Gator Gazette Feb. 16 - 20, 2026

Week of February 16^th -February 20^th, 2026

_____________________________________________________________________________________

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. 

Tips for Speaking With Your Child After a Tragic Event~ Supporting Family Conversations

The Board’s website has tips for speaking with your child after a tragic event. The information was prepared with resources from the National Association of School Psychologists, the Ontario Psychological Association, and the American Psychological Association.

Attention Families of Grade 5 students,

We would like to share that York Regional Police is having a “Chief for the Day" contest for grade 5 students. This is a voluntary contest. For more information, please view the YRP website.   yrp.ca/ChiefForADay

________________________________________________________________________________________

Artificial Intelligence Guidelines 

As technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes part of everyday life, we’re working to ensure students understand how to use these tools in ways that are safe, responsible and helpful for learning.

We are taking an approach by grade level:

• In Kindergarten to Grade 6, students will learn about AI - what it is, how it works and how to think critically about it. They will not use AI chatbot tools. 
• In Grades 7-12, students will have access to Board-approved enterprise AI tools beginning February 17, 2026. These approved tools, including Google Gemini, meet strict security and privacy standards and are education-licensed accounts. These tools do not use student data to train AI models and provide a safe, controlled environment for learning. 

York Region District School Board has developed guidelines for educators and students to support the effective, safe and responsible use of AI to support student learning. Students will learn about the importance of critical thinking, academic integrity and privacy and safety practices when using AI. 

We encourage families to review these guidelines with their child(ren). For more information, please visit the AI pages on the Board website. 

________________________________________________________________________________________

Attention Grade 8 Students & Families: Tips For Secondary School Course Selection

Grade 8 and secondary school students select courses in February for the following school year. Here are some tips and reminders for students and families planning course selection. 

For more tips and advice, listen to the latest podcast episode of Tune In YRDSB. YRDSB educators share their guidance and tips on course selection.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Pink Shirt Day - February 25, 2026    Pink Shirt Day is a globally recognized day to support anti-bullying and upstanding behaviour, such as standing up to all forms of hate and discrimination. While bullying negatively affects many people, we also know there are many students, parents, schools and community members who want to help. We invite members of the Phoebe Gilman community to wear pink on Wednesday.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Student Exchange Program

In cooperation with the York Region District School Board and as the only approved student exchange vendor, ISE-Ontario offers students aged 13-17 the opportunity to participate in an exchange program. Students apply directly through ISE-Ontario and must obtain approval from their school Principal before participating. For more information, please visit the ISE-Ontario webpage.

LDAYS Aurora March Break Camp

The camp is designed specifically for children ages 8 to 12 with learning disabilities and ADHD, where campers dive into learning new skills like introducing oneself, ways to make friends, responding to teasing, being a good winner and loser, dealing with emotions, problem-solving, relaxation, and self-esteem through a fun, interactive, and experiential format with activities including nature walks, arts and crafts, sports, and more.

March Break Camp Details:

• Date: Monday, March 16th to Friday, March 20th
  Time: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Location: Nichols Foundation Room, Aurora Public Library, 15145 Yonge St, Aurora 

Our camp is led by accredited social service workers using the proven PEERS® curriculum, providing a structured yet fun atmosphere where children can grow socially and emotionally. Click here for a flyer.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Click here for the Persian Translation.  Click here for the Russian Translation. Please email the school if you need the Gator Social translated into a different language. phoebe.gilman.ps@yrdsb.ca