It's back to school today for thousands of students across the region and we're helping you to get the new school year off to a great start with our A to Z guide, thanks to the York Region public and Catholic school boards, York Regional Police, York Region Transit, Newmarket Public Library, and more.
A is for accessibility
If you need assistance accessing any services offered by your child’s school, let school staff know the ways in which they can help. If you identify a barrier that prevents you or someone you know from fully accessing services, also share your concerns with staff. Both York Region District School Board (YRDSB) and the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) are governed by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, which ensures everyone fair and equitable access to programs and services. Reach YRDSB here and YCDSB here
B is for ballpoint
Hands down, the best pen for students is the uni-ball Jetstream, according to bestproducts.com. At under $10 for a three-pack, it feels good in the hand, dries quickly and doesn’t clump, the review states. It’s also more lefty-friendly with its embossed grip. Available at Walmart, Staples and Best Buy.
C is for crackdown
York Regional Police will be out in full force today to spot driving behaviour that may endanger children during school hours, including talking on cellphones and texting while driving. Officers will also be on the lookout for speeding, aggressive driving, failing to stop for stop signs, impaired driving and distracted driving. York police remind drivers that a moment of distraction could result in potentially tragic results for a child. Drivers could also face up to a $2,000 fine and six demerit points for passing a stopped school bus with its upper red lights flashing.
D is for detention
York’s public and Catholic school boards have policies that set out clear expectations and consequences for student behaviour, including bullying, cyberbullying, cheating and plagiarism, smoking on school property, cellphone use, dress code and more. Knowing and understanding the rules can avoid running afoul of them.
E is for every student counts
Come November, all public school students in grades 7 to 12, along with parents/guardians of students in Kindergarten to Grade 6 can participate in the York Region District School Board system-wide census, Every Student Counts Survey. It’s confidential and voluntary and is meant to help identify gaps in learning, as well as identify areas of need to create better learning environments and outcomes for a diverse school community. You should have received information about this from your child’s school, but if not, contact your home school with any questions or concerns.
F is for field trips
Mandatory field trips are free, while non-mandatory trips usually come at a cost. If you have a concern, speak with your child’s teacher. If a child cannot attend a non-mandatory field trip, they are expected to be at school and participate in their regular program.
G is for guidance
All secondary schools in York Region offer students help through its guidance department with such things as course selection, effective study habits, exam preparation, conflict resolution, scholarship applications and more.
H is for homework
A recent survey by Ask.com found that 43 per cent of parents admitted to doing their child’s homework for them. Better grades topped the list of reasons why. While hard to prove, teachers say they can spot a parent’s handiwork, particularly at test time when the child lacks the knowledge they should have gained from the work.
I is for immunization
Parents/guardians are now responsible for reporting their children’s immunizations to the York Region Public Health Unit after the Ontario government cancelled the requirement for doctors and nurses to report vaccines to public health units last June. Update your child's immunization record online here or call 1-877-464-9675, ext. 73456. All children attending school in York Region are required to be immunized against certain vaccine-preventable diseases, unless a valid exemption is provided.
J is for jam
Just hold the nut products and peanut butter replacements, please. Food allergies can be life-threatening and all schools are nut-free. Familiarize yourself with your school’s policy around this important health-and-safety issue.
K is for kindergarten
If you walk with your pets to school, remember that furry friends are not permitted inside fenced-in kindergarten play areas.
L is for lunches
Most students eat lunch at school, so here’s a tip on how to quickly pack a healthy and nutritious lunch, courtesy of York Region blogger mom Julia Suppa via Twitter: “I put leftovers, green beans, pasta, cheese slices, chicken wings (in my child's lunchbox).”
M is for March break
It’s never too early to start planning a family vacation. March break falls on March 11 to 15, 2019 next year for the York public and Catholic boards.
N is for newcomers
The public and Catholic boards offer programs to newcomers, in partnership with the provincial and federal governments. Courses include English-as-a-Second Language, computer courses, citizenship classes and more. Learn more about YRDSB programs here and YCDSB programs here
O is for Ontario’s sex-ed curriculum
There remains plenty of confusion about what exactly students in grades 1 to 8 will learn in sex-ed class this fall, but one thing’s certain: the material is based on the curriculum that was used in 2014, prior to the former Liberal government’s revised curriculum that took effect in 2015 and that has now been repealed, according to the Education Ministry. Ontario’s new Conservative government promises public consultation on the contentious issue, along with soliciting feedback from parents on a variety of non-sex-ed issues in time for the 2019-2020 school year. Learn more here
P is for parent engagement
There are opportunities for parents/guardians to become involved in the school community and make a positive impact. For example, volunteers are needed to assist in classrooms, the library and lunch rooms, as well as on the school council. Speak to a staff member at your child’s school if you wish to be involved.
Q is for the Quest conference
York Region District School Board’s 2018 conference, The Quest for Well-Being: Making Connections, Making Commitments, continues its 2017 theme by bringing together hundreds of participants over three days, including students, teachers, parents, trustees,and more, to take a deep dive into how to improve student achievement. A highlight of the event is the TED-style Student Voice Talks, where selected students share their stories of mental health and well-being. The call for proposals is now open. Students can prepare a submission in TED style, poetry slam, spoken word and/or rants. Apply here
R is for reading
Newmarket Public Library makes reading and learning fun with a variety of programs for children and teens, including a new online mystery book club. More details can be found here
S is for school rankings
If you’re interested in how your child’s school compares academically with others in the community or province, visit the Fraser Institute’s school rankings report here
T is for transit
All 400-series school special routes resume today. But remember that the buses don’t operate on PA Days, school holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas/winter break, Family Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day or March break.
York Regional Transit (YRT) no longer takes riders directly into the York University Keele Campus. Rather, for a single $4 cash fare, Newmarket students will be dropped off at the Pioneer Village Bus Terminal at Steeles Avenue and Settlers Road, where they can walk to campus. For an additional $3.25 TTC fare, students can board the TTC Line 1 Subway at this point and ride onto the campus. Why? When the Vaughan subway opened last year, YRT agreed to stop operating its vehicles within the York University Keele Campus to avoid duplication of service, YRT said.
Also of note on the public transit front, local riders using TTC bus routes in York Region should not use their PRESTO cards. York Region Transit advises that riders should continue using paper tickets or passes, the GTA Weekly Pass or the YRT Pay app. Ten-pack tickets and monthly passes are for sale at all multiRide ticket-vending machines in the region, with the exception of the one located at the Newmarket GO Bus Terminal. The TTC isn’t yet equipped to read PRESTO cards. Check YRT regularly for service changes, rider alerts, a real-time map, trip planner and more.
U is for university
The fall campus day for York University Keele Campus is Saturday, Nov. 17. Other colleges and universities in the GTA host open houses for future students around the same time. Contact your educational institution of choice before November 2018 to confirm dates for a tour of the facilities and learn more about educational programs.
V is for volunteering
Before secondary students can graduate, they need to complete 40 hours of community service/involvement. The volunteering can begin the summer after the student graduates from Grade 8. Newmarket is home to a variety of community groups that could use a helping hand. You can find a comprehensive list of organizations here. Be sure to understand what type of activities are eligible. Download the school board form here
W is for walking to school
For age-appropriate children, walking to school helps keep them in shape, increases their concentration, teaches road safety skills, and helps them make friendships, according to walkit.com, the online urban route walking planner. For parents, the big benefit is time saved. No more circling around the school looking for a place to park or fighting congestion trying to get to school before the bell sounds.
X is for xylophone
Learning to play a musical instrument helps improve a child’s memory and math skills, among other benefits. For help finding a local music teacher, visit the Newmarket and area branch of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association here
Y is for yearbook
York’s schools are increasingly allowing parents, teachers and the school community to contribute their own photos for potential use in yearbooks. Speak to a staff member at your home school for specific school policies.
Z is for zzzzz
This may be more difficult than coming up with healthy lunch ideas every day, but according to the National Sleep Foundation, children between 13 and 17 need eight to 10 hours of sleep each night to perform at their best in school. One recent study of high school students found that teenagers average about 6.8 hours per night. For help getting the right amount of shut-eye, download the foundation’s sleep diary here
