Message from our Administrators
This month’s newsletter is filled with updates, achievements and ways to stay connected in the community. As we close the calendar year, let’s move forward with compassion and purpose, grateful for how far we have come and committed to lifting others as we rise.
Let December be a time for gratitude, reflection and collective strength. Let’s remember that even in challenging times, we rise by showing up for one another.
The Intermediate Boys Volleyball team had their area tournament last month. They battled their way in Pool A beating all their opponents. Each game was hard fought and extremely thrilling. The bullet spikes, ace serves and tough digs propelled the boys to clinch first place in their pool, sending them to the semi-finals. There they met a strong wall of blockers and hitters, and the boys were unable to move to the finals. Instead, they fought their way to win third place in the area tournament. Congratulations to the Stonebridge Silverwolves for an extremely successful year of volleyball. This is the first time in over 10 years that Stonebridge finished first in their pool.
The Intermediate Girls Volleyball team also competed in their area tournament last month. What a gutsy and determined group they are. Although it was tough to miss out on second place in the pool by point differential, we are incredibly proud of their effort and how beautifully everything came together. The biggest highlight of the day was without question the inspirational comeback—down 16–8 and battling back to win 25–21. If doing it once wasn’t exciting enough, they pulled it off again, this time with flair: a perfect set, followed by a powerful spike to close out the match. By the end of the day, they earned a strong record of 3 wins and 2 losses.
We want to thank our staff coaches for dedicating their time to the development of the teams and providing them with this meaningful, memorable opportunity.
Last month, our Changemakers Club organized a food drive to support the Markham Food Bank. We invited students and families to contribute non-perishable food items for this important cause, and we are deeply grateful to all the families who generously donated. Thanks to your support, we were able to send 634 items to the food bank! Initiatives like this do more than provide essential resources—they help students develop an understanding of the needs within our community and empower them to take meaningful action. By participating, students learn that even small contributions can create a big impact, fostering empathy, responsibility, and a sense of civic engagement.
This is just a reminder that our Scholastic Book Fair is running until Wed., Dec. 3rd. Families are able to visit and make purchases after school until 4:30pm. Students are scheduled to visit the fair with their classes during the day. Thank you to all the families who have already supported our book fair. All proceeds will go towards literacy resources for the school.
The School Council is hosting our next movie night on Thursday, December 18th. This is a free event. A survey has been sent out to all families where they are able to vote on the movie they would like to watch. The deadline to vote is Dec. 3rd. Soon after, we will send out a flyer and provide families with an opportunity to purchase food and drinks through School Cash Online. Stay tuned for more details.
As we head into the winter break, we want to send our heartfelt best wishes to all families in our school community. The break is a time for rest, joy, and celebration. Whether your family is observing a holiday, honoring a tradition, or simply enjoying time together, we hope these days are filled with warmth, happiness, and special memories.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership thus far. We look forward to welcoming everyone back when school reopens on Monday, January 5, 2026. Until then, enjoy your family time and have a safe and happy winter break!
David Williams Elaine Ricketts
Principal Vice-Principal
Message from our Trustee
December 2025
As trustees, it is a privilege to work alongside families and schools. Every day, we see incredible
successes - big and small - taking place in classrooms and learning spaces across our Board.
We are committed to celebrating those achievements and supporting families as you navigate
the system to access the resources, programs and information you need.
Our schools and the Board host many events throughout the year for families—from information
nights to cultural celebrations and community activities. These events provide wonderful
opportunities to connect, learn and engage with the community. We encourage you to check
your school’s calendar and the Board calendar regularly so you don’t miss these opportunities.
There are also some important registration dates coming up, including Kindergarten and French
Immersion in January. Course selection also takes place in the coming months, which is a great
time for students entering or currently in secondary school to explore the many options available
to them.
Visit our school programs page for deadlines, details and to learn more about the many
programs available to YRDSB students. These programs allow students to explore their
interests, gain valuable experience and build transferable skills for the future.
We meet regularly as a Board of Trustees through monthly Board meetings and at regular
committee meetings. Agendas and minutes are posted publicly so community members can
stay informed.
A highlight of each monthly meeting is the Applause Awards, where we celebrate students, staff
and community partners who are making a meaningful difference in our schools. These inspiring
stories showcase student achievement, perseverance, and the power of communities coming
together to support student learning and well-being
We also take time during our meetings to recognize Heritage months that reflect the diversity of
our region and honour the identities of students, staff and families. This month, we recognize
Christian Heritage Month; in January, we will celebrate Tamil Heritage Month, and in February,
Black History Month. These observances give us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the
contributions of these communities.
As we go into December, we want to take this opportunity to wish all families the very best for
the holiday season and to wish you a safe, restful and enjoyable winter break.
Ron Lynn, Trustee, Markham Wards 2 and 6
Date of Significance
Christian Heritage Month
In December 2024, the Trustees of the York Region District School Board amended the Recognition of Heritage/Significant Months/Days list to include Christian Heritage Month in December.
December is a significant month for Christians, as it commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25. This date is significant for many Christians, as it represents the incarnation of God in human form. Many Christians observe Advent, four weeks leading up to Christmas, during which they engage in spiritual reflection on themes such as hope, peace, joy, and love. It is important to note that Christianity comprises various denominations, and Christmas is recognized and celebrated in diverse ways across the Christian community.
Report Card Access
Access Report Cards in the Family Dashboard When Available
Schools will be sharing student report cards for all students Kindergarten to Grade 12 in the Family Dashboard. You will receive an email when your child’s report card is available.
· For families who do not yet have a Family Dashboard account, you can sign up for an account at any time at family.yrdsb.ca. You can find information on how to create an account on the Board website or in this instructional video.
· For families who have a Family Dashboard account, but have forgotten their password: from the login screen, select “forgot password” to create a new password.
The Family Dashboard gives parents/guardians secure one-stop access to information and applications related to your child’s education. It is designed to make it easier for families to engage with their child’s education.
Please note, you can still request a printed copy of your child’s report card if you prefer by contacting your child’s school.
Updated Contact Information
We also want to remind families that it’s important that the school has updated contact information for students and parents/guardians, including home address, phone numbers, email address and emergency contacts. This will ensure that the school can contact families in case of emergency, and also that you continue to receive important communications and updates from the school. Please contact the school directly with any changes.
French Immersion (FI) Information Sessions and Registrations
What is French Immersion?
· Provides opportunities for students to develop enhanced proficiency in French.
· Students receive instruction in French from teachers who are fluent in French.
· Begins in Grade 1 and is designed for children whose first language is not French.
· In Grades 1, 2 and 3, all subjects are taught in French. Starting in Grade 4, instructional time is shared equally between French and English.
· Program continues in secondary school.
· Secondary school students must earn at least 10 French Immersion credits to qualify for the French Immersion Certificate upon graduation.
Important Considerations
· Grade 1 is the only entry point into French immersion in YRDSB.
· Communication with parents/guardians is in English including, but not limited to, report cards, newsletters and parent-teacher interviews.
· For the first few months of Grade 1, children may not acquire skills identical to those learned by children in an English program as the focus is on learning in French.
· During the first few years of the FI program, students may not develop the same level of English proficiency as their peers in an English program, however children should acquire these skills by the end of Grade 8. Families are encouraged to continue to read to their children in their first language.
FI Accommodation Plan
YRDSB’s FI Accommodation Plan provides long-term consistency and equity of access to all students in York Region and will enable YRDSB to continue to offer the FI program to all who wish to enrol. The FI program is offered in Dual Track or Single-Track settings, in a variety of configurations. In order to meet community needs and optimize available space in our schools, a community's Grade 1-8 FI program may be provided over more than one school during the course of a student's FI education. Space requirements at some schools may mean that siblings are in different schools for primary dual track French Immersion programs due to differing grade structures. Like any of our schools across the Board, changes to school boundaries, and/or the accommodation model for the French Immersion program may need to be considered when new schools open, a school experiences enrolment growth, and program changes occur. This will allow flexibility in addressing community needs and the opportunity to use existing space in schools.
More information is available on the Board’s website. Please note: Some of the FI accommodation plans will require facility modifications or the development of new schools and will require short-term transition plans that might include overflow while we work toward the long-term vision. Overflow refers to situations in which the Board directs students to attend a school other than their community school or optional program for a specific period of time, as defined in Policy #108.
Information Sessions
This year, our Information session for Grade 1 entry into the French Immersion program will take place in French Immersion schools on January 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. Program locations and additional information is available on our website. If families are unable to attend the information session, they can hear about the French Immersion program on the Tune In YRDSB: French Immersion Podcast.
Registration
FI registration will begin on January 16, 2026. Parents or guardians of Year 2 Kindergarten students entering Grade 1 in 2026, and wishing to enrol in the FI Program, can email or call their home school office and indicate their intention to enrol. The home school will notify the French Immersion school, and the French Immersion school will contact families by phone or email to collect any necessary information. Families are asked to register by February 9, 2026. Registration during this period is not first come, first served.
Late Registrations
Late registrations are those submitted after February 9, 2026. Late registrations will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis and will be considered subsequent to registrations received during the registration period should overflow be necessary.
Lunch Program
Below are the Lunches being offered each day:
Monday — Kid’s Kitchen —order directly from their site (kidskitchen.ca)
Meatbets—order directly from their site (www.mealbets.com)
Tuesday — Pizza lunch—first round from Oct 21 to Dec 16
Meatbets—order directly from their site
Wednesday —YummyTummiesInc - order directly from their site (yummytummies.ca)
Meatbets—order directly from their site
Thursday — barBurrito - order from Lunchbox Program via School Cash Online
Meatbets—order directly from their site
Friday — Kid’s Kitchen—order directly from their site
Meatbets—order directly from their site
Please make a note of the cut-off date/time for placing your orders.
If you have ordered lunch and your child is away and you would like to pick up their lunch, you must notify the school by 12:00 pm.
If you need more information, please email stonebridge.ps@yrdsb.ca
Lunch Drop Off
If you need to drop off a lunch for your child, please place it in the cart outside the front doors. Ensure that it is well labelled with the student’s name and homeroom teacher.
Please do not go to portables or classrooms to deliver lunches.
Thank you for your understanding.
Kindergarten Registration 2026—2027
Kindergarten Registration will start on January 16, 2026
Kindergarten registration for the 2025/2026 school year will start on Friday, January 16, 2026. Children who turn four or five years old during 2026, live within the school boundary and whose parents/guardians are public school tax supporters will be eligible to register for Kindergarten.
There are several ways you can register for Kindergarten:
Online - Families can access the online Kindergarten registration information at www.yrdsb.ca/kindergarten > Registration. It is recommended that families use a laptop or a desktop computer rather than a mobile device to complete this registration.
By email - Families can download the Elementary School Registration Form at www.yrdsb.ca/kindergarten and email the completed form to their school email address. Email addresses can be found on the school website.
By phone - Families can request support from the school Principal/Vice-Principal to complete the registration form on their behalf by collecting the required information by phone. Families can request an interpreter, if needed, during this phone conversation. Call your local school.
By mail or appointment. You can mail completed applications to the school, or request an appointment to drop-off your completed paper application form.
Once you have completed your application, the school will contact you to make an appointment to review and verify the required documents.
Our Kindergarten programs are caring and welcoming where children learn through exploration, play and inquiry. You can learn more at www.yrdsb.ca/kindergarten. We look forward to welcoming our new students and families to the school.
Please note: Elementary schools are closed during July and August. Please contact the Community Education Centre in your area to set up your registration appointment.
Winter Weather
With winter weather here, we want to share a few important reminders.
Dress for the weather
Students should come dressed appropriately for the weather and for outdoor play. Students can stay warm by wearing layers of loose-fitting clothing, a hat, scarf, jackets, snow pants and mittens or gloves. Students may also want to bring extra pants and socks in case they get wet.
Recess
If students are well enough to come to school, they are expected to go outside for recess. Our students benefit from spending time outside and being active. We monitor weather conditions throughout the day. If there are extreme weather conditions, we may consider a shortened or indoor recess.
Bus or School Cancellations
When an extreme cold or inclement weather day is declared, school transportation (including buses and taxis) is cancelled in the morning and afternoon. Schools will remain open. Please notify the school if your child will not be attending school on those days. Students will not be penalized for missing school on these days.
There may be rare instances when emergency weather events occur and we need to close all schools and Board locations. Please take the time to make plans in the event of an emergency school closure. Information about transportation cancellations and Board closures will be shared through local media, board and school websites and on X @YRDSB.
Our process for extreme cold, inclement weather and emergency weather days is outlined in the board’s Severe Weather policy.
Report Absences or Lates
If your child is going to be absent/late, please report via Edsby before the bell time.
If you do not have an Edsby account or need help with setting it up, please contact
the office @ 905-887-2427.
TO REPORT A STUDENT ABSENCE/LATE:
LOGIN TO: yrdsb.edsby.com / CALL 905.887.2427
Nut & Scent Free Environment
This is a reminder that many students and staff have life threatening allergies to nuts. As a result, we ask that all snacks and lunches are nut free. Please take the time to read the labels on snacks to ensure they are nut safe. We also ask that you do not use peanut butter substitutes such as Wow Butter. Nutella is a nut product and must not come to school.
The chemicals used in scented products can make some people sick, especially those with fragrance sensitivities, asthma, allergies and other medical conditions. To help keep the air healthy for everyone, our school has a scent-free policy.