School District No. 35

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:

The District is sharing important information for all students and their families on the Willoughby Slope to help you plan for the 2027-2028 school year. As you know, the District will be opening a new middle and secondary school in the Smith neighbourhood in September 2027. At the February 24, 2026 Regular Meeting of the Board of Education, Trustees announced the names of the two new schools - stɑtl̓əw̓ Middle and Emery Dosdall Secondary. Earlier this week at its Regular Board Meeting, the Langley Board of Education approved new catchment boundaries for the Willoughby Slope.

New Catchments Beginning September 2027

The new catchment changes will impact many students transitioning to middle and secondary school in September 2027. You can review the catchment changes in this infographic here.

What does this mean for my child?

With new catchments in effect beginning in September 2027, students and families can expect the following school to school transitions, dependent on their home address:

Willoughby Elementary > Yorkson Creek Middle > Emery Dosdall Secondary
Lynn Fripps Elementary > stɑtl̓əw̓ Middle > Emery Dosdall Secondary
Richard Bulpitt Elementary > stɑtl̓əw̓ Middle > Emery Dosdall Secondary
Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary (East) > stɑtl̓əw̓ Middle > Emery Dosdall Secondary
Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary (West) > Peter Ewart Middle > RE Mountain Secondary
Josette Dandurand Elementary > Yorkson Creek Middle > RE Mountain Secondary
Langley Meadows > Peter Ewart Middle > RE Mountain Secondary
R.C. Garnett Demonstration School > Peter Ewart Middle > RE Mountain Secondary

Additional Approved Changes and Actions

• The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a District program and will accept students from catchments beyond RE Mountain Secondary.
• The District will work with the Principal of Emery Dosdall Secondary to create a Pre-IB program at Emery Dosdall Secondary at Grades 9 and 10. 
• Students going into Grade 12 at REMSS in September 2027 will remain at REMSS to graduate. Their younger siblings, however, would not be “grandfathered” to be at REMSS. The District will look at individual cases to consider hardship on families, using the existing cross-boundary process.
• Only for students going into Grade 8 at PEMS on September 2027 who live south of 80th Ave and West of 200th Avenue (in the Josette Dandurand Elementary catchment), these students may apply to cross boundary at PEMS or go to their catchment school which will become Yorkson Creek Middle. Their siblings, however, would not be grandfathered to remain at PEMS.

How do I find my child’s catchment?

There is a school locator tool on the District website which you can use to determine your child’s current catchment school here.

 In Fall 2026, these new catchments will be uploaded into the school locator tool on the District website. This process is expected to be completed before Kindergarten and new student registration in January 2027. For now, to determine your child’s catchment beginning September 2027, please review this infographic here.

How do I register my child for the 2027-2028 school year?

• If your child is expected to transition to the new middle and secondary school, the District will share any additional instructions as needed sometime after January 2027. The school will confirm your child’s registration before Spring Break 2027. 
• If your child wants to attend a school that is out of catchment, as per District procedures, students can apply to be a cross-boundary student. It is important to note that there are no guarantees as being accepted into the cross-boundary school is dependent on space and it is well-known that nearly all of the schools on the Willoughby Slope have high enrolment and are currently at capacity.
• If there is no change to your catchment, your child is expected to continue at their catchment school and no action is needed. Your child will automatically stay registered at their current school for September 2027.

 There are many important phases in the process of opening new schools. Families can expect updates in the coming months. The District is committed to providing as much information as possible in a timely manner to support students and families and mitigate the impacts of transitions.

We hope students, staff, and families join in celebrating the opening of Emery Dosdall Secondary and stɑtl̓əw̓ Middle School. We look forward to working together to build and grow our new school communities next year. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school principal.

Sincerely,

Mal Gill
Superintendent of Schools