NEW "STUDENT SIGN OUT" PROCEDURE
If a student is getting picked up from school early, please come in the office and sign your student out on our "student sign out sheet". Every parent or guardian must sign their student out at the office.
Visitors - During Instructional Hours
We would like to remind parents, guardians & visitors that all visitors must sign in at the office when coming to the school during instructional hours 8:24am to 2:22pm. This includes early pick-ups, volunteering, and any other reasons for entering the building.
We are still noticing some parents bypassing the office and going directly to classrooms, and we kindly ask that everyone follow the posted signage and school procedures to help us maintain a safe and secure environment for all students.
All students leaving during the school day must be signed out at the office by their parent or guardian.
We kindly ask parents to wait at the office for their child(ren), unless you have been given permission by the office to go to the classroom for pick-up during instructional time. Having parents enter classrooms throughout the day can be very distracting and disrupts student learning.
Late Arrivals – Students arriving before 8:24am should go directly to their class line-up rather than entering through the front doors. This helps teachers connect with students each morning and ensures a smooth start to the day.
Parking Lot Safety Reminders
Please only park in "visitor" designated parking areas when dropping off and picking up students.
Do not leave your car in the drop off / pick up lane.
Idle Free Zone – while waiting for your child, please turn off your vehicle.
School Staff parking spots are not available to be used for pick-up and drop off, even if they are available when you arrive. We have district level staff who use these parking spots at all times throughout the day.
Please enter from the East end of the parking lot and exit from the West end of the parking lot only.
Please always use Crosswalks!
Student Safety Alert – Early Arrivals
Parents,
Please note, we have had an increase in unhoused individuals being on school grounds in the morning. Our Custodial Staff does complete a site check each morning to ensure the safety our students.
Please do not allow your children to come to school prior to 8:10am unless there are coming to attend breakfast club which opens at 8:10am. Supervision does not start until 8:10am. Thank you!
Moving?
If you are moving in the near future and your child(ren) will not be attending Strathcona Elementary in September, please let the office know as soon as possible. This information is helpful as we make decisions regarding staffing, classroom configurations and student placements.
Volunteering:
As the school year comes to an end, many classes will be going on field trips. If you’d like to be a parent volunteer, you will require a current Criminal Record Check with the Chilliwack School District. Please check on the below link for more information about volunteering and link to complete a free volunteer CRC. Please allow enough time for processing.
Volunteering | Chilliwack School District #33
Online Link: https://justice.gov.bc.ca/criminalrecordcheck
Access Code: UKAGZSBMJ2
Please help us be a Good Neighbour!
Please do not place your garbage in our neighbour's cans that have been put out for collection. These bins belong to others and may already be full. Adding extra waste can create overflow, litter, or missed pickups. Thank you!
Bell Schedule
8:19 – Warning Bell
8:24 – 10:34 – Class in Session
10:34 – 10:49 – Recess
10:49 -12:15 – Class in Session
12:15 – 12:30 – Lunch (Eating Period)
12:30-1:00 – Lunch (Outside Playtime)
1:00 – 2:30 – Class in Session
Class Assignments
Classes have now been set and your child ended the day with their assigned classroom teacher. Monday morning, they will report to that teacher. Please check your email for additional information.
Lice Season is Here
Unfortunately, it’s that time of year and head lice have arrived in schools. We’d like to remind parents to be checking their child(ren’s) head for signs of head lice at least a couple times per week. If you find live lice or nits, please let the office know. We will send home a letter home with the class, so parents know they need to be extra diligent in checking. We can also provide some tips and advice for treatment. Lice is a nuisance, and they love clean hair. Once a child has been treated for head lice with a special lice treatment they can return to school the next day, parents will need to continue with the nit picking and following up with a 2nd treatment at 10 days. We currently have a small supply of lice treatment kits in the office should a family require one.
Some tips for preventing transfer of lice:
- Spritz hair with a water/tea tree oil spray (add a few drops of tea tree oil to water in a spray bottle). You can also spray backpacks and coats.
- Wear long hair up.
- Use a little bit of hair gel or hair spray.
Letter from the Ministry of Education for Kindergarten to Grade 3 Students
Dear Families of Kindergarten to Grade 3 Students,
Supporting literacy development is one of our district's highest priorities. Last week, the Ministry of Education and Child Care shared information about the implementation of early literacy screening for all students in Kindergarten through Grade 3. We are pleased to share that this work aligns closely with practices that have been in place in Chilliwack for many years.
Our teachers use district literacy assessments throughout the primary years to monitor student progress, inform classroom instruction, and identify students who may benefit from additional support. This long-standing commitment to early literacy means we are well prepared to meet the provincial requirements while continuing to use assessment information to guide instruction and respond to students' learning needs.
For more information, please see the Ministry resources linked below:
· Letter to Parents and Caregivers of Kindergarten to Grade 3 Students
· Early Literacy Screening: Parent and Caregiver Brochure
· Pathways to Proficiency: Foundational Literacy
· Pathways to Proficiency: Foundational Numeracy
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your child's learning.
Weekly Reminders: September 14-18
Monday, September 14
- Kindergarten – 8:30 - 10:30am
- Bowls of Hope – Soup Club Lunch Program Starts Today
Tuesday, September 15
- Kindergarten – 8:30 - 11:30am
Wednesday, September 16
- Kindergarten – 8:30 – 12:00pm
Thursday, September 17
- Kindergarten – No Kindergarten - Interviews
Friday, September 18
- Kindergarten – No Kindergarten - Interviews
Upcoming Reminders:
September 21
- School Bus Evacuation Drills
September 22
- PAC Meeting @ 7:00pm (Multi-Purpose Room)
- All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.
September 23
- Open House 5:00-6:30pm
- Information to come home next week
September 29
- Orange Shirt Day
September 30
- National Day of Truth & Reconciliation Day
- All Schools are Closed
October 6
- Student Photo Day
October 9
- Non-Instructional Day
- All Schools are Closed
Daycare Parking is available for licensed daycares, please register at the office. Spots limited (3 spaces by the west exit)
Student Supervision – Before & Afterschool
8:04-8:19am & 2:30-2:45pm
Students should not arrive before school supervision and should also leave before the after-school supervision ends (unless with a parent/guardian).
School Fees will be uploaded to Student Quick Pay next week. You will receive an email notice when the system is up and ready to receive payments. If you are not able to pay online using a credit card, we will accept cash or cheque at the school office. All fee payments will be due Friday, October 2nd, 2026, please contact the office if you require a payment plan.
Kindergarten ~ $50.00
Grade 1 to 5 ~ $45.00
Parking Lot Safety Reminders
- Please only park in designated parking areas when dropping off and picking up students.
- Do not leave your car in the drop off / pick up lane.
- Idle Free Zone – while waiting for your child, please turn off your vehicle.
- School Staff parking spots are not available to be used for pick-up and drop off, even if they are available when you arrive. We have district level staff who use these parking spots at all times throughout the day.
- Please enter from the East end of the parking lot and exit from the West end of the parking lot only.
- Please always use Crosswalks!
Fair Notice - See attached letter.
E-Scooter Safety Policy – See attached poster.
Hot Lunch, Milk or Popcorn Orders – Student Absent
Parents and caregivers!!
If you have placed an order and your child will be away on the day of hot lunch, milk, or popcorn, and you would like to pick-up your order, please call the office by 10:00am and let them know. This gives them time to leave a message for the teacher and the lunch, milk or popcorn will be sent to the office for you to pick up. Please arrange for pick-up of the items between 12:30-2:30pm the same day, we will no longer be holding items for students for future school days. They often get forgotten and end up spoiling and, in some cases, does not meet Food Safe regulations. Please do not email teachers directly as sometimes they do not see the email in time, all communication regarding food items needs to come through the office.
If you have not called by 10:00am to arrange pick-up, the teacher will send the food items back to the multi-purpose room and it will be donated to another child.
Thank you for understanding!!!
Kindergarten Registration
Registration opened on October 1, 2025 for the 2026-2027 school year, if you have a child that will be 5 years old by December 31, 2026. Please use the following link to register: https://sd33.vivosforms.com/Form/StudentApplication?p1=2026-2027
Lice Season is Here
Unfortunately, it’s that time of year and head lice have arrived in schools. We’d like to remind parents to be checking their child(ren’s) head for signs of head lice at least a couple times per week. If you find live lice or nits, please let the office know. We will send home a letter home with the class, so parents know they need to be extra diligent in checking. We can also provide some tips and advice for treatment. Lice is a nuisance, and they love clean hair. Once a child has been treated for head lice with a special lice treatment they can return to school the next day, parents will need to continue with the nit picking and following up with a 2nd treatment at 10 days.
Some tips for preventing transfer of lice:
- Spritz hair with a water/tea tree oil spray (add a few drops of tea tree oil to water in a spray bottle). You can also spray backpacks and coats.
- Wear long hair up.
- Use a little bit of hair gel or hair spray.
Indoor Shoes:
All students are required to have clean indoor shoes to wear while inside their classroom & gym. This is especially important since the wet weather has arrived.
Outdoor Attire:
Please ensure that your child has appropriate outerwear for the Winter weather. Students will go out for play periods, even when it’s raining, snowing, windy or chilly. Please make sure your child arrives to school with a warm jacket, small umbrella and proper footwear (particularly boots on rainy & snowy days), and on colder days remember to send mitts and toques as well. The school will only have inside play periods when it rains or snows heavily, is too icy out or we are experiencing extreme cold temperatures. Getting fresh air and some physical activity is an important part of their day…rain or shine! If your child does not have a winter coat, please contact the office, we have a limited supply of coats that have been donated to our school.
Strong Start
Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 8:30-11:30am.
To register: https://sd33.bc.ca/registration
Moving?
We are starting to work on classroom configurations for next year. If your child will not be returning to Strathcona in September, please let the office know as soon as possible, either by replying to this email or calling the office at 604-792-9301. Thank you!
Reminder to all Parents, Guardians and Caregivers,
Our school grounds are an Idle Free Zone. Please turn your vehicles off while waiting for your child(ren) in the parking lot and pick-up lane. Concerns have also been brought forward regarding vehicles on neighbouring streets being left running unattended while dropping students off. For the safety of students, we ask that you turn your vehicles off while leaving your vehicle unattended. Thank you for your cooperation.