All School News - August 31, 2023

MESSAGE FROM STRUAN ROBERTSON, HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear York School Community,

  • Excited to be back with all of our staff this week, including 22 new staff, learning and building community together this week.

  • The York Shop and Athletic Commons spaces are progressing well.

  • Be sure to check out the different school divisions - lots of important information.

  • Steps on how to filter and sync your calendars in YorkNet below.

  • David Hamilton, our Senior School Principal, has announced his retirement at the end of this academic year. We will recognize and celebrate David all throughout this year for his incredible service.

  • So excited to welcome everyone back next week!

    Struan Robertson
    Head of School

Senior School Principal Update

This week, our Senior School Principal, David Hamilton, announced that he’ll be retiring in June 2024 after an outstanding 29-year career at The York School. We’re so grateful that David decided to devote his entire education career to our students, staff and families. 

David was working as a litigation lawyer when he felt a strong calling to the teaching profession. He joined the school in 1995 to teach our first class of seven Grade 9 students in Eglinton United Church. Since becoming our Senior School Principal in 1999, David has led the development and implementation of York’s Integrated Canadian Experience (ICE) and Challenge Week programs, as well as our highly-respected IB Diploma Program.

As he begins his final year, David is reflecting on his time at York. “I’ve loved every minute of working with students, teachers and parents,” he says. “I’ve found the community to be extremely positive.”

This year there will be numerous opportunities for students, alumni, staff and parents to celebrate David’s incredible contributions to York and thank him for his leadership, wisdom and dedication to our community.

We will be starting our search for a new Senior School Principal very soon, and will keep you updated on the hiring process.

YorkNet has every calendar you might need to plan the school year for your family. In YorkNet and our weekly newsletters, we provide links to the detailed monthly calendar. Once logged into YorkNet, the “Calendars” button gives you the ability to view and filter all calendars, from sporting events to debate club.

Your daily calendar may look something like the image below. Click the image below for a video on how you can sync your iCal to your child(ren)’s schedule.

The full month-by-month school calendar can also be found here for quick reference. For information on how to sync the school calendar to your personal device, please refer to this document (with video explainer).

HoW TO FILTER & SYNC YOUR CALENDAR

At the beginning of a new school year, we know that making friends is top of mind for all students. However, along with the excitement of making new friends, this process can be accompanied by feelings of apprehension and uncertainty. 

The York School is delighted to offer a virtual presentation by Dr. Marisa Franco, professor, psychologist and New York Times bestselling author on the science of making friends. Dr. Franco will address the powerful impact of connection on our lives and the research-based tools of connection. Dr. Franco will discuss how the I.D.E.A model - Initiative, Disclose, Expose and Affirm - reveals the core ingredients of connections and will impart practical takeaways to apply these steps to support your child in making friends. 

Date: Tuesday, September 12
Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Zoom Link to Join on September 12

“People think tiny acts, like saying hello, can’t have colossal consequences for their life,” she writes. “But they can. One hello can be the difference between being lonely and finding your best friend.”

UPCOMING GUEST Speaker EVENT

Parent Volunteers needed

We are looking for parent volunteers across all three divisions (Junior, Middle and Senior School) who would like to help out at our new shop. If you are interested in volunteering please fill out this form. We will open up the shop during lunch on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and the hours are 11:30am to 1:00pm. 

Please click here to sign up

For questions please reach out to Astrid Fischer (Afischer@yorkschool.com)

STUDENT LIFE & BELONGING

YORK’S 30th ANNUAL TERRY FOX WALK/RUN 2023

  • Junior School

    When: Friday, September 15th

    When: 8:45am - 11:00am

    Who: Students and Staff will participate in their classes

    Where: Mt Pleasant Cemetery and Kay Gardiner Beltline

  • Middle and Senior School

    When: Friday, September 15th

    When: 2:00pm - 3:25pm

    Who: Students and Staff in homeroom groups

    Where: David A. Balfour Park/Reservoir

  • Over 29 years, The York School has raised over $325 000 for The Terry Fox Foundation. This year, our goal is $10 000 between our T-Shirt sales and online donation page. 75% of the proceeds from T-Shirt sales, goes directly to cancer research.

    To donate to our school’s team page: York School Terry Fox Fundraising Page.

    To order a Terry Fox t-shirt: Junior School Terry Fox T-shirt Order Form 2023, Middle & Senior School Terry Fox T-shirt Order Form 2023

    *The ordering deadline is 10:00am on Friday, September 8th to ensure we receive the shirts in time for the event. The cost of these items will be charged to your account. No cash will be accepted.

ORANGE SHIRT day to honour truth & reconciliation

The York School will be honouring National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on Friday, September 29th.  We encourage families to order their own shirts independently through The Orange Shirt Society, a non-profit organization where Orange Shirt Day began in 2013.

Click here for Official Orange Shirt Society Merchandise Page (Scroll down to bottom of the webpage for list of approved t-shirt providers.)

In the spirit of reconciliation and to stand in solidarity with survivors and all those impacted by residential schools, we will wear orange to honour this day of significance and also engage in divisional assemblies, classroom activities, lessons, and discussions that amplify Indigenous perspectives while educating and promoting awareness about the intergenerational harm that residential schools have caused to Indigenous families and communities.

ATHLETICS

#GoGlads We are back and so excited for the 2023-2024 Athletic Year!  We are attaching our practice schedules for this year for each division at our school.  This will provide a snapshot of the year and official registration will begin September 1st, 2023.

Athletic Start Dates:
Junior School-  Monday September 11th, 2023 | Middle School- Wednesday September 6th, 2023 at 3:45pm | Senior School-  Monday September 11th, 2023

At the beginning of the school year, we will begin with a couple of weekends focused on sport specific training.   NBA Skills Coach David Nurse is back.  David has worked with over 100 NBA players(including Canadians Shai Gilgeous Alexander and Kelly Olynyk) and bring his knowledge back to TYS.  TYS will also host its annual Volleyball Combine run by Momentum Volleyball.  Please see the attached posters and sign up forms for both events.  Our goal is to have every athlete playing volleyball and basketball in our school in the fall and winter attend these events.  The events bring our school together as we run sessions from Grade 3 to Grade 12.

The York Shop

  • The York School is excited to share with our community that we are opening up a York Shop at our 1320 Yonge Street campus where students across all three divisions (Junior, Middle and Senior School) will be able to purchase black gym t-shirts for our Junior School students, gym uniforms for all Middle and Senior School Students as well as spirit wear items.

    *All purchases will be charged to Student Accounts

  • Where: 1320 Campus in the Learning Commons

    Hours: 11:30am - 12:45pm

    Start date: September 11, 2023

    *The York Shop is not selling the official school uniform which you must purchase through our uniform provider Top Marks (topmarks.ca)

  • Please note: Students in Grades 6-12 are able to purchase items independently on their student account. Students in our Junior School Grades JK-Grade 5 require parents to purchase on their behalf.

    If you have any questions please reach out to Astrid Fischer (afischer@yorkschool.com)