Junior School - AUGUST 31, 2023

A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL SARA SANKARI

Dear Parents,

I am thrilled to write to you as the new Junior School Principal. As we approach the beginning of the new academic year, I would like to extend a heartfelt welcome to each and every one of you. Whether you are a returning family or joining our school community for the first time, I am excited for us to embark on this educational journey together.

Getting to know your children and understanding their unique strengths, interests, and learning styles is one of my top priorities. I firmly believe that a strong home-school partnership enhances the educational experience for our students. Your insights and involvement in your child's education are invaluable, and I encourage you to stay engaged in school activities and events. Open communication is vital, so please don't hesitate to reach out to our teachers, staff, or myself with any questions, concerns, or ideas you may have.

The week ahead at the Junior School: 

  • September 1, 2023: Registration for co-curricular activities and athletics opens at 9:00am

  • September 5, 2023: New Student and Parent Orientation 1:00pm-3:00pm

  • September 6, 2023: First day of school for all students

  • September 6, 2023: JK soft start 11:00am - 3:15pm 

  • September 6, 2023: Registration for co-curricular activities and athletics closes at noon  

  • September 7 & 8, 2023: Pop Up Shop, 7:30am - 9:00am & 3:00pm - 5:00pm

As an inquirer, I want to try and learn all the names of our students and families in September! I am looking forward to a year full of curiosity, challenge, and building relationships within our community. 

Sara Sankari
Junior School Principal

P.S. Please be sure to visit The Family handbook

NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION RSVP REMINDER

We look forward to welcoming new students and their parents to our Junior School Orientation Day on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. This is a drop-in event and we welcome our new families to arrive anytime between 1:00pm -3:00pm. If you have not already done so, please RSVP to admission@yorkschool.com.

student life & belonging

REGISTRATION FOR JUNIOR SCHOOL FALL CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMMING (ATHLETICS & CLUBS)

This September, we are offering a full complement of co-curricular offerings at the Junior School. Our co-curricular programming provides students with a wide variety of team and club experiences to develop their passions and interests, nurture new friendships, be active and have fun learning new skills. 

To extend student learning beyond the classroom, we continue to offer clubs led by outside providers at a cost, as well as teacher-led clubs free of charge. Please review the different co-curricular opportunities in our Junior School Co-Curricular Programme Guide -FALL 2023 and discuss with your child before our official sign-up begins on Friday, September 1st at 9:00am. 

Registration for all athletics/clubs will open on Friday, September 1st and will close at 12:00pm on Wednesday, September 6th. All fall clubs and athletic practices will begin on Monday, September 11th and run until Friday, October 27th. Information regarding the Winter term co-curricular sign-up will be shared via email and through The Flash later in the fall. 

For your reference here is a Week at a Glance:

JUNIOR SCHOOL FALL CO-CURRICULAR SCHEDULE  2023-2024

Please note: The days of our teacher-led clubs noted in the schedule above are currently tentative and subject to change. The finalized schedule will be shared along with the official registration information on Friday, September 1st at 9:00am. When registering, please be sure to review days of the week for all offerings to avoid any conflicts. 

Co-curricular registration is on a first come first served basis. Your child’s name will be automatically added to a waitlist should a club reach maximum enrolment. NOTE: If there is a high level of demand, new sections of clubs offered by outside providers may be opened and those on the waiting list will be contacted.

If you have any questions regarding your registration please contact Karen Nielsen or Michèle Matthews.

For Club Inquiries contact Karen Nielsen, Junior School Administrative Assistant at 416-926-1325 ext.1614 or via email knielsen@yorkschool.com 

For Athletic Team Inquiries contact  Michèle Matthews, Athletics Assistant at 416-926-1325 ext.1571 or via email mmatthews@yorkschool.com

HOW TO REGISTER ON YORKNET FOR JUNIOR SCHOOL FALL CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMMING 2023 (ATHLETICS & CLUBS) 

At 9:00am on Friday, September 1st 2023, you will need to login to YorkNet, go to the resource board and click the button Junior School Cocurricular Programme Registration. The registration message will change on YorkNet from "The registration for this event is currently unavailable" to "Register Now". At that time, you can Click on "Register Now".

You will be asked to register one child at a time. If you have more than one child to register, click 'Register Again' at the end of the process, and submit your next child's name and grade.

Please contact Karen Nielsen at 416.926.1325 x 1614 or knielsen@yorkschool.com if you have any difficulties with registration or need to make changes.

Registration will close at 12:00pm on Wednesday, September 6th. All JS clubs will start on Monday, September 11th and run to Friday, October 27th. Below are some screenshots to guide you through the process in YorkNet. 

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.

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)

JS POP UP Shop

If you weren’t able to drop by The York Shop on August 29 and 30 to buy gym uniform shirts, we will be holding a Pop Up shop where you will be able to purchase these items.

Where: 1639 Yonge St
When: Thursday September 7 and Friday September 8, 20923
Time: Before school at 7:30am to 9:00am and after school at 3:00pm to 5:00pm

Items sold:
Black gym tops
Crew necks
Hoodies
Black and white baseball caps (youth)

Students need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian and any items purchased will be billed to the student’s account

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

*Please note that Junior School gym t-shirts and spirit wear will be available for purchase from our York Shop throughout the month of September during lunch open hours. (11:30am-1:00pm). The start date for the Shop will be Monday September 11, 2023.