Families of Douglas Park,

We hope you are having an awesome Family Day weekend!

Family Day is a great time to reflect on how grateful we are for our incredible school family at Douglas Park. We are so fortunate to be part of a caring and supportive community where families work alongside us every day. Your partnership and commitment to creating a loving, positive environment for our kids truly makes a difference. Because of this strong connection between home and school, our students are able to learn, grow, and build confidence as young learners. One of the things that makes Douglas Park so special is the beautiful diversity within our community. Our families come from many different backgrounds, and that diversity makes us stronger. There is something special about coming together with a shared goal — to support, care for, and uplift our kids. We are so thankful for our big, beautiful Douglas Park family. We truly are better together.

Last week was another awesome week of learning! Students enjoyed spending time outdoors in the sunshine and took part in a variety of fun Valentine’s-themed activities. Classrooms were filled with excitement as students practiced multiplication using groups of hearts, teamed up with their big buddies to create Valentine’s Day art, and tackled STEM challenges by designing and building 3D structures with toothpicks and candy hearts. Some classes also took part in a special project — creating Valentine’s cards for local seniors. Students poured their creativity and kindness into each card, and the seniors were so happy to receive them. It was a meaningful reminder that even small acts of kindness can brighten someone’s day. Along the way, students strengthened friendships, practiced teamwork, and continued to grow as thoughtful members of our community. It was truly a week full of learning, creativity, generosity, and joy.

Last Tuesday, families received an email about registering for Student Inclusive Conferences which will be taking place between the dates of February 23rd and March 6th. As a reminder, our online registration is now available for families to book a conference time. To book a conference, please follow these steps:

1. Visit https://douglaspark.schoolappointments.com
2. Create an account by selecting “Click Here to Register”
3. After logging in to your account, click on “Manage Students”
4. Click the calendar icon to book appointments.
5. Select your child’s classroom teacher from the list and click “View Calendars”
6. Select an available time slot to book your appointment

Please make note of the time that you have registered for as this will be your conference time unless otherwise contacted by the classroom teacher. If you need any additional assistance with registering for a conference time, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.

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

Readers Theatre - Ms. Olafson’s class has been having fun learning about the classic story The Mitten. In the story, a boy drops his mitten in the snow, and different animals climb inside to stay warm. The students practiced putting the animals in the correct order from beginning to end. They also invited their families to watch them act out the story, with Ms. Olafson as the narrator. It was a wonderful way to share their learning!

Reading Link Challenge Team - Our Douglas Park Reading Link Challenge team has been working hard getting ready for their competition at the start of next month. The Reading Link Challenge is a fun reading competition where students read a group of books and then answer questions about them as a team. They have been practicing together, talking about the stories, remembering important details, and helping each other learn. It has been awesome to see their teamwork, dedication, and love of reading as they get ready to represent our school!

Valentines Day Sun Catchers - Ms. Lee’s class has been having lots of fun making Valentine’s Day art! The students are creating beautiful heart sun catchers using tissue paper and lamination sheets. They are carefully decorating their hearts, using different shades of red, and fun patterns to make each one special and unique.

Group Projects - Ms. Bhambi’s class has been having lots of fun learning about the rock cycle and the different types of rocks. To finish their unit, students are working together in groups to create presentations about everything they have learned. It has been awesome to see the students working as a team, sharing their ideas, and confidently talking about their learning!

Hundreds Day - All around the school, students and classes have been celebrating the 100th day of school! Students wrote about what they will be like when they are 100 years old, played fun math games, filled in 100 charts with cereal pieces, and showed off their creative 100-day costumes. There has been lots of fun learning and excitement as we celebrate the 100th day together! 

Valentines for Seniors - In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Ms. MacKay’s class has been learning all about spreading love and kindness. The students did a fun art activity where they made Valentine hearts. They are sending them to the residents at Brookside Lodge to help share smiles and happiness. It’s a wonderful way to spread love as we get ready for Valentine’s Day!

Dragons Basketball - We are so proud of our awesome Grade 5 basketball team! Our Dragons come to every game ready to work hard and have fun on the court. They cheer for each other, show great teamwork, and always try their best. On Tuesday, they played against Nicomekl and, just like every other game, they played great basketball and never gave up. We are so proud of the way they play together like one big family. Go Dragons! 

The Week Ahead

Monday

• Family Day (School Closed)

Tuesday

• Kindergarten Dental Screening
• Grade 5 Basketball Away Game at Shortreed (Team 2)

Wednesday

• Grade 5 Basketball Practice at Lunch
• School Choir Practice from 2:45 - 3:30 pm

Thursday

• Agri Kids Program with Venechuk Farms
• TeamUp Basketball from 6:00 - 7:30 pm

Friday

• PAC Hot Lunch
• Inclusion Langley Family Support Group from 9:30 - 11:30 am. Topic - Accessing Support: Disability Tax Credit, Autism Funding, Handy Dart, and More
• Gifts and Gathering for Strong Start

Month at a Glance

February 17^th – Lunar New Year

February 17th - Kindergarten Dental Screening

February 19th - Venechuk Farms - Agri Kids Program

February 19^th – Lockdown Drill at 9:55 am

February 20th - PAC Hot Lunch (Pizza)

February 20th - School Spirit Day - Backwards Day

February 23rd - 27th - Diversity and Respect Week

February 25th - Pink Shirt Day

March 3rd - School Assembly - Quincy Mack: Be An All Star

March 4th - Student Inclusive Conferences (Early Dismissal at 12:30 pm)

March 5th - Student Inclusive Conferences (No School for Students)

March 6th - School Spirit Day - PJ Day

March 6th - Reading Link Challenge

March 9th - Fire Drill

March 13th - Venechuk Farms - Agri Kids Program

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

• Hot Lunch (Pizza) - February 20, 2026
• School Assembly (Paid by PAC) - March 3, 2026

Next Meeting Time

• TBD

Messages from the PAC

If you want to help us organize or assist with any event, please shoot us an email at pacdouglaspark@gmail.com.

– Douglas Park PAC

Updates and Reminders

Kindergarten Newcomer’s Orientation - Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) are hosting virtual Kindergarten Orientation Sessions for families who are newcomers to Canada. These sessions help families learn about starting kindergarten, understand how schools work, and feel confident as they begin their school journey. SWIS workers are also available to support newcomer families with their transition into school and the community, offering guidance in a variety of languages. Please see the below document for session details, supported languages, and contact information for SWIS workers.

Langley City Open House - Langley City is hosting a community Open House on March 3. This is a great opportunity for residents to learn about current projects and plans, ask questions, and share feedback with City staff. Everyone is welcome to attend and be part of the conversation.

Gifts and Gathering this Friday - We are looking forward to hosting our next event this Friday. Please see the below poster for more details:

Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society Clothing Drive for Kids - From February 9 - 20, the LFVAS is collecting clothing for kids. If you have any clothing to donate and would like to take part, please see the information in the poster below:

HD Stafford Parent Information Night (Save the Date) - HD Stafford Middle School (HDSMS) is excited to invite you to their Parent Information Night!

Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Who can attend: Families of Grade 5 students (parents, guardians, siblings—all are welcome!)

Time: 6:00 pm

This event is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the transition to middle school and what to expect next year. We will send out more detailed information closer to the date, but we wanted to give you a heads-up so you can save the date.

This Month in the Arts: February 2026 - Below please find a link to the February “This Month in the Arts” poster which showcases the many different Arts Education productions and events that are happening around the District in February for staff, students, parents and community members! This month, there are TWO productions of Newsies: The Broadway Musical. The month of February will also see evenings of Dance, Jazz music, and three of the District's Musicals. Lots to enjoy!

This Month in the Arts February.pdf

TeamUp Basketball for Grade 4 and 5 Students - TeamUp is excited to offer a free basketball program for Grade 4 and 5 students at Douglas Park on Thursdays. Registration forms were sent home earlier this week. If you did not receive one and would like to register your child, please have them ask Ms. Di Sabatino for a registration form. Please see the poster below for more details:

Middle School Registration Reminder - Middle school registration has moved to an online system. Families of current Grade 5 students who attend a feeder school (such Douglas Park) do NOT need to complete online registration for Stafford, as their child will transition automatically. 

Slippery Playground Equipment – During the winter months, please be aware that playground equipment and the surrounding wooden borders can become very slippery in cool, wet conditions. On frosty mornings, please be extra careful to prevent slips and falls.

Hot Lunch Program – Here’s the February menu for families interested in participating in the school’s hot lunch program:

Child and Youth Mental Health (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 Child and Youth Mental Health. Please see below for helpful reminders to support your child.

Support Your Child’s Mental Health - Positive mental health allows us to enjoy our lives and can help children and youth weather the normal ups and downs of life. It plays a critical role in the healthy development of children and youth, supporting their ability to build healthy relationships and succeed in school.

How Can Parents Support Positive Mental Health? - Parents can foster positive mental health through strong and caring relationships with their children. 

• Self-care – focus on doing something for yourself, even if just for a few minutes.
• Build routines – consistent schedules, such as meal, sleep and play times help children feel safe.
• Connect – talk and listen to their feelings and experiences.
• Be active together – take a walk and build physical activity into family time.
• Take notice – encourage and praise the positive behaviours and choices your children make.
• Keep learning – encourage your child to learn from both positive and negative experiences.
• Be present, not perfect – give your time, your encouragement and your presence.

Get more information about positive mental health for children and youth here.

Sometimes parents aren’t sure how to talk about mental health. Learn more about tips for how to talk to your child or teen about mental health.

 Family transitions like separation and divorce can be tough and can impact mental health. To learn more and access practical resources visit FamiliesChange.ca. 

 Need help? Find out services, programs and resources for your child and/or youth on Fraser Health’s Child and youth mental health page. 

 Remember, you can get fast and reliable health advice from registered nurses with emergency experience who have access to your child’s personal health record. Contact them via phone at 1-800-314-0999 or web chat. Learn more at Fraserhealth.ca/VirtualCare. 

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 CKWX 1130AM, CKNW 980AM, Country Radio 107.1FM, Pulse 107.7 or CBC 690AM or 88.1FM for updates. 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.

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.

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. Parents/guardians are welcome to join their child(ren). For more information about the breakfast program, please contact the school office.

Strong Start – Douglas Park Strong Start hours are 8:30 - 11:30 am with a first come first served limit of 20 children. To register for the 2025/2026 Strong Start year, please bring a birth certificate to be copied. A registration form can be filled out at your first visit.

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 see the attached poster for more details:

Langley Family Support Group at Douglas Park 2025:2026.pd

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. Langford @  klangford@sd35.bc.ca.

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

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

Bell Schedule

8:42 – Warning Bell

8:47 – Instruction Begins

10:10-10:25 – Recess

11:47-12:20 – Lunch

2:30 – Dismissal

School Calendar 2025/26 – 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 2025:26.pdf