Safety Week
The York Region School Board is committed to ensuring the safety of students, staff, and visitors in the event of an emergency situation. As such, during Safety Week (Monday, September 22 to Friday, September 25, 2026) and throughout the school year, schools in our Board practise various safety drills, including Fire Drills, Lockdown Drills, Hold and Secure Drills and Bomb Threat Drills. It is critical that all members of our school community become familiar with emergency protocols, as they are designed to keep us all safe at school. Please refer to Board Policy #669.0 for more information about Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management.
Practicing drills may create some anxiety for some students. If you are concerned about how these situations might impact the mental health and well-being of your child, please contact school administrators, as we have school mental health professionals available to support your child.
School Council
Our first school council meeting of the year will be held on Tuesday September 22 at 7pm in the Library. We will be holding our election for the coming year and encourage all parents to attend.
Grade 9 Parent Information Meeting
We will be holding another Grade 9 Parent Information meeting on Tuesday September 22 from 5:30-6:30 in the Library. This is a repeat of the meeting held the morning of Grade 9 Day. We encourage any Grade 9 parents that were unable to attend on Grade 9 Day to join us for this information session. The School Council meeting will commence following this meeting and we encourage parents to stay.
Guidance Report
Each month we will feature a link to the Guidance Report here. Our Guidance team has gathered a wealth of important information regarding post-secondary options, Community Involvement and Mental Health supports.
Attendance Matters
Regular and punctual attendance affects school success and is expected of students. Being present in class gives students opportunities to learn, participate, and demonstrate understanding. Participation can look different for every student and may include asking questions, contributing to discussions, collaborating with others, completing in-class learning activities, reflecting on your learning, participating in practical or hands-on tasks, or showing your thinking in written, digital, artistic, or other ways.
Your teacher will consider your overall engagement in learning over time using evidence gathered through conversations, observations, and products, along with your pattern of unexcused attendance. Attendance and participation are considered together when determining your overall Attendance and Participation level.
The Ministry of Education is introducing regulations about secondary school attendance and participation. Attendance and participation will be worth 15% of the final course mark for students in Grades 9/10 and 10% of the final course mark for students in Grade 11/12. Students will not be negatively impacted for excused absences, such as illnesses and holy days. Please ensure that you are recording your child’s attendance any time they are absent with a reason for absence to comply with this new Ministry requirement. If you have any questions about your child's attendance or participation, please reach out to their classroom teachers for each course.
Students may only be signed out if they are leaving school. It is not acceptable to be signed out by a parent and remain in the school to study or prepare for another course. Student truancies will be followed up by teachers / administrators and can result in progressive disciplinary action as well as a loss of marks in accordance with the new Ministry regulations.
Reporting Attendance
Parent(s)/guardian(s) and students aged 18 and older and students who have declared their independence must report absences, late arrivals and/or changes to departure plans to the school in a timely manner. Where possible, notify the school in advance by emailing stouffville.dss.attendance@yrdsb.ca or calling the school (905) 640-1433 ext. 1 to leave a message for our Attendance Secretary.Board Games In the Chill Zone at Lunch
We are pleased to announce that Victor is coming back to run board games every Monday at lunch in the Chill Zone starting in October. Victor is a Youth Pastor from the Stouffville Pentecostal Church, but runs the room as a secular space that is safe and welcoming for all students. He acts as a trusted mentor for all. Please let your child know that they are free to stop in and join the fun!
Student Consent Forms
Secondary school students can complete the secondary school student form at https://startupforms.yrdsb.ca/students. They will also receive the link in their student GAPPS account. Please complete these forms.
Visit From the Public Library
Wednesday, September 23 @ lunch in the Atrium:
Stouffville Public Library will be at SDS so that students can sign up for a Library card for the Public Library.
Everyone is welcome to come by, get a Library card and learn about all of the exciting things happening at the SPL!
Student Personal Mobile Device Use
A personal mobile device is any personal electronic device that can be used to communicate or access the internet, such as a laptop, cellphone, tablet or smart watch.
Students’ personal mobile devices must be stored out of view and powered off or set to silent mode, except under the circumstances outlined below:
- educational purposes, as directed by an educator
- for for health and medical purposes
- to support special education needs
Upcoming Important Dates
For a detailed account of all school events, please be sure to check the School Calendar on our website.
September 21 - 25 Safety Week
September 22 - Grade 9 Parent Information meeting, 5:30-6:30pm Library
September 22 - School Council meeting, 7:00-8:00pm Library
September 28 - Photo Retake Day
September 29 - Terry Fox Run, Period 3
September 30 - National Day of Truth and Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day
October 20 - Jump Start Elementary Concert
October 20 - IEPs sent home; Interim Report card e-distribution begins
October 22 - Teacher Interview Night
October 29 - Awards Night