Important Dates
April 20 - 24: Earth Week
April 20: Junior Girls Basketball Areas
April 21: Sub lunches for those who ordered
April 22: Grade 7 Vaccinations
Junior Boys Basketball Areas
Pizza lunches for those who ordered
April 23: Plates & Bowls lunches for those who ordered
April 28: Blue Spruce Book Trailer & Vote Assembly
Intermediate Badminton vs. Wendat Village P.S.
Sub lunches for those who ordered
April 29: Intermediate Badminton vs. Oscar Peterson P.S.
School Council Meeting - 7pm
Pizza lunches for those who ordered
April 30: Primary Concert - 6pm
Plates & Bowls lunches for those who ordered
May 1: Spring Dance
May 4-8: Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week
May 4: SODA-E (Students of Differentiated Access: Elementary
Athletics and Activities Festival)
May 5: Blue Spruce Assembly
Intermediate Badminton vs. Mount Albert P.S.
Sub lunches for those who ordered
May 6: Pizza lunches for those who ordered
May 7: Plates & Bowls lunches for those who ordered
May 8: Battle of the Books Competition
April is Sikh Heritage Month and Autism Acceptance Month
May is Armenian Heritage Month, Asian and South Asian Heritage Month, Dutch Heritage Month, Jewish Heritage Month, and Polish Heritage Month
A Message from the Office
As we transition out of winter and into spring, we are mindful of both the wet and muddy conditions of the school field, and of the importance of letting the new growth of grass root properly so that students have a safe place to play once the field dries out.
Until the school field conditions are appropriate for active play, students will continue to have access to the tarmac and paved areas during recesses. Students are encouraged to explore active games (e.g., Tag, Octopus, etc.) that do not require hard equipment for the short period of time required for the field to become safe.
Keeping Our Students Safe
Allergies:
Please make sure snack and lunch items are nut-free, peanut-free, and sesame-free. Please ensure items dropped off for lunch from eateries are also free of these items (e.g., no sesame on McDonalds burger buns).
Children with Epi-pens need to carry them throughout the day. Families needing support accessing pouches/other materials are invited to contact the school.
Bussing:
Families of students taking the bus are reminded that late bus reports are issued through the school transportation portal if the bus is expected to be more than 10 minutes late. Please check this report if wondering whether a bus is on time.
Reminders
Student Absences need to be communicated to the office as soon as possible via Edsby or by calling the school at 905-591-3800. The school needs to be notified of all absences, including those due to inclement weather and/or bus cancellations.
If picking up students during the day (e.g., for medical appointments, etc.), please try to do so outside the recess and lunch times.
Recess: 11:10am - 11:40am Lunch: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Address/Phone Number Changes: Please notify the office by email (barbara.reid@yrdsb.ca) if your address, phone number, or email contact information has changed. Up-to-date information helps us in our communication with families.
Parking Lot: Please continue to follow procedures established for Pick-Up and Drop-Off as these help us maintain safety and minimize congestion. Students who are able to walk all the way or partway to school are encouraged to do so.
YRDSB Diamond Days and Significant Faith Days
September 2025 - June 2026
September 24-24: Rosh Hashanah* October 2: Yom Kippur* October 20: Diwali October 7-13: Sukkot October 14-15: Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah November 1: All Saints Day November 5: Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji December 25: Christmas (Western) January 5: Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji January 7: Christmas (Eastern) January 14-16: Thai Pongal February 17: Lunar New Year February 18: Ash Wednesday February 18- March 20: Ramadan* March 3: Holi | March 3: Purim March 20: Eid-al-Fitr* March 21: NawRuz March 21: Nowruz April 2-9: Pesach/Passover* April 3: Good Friday April 10: Holy Friday April 14: Vaisakhi April 21-May 2: Ridvan May 1: Wesak May 22-23: Shavuot May 27: Eid-al-Adha* May 31: Wesak June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day June 25: Ashura |
To view the YRDSB Significant Faith Days Calendar, please visit: https://www2.yrdsb.ca/student-support/equity-and-inclusive-education/significant-faith-days
*The asterisk denotes that observations for the marked date begin on the preceding evening at sunset and/or that dates are subject to the sighting of the moon each month and may vary for some communities
A Message from Ms. Snoddon
Standing in the Doorway: A Journey Through History and Culture
Our school library is transforming into a vibrant hub of history and heritage!
From April 14 to May 6, we are incredibly proud to host the powerful travelling exhibition, Standing in the Doorway: Lived Histories & Experiences of the Chinese Community (縈繞中華文化: 華人社區歷史和生活展覽).
This exhibition features nine beautifully designed pop-up banners that tell the rich, lived stories of the Chinese community. To ensure this experience is accessible to all our learners, the displays are fully translated into English, French, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Students will also have the chance to get hands-on with the culture through interactive stations featuring Chinese Calligraphy, Paper Cutting, Paper Folding, and Animal Mah-Jong.
Family Engagement Opportunities
We are excited to invite BRPS families to experience this exhibition firsthand! The library will be open for families to explore the displays and interactive stations during our upcoming evening events:
- School Council Meeting: Wednesday, April 29 - 7pm
- Primary Concert: Thursday, April 30
We look forward to celebrating the diverse roots that shape our community history with you!
Sikh Heritage Month Event
Join us for a lively evening celebrating Sikh Heritage Month, featuring educational displays, music, and community connection. This year, we will be honouring the contributions of the Sikh community in Canada, as well as Sikh culture, history, and identity.
- Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026
- Time: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- Location: Emily Carr Secondary School 4901 Rutherford Rd, Vaughan, ON L4H 3C2
All students, families, staff, and community members are welcome to attend. Please see our flyer for more information and to register.
Register by Monday, April 20, 2026.
Students who would like to participate in the Sikh Heritage Month event by showcasing their talents on stage, hosting an activity booth, or volunteering their time for community service hours, are encouraged to complete the registration form.
For further information, please contact Inclusive School and Community Services (ISCS) at iscs@yrdsb.ca.
Parent Evening Series - Social Media and Mental Health
**LIVE Presentation for Families**
This presentation will be facilitated by the YRDSB Central Mental Health Team and in support of Children's Mental Health Awareness Week May 4th - May 8th, 2026. Some topics covered in this presentation include understanding what social media is, the risks and benefits of social media use, some strategies to help youth manage their social media use, and resources. There will be a questions and answers segment at the end of the presentation.
- Date: May 6th, 2026
- Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
- Location: Virtual (registered participants will receive a link on the day of the presentation)
To attend this presentation, please complete the registration form.
Engagement Matters: Parent, Family and Community Engagement (PEAC) Advisory Committee Newsletter - Spring 2026
Read the latest newsletter from the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Advisory Committee (PEAC). This edition covers the latest on artificial intelligence. You’ll also find information about the latest Board policies under review. PEAC works to support, encourage and enhance parent engagement at the Board level to improve student achievement and well-being.
Connection Between Physical and Mental Health
Student Mental Health and Addictions Newsletter - Spring 2026
Please visit the newsletter for resources, tips, and information about programs and events for children, youth, families, and caregivers.
Program Registration - Indigenous Languages & International Languages
Exciting language learning opportunities are available through the York Region District School Board’s Indigenous Language and International Languages (ILIL) program!
In-person and online extracurricular classes for students in Senior Kindergarten (K2) to Grade 8 teach reading, writing, and speaking in a new language or provide opportunities to enjoy a heritage language.
Registration for 2025–2026 is open (space is limited). Scan the QR code or visit the ILIL Elementary Programs webpage to see languages offered and for registration information.
Building Equitable Assessments: EQAO’s Approach to Supporting Black Students’ Success
This webinar explores how EQAO develops reading, writing and mathematics assessments with equity at the centre, including practices that help ensure Black students can show what they know. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how thoughtful design reduces systemic barriers.
All educators, families and community members are encouraged to attend.
Register here.
Community Resources for Cantonese and Mandarin-Speaking Families
These services are offered in Cantonese and/or Mandarin: many of these services are free and others are offered on a sliding-fee scale to families.