Message from our Administrators
Dear Stonebridge Families,
We are finally enjoying some days with warmer temperatures. Let’s hope we get to see more of them. After weeks of students spending recess on the pavement, the field is finally in a drier condition where student activity will not damage it. We have once again begun using the field during recesses. In April, both the girls and boys basketball teams competed in their respective area tournaments. They practised regularly, honing in on their skills and learning various plays. Both teams persevered and played their hearts out. They represented Stonebridge well and we are very proud of them. A special congratulations goes out to the girls team who placed 3rd ! A special thank you goes out to the coaches who took the time to prepare and lead the teams.
Save the date! On May 22nd, Stonebridge will be presenting the musical, Best of Both Worlds. A number of teachers have been working diligently with a cast and crew of students to prepare for the big night. This is the first time that we are putting on a musical since the pandemic and everyone is very excited! It promises to be a spectacular event. Please come out to support the students who have worked so hard to prepare the musical for the Stonebridge community. Please stay tuned for more details.
Please also mark June 5th on your calendar. That is the date of our next Arts Night. Our junior and intermediate students will showcase their talent in music and visual arts. You will hear instrumental music, singing and more. Stonebridge has a vibrant arts program with dedicated teachers who bring out students’ talent and creativity and we want to share that with the Stonebridge community. We hope you will take the time to come out and support this event. We will share more information soon.
The staff at Stonebridge are very grateful for the opportunity to work with your children. We are very appreciative of the Stonebridge community and we value the partnership we have with you. We are here to help your child reach their full potential. Never hesitate to reach out if you want to connect with your child’s teacher to discuss academic achievement, well-being or anything else. We would love to hear from you!
Stonebridge P.S.
David Williams - Principal
Elaine Ricketts - Vice-Principal
Asian and South Asian Heritage Month
As May approaches, the YRDSB takes pride in recognizing Asian and South Asian Heritage Month. This month provides a vital opportunity to explore, understand, and affirm the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Canadians of Asian descent. The provincial government designated May as South Asian Heritage Month in 2001 and as Asian Heritage Month in 2005.
As part of an unwavering commitment to creating inclusive learning and working environments, throughout the year, it is important to design meaningful opportunities to learn more about the social, ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity and histories of Canadians of Asian descent and honour their ongoing contributions to Canada.
Dutch Heritage Month
The month of May is Dutch Heritage Month. Dutch Heritage Month was given Royal Assent in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 2011. Ontario is home to about 500,000 Dutch Canadians. Since the early 1800s, the Dutch Canadian community has made and continues to make significant contributions to the cultural, social, and political fabric. May holds historical significance for those with Dutch heritage. On May 5, 1945, the Canadian forces played an important role in the liberation of the Netherlands from World War II. The Netherlands celebrates independence and liberty, along with the heroic efforts of the Canadian forces, with a national, annual holiday known as Liberation Day on May 5
Polish Heritage Month
The month of May is Polish Heritage Month. Polish Heritage Month was given Royal Assent in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 2021. Ontario is home to more than 523,000 people of Polish heritage. Polish Canadians have lived in Ontario since the 19th century and, over the years, have and continue to make significant contributions to Ontario’s cultural, social, and political landscape. May 3rd is an important day for Polish People as it commemorates the 1791 Constitution, which is a symbol of Poland’s aspiration for freedom, democracy and independence. This is one of the most important Polish holidays, and many parades and festivities take place in May.
Jewish Heritage Month
Canadian Jewish Heritage Month was given Royal Assent in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on April 24, 2012 and in the Senate of Canada on March 29, 2018. As we approach the month of May, staff and students are encouraged to engage in opportunities that celebrate and affirm Jewish histories and the achievements of the Jewish community. Canada is home to the fourth largest Jewish population in the world. There are close to 400,000 Jewish residents in Canada, and almost half of that number resides in Ontario. Jewish immigrants in Canada can be traced as far back as 1760. Jewish Canadians have proudly contributed to Canadian heritage in all of its facets, including the military, the arts, government, business, academia, law, medicine, culture, and sports. Throughout the month of May, we celebrate the contributions Jewish Canadians make in communities across the country.
Armenian Heritage Month
The month of May is Armenian Heritage Month. Armenian Heritage Month was given Royal Assent in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 2022 through Bill 105 Act to proclaim the month of May as Armenian Heritage Month. Ontario is home to more than 100,000 people of Armenian heritage. Armenians began migrating to Canada in the 1880s. Approximately 37 Armenians came to Ontario in 1892, and 100 more settled in the province in 1895. After the Hamidian massacres of the mid-1890s, Armenian families began settling in greater numbers in Ontario. Decades later, approximately 2,000 survivors of the 1915 Armenian Genocide - mostly women and children - came to Canada as refugees.
May is a significant month for the Armenian community. May 28, 1918, is widely celebrated by Armenian people around the world as the day Armenians regained sovereignty over their historical territory. The 1918 Armenian Declaration of Independence is a symbol of Armenians’ aspiration for freedom, democracy and independence. May 28th is one of the most important Armenian holidays, and many parades and festivities take place during the month of May.
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week
Each year, Ontarians mark the first full week of May as Children's Mental Health Awareness Week. This important week is about:
- Increasing awareness of the signs of child and youth mental health problems
- Decreasing stigma
- Understanding that help is available and it works!
For more information on Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week please see CMHA Mental Health Week. One in five Ontario children and youth have a mental health problem; that is about 500,000 kids. Examples of mental health disorders include, but are not limited to, anxiety, depression, conduct disorder, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and bi-polar disorder. Left untreated, mental health disorders can lead to school failure, family conflicts, drug use, violence, and even suicide. The good news is that help is available and treatment works! We recognize that many factors contribute to mental health and well-being, for example, physical health, eating, sleep, and social interactions. What is often missed is a student's sense of mattering and belonging. If a student feels valued, welcomed, comfortable and safe in the learning environment they are better able to learn and participate at their full potential. This can contribute to a positive sense of self and positive mental health and well-being. When mattering and belonging are missing, it can take a damaging toll on the student’s mental health and overall well-being.
Chess Team Tournament
…and checkmate! On April 10th, our Stonebridge chess team of 9 students from gr. 6-8 competed at an invitational chess tournament against 24 schools in York Region at Bayview Fairways P.S. With 5 undefeated rounds of chess, our focused and resilient team members encouraged each other, whether they lost or won their individual games to earn points for our team. As we won 1st place in our round of games, we progressed to being the top 8 out of the 24 schools in the quarter-finals. With much excitement and heart -pounding moves, we won by just 1 point, which then brought us to the semi-finals of being the top 4, where we depended on the last intense, 2 out of the 25 minutes to win our last 2 remaining games on the table. It boiled down to Noah & San’s focus as everyone surrounded them in the intense moment. As the timer counted down, Noah checkmated his opponent’s King and shortly after, San triumphantly raised his hand to indicate his checkmate, which won us a 3rd place trophy! With much determination and grit playing 8 games of chess throughout the day, congratulations to Noah G., San Y., Merrick S., Akhil K., Hamza M., Cheliyan P., Anirudh B., Ethan W., & Andy Z. And of course, thanks to Joshua L. for taking much time and energy in organizing the chess sets for us to practice and bring to the tournament. Great job Stonebridge chess team!
Junior Girls’ Basketball Tournaments
The junior girls’ basketball team had a long and very successful season! Players started out by coming to intramurals which were offered to any girls in grades 4, 5, or 6. There they got to try out basketball, and see if they were interested in trying out for the team. In February, we had tryouts for the team. Twelve players were chosen, and regular practices began. We worked on basic skill like dribbling and lots and lots of lay-ups. On April 1st, we participated in a three on three tournament at Bill Crothers High School. The tournament had all players competing against others at their skill level, and gave every player lots of opportunities to participate. We played five exhibition games against local schools, and competed in another tournament of April 17th. We won every game at the tournament. The girls’ were thrilled to come home with a pennant for the school. On April 22nd, we competed in our final tournament, which was the area tournament. The girls played strong, especially defensively, and beat our longtime rival Sam Chapman P.S. They went on to beat Castlemore to secure third place in the tournament. The girls’ improved their basketball skills, and had a very fun season!
Bike to School Week
Let’s get wheeling! The annual Bike to School Week rolls in from June 2 to 6, 2025.
Bike to School Week provides an opportunity for students to try riding a bike to school for the first time, learn new skills, connect with others, or have fun exploring the neighbourhood and nature. Your school can celebrate during the designated week or choose another week that works best for your school. For resources to support your event visit Ontario Active School Travel. Bike lending and DIY repair clinic is also available in Markham. Visit https://markhamcycles.ca/programs/ for more information.
If you have any questions or require more information, please feel free to contact your public health nurse or contact the YRDSB’s active school travel coordinator activeschooltravel@yrdsb.ca.
Lunch Program
Below are the Lunches being offered each day:
- Monday — Kid’s Kitchen (kidskitchen.ca), Flyer
- Tuesday — Pizza Day - orders closed until the end of June
- Wednesday — Tasty Ya (www.tastyya.com)
- Thursday — barBURRITO - order through the Lunchbox Program on School Cash Online (yrdsb.schoolcashonline.com)
- Friday — Kid’s Kitchen (Flyer)
Another option: Mealbets (www.mealbets.com), Flyer
Please make a note of the cut-off date/time for placing your orders. I
f 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
Upcoming Events:
Kindergarten Registration
Spirit Wear is Here
Hello Silver Wolves. Our spirit wear will be available for order online.
Delivery to your home. You have the ability to customize your order with colour and lettering. Order now. Proceeds to support the school.!
Report Absences or Late
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 scentfree policy.