Families of Douglas Park, 

It’s been another awesome week at Douglas Park, filled with exciting activities that brought our community together! Scarecrow Day was a big hit, with each classroom designing its own unique scarecrow and proudly displaying it outside their doors. Students took part in a variety of scarecrow-themed activities, showing off their creativity and teamwork. Earlier in the week, we also had some great sports action. Our Grade 4/5 soccer team played their third game of the season on Tuesday against the Shortreed Eagles, and it was an exciting match filled with great soccer and amazing sportsmanship. It was wonderful to see so many families and students out cheering for our Dragons! We also want to celebrate our cross-country team, as four of our runners qualified for the district finals, which took place on Wednesday. They did an incredible job representing Douglas Park with their hard work, determination, and positive spirit. It was a great week of learning, fun, and connection across our school community!

Next week promises even more excitement as we move into the final days of October! On Monday, we’ll kick things off with our annual Douglas Park Pumpkin Patch, where every student will get to celebrate the season with their very own pumpkin. Classes will visit the patch together, and each one will carve or decorate a pumpkin to enter in our school-wide pumpkin contest! On Friday, we’ll be celebrating Halloween, which is always an exciting day for many. Personally, I love taking my kids trick-or-treating and spending time out in the community with other families. Of course, we also recognize that Halloween can bring out a range of emotions and experiences for different people. While we’ll have lots of fun Halloween activities at Douglas Park, our goal is to ensure that the day reflects our school values of safety, kindness, and respect. We ask that families help by choosing costumes that do not include violence, weapons, or blood. On Halloween Day (October 31st), we’ll hold our annual school parade at 9:15 a.m. The parade will move through classrooms using both inside and outside doors, and while most of it will take place indoors, students will briefly head outside as part of the route. Families are invited to watch the parade from outside the school.

We’re looking forward to another amazing week here at Douglas Park as we celebrate and learn together! 

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

Learning About Diwali - On Monday, students across the school learned about Diwali, the Festival of Lights! They explored the meaning and traditions of this celebration. As part of their learning, students decorated tea lights and created colourful Diwali-inspired art featuring traditional patterns and designs. As a special treat, the whole school got to try samosas — a delicious food often enjoyed during Diwali. It was a wonderful way for students to learn about the holiday and experience an important cultural tradition! 

Literacy Centres - Mr. Lee’s class has been working hard during their small group literacy lessons! Students rotate through different stations where they practice sight words, build phonics and foundational skills, and make new words. This hands-on approach keeps students engaged and helps strengthen all areas of their literacy learning. These lessons give students a great opportunity to grow as confident, capable readers and writers.

Practice with Letters - Ms. Olaffson’s class has been hard at work learning all about letters and sounds! Students have been practicing identifying letters, learning their sounds, and working on proper letter formation. Building a strong understanding of letters and sounds is such an important step in learning to read and write. It’s awesome to see how engaged they are during these lessons and how proud they feel showing what they’ve learned! 

Building Words and Practicing Heart Words - Ms. Lee’s class has been working hard during their UFLI lessons! During these sessions, students build and blend words, practice reading and spelling irregular “heart words,” and strengthen their understanding of letter sounds. These lessons help students develop strong foundational literacy skills that support both reading and writing. It’s wonderful to see them so focused and engaged with their learning, taking pride in their work and their growing literacy skills.

Scarecrow Day - On Thursday, our school celebrated Scarecrow Day — a fun and creative day filled with fall spirit! Students dressed up, decorated classrooms, and took part in scarecrow-themed learning activities. All around the school, cheerful scarecrows “showed up” for the day, each one decorated with incredible creativity and imagination. Every class designed their own unique scarecrow, and students enjoyed art projects, writing activities, and lessons that explored the purpose of scarecrows. It was such a fun way to celebrate the season and bring learning to life! 

Guided Draw and Painting - Ms. Shaw’s class had such a fun time celebrating Scarecrow Day! Students followed a guided drawing to create their own scarecrows and then used watercolours to paint them. It was a great chance for kids to be creative, experiment with colours, and practice their painting skills. Everyone loved seeing how different each scarecrow turned out!

Exploring Patterns - Mrs. Evans’ class has been learning all about patterns with their student teacher, Ms. Millington. It’s been amazing to see the students’ understanding grow as they explore repeating, increasing, and decreasing patterns and discover the rules behind them. Learning about patterns helps kids build important problem-solving and math skills—they start to see how things connect and change over time. It’s also a lot of fun, especially when they get to create their own colourful and creative patterns using different shapes, numbers, and materials!

Read Aloud - Ms. MacKay’s class enjoyed a fun and engaging read-aloud. They read the story Cranky, a book about a character who wakes up in a bad mood and learns how to turn their day around. The story sparked great conversations about feelings, empathy, and how we can choose to make positive changes when we’re feeling grumpy. It was a wonderful way for students to connect with the story and reflect on their own emotions.

Fun with Math - Ms. Mackenzie’s class was busy having fun while building their math skills! Students worked both independently and with partners during math games, practicing foundational skills such as addition and subtraction facts and exploring place value concepts. These activities are a fantastic way for students to strengthen their math fluency while staying engaged and motivated. It’s great to see them learning, having fun, and taking pride in the work they’re doing!

The Week Ahead

Monday

• School Pumpkin Patch

Tuesday

• Grade 4/5 Soccer Team Away Game

Friday

• Halloween Parade at 9:15 am

Month at a Glance

October 27th - Douglas Park Pumpkin Patch

October 31st - Halloween Parade at 9:00 am

November 3rd - Photo Re-Take Day

November 4th - Fire Drill at 10:00 am

November 7th - Inclusion Langley Family Support Group

November 10th - Design and Assessment Day (Student Not in Attendance)

November 11th - Remembrance Day 

November 17th - 21st - Book Fair

November 21st - PAC Hot Lunch

November 21st - Lockdown Drill at 9:55 am

November 26th - PAC Meeting at 9:00 am

November 26th - Student Inclusive Conferences (Students Do Not Attend School)

November 27th - Student Inclusive Conferences (Early Dismissal at 12:30 pm)

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

• Halloween Decorating - October 27, 2025
• Hot Lunch - November 21, 2025

Next Meeting Time

• November 26, 2025 at 9:00 am in the Staff Room

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

Halloween Food Safety Reminder for Langley Parents - With Halloween just around the corner, the Langley School District encourages families to keep food safety top of mind as children enjoy seasonal treats and school festivities. Here are a few important tips to help ensure a safe and healthy celebration:

Inspect Treats Carefully - Before children dig into their candy haul, take time to discard anything that’s unwrapped, damaged, or unfamiliar. Be especially cautious of homemade treats unless they come from trusted friends or family.

Be Allergy Aware - Many Halloween treats contain common allergens like peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, or gluten. If your child has allergies, consider sending safe snacks to school and reviewing labels together.

Hand Hygiene Matters - Remind children to wash their hands before and after eating—especially when handling shared treats or participating in classroom activities. 

Thank you for helping us keep Halloween safe, fun, and inclusive for all Langley students. Wishing your family a spooky and sweet celebration!

Road and Pedestrian Safety - With less 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. For more tips read this resource Kids Pedestrian Safety or visit ICBC’s webpage here.

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.

Halloween Pumpkin Patch - On October 27th, our back field will once again be transformed into the Douglas Park Pumpkin Patch! This special tradition is always a highlight of the fall season. Each class will visit the patch, where every student will have the chance to pick their own small pumpkin to take home. We’re so grateful to Venechuk Farms for partnering with us again this year and providing the pumpkins at a great price. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate autumn together as a school community!

Halloween Costumes - We’re excited to celebrate Halloween with a costume parade at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, October 31st!Students will have the chance to show off their creative costumes as we parade through the school and spread some festive fun. Students are welcome to come to school in costume, but please remember a few important guidelines to help make the day fun and safe for everyone:

• Costumes should be school-appropriate (no scary, gory, or violent themes).
• Please leave toy weapons and masks at home — we want everyone to be easily recognizable and comfortable.
• Make sure costumes are easy to move and learn in, as students will still take part in regular school activities.

We can’t wait to celebrate this fun tradition together with lots of smiles, laughter, and Halloween spirit!

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.

October Health Messaging – Fraser Health - As part of its health promotion for students and families, our community partner Fraser Health is sharing important information on various topics. The theme for October is Respiratory Season and Fall Immunizations. Please share the following information below in your next newsletter or communication to families. This information will be shared on the District’s social media channels.

Keep your children free from respiratory illnesses this winter - As the weather gets colder and we spend more time indoors, we’re more likely to get sick with things like colds, flu or COVID-19 because these illnesses spread more easily in enclosed spaces. Everyone should take these steps to protect themselves and limit the spread of respiratory illnesses: 

• Get vaccinated for flu and COVID-19 if you are eligible. 
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use alcohol-based sanitizer if soap and water is not available. 
• Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, mouth and nose. 
• Cough and sneeze into your elbow. 
• If you have flu-like symptoms, stay home and away from people at higher risk of serious illness. If you are sick and cannot stay away from others, wear a mask. Learn more about masks here.

Vaccinations for respiratory illness - Vaccinations prepare our immune system to recognize and respond to viruses. When children get immunized, they are less likely to get sick or pass along illness to others and better able to focus on learning, playing and doing the activities they love. Register your children with the Get Vaccinated system so you can be reminded to get flu or COVID-19 vaccinations when they are due. Seasonal respiratory vaccinations are available from pharmacies, public health units and some primary care providers.  

School-aged immunizations - As children get older, the protection from some infant immunizations can wear off. To set young people up for long-term health and well-being, vaccines are offered routinely in kindergarten, grade 6 and grade 9 with catch-up opportunities in other grades. Getting your child vaccinated on schedule is one of the best ways to protect their health. All routine school-aged immunizations are free in British Columbia. If your child is not up-to-date with their vaccines, please make an appointment with a public health unit, family doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacy. If your child’s record shows their vaccines are not current, but they did get vaccines from a health care provider outside of public health: 

• Contact the health care provider who immunized your child and ask for a copy of the immunization record. 
• Report these immunizations to Public Health online at: http://www.fraserhealth.ca/immunizationform 

Learn more about school-aged immunizations, including how to access your child’s records, here: Children and youth immunizations – Fraser Health Authority

Photo Re-Take Day - Photo Re-Take Day is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3rd. If your child missed the original photo day or would like a re-take, this will be their chance to have their picture taken.

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

Please find our November 2025 meeting details below:

📅 When: Friday, November 7, 2025 | 9:30–11:30 AM
📍 Where: SWIS Portable, Douglas Park Community School | 5409 – 206 Street, Langley
🗂️ Topic: Children and Youth with Support Needs (CYSN) Services
☕ Additional Information: Light refreshments will be served. Childminding is available — please register early so we can plan staff and space appropriately.

How to Register:
To register or learn more, please contact:
Lydia Kang, Family Support Coordinator
📞 604-996-5244 | ✉️ familysupport@inclusionlangley.com
(When registering, please let me know if you require childminding.)

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