As we head into Winter Break, we want to extend our warmest wishes to you and your loved ones. This has been a busy and productive season, and our students have earned some well‑deserved time to rest and recharge.
We encourage everyone to relax, enjoy time together, and take a meaningful pause from the school routine.
School will resume on Monday, January 5. We look forward to welcoming our students back refreshed and ready for a great start to the new year.
Wishing you a peaceful, joyful, and restful break.
IB Candidacy
We are excited to share that our school has officially been recognized as an International Baccalaureate (IB) Candidate School for the IB Diploma Programme. This is an important milestone in our continued efforts to enrich teaching and learning across our community. Please see the attached letter for more information.
Exam Schedules
Exam schedules were shared last week with both students and families. Please review them carefully and ensure your child is prepared for each assessment. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to the school office.
Emily Carr’s Pantry Program
The Pantry Program is meant to fill a specific gap in food access at school: confidential, anonymous, and drop-in access to healthy food. Should you require support, please review the attached flyer. If you are able to donate, please drop off donations to the main office.
Grade 9 Math EQAO
All students taking destreamed grade 9 math will be writing Math EQAO on January 19 and January 20, 2026. More details to follow.
The CARR SCOOP's Fall Publication is out!
Here is the link: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/a3d9b15cb3.html
Reminders about vaping:
In alignment with Ministry of Education regulations, vaping is strictly prohibited:
- In all school washrooms
- On school property
- In community buildings such as Pierre Berton Library and Al Palladini Community Centre
To support these regulations, vape detectors have been installed in our school washrooms and are actively monitored. These devices notify the main office when vaping is detected. We ask for your support in reinforcing this message at home:
- Do not bring vapes to school.
- Do not use vapes on school property or in community spaces.
Let’s work together to ensure our school remains a place where all students feel safe, respected, and supported in making healthy choices.
Good Neighbour Relationships
The students of ECSS have a shared responsibility with our community partners to ensure an inviting and clean environment for our neighbours and our community. Students are asked to respect the property and privacy of our neighbours. Although the Al Palladini Community Center, the Pierre Berton Resource Library and the Business establishments at the Plaza are public facilities, they are to be treated as private property by our students. Students are not to loiter in, or near, these establishments. To be inside Al Palladini Community Center, students must have a Community Center membership and they must be participating in community activities. We are proud of our students as they are ECSS ambassadors wherever they go in the community.
Guidance Updates
ONTARIO UNIVERSITY AND ONTARIO COLLEGE APPLICATION DEADLINES are listed below. The Winter Break is a perfect time to explore and finalize applications.
Ontario University/OUAC applications - NO LATER THAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2026 for equal consideration.
Ontario College/OCAS applications - NO LATER THAN SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2026 for equal consideration.
*In addition to counsellor support, students have been provided with links to video tutorials to assist with the application process in their “All Things Grade 12” Google Classroom.
Night School Registration Now Open on My Pathway Planner - Students who need or are interested in a course that is not available at ECSS can register for a course for Remote Night School offered by the YRDSB. The Remote Night School program is delivered synchronously (Tuesday and Thursday evenings 6:30-9:45). More information about this program, courses offered and how to register using My Pathway Planner is available on the YRDSB board website and in the Guidance google classrooms. Registration for Remote Night school is from December 15, 2025 - February 6, 2026, in My Pathway Planner. Students are encouraged to register early as course offerings are not guaranteed and are subject to sufficient enrollment. Students can schedule a guidance appointment or come to the Guidance Pop-Up Shop should they require support.
Fees and Fee Exemption for International Visa Students - The cost for International fee-paying students is $1000 per course. International students may be eligible to be exempt from fees to attend Night School and/or Online Learning. Please refer to the International Student Fee Exemption Continuing Education Course Form for more information.
The Aquatic Leadership Program allows students who have strong Swimming and Leadership skills to pursue their Life Guarding Qualifications at a reduced cost. Students who meet the eligibility requirements will also earn high school credits towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Registration is now open and details about the program are found in each link below. Part 1 of the program is offered at Health and Active Living Plaza, Town of East Gwillimbury. Part 2 of the program is offered in Aurora, Richmond Hill, Markham and Vaughan.
The ECSS Guidance Department, in partnership with St. John Ambulance, has planned a very special event where therapy dogs will be coming to visit our school. This event will be taking place on Tuesday, January 13th during the lunch hour in our school Library. Details will be shared in the All Grades Google Classrooms on how to reserve a spot to spend time with the dogs.