Families of Douglas Park,

We’ve had another awesome week at Douglas Park, filled with sunshine, joyful moments, and lots of learning. The beautiful weather has been such a gift, allowing classes to spend more time outside—learning, exploring the local duck pond, and adding a little extra sparkle to recess and lunch. It’s always a joy to see our students so engaged and energized.

At Douglas Park, we are incredibly proud of all of our students, wherever they are on their learning journey. This past week has been especially meaningful as we’ve seen so much growth in literacy across the school. For some students, this growth looks like reading a new, challenging book they couldn’t read before. For others, it’s improving their printing, writing longer pieces, or finding new ways to communicate and connect with classmates and staff using communication devices. Every step forward matters, and we celebrate them all.

During a classroom visit this week, I had the opportunity to observe a UFLI lesson where students were learning new Heart Words—words that don’t follow typical spelling patterns. It was incredible to watch students read and write these new words with confidence. One particularly special moment was seeing a student fully participate in this lesson for the first time, sitting alongside their peers and working hard. It was a powerful reminder that learning is a lifelong journey and how meaningful it is to learn together in a caring community that values every learner.

As we approach the halfway point of the school year, it’s amazing to reflect on how much our students have grown. They’ve made impressive progress academically, especially in reading and writing, and our literacy data reflects the effort and determination they show each day. We’re also proud of their social and emotional growth—building friendships, showing kindness and respect, and learning how to work together as a team.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. 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

Talking Tables - In Ms. Olafson’s class, students had fun learning with Ms. Leonard during Talking Tables. Talking Tables is an activity where students sit together and practice speaking and listening. They take turns sharing their ideas, answering questions, and using full sentences. This helps students build confidence, learn new words, and become better speakers and listeners.

Math Centres - Ms. Baratto’s class had a great time learning with Ms. Millington during numeracy centres. At the teacher table, students practiced number formation and counting groups to see how many there were. At the other stations, students played fun math games that helped them practice adding, recognizing, and showing numbers in different ways. 

Heart Words - Ms. Treleaven’s class has been working hard on their UFLI heart words. Heart words are special words that we need to remember by heart because some parts do not follow the usual spelling rules. The students practice finding these words when they read, saying them out loud, spelling them, and using them in their writing. By practicing every day, the students are becoming stronger and more confident readers and writers.

Fun with Force and Motion - Ms. Bronwyn and Ms. Lengle’s Kindergarten class had lots of fun learning about force and motion. The students did a hands-on STEM activity using toy cars and ramps. They tested what happens when cars roll down ramps at different heights. The students learned that pushing, pulling, and gravity can make things move faster or slower. They also practiced making predictions, trying new ideas, and working together like scientists.

Shared Reading - Ms. Shaw’s class had lots of fun during shared reading. The students used their silly fingers to follow along with the words as they read. They took turns reading out loud with the teacher while the rest of the class followed along. This is a great activity because it helps students practice reading smoothly, pay attention to the words, and feel more confident reading in front of others. Everyone worked together and did an awesome job!

Counting On - Ms. Regier’s class has been working hard learning about addition. The students are learning that there are different ways to solve addition problems. This week, they practiced a strategy called counting on. To help them understand, the students used pictures to show the numbers and amounts they were adding. Drawing pictures helped them see the math clearly and made solving addition problems easier and more fun. It’s awesome watching the students growing more confident with their math skills.

Money Math - Ms. Di Sabatino’s class has been having lots of fun learning about money in math. The students are practicing adding and subtracting as they use coins to make different money amounts. They are learning how to count coins carefully and think about how money works in real life. It’s exciting to see the students building their math skills and growing more confident with using money.

Novel Studies - In Ms. Knight’s class, the students are starting to learn about novel studies. With help from their teacher, they are reading the book The Spiderwick Chronicles together. The students are practicing making predictions about what might happen next in the story. They are also learning how to write down important parts of the story and notice new or important vocabulary words. The class is doing a great job learning how to understand and enjoy a longer story!

Character Traits - In literacy, Ms. Mackenzie’s class has been learning about story elements, especially characters. The students talked about how authors help us get to know characters in books by showing their actions, feelings, and words. They thought about some of their favourite characters and described their traits, like being brave, kind, or funny. Then, the students wrote about themselves as if they were a character in a story, choosing traits that describe who they are. This helped them understand characters better and become stronger, more creative writers.

Growing Multiplication Skills - Mr. Boehmer’s class has been working hard and having fun while learning multiplication. The students are practicing their multiplication facts so they can answer more quickly and confidently. They are also learning how to solve bigger multiplication questions. The class uses Mathletics to help them practice at their own level. When students master a skill, they can move ahead and try more challenging work. It’s great to see the kids growing more confident and skilled with multiplication!

Learning About Body Systems - Ms. Egmore’s class has been learning how to research and find information about different topics. The students are using these skills in science as they learn about body systems. Working in teams, the students each chose a different body system to study and are gathering facts and details about how it works. They are doing a great job working together and learning new things!

Fun with 2D Shapes - Ms. Yoon’s class has been having lots of fun while learning about 2-D shapes! The students explored flat shapes like triangles and squares by building them with toothpicks and marshmallows. They used the toothpicks for the sides and the marshmallows for the corners. This hands-on activity helped the kids see and understand shapes in a fun and creative way. Everyone worked hard and had a great time learning together!

Learning Measurement - Ms. Datema’s class has been learning about measurement, focusing on volume and capacity. The students explored how containers can look bigger or smaller depending on their height and width, even if they hold the same amount. They used beakers and liquid measuring cups to measure liquids in millilitres. The class also practiced addition by figuring out how many smaller amounts make 1 litre, like learning that four 250 mL cups equal 1 L. The students did a great job measuring, thinking, and solving problems together!

The Week Ahead

Monday

• Grade 5 Basketball Home Game against James Hill (Team 1)

Wednesday

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

Friday

• School Spirit Day - Summer in Winter Day (Dress Like It's Summer)

Month at a Glance

January 26th - Grade 5 Basketball Home Game against James Hill (Team 1)

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

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

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:

BGC Closed on Friday, January 30th - A reminder for families that the Boys and Girls Club will be closed on Friday, January 30th. 

LEAP (Outdoor Education): Parent Information Session - Imagine your child’s classroom in the open air! Join us on Wednesday, January 28th at 5:30pm at Fort Langley Elementary for our LEAP (Langley Environmental Awareness Program) Information Session. This meeting is for families interested in enrolment for the 2026-2027 school year with a student in grades 1-6 that might want a change and an opportunity to learn in the great outdoors. For more about the outdoor education program and to watch our new stunning promotional video please visit: https://youtu.be/PdXcrUJSzfI

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 February 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