DOUGLAS PARK COMMUNITY SCHOOL

**WE ARE A NUT AWARE SCHOOL**

***WE ARE A DOG FREE ZONE NO DOGS ON THE PREMISES AT ALL TIMES***

THIS MONTHS ACTIVITIES

LOOKING AHEAD

Feb 3

Mar 2

Explorations Session #7

Mar 2

Kinder Starts for 4 & 5 year olds

starting K in Sept; 12:30-2:30,
Multi-purpose Room

Mar 4

Term 2 Report Cards go home

Mar 8

iPals 12:30-2:40, Multi-purpose

Room

Mar 9

Parent/Teacher Interviews;
12:50 DISMISSAL

Feb 12 Aboriginal Family Gathering; 5:00-8:00 pm at

HD Stafford Middle School everyone
welcome; dinner, games, entertainment, etc.;
for more information call 604-534-9285

Mar 10

Parent/Teacher Interviews;
1:50 DISMISSAL

Mar 11

Spirit Day Hat Day

Feb 15 Basketball Team Away Game at Nicomekl

Mar 14-29 Spring Break SCHOOL

CLOSED

Collaboration Afternoon
**12:05 DISMISSAL** - No Explorations

Feb 5

Spirit Day - Black & White Day

Feb 8

Family Day - SCHOOL CLOSED

Feb 9

iPals 12:30-2:40, Multi-purpose Room

Feb 9

Basketball Team Home Game against

Uplands 3:00 start come out and cheer!

Feb 10 Explorations Session #4

Feb 16 Kinder Starts for 4 & 5 year olds starting K in

Sept; 12:30-2:30, Multi-purpose Room

Mar 30

School back in session

Feb 17 Explorations Session #5

BRAGGIN DRAGON

Feb 19 District Pro-D - SCHOOL CLOSED

Feb 22 Report Card Prep Day - 12:05 DISMISSAL
Feb 23 iPals 12:30-2:40, Multi-purpose Room
Feb 23 Basketball Team Home Game against
James Hill 3:00 start come out and cheer!
Feb 24 PINKSHIRTDAY.CA shirts available @
Langley Boys & Girls Club; Kids $7/Adults $10

KINDERGARTEN 2016/17
REGISTRATION
Kindergarten registration is now open for
September for children born in 2011
Registrations received after March 31, 2016,
may not have a placement in your
catchment school as a result of space
limitations please register as soon as
possible!

Feb 24 Explorations Session #6

Feb 26 Ready Set Learn for preschoolers
(10:00-11:15); register 604-533-4491
Feb 29 Basketball Team Play Day at HD Stafford
3:00-5:00
http://douglaspark.weebly.com

The Douglas Park Dragons Basketball

Team had their 1st away game on Monday,
Feb 1, at Simonds; the Dragon Spirit was
alive we had a great first game!

5409 206 St., Langley, BC V3A 2C5 (604-533-4491)

SOME RESULTS OF THE CALENDAR SURVEY

The school is required to complete this survey every year for the board. All the results (including written
comments) are compiled into a report and presented to the school board for their review. Thank you to
those who took the time to complete the survey - we had a 30% return rate from parents.
The balanced calendar was implemented at Douglas Park in 2003. Studies show that this type of calendar
helps reduce the "summer slide" that occurs when students have all of July and August off. Additionally,
when the school is able to offer Booster Camps during breaks, students are actually able to get extra
learning time.
While many parents voiced their unhappiness at the number of days off, we have the same number of days
in session as every other school in the province. These days are simply distributed differently. Here are the
results:
65% of parents are in favour of the current calendar we have and 13% are neutral
72% of students are in favour of the current calendar we have and 16% are neutral
81% of staff are in favour of the current calendar we have and 0% are neutral
primary parents would like to see their child participating in Explorations.

SPELLING
I have heard parents question where the weekly spelling lists are. I am happy to answer that question for
you now.
Traditionally, spelling is taught as follows: the teacher hands out a list on Monday and there is a test on
those words on Friday. What we know from years of research is that students who are naturally good
spellers do well on these tests and feel great every Friday while the majority of the students are frustrated
and upset. Further, even the kids who do well on the tests may not transfer the correct spellings to the rest
of their written work. As educators, we have spent a lot of time using this spelling system yet the results
leave us unsatisfied because it isnt teaching spelling at all.
As a result, many of the teachers at Douglas Park are already adopting another method that is based in
research. Students will start with an assessment, which teachers will score to see where groups of students
need to develop skills (perhaps long vowels). After the initial assessment, students will work at their own
ability level in small groups. Students are then grouped and work to study spelling patterns and that
understanding transfers to written work.
This is in keeping with the new curriculum that teachers are required to implement next year. A great deal of
research indicates that this is a system that benefits ALL students regardless of their natural spelling ability.
As parents and teachers, we all want what is best for the kids.
I appreciate that this looks different than what you are used to and some of you might miss the routine of
working with your child to master the weekly list. Please see your teacher for ideas on how to support this
method.

NEWS FROM HD STAFFORD

SPRING SOCCER REGISTRATION

HD Stafford Middle School Presents THE BFG by

Roald Dahl - February 23-26 at 6:30 pm, Matinees on
Feb 23 and 25 at 12:30 pm. Tickets are $5 for
students, $10 for adults and $20 for family. Tuesday,
Feb 23, at 6:30 pm is pay what you can!

Spring Soccer Registration is now open for

boys and girls ages 4-17. Ask about our Spring
Break Camps! For more information call
604-996-7567 or www.prestongmlangleyfc.com

Hopefully, your family sits together and reads like this one.
Can YOU find the 6 hidden words in this picture?

LEARNING DISABILITIES ASSOCIATION

FRASER SOUTH

PRESCHOOL
DOUGLAS PARK COMMUNITY
PRESCHOOL & CHILD CARE

1 TO 1 TUTORING - READING & MATH

LOCATED AT DOUGLAS PARK SCHOOL

Ongoing Registration

Affordable | Individualized | Effective

September 2016 Registration is now open

Located in Room 12, here at
Douglas Park Community School

Please register at 604-591-5156 or for more

information go to www.ldafs.org

A happy and exciting place to be!

REAL READING TUTORING - Cost $25/hour

Feb 9 May 26, 2016
1 hour sessions; choose 4, 5, 6 or 7 pm
Either Mon/Wed or Tue/Thur

A well-rounded curriculum with experiences,

exploration and learning in early literacy, science,
nature, math, art, music and outdoors.
Call 604-828-3731 for more information.

REAL MATH TUTORING - Cost $25/hour

Feb 9 - May 26, 2016
1 hour sessions; choose 4, 5, 6 or 7 pm
Either Mon/Wed or Tue/Thur
3