Senior School - September 3, 2026
Welcome back!
Please see the welcome back communication from our Interim Middle and Senior School Principal, Helen Gin.
Letter From Head of School
Please read the letter from our Head of School, Struan Robertson regarding the New Ontario Ministry of Education Policy on Attendance. This letter also provides instructions on how to report your childβs absence in YorkNet starting next week.
Opening Assembly
Our opening assembly will take place at 9:05 am on Tuesday, September 15 in the gym. We are excited to be back together as a community where we will introduce our new staff members, hear from this yearβs student leaders and celebrate the updates to our House standings on the heels of Camp Timberlane!
Camp Timberlane Theme Wear
Theme Wear / Packing:
We will have themed dinners and spirit days at camp, so make sure students pack the following items:
House Accessories (ex: hats, shirts, hoodies, gloves, socks, face paint, stickers)
Dress in your house colour - FIRE, WATER, AIR, or EARTH
Additional spirit points will be given out for the best dressed!
Music Genres Night (by grade based on the following)
Grade 9 - Country (plaid, hats, buckles, denim!)
Grade 10 - Rock (jeans, concert Tβs, animal print, boots, layers)
Grade 11 - Pop (bold colours, concert Tβs, graphic Tβs, platforms, sneakers, chunky jewellery)
Grade 12 - Showtunes (characters from musicals or show shirts!)
Staff - Heavy Metal (denim, bandanas, leather/pleather, spikey jewellery)
Tie Dye
Shirts, Scrunchies, Socks, Bandanas
Pajama Party
Plaid/fuzzy pants, Sleeping masks, Neck pillows, Stuffies, Slippers
INTERNATIONAL EXCURSION OFFERINGS - INTEREST FORM DUE FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11
In our upcoming 2026-2027 school year, The York School is tentatively planning to offer the following International Excursions to eligible students in our Senior School:
A. Grade 9-12 Drama Excursion to New York City in February 2027
Click here to learn more about this offering
For more information please speak to Ms. Barber.
B. Grade 9-12 Music Excursion to Spain in February 2027
Click here to learn more about this offering
For more information please speak to Mr. MacFarlane or Mr. Pittman.
Please review the one page overview of each trip offering (linked above) and discuss these excursions as a family. Then, if you have not already done so, we ask that parents complete this International Excursion Interest form by Friday, September 11 2026.
(NOTE: If you already completed the International Excursion Interest form in June and expressed interest in an international trip, it will be noted.)
There will be a virtual parent information session held on Monday, September 14 at 6:00pm. A link will be sent out to all interested families.
More information will then be shared with interested students and their families in September 2026 along with Venturing Out Forms and non refundable deposits due back in late September to express commitment.
Terry Fox and Orange Shirt Day - September 2026
If you would like to support our fundraising efforts for Terry Fox and the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, please see below:
Terry Fox - York School Walk/Run on September 18
If you would like to purchase a 2026 Terry Fox Run T-Shirt, 75% of the price will go directly to cancer research and is one of the main ways we fundraise at York. Shirts will be delivered in September to homeroom teachers ahead of our run on the 18. Terry Fox T-Shirt Order Form - Deadline September 9 at noon.
Additionally, families who would like to support our run with a monetary donation, can do so to our York School team page. Questions about Terry Fox orders, please contact Aniessha Sureshkumar asureshkumar@yorkschool.com.
Questions about the Terry Fox Run, please contact Erin Porter at eporter@yorkschool.com.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day:
On Wednesday, September 30, we will observe the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. Students and staff are encouraged to wear an orange shirt on this day.
If you would like to support the Orange Shirt Society, which provides resources to Residential School Survivors, please purchase your official orange shirt from the list of approved vendors below:
ππππ’ππ’ππ₯ ππ«ππ§π π ππ‘π’π«π ππ¨ππ’πππ² πππππ’π₯ππ«π¬: Orange Shirt Society
ππ¨π«π π¨π©ππ’π¨π§π¬:
Indigenous Marketing Solutions
MΓ©tis Trading Post
Old's Cool General Store
Resist Clothing
Questions? Please contact Erin Porter, Director, Student Life & Belonging at eporter@yorkschool.com.