Message from Administration
Thank you to all of our families who were able to join us for our first Movie Night of the 2025-2026 school year. We enjoyed seeing students in their comfy clothes or pyjamas and with their favourite “stuffies” enjoying the movie. A special thanks goes out to Mr. Varma for setting up the technology at the end of the school day. We would also like to thank Ms. Ducheck and the Student Council volunteers for volunteering their time on Thursday evening to help with the physical set-up and tidying of the gym, and for distributing and selling pizza, popcorn, juice, and coffee. We will be hosting another movie later in the school year and hope to see many of our families then too!
The weather is getting much colder, and it sounds like our first snowfall may be on its way. Please be sure your child is dressed for the weather. Warm jackets, hats, gloves and boots are the best options. If you need assistance with these items, please let us know. Students enjoy outdoor time much more when they are dressed for the weather. To ensure that these items don’t get lost, remember to visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and select Donald Cousens Public School (Markham). You can pick out any products you want, and they will ship for free directly to your house! By using this link, you are also contributing to our school fundraiser.
Please be sure to sign in to Edsby beginning Monday at 9:00 am to book a Parent-Teacher Interview/Student-Led Conferencing time. Meeting with your child’s teacher is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about their strengths and areas for growth. All of the information about interviews was emailed to all families on October 31 and is also contained in this newsletter.
Sean Yao (Principal) & Joanne Trim (Vice Principal)
Administrative Team, DCPS
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent-Teacher Interviews (PTIs) or Student-Led Conferences (SLCs) will be held on the evening of Thursday, November 20, and the morning of Friday, November 21. You will have an opportunity to meet with your child(ren)’s teacher(s) in person and learn more about the classroom. Edsby is the online tool used for scheduling elementary interviews/conferences. Families will receive an invitation to sign up for a meeting time once the schedules are available.
Edsby is a cloud-based platform that lets families easily reserve times to meet with your child(ren)’s teachers. YRDSB, in partnership with Edsby, have created a secure platform that protects the privacy of information for families.
Families that already have an Edsby account may use their previously created account. The username is the full email address that is on file at your child(ren)’s home school, and the password is the one created at activation. If you have forgotten your password, you can find resources on the Board website to help, including how to reset your password.
Families who do not have an Edsby account will need to create one to access the online appointment scheduler for their child’s teachers for Parents’ Night. An up-to-date and valid email address must be provided to your child’s home school. For help creating an Edsby account, instructions can be found on the Board website. An email from York Region District School Board with instructions on how to create an Edsby account will be sent to your email inbox. If you do not receive the email, please check your junk mail folder to ensure you do not miss this opportunity.
If you have any challenges with meeting in person on the scheduled days, please contact your child’s teacher.
For help signing up for Parent-Teacher Interviews/Student-Led Conferences, please visit our board website.
Important Timelines:
November 10 - The interview scheduler on Edsby opens at 9:00 am for booking. Log in to your Edsby account. An invitation to book appointments will be sent to your Edsby account and a notification to your email. Instructions for signing up for interview slots are found here.
November 18 - The interview scheduler on Edsby closes at 2:40 pm.
Nov. 20 & 21 - Parent-Teacher Interviews/Student-Led Conferences
Remembrance Day
A reminder that you are invited to join us for our Remembrance Day Assembly on Tuesday, November 11th at 10:30 am. This special event will take place in the school gymnasium and is an opportunity for our students, staff, and community to unite to honour and remember those who have served our country.
Hot Lunch Program
Kome | Pizza Pizza | Mother's Deli | Sushi Sushi | ChaTime |
Mondays & Fridays November 10 & 14 November 17 November 24 & 28 December 1 & 5 December 8 & 12 December 15 & 19 | Tuesdays November 11 November 18 November 25 December 2 December 9 December 16 | Wednesdays November 12 November 19 November 26 December 3 December 10 December 17 | Thursdays November 13 November 20 November 27 December 4 December 11 December 19 | Every Other Friday November 14 November 28 December 12
|
From the YRDSB:
Early Reading Screening
Children in Year 2 Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2 have participated in Early Reading Screening this fall. During the week of November 17-21, a paper copy of the results from the Acadience Early Reading Screener will be shared. Results from the screening will not be used to determine your child’s report card grades. Instead, the results will help teachers plan next steps for student learning. Additional information can be found at www.yrdsb.ca. If you have any questions, you can reach out to your child’s teacher or school administrator(s).
Understanding and Navigating the Education System -Families of YRDSB Black Students - November 2025 Information
Understanding and Navigating the Education System - Families of YRDSB Black Students Monthly Virtual Information Session on Monday, November 24, 2025, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
Families, parents, and caregivers, please join us for our monthly virtual meeting, where families with Black children come together to learn about resources and upcoming programs for Black students in both elementary and secondary schools. Please see the flyer emailed to families on November 7, 2025, for more information. Registration is available online.
For further information, please email the Centre for Black Student Excellence (CBSE) at blackstudentexcellence@yrdsb.ca.
SEAS 2025 Family Engagement Series Launch
Supporting East Asian Students (SEAS) in partnership with Inclusive School and Community Services (ISCS) invite students, families and staff to the SEAS 2025 Family Engagement Series Launch - Sharing Student Success & Pathway Planning.
This Family Engagement evening will focus on understanding educational pathways and celebrating student success. English, Mandarin, and Cantonese sessions will be available. All are welcome to enjoy cultural performances, refreshments and a pathway information session.
Date: Thursday, November 27, 2025
Time: 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Bill Crothers Secondary School.
Please register by November 25, 2025.
Please see the flyer emailed to families on November 7, 2025, for more information or visit the www link to the event.
For more information, please contact Inclusive School and Community Services (ISCS) at iscs@yrdsb.ca.