As we wrap up the final newsletter for this school year, we want to express our deepest gratitude to the entire DCPS community. It has been an incredible year filled with remarkable achievements, unforgettable memories, and inspiring growth from all of our students. We are immensely grateful to our dedicated staff and supportive families for making this year so successful. We wish everyone a safe, relaxing, and wonderful summer break, and we look forward to seeing many of you return refreshed and ready for another great year ahead!
Please remember that the last day of school is June 25th. All students will be dismissed at 11:40 am. Students who normally take the bus at the end of the day will have regular bus transportation at 11:40 am.
On behalf of all of us at Donald Cousens P.S., have a wonderful summer. Stay safe and be well!
Sean Yao Joanne Trim
Principal Vice Principal
Celebrating Student Accomplishments!
Our very own, Aarav K., a Grade 3 student at DCPS, has recently published his debut fantasy adventure novel, The Elemental Seeker: When Your Best Asset Isn’t a Weapon — It’s Your Mind!
The story follows Mark, a young boy who never expected a strange purple-golden tree in his backyard to pull him into a universe ruled by riddles, physics, and elemental forces. Now he is the Seeker of Elements — a kid whose knowledge is the only thing standing between order and chaos.
From cursed forests and blazing deserts to collapsing labyrinths and sky prisons, Mark must solve impossible problems using science, logic, and courage. Each realm holds a Pillar. Each Pillar holds a secret. And each secret brings him closer to the truth behind his destiny.
The quest is real. The danger is rising. The Seeker has arrived.
Filled with imagination, adventure, and problem-solving, The Elemental Seeker reflects Aarav’s passion for storytelling and creativity while encouraging young readers to explore the power of books, imagination, and curiosity. If you’d like to find out more, you can see his book here.
Emily B., a Grade 5 student at DCPS, recently had a first-person article published in CBC Kids News about a challenging on-stage experience and what she learned from it. Emily’s article is a thoughtful reflection on resilience, courage, and the act of continuing to show up even when things don’t go as planned. Her parents shared, “We know these values are reinforced at school every day. Thank you for all the ways you and the team support and encourage students like Emily to find their voice.”
Here is the link to the article:
What I learned on stage the day things went wrong | story | Kids News
Congratulations to both Aarav and Emily for their accomplishments!
Summer Reading
Students can access a collection of free ebooks and audiobooks all summer long through Sora. This year's Sweet Reads program runs until August 24 and includes titles for a variety of ages and interests.
To Access Sora --> Find your school, then sign in using your YRDSB student ID (type ‘0’ followed by your 9-digit ID). Sora Sweet Reads
Here are suggested Reading Lists from the Forest of Reading. I shared it with teachers on Google classrooms. I thought you could also put it into the Parent Newsletter.
Grade 3-6 - https://forestofreading.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Kid-Committee-List-Silver-Birch-Fiction.pdf
Grade 7-8 - https://forestofreading.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-Kid-Committee-List-Red-Maple.pdf
Author Visit: Mo Seto
On Tuesday, June 16th, our students in grades 4-7 had the opportunity to participate in an author visit! A.Y. Chan is the author of The Legendary Mo Seto, along with the follow-up novel, The Legendary Mo Seto: Martial Arts Star.
A.Y.'s session, "From Sparring to Storytelling," was about setting big goals and what it takes to achieve your dreams. She talked to the students about the five tenets of taekwondo (courtesy, integrity, self-control, perseverance, and indomitable spirit) that she learned as a young child and how they helped her in becoming an author.
End of Year Fun at DCPS!!
Each year, Mme. Tang and Mme. Vasconcelos organize the “Tour de France” tricycle race for the Grade 8 students on the last full day of school. Here are some photos of this fun event!
I Scream, You Scream, We ALL Scream for ICE CREAM!!
School Mental Health Ontario
As part of our continued commitment to supporting the well-being of our students and families, we encourage parents and caregivers to explore the wealth of evidence-based tools available through School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO). Their dedicated parent and caregiver hub, "By Your Side," offers practical, everyday resources designed to support student mental health and overall family well-being. To support our diverse school community, many of these high-quality resources are available in multiple languages. The website provides free webinar series, informative blog posts, and expert guidance on highly relevant topics, including stress and anxiety management, navigating digital technology, and promoting positive mental health at home. We invite you to visit the School Mental Health Ontario Parents and Caregivers Page to access these valuable materials and learn more about how we can work together to nurture our children's emotional health.
For each newsletter, we will choose a resource to highlight. In this issue, we would like to bring your attention to:
Navigating the shift into summer - School Mental Health Ontario
Invitation for Feedback from Families: Mathematics
Dear Families,
As part of the York Region District School Board’s Math Achievement Action Plan, YRDSB is committed to enhancing student success in mathematics through high-impact instructional practices and resources.
Your input is valuable in helping us better understand how current resources, which may include one or more of the following: practice work, math activities like games and puzzles, books, MathUP, Google Classroom resources, are supporting your child(ren)’s learning at school and at home. Please take a moment to complete this two-question Family Feedback Survey on Math Resources (https://ca.research.net/r/mathfamilysurvey) about the math resources available to your child(ren) at home and in the classroom. Please complete this survey by Friday, June 26, 2026.
Thank you for your continued support.
P.A. Day - June 26, 2026
Dear elementary school families,
For your information, here is information about the learning that school staff will participate in during the upcoming elementary Professional Activity (PA) Day on June 26, 2026. As usual, students do not attend school on PA Days.
All Elementary Schools:
Length: Full Day – AM & PM
Topic: Transition Planning and School Improvement Planning
Entity Hosting: All Elementary Schools
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): School administration and board-based personnel
Description: School Teams will engage in School Improvement Planning, reflecting on the impact of strategies used during the year and their impact on student outcomes.
Summer Mental Health & Well-Being Guide
In our ongoing commitment to Student Well-Being and Mental Health, York Region District School Board is pleased to share the Summer Family and Student Mental Health and Well-Being Guide to support the alignment of the Well-Being and Mental Health goals outlined in the District Action Plan (DAP). It can be found on the WWW.
The Summer Student and Family Mental Health and Well-Being Guide is a collection of resources, professional training, and strategies/tip sheets to support Positive Mental Health.
The Guide is designed for students, parents, and family members. It contains:
- Tips for supporting mental health and well-being over the summer.
- “Try This” Daily Fitness Tips
- Children and Youth Mental Health resources, chat lines, and drop-ins
- Resource Hubs and Mental Health Resources
- General Mental Health resources
- Resources for students with developmental disabilities or Autism
- Health and Physical Education resource