the specific situation; there are times when a student is in distress, yet the situation may or may not require a message or letter to families. In addition to communication with parents/caregivers, teachers and staff may debrief with students after an incident that may have upset them. In some cases, the school counsellor may offer support to students in need. As always, we want families to let us know if your child requires support. If you have any questions or concerns about communication related to situations or emergencies, please reach out 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.

• 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. 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.

Home Alone Course (ages 10+) at Shortreed on October 24. Register 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. 

October Events:  

ADHD – The Real Deal

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: It’s More Than Overwashing Your Hands

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