Families of Douglas Park,

We had an amazing week at school, full of learning and Halloween fun! The festivities kicked off with our beloved annual Douglas Park Pumpkin Patch, where the back field was transformed into a magical pumpkin wonderland. Students eagerly explored the patch with their classes, picking out their very own pumpkins to take home—setting the stage for a week of creativity and excitement.

Throughout the week, students enjoyed a variety of Halloween-themed activities that brought learning to life in festive ways. In Math, some students practiced measuring pumpkins, while others honed their estimation skills by guessing the number of seeds inside. In Literacy, students let their imaginations run wild, writing spooky and descriptive stories. Art classes were full of Halloween projects, brightening the school with seasonal decorations. These hands-on activities combined learning with holiday spirit and gave students a chance to showcase their creativity. The week’s school-wide events added even more excitement! Each class took part in a pumpkin decorating contest, showing off teamwork and unique ideas. On Friday, students paraded through the school in their costumes, followed by a lively dance party in the gym—bringing smiles and laughter to everyone.

Next week we will be shifting into a time of reflection, gratitude, and remembrance as we get ready for Remembrance Day on November 11th. This is a very important time of learning for all of us. It’s a time to acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country and acknowledge our responsibility to work for the peace they fought hard to achieve. In today’s world, it is so important that we continue to work together to establish peace and continue to teach our kids about the sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life. In addition to the learning that is taking place in classrooms, we will have a Remembrance Day assembly for students on Tuesday, November 10th.

It is a long-standing tradition for schools to support our veterans and the efforts of the Royal Canadian Legion. Once again this year, our school will be receiving a poppy for every student and distributing them to classes. We will continue to collect funds this year in support of the Legion’s Poppy Campaign but kindly ask students and their families to donate online via School Cash Online: https://sd35.schoolcashonline.com/. Please do not send cash or cheques with your child to school. If you need assistance accessing School Cash Online, please contact the school office. We appreciate your generosity. As always, our school is committed to educating our community about the meaning of the poppy and Remembrance Day.

Looking forward to another awesome week at Douglas Park!

Mr. Touzeau

Proud Principal

As always, we want to acknowledge that the Langley School District works, learns and plays on the unceded ancestral lands of the Matsqui, Kwantlen, Katzie and Semiahmoo First Nations

Good Things to Talk About

Class Pumpkin Contest - One of our favourite Douglas Park Halloween traditions is our annual class pumpkin decorating contest! Each class gets to decorate a pumpkin and then proudly display their creation for everyone to admire and vote on. Every year, we are blown away by the creativity and imagination that goes into these amazing pumpkins. It’s always so much fun seeing what each class comes up with, and this year was no exception!

The Pumpkin Patch - One of our favourite days of the year at Douglas Park is Pumpkin Patch Day! With the music playing and lots of excitement in the air, each class took a turn heading out to our very own Douglas Park Pumpkin Patch to search for and pick their very own pumpkin. There were lots of smiles, happy faces and some very excited Dragons! It’s one of those special school traditions that brings our whole school family together and makes this time of year so much fun. A big thank you to everyone who helps make this day so special!

Science Experiments - Ms. Yoon’s class had some Halloween-inspired science fun! Students explored chemical reactions by filling a pumpkin with baking soda and vinegar and watching what happened. Along the way, they practised making predictions, observing the results and thinking like scientists. A little bubbling, a little fizzing and lots of curious Dragons! What a fun way to bring science to life!

Halloween Literacy - Ms. Shaw’s class had some Halloween fun while building their literacy skills! Students rotated through a variety of spooky literacy stations, including a Write the Room activity, a Roll and Read game, and a Spooky Story Workshop. It was a great way to practise reading, writing and storytelling while adding a little Halloween excitement to their learning. So many great ways to learn and have fun at the same time! Great work, Dragons!

Clay Sculpting - Mr. Lee’s class got creative this Halloween, putting their clay sculpting skills to work to create their very own miniature pumpkin masterpieces! Students used a variety of colours and added fun little details to give each pumpkin its own unique personality. No two pumpkins were alike, and each one turned out to be a one-of-a-kind creation. We love seeing our Dragons’ creativity shine through in these little masterpieces!

Pumpkin Exploration - Ms. MacKay’s class has been getting into the Halloween spirit with some pumpkin exploration! As part of their learning, students have been enjoying the story “Pumpkin Jack” and exploring the life cycle of a pumpkin. It’s a fun way to bring a little seasonal magic into the classroom while learning about how pumpkins grow and change over time. We love seeing our Dragons learning through hands-on activities and great stories!

Fun at the Rink - On Tuesday, Ms. Egmore’s, Mr. Boehmer’s, Ms. Bhambi’s and Ms. Di Sabatino’s classes headed out to cheer on the Langley Rivermen! It was a great opportunity for students to experience live hockey, spend time together and enjoy being part of our local community. Field trips like these create wonderful memories and give students experiences beyond the classroom. A big thank you to everyone who helped make it happen! 

Creative Writing - Ms. Lee’s class got creative with a fun Halloween-inspired writing project! Students had to use their imaginations to dream up what they thought their teacher might dress up as for Halloween. They then designed their very own costume ideas and brought them to life through their writing, describing what their teacher would wear. There were some pretty creative ideas and lots of great imagination on display! We love seeing our Dragons having fun while building their writing skills!

Multiplication and Haunted Houses - Ms. Knight’s class has been busy building their multiplication skills! Students have been learning how to represent multiplication equations using arrays and strengthening their understanding and fluency with multiplication. They even found a fun way to bring their math learning into their Halloween art by creating some awesome haunted houses! Each house featured windows made from arrays that represented different multiplication equations. A little math, a little creativity and a whole lot of Halloween fun! Great work, Dragons! 

School Choir - Our Douglas Park choir has been working hard and making great progress during their practices! The students are learning new songs, developing their singing skills, practising together and building confidence as performers. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm, teamwork and dedication grow each week. They are excited to share what they’ve been working on at their first performance during our Remembrance Day Assembly. Way to go, Dragons!

Lifecycle of a Pumpkin - Ms. Millington’s class has been getting into the Halloween spirit with a week of pumpkin learning! Students explored the different parts of a pumpkin, learned about its life cycle, and used descriptive words to write about what the inside of a pumpkin looks and feels like. They also brought some math into the mix by sorting and counting pumpkin seeds. To top it all off, the class worked together to come up with a design and paint their very own classroom pumpkin! So many great learning opportunities packed into one pumpkin-filled week! 

The Week Ahead

Monday

• Picture Re-Take Day

Tuesday

• Fire Drill at 9:55 am
• Grade 5 Home Soccer Game against Uplands
• Action Basketball from 2:45 - 3:45 pm
• TeamUp Multi Sport from 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Thursday

• Jump Shot Sports at Lunch Time
• TeamUp Soccer from 2:45 - 4:15 pm

Month at a Glance

November 2nd - Picture Re-Take Day

November 10th - Remembrance Day Assembly

November 11th - Remembrance Day (School Closed)

November 16th - 20th - School Book Fair

November 19th - PAC Movie Night

November 20th - Design and Assessment Day / Report Card Prep (Students Not In Attendance)

December 2nd - Student Inclusive Conferences (Classes Not In Session)

December 3rd - Student Inclusive Conferences (Early Dismissal at 12:32 pm)

December 5th - Rotary Santa Breakfast at Douglas Park

PAC News

Message from the PAC – We are looking for parents to join our Parent Advisory Council (PAC). The purpose of the PAC is to organize activities and events and to encourage parent involvement in the school. PAC meetings are the place to bring ideas for creating social events for fundraising or simply to bring the community together. Meetings are held once a month and you are welcome to bring your little ones to our meetings. Some examples of what the PAC does are:

• Movie Nights
• Hot Lunch
• Popcorn Day
• Chess Tournament

Please join us, we’d love to have some new PAC members and we look forward to meeting you. Upcoming meetings are in the school newsletter!

Upcoming PAC Events

• PAC Movie Night on November 19, 2026
• Hot Lunch on February 5, 2027

Next Meeting Time

• PAC Meeting on November 17, 2026 at 5:30 pm 

Messages from the PAC

Dear Douglas Park Community School Parents,

The Douglas Park PAC is looking for parent representatives for each class to help us with our hot lunch program! We are hoping to have one parent volunteer from each class who can act as a point person on hot lunch days. The commitment is very small — just a few times throughout the school year. The main responsibility would be to help pick up and deliver the hot lunches to your child’s classroom on the scheduled hot lunch days. It’s a simple way to lend a hand and help make our hot lunch program run smoothly. You don’t need to be a PAC member or have any special experience — just a willingness to help out a few times during the year. If you are interested in becoming your child’s class representative, please reach out to the Douglas Park PAC. We would love to have your help! Thank you for supporting the Douglas Park community and helping make these programs possible for our students.

Warm regards,

Douglas Park PAC (Email: pacdouglaspark@gmail.com)

Updates and Reminders

Scholastic Book Fair - We are excited to welcome the Scholastic Book Fair back to Douglas Park! Please see the poster below for more details.

Red Cap Program - Please see the poster for more details.

Road, Pedestrian, and School Bus Safety - With fewer daylight hours and as we enter the season of wind, rain, and ice, we are sharing an important reminder from our community partner ICBC to students, staff, and families to help keep our community safe. Drivers should be alert, focus on the road, watch for pedestrians, especially at intersections and transit stops, and always be ready to stop. Pedestrians and travelers on bikes or scooters should be careful at intersections, always use designated crosswalks, remove headphones and devices, and be aware of your surroundings. An important note for drivers, when a school bus has its red lights flashing, drivers travelling in either direction must stop. Students may be crossing the road to get to or from the bus. Please stop, stay alert, and do not proceed until it is safe. For more tips read this resource Kids Pedestrian Safety or visit ICBC’s webpage here.

Inclusion Langley Family Support Group – We are excited to be hosting a family support group organized by Inclusion Langley. The group will be meeting once a month in the SWIS portable and exploring various topics for supporting families who care for children aged birth to 12 years old with support needs. If you are interested in joining this group, please reach out to Ms. Langford.

Daylight Saving Time Information for Families: Fraser Health - Earlier this year, British Columbia adopted permanent daylight saving time, with the final clock change taking place on March 8, 2026. As a result, the province now observes Pacific Time (PCT) year-round, eliminating the twice-yearly switch between Pacific Standard Time (PST) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). During parts of the winter, particularly between late November and early February, many children will travel to school before sunrise. Fraser Health is sharing this information to support 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

Support healthy sleep and well-being by:

Support safe travel to and from school by:

If driving:

 Additional school health resources can be found on our website at fraserhealth.ca/schoolhealth.

Healthy Screen Use (from Fraser Health) - Health, safety, and wellness continue to be a priority in our schools. To help support our students and families, we are sharing important information from our community partner Fraser Health about Healthy Screen Use. Please see below for helpful reminders to support your child.

Why Does Screen Time Matter? - Children and families are increasingly spending time on screens such as TVs, computers, tablets, smartphones and gaming devices. Too much screen time can take away from activities that are essential for healthy development, like spending time with family and friends, playing outdoors and getting a good night’s sleep.

Choosing Quality Screen Time at Home - Not all screen time is the same. Educational screen time, such as homework, online classes or video calls with family, can be beneficial and support learning and connection. Recreational screen time includes activities like watching videos, gaming or scrolling on devices for entertainment. Too much recreational screen use can have negative impacts on childhood growth and development, such as:

• • • • Less time for social interaction and family connection.
      • Less physical activity and outdoor play.
      • Less opportunity for creativity, reading and other offline interests.
      • Negative impacts on mental well-being and behaviour.

How Much Screen Time is Recommended?

According to the Canadian 24-Hour MovementGuidelines:

· Under 2 years: Screen time is not recommended.

· Ages 2–5: Limit to less than one hour per day.

· Ages 5 and older: Limit to less than two hours per day.

Simple ways to encourage healthy screen habits

The Canadian Paediatric Society highlights the “four M’s” to help families build healthy routines:

· Manage: Set clear rules and limits, such as creating a family media plan.

· Meaningful use: Encourage content that supports learning and active engagement.

· Model: Show healthy screen habits in your own daily routines.

· Monitor: Watch for signs that screen use is replacing important offline activities.

Helpful resources

Information About School Status During Inclement Weather - Snow closures and power outages are an annual occurrence in Langley School District. So, where do you go to get information about the status of schools during periods of inclement weather? If you are able to access the internet via computer or smartphone, current information about Langley schools can be accessed on all school websites or www.sd35.bc.ca. Updates are also posted to X (formerly Twitter) @LangleySchools and Facebook at www.facebook.com/langleyschooldistrict. If you don't have internet connectivity but your phone is working, call a relative or friend in an area that has not been affected by the storm and ask them to check the district website for you. Local radio stations are also informed of school status in Langley. Tune in to CKNW 730AM, Country Radio 107.1FM, Pulse 107.7FM, CBC 690AM or CBC 88.1FM for updates. In the event of inclement weather, the District may implement a delayed start or early dismissal at school sites. This information will be communicated to families via one or more of these methods: SchoolMessenger, email and/or text and on the District website. For District bus riders, schedules may change depending on the school status. Bus riders will be notified of changes via one or more of these methods: My Ride K-12 App, email, phone, and/or District website. Please note that Langley District schools are all considered 'open' until a decision to close is required. Decisions on school closures are usually made by 6:30am. As always, it is a parent's decision whether to send their child to school based on safety and individual circumstances. If you feel it is unsafe for you or your child to travel to or attend an open school for any reason, please keep your child home and report an absence to the school.

Gifts and Gathering - Gifts and Gatherings is a 90 min program from 8:30 - 10am hosted weekly at one of the Langley Strong Start sites. Any family member or caregiver is welcome to participate along with children ages 0-5 years. Families will explore activities that emphasize indigenous perspectives, highlighting the many interconnected gifts of land, people and animals. Experiences may include: art, sensory exploration, story-time, table top activities and more. During each session, participants will receive a gift that will allow families to continue to explore their learning at home. The program is intended to build connections between families and the school and to support children in their transition into Kindergarten. Please see the flyer below with locations and dates:

Gifts And Gatherings Dates - Fall 2026.jpeg

Breakfast Program – The breakfast program is open Monday – Friday from 7:30 – 8:27 AM. It is located in the Boys & Girls Club Portable. The program is FREE for all Douglas Park students. It is run by volunteers and supported through donations. You do not need to register for this program. For more information about the breakfast program, please contact our school community coordinator, Ms. Langford (klangford@sd35.bc.ca).

Parent Consent Forms on MyEdBC - 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. Beginning in this school year, Langley Schools will be using the MyEdBC parent portal to collect this information. During the second week of school, please watch for an email from the MyEdBC system notifying families to log in to the MyEdBC parent portal to complete the online consent forms. A set of consent forms will need to be completed for each child attending a Langley school. It is advised to access MyEdBC and complete the parent consent forms using a desktop or laptop as the process requires the full site version (which is not mobile-friendly). For step-by-step instructions, please read here. More information can be found on the District website here. 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 consent forms by the end of September or have any questions/concerns, please contact your school administrator.  

Strong Start – Douglas Park Strong Start will resume on Monday, September 21st. Hours are 8:30 - 11:30 am with a first come first served limit of 20 children. To register for the 2026/2027 Strong Start year, please bring a birth certificate to be copied. A registration form can be filled out at your first visit.

Douglas Park Family Info Sessions - This year, we are excited to introduce our monthly Family Info Sessions. Hosted by Ms. Langford and members of our school team, these sessions provide an opportunity for families to connect with one another and learn about school tools and community resources. Below you will find a poster that includes upcoming dates and session topics. We look forward to seeing you there! 

E-Scooter and E-Bike Guidelines for Langley Schools - To help ensure student safety and comply with district regulations, the Langley School District has updated its guidelines regarding e-scooters and e-bikes on school property. Effective September 2026, e-scooters and e-dirt bikes will not be permitted on any Langley school site, including elementary, middle, and secondary schools. E-pedal bikes remain permitted at secondary schools, provided students meet the legal age requirements: light e-bikes for students aged 14 to 15 and standard e-bikes for students aged 16 and older. Adults may use e-pedal bikes at all school sites. Families are encouraged to review these guidelines with their children and make alternative transportation arrangements if needed. Thank you for your support in helping maintain safe school environments for all students.

Privacy Reminder: Recording Devices in Schools - To protect the privacy and security of all students, staff, and visitors, the Langley School District reminds parents and students that digital recording devices, such as Meta Glasses and AngelSense Trackers, are not permitted at school for staff, students, nor members of the community. If parents have concerns about safety and supervision, please refer to our robust district planning (Student Success Plans, Plans of Supervision), and supervision schedules. If parents still have concerns about supervision, please reach out to your Director for guidance. This policy is in place to ensure compliance with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and the District’s procedures for responsible information management.

Parking Lot Safety Reminder - Thank you for helping us keep our students safe! A quick reminder that our parking lot is for staff only. The front area is a drop-off/pick-up zone—please stay in your car so traffic can keep flowing smoothly. If you need to park, street parking is available along 205 Street by the back field. Adding a couple of extra minutes to your commute helps ensure a safe and efficient experience for everyone. We appreciate your continued support in putting safety first!

Nut Aware Policy - At our school, the safety of all students is a top priority. While we cannot guarantee a completely nut-free environment, we are a nut-aware school. This means we ask families to avoid sending peanut or tree-nut products (such as peanut butter, Nutella, or almond snacks) to school, as even small traces can cause serious allergic reactions. Any food brought to school for sharing, such as for birthdays or classroom celebrations, must be store-bought with a clear list of ingredients so we can ensure it is safe for all students with allergies. Food from restaurants (such as Tim Hortons) is also allowed as long as ingredients can be confirmed. Please check with your child’s teacher before bringing in treats so we can make sure everyone is included safely. Students are reminded not to share food and to wash their hands after eating to help reduce the risk of accidental exposure. Families of children with life-threatening allergies are asked to provide the school with the necessary medical forms and prescribed EpiPens each year. Staff are trained to recognize and respond to allergic reactions, and emergency procedures are in place. By working together, we can help keep our school community safe and welcoming for everyone.

Communicating With Your School - Schools and families continue to work together to ensure success for students. If you have an issue or concern but don’t know who to speak with, the District encourages you to read these helpful Communicating with your School guidelines for parents/guardians found on our District website here. As an additional reference, review this one-page resource here.

Emergency Procedures in Schools - Schools follow emergency procedures and practice drills throughout the year to ensure students, staff, and any visitors at our sites are safe when unexpected incidents happen. The District encourages families to become familiar with emergency procedures to help you and your child be prepared. You will find the District’s Emergency Procedures poster in schools and on the website here.

Parent Code of Conduct - The Langley School District is committed to fostering safe and caring schools that promote mutual respect, cooperation, social responsibility, and support optimal learning. Trauma Informed Practices and Procedures promote the creation and maintenance of safe, inclusive, equitable, welcoming, and nurturing school environments. Families play an important role in helping students achieve success as well as helping create a compassionate learning community. Just as students are expected to follow the District’s Student Code of Conduct, there is an expectation for parents/guardians to uphold the District’s Parent/Guardian Code of Conduct. The District’s Parent/Guardian Code of Conduct can be viewed on the District’s website here.

Attendance – If your child is going to be away or late please be sure to call the office and leave a message @ 604-533-4491 or email Ms. Jack @ jjack@sd35.bc.ca.

FaceBook – Be sure to follow us on Facebook for updated information

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Douglasparkcommunityelementary

Bell Schedule

8:40 – Warning Bell

8:45 – Instruction Begins

10:05 -10:20 – Recess

11:47-12:20 – Lunch

2:32 – Dismissal

School Calendar 2026/27 – Please click the link below to access our school calendar for the year. It provides general dates about when the school is open and closed.

Douglas Park School Calendar - 2026 - 2027.pdf