Gator Gazette Apr. 6 - 10, 2026

Week of April 6^th- April 10^th, 2026

Phoebe Gilman’s annual Dance-a-thon is fast approaching. 

During the Dance-A-Thon, a games/activity room will also be available for students to access. Our Snack Shack will be open, and students may choose to purchase glow sticks and nut-free treats to eat for $1 or $2.  There will also be a “guess the number of candies” in a jar contest; each guess is $0.50. 

How Families Make a Donation Using School Cash Online

Parents/Guardians can log into School Cash Online, click on the “Make A Donation” button, select the school to apply their donation to, and indicate the donation amount.

An automated tax receipt is sent by the system once the donation is complete online to the email address provided when the parent created their account. A receipt is sent regardless of the amount donated.

Please click the link for the Parent Information Sheet. We appreciate your support with our fundraising event. 

Families planning to move or students not returning in September

As we begin our planning for the 2026-2027 school year, we kindly ask you to inform the school office if your family has plans to move over the summer or if your children will not be returning in September for any reason. This information helps us to ensure a smooth transition for all students and to make necessary staffing arrangements for the upcoming academic year.  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated and helps us in planning effectively for the new school year. Thank you for your support. 

April 8, 2026, is the International Day of Pink. The International Day of Pink is a day when communities across Canada and the world unite to celebrate diversity and raise awareness about the need to stop homophobia, transphobia, discrimination and all forms of bullying. On this annual day in April, individuals wear pink to show respect for diversity and to demonstrate support for learning and working environments that are safe and inclusive of people from all different backgrounds. 

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Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week 2026! Within, Between & Around Us

Check out the 2026 Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, May 4th- 8th, and Beyond Toolkit

Park and Tarmac Reminder

As the weather is changing and families and students are using the park more often after school hours, please note that there is no supervision in the public park or on the tarmac before or after school. Families are encouraged to supervise their children during these hours. 

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Join us for the Rise of Road Tennis Festival

Join us at the York Regional Police Community Safety Village in Whitchurch-Stouffville to learn about the game of road tennis and participate in the sport firsthand. Bring your family and friends to learn how to play a sport that originated in Barbados. A mix between the sports of tennis, table tennis and pickleball, this sport will get you moving! Click for more info. 

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April is Earth Month!

It’s Earth Month, and there are many small steps we can all take to help reduce our environmental footprint. Working together, we can all help to take steps to protect this beautiful planet we live on.

This week’s tip is: Use active travel

Taking the school bus and walking, riding or biking to school helps reduce pollution and traffic congestion in our neighbourhoods. It’s also great for your mental health, well-being and academic performance. 

• If you drive, consider parking near the school and walking the rest of the way (obeying all neighbourhood parking rules). Even this small change can make a difference.

• The walk to school is also a great time to connect, look for signs of spring and appreciate the changing season. 

  
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Kindergarten Information Session on April 22 (6:30-7:30)

This session is for all families with new kindergarten students starting school in September. During this in-person event, you will receive important information about the play-based kindergarten program, school routines, bussing, the before/after care program provider, the school council, and tips for a smooth transition to school.

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Understanding and Navigating the Education System - Families of YRDSB Black Students Monthly Virtual Information Session on Monday, April 20, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

Families, parents, and 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 the registration link.

For further information, please email the Centre for Black Student Excellence (CBSE) at blackstudentexcellence@yrdsb.ca.

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Clearmeadow PS and Meadowbrook PS have partnered to engage professional speaker Jennifer Casa-Todd for an evening of learning connected to the emerging world of Artificial Intelligence and its impact on learning, online safety and more. Parents will be given practical strategies to support their children in the ever-evolving world of AI and technology.

This is a free event with child-minding provided on site. Light refreshments will be made available. 

Doors open at 5:15 pm and the presentation begins at 5:30 pm.  Tuesday, April 7^th @ 5:30 pm

Elementary Tamil Student Conference 2026

Students in Grades 5 to 8 are invited to the Elementary Student Conference to participate in 4 learning workshops for Tamil Heritage. Please see our flyer for more details, or click on link. 

Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026 Time: 9:30 am – 2:30 pm Lunch Provided  Venue: Milliken Mills High School, 7522 Kennedy Rd, Markham, ON L3R 9S5

For further information,  families or the community can email Inclusive School and Community Services (ISCS) at iscs@yrdsb.ca.

Parent and Caregiver Mental Health Event

Join YRDSB for an evening dedicated to building emotional connections and supporting student well-being. This panel discussion, “How to Support Youth and Conversations about Mental Health at Home,” features youth with lived experience from YouthSpeak Charity, Clinical Psychologist Dr. Wendy Manel (CMHA), and YRDSB Mental Health Lead Patricia Marra-Stapleton.

When: April 16, 2026 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Registration starts at 6:00 PM) | Where: Westmount Collegiate Institute (1000 New Westminster Dr., Thornhill) | Who: All YRDSB elementary and secondary parents and caregivers.

Register here. Interpretation services will be available in select languages (details on the registration form).

Families Invited to Provide Input into YRDSB Budget

From March 24 to April 17, YRDSB is inviting families to share their input in the annual budget consultation.  Your feedback will help inform budget decisions for the 2026-2027 school year.

How to Participate:

• Complete the online survey (translated into 17 languages)
• Join the virtual consultation on April 13, 2026, at 7 p.m.  Details are available on the YRDSB website.

Your voice matters.  Please take a few minutes to participate and help shape next year's budget.  Questions about YRDSB's budget process can be directed to budget@yrdsb.ca.

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School Fundraiser: Domino’s 

Enjoy a Domino’s pizza for Family Pizza Night every Thursday and Friday until the end of the school year!

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Summer Institute | York Region District School Board York Region District School Board’s Summer Institute offers academic, recreational and athletic programs and activities with intentional links to the Ontario Curriculum for students entering Senior Kindergarten to Grade 8. Click here for the flyer. 

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Elementary Summer School | York Region District School Board

The YRDSB offers a Grade 6, 7 & 8 Summer School program. This 15-day literacy and numeracy program is designed to reinforce the curriculum and is not an acceleration opportunity. Students must register in the program for their current school grade. For example, a grade 7 student would register for the grade 7 program as it reinforces grade 7 content. 

Camp Black Brilliance-Registration is now open for The Centre for Black Student Excellence - Camp Black Brilliance Summer Program. 

Camp Black Brilliance will offer families the opportunity to get to know the Kindergarten program and have their children experience their introduction to schooling in a way that is culturally responsive and affirming of their identity, through experiential learning.

Register Today! The deadline is June 1, 2026. Please see our Camp-Black-Brilliance-Flyer and Camp Black Brilliance website for more information. For more information or questions, please contact blackstudentexcellence@yrdsb.ca.

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