Week 28 @ EMPS - Thursday, April 2, 2026

EMPS Shines at Vaughan Earth Hour!

On Saturday, March 28th, our students represented the Elder's Mills community at the annual Earth Hour event held at Vaughan City Hall. It was an evening dedicated to sustainability, creativity, and student leadership.

Our students' hard work in environmental stewardship was recognized:

Eco Fair Projects: Elder's Mills students swept the competition, taking home 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize!
Eco Banner: Our school’s banner was awarded 2nd prize for its creative message and design.

The Eco Band set the tone for the evening, performing a O Canada followed by a selection of four environmental-themed compositions that impressed the crowd.

We are incredibly proud of the stewardship and commitment our students demonstrated. From the classroom to the community, your dedication to a greener future is inspiring.

Congratulations to all our participants and winners!

earth hour

Delivery Services at Lunch Time

We have noticed an increase in food deliveries for students from services such as Uber Eats and Skip the Dishes. While we understand the convenience these services offer, we kindly ask that they be reserved for emergencies only (e.g., if a student forgets their lunch and a caregiver is unable to bring a replacement).

If you are dropping off a lunch for your child or using a delivery service in an emergency, please ensure their name is clearly labeled on the package to avoid any confusion.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in helping us maintain a smooth and safe lunchtime process for all students.

Class Placements for 2026 - 2027:

In the upcoming weeks, homeroom teachers, support staff and administration will be working to develop balanced classes for the next school year that strive to best meet a number of criteria. In this process we rely on the professional judgment of the teachers and staff who have worked with your child.

We appreciate that parents/guardians may wish to share information about their child for staff to consider during the class placement process. If you wish to do so, please complete and submit the Google Form shared below by Friday, April 24, 2026. If you have more than one child at the school, please submit a separate form for each child.

Requests for specific teachers will not be considered.

As we make placement decisions, your input is taken into consideration; however, due to the variety and number of factors which inform class placement decisions, we cannot make any guarantees regarding placements.

Google Form: Class Placement 2026 - 2027

Thank you for your support.

School Council News and updates:

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:

Food bank

Visit the School Council pages on the website for upcoming dates and events: https://eldersmills-ps.yrdsb.ca/school-council

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.

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).

Learning About Mental Health Presentation Series

YRDSB is proud to celebrate Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week from May 4th to May 8th, 2026.

To complement the incredible work already happening in our classrooms, the Central Mental Health Team has curated a comprehensive Family Toolkit. Within the toolkit, you can find helpful tips on how to support mental health as well as Live & Recorded Presentations: Facilitated by the Central Mental Health Team, York Region Public Health and external presenters. Included are also carefully selected tools to support student well-being.

We aim to foster emotional connection and enhance identity-affirming spaces where every student feels a deep sense of mattering and belonging.

We invite you to explore the Family Toolkit to choose resources that best fit your family’s journey. Together, let’s continue building a community where every student knows they belong.

The Centre for Black Student Excellence Newsletter April 2026

The Centre for Black Student Excellence April 2026 newsletter is available at this link: April 2026 Newsletter

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.

Lost and Found

The lost and found bins at the school are overflowing. These items will be gathered for donation on the last Thursday of each month. Families are always welcome to stop by the school to check the bin for lost items. Please remember to begin your visit at the office.

York Regional Police Festival - Rise to Road Tennis

York Regional Police Festival - Rise to Road Tennis. Please share with your school community. This event will be taking place on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Follow the link above for more information.