Hello, Woodland families.
Please see the following reminders and updates. Have a great weekend.
Nereo Bonomo
The YRDSB 2025-2026 School Year Calendars
The YRDSB 2025-2026 school year calendars have been approved by the Ministry. These calendars may be accessed on the YRDSB website.
In and Around Woodland:
Save the date: Fun Fair on Thursday, June 12.
Save the date for our annual fun fair: Thursday June 12 from 6 to 8:30pm, rain or shine!
Fun Fair Volunteers Wanted
Woodland School Council is looking for parents to help out at the fun fair.
Thursday Pizza Volunteers Wanted
Parent volunteers are wanted for helping with our Thursday pizza lunch. Volunteers will receive cheese pizza slices. Please sign up for the weeks you are available.
Summer Learning for Senior Kindergarten to Grade 8
Looking for summer learning and fun activities for students entering Senior Kindergarten to Grade 8? Summer Institute offers academic, recreational and athletic programs and activities with intentional links to the Ontario Curriculum. The program runs for six weeks during July and August. It is offered at 9 school sites around York Region. For more information on dates, programs and locations, please visit the Summer Institute webpage . Registration opens March 26, 2025 at 4:00pm. Families can register online. Other summer learning opportunities include YRDSB’s and the Elementary Summer School.
Other Items:
Community Connections
CAPC York Region has partnered with Teston Village Public School to host a Community Connections Event for families and caregivers of children birth to 13 years of age on Tuesday, May 6th, 2025. This evening event aims to provide families with a one-stop-shop where they can connect with local agencies, city organizations, and partner groups to access vital resources and support. We have 20 confirmed vendors and by bringing these services directly to the school, we hope to bridge any possible gaps and strengthen the connection between families and the resources in the community that they need and/or desire. Please see the attached flyer for more details.
This event will:
- Connect Families to Essential Resources – Families will have the opportunity to learn about and access services in areas such as healthcare, housing, mental health, and education supports, all in one place.
- Strengthen School-Community Partnerships – The fair will help build relationships with local organizations, which can lead to ongoing support and future collaborations with our school.
- Promote Equity and Accessibility – Hosting an event like this in a local community school ensures that regardless of background or barriers, or geolocation, everyone has access to the resources and information they need.
- Demonstrate Our Commitment to the Whole Child – Supporting families outside of the classroom plays a crucial role in student success and fosters a strong, inclusive school culture.
Understanding and Navigating the Education System - Families of YRDSB Black Students Monthly Information Session
Date: Monday, May 26, 2025
Time: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Families, parents, caregivers, please join us for our monthly virtual meeting, where families with Black children come together to learn about resources and upcoming programs for Black students in both elementary and secondary schools. Please see our flyer for more information and to register.
Please register through:
Unity in Diversity - A Celebration of South Asian Heritage
We invite all YRDSB students, family, community members and staff to join us at Maple High School to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month. This event celebrates the rich and diverse cultural heritage of South Asia. Its purpose is to promote awareness, appreciation, and understanding of the many unique artistic, culinary and cultural traditions that shape South Asian communities. Through crafts, food, and interactive experiences, the event aims to foster cross-cultural understanding, celebrate the beauty of diversity, and offer an immersive educational experience for all participants.
Event Details:
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Time: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Maple High School, Cafeteria
Please register through the Registration Google Form. For more information, please contact Inclusive School and Community Services (ISCS) at iscs@yrdsb.ca.
Our Truth எங் கள் உண் மை : A Student Art Exhibit
We invite all YRDSB students, family, community members and staff to join us at Bill Hogarth Secondary School for Our Truth எங்கள் உண் மை: A Student Art Exhibit. This event will showcase artwork and artifacts created and curated by students to represent their Tamil identity and the Tamil Diaspora. All are welcome to explore original student artwork, listen to live music, enjoy light refreshments, and meet local Tamil artists from the Greater Toronto Area. The aim of this event is to provide a space of healing and to honour the legacies and resiliency within the Tamil community.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025, 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Learning Commons in Bill Hogarth Secondary School (100 Donald Sim Ave, Markham, ON L6B 0R1)
*This event is also a SHSM Reach Ahead opportunity for Arts & Culture. We look forward to welcoming you!
Please register through the Registration Google Form.
For more information, please contact Inclusive School and Community Services (ISCS) at iscs@yrdsb.ca.
May's Mental Health Newsletter for Families and Caregivers
is all about Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week!
Tune In YRDSB: Celebrating Persian Identities
In this episode of Tune in YRDSB, we celebrate Persian Heritage Month by exploring the importance of visibility, celebration and affirmation of Persian identities in schools.
Tune In YRDSB: Sikh Heritage Month: Significance of the Patka and Dastar
In honour of Sikh Heritage Month, this episode of Tune In YRDSB explores the significance of the Patka and Dastar, two important articles of faith within the Sikh community. This episode also features the voices of students from Blue Willow P.S. who help to deepen understanding of Sikh identity and belonging in schools.
Summer Credit Bearing Program-Y2 LEGACY-A Black-Centred Approach to Leadership, Innovation, and Excellence
York Region District School Board, in partnership with York University, presents:
Y2 LEGACY – A Black-Centred Approach to Leadership, Innovation, and Excellence
This is a transformative credit-bearing summer learning program that empowers students through a Black-centred lens, celebrating leadership, innovation, and academic excellence. Learn more and registration link. The admissions deadline to be considered for entry into the program is Friday, May 2, 2025. Students will be notified of their acceptance status by Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Please see the attached flyer for more details. For any questions, please contact the Centre for Black Student Excellence (CBSE) at blackstudentexcellence@yrdsb.ca.
- This is a friendly reminder that the LGBTQ Support Group for Parents program, will meet on the following dates:
May 21 at 7 pm - please register for this session with the link below - June 18 at 7 pm- please register for this session with the link below
***The registration is now set up by each individual session. Please register for each of the
session here SRC | LGBTQ+ Support Group for Parents and Caregivers
Location: Schwartz/Reisman Centre in Vaughan- 2nd floor, SRC Interview Meeting Room, room
# 2403 – The room is straight up when you come out from the elevator.
The group will continue to be led by Giselle, our wonderful parent peer facilitator who has expertise in LGBTQ+ issues, as well as lived experience as a parent to two LGBTQ+ kids — one who is gay and one who is transgender. This is a shared space where will strive to co-create a safe,
respectful, and affirming space for all. Our goal is to provide support and education, while reducing isolation and stress for parents navigating this journey. We are also a means for parents to share information, including strategies for coping with our kid’s disclosures, in a safe and affirming
environment. Every journey is different, and we welcome that diversity in our group and discussion. We don’t want anyone to feel excluded based on their own – or their child’s – personal experience. As a matter of fact, our goal is just the opposite: for everyone to feel included, whatever their child’s path may be.
So... welcome to the Jewish Rainbow Alliance Families share concerns, resources and recommendations This program is supported by a grant and is available at no charge, but RSVP is required.
Student Media Contest
The Cyber Champion Challenge Digital Awareness Student Media Contest invites Ontario K-12 students to get creative to help promote the importance of making safe, smart choices online. For the third year in a row, ECNO and Fair Chance Learning are encouraging cyber awareness and safety amongst students across Ontario. Any creative approach is encouraged! Students can submit a poster, video, animation, play, game, song, a sculpture, a podcast, fibre art, new dance trend... we want to see it all! Staying safe online is serious business, but learning about it can be seriously fun! For more information and to register visit Cyber Champion.
Jewish Heritage Month Community Event
The Network of Educators Supporting Jewish Learners (NESJL) and ISCS are hosting a Jewish Heritage Month celebration to honour the history, resilience, and contributions of diverse Jewish communities. Together, we will celebrate Jewish heritage by rolling up our sleeves and learning to braid traditional challah, a beautiful and symbolic Jewish bread. This event, focusing on fostering equity, inclusion, and community engagement, is open to all YRDSB students, families, and staff. Please join us on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at Langstaff S.S., 106 Garden Avenue, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 6M1. Registration due date is Friday, May 16, 2025. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
Wesak
Wesak or Vesak, is the most important festival of the year for the Buddhist community and recognized on May 12, 2025. It is the observance that commemorates the Birth, Enlightenment and Final Nirvana of the Buddha. Wesak occurs annually during the full moon of the lunar month of Vesākha, usually in April, May, or June. It is thought that at this time, great expansions of consciousness become possible, and people embark on a path to promote spiritual growth. Wesak is celebrated in a number of ways around the world. There is often the ceremonial release of small creatures, such as birds or turtles, as a symbol of the Buddha's compassion for all things. A statue of the baby Buddha may be bathed in a ritual commemorating his birth. Dharma talks are given, often on the eight precepts (teachings of Buddhism), since this ceremony is intended to reflect on the life of the Buddha and the goal for all of enlightenment. Sitting and/or walking meditation may also be part of the festivities. Traditionally, vegetarian meals are served. In the evening, candlelight or lantern processionals end the celebration. This occasion is observed by millions of Buddhists throughout the world.
R;pple©
In our continued work to foster student Well-Being and Mental Health we have added R;pple© to the YRDSB wifi network as a Google Chrome browser extension. The extension is deployed through the YRDSB GAPPS environment meaning if a student is not logged into their browser with their GAPPS account, the tool would not be initiated. R;pple© is a tool which presents a life promoting message and helpful resources (such as kidshelpphone) when a student searches for harmful keywords or phrases related to self-harm or suicide. No personal information is collected and students are not identifiable. For more information about Student Suicide Prevention and Life Promotion, please review the following resource link: YRDSB Student Suicide Intervention Protocol.
Armenian Heritage Month
The month of May is Armenian Heritage Month. Armenian Heritage Month was given Royal Assent in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 2022 through Bill 105 Act to proclaim the month of May as Armenian Heritage Month.
Ontario is home to more than 100,000 people of Armenian heritage. Armenians began migrating to Canada in the 1880s. Approximately 37 Armenians came to Ontario in 1892, and 100 more settled in the province in 1895. After the Hamidian massacres of the mid-1890s, Armenian families began settling in greater numbers in Ontario. Decades later, approximately 2,000 survivors of the 1915 Armenian Genocide - mostly women and children - came to Canada as refugees.
May is a significant month for the Armenian community. May 28, 1918, is widely celebrated by Armenian people around the world as the day Armenians regained sovereignty over their historical territory. The 1918 Armenian Declaration of Independence is a symbol of Armenians’ aspiration for freedom, democracy and independence. May 28th is one of the most important Armenian holidays, and many parades and festivities take place during the month of May.
Dutch Heritage Month
The month of May is Dutch Heritage Month. Dutch Heritage Month was given Royal Assent in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 2011. Ontario is home to about 500,000 Dutch Canadians. Since the early 1800s, the Dutch Canadian community has made and continues to make significant contributions to the cultural, social, and political fabric. May holds historical significance for those with Dutch heritage. On May 5, 1945, the Canadian forces played an important role in the liberation of the Netherlands from World War II. The Netherlands celebrates independence and liberty, along with the heroic efforts of the Canadian forces, with a national, annual holiday known as Liberation Day on May 5.
Jewish Heritage Month
Canadian Jewish Heritage Month was given Royal Assent in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on April 24, 2012 and in the Senate of Canada on March 29, 2018. As we approach the month of May, staff and students are encouraged to engage in opportunities that celebrate and affirm Jewish histories and the achievements of the Jewish community. Canada is home to the fourth largest Jewish population in the world. There are close to 400,000 Jewish residents in Canada, and almost half of that number resides in Ontario. Jewish immigrants in Canada can be traced as far back as 1760. Jewish Canadians have proudly contributed to Canadian heritage in all of its facets, including the military, the arts, government, business, academia, law, medicine, culture, and sports. Throughout the month of May, we celebrate the contributions Jewish Canadians make in communities across the country.
Polish Heritage Month
The month of May is Polish Heritage Month. Polish Heritage Month was given Royal Assent in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 2021. Ontario is home to more than 523,000 people of Polish heritage. Polish Canadians have lived in Ontario since the 19th century and, over the years, have and continue to make significant contributions to Ontario’s cultural, social, and political landscape. May 3rd is an important day for Polish People as it commemorates the 1791 Constitution, which is a symbol of Poland’s aspiration for freedom, democracy and independence. This is one of the most important Polish holidays, and many parades and festivities take place in May.
Student SIN & Summer Job Bank Clinic Spring 2025
Is your child in need of a Social Insurance Number? Is your child looking for a summer job this year? Students, parents and guardians, please join us for a free service brought to your school communities from a joint project with Service Canada and the York Region District School Board. Meet with a Service Canada representative and receive your Social Insurance Number (SIN) on the spot!
Service Canada representatives will be at the schools, located on the attached flyer, to help students and newcomers apply for their Social Insurance Numbers, learn about the Canada Job Bank and Summer Program for Youth and the Federal Dental Program!
For more information, please contact YRDSB Community & Partnership Developer Yvonne Kelly at yvonne.kelly@yrdsb.ca or Oksana Majaski oksana.majaski@yrdsb.ca.
Pride T-Shirt 2025
YRDSB is excited to announce the winner of this year’s Pride T-Shirt Design Contest. Congratulations to the Markham Gateway Public School GSA, whose students created the selected design for 2025!
Pride month is a universal celebration of love, inclusion and community! Let your true colours shine, boldly and brightly, as we celebrate diversity and work to inspire change. Let’s make this year’s Pride Month out of this world! Show your support for 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion and advocacy by purchasing and proudly wearing this year’s Pride T-shirt. In a world where 2SLGBTQIA+ identities have often been marginalized, visible representation is more important than ever. By wearing this shirt, you're not just expressing support - you are helping to amplify the voices of those who have historically been silenced and affirming the value of every individual, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. This year, t-shirts can be purchased by students, staff and families, so please share this information with your School’s Community. Let's stand together in celebration of diversity, equality, and love in all its forms. This year, YRDSB students, staff and families can purchase a Pride t-shirt designed by YRDSB students. Orders can be placed through School Cash Online. Let’s make this year’s Pride Month out of this world! For any questions, please contact Inclusive School and Community Services (ISCS) at iscs@yrdsb.ca.