Elder's Mills P.S.

(905) 893-1631 elders.mills.ps@yrdsb.ca
YRDSB Board Logo YRDSB Board Logo

Week 2 @ EMPS - Friday, September 12, 2025

School Start up Package -  Start-Up Forms: 

All families are asked to review the School Start-up Package linked in the Newsletter Attachments folder.  

This start-up package includes important information about our school, and we  encourage you to review it.  Each year we ask families to complete some important forms to indicate they have reviewed and understand school and Board policies, and to indicate permissions. 

This week, you received an email from the school board with a link to these forms.  Please take the time to review and complete the forms. Paper copies were sent home last week if you prefer to complete and submit a paper copy. All forms are due on Friday, September 19, 2025. 

Terry Fox Run

 

 

Terry Fox School Run @ Elder’s Mills PS:  

 

We are excited to announce that our school will be proudly taking part in the 2025 Terry Fox School Run, scheduled to take place on Thursday, September 25, 2025.  For families who wish to donate, please do so using the website link: https://schools.terryfox.ca/104877  We hope that we can continue to show the great strength and resiliency of our school community through Terry’s message of hope and strength.  As of this communication we have raised $543. 

Our Donation Drive Goal is to raise $2,100 and we are adding some fun competition to get us there! 

  • The grade 3-4, Grade 5 - 6 and Grade 7 - 8 classes will compete to see who can bring in the most donations as a class.  
    • The top class in each group will win a pizza lunch!
  • But that's not all... if we reach our $2,100 goal by September 24 (the night before our School Run), Mme Korinis and M. Meagher have something up their sleeves that will have the whole school talking!  

Let's rise to the challenge! 

 

Hot Lunch Programs:

 

The hot lunch fundraising program will begin September 22nd, 2025.  We are offering options through Lunch Box on School Cash online, Monday to Friday, in addition to an option on Wednesday from BBQ Express.  

The LunchBox options listed below can be placed weekly by Sunday evening.  Follow this link to School Cash online: https://yrdsb.schoolcashonline.com/

The menu options at this time include: 

Monday - Subway

Tuesday - Gino's Pizza

Wednesday - Astoria Shish Kebob House

Thursday - Hero Burger 

Friday - Bar Burrito 

 

New this season: 

BBQ Express items are available on Wednesdays for a limited time, purchased directly through School cash online.  Details outlined below: 

BBQ EXPRESS - $12.00

BBQ EXPRESS for the month of October ONLY!

We are so excited to introduce for the first time, lunch from BBQ Express.
In addition to the LunchBox option, this lunch will be offered on Wednesdays for the month of October ONLY.

EMPS will offer a BBQ Chicken lunch on Wednesdays starting on October 1st through to October 29. 

This is a five week pilot project and extending this lunch item during the school year will depend on our families' responses.

Families have the option to purchase: 

  •  an individual portion sized,  lightly breaded BBQ Chicken breast, cooked on a skewer, with rice and potatoes. Chicken is Halal and the skewer is removed;  or
  • same as above as a gluten-free option where the Chicken is not breaded

Please go to School Cash online if you are interested in placing an order.  
Please not the BBQ express is a 5-week commitment.  

PAYMENT DEADLINE  for BBQ Express is September 28, midnight. with delivery on October 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29. 

Late Orders and Refunds cannot be accommodated.

 

All funds raised will support the school's fundraising plan which includes enhancements to school programs in Literacy, STEM, Music, Physical Education, Athletics, Clubs and Activities and more! 

Thank you for your support! 

 

Safety Week - September 22 to October 2

 

The York Region School Board is committed to ensuring the safety of students, staff, and visitors in the event of an emergency situation. As such, during Safety Week (Monday, September 22 to Friday, October 3, 2025) and throughout the school year, schools in our Board practise various safety drills, including Fire Drills, Lockdown Drills, Hold and Secure Drills and Bomb Threat Drills. It is critical that all members of our school community become familiar with emergency protocols as they are designed to keep all of us safe at school. Please refer to Board Policy #669.0 for more information about Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management.

Practising drills may create some anxiety for some students. If you are concerned about how these situations might impact the mental health and well-being of your child, please contact school administrators, as we have school mental health professionals available to support your child.

General Supports for Emotional Well-Being

 

Meet the Teacher! 

 

On Thursday evening October 9,  you are invited to join us for Meet the Teacher Night.  We are so excited to be opening up our doors to our families this evening! 

Teachers will open their classrooms from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.  for families to visit.  Families will have the opportunity to meet the teacher and learn about classroom routines, expectations, hear about the learning themes and goals for the grade, and to see the classroom.  

 

School Council 

 

School councils play an important role in building school, family and community partnerships by providing input into relevant Board and school-level decisions and by encouraging the involvement of all members of the school community in support of student learning, achievement and well-being.  

If you are interested in holding a leadership position on our School Council or nominating someone, please complete the School Council Nomination Form and submit it to the school. You may also contact the office to request a form.  Please complete and submit this form by September 19th, 2025.  Paper copies will be sent home with the School Start Up forms referred to earlier in this communication. 

Join us for the first School Council meeting! At this meeting the School Council executive and members will be established.  All parents are invited to attend this and all School Council meetings.  You do not need to hold a formal position to be present, engaged and involved!  We look forward to seeing you then and there.  

Date:  Thursday, September 25, 2025 

Time:  6:30 - 8:00 

In-person Location: Elder’s Mills school library 

Virtual Location:  connect by virtual meet link to be shared on the afternoon of the meeting date. 

 

YRDSB September Math Newsletter:  Engaging in SPARKING JOY at Home

 

Sparking joy in math conversations at home is about building curiosity, confidence, and connection with mathematics. 

When you engage in Math Talk at home be sure to consider:

Ask Open-Ended Questions: Instead of asking "What's the answer?", try "How did you figure that out?" or "Can you think of another way to solve it?" This encourages thinking, not just memorization.

Focus on the "Why": Encourage your child to explain their thinking. Even if they get a wrong answer, understanding why they thought that way is invaluable for learning. "Tell me about your strategy."

Embrace Mistakes: Let your child know that mistakes are part of learning and a chance to explore new ideas. "That's an interesting way to think about it! Let's try another approach."

Try out some of the family activities at home with students: 

Calendar Count: 

  • “What do you notice about today’s date? Is it even or odd? What patterns can you find in the numbers?
  • Today is the 24th. What are all the ways you can make 24 using addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division?”
  • You could start each day by looking at the date, weather, and counting days of school

Dice Games: 

  • Roll two dice and see if you can get them to be equal
  • Roll two dice. Create an equation using the numbers to get as close to 20 as possible. What operation(s) will you use? Can you do it another way?
  • “What’s the highest score you can make in 5 rolls? What’s the lowest? What strategies work best?”

Geometry Around Us: 

  • Go on a walk and spot 2D shapes in your home or neighbourhood.
  • Find a structure made of 3D shapes. What shapes do you see? Why do you think the designer chose those shapes?
  • Sort the shapes you see into categories: regular/irregular, symmetrical/not symmetrical, curved/straight edges. Can some belong in more than one category?

Math Puzzles: 

  • A farmer has chickens and cows. You count 20 legs. How many of each animal could there be?
  • I’m thinking of a number that’s greater than 20, less than 50, and divisible by both 4 and 6. What could it be? How do you know?”
  • If a pattern continues like this: 2, 6, 12, 20, ___, ___, what are the next two numbers? What’s the rule

Would You Rather? Math Edition: 

  • Would you rather earn $5 a day for 30 days or $2 the first day and double it each day?
  • Would you rather split a large pizza into 6 slices or 8 slices if you’re sharing with two friends? Why?
  • Would you rather walk 3 blocks to a store that gives you 20% off, or stay closer and pay full price for a $50 item? Explain your thinking.

By taking these small steps, you'll not only strengthen your child’s mathematical understanding but also ignite a lifelong love for learning. Over the course of the year we hope to provide supports and resources to help your family spark joy through math at home. We're excited to share more ideas next month!

 

What’s Happening at Elder’s Mills ! 

 

School logo

Here is a list of some of the extra-curricular activities that have begun at EMPS! 

  • Cross Country Teams are practicing for the upcoming meet on October 16
  • Soaring Eagles Concert Band rehearsals have begun Grades 7 - 8
  • Grade 8 Student announcers 

Thank you to teachers for volunteering to coach and to  run these activities and events! 

 

Wait.. there's more... Click on the link below for access to flyers about opportunities in YRDSB, Elder's Mills and the community: 

Week 2 @ EMPS - Flyers 

 

 

On the Horizon... 

September - Courage

19 Powley Day 

23 - 25 Rosh Hashanah

25 Terry Fox School Run (29th Rain Date)

26 PA Day - No classes for Students 

30 Orange Shirt Day 

30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 

October

7 Photo Day 

9 Meet the Teacher night