E-bulletin - September 25, 2025

Important Dates

Stem Update

Many thanks to all families who submitted their expression of interest in our STEM certificate. We will be reaching out to families to confirm registration and review criteria. Students will be invited to join a Google Classroom so that they can view opportunities that will support completion. Grade 10 students who expressed interest last year will need to have met the requirements for Grade 9 in order to be registered. Students are reminded to check their GAPPS accounts for more details and updates coming soon. 

Medical Peril

Medical Peril

If your child has a medical condition including but not limited to one or more of the following...

• Anaphylaxis
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Seizures

...please complete the appropriate Health Care Plan and return all forms WITH the appropriate medication to the school with your child. The form and medication can be placed in a sealable bag and submitted to the main office. Please write the student’s name on the bag.

Mid Semester Reporting, Full Disclosure, and Post-Secondary Applications

Mid-Semester Reporting, Full Disclosure, and Post-Secondary Applications

• Semester 1 Midterm Reporting - All students

York Region District School Board will be issuing electronic copies of the Semester 1 midterm report cards between November 19-21. The electronic copy will be available to parents/caregivers through the new family portal, and students will continue to access it through their GAPPs account. Instructions will be sent out by email to both parents/caregivers and to students prior to distribution. For families who do not yet have a Family Dashboard account, you can sign up for an account at any time at family.yrdsb.ca. You can find information on how to create an account on the Board website or in this instructional video.

• Full Disclosure for Grade 11 and Grade 12 Courses

For the 2025-2026 school year, the course withdrawal date (Full Disclosure) will be at least 5 instructional days from the last possible date the mid-semester report is issued. The Full Disclosure date for Grade 11 and Grade 12 courses is November 28. If a student withdraws from a Grade 11 or 12 course on or prior to November 28, then the course and mark will not be recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript. If a student withdraws from a Grade 11 or 12 course after the Full Disclosure date, a withdrawal (W) is entered in the credit column, and the student’s mark in the course at the time of withdrawal will be recorded as a percentage in the achievement column of the transcript.

• OUAC and OCAS Upload for Potential Graduates

Identifying information will be shared through a secure transmission to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) and the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) to support students with their application to post-secondary institutions. Potential graduates who are not planning to apply to an Ontario college or university this school year, and who do not wish to have their data shared, must notify their guidance counsellor by October 9. Semester 1 midterm marks will be shared with OCAS and OUAC on November 15. Students in Grade 11 and 12 courses will be notified of their report card mark by their classroom teacher by November 11. Potential graduates who are applying to an Ontario college and/or university and who are planning to drop a course are encouraged to connect with their guidance counsellor in advance of these dates. Guidance appointments can be booked through TeachAssist.

Please review the timelines below:

• October 10

Deadline for potential graduates who are not planning on applying to an Ontario college or university to notify their Guidance Counsellor if they do not want their information shared with OCAS/OUAC this school year.

• October 14-17

Students will receive a secure communication in their GAPPS email which provides information needed for their applications, including their OEN (required for college applications only) and school MIDENT# (BSID).

• November 12

Teachers will share mid-semester mark updates with students in Grade 11 and 12 courses.

• November 12 -14

Potential graduates applying to an Ontario college or university who are planning to drop a course, and do not wish to have the course mark shared with OUAC/OCAS are advised to connect with their Guidance Counsellor by November 14.

• November 14

School will upload all Semester 1 midterm marks for all grade 11 and 12 courses to OCAS.

• November 20

School will upload all Semester 1 midterm marks for all grade 11 and 12 courses to OUAC.

• November 28

This is the full disclosure date, which is the final day that a student, in a Grade 11 or 12 course, may drop a course in order that it not be recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript.

We recognize that you and your child may have questions regarding this information.

If it is helpful for you to connect with a staff member from the school, please contact the Guidance Department to discuss your questions.

Vaping

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, vape-detecting devices have been installed at all YRDSB secondary schools. In cases where detecting devices are activated, we will investigate, contact parents, and apply consequences accordingly. Our schools continue to provide education and support regarding the harmful impact of these products. The information provided below by York Region Public Health will support conversations between you and your teen. Quitting vaping and/or tobacco is one of the best things anyone can do to improve their health. If you or someone you know needs help, call York Region Access York at 1-877-464-9675 TTY (for those with hearing disabilities) 1-866-512-6228 or email tobaccofreeliving@york.ca.

Talking to Youth About Vaping - For Families from York Region Public Health

There are many reasons why youth may start to use vapes. Friends may pressure others to start using vape products. Youth may see family members vape or smoke and imitate that behaviour. Additionally, the last few years may have been extraordinarily difficult for many youth and they may think that vapes and nicotine products will help them cope with stress. Whether you are a parent, guardian or teacher, starting a discussion with your kids about vaping may not be easy but having the conversation early about drugs and experimenting is important so that youth can get the real facts.

Parents and Caregivers play an important role

The adolescent period is a time of critical growth and development making youth more susceptible to the effects of nicotine, the addictive substance found in many vapes. Nicotine can interfere with teenage brain development and can cause changes in the brain affecting learning, memory and concentration, making youth more susceptible to other substance misuse and risk-taking behaviours.

Some tips for starting a conversation about vapes and youth vaping include:

• Get the facts about the health risks and laws around vaping before your talk – information and products change quickly so conversations should reflect the child’s growing maturity and the pressures they may face
• Keep your talk informal and look for natural opportunities for discussion (e.g., a new vape store opens near you)
• Ask questions and try to be empathetic about what they know and how they feel about vaping
• Share some vaping facts with them
• If their friends use vapes/e-cigarettes, disapprove of the use of these products rather than disapproving of the friends themselves

Remember: listening is just as important as talking.

For more information and tips about how to talk with youth, read Talking with your teen about vaping: a tip sheet for parents and visit Tobacco, Vaping And Youth.

When talking with youth about tobacco products and vaping, it is important to:

• Understand tobacco and vaping from a youth’s point of view – youth understand the issue differently based on their developmental stage.
• Talk about the tactics used by the tobacco industry to make tobacco and vaping appealing to youth. Explain how the industry tempts youth to buy tobacco products and/or engage in behaviours that might be harmful to their health.
• Role play, practice and provide options about how to refuse tobacco products to help youth prepare for situations involving tobacco and vaping with their peers.
• Equip youth with the information, skills and motivation they need to make informed and healthy choices.
• Discuss vape-free laws so youth understand that it is illegal to sell or supply vapes to anyone under 19 years of age and that it is illegal to vape anywhere you can’t smoke cigarettes, including on or around school and community centre properties, among other places.

School Reminders

SAC Fee

Thornlea offers a variety of extra-curricular activities that enhance student learning throughout the school year. The Student Activity Council (SAC) fee of $35 allows us to enrich the learning experience and engage students beyond the classroom.

This fee is used to support the following:

• A variety of club resources, activities, displays, and festivals (30 - 40 active clubs and affinity groups)
• Arts performances and showcases, celebrations, awards, assemblies, and rallies
• Annual Wellness Fair, wellness activities, and Healthy Schools initiatives
• Theme and spirit days
• STEM activities and contests
• Sustainability and conservation initiatives
• Culture Day
• Thornstock
• Transportation subsidies

The $35 SAC fee allows us to offer all of the above.

Also, in the 2025/26 school year, we would like to introduce a discount on Homecoming (Semi-Formal) and Prom tickets for those who have paid their SAC fee.

Thank you for your ongoing support in making Thornlea a welcoming and vibrant learning community.

School Cash Online is convenient, saves time, and reduces paper. With School Cash Online, you no longer need to send cash or cheques to school. It takes less than 5 minutes to register. Parents who opt to participate will receive notification via email of student fees owed (both required and optional), and can make secure online payments by credit card or Interac and receive a receipt. Please note that all purchases on School Cash Online are subject to a 3% fee.

If you have not yet registered for School Cash Online, please visit the website https://yrdsb.schoolcashonline.com and click “Register.”

If you require assistance, select the GET HELP option in the top right hand corner of the screen or contact School Cash Online – Parent Help Desk at 1-866-961-1803 or parenthelp@schoolcashonline.com.

Attendance

Our main office is here to help you regarding student absences. Here are a few notes:

Edsby does not support absence reporting for high school students.

To report a student's absence, parents or guardians can either email thornleass.attendance@yrdsb.ca or call 905-889-9696.

When sending an email or leaving a message, please provide the following details:

1) Student Name (First & Last name)

2) Student #

3) Current Grade

4) Absence date and/or period

5) Reason

ANTICIPATED ABSENCE FORM

If the student will be absent for 3 or more consecutive days, please come to the office to obtain the anticipated absence form. It must be completed by teachers and then signed by the parent. This form needs to be returned to the office BEFORE the absence begins.