Willoughby Slope Catchments Update – Letter to Families
December 19, 2024
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:
Re: Willoughby Slope Catchments Update and Naming of New Elementary School
The District is sharing important information for elementary students and their families on the Willoughby Slope to help you plan for the next school year. As you know, the District will be opening a new elementary school in the Northeast Latimer area in September 2025. Last week, at its Regular Board Meeting, the Langley Board of Education named the new elementary school.
Naming of School
The District is pleased to share the new school will be named Josette Dandurand Elementary, after a Kwantlen First Nations elder and residential school survivor who courageously provided testimony of her experiences at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) in 2015. Josette was a SD35 cultural presenter who educated students and staff through stories and made a difference in the lives of many. Josette, who passed away in November 2023, was an advocate for social justice and Indigenous rights, and a dedicated leader in the journey of Truth and Reconciliation. Please join us in celebrating this positive news for our community. Learn more about the announcement here.
Naming of Principal
With the naming of the school, the District can move ahead with other stages of the transition including the appointment of a new principal. The District is excited to announce Mr. Sean Oliver, currently principal of Richard Bulpitt Elementary, will be the first principal of Josette Dandurand Elementary. Mr. Oliver has been an administrator at Richard Bulpitt Elementary since 2019 and has developed strong relationships with families in the Willoughby Slope community. His previous leadership roles include working at West Langley Elementary, Langley Fine Arts, and R.E. Mountain Secondary. The District looks forward to having Mr. Oliver open the new school, and welcome students and families.
New Catchments Beginning September 2025
The Langley Board of Education approved the proposed catchment changes for the Willoughby Slope. The catchment changes mainly impact students currently attending Willoughby Elementary and Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary. You can review the catchment changes in this infographic here.
What does this mean for my child?
• In September 2025, many students who currently attend Willoughby Elementary and Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary will continue at their school, dependent on their home address.
• In September 2025, many of the students who currently attend Willoughby Elementary and Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary will transition to Josette Dandurand Elementary, dependent on their home address.
• In September 2025, some students who attend Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary will transition to Langley Meadows Community School, dependent on their home address.
• In September 2025, students on the Willoughby Slope will be attending their catchment school dependent on their home address; there will be limited options to attend schools outside of their catchments.
• For September 2025, there will be an exception for students that are out of catchment and currently attending the two main overflow schools (Langley Meadows Community School and Lynn Fripps Elementary), as these students will be able to apply cross boundary to stay at their current school. Further instructions about this process will be shared in January.
• In September 2025, students that are out of catchment at the other Willoughby Slope schools will be able to apply cross boundary to stay at their current school; these will be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on space.
We acknowledge the continued growth in the area and are ensuring all schools have sustainable resources to support student learning.
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 catchment school: https://www.sd35.bc.ca/schools/school-locator/
During the winter break, the new catchments will be updated into the school locator tool and this process is expected to be completed in January. For now, to determine your child’s catchment beginning September 2025, please review this infographic here.
How do I register my child for the 2025-2026 school year (entering Grades 1-5)?
• If your child is expected to transition to the new school, Josette Dandurand Elementary, the District will confirm your child’s registration before Spring Break. No action is required from families as these students will be automatically registered at the new school. The District will provide confirmation of registration at the new school in the new year.
• If your child is out of catchment and currently attends another Willoughby Slope school (e.g., Richard Bulpitt Elementary), there is an opportunity to apply for cross boundary to stay at that school. However, there are no guarantees as it is dependent on space. Please wait for instructions to be shared in the new year.
• 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 2025.
How do I register my child for the 2025-2026 school year (entering Kindergarten)?
All children who will be five years old by Wednesay, December 31, 2025 (children born in 2020) are eligible for the Kindergarten program beginning Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Registration opens Monday, January 6, 2025 and will be open until Tuesday, February 18, 2025. Registration takes place online. Please check the District webpage in January for specific instructions here.
Will there be new childcare spaces in any of the Willoughby Slope schools?
Among the feedback gathered in this process, the District acknowledges that childcare was an important theme. The District is prioritizing childcare and will be expecting to operate its own before and after school care at Josette Dandurand Elementary and hope to expand the options at Langley Meadows Elementary. The District understands that families need to have details around spaces available and the registration process to help in their planning. Please be patient while staff work through plans. Information is expected to be shared in January with the community.
There are many important stages in the process of opening a new school. Families can expect updates in the coming months. The District is committed to providing as much information as possible in a timely manner to mitigate the impacts opening a new school has on families. Our hope is for everyone to celebrate the opening of Josette Dandurand Elementary and embrace the benefits it will bring for our growing community.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school principal.
Sincerely,
Mal Gill
Superintendent of Schools