Big Box Fundraising Event!
Dear Families,
We’re thrilled to kick off a new fundraiser at our school — The Big Box of Cards!
This campaign is a fun and simple way to support our school, and each box offers great value your family and friends will love.
Options available to families are:
- All Occasion cards
- Birthday Cards
- Kids Birthday Cards
- Holiday Cards
- Big Box of Candles
Card Boxes $35.00 each and Candles $40.00
Our campaign will run from October 10, 2025,to October 26, 2025. Each family will receive product video links and an order form. These videos are perfect to share with friends, coworkers, and extended family to help boost your sales!
All orders and payments must be submitted on School Cash Online no later than October 26, 2025, midnight.
Prizes!
- If the school sells 75+ boxes:
- The top-selling class will win $100 in books from the November Scholastic Book Fair for their class
- If the school sells 150+ boxes:
- For every 3 boxes your family has sold you’ll be entered into draw to win one of four $25 gift cards
- If the school sells 400 boxes:
- There will be a special draw for a Samsung 8” Tablet
- Families who sell 10 boxes or more will be entered into this draw; for every 10 boxes, your child’s name will be entered
- There will be a special draw for a Samsung 8” Tablet
- For families with more than child, the youngest child’s sales will determine the number of entries into all draws. You are encouraged to make your payment in School Cash online under the account for your youngest child.
There’s no limit — the more boxes you sell, the more entries you get!
Product Preview Links
Thank you for supporting our students through this exciting initiative. Your participation makes a difference. The school earns approximately 30% of each sale in support of our fundraising goals as outlined in our Fundraising plan. These goals include enhancements in the areas of STEM, Music, Technology, Arts, Library, Athletics and more.
We hope you enjoy sharing these beautiful card and candle sets with your friends and loved ones!
School Council @ EMPS!
Hybrid School Council Meetings - Mark your Calendars!
Childcare is available, and meeting in person is a great way for us to connect.
Let us take these three occasions to mingle, learn, and grow together.
Virtual links will be provided via EMPS.
• Monday, December 1, 2025 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
• Monday, March 2, 2026 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
• Monday, June 1, 2026 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Email us agenda items two (2) weeks prior to meeting dates, with the Subject: AGENDA ITEM [MEETING DATE, 2025]
Grade 8 Students and Adult Volunteers Needed - Let’s turn lunch into a playground of possibility!
If you love chess, crafts, storytelling, or science, this is your chance to inspire students, share your skills, and join something special.
Parents/Guardians of Grade 8 Students... did we mention volunteer hours, leadership skills, and a reference letter from EMPS...?
Adult Volunteers must submit a 2025 Vulnerable Sector Check to EMPS in advance of planned activities; we can help coordinate.
Interested in volunteering?
Email us by Friday, October 17, 2025, Subject: VOLUNTEER.
A special thank you to our 2024/2025 Volunteers for bringing joy, creativity, and connection to students during their midday break!
Lunch Clubs are scheduled to return between Monday, November 3, and Friday, December 19, 2025.
Community Engagement Events
Let’s build joyful memories together!
Stay tuned via the weekly EMPS Newsletter for updates on upcoming fall events, including:
Food Bank (Campaign)
Coffee Drops (Daytime)
Movie Night (Evening)
Let’s Stay Connected
Your voice matters.
Whether you’re new to Council or a returning Parent/Guardian, we’re here to listen and collaborate.
Reach out anytime by email. We look forward to building something great together.
YRDSB's Monthly Math Newsletter
OCTOBER Newsletter:
Sparking Joy through ESTIMATION
Welcome, families! This month, we're exploring a fundamental skill that we use all the time without even realizing it: Estimation. Estimation is about making an educated guess based on what you already know. This month, we encourage you to have "estimation conversations" at home. Notice something in your environment that can be estimated (e.g., the number of apples in a bag, the size of a tree). Ask questions such as "What makes you think that?", "How did you come up with that guess?" “Do we think that is a reasonable estimate?” to develop reasoning skills and number sense.
Engaging in Estimation Conversations at Home
Estimation can happen anywhere, anytime!
Here are some simple ideas to get you started:
Inside your Home:
- Primary Ideas
- How many grapes do you think are in this bowl?”
- “How many minutes do you think it will take the toast to pop?”
- “How many steps do you think it takes to get from the kitchen to your bedroom?”
- Junior Ideas
- “Estimate how many pieces of cereal it would take to fill this cup.”
- “How many minutes do you think it will take for the water to boil?”
- “If we poured this cup of water into a bigger container, how many cups do you think we’d need to fill it?”
- Intermediate Ideas
- “Estimate how many drops of water are in a full glass. How could we check your estimate using reasoning?”
- “If this fan fills the room with air in 20 minutes, how long do you think it would take for a fan half its size?”
- “Estimate the height of the fridge in cm, then check with a measuring tape. How close were you?”
In the Community:
- Primary
- “How many steps do you think it will take us to get to the end of the street?”
- “How many benches do you think are in the park?”
- “How many cars will pass by in the next minute?”
- Junior
- “How long do you think it will take us to get to the grocery store?”
“How many steps from here to the playground? Let’s estimate, then test it.”
“Estimate the height of the slide at the park—what could you compare it to?” - Intermediate
- “How tall do you think that tree is? How could you estimate using a nearby object or a strategy like using your shadow?”
“If the store is 3 km away and we’re driving at 40 km/h, how long will it take to get there? Estimate first, then calculate.”
“How much space do you think a row of parked cars takes up on the block (in metres)? What’s your reasoning?”
A Fantastic Resource for Families: Estimation 180
Estimation 180 is a fun way to build your child’s number sense at home. Each day, you and your child can look at a picture or situation (like a stack of cups, a bowl of fruit, or a jar of objects) and make a reasonable estimate of the quantity. The goal isn’t to get the exact answer but to think about what makes sense, explain reasoning, and compare estimates. This simple routine encourages math talk, problem-solving, and flexible thinking in everyday situations—like estimating how many steps to the car, how many crackers are in a box, or how long it will take to walk the dog.
Estimation is a powerful tool for developing numerical literacy and a deep understanding of the world around us. By making it a regular part of your family conversations, you'll be fostering mathematical thinking in a fun way!
Happy estimating!
Arts at Baythorn Information session
Families of current grade 4 and 5 students who will be applying for grade 5 and 6 programs for September 2026 wishing to learn more about the Arts@Baythorn program and application process are invited to attend an information session on November 6, 2025 from 6-7 p.m. at Baythorn P.S. (201 Bay Thorn Drive, Thornhill ON, L3T 3V2).
Applications are open on Edsby from January 12- 28, 2026. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.
Collaborative workshops are being held March 4-6, 2026. These dates are firm.
To apply or for more information please visit the Baythorn Arts webpage.
Please note the Edsby application link will open on January 12, 2026.
If you have any further questions, please reach out to baythornarts@gapps.yrdsb.ca.
Islamic Heritage Month Celebrations
Islamic Heritage Month Celebrations link to events listings
YRDSB students, staff and families are invited to join the York Region District School Board in celebrating Islamic Heritage Month this October!
Parent/Caregiver Workshop Supporting Students of Chinese Heritage
The YRDSB Community Care Team School Social Worker supporting the Chinese Heritage Community is pleased to offer this virtual event for parents and caregivers, aimed at fostering connection, supporting mental health, and promoting healing.
The session is offered for any parent/guardian of students of Chinese Heritage. Parents, caregivers and students are invited to join this workshop and engage in meaningful conversations that will help students thrive at school. Tips on ways to help strengthen family relationships and emotional well-being will be shared. This will be a free virtual event.
Keep the Door Open: Integrating a Compassionate Approach to Foster Effective Communication
Oct 28th, 2025 at 6:00pm-7:00pm Mandarin Session
Registration for Mandarin Session
Oct 28th, 2025 at 7:00pm-8:00pm Cantonese Session
Registration for Cantonese Session
Please email charmaine.tong@yrdsb.ca if you have any questions or difficulties in accessing the registration link. Thank you.
Youth Day 2025
York Regional Police is hosting a Youth Day conference for youth ages 13-17 years. It will be an empowering leadership conference with a focus on issues directly impacting our youth. Saturday, November 1, 2025 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m
More News....
Click the link here to a folder with more community, school and regional events and information: Week 6 @ EMPS
P.A. Day - Friday, October 24, 2025
All Elementary Schools
Length: Full Day - AM & PM
Topic: Artificial Intelligence
Entity Hosting: All Elementary Schools
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Online modules developed by Board staff, facilitated by school administration
Description:
School teams will engage in professional learning led by school administrators, focusing on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. The sessions will explore how AI can enhance teaching and learning, support student success, and be used responsibly within board and ministry guidelines on cyber safety, security, and privacy. Educators will participate in hands-on activities to become familiar with board-approved AI tools and learn how to use them effectively with students.
On the Horizon...
13 - Thanksgiving - School Closed
13 - Sukkot
14 - Grade 7s to Cold Creek
16 - Area Cross Country Meet
20 - Diwali
24 - PA Day
29 - Grade 8s to Cold Creek
31 - Hallowe'en