Just B4 Preschool Open Houses

Chilliwack School District invites families to an upcoming open house for the Just B4 Preschool program. Just B4 Preschool is a play-based program for 4-year-olds beginning kindergarten the following year. 

Robertson Elementary, Vedder Elementary, and Watson Elementary will each host an open house on Monday, November 3. Families can drop in from 9:00am to 10:30am to learn more about preschool. 

Just B4 Preschool follows the BC Early Learning Framework. The program supports children’s development through play, exploration, and relationships. Activities foster creativity, curiosity, and foundational skills in a joyful and engaging environment.

Chilliwack School District’s preschools are located within local elementary schools. This helps young learners get to know their schools before kindergarten. Being part of the school community gives them access to shared spaces like the gym and library. 

Just B4 Preschool is an example of how child care in schools makes school transitions easier for students. 

Registration for 2026/2027 Just B4 Preschool will open in January 2026 for children born in 2022. 

UPCOMING OPEN HOUSES

Monday, November 3rd, 2025 from 9:00-10:30am 

Robertson Elementary: 46106 Southlands Dr 

Vedder Elementary: 45850 Promontory Rd

Watson Elementary: 45305 Watson Rd (portable)

District Welcomes New Assistant Secretary Treasurer

Friday, October 3, 2025

The Chilliwack School District is pleased to announce Raman Brar has been appointed to the position of Assistant Secretary Treasurer effective November 3, 2025.  

Brar joins the District from the Fraser Health Authority, where he most recently served as Interim Executive Director. In his time with Fraser Health, Brar oversaw 12 Fraser Health hospitals and related community services, and provided leadership in budgeting, financial planning, reporting, analysis, strategic planning, risk management, and governance.

“With extensive expertise in financial stewardship and a proven track record of effective leadership, Raman has established himself as a trusted partner in navigating the complexities of large public sector organizations,” said Superintendent Rohan Arul-pragasam. “Raman’s collaborative leadership style, ability to break down silos, and commitment to building strong partnerships across diverse teams will be an asset to the Chilliwack School District.”

“I’m eager to bring my experience and perspective to the Chilliwack School District,” said Brar. “I look forward to working closely with the senior leadership team to advance the district’s financial strategies, strengthen operations, and support its ongoing success and reputation.”

Known for his agile approach, Brar emphasizes solutions that are both fiscally responsible and responsive to evolving organizational and community needs. At the heart of his work is a dedication to supporting people—whether it has been health care professionals caring for patients or educators fostering the success of students.

Brar will succeed Mark Friesen, who left the Chilliwack School District to join the Nicola-Similkameen School District as Secretary Treasurer in August.

Chilliwack School District welcomes Raman Brar to this role and extends its fullest support as he embarks on this new journey.

Message on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 

September 30 is an important day for all Canadians. On this National Truth and Reconciliation Day and every day, we are called to pause and engage in remembrance of the painful and profound harm caused by the residential school system and the ongoing impacts of colonialism on Indigenous Peoples. This is not only a day of solemn remembrance of the harms caused by the residential school system, but also a call to action: a commitment to truth, learning from, and change.

Reconciliation begins with truth. We must listen with humility to the survivors of residential schools, to Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous communities who continue to carry and share their stories with courage. These truths remind us of the profound and lasting harm caused by attempts to erase Indigenous languages, cultures, and identities. They also remind us of the strength, resilience, and beauty of Indigenous peoples, whose cultures and communities continue to thrive.

But reflection alone is not enough. As leaders and educators in public education, we hold a responsibility to transform our learning into deliberate action. This means critically examining the policies, practices, and systems that continue to create inequities for Indigenous learners and working alongside Rightsholders to ensure that every Indigenous student is supported, valued, and celebrated for who they are.

This work is not simple, and it will not be finished in one day. Reconciliation is an ongoing journey that requires humility, courage, and collective will. On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and every day, let us commit to walking this path together, ensuring that the truths of our history guide us toward a future where Indigenous learners, families, and communities can flourish.

Indigenous Education Department and ISP Host Welcome International Students 

On Monday, September 23, 2025, the Chilliwack School District Indigenous Education Department and International Student Program (ISP) welcomed international students to Chilliwack with a half day of learning at Coqualeetza Cultural Education Centre. 

The event introduced international students to local First Nations' culture, teachings, and traditions and emphasized how that knowledge continues to guide and enrich our communities today. 

Students experienced a traditional Welcome Ceremony, learned from Elders and Knowledge Keepers, and explored the meaning of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.

It was a day of connection, respect, and gratitude — and a reminder that reconciliation begins with listening, learning, and walking together in friendship.

To learn more about how Truth and Reconciliation is embedded in the School District's strategic plan, visit: Strategic Plan 2025 - 2029 | Chilliwack School District #33. 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 

Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital part of the reconciliation process.

On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Chilliwack School District recognizes our responsibility to students, staff, and families - past, present, and future. The Coast Salish philosophy of Tómiyeqw guides us to think deeply about any action, or inaction, we take. Tómiyeqw expresses the responsibility and connection Stó:lō people have to the seven generations past and future. Tómiyeqw is a Halq'eméylem term that literally means both great-great-great-great grandparent/aunt/uncle and great-great-great-great grandchild/niece/nephew.

Tómiyeqw reminds us to think beyond our own lifetimes and act with care for future generations. 

Fourth Annual Orange Shirt Day Pow Wow

On September 26 and 27, 2025, the Indigenous Education department and Chilliwack Secondary School are hosting the 4th annual Orange Shirt Day Pow Wow. The event will be held at Chilliwack Secondary School at 46363 Yale Road and is open to the public. 

SCHEDULE

Grand entry: Friday, Sept. 26 at 7:00pm, Saturday, Sept. 27 at 1:00pm and 7:00pm. 

Feast: Saturday, Sept. 27 at 5:00pm

For more information, see flyer. 

Wear orange

Both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day take place on September 30.

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”.  The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

On September 30, we encourage our school communities to wear orange to honour the thousands of Survivors of residential schools.

Mental health supports available

Former residential school students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada.

Indigenous peoples across Canada can also go to The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for counselling and crisis intervention.

Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat (Please use Google Chrome).

Resources and Activities

Find more resources and activities to support learning and teaching about Reconciliation. 

Welcome Letter from the Superintendent

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers, 

Welcome back to a new school year. I sincerely hope that you had an amazing summer with loved ones and friends and that you had many opportunities to connect with nature and enjoy the beautiful summer weather. The summer season serves as a reminder of the deep gratitude we share for living in such a beautiful province and country that we are privileged to call home.

While many staff and students have been enjoying a wonderful summer break, our facilities staff members have been busy preparing our schools and facilities and looking after various summer projects for the new school year. The Sardis Secondary School Expansion and the New Rosedale East Side Elementary School Capital Projects are progressing well and are scheduled to be completed for the start of the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years respectively. These capital projects are a remarkable feat, and we thank our Facilities Staff sincerely for their dedication, commitment, and service to our families.

Key Ministry of Education and Child Care Updates:
As part of the ministry mandate to ensure that BC’s early interventions for children struggling with literacy are the most effective in North America, this fall, school districts will begin implementing mandatory screening in kindergarten. In Chilliwack, this practice is already in place, and we will continue to build on this important work.

Curriculum Updates for 2025/26 School Year:

Holocaust education has been added to the Social Studies 10 curriculum - September 2025.

Mandatory in PHE10: CPR and AED learning before graduation starting in the 2025/26 school year.

Effective July 1, 2025, amendments to the Support Services for Schools Ministerial Order require Boards of Education to publish a district policy/procedure for unexpected health emergencies and to ensure Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and naloxone kits are accessible and maintained—secondary schools by Dec 31, 2025; elementary/middle schools by Sept 8, 2026. Chilliwack already has AEDs at all sites and an Opioid Poisoning Response AP; an AED-use Administrative Procedure will be published by November 2025.

Last year, we completed a comprehensive refresh of our 2021–2025 Strategic Plan, resulting in a newly revised 2025–2029 Strategic Plan, which the Board of Education unanimously approved in June 2025. The plan is anchored in four priorities: Student Success, Human Flourishing, Truth and Reconciliation, and Accountability—advanced through focused goals in Literacy, Numeracy, Well-Being, and Transitions, and guided by our values of Kindness, Collaboration, Inclusion, Equity, and Innovation.

Also during the 2024-25 school year, District staff initiated preliminary conversations on enrolment and facilities across the district. This early engagement will inform a formal Board consultation in 2025–26, preparing for the opening of the new east-side elementary in 2027 and responding to continued growth on the south side of the highway.

Parent/Guardian home-to-school communication is pivotal to supporting your students’ success. For guidelines on the most effective process for resolving any concerns parents/guardians may have regarding their child’s program or other concerns that may arise during the school year please refer to our website: Parents/Communication Home and School.  When we work together as partners, we can collectively create a safe, inclusive learning environment where your student(s) can thrive.

Finally, every organization operates on three levels: what we do, how we do it, and why we do it. While most organizations can explain the ‘what’ and the ‘how,’ far fewer can clearly express the ‘why.’ In the Chilliwack School District, the Board of Education has defined our ‘why’ as follows: “We believe every learner deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported. We are committed to building an education community rooted in equity, kindness, and belonging—one that empowers students to grow, achieve, and participate meaningfully in society.” As we look to the year ahead, this commitment guides our actions and informs our decisions as we walk alongside every student in their educational journey.

We look forward to welcoming students back to school on September 2, and we hope you have a great school year. Please take care and enjoy the long weekend.

Sincerely,

Rohan Arul-pragasam, Superintendent of Schools

Master of Education Leadership and Mentorship Cohort Program

The Chilliwack School District is collaborating with University of the Fraser Valley's School of Education to offer a unique Master of Education in Leadership and Mentorship cohort program for teachers who wish to develop their leadership and mentorship knowledge in K-12 language and literacy education.

All BC certified teachers with a passion for language and literacy education are encouraged to consider this graduate program. This pilot MEd program will start in July 2026; registration opens in October 2025. 

The Chilliwack School District is hosting two information sessions at the school district office this fall. 

Upcoming Information Sessions: 

School district office at 8430 Cessna Drive, Chilliwack, B.C.

Register for Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (CANCELLED)
Register for Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm 

At the session, you'll: 
• learn about the design of this unique MEd program.
• explore the benefits of a local, in-person MEd program.
• understand UFV's graduate admissions process.
• have the opportunity to ask your questions about the program.