All School News - SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

MESSAGE FROM STRUAN ROBERTSON, HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear York School Community,

  • Enjoying time at camp with the Senior School students and faculty.

  • Had a great first week of school start for the Junior and Middle Schools.

  • Virtual Guest Speaker upcoming on September 12th - Dr. Marisa G. Franco. Zoom link to join below.

  • Looking forward to our Terry Fox run. T-shirts order links below as the deadline is tomorrow morning at 10:00am.

  • Slight delay in the Athletic Commons renovation due to supply chain issues with an update to come next week.

    Struan Robertson
    Head of School

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

UPDATE FROM FINANCE

3rd Tuition Installment - Due Friday September 29, 2023
JK - Grade 12: $15,000
These payments only apply to those not on the monthly installment plan.

STUDENT LIFE & BELONGING

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

  • Junior School

    When: Friday, September 15th

    When: 8:45am - 11:00am

    Run Times: JK & SK 8:45am - 9:30am | Grade 3, 4 & 5 - 9:30am - 10:15am | Grade 1 & 2 10:15am - 11:00am

    Who: Students and Staff will participate in their classes.

    What to wear: Students are invited to wear athletic clothing, their gym uniforms, or Terry Fox t-shirts past and present. Students will also need to be wearing running shoes and have their water bottles.

    Parents are welcome to join us. Please meet your children inside the gate of the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery as classes exit the school for their scheduled run times.

  • 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

    Students and staff are encouraged to wear their House coloured spirit wear and accessories and Terry Fox shirts (if you purchased one).

  • 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.

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)

ATHLETICS

The staff in the Athletics department is “juiced up” for the 2023-2024 school year! Last year was one of our most successful ever – 73% of York students participated in Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) competitions. This year, our coaches will continue to build a healthy team culture that celebrates and respects all our student-athletes.

Here are a couple of great resources to start the year: Give Sport Back to Kids, Creating Team Culture.
Athletic Start Dates: Junior School-  Monday September 11th, 2023 | Middle School- Wednesday September 6th, 2023 at 3:45pm | Senior School-  Monday September 11th, 2023
View the Athletics Practice Schedules here: Junior school, Middle School, Senior School.

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 - 12:40pm

    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)

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.