September 11, 2026 Bulldog

Dear Families,

As the new school year is beginning, students will be attending Caring and Safe Schools Start-Up Presentations. These presentations are designed to underscore behaviour expectations as we continue to sustain caring, safe and inclusive school environments. 

Presentation topics include:

• Racism and types of discrimination;
• Bullying;
• Progressive discipline; 
• Using personal mobile devices such as cellphones, smart watches, and tablets;
• Vaping; and
• Standing up for each other, including methods of reporting incidents of racism, discrimination and bullying.

Inappropriate Behaviour

In the Start-Up Presentation, students are learning about racism, discrimination, and bullying. This learning will continue throughout the school year. Instances of racism, discrimination and bullying are not acceptable and are addressed through progressive discipline. In some cases of racism and discrimination, York Regional Police may be involved.

Students will also be reminded about safe school behaviours, including what items must never be brought to school, such as peanut products, vape products/drug paraphernalia, weapons/replica weapons (including knives).

Reporting Behaviour

Standing up for one another and reporting when something does not feel safe is part of a caring and safe school environment. Students should report incidents involving other students that make them or others feel unsafe or uncomfortable, including acts of racism, discrimination and bullying. Students can report incidents by:

• Telling a caring adult;
• Using the YRDSB’s “Report It Button” (Located on our school’s website, the online Report It button allows students and families to share information about inappropriate student behaviour and incidents of hate or discrimination. Contacting Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868).

For More Information

For more details on these items or other Caring and Safe Schools topics, please read the Guide to the School Year or visit the Caring and Safe Schools section on the YRDSB website for more information and to access family resources to continue these conversations at home. 

Thank you for helping us create a caring, safe, and inclusive school community.

Students and parents/guardians are reminded that, unlike elementary school, there is no lunch drop-off. Arrangements need to be made between students and their parents/guardians regarding lunch. The main office will not be accepting lunches brought in by parents/guardians. The main office will not be accepting food brought in by delivery services such as UBER.

If you are a parent/guardian and you wish to visit the school to speak with a teacher, administrator and/or your child during school hours, it is important that you sign-in/sign-out through the main office. Parents/guardian are not permitted to walk around the school unless they are accompanied by a staff member. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to reach out to any member of our administration team.  

To ensure our school parking lot is a safe place, please follow the following parking reminders when dropping off/picking up your child(ren):

 Please arrive early (7:45 to 8:00 am). We have 1900+ students and 150+ staff all trying to come to school on time and leave the school building in a timely manner.

• Consider dropping your child a block or two blocks away (if your child is able to walk the rest of the distance to school).
• Drop your child off at a safe location; do not drop them off in the middle of the road.
• Students need to be vigilant and watch their surroundings (please advise them not to be on their cellphone).
• Students who bike to school are reminded to walk their bike while on school property and to securely lock their bike on a bike rack.
• Parents/guardians are asked not to block school buses who need to be at the front of the school to unload/load students.
• Follow all traffic/parking signs. In particular:
  • No U-turns in the parking lot.
  • No stopping and no parking on Bur Oak Avenue 7:45 to 8:45 am and 2:25 to 3:25 pm.
• Encourage alternative transportation (biking, walking, taking the bus)
• Safety takes precedent over convenience.

It has been a busy few weeks as we have met so many new students!  Please note that until notified, Guidance Counsellors are not open for booking of appointments.  If you have a timetable change request, please follow the procedures outlined in the previous emails. Counsellors are meeting student needs and working hard to build timetables.

Booking will resume in the near future - stay tuned!

Next week, we will begin assigning lockers to students who wish to have one for the 2026–2027 school year.

Lockers will be assigned according to the following schedule:

• Monday, September 14: Grade 9 students
• Tuesday, September 15: Grade 10 students
• Friday, September 18: Grade 11 students
• Grade 12 students and students with a Period 1 spare: During the week of September 14–18, a Google Form will be shared through the Grade 12 Guidance Google Classroom for students to request a locker. Grade 12 students will need to share a locker with another Grade 12 student or a sibling. Grade 12 locker assignments will be distributed during the week of September 21. Students will be contacted by the main office.

Please note that all Grade 9 lockers will be located on the main floor and may not be located close to students' homeroom.

Please review the following expectations with your student:

• Lockers and locks are the property of the school. Students may not remove or replace the school-issued locks. Any non-school-issued locks placed on lockers will be cut off.
• Lockers are not theft-proof. Neither the school nor the school board is responsible for items that are lost, damaged, or stolen from lockers. Students should leave money and valuable items at home.
• Students must ensure that their locker is properly closed and locked when they are not using it. Leaving a locker unlocked may result in the loss of locker privileges.
• The school reserves the right to inspect lockers when there is reasonable suspicion that their contents may be in contravention of the Safe and Supportive Schools Policy.
• Any locker-related problems should be reported to Annette Mask in the Main Office.

Lock Combinations

Students should record the serial number located on the back of their lock. This is the middle number within the circled area on the back of the lock. Students should bring this serial number to the Main Office if they need to verify that they have been provided with the correct combination.

If a student is unsure how to open their locker, instructions are available in the Main Office, and an image demonstrating how to open the lock will also be provided.

If a student forgets their locker combination, they should see Mrs. Mask in the Main Office. Students will be required to show their student ID in order to obtain their combination.

Thank you for reviewing this information with your student and for helping us ensure that lockers are used responsibly and safely throughout the school year.

Dear Families,

The move to high school is a critical milestone, and we are committed to ensuring every student and family feels fully prepared and equipped for success.

We are excited to invite Black students and their families in Grades 6 through 10 to an upcoming event highlighting the opportunities available to support pathway planning, specialty programs, and the transition between elementary and secondary school. 

This is a key opportunity for Black students and families to connect with educators, ask questions, and build a personalized roadmap for a successful and fulfilling secondary school experience.

Event: Growing Together - Planning for Success: A High School Transition and Pathway Planning for Black Students and their Families (Child Care will be provided)
Date: Wednesday October 7, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Richmond Hill High School 

Please complete this Google Form to register. Attached you will find a flyer for the event.