Posted: May 7, 2023
Families of Douglas Park,
There are many things that are awesome about working at Douglas Park, but one of the best things is seeing students excited about what they are learning.
Visiting classrooms, I get lots of opportunities to see the great things that students are working on and learning at school. When I arrive at a classroom, kids will often come up to me and proudly share an activity that they are working on. It’s exciting to read journal entries, watch kids work through new math concepts, see them show off beautiful art projects, or proudly explain what they are exploring in science. Walking into a classroom and seeing kids engaged in what they are learning is exciting, it’s what we love to see at school.
Another moment that is special is when students arrive at the office with an activity or project they want to show you. Knowing that they have asked their teacher to leave the classroom, walk to the of
fice, and share what they have been working on is particularly special because you know that the student is so proud of their hard work that they want to show others what they have accomplished. Seeing our kids building pride in what they do at school is important to us. We know that we have smart, creative, and hardworking students at Douglas Park and we want them to see themselves this way, too. We are proud of our kids and it great to see them developing as learners and growing self-confidence along the way. Moving forward, we know that this self-confidence will help continue to push our students to work hard and be their best. Seeing our kids sharing their learning and building self-confidence is one of the awesome things that gets us excited about working at Douglas Park.
Looking forward to another awesome week at school!
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
Trip to the Aquarium – Ms. Hewitson’s and Ms. Datema’s classes had an awesome field trip to the Vancouver Aquarium last week. The kids learned about a variety of animals and got to explore the different habitats they live in. The two classes have been learning about biomes, so it was awesome for the kids to get to explore some of the different ecosystems they’ve been investigating in class.
Visiting the Farm – Ms. Yoon’s, Ms. Lategan’s, and Ms. Lengle’s classes had an awesome field trip to Eagle Acres farm on Friday! At the farm, the students got to meet different animals and learn about how milk is made and the milking process.
Red Dress Day – Through story and classroom discussion this week, students learned about the strength and importance of Indigenous women in our families and communities. They learned about the symbolism of the red dress and created beautiful red felt dress necklaces to honour the lost. On Friday, several classes joined members of the community for the Stolen Sisters Memorial Walk put on by the Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society to create awareness and honour the women and the families of those who have not returned home.
Cinco de Mayo – Mrs. Dhaliwal’s class worked together to create Papel Picado to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Papel Picado is a form of Mexican folk art that is made by cutting elaborate designs on sheets of tissue paper. To create the designs the kids used paper punches with different shapes.
Growing Potatoes – Ms. Yoon’s class was outside in the primary courtyard observing the growth of their potato plants. After planting potato seeds and nurturing the seedlings, the students relocated their plants to the courtyard. They have been tracking the growth of their plants by writing down their observations and drawing the plants as they grow.
Flower Bombs – Ms. Laforce’s class decided they were going to take advantage of the sunny weather and get outside for some learning and fun. The students made ”flower bombs,” which include soil, clay, and flower seeds. The kids started by mixing seeds and soil together, then they added clay and rolled the mixture into balls. After the flower bombs were finished, the kids took them out into the community to plant them.
Soccer Shots – Soccer Shots was back at Douglas Park today! The coaches continued to work on building fundamental movement skills with our students and developing their soccer skills.
STEM Activity with Buddies – Ms. Lengle’s and Ms. Tam’s classes got together for a fun buddy class activity on Friday. The students worked together on a STEM challenge, in which they had to design a fence to protect a carrot garden from hungry rabbits.
Dalí-Inspired Art – Ms. Nelson’s class was having fun with watercolours and learning about surrealist artist, Salvador Dalí. Inspired by Dalí’s style and technique, the students designed and painted these beautiful birds.
Exploring Rocks – Ms. Knight’s students have been learning about different rocks and how they are formed. This week, the kids were investigating rock samples and exploring their features. As they observed each sample, the students had to determine if the rock was igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic.
Math Games – Ms. Lategan’s students were working hard and having fun playing math games this week. The kids were practicing their addition facts using a game called, “Roll and Add.” After rolling dice to determine the addends, the students used hundreds charts and manipulatives to solve their addition equations.
Building Words – Using magnetic letters, Ms. Shaw’s students were learning about vowel sounds and patterns. The kids were practicing identifying beginning, middle, and end sounds, and using their understanding of phonics to spell different words.
New Addition Game – On Tuesday, students in Mrs. Baratto’s class were learning a new addition game to play during math centres. Math centres are a time for kids to build number sense, practice skills that they’ve previously learned, and learn new math concepts. Games are used to develop proficiency with skills that have been taught. They give kids a chance to practice while having fun.
Learning About Inuit Culture – Earlier this week, Ms. Knight’s class took part in a presentation about Inuit culture facilitated by presenter Lynn Heyes. The students learned about authentic clothing, tools, and games. Some of the highlights for kids included, learning about seal skin clothing, discovering how tools are used to start fires, and learning how to play cats cradle.
Shooting Hoops with Mr. Nelson – Mr. Nelson is one of our amazing school custodians who is helping the school district with power washing and painting through the spring and summer. He was back at Douglas Park this week helping power wash our basketball court. During recess he took time to reconnect with students, playing basketball with them and teaching them how to improve their shot.
Learning About Beading – As part of their learning around Red Dress Day, Ms. Hewitson’s class had the opportunity to learn about contemporary beading from Carla Carr. Check out some of the beautiful beadwork they created!
The Week Ahead
Thursday
- Boxes of Love: Kindness Assembly
Friday
- Fire Drill at 9:55 am
Month at a Glance
May 11th – Boxes of Love
May 12th – Fire Drill at 9:55 am
May 14th – Mother’s Day
May 16th – Grade 5 Visit to HD Stafford
May 18th – Soccer Shots for Kindergarten to Grade 3 Students
May 19th – Pro-D Day (No School for Students)
May 22nd – Victoria Day (School Closed)
May 25th – PAC Hotdog Day
May 26th – Dress Like a Book Character Day
May 30th – Regional Track Meet at McLeod Athletic Park
June 1st – Soccer Shots for Kindergarten to Grade 3 Students
June 6th – Welcome to Kindergarten Event for New Kindergarten Students
June 9th – School Spirit Day – Tacky Tourist Day
June 10th – Langley City Community Days
June 12th – 15th – Operation Waterproof Swimming Lessons for Grade 5 Students
June 12th – PAC AGM at 9:00 am
June 16th – Rainbow Day
June 16th – LSS Grad Walk at Douglas Park
June 20th – School Beach Day at Centennial Beach
June 21st – National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 23rd – Grade 5 Waterslides
June 26th – Dress Fancy Day
June 27th – Grade 5 Farewell Assembly
June 28th – Sports Day
June 29th – Last Day of School
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 Events
- PAC Hotdog Day (May 25th) – The PAC will be hosting a hotdog lunch for our students. Stay tuned for more information.
- Welcome to Kindergarten (June 6th) – The PAC will be hosting a table at our Welcome to Kindergarten event for students and families beginning kindergarten next year. The goal is to welcome new families to the school community, share information about the school, and encourage parents to get involved in our school PAC.
Next Meeting Times
- PAC Meeting – Monday, May 15th at 9:00 am
- SAVE THE DATE: PAC AGM – Monday, June 12th at 9:00 am
Updates and Reminders
Langley Children’s Choir – The Langley Children’s Choir is auditioning in May for next year’s group. The choir dreams of having a singer from EVERY school! For more information about the choir and upcoming auditions, please see the flyer below:
Langley Children’s Choir Information
Transportation Registration 2023-2024 – Transportation registration for 2023-24 is now open. Please note the instructions to register are different for each category of rider. To help in our planning and creation of bus routes, registrations must be submitted by May 15 (eligible riders) and June 18 (courtesy riders). The District cannot guarantee approval after the deadline. New and existing riders can find more information on our Transportation Registration webpage here.
Summer Session 2023 – Elementary/Middle/Secondary – Are you looking for skill-building or new learning opportunities for your child to keep them engaged during the summer? The District offers a variety of courses as part of Summer Session. Online registration began on April 20th for Langley School District students. For dates, times, and courses available to grade 1-12 students, please visit our webpage here.
Salmon, Science and Nature Exploration Summer Camp – Special arrangements have been made with local Sponsorship Agencies to offer students from Douglas Park Elementary School a discounted rate for the Salmon, Science and Nature Exploration Summer Camp at Trinity Western University. Please see the attached brochure for more information.
Late French Immersion Limited Spaces Available at Noel Booth Elementary – Did you know that learning to speak multiple languages can help students meet the challenges of a changing world? Is your child interested in learning and communicating in French, one of Canada’s official languages? The Late French Immersion program at Noel Booth Elementary could be the right educational opportunity for your child. There are limited spaces available for Grade 6 entry in September 2023. Students in this program transition to secondary French Immersion at Brookswood Secondary School. To register, please contact Noel Booth Elementary. For information about Late French Immersion, families can email: languages@sd35.bc.ca
Breakfast Program – The breakfast program is open Monday – Friday from 7:15 – 8:25 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). Please see the brochure below for more details about the menu.
JB4 Preschool – We are very excited to be opening our first Langley School District Preschool! JB4 (Just Be 4) Preschool is a new ministry initiative that allows our ECE staff to provide meaningful and engaging play-based learning for 4-year-olds. It will be running at Douglas Park Elementary in our StrongStart room. Please see the attached flyer and contact Ms. Rachel (rsusheski@sd35.bc.ca) for more information.
Child Day 2023 – The Langley School District is hosting our Annual Child Day Event on May 25, 2023, at Church in the Valley. This event is for children 0 – 5 years and brings together community partners for a day of fun and information for families. All are welcome. Please see the below poster for more details and information.
Chess Club – Exciting NEWS. We have partnered with Fraser Valley Chess Academy to start a Chess Club for all students at HD Stafford and Douglas Park Elementary School. A professional Chess Coach will be managing the club. It will open up the opportunity to compete at various chess events across BC and – it’s a great chance to learn & master a new skill for life! Register now for the free Chess Club with Ms. Sandher by email: KSandher@sd35.bc.ca. The Chess Club meets every Monday from 3:00 – 4:30 pm at HD Stafford Middle School.
Indoor Shoes for Gym and Classroom Use – Our new gym floor has reminded us about the importance of looking after our school and ensuring that we maintain our building so that it can be enjoyed by students for years to come. One of the challenges that we face with keeping our floors clean is the amount of dirt and mud that is brought into the school after recess and lunch. If your child happens to have an extra pair of shoes that can be used as indoor shoes, please send them to school. If not, please do not worry as we will continue to encourage students to stomp off mud before entering the school and wipe their shoes on the floor mats before gym.
BC Training and Education Savings Program Grant – Families of students in Kindergarten through Grade 4 may be eligible for a $1,200 BC Training and Education Savings Grant for their post-secondary education. Please see the below letter for more information.
Pokemon Cards – This is a reminder that Pokemon cards are not permitted at school. When brought to school, cards are often traded, given away, or lost, which results in upset students.
Early Years Programs – We have many opportunities for families to take part in Early Years Programming in our district. All of our programs are FREE, DROP-IN, and open to all caregivers. Families are welcome to attend any of the sessions available, regardless of their catchment school.
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 – 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.