Week 31 @ EMPS - Friday, April 24, 2026

You have heard of Amazing Race and Amazing Race Canada, well now we are bringing you Amazing Race Elder’s Mills!!

Join us on Thursday, April 30 from 6:30-8:00 pm at EMPS for our Amazing Math & STEM Race. You and your family will navigate through the world engaging in Math and Stem Challenges while collecting stamps for your passport. Every family in attendance will receive a take-away gift and it will be a great opportunity to engage in math and STEM learning and fun! 

Please fill out the form at the link below if you plan to attend.  This will help us in preparing materials to accommodate numbers:

 Family Math Night April 30 

Try this at home:  How many Triangles are in this picture?

The response was revealed this past Thursday; asked your child about their strategy! 

EMPS Math Olympics Team represents! 

Congratulations to our intermediate math team  who completed in the Math Olympics Thursday evening. They demonstrated collaboration, competitive spirit and represented EMPS in positive way. WE are so proud of  you! Thankyou to Mrs. Wright and Mr. Gregoriou for supporting  students and providing them with this opportunity.
 

Junior Girls Basketball

The Junior Girls Basketball team represented Elder’s Mills with great game play and team spirit at the Area Tournament last week!  Way to go Eagles! 
 

If you look carefully at these two photos you will notice our students are wearing our new school uniforms!  Thank you to the School Council, to the office team, school staff and to the school community for their support with our fundraising efforts!  It was with all this support that we were able to purchase new school athletic uniforms for our teams and clubs!  Way to go Eagles! 

The Snack Shop Fundraiser! 

The Student Advisory Council Snack Shop Fundraiser has gained the interest of so many students!  Vouchers are available for purchase on School Cash Online.  Vouchers sold last week will be ready for use by Tuesday, April 21st.   Sales will open again next week for redeeming the week of May 4. 

A few notes on how the Snack Shop works: 

• Vouchers only.  No cash purchases.
• First floor classes - Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Second floor classes - Wednesdays and Fridays
• Vouchers available for purchase on School Cash online every two weeks until the end of May
• Snack Shop closes June 11
• All items are $2.00
• Two items per student per visit 

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.

Families planning to move or students not returning in September

As we begin our planning for the 2025-2026 school year, we kindly ask you to inform the school office if your family has plans to move over the summer, or if your children will not be returning in September for any reason. This information helps us to ensure a smooth transition for all students and to make necessary staffing arrangements for the upcoming academic year. 

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated and helps us in planning effectively for the new school year. Thank you for your support. 

School Council News and updates:

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! 

COBS Bread Dough Raiser Program

The Elder's Mills Public School community has the opportunity to participate in the COBS Bread Dough Raiser program.  Each time the families of Elder's Mills Public School purchase a product at COBS Bread Kleinburg and they mention they’re raising dough for Elder's Mills Public School,  their staff will process a % donation of the total sale back to the school. We hope that if and when our community shops at COBS Bread Kleinburg they will remember to mention the school! 

Any funds raised continue to support the goals in the school's Fundraising plan which include program enhancements such as technology, field trips, athletics and more! 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

Children's Mental Health Awareness Week: 

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.

York Region Summer Programs 2026

York Region offers subsidies for recreation programs, day camps and youth overnight camps. Recreation programs and day camp subsidies provide children from families with low income the ability to take part in programs offered by the municipal recreation departments. The youth overnight camp funding helps eligible youth ages 12 to 17 attend an approved overnight camp.

Available Subsidies for:

• Positive Leisure Activities for Youth (PLAY)
• Summer day camp funding
• Youth overnight camp funding

York Region does not guarantee space in programs or camps.

Please visit the York Region website for registration and information or call Access York at 1-877-464-9675 or https://www.york.ca/support/financial-assistance/recreation-subsidies 

Information can also be found on the YRDSB Community Supports Page. 

York Region Anti-Human Trafficking Conference

Victims of Crime Week

Parents, caregivers, guardians, community members and youth 11+ are welcome to attend the 4th Annual Anti-Human Trafficking Conference in York Region.

Join us at Seneca Polytechnic College King Campus on May 12, 2026, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. for an evening of learning, networking, and collaboration in the fight against human trafficking. Registration for the 4th Annual York Region Anti-Human Trafficking Conference. Administrators, please share this link with your community.

Our conference brings together experts, advocates, and community members to raise awareness and education. Through engaging workshops, inspirational talks and community booths, we gain valuable knowledge and tools to protect and empower our community. Free refreshments and a light dinner will be provided.

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

Tenants’ Housing Rights

Free Virtual Workshops – May and June 2026

Guest Speakers: 

Ayesha Adamjee, Manager of Education and Community Initiatives

Rose Vandermeer, Education Project Manager 

Brightson Okenwa, Senior Legal Education Specialist 

Jessie Tang, Outreach and Education Advisor

Session Details

All parents, guardians and staff are welcome to attend any of the free virtual workshops. 

Once you register, we will send you invites and links to the workshops.

Please register through the Google form.

Administrators, please share this information with you community.

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

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. 

School Spirit Wear

The online store is open.  Merchandise ordered will be delivered to the school every 3 weeks.  All proceeds will fund school enhancements and programs. Shop online by following this link:  https://stores.inksoft.com/eldersmills/shop/home

2026 -2027 - School holidays for all elementary and secondary schools:

April

April is Sikh Heritage Month, World Autism Acceptance Month 

Character Trait -   Respect

21 - May 2 Festival of Ridvan

27 - 28 Grade 7 Trips 
 
30  EMPS Family Event Night