Thornhill PS Email Information: Monday January 12, 2026
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Tuesday, January 13
- Homework Club – Ms. Sacks
- Pizza Day – for those who ordered
- Jr. Girls Volleyball Game @ Baythorn 3 p.m.
Wednesday, January 14
- Homework Club – Ms. Rehan
Thursday, January 15
- “Sip and Share” at 8:15 a.m.
- Subway Sandwich Day– for those who ordered
Friday, January 16
- PA Day – No School
- Kindergarten Registration Begins
EVENTS NEXT WEEK
Tuesday, January 20
- Homework Club – Ms. Sacks
- Pizza Day – for those who ordered
Wednesday, January 21
- Homework Club – Ms. Rehan
- Popcorn Delivery for those who ordered
- Intermediate Boys Basketball Game @ Henderson 3:45 p.m.
Thursday, January 22
- Subway Sandwich Day– for those who ordered
- Junior Girls Volleyball Areas
Friday, January 23
D-Lites Lunch for those who ordered
In this issue:
- Join us for “Sip and Share” 2026
- Caring and Safe School Presentations
PREVIOUSLY COMMUNICATED
- Save the Date – Family STEM evening
- Kindergarten Registration
- French Immersion Registration
“SIP AND SHARE”
We love getting to know our TPS families and we would like to provide you all with an opportunity to get to know each other, learn more about our school, and discuss ways we can support our children at home. Please come and join our school Principal, Lisa Hascal, and our guest Terri Keay (from York Hills) for an informal gathering and discussion about supporting student well-being with coffee/tea provided on Thursday, January 15th from 8:15-9:30 a.m. in our staff lounge. Our topic of discussion will be centered around student mental health and well-being and Terri will be able to provide resources and information about programs in our community. Here is a great article to spark our first discussion. Looking forward to seeing you on Thursday!
CARING AND SAFE SCHOOLS PRESENTATIONS
To support positive student behaviour, students will participate in the Caring and Safe Schools Mid-Year Presentation led by school administrators (later in January). These presentations reinforce behaviour expectations that promote student achievement, healthy relationships, human rights, and inclusive education. Families are encouraged to continue these conversations at home by asking your child what they learned.
Presentation Topics
Students will learn about the YRDSB and School Code of Conduct, including items that are not permitted at school, staying safe online, progressive discipline, and standing up for one another. The presentation also highlights how to report incidents of racism, discrimination, and bullying. These topics support a caring, safe, and inclusive school environment.
Promoting Positive Behaviour
Students are reminded that racism, discrimination, and bullying are not acceptable and are addressed through a progressive discipline approach. Safe school expectations also include reminders about items that must never be brought to school, such as peanut products, vape or drug paraphernalia, and weapons or replica weapons.
Student Discipline
YRDSB uses a progressive discipline approach for inappropriate behaviour on and off school property. Responses are individualized and focus on helping students learn from their choices. In some cases, suspension or expulsion may be necessary. Please visit the YRDSB Caring and Safe Schools site for more information.
Online Safety and Appropriate Use of Technology
Students are reminded of the Appropriate Use of Technology Agreement, including expectations for personal mobile device use at school, respectful language and responsible online behaviour. Online threats or harmful comments, whether made on or off school property, are taken seriously and may result in consequences. When serious safety concerns arise, the Board works with York Regional Police.
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Reporting Behaviour
Standing up for one another and reporting unsafe or harmful behaviour is essential to a caring and safe school community. Students are encouraged to report incidents of racism, discrimination, bullying, or anything that feels unsafe. Reports can be made by telling a caring adult, using the YRDSB “Report It” button on the school website, or contacting Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868).
Mental Health
Mental health and well-being are fundamental to student success. Schools play an important role in promoting mental health, building resiliency, and connecting students to supports. YRDSB’s Mental Health and Addictions Strategy provides a tiered approach to supporting student well-being.
For More Information
For additional information, please review the Guide to the School Year or visit the Caring and Safe Schools section of the YRDSB website. These resources provide guidance and tools to continue conversations at home. Thank you for your continued partnership in creating a caring, safe, and inclusive school community.
PREVIOUSLY COMMUNICATED
SAVE THE DATE – FAMILY STEM EVENING
On Thursday, February 26th at 6 p.m. we will be hosting a “Family STEM” evening for all of our students and families. Our staff will prepare some wonderful activities that you and your child can participate in together and they will highlight how these fun activities support learning about science, technology, engineering and math too! Stay tuned for more information.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Kindergarten Registration for September 2026 begins on Friday, January 16, 2026. Children who turn four or five years’ old during 2026, live within the school boundary and whose parents are public school tax supporters will be eligible to register for kindergarten. The Board has included a page dedicated to the Kindergarten Registration process linked here. Within this link you will find simple instructions to follow in order to register remotely. If your child is presently attending Junior Kindergarten at Thornhill P.S. there is no need to re-register. More information about our Kindergarten Program can be found here.
FRENCH IMMERSION INFORMATION SESSION AND REGISTRATION
Any SK family who is looking for information regarding French Immersion should read the message below from our Board.
Grade 1 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.