Families of Douglas Park,

We wrapped up another awesome week at school as we officially said goodbye to January. Along with seeing our students work hard and continue to grow as learners, one of the highlights of the week was watching our Grade 5 basketball team take the court for their first game of the season. With the coaching support of Ms. Kilvert, Mr. Solano, and Mr. Boehmer, the team has spent the past three weeks practicing skills, learning team strategies, and getting ready for the season ahead. Beyond basketball skills, the coaches have also been focusing on the importance of teamwork, respect, and commitment. The team played their first game last Monday against James Hill Elementary School and showed all that hard work on the court. The students played well together, worked hard, and demonstrated strong teamwork throughout the game. We were especially proud to hear positive feedback from the other school, who shared how respectful, kind, and sportsmanlike our students were.

The week was also full of school spirit and wrapped up with Summer in Winter Day—which, ironically, landed on one of the rainiest days of the year! Despite the weather, students and staff embraced the theme with sunglasses, Hawaiian shirts, and even a few brave souls wearing shorts. Earlier in the week, we kicked things off with “Underground Spirit Days,” featuring surprise staff themes like Mismatched Shoe Day, Disney Day, Royalty Day, and Secret Agent Day. These fun surprises kept everyone guessing and brought lots of smiles to our school. At Douglas Park, we are incredibly proud of the effort our students put in each day, whether through literacy and numeracy routines or other engaging classroom activities. Balancing hard work with fun helps make our school a place filled with joy, inspiration, and a strong sense of community.

Home Reading Reminder – As we fully jump into February, a quick reminder about the importance of reading with kids at home. To support the development of literacy skills that are taught at school, we ask that all of our families continue to ensure that their kids are reading for a minimum of 20 minutes each day at home. This can include kids reading independently or an adult reading to a child. Home reading is a very important part of supporting literacy development. If you are having difficulty with finding books at your child’s reading level, you can read out loud to them or you can connect with your child’s classroom teacher who can provide you with books at their reading level.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and encouragement. We are truly grateful to be part of such a wonderful school community!

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

Field Trip to Grouse Mountain - Ms. Egmore’s and Ms. Bhambi’s classes had a fun adventure on a field trip to Grouse Mountain! The students got to try snowshoeing, walking through the snowy trails and enjoying the fresh air. They also explored the Longhouse, learning about the traditions and culture of Indigenous peoples. It was a great day for learning, exploring, and having fun outside of the classroom

Fun with Literacy and Numeracy - Ms. Olafson’s class has had a fun and busy week with their reading and math lessons! In literacy, the students enjoyed a “Write the Room” activity, where they walked around the classroom looking for letters. It was a fun way to practice identifying letters. In math, the students had a great time learning about measurement. They explored how to measure different objects using both standard and non-standard units. It’s wonderful to see the kids learning and having fun at the same time!

Grade 5 Basketball - We are very proud of our amazing Grade 5 basketball team! They played their first game this week against James Hill Elementary. Even though some players were away, the team worked hard, showed great sportsmanship, and played their best. We are proud of how they are learning new skills, working together as a team, and staying confident and focused. Our players are already excited for their next game. Go Dragons! As always, we also want to thank our volunteer coaches Ms. Kilvert, Mr. Solano, and Mr. Boehmer for all of their hard work organizing the season for our kids.

Grade 5 Playground Leaders - We are so proud of our Grade 5 students and the leadership they show around our school. One special job they have is being playground leaders on the kindergarten playground. The kindergarten students love having big buddies to play with them, help them, and support them during recess. The Grade 5 students work closely with school staff to keep the playground safe and fun. It is wonderful to see our Grade 5s being such great leaders and role models every day.

Literacy Workshop - During literacy workshop in Ms. Mackenzie’s class, students rotate through different stations to build their reading and writing skills. They have been learning about story elements, and this week one of the focuses was on setting. Students practiced describing where a story takes place and adding details to their writing. It was great to see how engaged the students were and how proud they felt of their hard work.

Growing as Readers and Writers - Ms. Di Sabatino’s class has been working hard and having fun during their daily literacy centres. During centre time, students rotate through different groups led by school staff. At each station, students take part in many literacy activities. These include guided reading, where they practice sounding out words and understanding stories, guided writing, where they work on their writing skills, and word work, where they explore new words and spelling patterns. It’s awesome to see students working hard, learning, and developing important literacy skills.

Independent Reading - In Mr. Lee’s class, students have been working hard to build their reading skills during UFLI lessons and literacy stations. Now they are using these skills during independent reading time! Students enjoy choosing books from the classroom library that match their interests and trying new stories. They love reading on their own, with a friend, or to the teacher. It’s awesome to see their confidence growing and their love of reading getting stronger every day.

Messy Spelling - Ms. Yoon’s class had lots of fun practicing spelling in a creative way—using shaving cream! The students have been learning different spelling rules during their UFLI lessons. To help them practice, each student got a tray of shaving cream and wrote words using the spelling rules they’ve been learning. As you can imagine, the kids had a such a fun time! It was wonderful to see everyone having fun while learning at the same time.

Reading and Writing About Birds - During literacy centres, students in Ms. Treleaven’s class work in small groups to practice their reading and writing. The kids have been excited to read different stories together and talk about what they learn. On Wednesday, they read about birds and had fun writing about their favourite birds and sharing new facts they learned. It was awesome to see how proud the students were to share their writing and show how much they are growing as young writers.

Exploring Dumplings - Ms. Lee’s class had a fun literacy lesson all about dumplings, inspired by the upcoming Lunar New Year. The students practiced their reading and writing by learning new vocabulary, reading recipes, and talking about the steps needed to make dumplings. They followed instructions to make their own Play-Doh dumplings, just like real ones, and learned why following directions is important. Students also wrote and shared their thoughts about their dumpling experience, showing their creativity and growing confidence as readers and writers.

Natural and Man-Made Items - Ms. Shaw’s class is having fun learning about natural and man-made things in Social Studies. The students practiced telling the difference between things that come from nature and things people make. They are excited to go outside and explore their local community to find natural and man-made items all around them.

Learning About Beading - Ms. Knight’s class took part in a beading activity with presenter, Carla Carr. Ms. Carr taught the kids about how beading is used by indigenous people to create clothing and other beautiful items. Working with Ms. Carr, the students had the opportunity to make bracelets. Check out their awesome work!

The Week Ahead

Monday

• Grade 5 Basketball Team (Team 2) Away Game at Uplands

Wednesday

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

Thursday

• Team Up Grade 4/5 Basketball at 6:00 pm
  
  

Please note the following upcoming dates from our school calendar:

• February 9th - Professional Development Day (No School for Students)
• February 13th - Design and Assessment Day (No School for Students)

Month at a Glance

February 2nd - Grade 5 Basketball Away Game against Uplands (Team 2)

February 5th - TeamUp Basketball Begins

February 9th - Professional Development Day (Students Do Not Attend School)

February 13^th – Design and Assessment Day and Learning Update Prep (Students Do Not Attend)

February 16^th – Family Day (School Closed)

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 25th - Pink Shirt Day

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

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

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

Lost & Found Reminder - If your child is missing a jacket, shoes, socks, a backpack, clothing, or any other items, please stop by and check our Lost & Found. We have a large collection of items that may belong to your child. The Lost & Found table is set up in front of the office for easy access. All unclaimed items will be donated after Friday, February 6. Please take a moment to come by and have a look.

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

Langley Fine Arts School Open House – Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - Are you looking for a program that encourages secondary students to EXPLORE, CREATE, and INSPIRE? Langley Fine Arts is inviting families to an open house to learn more about secondary programming streams including Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts, Photography, and Writing. This unique, publicly funded, K-12 fine arts school located in historic Fort Langley, combines provincial curriculum with high-level courses that develop aesthetic intelligence in student artists. Administrators and staff will share information, lead tours, and answer questions. Join us on Tuesday, February 10^th anytime between 9:30am and 2:30pm. Our address is 9096 Trattle Street (Fort Langley) and check in will be at the main entrance (on Trattle Street). For more information about LFAS, visit the school website: https://www.sd35.bc.ca/lfas

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