The Woodbridge Wyvern - Sept. 19, 2025

Helpful Links:

• YRDSB website
• WC Twitter (X)
• WC Instagram

Caring and Safe Schools

• Crimestoppers
• Kids Help Phone
• Report It! (YRDSB)

Grade Nine Family Evening

On Thursday, September 18, families with Grade 9 students visited Woodbridge College and spent time with school staff, learning about high school life and getting a chance to meet with our amazing teachers. 

Important Contacts

• Trustee: Dr. Elizabeth Sinclair - 905-953-0562
• Superintendent: Otilia Olteanu - 905-764-6830
• Principal: Rose Walker - 905-851-2843
• Vice-Principal: George Tsigaridis - 905-851-2843
• Vice-Principal: Derrick Schellenberg - 905-851-2843

YRDSB Resources and Opportunities

Understanding and Navigating the Education System, Families of YRDSB Black Students - September 2025

Understanding and Navigating the Education System - Families of YRDSB Black Students Monthly Virtual Information Session on Monday, September 22, 2025 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Centre for Black Student Excellence - Welcome Event

The Centre for Black Student Excellence is inviting all students, families and staff to an inspiring evening as we begin the school year together. Please join us as we share strategies to support student success. Dinner will be provided. 

• JK-Gr. 3 Early Reading Strategies
• Gr. 4-8 Success with French
• Gr. 7-8 Transitions
• Gr. 9-12 Pathways 

Date: Monday, September 29, 2025 

Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm 

Venue: Keswick H. S. 100 Biscayne Blvd, Keswick 

Please register by September 25, 2025. For further information, please email the Centre for Black Student Excellence (CBSE) at blackstudentexcellence@yrdsb.ca.

Pow Wow 2025

Chippewas of Georgina Island Pow Wow is September 27 and 28, 2025 at Sutton District High School. 

National Day for Truth for Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day

September 30th is a day for Canadians to observe both Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day is a chance to learn about the history and lasting impact of residential schools, which were institutions created to assimilate Indigenous children, erase their cultures, and perpetrate the genocide of Indigenous Peoples. The day also honours the story of residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad, a member of the Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, survivor of the residential school system, and the founder of Orange Shirt Day.

IWALK Month

International Walk to School Month (IWALK) is an annual celebration of active transportation that takes place around the world throughout the month of October. Plan a celebration to encourage and motivate students and families. More information can be found at Ontario Active School Travel.

GIVE (Get Involved Volunteer in Education) Fall 2025 Training Session

We are pleased to invite YRDSB parents, guardians, school assistants, and community members to take part in the fall 2025 GIVE (Get Involved, Volunteer in Education) training program. This engaging and meaningful program is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, tools, and skills to contribute as volunteers in diverse and impactful ways. Through GIVE, participants will strengthen parent, school, community, and student connections, fostering deeper engagement and collaboration.

Location: Teston Village Public School, 80 Murray Farm Lane, Maple L6A 3G1

Dates: October 6 to October 10, 2025 (Monday to Friday)

Time: 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. 

Registration for GIVE sessions (Google Form)

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

Open Mic Night with York Regional Police

York Regional Police Community Services invite youth aged 12-17 to participate in an Open Mic Night October 17 and November 1, 2025, from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Community Safety Village.

School Year Calendar - 2025-2026

The YRDSB 2025-2026 school year calendars have been approved by the Ministry. These calendars may be accessed on the YRDSB website.

Attendance at WC

Attendance Absence Reporting

Parents/guardians, please email attendance absences to woodbridgecollege.attendance@yrdsb.ca. Please note, EDSBY is not monitored for student absenteeism.

Health Care Plans for Students

If your child has a serious life-threatening allergy or medical condition, please inform the office to complete the appropriate medical forms. There are students and staff members in our school who have life-threatening allergies to nuts and other allergens. To help create an allergen-safe environment, do not bring nuts or nut products to school. 

It is critical that parents and guardians share information with us about students’ serious or life-threatening medical conditions or other health-related matters so that we can create fulsome Health Care Plans that help keep students safe. We encourage students, who are able, to contribute to the creation of these plans, too. 

Please contact the office for the forms. Completed forms and medication can be placed in a sealable bag, with the student’s name marked on the bag and left in the Main Office As always, please contact us with any questions or concerns.

School Council Updates

School Council Meeting

Our next School Council Meeting is on Monday, October 6, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. 

The following parents were elected to positions on our 2025-2026 Council:

Chairperson: Manjeet Singh

Co-Chairperson: Sheetal Thadani

Treasurer: Dmitry Antropov

Secretary: Julie Lee

Communications Officer: Sheetal Thadani

Guidance Corner

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

Timetable for 2025-2026

Timetable changes are now complete, if a student needs to drop a course they must make a guidance appointment with their alpha guidance counsellor.

Night School Registration - Now Open on My Pathway Planner

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 website and in the Guidance Google Classrooms. Please note that Online Night School is for adults 18 years of age or older, who are not attending a regular day school program.

Online Learning Night School

An asynchronous online learning model using D2L will take place that may also include an In-Person 30% Final Culminating Activity or Exam (as determined by the classroom teacher). 

• Courses are for students who are not registered in a day school with another publicly funded board
• Fall session will run from September 29, 2025 - January 21, 2026
• Registration opens on August 25 and closes on October 6. Please see Online Learning Night School Registration for further details
• Course offerings are available on the YRDSB Learning Night School Course List
• Contact online.learning@yrdsb.ca for more information

Thrive Program

After school opportunity for ALL WC students! This program is free to WC students and will last 7 weeks. Dates and times will be posted soon. Please fill out the Google Form below.

Thrive Youth is a weekly youth program designed to cultivate resilience, develop key life skills, and promote a balanced lifestyle. By bringing the community together and bridging the gap between youth and sport, we aim to provide a transformative experience that inspires and empowers young people to thrive in all aspects of their lives. Thrive will include guest speakers, snacks, and open gym basketball! To sign up, please complete the Google Form as space is limited

Volunteer Opportunities

Woodbridge Fair

Student Volunteers for the Fair October 12 - 14. 

To register please fill out the Registration Google Form. If you have any questions, please email us at WoodbridgeFairVolunteer@gmail.com. 

Local and Regional Councillor 

Mario G. Racco, our office is looking for volunteers to help distributing flyers. Students interested in receiving volunteer hours please contact Alessandro Casbarro 905-832-2281, ext. 8380, alessandro.casbarro@vaughan.ca, City of Vaughan, 2141 Major Mackenzie Drive, Vaughan, Ontario, L6A 1T1

York Region Educational Services

YRES is hosting a Volunteer Fair and a series of Networking Events across Ontario, including Markham, Mississauga, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Ottawa, Hamilton, and more. These events give youth aged 12 to 30 the chance to explore meaningful volunteer placements, connect with mentors and peers, and earn volunteer hours while building their skills.

Potential Grad Assembly

Students who are in grade 12 and will earn 30 credits by the end of June will participate in a potential grad assembly. Students will learn about how to apply to post-secondary (university, college, workplace and apprenticeship). This assembly is during period 2 on Thursday, September 25, 2025.

Scholarship Search Engines

School-Nominated Scholarship Opportunities

There are many scholarship opportunities available for Students Pursuing Post-Secondary Studies in the Fall of 2024. Please be mindful of deadlines and requirements for each scholarship you apply for. Note that some require school nominations, which means you must meet internal deadlines set at WC to be considered. If you have any questions, please book an appointment to speak to a guidance counsellor.

Students will need to complete a WC School Nomination Form as well as the application form.

University of Toronto Book Award 2024 / 2025

To receive this award, you must be nominated by your school. 

• The internal deadline is October 6th, 2025 by 3pm.
• We will inform you by October 10th if you are chosen as our school nominee.
• We choose 1 student.
• If chosen, you will be required to submit your application to U of T by the end of the day on National Scholarship is October 17, 2025 (11:59pm EDT).
• The student selected for the Book Award will automatically be invited to apply for the National Scholarship Award.
• To apply, please complete the application package for the National Scholarship Program. We will use this as the basis for the selection process.
• Print off a copy of your application and hand it into the guidance office. National Scholarship Program Application.
• You may apply for the National Scholarship Program without a school nomination. The deadline is October 31st, 2025.

Queen's University Major Admissions Scholarships 2024 / 2025

To be considered for the Queen's Chancellor Award, you must be nominated by your school. 

• Three nominees will be chosen.
• The internal deadline is November 20, 2025 by 3pm.
• Submit your application package to the guidance office.
• In order to apply for any of the major awards, you must apply to your program at Queen's through OUAC by November 20th at the latest. Only then will you receive your access to SOLUS (the Queen's internal platform) to which you will upload your application (by the December 8, 2025 deadline) for consideration.

Schulich Leader Scholarship 2024 / 2025

To be considered for the scholarship, you must be nominated by your school. 

• The internal deadline is January 28, 2026.
• We must submit the name of our school nominee by January 28, 2026.
• School nominee must then submit their Schulich Leader Scholarship Package to the Scholarship Committee by February 18, 2026.

Student Eligibility Criteria

• To be entrepreneurial-minded and plan to pursue a career in one or more of the following focus areas: technology, engineering, entrepreneurship, and business enterprise, applied scientific research. Check if your program is eligible here.
• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Graduate high school in 2024/2025

You must meet at least two of the following criteria:

• Academic Excellence
• Leadership (entrepreneurial or community)
• Financial need

Please fill out the application and hand it in to Guidance prior to the internal deadline.

Please note you will need two single-page letters of reference that include email and telephone contact information for verification, as well as your credit counselling summary will be required if you get chosen.

Western National Scholarship Program

To be considered for the scholarship program, you must be nominated by your school .

• Four nominees can be chosen.
• The internal deadline is February 6, 2026 by 3:00 p.m.
• To apply, please fill out the scholarship application and provide a copy to the Guidance Office.
• If successful, you will be notified by February 14, 2026. The deadline to submit your final application to Western is February 16, 2025. 

Schulich Builders Scholarship for Skilled Trades

To be considered for the Scholarship, you must be nominated by your school. Five nominees can be chosen. Nominees must be enrolling in a full-time eligible skilled trade one-year certificate or two-year diploma program at a participating college starting in Fall 2024 The internal deadline is March 24, 2026 To apply, please fill out the scholarship application and provide a copy to the guidance office. If successful, you will be notified by April 5th, 2026.

Co-op and Pathway Opportunities

Dear Woodbridge College Parent/Guardian Community, 

Welcome to an exciting new school year in our Cooperative Education Program! We’re thrilled to have your students on board as they embark on this enriching journey of experiential learning. Over the past few weeks, our co-op students have successfully completed the pre-placement component of the course, which included resume writing, mock interviews, and essential health and safety training with certifications. Many have just begun their placements this past week and are already thriving in their new roles. Our students are gaining hands-on experience across a wide range of sectors including medical clinics, dental offices, classrooms as educational assistants, pharmaceutical labs, automotive shops, restaurants, and retail stores. We invite you to follow along and celebrate their growth by checking out Woodbridge College’s Instagram, where we’ll be showcasing their experiences throughout the semester. Here's to a year of learning, discovery, and professional development!

Accelerated OYAP and Apprenticeship Information Night

Join us to learn about Apprenticeship Pathways and the Accelerated OYAP program! You should attend this information evening if: 

• You are a Grade 12 student who is planning on entering the Skilled Trades;
• You are a Grade 10 or 11 student who would like more information about this program to better prepare for this pathway, or;
• You are the parent or guardian of a Grade 9 to 12 student who is considering a career in the skilled trades

Learn about how to start an apprenticeship in one of these skilled trades while still in high school!

• Auto Body Technician
• Automotive Service Technician
• Baker
• Carpenter
• Construction Craft Worker
• Cook
• Drywall Finisher and Plasterer
• Electrician
• Floor Covering Installer
• Hairstylist
• Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
• Sheet Metal Worker
• Plumber
• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic
• Truck and Coach Technician

Join us on Wednesday, October 15 at 6:30 p.m. 

Register (Google Form)

Email questions to: pathways.yrdsb@gapps.yrdsb.ca

Timetable:

6:30 p.m.: Overview of OYAP Program with YRDSB

7:00 p.m.: Breakout Information Session for Skilled Trade Programs with the Training Delivery Agents

8:00 p.m.: Closing Q&A with YRDSB

Mental Health Supports

Children's Mental Health Awareness Week

Each year, Ontarians mark the first full week of May as Children's Mental Health Week. 

Policy Update from the Ministry of Education

Dear Families,

The Ontario Ministry of Education released Policy/Program Memorandum 128 in the fall of 2024, which included a directive to school boards to set out enforcement mechanisms to address the possession, use, and provision of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, nicotine products, recreational cannabis, alcohol, and illegal drugs. In support of a comprehensive approach, we are pleased to announce that in the coming months, vape-detecting devices will be installed at all YRDSB secondary schools.

Our schools continue to provide education and support regarding the harmful impact of these products. Please see the resources listed below. 

Resources for Families:

QUASH

A Logical Plan for Quitting - Free smoking and vaping cessation app (co-designed by youth for youth). 

School Mental Health Ontario

Vaping: What you need to know - General information about vaping; outlines important facts, associated risks, and additional resources to support educators and families in having informed conversations with students.

York Region Public Health

Vape Facts: What You Need to Know - a website containing YRPH anti-vaping campaign videos and vaping facts

Vaping and E-Cigarettes - a website continuing YRPH information on vaping and health risks

Inclusive School and Community Services

respectful, supportive, and welcoming to all. This includes building and maintaining strong partnerships with parents, community, community organizations, and social service agencies to ensure the Board is able to meet the diverse needs of our school communities. See the YRDSB website for details.

Services to Support Mental Health

• Family Services of York Region - 905-883-6572
• Trans Lifeline
• YRDSB Trans Student Support Group - Bi-weekly meetings 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. - please contact communitycareteam@yrdsb.ca. Also offered in: Ukrainian, Russian, Dari, Mandarin, and Arabic. 

Academic Supports

YRDSB Student Tools and Supports

Culturally Relevant Mental Health Supports

We recognize the importance of supporting our students, families, and staff during these challenging times. While many remember and reflect on current events, in response, the following culturally responsive supports are available to our families:

TAIBU Community Health Care

• Clinic: 416-644-3536
• Taibu provides intersectional, equity-based, and culturally affirming practices for YRDSB students who self-identify as Black;
• Individual Therapeutic Counselling for individuals and parents, families and caregivers
• Referrals for individual counselling van be made via your school's Social Worker or Psychology Services Professional.
• Group workshops for students (after school). Inquiries regarding potential workshops can be addressed to: Brittany Creighton, BSW, MSW, RSW Diabetes Education Program Social Worker and Health Promotor and Wrap Around Services TAIBU. 

Black Youth Helpline

• Call 416-285-9944 - Toll Free 1-833-294-8650
• Black Youth Helpline Contact

Harriet's Youth Support Line

• 24-hour emergency and crisis response line: 1-877-695-2673
• Text messaging is available for young people who do not feel like speaking to someone but are still in need of help
• Contact info@tubmancommunity.org or jdunn@peacebuilders.ca or additional inquiries.

NACCA - Newmarket African Caribbean Canadian Association

• Call 905-781-6222

Tropicana

• Call 416-439-9009

Sikh Family Helpline

• Call 1-800-551-9128

Naseeha Helpline

• 1-866-627-3342

2SLGBTQ+ Youthline

PFLAG Canada York Region

• 1-866-YR-PFLAG (977-3524)

Attention Families: Student Loaner Devices

Students can request a long-term loaner laptop from the library, should families require a device.