The Woodbridge Wyvern - Jan. 23, 2026

January                                                             February

We recognize the following;

Braille Literacy Month                                      Black History Month

Tamil Heritage Month                                      Chinese Heritage Month

York Region Public Health - Flu Season Parent Letter

Please see the letter below from YRPH to families.

Letter 

Dear Families,

We have now entered the exam week for semester one of the 2025-2026 school year. We know that our students are studying hard to demonstrate their learning and prepare themselves for their final exams. On Thursday, January 29th, students will come to school for a half day in the morning, review their exam results, and learn their final marks in their courses. 

Friday, January 30th will be a Professional Activity Day and second semester, where all of our students will get an opportunity to engage in learning with their new courses and teachers, begins on Monday, February 2nd.

The Centre for Black Student Excellence - Understanding and Navigating the Education System - YRDSB

Monthly Virtual Information Session is on Monday, January 26, from 6:30 p.m.to 8:00 p.m. YRDSB link

Families, parents, and caregivers, please join us for our monthly virtual meeting, where families with Black children come together to learn about resources and upcoming programs for Black students in both elementary and secondary schools.  Please see our flyer for more information and the registration link.

Black Foundation of Community Networks (BFCN) Scholarship Application Workshop

Black students and their families are invited to attend a virtual edition of the BFCN Scholarship Application Workshop on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. This is a free workshop designed to guide Black students and their families on how to search, prepare, and apply for scholarships and bursaries. 

Please see the link here for more information and to register.

Black History Month Celebrating STEM

An inspiring evening on multiple dates from 5:50 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  Please see the flyer for more information and register here with this link - bit.ly/BHMC2026 by January 30th, 2026.

Black Youth Mental Wellness and Empowerment Series: R.I.S.E. Program

NACCA is delivering a virtual, 8-week Africentric mental wellness workshop series for Black youth up to Grade 12 who reside in York Region. All sessions will be supported by a mental health clinician. Please see this link for more information and registration.

Tamil Heritage Month Celebrations

Inclusive Schools and Community Services (ISCS) will be hosting Tamil Heritage Month celebrations across the region in January 2026. This year’s celebration highlights culture, storytelling, community, and identity. Join us for a vibrant evening celebrating Tamil Heritage Month, featuring storytelling, music, and community connection.

Tamil Heritage Month celebrations will take place at the following locations:

• North: Stouffville District Secondary School – January 19, 2026, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
• East: Middlefield Collegiate Institute – January 20, 2026, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
• West: Michael Cranny Elementary School – January 28, 2026, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
• Central: Charles Howitt Public School – January 29, 2026, 5:00-7:00 p.m.

All students, families, staff, and community members are welcome to attend.

Registration Deadlines: 

North and East celebration deadline is January 16, 2026.

West and Central celebrations deadline is January 26, 2026.

Please see our flyer for more information and the registration link.

Note to Administrators: Please share the www links (North, East, Central, West) to the Tamil Heritage Month Celebrations respective to your area with your students, families, and staff. 

For further information, please contact Inclusive School and Community Services (ISCS) at iscs@yrdsb.ca.

York Regional Police Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI) 

The YIPI program will begin June 29, 2026 and end August 21, 2026. Students will be employed on a full-time basis, for 35 hours a week, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (times subject to change based on daily assignment). 

Applications will be accepted from January 5 to 30, 2026: Application Form

Please see the link for more information. 2026 York Regional Police Youth in Policing Initiative (YIPI) Information

York Regional Police Creative Writing and Poetry Contest 2026

Are you a young person with a passion for writing?

York Regional Police is hosting a Creative Writing and Poetry Contest this January.

You must be between 13 and 17 years old to participate.

Contest finalists will be invited to an event where the winners will be announced by our judges. Finalists will have the opportunity to meet the judges and our youth engagement officers.

Prize packages are provided by Indigo - Markville Mall.

Submission Rules:

1. Submission deadline is Sunday, February 1, 11:59 p.m.
2. Submissions must be submitted in PDF format to contest@yrp.ca with the following file name format: “LAST NAME, FIRST NAME – TITLE OF SUBMISSION, FICTION/POETRY” (please indicate whether your submission is fiction or poetry)
3. Contestants must reside in the Region of York and must be between the ages of 13 and 17 years
4. Submissions must revolve around the idea or concept of “community.”  This can be either direct or abstract
5. Submissions must be no more than 1,250 words, double-spaced in 12 point Times New Roman font
6. Submissions may be: fiction or poetry
7. Submissions must include the title of the piece, as well as the name, address, and contact information of each contestant on each page as a header
8. Pages must be numbered clearly
9. Submissions must be submitted in English
10. Submissions must not contain any curse words, sexual content of any kind or gratuitous violence, blood, or gore
11. Submissions must be an original work. Contestants must not use AI technology to compose their submissions. Any submissions suspected to be a result of AI or plagiarism will be disqualified
12. Submissions in the form of a picture book/story which contain artwork that complements the writing are acceptable

Supporting East Asian Students (SEAS) 2025 - 2026 Family Engagement Series - Pathway Planning and High School Course Selection Workshop Part 2

Families, parents, and caregivers are invited to join us for this Supporting East Asian Students (SEAS) Family Engagement evening to deepen their understanding of pathway planning and the course selection process in the Ontario Education System. 

YRDSB Teachers and Guidance Counsellors will be delivering information focused on:

• Understanding the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirements
• Exploring pathways and planning for post-secondary opportunities
• Navigating the high school course selection process in YRDSB

Date: Thursday, February 5th, 2026 

Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm 

Location: Unionville High School, 201 Town Centre Blvd, Unionville, ON L3R 8G5

 The workshop session will be in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

Please see the link here and register by Tuesday, February 3, 2026. For additional inquiries, please contact Inclusive School and Community Services (ISCS) at  iscs@yrdsb.ca.

Renewed Computer Technology - Winter Applications

YRDSB is once again working with Renewed Computer Technology to provide limited-income families with access to technology. Applications are open until February 27, 2026. Letter to Families 

Please see the flyer for more information.

Iftar Night at Woodbridge College

Ramadan, in Islam, is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting from dawn to dusk. Iftar is the act of breaking your fast at sunset each day of Ramadan. This year Woodbridge College invites you and your family to our 3^rd Annual Community Iftar Night hosted by the Woodbridge College Muslim Students Association on Thursday, March 5^th from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. For any community partnership or sponsorship opportunity, please contact Ms. Naseem via email at hudaibia.naseem@yrdsb.ca . Tickets for students and families can be purchased through your students' school cash online account. We hope to see you there! Please see the poster below for more details.

ATTENDANCE ABSENCE REPORTING

Parents/guardians, please email attendance absences to woodbridgecollege.attendance@yrdsb.ca 

Please note, EDSBY is not monitored for student absenteeism.

Student Mental Health and Addictions Newsletters

Winter 2025 - Embracing Winter: Building Warmth and Resilience

Fall 2025 - Embracing Autumn: Nurturing Well-being This Season

Students and/or parents are able to make a Guidance appointment through TeachAssist.  Appointments are to be made based on your last name with the alpha guidance counsellor listed below.

Mrs. Kolianou - A to K

Mrs. Ricci - L to P

Ms. Zupnik - Q to Z

Guidance will be available during the exam week to help with timetable changes for semester 2. Students do not need an appointment. Mrs. Kolianou will be available from 9:30 am to 11:30 am between Jan 22 to Jan 28. If students are not able to meet on this day, they can fill in the Google Form, and we will set up an appointment time during the first week of semester 2. The Google Form can be found in the grade-specific Google Classroom and will be available January 22.

Grade 12 exit surveys for students graduating in sem 1

All students can access the survey through their My Pathway Planner accounts by doing the following:

1. Go to www.yrdsb.ca
2. Click on the “Online Student Tools” button
3. Click on the “My Pathway Planner” button
4. Log into their account using their YRDSB credentials
5. Click on the “Complete Survey” button in the blue banner on the homepage
6. Complete the survey questions in the Google Form that opens

Course Selection Presentations:

Course selection presentations happened for students in Grades 9 to 11 before the winter break. Students learned about how to use the graduation tracker, what SHSM sectors we offer, AP courses, and how to register for an online course and/or opt out of online learning. Below are the presentations for each grade for you to review with your child. Course Calendar for 2026-2027 school year and FI student course plan

Grade 9 - presentation and video

Grade 10- presentation and video

Grade 11 - presentation and video

SAVE THE DATE: Course selection support night for WC students and their families 

Thursday, February 12 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm in the Cafeteria

Course selection and use of myBlueprint Night

support students and families with course selection and pathway planning through the use of myBlueprint. MyBlueprint is a student-friendly tool available free of charge to all YRDSB students to support them with their individual pathway plan. This platform offers a wide range of features that assists students in exploring their strengths and interests and discovering career opportunities. 

 To help students and families build greater confidence in using this tool effectively, a virtual session has been organized as follows:

Audience: YRDSB students and families (Grades 7 - 12)

Date:  Tuesday, January 27, 2026

Time:  6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Location:  Virtual (a link will be provided to everyone who pre-registers using this form).

Registration link

Please share the above note and this flyer with your students and families.

The Scholarship Report

The Scholarship Report Library provides lists of curated scholarship and bursaries, including those offered by Ontario universities and colleges, information on postsecondary events and opportunities, scholarship application tips, advice from experts, Ontario university & college Open House Schedules, etc. Don’t miss out on this relevant information!

NOTE TO FAMILIES: The password to The Scholarship Report Library, and any documents from The Scholarship Report Library, are not to be shared with others due to copyright issues.

Accessing The Scholarship Report Library:

1. To access The Scholarship Report Library, click on LOGIN here.

2. Then type in the password.  SEPTSCHOLAR25 (only for YRDSB students)

     Password hints:

• The password is UPPERCASE (except for the numbers).
• Try copy and pasting but be sure that you don’t add any extra spaces at the beginning or end of the password.

3. Keep track of scholarship applications using one of two Scholarship Trackers that can be downloaded HERE.

SAVE THE DATE: Post-Secondary Fair – Now with Accessibility Support!

This is a valuable opportunity for students, families, and staff to connect directly with Admissions, Recruitment, Accessibility, and Student Support Offices.

NEW: This is the first time Accessibility and Student Support Offices have been included in these types of events!

Event Details:

• Date: March 25, 2026
• Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
• Location: Sir William Mulock Secondary School (705 Columbus Way, Newmarket, ON L3X 2M7)
• More Info: https://www2.yrdsb.ca/post-secondary-fair

Event Highlights:

• Special Presentation: The Regional Assessment and Resource Centre (RARC) will present on "Accessing Support in Post-Secondary: How Accessibility Services Help You Succeed".
• Participating Institutions: Attendees can meet with representatives from numerous institutions, including Centennial, Durham, George Brown, Georgian, Guelph, Guelph-Humber, Humber, Laurier, McMaster, Seneca, Skilled Trades Ontario, TMU, UofT, Waterloo, Western, and York.

Semester 2 Remote Night School Registration on My Pathway Planner - Opened Dec. 15, 2025

Students who need or are interested in a course that is not available at Woodbridge College can register for a course for Remote Night School offered by the YRDSB. The Remote Night School program is delivered synchronously (Tuesday and Thursday evenings 6:30-9:45). More information about this program, courses offered and how to register using My Pathway Planner is available on the  YRDSB board website and in the Guidance Google Classrooms. Registration for Remote Night school is from December 15, 2025 - February 6, 2026, in My Pathway Planner. Students are encouraged to register early as course offerings are not guaranteed and are subject to sufficient enrollment. Classes run from February 12, 2026 to June 9, 2026. Please see the flyer for more information and course offerings.

Indigenous Languages & International Languages - Program Registration

Courses for Grade 9 to 12 students are delivered remotely once a week for 3.7 hours, across 30 sessions typically held from September to June. Teachers will lead live language lessons in real-time through Google Classroom, providing both synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities during regularly scheduled language classes. Please note that language course offerings may vary based on enrollment.

All program updates will be made on the YRDSB ILIL Program webpage.

We thank you for your ongoing support.  If you have any questions, please email Jennifer Branch, Principal, ILIL at jennifer.branch@yrdsb.ca. Please see the flyer for more information.

Dual Credit

Semester 2 Dual Credit Applications are Open! You can apply to any course you see listed on the flyer. The transportation option is listed beside it. Applications are first come, first served so be sure to fill in the Google Form asap.  If you have any questions, please come visit guidance! 

Aquatic Leadership Program

The Aquatic Leadership Program allows students who have strong Swimming and Leadership skills to pursue their Lifeguarding Qualifications at a reduced cost. Students who meet the eligibility requirements will also earn high school credits towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Registration is now open and details about the program are found in each link below. Part 1 of the program is offered at Health and Active Living Plaza, Town of East Gwillimbury . Part 2 of the program is offered in  Aurora, Richmond Hill, Markham and Vaughan. There is a cost associated with each course.

Fees and Fee Exemption for International Visa Students

The cost for International fee-paying students is $1000 per course. International students may be eligible to be exempt from fees to attend Night School and/or Online Learning. Please refer to the International Student Fee Exemption Continuing Education Course Form for more information.

🌟 Celebrating Our Community Partners

Supporting Student Success Through Cooperative Education

On behalf of Woodbridge College’s Cooperative Education Program, we extend our sincere appreciation to our community partners for the exceptional support, guidance, and mentorship they have provided to this semester’s co-op students. Your commitment to experiential learning has been instrumental in shaping both the personal and professional growth of our learners.

Thanks to your dedication, our students have gained valuable industry knowledge, strengthened their understanding of workplace terminology and tools, and developed hands-on skills that build confidence and competence. By creating opportunities for students to apply classroom learning in real-world settings, you have inspired them to explore their potential and envision meaningful career pathways.

The time, expertise, and encouragement you have invested in our students have not only enhanced their technical abilities but also helped them develop a clearer sense of purpose and direction. Your involvement highlights the powerful impact of strong partnerships between education and industry, and your contributions will leave a lasting impression on these young individuals.

We are truly grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such dedicated and supportive community partners. Thank you for helping empower today’s youth and for playing a vital role in preparing them for a bright and successful future.

Warm regards,

Christina Bazzo and Ashleen Raina

 🔍 Explore the Benefits of Cooperative Education!

As course selection season approaches, this is the perfect time for students to consider the incredible opportunities offered through Woodbridge College’s Cooperative Education Program. Co-op allows students to earn credits while gaining real‑world experience in a workplace aligned with their interests. It’s an excellent way to explore potential career pathways, build professional skills, and make meaningful connections in the community.

Students who participate in Co-op often discover new strengths, develop confidence, and gain valuable insight into future postsecondary and career options. Whether a student is curious about a specific field or still exploring possibilities, Co-op provides hands-on learning that can shape their next steps.

With course selection coming up soon, we encourage interested students to begin conversations now. Speaking with a member of the Co-op Department or their Guidance Counsellor will help ensure they choose courses that support their goals and keep all pathway options open.

Co-op can be a transformative part of a student’s high school journey. Now is the time to explore it.