October 16 Bulldog Newsletter

All YRDSB students, families, and staff are invited to a HNSS Community Challah Bake. Get ready to mix, knead, and braid together! 

Join us on Monday, November 9, 2026 for a fun and interactive Community Challah Bake at HNSS. Whether you are a seasoned baker or making your very first loaf, all are welcome to come together for this special hands-on experience.

Event details:

Date: Monday, November 9, 2026

Time: There are two sessions; 4-5 p.m. or 5-6 p.m.

Location: Hodan Nalayeh SS (1401 Clark Ave W, Thornhill ON, L4J 7R4)

Cost: Free!

Important Registration Note:

Space is limited to 75 participants per session, so pre-registration is required. Please register in advance for your preferred time slot by completing the Google form before spaces fill up!

The Black Foundation of Community Networks (BFCN) will be offering another edition of their Scholarship Application Workshop! Join online on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

This workshop is open to all Black students from any school board or institution.

Register for the BFCN Scholarship Application Workshop on October 28, 2026.

Also, the BFCN Scholarship Directory is available as a resource for obtaining additional scholarships.

The Fall 2026 Family Mental Health Newsletter is a collection of resources, strategies and tips to support positive mental health during the autumn months. This edition’s focus is on New Beginnings and Familiar Faces

Please see the Newsletter here or down below:

New Beginnings, Familiar Faces

Dear Families and Caregivers,

Welcome back for another school year at the YRDSB. New beginnings may cause a wide range of thoughts, feelings and behaviours. The new school year brings experiences that may be familiar to students (same school and peers). While many students are also experiencing something new (a new class, teacher, grade etc). 

You may help your child(ren) settle back into their routine or create a new one based on the needs of your child(ren) and family. For example, it may be helpful to engage your child(ren) in a discussion about their experience(s) as they start a new school year. Students thrive when schedules and routines are consistent and predictable whenever and wherever time and space allows. 

School Mental Health Ontario has compiled transition tips and strategies to promote a healthy return to school.

In October, the World Health Organization recognizes World Mental Health Day. The objective of this day is to raise awareness of mental health around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. To learn more about the available student mental health support within the YRDSB, we invite you to visit our webpage at www.yrdsb.ca/mentalhealth.

Supportive Resources

For more community resources, check out: YRDSB Mental Health Resource Page.

Continue to check out the YRDSB website for updated information.

Follow YRDSB Mental Health on Instagram @mh_yrdsb.

Patricia Marra-Stapleton, M.Sc., C. Psych. Assoc. 

• Mental Health Lead 

Paula Vicente, M.S.W., R.S.W.

• Assistant Coordinator of Mental Health 

Peter Reid, M.S.W., R.S.W.

• Assistant Coordinator of Mental Health 

Take Our Kids To Work day is coming up for our grade 9 students on Wednesday November 4. Information was emailed to parents/guardians of grade 9 students last week which included the TOKTWD Google Form. Please make sure you have completed and submitted this form.

Take Our Kids to Work (TOKW) Day is a national initiative designed to provide Grade 9 students with invaluable insights into the world of work. It aims to assist students in considering future career paths by offering them the opportunity to observe a work environment for one day.

Please note all other grades will attend their regularly scheduled classes on this day.  

The Centre for Black Student Excellence is proud to announce the upcoming event for students, families and staff.

Join us for an evening of culture, connection and family fun. Families will take part in interactive experiences that bring together the richness and diversity of African, Caribbean and Black cultures through literature and art. Author Blessing Owusu-Cobby will share her journey as an author as well as celebrate Abena's Adventures: A Taste of Home inspired by her upbringing as a Ghanaian-Canadian, a tale that celebrates cultural pride, confidence and connections to cultural food. Children and youth will have opportunities to create, explore and make connections between cultural traditions and the ways Black culture continues to grow, evolve and influence the world around us. Black secondary students will help lead activities and connect with younger students throughout the evening, creating opportunities for students of different ages to learn from and alongside one another. Dinner will be provided, with activities designed for the whole family to enjoy.

Date: Monday, October 19, 2026

Time: 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Location: Stouffville District Secondary School (801 Hoover Park Dr, Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON L4A 0A4)

Registration: Please register now!

The Pathways Team in Curriculum & Instructional Services in collaboration with the York Catholic District School Board invites students in Grades 9-11, families and educators to attend a Skilled Trades and Technology Career Planning Information Night. The goal of this event is to inspire students to take their first step towards a career in industries that are constantly innovating, on the cutting edge of emerging technologies, and making a critical difference in people’s lives. Students will have the opportunity to learn about some of Ontario’s 120+ trades through presentations and information booths. They will hear directly from the YRDSB Pathways team, tradespeople and local employers about life-changing career opportunities.

This event is taking place on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at Richmond Green Secondary School (1 William F. Bell Parkway, Richmond Hill, ON L4S 2T9).  

Registration Process:

• Students, families and YRDSB educators are invited to register through the Skilled Trades and Technology Open House Registration form.

We will be celebrating the academic achievements of our students from the 2025-2026 school year at our annual Awards Breakfast on October 27! 

• Invitations were sent to students a few weeks ago and they were asked to RSVP by October 9. 
• The event is for students only, but there will be opportunities for students to get their pictures taken with their certificates so parents & guardians can celebrate this memorable occasion with them at a later time. 
• Students should inform their period 1 teachers ahead of time that they will be away that day. Attendance will be taken when students arrive in the cafeteria. 
• Students should arrive at 8 am to enjoy a hot breakfast before the ceremony starts. 

We look forward to celebrating with students on the 27th! 

Dear Parents/Guardians/Caregivers and Students:

We hope this correspondence finds you and your family well. 

The purpose of this message is to share:

1. Semester 1 midterm reporting dates for all students;
2. Full disclosure dates for all students in Grade 11 and/or Grade 12 courses; and
3. Key dates and information for potential graduates applying to Ontario colleges and/or universities.

Semester 1 Midterm Reporting - All students

York Region District School Board will be issuing electronic copies of the Semester 1 midterm report cards between November 18-20. Parents/caregivers will access the electronic copy through the new family portal, and students will continue to access it through their GAPPs account.  Instructions will be sent out by email to both parents/caregivers and to students prior to distribution. 

Full Disclosure for Grade 11 and Grade 12 Courses 

For the 2026-2027 school year, the course withdrawal date (Full Disclosure) will be at least 5 instructional days from the last possible date the mid-semester report is issued. The Full Disclosure date for Grade 11 and Grade 12 courses is November 27.  If a student withdraws from a Grade 11 or 12 course on or prior to November 27, then the course and mark will not be recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript. If a student withdraws from a Grade 11 or 12 course after the Full Disclosure date, a withdrawal (W) is entered in the credit column, and the student’s mark in the course at the time of withdrawal will be recorded as a percentage in the achievement column of the transcript. If a grade 11 or 12  student is considering dropping a course, they should book an appointment with their guidance counsellor before November 19. Guidance appointments can be booked through the guidance counsellors’ online booking calendars which can be accessed on the Guidance google classrooms for each grade.

OUAC and OCAS Upload for Potential Graduates

Identifying information will be shared through a secure transmission to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) and the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) to support students with their application to post-secondary institutions. Potential graduates who are not planning to apply to an Ontario college or university this school year, and who do not wish to have their data shared, must fill out this Notification Form by  notify their guidance counsellor by October 30. 

Semester 1 midterm marks will be shared with OCAS and OUAC on November 19. Students in Grade 11 and 12 courses will be notified of their report card mark by their classroom teacher by November 11. Potential graduates who are applying to an Ontario college and/or university and who are planning to drop a course are encouraged to connect with their guidance counsellor in advance of these dates. 

Please review the timelines below:

October 14-16        
Students received a secure communication in their GAPPS email which provided information needed for their applications, including their OEN and school MIDENT# (BSID)

October 30        
Deadline for potential graduates who are not planning on applying to an Ontario college or university to notify their Guidance Counsellor if they do not want their information shared with OCAS/OUAC this school year.

November 11        
Teachers will share mid-semester mark updates with students in Grade 11 and 12 courses.         

November 18 to 20

Semester 1 midterm report cards will be issued electronically.

November 19        
School will upload all Semester 1 midterm and/or final marks (for quadmester courses) for all grade 11 and 12 courses to OUAC and OCAS. Potential graduates applying to an Ontario college or university who are planning to drop a course, and do not wish to have the course mark shared with OUAC/OCAS, are advised to connect with their Guidance Counsellor before November 19.

November 27       
This is the full disclosure date, which is the final day that a student, in a Grade 11 or 12 course, may drop a course in order that it not be recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript.

We recognize that you and your child may have questions regarding this information. If it is helpful for you to connect with a staff member from the school, please contact the Guidance Department to discuss your questions.