Principal’s Message

Families of Douglas Park,

I am excited to welcome you back to Douglas Park to begin the 2025/2026 school year! For those of you who are new to our school, my name is Mr. Mark Touzeau and I am the proud principal of Douglas Park Community School. I am also excited to introduce our new vice principal, Ms. Amanda Van Garderen. She is thrilled to join Douglas Park and looks forward to meeting everyone in September. 

We have an awesome school community at Douglas Park that focuses on supporting students to achieve their best by providing an encouraging, safe, and caring environment. Our students, staff, and families have worked hard to create this environment, and we look forward to further building on this positive community as we enter the new school year.

As the summer days begin to wind down and the excitement of a new school year approaches, it’s a perfect time to start preparing for a smooth transition back to the school routine. Establishing routines plays a crucial role in helping children feel secure and confident as they return to their studies. While the relaxed days of summer have been wonderful, embracing a consistent schedule can provide a sense of stability that sets the tone for success. As you begin to prepare for the return to school, remember to savor these final moments of summer fun. Whether it’s time at the local water park or a family picnic, making memories together will create a positive atmosphere as the academic year begins. And most importantly, encourage your children to approach the upcoming school year with optimism and excitement. Share stories of growth, friendships, and new discoveries, fostering an eagerness to learn. By working together and embracing these simple strategies, you’re laying the foundation for a fantastic school year ahead.

 We’re hoping that all of you were able to enjoy some rest and fun in the beautiful summer sun these last two months. We look forward to reconnecting with you in the coming weeks and hearing about our students’ summer break highlights.  

This newsletter will outline a few items to help get you ready for the first week of school. If you have any questions, you can always reach me at mtouzeau@sd35.bc.ca. 

Office Hours 

Summer Office Hours (August 25 – 29) à 9:00 am – 3:30 pm 

Regular School Office Hours (Beginning Tuesday, September 2, 2025) à 8:00 am – 3:30 pm 

Bell Times for 2025/2026

8:42 am – Warning Bell 

8:47 am – Instruction Begins 

10:10 am – 10:25 – Recess 

10:30 am – Instruction Begins 

11:47 am – 12:20 pm – Outdoor Lunchtime 

2:30 pm – Dismissal  

School Supplies 

You can now purchase school supply kits for the upcoming school year directly from School Start. The supply list for each grade can be found below. You may also utilize the same list to purchase your supplies locally.

To order, families can go directly to: https://schoolstart.ca/, and click on the following:

• Parents Shop Here
• Purchase School Supply Kits
• Select Province, then City, then School
• Click “Shop Schoolstart.ca”
• Click “Click Here to Purchase Your School Kits”
• Lastly, click on your child’s grade and proceed from there

If you need any assistance, please contact School Start at 1-800-580-1868 or via email at info@schoolstart.ca.

• Grade 1 School Supplies 2025/2026
• Grade 2 School Supplies 2025/2026
• Grade 3 School Supplies 2025/2026
• Grade 4 School Supplies 2025/2026
• Grade 5 School Supplies 2025/2026

First Week of School 

We know that the first week of school can be exciting and sometimes can create some nervous energy in many of our students (and staff). Both of these emotions show that you are looking forward to what lies ahead. This year, students will be spending the first week with last year’s class. We do this to provide students with a familiar classroom community and provide the school time to finalize enrolment numbers, allocated divisions, and new classroom placements. We thank you for your patience as we finalize classes for the upcoming school year. We are all trying to find best placements for each child so that all of our Dragons can achieve greatness in their educational journey this year. We hope to have all of our students into their “forever classes” by the beginning of the second week of school.

Tuesday, September 2^nd

Our school day runs from 8:42 am – 10:30 am

Wednesday, September 3^rd – Friday, September 5^th  

These are regular school days, so students attend from 8:42 am – 2:30 pm

Where does my child go on the first day of school? 

All students will remain with their class from last year for the first week of school. This will provide a familiar routine for our students and will allow for students to meet some of their friends that they may not have seen too much over the last few months.

There will be a sign outside the front door of the school to indicate where students are to go. School staff will be available to direct parents and students to classrooms. Signs will be outside classroom doors as well (please pick up your child at the same room where you dropped them off).

* Classroom location has changed 

New to Douglas Park Community School? 

All new students and families, please come through the front door and meet in the library with Mrs. Van Garderen, our vice principal. After a short talk she will take the new students for a tour of the school and then take them to a classroom with students their age. A paper slip with a room number to pick up your child will be provided to families. 

Kindergarten Students 

All new Kindergarten students should have received a welcome package during the summer regarding gradual entry. A reminder that the first day of school for new Kindergarten students is Friday, September 5^th. Kindergarten teachers will be booking meetings with families on September 3^rd and 4^th. If you did not receive a package or have questions about gradual entry, please contact the school office. 

Breakfast Program 

Our Breakfast Program will open September 8^th. It runs out of the Boys & Girls Club Portable. It is open Monday – Friday from 7:30 – 8:35. You do not need to register for this program. 

The breakfast program is FREE for all Douglas Park students. It is run by volunteers and supported through donations.

If you are interested in a volunteer position with our school breakfast program, please email Ms. Langford at klangford@sd35.bc.ca. Volunteers are required to have a criminal record check. 

Boys and Girls Club 

For students who have registered for the Boys and Girls Club, the first day of operations will be Wednesday, September 3^rd.  

StrongStart 

Langley School District’s StrongStart Centres provide welcoming and stimulating play for pre-Kindergarten children ages 0-5 and their parents/primary caregivers. There is no charge to attend. Our StrongStart programming is led by our awesome coordinator, Mrs. Rachel Susheski! Please check in at the school office about how to register for this program. 

Information from Langley School District 

Parent Consent Request  

Each year, Langley schools asks families to complete a set of parent consent forms for their child. These consent forms are required by our schools to ensure the health, safety, and security of all students. Langley schools use a secure web form to collect this information. Beginning mid-September, please watch for an email request (subject Parent Consent Request) that contains one link for you to submit consents for all children in your family attending any Langley school. If your email address or contact information has changed, please call your school to correct it in our files. If you have not received an email regarding Parent Consent Request by the end of September or have any questions/concerns, please contact your school administrator.  

School Messenger 

The Langley School District uses a notification system called SchoolMessenger to communicate information to families. As we welcome our new families to our schools, some parents/guardians may receive a text message notifying them about SchoolMessenger.  

Upcoming Dates 

September 2^nd – First Day of School (8:42 am – 10:30 am) 

September 3^rd – Full Day 

September 10^th – PAC Meeting at 9:00 am

September 12^th – School Spirit Day (Wear School Clothing or Colours)

September 18^th – Welcome Back BBQ and Meet the Teacher Night 

September 22^nd – School Picture Day 

September 29^th – School Improvement Day (Students Not in Attendance)

September 30^th – National Truth and Reconciliation Day 

October 3^rd – Inclusion Family Support Group Meeting at 9:30 am

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school at 604-533-4491.

Sincerely, 

Mr. Touzeau 

Proud Principal of Douglas Park Community School