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!

 

MUNCHALUNCH.....

If you are new this year to Strathcona, you will have 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 out on those days, please feel free to contact Tammy at strathconahotlunches@gmail.com

Paper order forms can be picked up at the office.

Milk days are: 
October 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th
November 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th
December 3rd, 10th and 17th

Hot Lunch days: 
October 16th ~ Fresh Slice
November 6th ~ Safeway
December 4th ~ SinAmen

Returning Parents:
https://munchalunch.com/login

New Parents:
https://munchalunch.com/schools/Strathcona

Action Required!

Field Trip Form

·         Please sign into your child’s Quickpay Account SD33 QUICKPAY and complete the online permission form for “Walking Field Trips”. Without this form being completed, your child will not be able to attend community-based field trips with their class, for walking trips like, but not limited to, Fairfield Island Park.

School Fees 

·         Student Fees have now been added to your child’s Quickpay Account and Statements were emailed out on Wednesday through Student Quickpay.  

·         All student fees are to be paid online using the Quickpay Portal SD33 QUICKPAY, if you are not able to make your payment via the Quickpay Portal, please contact me at sheryl_picco@sd33.bc.ca to make other arrangements. 

·        Payments were due October 1, 2025. If needed, please contact the office regarding payment plan options.

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 

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.

Weekly Reminders: October 27-31

Monday, October 27

  • Strathcona Pumpkin Patch Event (on-site)
    • Students will need to bring a labelled bag large enough to carry a small/medium size pumpkin home.
    • Students will carve or decorate their pumpkin at home
      • Students can bring their craved or decorated pumpkin in for display on Thursday, October 30, if they’d like too. (but not required)

Thursday, October 30

  • Students can bring their carved or decorated pumpkin in for display on Thursday, we will be doing some pumpkin judging in the afternoon. Categories will be: Scariest. Cutest, Funniest and Most Creative.

Friday, October 31

  • Spirit Day – Costumes or Orange & Black Day
    • Please no costumes with weapons, gore or masks.
    • Students must be able to move and use the washroom independently in their costumes.
    • Classroom teachers will provide specific information regarding Hallowe’en celebrations in their classroom. 

Upcoming Reminders:

November 3

  • Non-Instructional Day (All Schools are Closed)

November 5

  • Be An All-Star Presentation 1:00-2:00pm

November 6

  • Hot Lunch - Safeway

November 7

  • Remembrance Day Assembly 10:30am – Parents are welcome to attend
    • Do you have a family member that has served?
      • Would you like to supply a photo and write up for your family member to be acknowledge during our Remembrance Day Assembly?  Please submit to Mr. Kotanko at michael_kotanko@sd33.bc.ca by Friday, October 31st.
  • Popcorn Day

  •  

    • For students that pre-ordered.
      • 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.

November 10

  • Non-Instructional Day (All Schools are Closed)

November 11

  • Remembrance Day (All Schools are Closed)

November 14

  • Neufeld Farms Fundraiser Starts
    • Orders Due – Dec. 1st at midnight
    • Order Pick-up – Dec. 11th at 2:30pm

November 18

  • Ice Skating Field Trip 10:00-12:00pm (Classes: Mrs. Shea, Mrs. vonDoehren)
    • Watch for email to complete permission form.
    • Parent Volunteers will be needed to help students with skates.
    • Helmets are mandatory.

November 19

  • Ice Skating Field Trip 9:00-11:00am (Classes: Mrs. Simon, Mrs. Harbridge)
    • Watch for email to complete permission form.
    • Parent Volunteers will be needed to help students with skates.
    • Helmets are mandatory.

November 21

  • Ice Skating Field Trip 10:15-12:15pm (Classes: Mrs. Smyth, Ms. Halko)
    • Watch for email to complete permission form.
    • Parent Volunteers will be needed to help students with skates.
    • Helmets are mandatory.
  • Popcorn Day

  •  

    • For students that pre-ordered.
      • 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.

November 25

  • Ice Skating Field Trip 10:15-12:15pm (Classes: Mr. Neely, Mr. Ball, Mrs. Rideout, Mrs. Kaur)
    • Watch for email to complete permission form.
    • Parent Volunteers will be needed to help students with skates.
    • Helmets are mandatory.

November 26

  • Ice Skating Field Trip 9:00-11:00am (Classes: Ms. McCague, Mrs. Albeluhn, Ms. Roseboom)
    • Watch for email to complete permission form.
    • Parent Volunteers will be needed to help students with skates.
    • Helmets are mandatory.

December 1

  • Neufeld Farms Fundraiser Closes
  • Deck the Halls
  • Spirit Day – Red & Green Day

December 4

  • Hot Lunch (SinAmen)

December 5

  • Popcorn Day

  •  

    • For students that pre-ordered.
      • 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
    • Parent Volunteers will be needed to assist with cooking pancakes, serving students, clean-up etc.
      • More details to follow.
      • Spirit Day – PJ Day

December 11

  • Neufeld Farms Fundraiser Delivery at 2:30pm

December 16 & 17

  • Afternoon Concert ~ 1:00pm
    • Ticket request forms will go home mid to end of November.
      • Each family can request up to 2 tickets for 1 concert day.
      • Families can request to be waitlisted for additional tickets.
      • We are trying to arrange for 1 performance to be recorded.

December 17

  • Report Cards Home

December 19

  • Spirit Day – Christmas Sweaters
  • Popcorn Day

  •  

    • For students that pre-ordered.
      • 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

 

Strong Start 

Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 8:30-11:30am.  

To register:  https://sd33.bc.ca/registration

 

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! 

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.