The Woodbridge Wyvern - Jan. 9, 2026

We would like to welcome Maria Maiato our Interim Principal and Antonietta Grieco our Interim Vice Principal for the month of January.

Grade 9 Math EQAO Participation

All students working towards the Grade 9 mathematics (MTH1W) credit are required to participate in the assessment. 

All students eligible for the assessment, including English language learners, students with special education needs and mature students, must be accounted for. There are no deferrals or exemptions for the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics. 

Exam Preparation

Student Success has created a few resources we wanted to pass along to help support students during exam season. We know many students are overwhelmed as they have never been through this before! 

1.) This slide deck on Study Strategies goes through different study strategies and ideas for students on how to study and how to approach this stressful season. 

2.) There are peer tutors for math available for booking through this link: https://wcmc.netlify.app/ 

Please carefully review the exam information provided below. Exams begin on Thursday, January 22nd and conclude on Wednesday, January 28th.

Student Exam Front       

Student Exam Back

Wellness Committee

The Wellness Committee is running an event in the cafeteria to help with stress relief called Wellness Week during January 14 to January 16th. There will be a variety of activities including board games, colouring, ping pong and tea time as well as healthy snacks.

January 

We recognize the following;

Braille Literacy Month

Tamil Heritage Month

Students Can Vote Now For Student Trustees

Students in Grades 5–12 can help choose the student trustees who will represent their voice at the school board.

 From January 12-18, students can vote for the student trustee candidate who will represent our area in the final election taking place February 17-20. Voting closes January 18, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.

How to Vote

Students will receive an email in their GAPPS account with:

• A link to candidate information
• A voting form

Please remind your child to check their email and submit their vote.

Student Trustees

Student trustees play an important role representing students in the school board. They network with students, staff and the Board of Trustees to share information that gives students a meaningful voice. Learn more about the role and the election process at www.yrdsb.ca/studenttrustees. 

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

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 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 gr. 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.

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.

Course Selection Presentations:

Course selection presentations happened for students in Grade 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

Course selection support night for students and their families 

Thursday, February 19 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

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 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 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 serve 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.

Exploring Skilled Trades Pathways in Grade 10

On Thursday, January 8, our Grade 10 students had the opportunity to hear from a guest speaker from Skills Ontario. The presentation highlighted the wide range of exciting careers available in the skilled trades and technologies, emphasizing the value of hands-on learning and the development of essential skills.

Students were introduced to several pathways they can pursue throughout high school, including the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), Dual Credit opportunities, and the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM). The session encouraged students to reflect on their future goals and consider the many advantages of exploring a career in the skilled trades.

Across Ontario, skilled trades continue to offer strong employment prospects and in‑demand career opportunities. Current job postings highlight the need for trained professionals in areas such as:

• Electricians, including roles in mining and industrial settings, where employers are seeking candidates with strong technical skills and safety training.
• Construction and maintenance trades, which remain essential to Ontario’s growing infrastructure and development needs.
• Power engineers and manufacturing technicians, reflecting the province’s expanding manufacturing and energy sectors.

According to Skilled Trades Ontario, there are over 140 skilled trades to explore, many of which offer the chance to earn while you learn through apprenticeship pathways and lead to stable, well‑paid careers that support Ontario’s economy. Nationally, skilled trades continue to be recognized as high‑demand fields with more than 300 designated trades across Canada, including 54 Red Seal trades that support mobility and long‑term career growth.

Students interested in learning more about skilled trades pathways or upcoming opportunities are encouraged to connect with a member of our Co‑op Department or Guidance Team.