Absence Reporting:
To enhance our existing absence-checking procedure, we are introducing a new, more efficient student absence reporting system called SafeArrival. This new system will reduce the time it takes to verify student attendance, make it easy for you to report your child’s absence and easy for staff to respond to unexplained student absences.
With SafeArrival, you are asked to report your child’s absence in advance using any of these 3 convenient methods:
1) Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store (or from the links at https://www.sd33.bc.ca/safe-arrival ). The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
2) Use the SafeArrival website, https://www.sd33.bc.ca/safe-arrival. The first time you use the website, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
3) Call the toll-free number 1-833-698-6567 to report an absence using the automated phone system.
These options are available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. Future absences can be reported at any time.
Parking Lot Safety Reminders
• Please Do Not park in staff designated parking spots, please use visitor parking or park on side streets.
• Do Not park and leave your vehicle in the drop off / pick up lane.
• Have child(ren) exit the car as quickly as possible from the curbside of the car.
• Please Do Not hold up traffic in the drop off zone by having extended good-byes etc.
• Do Not drop off or pick up before your car has reached the designated zone.
• Please use the crosswalks.
Strong Start
Open Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 8:30-11:30am.
To register: https://sd33.bc.ca/registration
Student Fees
Statements have been sent out to families that have not paid their student fees. Please pay as soon as possible. Please contact the office if you need to set up a payment plan. Thank you!
Please continue reading below the “Upcoming Reminders” sections for information on Upcoming Clubs and Events.
📢🚨
ATTENTION: Parents and Guardians,
We have had some issues with illegal stopping and parking at our school. Over the past several months we have had the Manager of Transportation for the School District, Bylaw Officers and the RCMP dropping in to offer suggestions. Bylaw Officers were on site and have let us know that they will be driving by and taking photos of vehicles that are illegally parked and ticketing the offenders. There will be no additional verbal warnings. A reminder that we want all students and members of our community to be safe. We do understand that many parents are trying to pick up their children. A suggestion would be to have a meeting spot in another area of the school grounds. We have several paths onto our property (Crystal Drive, Seaholm Crescent, Elliot Avenue) that could be pick-up spots. Thanks for your attention to this important issue.
BEFORE & AFTERSCHOOL CARE/JUST B4 PRESCHOOL REQUEST LISTS FOR 2025/2026 ARE OPEN! Request Lists are now open for our 3 Just B4 Preschools and our 7 Before & After School Care programs throughout the district! These programs are designed to support early childhood development through the creation of safe, nurturing spaces that allow for all young learners to explore their creativity, social skills, and cognitive growth. Find more information below:
Munchalunch
Is now open for Milk and Hot Lunch ordering. All orders must be in by April 30th at 3pm for paper orders, & Midnight for online orders. (NO exceptions).
If you are new this year to Strathcona, you will need to create an account using the link provided for new parents (which is also posted on the school website).
If you have any issues, questions, or would like to help on those days, please contact the PAC @ strathconahotlunches@gmail.com
Paper order forms can be picked up at the office.
Milk days are:
May 21, 28, June 4, 11, 18
Hot Lunch days:
May 15 ~ Joey’s Fish Shack
June 12 June 6 ~ Fresh Slice for Sports Day (Please note: Sports Day is on June 6, and pizza orders will be distributed on June 6 and not June 12 as listed in Munchalunch).
Returning Parents:
New Parents:
https://munchalunch.com/schools/Strathcona
Neufeld Farms Fundraiser Starts Today!
Please use the attached link to place an order: https://app.neufeldfarms.ca/fundraising/2025-strathcona-elementary/ref/em
Orders are due on May 12
Order pick-up is on May 21 at 2:30pm
Proceeds from this fundraiser help reduce the cost of the annual grade 5 year-end celebration field trip
CSS Basketball Camp – June 14
Grade 3-5
See flyer attached for more details
Lice Checks
It’s that time of year! We’ve had some cases of lice in a few classrooms. Please do regular lice checks. If you find lice, please treat your child before having them return to school and notify the office or classroom teacher. Once treated, your child can return. Please be sure to continue with the nit picking so new lice don’t continue to hatch and retreat on day 10.
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!
Weekly Reminders: April 28 – May 2
Monday, April 28
Our flags will be at Half Mast for the following reason:
Worker’s Mourning Day
Tuesday, April 29
PAC Meeting @ 7:00pm
All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Wednesday, April 30
Munchalunch (Milk & Hot Lunch) Orders are Due
Paper Orders are available at the office and are due by 2:45pm.
Online Orders & Payment are Due by Midnight.
Thursday, May 1
Little Mountain Greenhouse Order
Pick-up 2:00-3:00pm
Friday, May 2
Popcorn Day
For students that pre-ordered.
If you did not pre-order and would like to order for the remainer of this session (April-June), 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.
Upcoming Reminders:
May 6
Dental Screening – Kindergarten
May 9
Spirit Day – Jersey’s
May 12
Neufeld Farms Fundraiser Orders are Due
May 13
Volunteer Tea
May 15
CMS Grade 5 – Gym Blast 10:45-12:30pm
Hot Lunch – Joey’s Fish Shack
May 16
Non-Instructional Day (All Schools are Closed)
May 19
Victoria Day (All Schools are Closed)
May 21
Neufeld Farms Delivery ~ 2:30pm at the Front of the School
May 23
Popcorn Day
For students that pre-ordered.
If you did not pre-order and would like to order for the remainer of this session (April-June), 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.
May 27
PAC Meeting @ 7:00pm
All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.
May 29
Strathcona Carnival 4:00 to 7:00pm
May 30
Non-Instructional Day (All Schools are Closed)
While the April showers are fully upon us, our FamilySmart and Community Events are in full swing! April's topic is Parenting Our Kids When Anxiety Shows Up As Anger.
This Topic is offered multiple times throughout the month so service providers and parents/caregivers can REGISTER for the one that works best for them.
Check our EVENTS PAGE. Every month, we host online events for parents & caregivers who are parenting a child or youth with a mental health and/or substance use challenge called “in the know.” We watch a video and share experiences and strategies that help in the hard moments and focus on strengthening our understanding and connection with our kids.
Coming Up NEXT: May 7th is National Child & Youth Mental Health Day! Save the Dates for these Incredible FamilySmart Events (Flyer attached).https://may7icare.ca/
Topics Include: Finding and Creating Connection with Kids, Supporting Kids with Substance Misuse & Substance Use and the Power of Support.
Some other Community Events your families may be interested in:
April 11th-22nd Free drop in D&D group for ages 14-18 through Child & Youth Health Centre taking place Tuesday evenings at the Tzeachten location..(Flyer Attached)
April 22nd Chilliwack Healthier Community Information & Networking Event, focused on substance use health supports available through Fraser Health, Register here for Stronger Together: Sharing Information on Substance Use Supports.
Series Starting April 25th The CALM Connection - a free parenting program
If you have any questions or would like to connect please Book a Call using this link. If you don't see a time that works, please reach out to me and we'll find a time that does.
FamilySmart is a free non-profit service under child and youth mental health. If you'd like to know our story, check out this short 8min video Journey to FamilySmart.
PAC On-going Bottle Drive
To help raise funds for new technology for our students the Strathcona PAC has opened an account at the Return-it Express bottle depot. If you are wanting to donate your returns to our technology fund, all you need to do is bag your returnables into a blue or clear plastic bag (please avoid pull string top bags as they get caught in the machines) and drop off at the express window at ANY Return-it depot and give them the schools phone number. 604-792-9301.
This account will be open indefinitely, and all funds raised will go back to our students. This is also a great way to have your out-of-town family help support your student as well. This account (phone number) can be given at any Return-it express center throughout BC!!
Don’t have time to drop off your holiday empties? Let us do it! We will have some PAC volunteers at the front of the school both before and after school on January 6th and 7th, standing ready to collect your bags of returnables. Again, all donations will go directly to our technology fund to help go towards the purchase of a classroom set of iPads.
**** Reminder:
The school does not provide cutlery to students. Please either pack lunch items that don’t require cutlery or send cutlery from home with their lunch. Thank you!
Strathcona equipment (hockey sticks, balls, holla hoops etc) is not available for after school use. We have this in place to reduce equipment loss and damage.
Thank you for your support.
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.