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!
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!!!
Neufeld Farms Fundraiser
· Please use the attached link to place an order:
o https://app.neufeldfarms.ca/fundraising/2025-strathcona-elementary-b0b5d546c3/ref/em
· Orders are due on December 1st
· Order pick-up is on December 11th at 2:30pm
· Proceeds from this fundraiser help reduce the cost of the annual grade 5 year-end celebration field trip.
Grade 1 Family Book-A-Day - Sign up
We’re excited to launch Family Book-a-Day, a new literacy initiative inspired by the “Classroom Book-a-Day” movement.
Each participating Grade One family will receive a crate containing 7 picture books—one for each day of the week—to enjoy together. Crates are picked up on Friday (or Monday) and returned the following week for a fresh set.
Why join?
Daily reading helps build vocabulary, comprehension, and confidence. Sharing stories as a family strengthens connections, sparks curiosity, and encourages lifelong reading habits. Picture books are short and can be enjoyed together in just 15 minutes a day.
We’re starting with 10 families. If you’d like to participate and are in Grade 1, please fill out the form below. We’ll select the first 10 families who sign up.
Let’s build a joyful community of readers—at home and at school!
https://forms.office.com/r/GJxC0d36HL
Sockvember
Grade 5 students will continue to support Sockvember this month
This school-wide initiative invites students in k-5 to donate new thick thermal-socks and essential toiletries to support our local homeless population during the cold winter months. Donations can be dropped off in the wooden bin just inside the library. At the end of the month, the items will be donated to Ruth and Naomi’s who will use their outreach teams to get the products in the hands of those who need them.
Thank you, in advance, for helping the school learn the importance of caring for vulnerable members of our community.
Items:
Thick thermal-type socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, underwear, wipes, disposable menstrual products, body wash, lotion, shampoo, deodorant, etc...
Weekly Reminders: November 17-21
Monday, November 17
· Neufeld Farms Fundraiser Continues
o Orders Due – Dec. 1st at midnight
o Order Pick-up – Dec. 11th at 2:30pm
o https://app.neufeldfarms.ca/fundraising/2025-strathcona-elementary-b0b5d546c3/ref/em
Tuesday, November 18
· Ice Skating Field Trip 10:15-12:15pm (Classes: Mrs. Shea, Ms. McCague)
o Login to your child’s Student Quickpay Account to complete the permission form.
o Parent Volunteers are needed to help students with skates.
o Helmets are mandatory.
Wednesday, November 19
· Ice Skating Field Trip 9:00-11:00am (Classes: Mrs. Simon, Mrs. Harbridge)
o Login to your child’s Student Quickpay Account to complete the permission form.
o Parent Volunteers are needed to help students with skates.
o Helmets are mandatory.
Friday, November 21
· Ice Skating Field Trip 10:30-12:30pm (Classes: Mrs. Smyth, Ms. Halko)
o Login to your child’s Student Quickpay Account to complete the permission form.
o Parent Volunteers are needed to help students with skates.
o Helmets are mandatory.
· Popcorn Day
o For students that pre-ordered.
o If you did not pre-order and would like to order for the remainder of this session (Nov.-Jan.), you can stop by the office to pick-up a pre-order envelope. We will not be collecting orders each popcorn week in the classroom.
Field Trips / Parent Volunteers:
With many upcoming field trips & school events on our calendar, we’d like to remind parents that they are required to have a valid Criminal Record Check on file with the Chilliwack School District to be a parent volunteer. Please use the link below for more details and to complete your no cost volunteer CRC. https://sd33.bc.ca/volunteering
Upcoming Reminders:
November 25
· Ice Skating Field Trip 10:15-12:15pm (Classes: Mr. Neely, Mr. Ball, Mrs. Rideout, Mrs. Kaur)
o Login to your child’s Student Quickpay Account to complete the permission form.
o Parent Volunteers are needed to help students with skates.
o Helmets are mandatory.
· PAC Meeting @ 7:00pm (MPR)
o All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.
November 26
· Ice Skating Field Trip 9:00-11:00am (Classes: Mrs. vonDoehren, Mrs. Albeluhn, Ms. Roseboom)
o Login to your child’s Student Quickpay Account to complete the permission form.
o Parent Volunteers are needed to help students with skates.
o Helmets are mandatory.
December 1
· Cupcake Day
o For students that pre-ordered.
o Served at Lunchtime
· Neufeld Farms Fundraiser Closes
· Deck the Halls
· Spirit Day – Red & Green Day
December 4
· Hot Lunch (SinAmen)
December 5
· Popcorn Day
o For students that pre-ordered.
o If you did not pre-order and would like to order for the remainder of this session (Nov.-Jan.), you can stop by the office to pick up a pre-order envelope. We will not be collecting orders each popcorn week in the classroom.
December 9
· Annual Christmas Pancake Breakfast
o Parent Volunteers are needed to assist with cooking pancakes, serving students, clean-up etc.
· Please email sheryl_picco@sd33.bc.ca if you would like to volunteer.
· Spirit Day – PJ Day
December 10
· Christmas Sale
December 11
· Neufeld Farms Fundraiser Delivery at 2:30pm
December 15
· Christmas Concert Dress Rehearsal
December 16 & 17
· Afternoon Concerts ~ 1:00pm
o Ticket request forms will go home mid-November.
· Each family can request up to 2 tickets for 1 concert day.
· If you have booked time off for requested day, indicate that on the ticket request form and we will be sure that you get tickets for that day.
· Families can request to be waitlisted for additional tickets.
· We have arranged to have 1 of the performances recorded, the secured link will be shared with families when ready.
December 17
· Report Cards Go Home
December 19
· Spirit Day – Christmas Sweaters
· Popcorn Day
o For students that pre-ordered.
o If you did not pre-order and would like to order for the remainder of this session (Nov.-Jan.), you can stop by the office to pick up a pre-order envelope. We will not be collecting orders each popcorn week in the classroom.
December 20 – January 5
· Christmas Break
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.
We are currently doing Inline Skating at our school during PE class and students in grade 1-5, will also be going on a field trip to the Chilliwack Coliseum for Ice Skating next month. It is mandatory for students to wear a helmet for these activities, please remind your student to bring their own helmet if they have one instead of borrowing one.
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!
Kindergarten?
Do you have a child that will be turning 5 years old before December 31, 2025? Please register at: https://sd33.vivosforms.com/Home
Playground Supervision:
Starts at 8:09am, please do not send your child(ren) prior to this time unless they are supervised by an adult or going to Breakfast Club.
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 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!
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.