Celebrating Our Success: School Spirit Assembly
On Thursday, students and staff at Elder's Mills took the time to recognize the incredible ways our students have been involved, contributed, and grown over the past few months. The School Spirit Assembly was a wonderful showcase of our community's talent and dedication.
- Athletics: Highlighting achievements where we’ve seen strong teamwork and commitment across our teams.
- Music & Arts: Our music program continues to bring energy and creativity to our school. A special highlight was the performance by the Soaring Eagles, who entertained us with their Gold-winning number from the recent Music Festival!
- STEM: Recognizing achievements in innovation and the York Region Skills Challenge.
- Reflective Learning: Our student emcees guided us through reflections on Black History Month, where classes explored stories and voices that help us better understand the world and each other.
- Environmental Action: We celebrated events like our Eco Fair, highlighting how students take initiative to make a real impact.
We have so much to celebrate. Way to go, Eagles!
EMPS EcoFair & Earth Hour!
EMPS Students will be representing our community at this year's Earth Hour Vaughan City Hall evening event on Saturday March 28th, 2026, at Vaughan City Hall. Everyone is invited to attend.
Our students have been working hard to make their Science projects, the school's Eco banner as well as their "lightbulb" energy pledges. Winners of the EcoFair and the city's Banner Competition will be announced at this even! Please come show your support at Vaughan City Hall and enjoy the energy exhibits, live musical entertainment provided by our EMPS Eco Fair Band, lantern-making workshop, guided nighttime walk, free hot chocolate, giveaways, prizes and much more! We hope to see you all there!
The event schedule is as follows:
Indoor Exhibits: 6:30 – 8:00
Formal Opening: 8:00 - 8:15
Outdoors, Gather, Guided Lantern Walk: 8:15-9:15
Indoors, Refreshments, Concert Band Performs: 9:00- 9:30
Stage proceedings, Awards & Draw for Prizes: 9:30 - 10:00
This is a public event. Any EMPS students participating must be accompanied by their parent/guardian. Full details can be found on the City of Vaughan website: https://www.vaughan.ca/about-city-vaughan/departments/environmental-sustainability/earth-hour
Families Invited to Provide Input into YRDSB Budget
From March 24-April 17, YRDSB is inviting families to share their input in the annual budget consultation. Your feedback will help inform budget decisions for the 2026-2027 school year.How to Participate:
- Complete the online survey (translated into 17 languages)
- Join the virtual consultation on April 13, 2026 at 7 p.m. Details are available on the YRDSB website.
Your voice matters. Please take a few minutes to participate and help shape next year's budget. Questions about YRDSB's budget process can be directed to budget@yrdsb.ca.
Snack Shop opening soon!
Student Advisory Group Snack Shop
The Student Advisory Group (S.A.G.) at Elder’s Mills is excited to launch the Snack Shop to support Graduation activities and the local youth charity, 360°kids.
When: Week of April 7 - Week of June 8
Payment: Vouchers only (available in $20 bundles via School Cash Online). First round of voucher sales closes Monday, March 30. Sales will reopen every two weeks for the duration of this campaign. Note: No cash sales; maximum 2 items per day.
Please note that any unused funds remaining on vouchers at the end of the program will not be refunded.
Refer to poster above for more information.
Thank you for your support!
Hot Lunch Updates
Hot lunches continue via the Lunch Box Program on School Cash Online.
X-Press BBQ , now moved to Thursdays and available via School Cash online. The first delivery is Thursday, April 2nd. Ordering is now open and closes Sunday, March 29!
Hazard House @ Elder's Mills PS
As we continue our commitment to fostering a safe and informed learning environment and community, we are excited to bring to your attention the Hazard House Program, a dynamic and engaging initiative by Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service that has proven instrumental in educating students in Grades 3-8 about essential fire safety messages.
The Hazard House is an interactive and educational tool that simulates real-life fire scenarios in a controlled environment. Topics covered include escape planning, how and when to call 9-1-1, and a variety of fire prevention strategies. The house, along with the age specific presentations, offers a hands-on and memorable learning experience that equips students with practical knowledge on identifying and mitigating potential hazards. The presentation also covers a variety of curriculum expectations, including but not limited to:
Health and physical education curriculum expectations:
• Grade 3: B3.1 demonstrate behaviours and apply procedures that maximize safety and lessen the risk of injury
• Grade 4: D2.2 apply a decision-making process (personal safety and injury prevention)
• Grade 5: D1.1 identify trusted people that can assist with personal injury emergencies
• Grade 6: D3.2 demonstrate an understanding of safety practices and appropriate procedures when responding to a dangerous situation
• Grade 7 and 8: D2.2 demonstrate the ability to assess situations for potential dangers
Vaughn Fire and Rescue Services will be here at Elder’s Mills on Thursday, April 2rd to deliver this program to Grade 3-8 students.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school’s office directly for more information.
School Council
A Glowing Success!
A huge thank you to our incredible School Council for sponsoring today’s "Glow in the Dark" dance and activities! It was wonderful to see the gym transformed and the library organized with games and activities. These memorable experiences are only possible because of your hard work and dedication to our school community. We truly appreciate your ongoing support in making Elder’s Mills such a vibrant place to learn and play!
Coffee Chat:
Tuesday, April 7, at 11:00 a.m. at the school.
Topics: Math including resources, supports and conversations about how we can support math learning at home.
Bring your own treats; coffee and tea are provided.
We look forward to seeing you then and there.
Volunteer/Get Involved:
The School Council invites you to get involved. Please reach out if you are interested in volunteering to support the upcoming Spring Fair event planned for May 21, 2026. Email School Council at elders.mills.ps@sc.yrdsb.ca
The next School Council meeting this Monday, June 1, 2026. Hope to see you there!
Support the Vaughan Food Bank:
Visit the School Council pages on the website for upcoming dates and events: https://eldersmills-ps.yrdsb.ca/school-council
Parent, Family and Community Engagement Committee (PEAC):
Engagement Matters – Spring Edition
Read the latest newsletter from the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Advisory Committee (PEAC). This edition covers the latest on artificial intelligence. You’ll also find information about the latest Board policies under review. PEAC works to support, encourage and enhance parent engagement at the Board level to improve student achievement and well-being.
YRDSB's MONTHLY MATH NEWSLETTER: APRIL
Sparking Joy through Problem Solving
Welcome families! This month, we're focusing on problem solving. Math is about figuring things out, strategizing, and finding creative solutions. From deciding the best route to the park to figuring out how to share snacks fairly, we are always solving problems using our mathematical thinking and reasoning.
Connecting it Back to the Classroom
Problem Solving is involved in all areas of learning. When working through solving problems students are encouraged to understand what the problem is asking, create a plan, carry out the plan, and reflect. This approach helps students develop critical thinking skills, opportunities to engage in productive struggle, and overall flexibility. It prepares students for mathematical challenges, and for real-world situations where the path to a solution isn't always so obvious.
Engaging in Problem-Solving Conversations at Home
Your home is a natural learning opportunity to engage in problem-solving! Here are some ways to encourage these conversations:
- Ask Open-Ended Questions: Instead of always providing guilded solutions, ask: "How could we figure this out?" "What's the challenge here?" "What ideas do you have?"
- Encourage Brainstorming: There's usually more than one way to solve a problem. Explore different strategies and see which one works best for the situation.
- Allow for Trial and Error: It's okay if the first solution doesn't work! Learning from mistakes is a powerful part of the problem-solving process.
- Focus on the Process, Not Just the Answer: Praise effort, persistence, and thinking, even if the final answer isn't perfect. "I love how you thought through that!"
- Model Your Own Thinking: Talk aloud as you solve everyday problems (e.g., "I need to figure out how many snacks to buy for the party. There will be 5 kids, and I want each to have 2 snacks. So, that's 5 groups of 2...").
Real-World Examples:
- Planning a Trip: "How much time do we need to leave to get to Grandma's house on time, considering traffic?" , “ we want to stay on budget with the trip, what are possibel things we can do to stay within our family budget?” (Estimating, time management, financial literacy)
- Organizing a Space: "How can we arrange these toys so they all fit in this bin?", “How do we pack the trunk tomake sure we can fit everything in?” (Spatial reasoning, optimization)
- Sharing Fairly: "We have 10 cookies and 3 people. How can we share them equally?", “ We need to cut this cake for all the participants, what is the best way to cut the cake?” (Division, fractions)
- Planting a Garden: “What is the total area of the garden? How much area is dedicated to each type of plant? How much soil is needed?, “ How can we have the smae amount of space but have less fencing for the garden to save some money? ( Spatial Sense, Measurement)
A Fantastic Resource for Families: Figure This! (NCTM)
For engaging problem-solving challenges, check out Figure This! from NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. This online resource provides math problems in real-world scenarios, providing opportunities for families to think together.
At home, choose a challenge together, and read over and discuss the problem. Work together to brainstorm strategies as you work towards a solution. After working through the problem, take some time to reflect on the approach and discuss the reasoning behind the strategies you selected. The goal is to explore the thinking process, not just arrive at the "right" answer.
By making problem-solving a regular part of your family conversations and activities, you'll be creating thinkers who are confident mathematicians. Happy problem-solving!
Parent and Caregiver Mental Health Event
Join YRDSB for an evening dedicated to building emotional connections and supporting student well-being. This panel discussion, “How to Support Youth and Conversations about Mental Health at Home,” features youth with lived experience from YouthSpeak Charity , Clinical Psychologist Dr. Wendy Manel (CMHA), and YRDSB Mental Health Lead Patricia Marra-Stapleton.
Event Details
When: April 16, 2026 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Registration starts at 6:00 PM)
Where: Westmount Collegiate Institute (1000 New Westminster Dr., Thornhill)
Who: All YRDSB elementary and secondary parents and caregivers.
Registration & Accessibility
Register through the Monthly Parent/Caregiver Mental Health Newsletter, the YRDSB Events Page, or your school’s Mental Health Liaison. Interpretation services will be available in select languages (details on the registration form).
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
ELDER'S MILLS IS A SCENT-FREE/FRAGRANCE FREE LEARNING AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
There are staff & students in attendance who suffer from life-threatening asthmatic conditions to air pollutants. Exposure even to minimal odours may cause potential life-threatening reactions. Very common severe chemical triggers are: perfume, cologne, scented products and personal care products (such as hairspray). These products may cause severe reactions for students. The safety and well-being of all of our staff and students is a priority.
In order to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone, we request that our school community refrain from wearing scented personal products at school and all school events. Please ensure that all caregivers and family members are also aware.
March
March is Hellenic Heritage Month, Persian Heritage Month, Bangladeshi Heritage Month
Character Trait - Perseverance
28 EMPS Eco Showcase and Eco Band @ Vaughan City Hall Earth Hour Event
April
April is Sikh Heritage Month, World Autism Acceptance Month
Character Trait - Respect
1- 9 Passover
2 World Autism Acceptance Day
3 Good Friday - School Closed
5 Easter (Western Rite)
6 Easter Monday - School Closed
7 Coffee Chat
8 International Day of Pink
12 Easter (Eastern Orthodox)
14 Vaisakhi
16 EMPS Chess Team at Tournament
21 - May 2 Festival of Ridvan
22 Administrative Professionals Day
22 Earth Day
23 Dental Screening
23 EMPS @ Math Olympics
27 - 28 Grade 7 Trips
30 EMPS Family Event Night - SAVE THE DATE
