Families of Douglas Park,

We hope you’re having a wonderful weekend and soaking up the beautiful sunshine!

It was another fantastic week at Douglas Park. The sunshine at the end of the week brought lots of energy to our school, giving students opportunities to play, explore, and connect outdoors. Inside the classrooms, the learning was just as exciting! From hands-on projects to walking field trips, students had the chance to engage in activities that sparked creativity and curiosity. Meanwhile, our Grade 5 basketball team continued their second week of practices, showing great teamwork and dedication as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Literacy continues to be a key focus for us, and we’re thrilled to see students making meaningful progress in their reading and writing. By combining whole-class lessons with small group instruction, we are working hard to meet the needs of all learners and inspire a love of literacy. Collaboration is an essential part of this work—our teachers regularly come together to share ideas, improve practices, and plan ways to support every student. Co-teaching and small group lessons allow us to provide focused and meaningful learning opportunities for all. These efforts reflect our commitment to our school goal: All students will become engaged and motivated literacy learners. We are so proud of our students for their hard work, grateful to our staff for their dedication, and thankful to our families for their ongoing support. Together, we’re building a community of engaged learners, and we can’t wait to see what the coming weeks will bring!

Special Note: The weather forecast for the next few weeks shows cooler days and some freezing temperatures overnight. Please make sure children come to school dressed warmly and prepared for the cold. Be careful when walking to school, as some sidewalks may be icy. While we work hard to salt the walkways around the school, there may still be a few slippery spots. Stay safe and bundle up! 

Looking forward to another great 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

Marvellous Multiplication - Mr. Boehmer’s class has been working hard on multiplication. The students are doing an incredible job learning their math facts and using them to solve bigger, multi-digit multiplication problems. It’s awesome to see the kids working together, trying their best, and feeling proud of all the progress they have made.

Recess Visitors - On Thursday, we had an awesome experience during lunchtime outside! Students looked up and saw more than 10 eagles flying high above the school. There were both adult eagles and younger eagles too. This exciting moment led to lots of great questions and some fun, spontaneous learning. It was a very special sight to see!

Learning About the Past - Ms. Egmore’s class went on a field trip to the Lochiel School in Campbell Valley Park. During the trip, the students learned what school was like long ago. They explored the old schoolhouse, saw classroom items from the past, and discovered how children learned and played many years ago. The class had a great time learning history in a hands-on way.

Community Scavenger Hunt - As part of their community unit, Mr. Lee’s class went on a fun scavenger hunt around the neighbourhood. The students worked together to look for different things in their community, like buildings and nature. They used their observation skills and shared ideas with their classmates. This hands-on activity helped students learn more about their community while working as a team and making connections to what they learn in class.

Learning About the Northern Lights - Mrs. Evans’ class was excited to learn all about the northern lights! They read the story Seeking an Aurora and talked about the amazing things in the book. The story inspired the students to create their own northern lights artwork using pastels. They had so much fun bringing the colours and beauty of the aurora to life on their paper!

Learning About Goals - Ms. Shaw’s class has been learning about making New Year’s resolutions. The students learned what a resolution is and each made their own special promise for the new year. To celebrate, they created fun self-portrait art using mixed media. They colored their faces, added features with cut-out paper, and finished their portraits with party hats to welcome the new year in a creative way.

New Years Art - Ms. MacKay’s class is excited to welcome 2026! To share their excitement, the students created fun New Year’s art. They painted bright disco balls using many different colours, then added glue and glitter to make their artwork sparkle and shine. The students had a great time being creative and were very proud of their festive art. 

Learning About Adaptations - Ms. Olafson’s class has been having lots of fun learning about animal adaptations! This week, the students did a hands-on experiment to learn how animals stay warm in cold places. They learned about blubber and how it helps animals keep warm in cold water. First, the kids put their bare hands into cold water and felt how chilly it was. Then, they put their hands into a Ziploc bag with insulation and tried again. They were excited to feel how much warmer their hands stayed—just like animals with blubber! 

Book Creator - Ms. Bhambi’s class is excited to be learning about Book Creator. Book Creator is a fun app that helps students read, write, and share their ideas in creative ways. The class learned that they can use Book Creator to write stories, add pictures, and share their learning. They were introduced to Book Creator by Mr. Tony, our school tech ambassador, and had a great time exploring all the cool things the app can do.

Winter Art - Ms. Mackenzie’s class had lots of fun in art while designing their very own winter mugs. The students are working step by step on their mugs. First, they created bright and colourful designs for the outside. Next, they will cut out their artwork and turn it into a cool 3-D winter mug. Stay tuned to see their final projects!

Fun with Numbers - Ms. Young and Ms. Lengle’s class had lots of fun during numeracy centres this week! Ms. Young shared some exciting ways for students to explore numbers together. The kids used bingo dabbers, dice, and markers to practice finding, counting, and grouping numbers while learning together and having fun with math.

The Week Ahead

Wednesday

• Grade 5 Basketball Practice at Lunch
• School Choir Practice after School

Month at a Glance

January 30th - School Spirit Day - Summer in Winter Day (Dress Like It's Summer)

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 19^th – Lockdown Drill at 9:55 am

February 20th - PAC Hot Lunch

February 20th - School Spirit Day - Backwards Day

February 25th - Pink Shirt Day

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

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 – As winter approaches, 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 January menu for families interested in participating in the school’s hot lunch program:

Building Better Tech Habits Workshop from Media Smarts for Families - MediaSmarts has launched a new, free, self-guided workshop to help families develop healthier technology and screen-time habits. Building Better Tech Habits provides practical, research-informed strategies for managing family screen use and addressing common digital challenges at all ages. The workshop can be accessed 24/7 via the link below and completed any time, making it easy to fit into busy schedules.

https://mediasmarts.ca/teacher-resources/building-better-tech-habits?mc_cid=c91580ec15&mc_eid=43f3fb04f2  

School District Kindergarten Welcome Event – January 28 - Families of children starting Kindergarten are invited to join the school district's Annual Kindergarten Welcome on Wednesday, January 28. This online session will share helpful information and answer questions as you prepare for Kindergarten.

Please join using the following link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZTBiNTJlOTMtZDM1My00MThkLWIzOTktZjc4OWQ5YWNkZWFh%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22fcabfaae-f80a-4f74-b6a7-ba15c2a4bb24%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2230f921e8-4243-4d81-a040-dcdbe37f27f2%22%7d

An additional parent session in April will be offered for families of students with diverse needs. More details will be shared soon.

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