Dear Families,
The first week of December is behind us, and we have just two more weeks until the winter break! We encourage all students to continue making wise decisions both on school property and off school grounds.
Emily Carr Secondary School values positive relationships with our community partners, including the Pierre Berton Library and the Al Palladini Community Centre. Please remind your child that whenever they are in these spaces, they are representing Emily Carr SS and should act respectfully and responsibly.
Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain a safe and positive environment for everyone.
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.
Emily Carr Winter Welcome!
ECSS ARTS Department presents "Winter Welcome" Thursday, December 11 from 6 pm - 8 pm. The ECSS ARTS Department will be showcasing student artwork, photography, drama, and music performances at ECSS on the evening of December 11th. This is a family-friendly event, and admission is free. We will have craft and bake sales, and a winter clothing drive. Hope you can join us!
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.
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.
Student Trustee Applications Open
If you will be in grade 11 or 12 next school year and are passionate about student voice, consider becoming a student trustee, and representing students across YRDSB.
Student trustees network with students, staff and the Board of Trustees to share information that gives students a meaningful voice. Learn more about the role and how you can apply at www.yrdsb.ca/studenttrustees.
Applications can be submitted between December 1-15. The deadline to apply is December 15, 2025, 11:59 p.m.
All students in Grades 5-12 will have an opportunity to vote for the candidate who represents our area of the Board. There are four areas of the Board (central, east, north and west). Once the four final candidates are announced, students can vote for two of the four candidates to represent them as student trustees in the 2026-2027 school year.
Students will receive information on how to vote in the election during the campaign and voting.
Guidance Updates
Check out the following newsletter brought to you by the YRDSB Mental Health team.
Dual Credit Course opportunities are now open for Winter/Spring 2026. Dual credits courses allow Grade 11 and Grade 12 students an opportunity to take college courses that count towards both the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or SHSM OSSD and a college certificate, diploma, or degree. Students may earn up to a maximum of four elective credits through college-delivered dual credit courses that count towards their OSSD or SHSM OSSD. Information and steps has been posted in the Grade 11 and Grade 12 All Things Google Classrooms for students to explore.
The YRDSB District Action Plan identifies the need to support students with transitions into their chosen programs and pathways. The Student Success Team in Curriculum and Instructional Services is pleased to provide a professional learning opportunity to assist Secondary school staff in obtaining up-to-date information about Ontario college and university programs. Attendees will learn about newly updated scholarship opportunities, emerging program offerings, and the latest admission requirements and application insights that contribute to the postsecondary selection process. This event features panel discussions with college and university representatives, along with an opportunity for attendees to visit college and university exhibits and ask individual questions.
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.