Announcements

Board chairperson Elaine Yamamoto, trustees Terra Slade, Pascale Shaw, Mike Murray, Jacquie Montgomery, Mark Bailey, and vice-chairperson Trudi Appleton take the oath of office.

At the November 4, 2026, inaugural meeting of the board, returning trustee Elaine Yamamoto was elected board chairperson and trustee Trudi Appleton was elected  vice-chairperson. Both positions are elected annually. Congratulations to both trustees!

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Permanent daylight saving time brings darker mornings, which means children will be travelling to school before sunrise during parts of the fall and winter.

Fraser Health is sharing the information below to support students and families as they adapt to year-round Pacific Time and maintain healthy sleep habits and safe travel to and from school.

What families can do

Reduced morning light can affect sleep, alertness and mood, particularly among adolescents, whose biological clocks naturally favour later sleep and wake times. Support healthy sleep and well-being by:

• Spending time outdoors during daylight hours whenever possible.
• Encouraging physical activity and social connection through after-school programs and activities.
• Maintaining consistent bedtimes and wake-up times.
• Turning off screens at least one hour before bedtime, as evening screen use can make it harder to fall asleep.

Support safe travel to and from school by:

• Helping children choose well-lit routes with sidewalks and designated crossings.
• Encouraging children to wear reflective or high-visibility clothing and use a flashlight when travelling during darker morning hours.
• Reminding children to use designated crossings, scan traffic, and make sure vehicles have stopped before crossing.

If driving:

• Use extra caution when driving near schools, crosswalks, intersections and shared pathways.
• Be aware of one’s surroundings and refraining from cell phone use, make eye contact, and shoulder check before turning or changing direction.
• Travel at slow speeds and stop completely at stop signs and crosswalks.

For more information on staying healthy and safe this fall and winter, visit fraserhealth.ca/setfortheseason.

The Oath of Office ceremony for the 2026-2030 Board of Education takes place at 4 pm on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at Thomas Haney Secondary School (Rotunda), 23000-116 Avenue, Maple Ridge.

On October 21, 2026, security updates were released to address vulnerabilities affecting PHP, the software underlying many websites, including those built on WordPress. Because school websites and the district website use WordPress, the district IT department immediately completed the necessary protective measures to address these vulnerabilities on those sites. Please note that school websites and the district website do not store personal information. 

Dear families, 

With Halloween just around the corner, we would like to remind students, families, and staff about the importance of choosing costumes that are thoughtful, respectful, and appropriate for school. Our school communities are made up of people of different backgrounds, beliefs, and traditions. Being mindful of these differences helps ensure that Halloween is an enjoyable and welcoming experience for everyone. 

Please keep the following two guidelines in mind as you and/or your child decide on a costume:

1. Be kind and consider the school community: Choose costumes that celebrate creativity and respect the diversity of our community. Avoid costumes that reference or imitate someone’s culture, identity, or perpetuate harmful stereotypes related to gender, race, culture, religion, age, or ability.
2. Be thoughtful and safe: Avoid costumes that depict violence or substances like alcohol or drugs. Replica weapons, including toy guns and knives, are not permitted at school.

As always, Halloween costumes should be consistent with school codes of conduct and the district’s Student Code of Conduct. Our goal is to ensure that our learning environments remain safe, welcoming, and inclusive for all students, families, and staff. 

If you have questions, please connect with your school administration.

Thank you for helping make Halloween a positive experience for all members of our school communities.

Ridge Meadows College, operated by the Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows School District, is offering the following certificate programs in January 2027:

• Education Assistant
• Early Childhood Educator (assistant, certificate, diploma, post-basic programs)
• Building Service Worker (custodian) *
• Community Support Worker
• Administrative Office Specialist
• Bookkeeping Professional
• Medical Office Administrator
• Medical Booking Clerk
• Medical Scheduling Clerk

Registration closes on January 4, 2027. Apply on the RMC website or contact the college for additional information at rmc@sd42.ca.

*The building service worker certificate program is a three-week program that operates on a separate schedule. Upcoming program dates are Nov. 16, 2026, to Dec. 4, 2026, and Jan. 18, 2027, to Feb. 5, 2027.

Upcoming Information Sessions

Education Assistant (EA) Program

Are you interested in a career working with children and youth with diverse learning, behavioural, or personal care needs in the classroom? The demand for this job is high as the province faces a shortage of EAs. For students wishing to work in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, successful graduates will be considered for an interview with School District 42. Join us for an online information session on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 6 p.m. Register at bit.ly/RMCInfoSession.

Early Childhood Education (ECE) Programs

The ECE programs prepare students to work with young children in a variety of early learning settings. If you’re interested in learning more, join us for an online information session on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 6 p.m. Register at bit.ly/RMCInfoSession.

Are you interested in welcoming an international student into your home? Join us for an online information session on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 7 p.m. Call 604.466.6555, ext. 3, or email inted@sd42.ca to register.

Hosting an international student allows you and your family to experience new cultures and connections while making a significant difference in a student’s life. Host families are a valuable part of the Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows International Education program and provide students with support to help them adjust to living away from home. This support helps students have a positive experience both academically and out of school.

Whether you have hosted in the past or are new to the experience, we have varying program lengths, allowing you to choose which works best for your family.

Learn more at https://inted.sd42.ca/host-a-student/hosting-information/.

 

 

Dear parent/guardian,

MyClass (MyEducation BC) parent/guardian accounts will be reactivated by 4 p.m. on Monday, September 14, 2026.

If you already have a MyClass account, you can log in using your existing ID and password. If your password has expired, you will be prompted to create a new one. If you don’t remember your username/login ID or password, follow these steps:

Click the “Trouble logging in?” link on the login screen to recover your username or password.

• To retrieve your login ID, enter the primary email address you provided during your child’s initial school registration. Please note: This may be different from the email you currently use to log in to the Parent Portal.
• To reset your password, enter your login ID.

If you are a parent new to the district, your login details will be emailed to you by 4 p.m. on September 14, 2026. The information will be sent to the primary email address you provided to the school during registration. 

Parents/guardians can use MyClass to view their child’s classes, assignments, attendance, report cards, transcripts, and more. Learn how to navigate the interface in the Parent Brochure on the district website, which has a page translate option in the top right menu.

Reminder: Passwords for all MyClass accounts automatically expire after 90 days, unless your account is linked to your BC Services Card. This is the only way to avoid having your password reset every 90 days. Resources to help you link your MyClass account to your BC Services Card are available here: https://myedbc.sd42.ca/myclass/#tab-10913

As we begin a new school year, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our students, families, and staff.

There is no question that we are living in a time of significant change. Around the world, communities are navigating uncertainty and facing complex challenges. Yet each September offers a powerful reminder that there is also great reason for optimism.

Our schools are places of hope.

Every day, students walk through our doors carrying their dreams, talents, questions, and potential. Public education exists to help young people grow into confident, capable, and caring members of our communities. Together, families and educators share the important responsibility of supporting that journey.

In our district, we remain committed to providing learning environments where every student feels safe, valued, included, and supported to reach their potential.

Our work begins with a strong foundation in literacy and numeracy. These skills remain essential for success in learning and life. However, preparing students for the future also requires us to help them develop the competencies needed to navigate an increasingly complex world.

British Columbia’s curriculum emphasizes critical and creative thinking, communication and collaboration, and personal and social responsibility. These competencies help students become thoughtful learners, effective problem-solvers, compassionate citizens, and engaged members of their communities. They empower young people to adapt, contribute, and thrive in a future that continues to evolve in ways we cannot always predict.

Most importantly, we know that learning flourishes when students feel connected and supported. The relationships built between students, families, and staff create the conditions for success and help ensure every learner experiences a sense of belonging.

As we begin this new school year, I encourage all of us to embrace the hope and possibility that education represents. Together, we have the opportunity to inspire learning, nurture belonging, and support the success of every child.

Thank you for your continued partnership and trust. We look forward to welcoming students back and embarking on another year of learning and growth together.

Teresa Downs
Superintendent of Schools

Parent/guardian and student MyClass accounts for all schools except Kanaka Creek Elementary will be disabled on July 31, 2026, to allow for system archiving and school scheduling. The system will not be accessible until accounts are reactivated.

Parent/guardian MyClass accounts for Kanaka Creek Elementary will be disabled on August 7, 2026.

Student accounts will be reactivated on September 4, 2026. Parent/guardian accounts will be reactivated mid-September once class scheduling is complete.

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