Middle School - SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

Parent “Observer” Access to Blackboard - Now Ready

  • The York School (6-12) uses the Blackboard (LMS) Learning management system in order to facilitate and communicate daily learning throughout the year. Teachers communicate homework, assignments and daily course materials through this powerful platform. Each year York parents (6-12)  are given access to the courses of their children. Please watch this video to learn about your username and password. If you have any trouble logging in please contact helpdesk@yorkschool.com

  • You can access blackboard here -https://yorkschool.blackboard.com/ - and we recommend you bookmark this link.  While parent/observer access is convenient we recommend sitting with your children and having them access the system using their account so that you can navigate it together and they can guide you through their full Blackboard experience.

Curriculum Night Follow Up

  • Thank you parents for your attendance and engagement at Tuesday’s curriculum night. Our goals for the Middle School is to nurture curiosity, and teach the skills how to learn. Through this we hope students experience learning as fun and belonging.

  • Managing technology (laptops, ipads, watches and phones) - please see Common Sense Media for tips and strategies to help you navigate tricky situations. Establish tech boundaries at home for your child.

Athletic Commons changeroom update

  • Students will begin changing in and out of PE clothes on Tuesday, October 10 following the Thanksgiving weekend. The PE staff will be reviewing the rules and protocols for changing. Students are expected to be in school uniform. 

  • Students are permitted to arrive at school in PE clothes if they have athletics practice or PE in period 1 (9:05am - 10:25am). Following PE class, they are required to change into their uniform.

  • Students who have PE class in period 4 (last period 2:00pm - 3:20pm) or athletic practice are not required to change back into their uniform.

  • Students who have an athletic game mid day should come to school in the school uniform and change to PE clothes before the game.

National Truth and Reconciliation Assembly - September 29, 2023

  • Students are encouraged to wear orange shirts to honour this day of significance. Please see below for more information.

Head’s and Principals’ Breakfast

  • Tuesday, October 3rd, from 8:00am - 9:00am

Thanksgiving long weekend

  • School is closed from Friday, October 6 - Monday, October 9, 2023

Middle School Parent Coffee Mornings-October

  • You are invited to meet some key members of the Middle School who will share information about the transition back to school

  • The coffee mornings will run from 8:30am - 9:15am in the Learning Commons

    •  Grade 6, Tuesday, October 10th

    •  Grade 7, Wednesday, October 11th

    •  Grade 8, Thursday, October 12th

  •  Please complete the coffee morning R.S.V.P. by Monday, October 2nd.

Grade 6 First Note Night - October 12, 2023

  • Mr. MacFarlane & Mr. Pittman are delighted to welcome Grade 6 students and their families to First Note Night on Thursday, Oct 12 from 7:00pm - 8:30pm 

  • Instrument specialists will provide families with guidance on tone production, practice habits and instrument maintenance to students and their parents/guardians. 

  • Following the session, students are welcome to take their instruments home at the completion of this event. We can't wait to see you all at First Note Night!

Grade 6 Trip to The Canadian Heritage Warplane Museum - October 13, 2023

  • The program offered at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum is designed to help deliver the Matter and Materials strand from the science & technology curriculum, particularly the Properties of Air and The Characteristics of Flight Unit. 

  • The students will be participating in activities looking at pneumatic and hydraulic systems, the concepts of pressure and lift as well as thrust and drag. 

  • Students will also have the opportunity to take a trip back in time to the days of Daniel Bernoulli, a mathematician and scientist, which is a great link between the two subject areas.

Health & Safety

Health reminders for Back to School

  • Please have your child stay home if they are sick.

  • They may return to school if they have been fever free for 24 hours and their symptoms have been improving for 24 hours.

  • If they test positive for covid, they should remain home until they are fever free for 24 hours and their symptoms are improving/mostly gone. They should wear a mask for 10 days from when their symptoms began.

  • Please take a moment to look at the guidelines posted from Toronto Public Health. Bookmark the guidelines for easy reference.  

Wishing everyone a healthy fall. As always, any health related questions please reach out to Shana Brandes at sbrandes@yorkschool.com, our school nurse.

Peer tutoring

Great news, York!

The Peer Tutoring Program is up and running again this year!

Peer tutors will be offering support in a variety of ways: individual and small group, subject specific or supporting student organization. Peer tutoring sessions can be in person (preferred) or virtual. Tutors and their students (tutees) will be meeting about once a week for a 30-45 minute session at a mutually agreed upon time. This could take place before or after school in person or into the evening if you decide to meet virtually.

If you would like to sign up to be matched with a tutor, please fill out the Grade 6-9 Peer Tutoring Request Form 2023-24. The sessions can be subject-specific, or to help you with organization, planning, and more. You are also welcome to sign up with a friend and receive tutoring together! 
Please email Ms. Robertson at jrobertson@yorkschool.com or Ms. Rhemtulla at krhemtulla@yorkschool.com if you have any questions about the Peer Tutoring program.

STUDENT LIFE & BELONGING

Full Student Council Meeting - Thursday, OctOBER 5th

On Thursday, the Middle School Student Council will welcome its newly elected Grade 6 & 7 homeroom representatives. Thank you to everyone who campaigned for this leadership role, to even run in an election is a great growth opportunity for our students! 

A reminder to your student that the Middle School reps are great people to speak with if your student has ideas for maintaining a positive and spirited Middle School community as well as if they have any questions.

Orange Shirt Day - Tomorrow!

Tomorrow we welcome John Brown, the Legal and Strategic Advisor of Indigenous Initiatives for McCarthy Tétrault, LLP. At our assembly, John will be speaking about the importance of Reconciliation as we recognize Orange Shirt Day at The York School. 

Please ensure that your student has an orange shirt to wear with their black athletic bottoms.

Menu Addition for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

In recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30), Aramark will be showing respect and appreciation for Indigenous peoples by serving Three Sisters Soup, a recipe inspired by Indigenous cuisine. This soup is made with diced butternut squash, green beans and corn. In a number of Indigenous communities, these crops are called the "Three Sisters." When planted side by side, they help each other during growth, resulting in better yields at harvest. This soup is vegan and gluten free.

Homecoming 2023 - Thursday, Oct 5th

Students and families are invited to join us next Thursday, October 5th for our 2nd annual Homecoming celebration! 

Please remind your students to join us on the Turf for the pre-game party at 4:00pm where we will be putting on spirit wear, making signs and participating in activities to prepare for our Senior Girls’ Basketball game against De La Salle. The game will start at 4:30pm and all are invited to come out and cheer on our Gladiators!

Following, there will be an alumni reception for the classes of ‘20-’23.

Remembrance Day Assembly - Call for Presenters and Items for Video Piece

On Wednesday, November 8th the Senior and Middle Schools will gather for our Remembrance Day assembly. This year, we will recognize Indigenous Veterans Day (Nov 8th) and focus on sharing our community’s connections to service during the World Wars as well as global conflicts. The hope is that we can recognize the historical nature of Remembrance Day while honouring members of York families who were directly involved with and impacted by war. Bringing this history home reminds us of the privilege of living in a free country and being a part of a safe and inclusive school community.

To this end, if your family has a service story, an artefact, photographs or a personal connection that you would be willing to share at our assembly, either as a live presenter or as part of a film piece, please contact Erin Porter - Director, Student Life & Belonging at eporter@yorkschool.com.

The York Shop

  • The York Shop will be open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from October 2, 2023 to December 15, 2023 for in person shopping.

    The shop hours:
    11:30am to 12:30pm

    If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Astrid Fischer at Afischer@yorkschool.com

  • For families who are not able to make it to the shop in person, we have created an online order form for each of our campuses. Please click on the appropriate link below, keeping in mind the campus of your child.

    Junior School families please click here to fill out the order form.

    Middle and Senior School families please click here to fill out the order form.