SENIOR School - September 10, 2026

Reminders and Upcoming Events

Welcome back to school! This weekly Flash will provide essential information for parents regarding the happenings in the Senior School. This will include the nuts and bolts about academics, student life and athletic programs. Please make it a part of your weekly reading. Your child will also be provided with similar updates through their homeroom classes.

Communication Lines

YorkNet Calendar

  • Refer to the school calendar for all school PD days, holidays, trips, and events to support your planning.

New Attendance Policy

  • A video recording will be shared on Tuesday, September 15 outlining the implementation of the new attendance policy.

YorkNet Forms

  • Please login to YorkNet to review all beginning of the year outstanding forms and complete the following:

  1. Venturing Out Level I Form (to be completed by parents to give consent for any local trips outside of school property)

  2. Science Safety Form (to be completed by both students and parents)

Locks

  • Students are required to bring their own combination lock to lock up their belongings in their locker. Please ensure your child has a lock and make a note of the combination.

Essentials for the week of September 14

Classes - Classes begin Monday, September 14, at 8:55am.

Attendance - All students must attend homeroom from 8:55am - 9:05am every day except on late Wednesdays. Students who have a spare to begin the day may miss homeroom, except on assembly Tuesdays. All students must attend assemblies on Tuesday from 9:05am - 9:50am. Students who have a spare at the end of the day may leave after their last class. 

Opening Assembly - Tuesday, September 15, 9:05am

Late Wednesdays - Our first late start Wednesday will occur on September 16, 2026 and will continue for the remainder of the school year. Classes begin at 9:20am. If required, students will be able to be dropped off prior to the late start, and we will ensure we have associate teachers available for supervision.

Late Policy - Students who receive three or more late slips in the term will face a lunch detention the following day for each late slip. Skipped classes will also result in a lunchtime detention the following day.

Lunch - The cafeteria is open. Students need to know their account numbers in order to purchase food. Students may leave the building to buy lunch in the immediate area (St. Clair and Yonge).

Cell Phone Policy- Students are not permitted to use their cell phones or mobile devices during the school day. If students are found using their cell phones without permission from a teacher, the device will be confiscated to either the front reception or the Middle/Senior School office and returned at the end of the day. If parents need to reach their child, please call the school to relay a message.

Uniform - Students are expected to wear their school uniform. Please review the uniform components here, as we have made a few changes this year. All students should have the appropriate pieces to the uniform by September 18, 2026.

Storm into the Weekend Fridays - Each Friday, the school will embrace school spirit by allowing students to wear York School Athletic wear or York branded tops, and any casual bottoms of their choice. Alternatively, students may wear the school uniform.

Fire Drills & Lockdown Drills - As part of the school’s safety plan, we have regular fire and lock down drills.The first fire drill will be on Wednesday, September 16. The first lockdown drill will be on Friday, October 2. 

Clubs - Students will be introduced to co-curriculars at the Clubs Fair during lunch on Thursday, September 17. Students are encouraged to attend to learn how to get more involved in the school.

The York Shop

  • Grade 9 and 10  will visit The York Shop during their gym class on either September 16 or 17 to purchase PHE uniforms. Students can use their Student ID numbers to purchase items.

  • The York Shop will be open during lunch, 11:30am - 12:40pm from September 14 - 30. Starting October 1, the shop will be open on Monday - Wednesday, every lunch hour.  (12:05pm to 12:55pm on Assembly Tuesdays) Students are welcome to drop by to purchase items.

Grade 11 & 12 DP Curriculum Night - Thursday, September 24, 6:15pm - Save the Date

  • Our DP curriculum night will be held on Thursday, September 24 2026, beginning at 6:15pm, with Grade 12 families also participating in a university counselling session that evening. 

  • During this evening, we will be hosting a DP celebration of learning where Grade 12 students will be sharing their TOK exhibitions and celebrating some extended essays and CAS experiences. As such, all Grade 12 students will be required to attend the evenings along with Grade 11 students visiting the celebration.

Grade 9 ICE Toronto Islands Day - Thursday, October 1, 9:00am - 3:30pm

Grade 9 & 10 MYP Curriculum Night - Thursday, October 1, 6:30pm - Save the Date

Letter From Head of School

Please read the letter from our Head of School, Struan Robertson, regarding the New Ontario Ministry of Education Policy on Attendance. This letter also provides instructions on how to report your child’s absence in YorkNet starting next week.

View Policy on Attendance

Fall Co-Curricular Schedule

Fall Athletic Practice Schedule

Lunch Menus & Schedule

Student Life & Belonging

Co-Curricular Clubs & Leadership Committees

All students have access to the Fall term Co-Curricular Club opportunities through their York Links folder on their web browser under the Student Life & Leadership folder. Here, students can browse the promotional slides for each club, learn who is leading the club and reach out with any questions they may have. Additionally, an in-person club fair will take place at Recess/Lunch on Thursday, September 17. Students should visit the rooms listed on the schedules below to connect with student leaders and staff about clubs they are interested in joining!

The Middle School Schedule can be found here. The Senior School Schedule can be found here.

Middle & Senior School Leadership Committees will begin the week of September 14. 

Senior School Co-Curricular Clubs will start the week of September 21.

Middle School Co-Curricular Clubs will begin the week of September 28.

Questions about Leadership or Clubs? Please contact Erin Porter, Director, Student Life & Belonging at eporter@yorkschool.com.

Questions about Athletics? Please contact Rick DeMarinis, Director, Athletics at rdemarinis@yorkschool.com.

Questions about Arts? Please contact Shannon Barber, CIL, Arts at sbarber@yorkschool.com.

York Parent Curriculum Connections Form

Please fill out the form HERE.

Opening Assembly

Our opening assembly will take place at 9:05am on Tuesday, September 15 in the gym. We are excited to be back together as a community where we will introduce our new staff members, hear from this year’s student leaders and celebrate the updates to our House standings on the heels of Camp Timberlane!

Volunteering Opportunities - Grades 9-12

Sign ups for service learning placements have begun! Students can sign up for their service placements by emailing Ms. Porter directly or stopping by the Student Life & Belonging office in the cafeteria.

Families can also review this chart which outlines several service partnerships that we offer, as well as organizations that past York students have volunteered with.

As a reminder, all students must acquire at least 40 hours of service by graduation as part of their Ontario diploma requirements.

Questions? Please contact Erin Porter, Director, Student Life & Belonging at eporter@yorkschool.com.

INTERNATIONAL EXCURSION OFFERINGS - INTEREST FORM DUE FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11

In our upcoming 2026-2027 school year, The York School is tentatively planning to offer the following International Excursions to eligible students in our Senior School:

A. Grade 9-12 Drama Excursion to New York City in February 2027

Click here to learn more about this offering

For more information please speak to Ms. Barber.

B. Grade 9-12 Music Excursion to Spain in February 2027

Click here to learn more about this offering

For more information please speak to Mr. MacFarlane or Mr. Pittman.

Please review the one page overview of each trip offering (linked above) and discuss these excursions as a family. Then, if you have not already done so, we ask that parents complete this International Excursion Interest form by Friday, September 11 2026. 

(NOTE: If you already completed the International Excursion Interest form in June and expressed interest in an international trip, it will be noted.)

There will be a virtual parent information session held on Monday, September 14 at 6:00pm. A link will be sent out to all interested families. 

More information will then be shared with interested students and their families in September 2026 along with Venturing Out Forms and non refundable deposits due back in late September to express commitment.