Message from Our Trustee | York Region District School Board

September 2025

A big welcome to all our students and families — whether you’re returning or joining our schools for the first time. September brings new beginnings, fresh opportunities, and the excitement of learning, growing and connecting.

School is about more than just marks. It’s about discovering passions, building confidence and learning skills that last a lifetime. Whether through sports, music, clubs, volunteering, or community activities, every experience helps students grow and shapes who they are becoming.

The first weeks of school bring excitement and sometimes a few challenges — new teachers, new friends, bus routines and changing schedules. Our caring staff are here to help, and we thank families for their patience and support as everything settles in.

Parents and families play a huge role in student success. The small things — like asking about your child’s day, keeping in touch with teachers or joining school events — make a big difference. Together, we can create the best environment for our kids to thrive.

We also want to extend our thanks and appreciation to our amazing teachers and school staff. Hope you had a restful summer and were fully energized for another exciting year. Your dedication, care, and hard work make such a difference in the lives of our students every single day.

To our students: Starting the Year Strong

Try Something New - Join a club, team, or activity. It’s a great way to meet friends and discover new interests.

Ask Questions - Don’t be shy — teachers and staff are here to help. Asking for help shows you’re ready to learn.

Balance Counts - Grades matter, but so do hobbies, sports, and time with friends. Find what makes you excited to learn.

Be Kind - A smile, a thank-you, or helping someone out makes our schools better for everyone.

Share Your Voice - Your ideas and opinions matter. Talk to your teachers, parents, or even your trustee — you have a voice in your education!

The school year is busy, and communication matters. You can stay connected and up to date by following the school board on social media, visiting our Newsroom, listening to our Board Podcast and exploring the Board website and refreshed school websites for information and updates — all designed to keep families in the loop.

As your school board trustee, my role is to represent you — parents, students, and our whole community. I’m here to listen, share updates and make sure your voices are heard at the Board table. You’ll see me at school and community events, and I’ll continue sharing seasonal newsletters like this one. Please reach out anytime with questions, ideas, or concerns.

Here’s to a wonderful school year full of learning, connection, and proud moments!

Ed Law

Trustee, Markham Wards 3 and 4

Welcome to the start of the second half of the school year.

Congratulations to secondary school students who have completed exams and culminating activities and are ready to start a new semester, and to elementary school students for all their hard work in the first term. I want to remind families that when report cards are available, you can now access your child’s report card through the Family Dashboard.

For students looking at course selection for next year, the Experience YRDSB pages on our website will let you explore the areas that interest you and learn more about the courses, programs and opportunities available in your secondary school.

At the end of January, we recognized Lunar New Year, commemorating the first day of the Lunar calendar. Throughout the month, we also recognized Tamil Heritage Month. In February, we recognize Black History Month, I encourage you to check the Board calendar for upcoming events to celebrate Black excellence and recognize the contributions made by Black Canadians. You can also find information about other upcoming significant dates and events for families.

The Student Trustee election process is underway for the 2025-2026 school year. Student Trustees play an essential role in our system, representing student voices at the Board table when we are making important decisions, and we greatly appreciate their contributions to our discussions. I would like to congratulate all of the students who put their names forward for the position and encourage all students in Grades 5-12 to take the time to vote.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank current Student Trustees Hayden Lai and Mitusaan Kugathasan and Indigenous Student Trustee Natalie Pitawanakwat for their hard work, leadership and commitment to student voice.

As a Board of Trustees, we have several important roles that affect the daily life in our schools and Board.

One of those responsibilities is to set the policies that govern the operation of schools in YRDSB. Policies cover important topics, such as assessment and evaluation, field trips, homework, dress code, caring and safe schools, health supports, student leadership and more.

We regularly review Board policies to ensure they are updated and reflect the current context, priorities and needs of our community and system. An important part of this process is inviting feedback from the community, including families. You can find a list of all policies and those currently out for comment on our Board website and I encourage you to take a look.

Trustees are also responsible for setting the Board budget. As we prepare to plan for the 2025-2026 school year budget, we will be once again reaching out to families and inviting you to share your input and feedback. Please take the time to review this information when you receive it; your voice is an important part of the process.

We are also working through the District Action Plan to reflect and align with the new Multi-Year Strategic Plan. This plan outlines how we will achieve the priorities set out in the Strategic Plan and focus on serving all students.

I wish everyone all the best as we go into the second half of the school year.

Ed Law

Trustee, Markham Wards 3 and 4