Due to our current labour situation, we will need to postpone our Meet the
Teacher Night scheduled for October 2nd.
We will look to re-schedule at the earliest opportunity.
We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your patience
and support.
Monday 30 September 2019
Thursday 26 September 2019
YRDSB Student Suicide Intervention Protocol
York Region District School Board is committed to student well-being and mental health. YRDSB
has developed a Student Suicide Intervention Protocol to help keep students safe in the event
of suicidal thoughts or actions. The Student Suicide Intervention Protocol will be implemented
starting fall 2019. Youth suicide is a complex, emotionally-charged and sadly real problem in
Canada. It is the second leading cause of death amongst young people. It’s important to
recognize that those who struggle with mental health have personal strength and resilience and
the potential to overcome difficulties to ultimately thrive.
The YRDSB Student Suicide Intervention Protocol is designed to address the six steps involved when responding to current and present thoughts of suicide, as well as actions related to suicide. In addition, the Protocol is governed by a set of guiding principles which are underpinned by a culturally responsive and reflective practice.
Suicide is not culturally neutral. Our cultural and ethnic backgrounds will inform how each of us understands suicide. To see all the guiding principles, refer to the print version of the YRDSB Student Suicide Intervention Protocol on the on the board website.
Given the urgent need to help keep students safe from suicide, each school has access to Board staff trained in suicide intervention. In the urgent situation of suicide intervention, staff trained in suicide intervention do not require parental / guardian consent to intervene. However, we do make every effort to contact parents/ guardians to apprise you of your child’s situation and the assistance provided. Parents/guardians are an integral part of keeping their children safe. In the event that the intervention protocol is used, a record of the intervention will be shared with you and a copy will be created and stored in a private and confidential on-line records management system. In accordance with privacy and health records legislation, a copy will be retained until the student turns 31 years of age. As per the protocol parental/guardian (student if 18 or over) consent will be sought to share the intervention plan with those members identified in the record. If you have any questions about the Student Suicide Intervention Protocol please contact your school principal.
The YRDSB Student Suicide Intervention Protocol is designed to address the six steps involved when responding to current and present thoughts of suicide, as well as actions related to suicide. In addition, the Protocol is governed by a set of guiding principles which are underpinned by a culturally responsive and reflective practice.
Suicide is not culturally neutral. Our cultural and ethnic backgrounds will inform how each of us understands suicide. To see all the guiding principles, refer to the print version of the YRDSB Student Suicide Intervention Protocol on the on the board website.
Given the urgent need to help keep students safe from suicide, each school has access to Board staff trained in suicide intervention. In the urgent situation of suicide intervention, staff trained in suicide intervention do not require parental / guardian consent to intervene. However, we do make every effort to contact parents/ guardians to apprise you of your child’s situation and the assistance provided. Parents/guardians are an integral part of keeping their children safe. In the event that the intervention protocol is used, a record of the intervention will be shared with you and a copy will be created and stored in a private and confidential on-line records management system. In accordance with privacy and health records legislation, a copy will be retained until the student turns 31 years of age. As per the protocol parental/guardian (student if 18 or over) consent will be sought to share the intervention plan with those members identified in the record. If you have any questions about the Student Suicide Intervention Protocol please contact your school principal.
Wednesday 25 September 2019
Orange Shirt Day, Thursday, September 26th * Tomorrow
This is just a reminder to all families that JRPS will be observing Orange Shirt Day tomorrow, September 26th.
Staff and students will be wearing Orange Shirts to observe and show support for the impact of Residential Schools on the survivors and Indigenous communities in Canada.
As some background: The Orange Shirt Day movement started in 2013 to highlight the pain and suffering of thousands of Indigenous children who were sent to residential school throughout the last century. The colour of the shirt is connected to the experience of Phyllis Webstad who was sent to Cariboo Residential School near Williams Lake, BC, in 1973.
Six-years old at the time, Phyllis went to her first day of school wearing a new bright orange shirt. New clothes were a rare thing for the young girl, who was being raised by her grandmother. However, upon arriving at the school, the nuns stripped her of the shirt, forcing her to wear the school’s institutional uniform. Webstad has felt the impact of that event long after it occurred, “that feeling of worthlessness and insignificance, ingrained in me from my first day at the mission, affected the way I lived my life for many years. Even now, when I know nothing could be further than the truth, I still sometimes feel that I don’t matter.”
The shirt has since gone on to become a symbol of a national movement that recognizes the suffering of Indigenous children at residential schools across the country and to show a renewed commitment to ensure that every child matters.
If you would like support or guidance for how to talk to your child about residential schools and their impact on our First Nation Communities, please contact our main office.
Tuesday 24 September 2019
School Council Information Evening is tomorrow from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
A reminder to our community that our school council information evening will be September 25th from 6:30-7:30 pm.
At this meeting attendees can meet with school staff and council members to
learn more about:
- The role of school council
- The positions available on council
- The process to join school council
- Ways to get involved in shaping a positive environment for all students
Please note, this an information evening only. Our first School Council meeting of the 2019-2020 school year will be October 7, 2019.
Want to get involved? We hope to see you there!
Wednesday 18 September 2019
James Robinson Wins the York Region SORA reading contest!
We are pleased to inform you that James Robinson students have won the SORA (Student OverDrive Reading App) Summer Reading Contest!
The students of James
Robinson P.S. read a total of 120 books using the SORA website or app this
summer, accumulating the highest average number of books read online per
student in YRDSB between June 17 and August 15, 2019.
Thank you Mrs. Truscott for getting our students connected and motivated! You make James Robinson a great place to be!
Tuesday 17 September 2019
Bill Crothers Secondary School Information Nights for 2020-2021 Registration
Bill Crothers Secondary
School (BCSS) is a system-wide school with a focus on healthy active living and
sport. The school is open for Grade 9 to 12 students. Students and parents from
across the region are invited to attend an information evening.
Information will be shared regarding the vision, mission, schedule, programs,
the transfer policy, and application process.
All information sessions
will occur at Bill Crothers Secondary School, 44 Main Street, Unionville,
Ontario, L3R 2E4 from 7 – 8:30 in the cafetorium and Gym A
Thursday September 26, 2019
and
Wednesday October 2, 2019
Meet and Greet – 6:15 – 7:00 pm
Presentation 7 – 8:30 pm
Due to building capacity
regulations, we request that only students and parents interested in attending
BCSS for the school year 2020 - 2021, attend one of these evenings. Parking is
limited so we ask that parents carpool or park at the GO Station or the PanAm
center. Markham By-law officers regularly enforce the parking regulations
on school property, so please abide by the posted parking regulations. Please
respect our neighbors and do not
park in their parking lots.
Monday 9 September 2019
2018/19 Yearbooks Have Arrived!
Current JRPS students who purchased yearbooks last year
will have them distributed tomorrow (Tues. Sept 10).
Graduates are invited to visit JRPS tomorrow (Tues. Sept
10) between 3 and 4 pm to pick up yearbooks and visit with each other in Room
16 (with Mrs. McMahon). If they would
like their yearbooks sent home with a sibling or friend, please email Tara.truscott@yrdsb.ca . Yearbooks that are not picked up on Tuesday
will be labelled and kept in the office for future pick-up.
Thursday 5 September 2019
Elementary International and Indigenous Languages Program
Dear Families,
York Region District School
Board’s Elementary International and Indigenous Languages Program
is pleased to offer over 20 languages at 35 different sites from Tuesday
to Friday evenings, and Saturday mornings. Our Board has one of the largest
International and Indigenous Languages programs in the province with
approximately 15,000 students who register each year.
Classes run 2.5 hours once a week
for 30 weeks for Elementary SK-8 students who want to learn a new language or
maintain their heritage language. The cost for the entire program is
$20.00. Program brochures will also be sent home from your child(ren)’s
school.
We would like to share with you
our program information:
- New
student registration (New registrants must submit a copy of the Birth
Certificate) begins at the language location during the specified
registration hours listed on our brochure or on our webpage.
- Please
note online registration through EDSBY is now closed so families must
register in person.
- First
day of classes begin at the language location during the specified dates
and times listed on our brochure or on our webpage.
- Students pre-registered online through
EDSBY are to attend the first day of classes at the language location
during the specified dates and times listed on our brochure.
- Huron Heights Secondary School is a new
language site opening for the 2019-2020 school year.
For elementary courses, registration times and locations,
please see our updated
flyer.
For elementary program
information, please visit:
If you require any further
information, please contact us at:
Thank you,
International and Indigenous
Languages Program
School Council Information Evening September 25th
Interested in getting involved with our School Council?
Want to learn more about School Council?
At this meeting attendees will learn more about:
- The role of school council
- The positions available on council
- The process to join school council
- Ways to get involved in shaping a positive environment for all students
Child care will be available.
Please note, this an information evening only. Our first School Council meeting of the 2019-2020 school year will be October 7, 2019.
Tuesday 3 September 2019
Breakfast Program Volunteers Needed!
James Robinson participates in the Ontario Feeding Kids Nutrition Program. This program can only be run with the help of volunteers in the community. If you can spare one or more morning each week between 8-8:30 to organize classroom healthy snack bins. It is a small time commitment with a big payoff for our students! Please contact our main office at 905-294-3484 if you can spare a half hour each week.
Caring and Safe Schools
Dear families,
It is important to us that we provide a caring, safe and inclusive environment in our school that supports the academic achievement and well-being of all students. We held a school assembly this week to talk about some of the important elements of a caring and safe school. You may want to have a conversation with your child about what they learned and discussed. Topics covered include:
Positive Behaviour
Students are encouraged to demonstrate positive character attributes (such as empathy, courage and respect for human rights and inclusivity). We also discussed standing up for each other in bullying situations and the importance of reporting incidents of bullying, including:
Telling a caring adult
Using the YRDSB’s “Report It Button” (located on our school website)
Contacting Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868)
Student Discipline
We use a progressive discipline approach when inappropriate behaviour occurs. This means we consider a range of options to determine the most appropriate response to each situation to help students learn from their choices. In some cases, suspension or expulsion may be necessary. The Ontario Education Act and our Board Caring and Safe Schools Policy outline the situations in which suspension and expulsion must be considered. These infractions are also outlined in the Guide to the School Year. When inappropriate behaviour occurs, information will be shared with the victim and parents/guardians of the victim to the extent that legislation allows.
Tobacco/Alcohol/Drug-Free Environment
The use of tobacco, electronic products (such as vaping, electronic cigarettes and cigars and related products) and/or student possession of alcohol/illegal and restricted drugs, including cannabis, are prohibited on school property or within 20 metres of school boundaries. This also applies during Board or school-sponsored events and activities. This is in compliance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which is enforced locally by York Region Community and Health Services and the Tobacco and Smoke-Free Environment Policy and Procedure. A progressive form of discipline, including suspension from school and fines (up to $5,000), is in place for students who break the law. In accordance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA), exceptions are made for the traditional use of tobacco that forms part of Indigenous culture and spirituality.
We also discussed the potential harms associated with vaping and e-cigarettes, including that e-cigarettes can contain nicotine, formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals, and are being used to inhale other harmful substances such as marijuana, weight loss supplements and other drugs. Partnership for Drug Free Kids also provides a resource on how to talk to your kids about vaping.
Appropriate Use of Technology
Students were reminded about the Appropriate Use of Technology agreement, including the importance of using respectful language and making positive choices when using electronic communications and social media tools.
Students were reminded that threats made online are taken seriously and may have serious consequences, including potential criminal charges. Where there are concerns for the safety of students, staff, community members or Board property, the school board works closely with York Regional Police and appropriate actions are taken. The safety and well-being of students remains our top priority.
For More Information
For more details on each of these items, please read the Guide to the School Year or visit the Caring and Safe Schools section on the YRDSB website for details and resources for families to continue the conversation.
Thank you for helping us create a safe, respectful and inclusive school community.
It is important to us that we provide a caring, safe and inclusive environment in our school that supports the academic achievement and well-being of all students. We held a school assembly this week to talk about some of the important elements of a caring and safe school. You may want to have a conversation with your child about what they learned and discussed. Topics covered include:
Positive Behaviour
Students are encouraged to demonstrate positive character attributes (such as empathy, courage and respect for human rights and inclusivity). We also discussed standing up for each other in bullying situations and the importance of reporting incidents of bullying, including:
Telling a caring adult
Using the YRDSB’s “Report It Button” (located on our school website)
Contacting Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868)
Student Discipline
We use a progressive discipline approach when inappropriate behaviour occurs. This means we consider a range of options to determine the most appropriate response to each situation to help students learn from their choices. In some cases, suspension or expulsion may be necessary. The Ontario Education Act and our Board Caring and Safe Schools Policy outline the situations in which suspension and expulsion must be considered. These infractions are also outlined in the Guide to the School Year. When inappropriate behaviour occurs, information will be shared with the victim and parents/guardians of the victim to the extent that legislation allows.
Tobacco/Alcohol/Drug-Free Environment
The use of tobacco, electronic products (such as vaping, electronic cigarettes and cigars and related products) and/or student possession of alcohol/illegal and restricted drugs, including cannabis, are prohibited on school property or within 20 metres of school boundaries. This also applies during Board or school-sponsored events and activities. This is in compliance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which is enforced locally by York Region Community and Health Services and the Tobacco and Smoke-Free Environment Policy and Procedure. A progressive form of discipline, including suspension from school and fines (up to $5,000), is in place for students who break the law. In accordance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA), exceptions are made for the traditional use of tobacco that forms part of Indigenous culture and spirituality.
We also discussed the potential harms associated with vaping and e-cigarettes, including that e-cigarettes can contain nicotine, formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals, and are being used to inhale other harmful substances such as marijuana, weight loss supplements and other drugs. Partnership for Drug Free Kids also provides a resource on how to talk to your kids about vaping.
Appropriate Use of Technology
Students were reminded about the Appropriate Use of Technology agreement, including the importance of using respectful language and making positive choices when using electronic communications and social media tools.
Students were reminded that threats made online are taken seriously and may have serious consequences, including potential criminal charges. Where there are concerns for the safety of students, staff, community members or Board property, the school board works closely with York Regional Police and appropriate actions are taken. The safety and well-being of students remains our top priority.
For More Information
For more details on each of these items, please read the Guide to the School Year or visit the Caring and Safe Schools section on the YRDSB website for details and resources for families to continue the conversation.
Thank you for helping us create a safe, respectful and inclusive school community.
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