Middle School - SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

Drop Off and Pick Up

  • If driving to drop off your child, please drive to the door at the end of the 1320 laneway by the garage door. Do not drop your child off at the sidewalk on Yonge St by the front door. This behaviour causes a lot of congestion on Yonge street and increases the risk of bike/pedestrian accidents. Alternatively drop your child off safely on a neighbouring side street and have them walk to the front doors.

  • If driving to pick up, arrange to meet your child nearby from 3:40 pm onward. Students are dismissed at 3:30 pm and will need time to organize belongings.

Lunch

  • Pre-Ordered lunches and Freshii will not be available this year.

  • If your child has an allergy they should be notifying the Aramark staff if purchasing items from the cafe: aramarkfoodservices@yorkschool.com.

  • Menus are posted on YorkNet which you can access via your family account number.

Lunch Out

  • Grade 8s are permitted to go out on Yonge Street for lunch outs each Friday. This will start on Friday, September 8.

  • Grade 7s are permitted to go out monthly and grade 6s are permitted to go out once per term.

  • HR teachers will review the boundaries, and rules to lunch outs. Failing to adhere to these rules may result in the loss of this privilege.

PE Uniform/Athletics Commons Changeroom Update

  • Students may continue to wear their PE uniform on PE days or athletic training days until further notice.

Glad Fridays

  • Students are welcome to come to school dressed in York School athletic attire or York School branded spirit wear on Fridays. This is not a free casual day. 

  • Alternatively, students may wear the school uniform.

Communication Lines

Calendar

  • Refer to the school calendar for all school PA days, holidays to support your planning.

Fire Drill - Wednesday, September 13, 2023

  • As part of the school’s safety plan, we have regular fire and lock down drills.

  • The first fire drill will be on Wednesday, September 13th. 

  • If you anticipate your child may need additional support during our upcoming fire drills, please reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher.

Co-Curricular Programming Update

  • The co-curricular roll out starts on Monday, September 11th. The club fair slide deck will be shared with students. 

  • Clubs start on September 25th

New Students “Munch and Meet” Group in the Middle School

Munch and Meet
Sign up! (New Students Only)

Transitions can be really tough, particularly when you are changing to a new school. These changes might leave you feeling a range of emotions, from excited to lonely, to apprehensive about meeting new peers and teachers. You may find yourself asking “Will I fit in?”, “How do I make friends?”. In response, The York School is launching our “Munch and Meet” group for middle school students run by Ms. Rhemtulla and Ms. Robertson, our MS Learning Strategists.

We hope to see you there!

Ms. Rhemtulla and Ms. Robertson,

krhemtulla@yorkschool.com

jrobertson@yorkschool.com

Who can sign up for Munch and Meet? 
New students to York are welcome to join.

When will Munch and Meet be offered? 
Tuesday September 12 at 12:05 to 12:35 (lunch time - buy/bring your lunch with you).

Where will we meet?
Buy/Bring your lunch and meet Ms. Rhemtulla and Ms. Robertson in the Middle School Commons area (just outside of the Middle School office). 

What can we expect?
There will be get to know you activities, brief topic discussions and lots of fun to be had.

How do I sign up?
Please use the following link to sign up for Munch and Meet. We will send out confirmation details/reminders to you by email by Tuesday September 12.

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

  • 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.

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

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

Leadership Applications Open

Are you in grade 6 or 7 and are organised, hard-working and energetic? Then student leadership might be a great co-curricular opportunity. To apply for the Middle School Student Council see the timeline below.

September 8: Information session at Recess (11:40am) in room 428
September 11: Student Applications due! Google form Application 
September 15: Campaign slide and Speech - sent to Ms. Rowell (drowell@yorkschool.com)
September 25-27: Slideshow and speeches in Homeroom
September 29: Voting in Homeroom
September 29: Successful candidates announced after school via email

Please keep in mind that your application, slide, speech, teacher reference and student vote all contribute to electing the best candidate. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Ms. Rowell at drowell@yorkschool.com. Good luck to all candidates!

Virtual Clubs Fair and Fall Co Curricular Clubs

The schedules for the Fall Term Co Curricular clubs and committees will be shared with all students during the week of September 11th through homeroom and adviser classes. Students are encouraged to speak with the staff advisers listed on the club's schedule if they have any questions.

Co Curricular Clubs will begin the week of September 18th - Schedule 
Student proposals for new clubs this year can be discussed with Ms Porter, Director, Student Life and Belonging and Ms Aragona, CAS Coordinator, beginning in October.

Opening Assembly - September 13

We look forward to welcoming all students and staff back to The York School at our first assembly of the ‘23-’24 school year! Our community can look forward to reconnecting at this assembly and celebrating the launch of our new spirit houses! Please note that everyone is encouraged to wear a house-coloured accessory.

Assemblies this year will, usually, take place on Wednesdays from 9:05am - 9:45am.
Questions? Contact Erin Porter, Director, Student Life and Belonging (eporter@yorkschool.com)

REMINDERS AND UPDATES

September 18-20 - Grade ⅞ Camp at Arowhon and Sept 20-22- Grade ⅚ Camp Arrowhon
September 26 - Curriculum Night

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 - 12:40pm

    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)