Dear Families,
As we approach the end of the semester, we would like to share some important upcoming dates and reminders.
- EQAO Mathematics will take place Monday, January 19 and Tuesday, January 20 in the school library.
- Final exams will begin on Thursday, January 22.
- These final weeks are an important opportunity for students to wrap up the semester, review key learning, and demonstrate their understanding.
We encourage families to support students by helping them maintain consistent attendance, get adequate rest, and prepare for assessments.
The new semester will begin on Monday, February 2, 2026. Further information, including updated schedules, will be shared closer to that date.
Thank you for your continued support as we finish the semester strong.
Grade 9 Math EQAO
All students taking destreamed grade 9 math will be writing Math EQAO on January 19 and January 20, 2026.
The Black Foundation of Community Networks (BFCN) Workshop
The Black Foundation of Community Networks (BFCN) invites Black students and their families to a free online workshop on how to search, prepare, and apply for scholarships. If you are in Grade 8 or high school, this workshop is especially for YOU!
Chinese Heritage Month Celebrations
York Region District School Board, Inclusive School and Community Services (ISCS) invites students, families, and staff to join us for an evening celebrating Chinese Heritage Month.
Guidance Updates
Save the date! YRDSB is planning a virtual event, hosted by myBlueprint, to support families of students in grades 7-12 in their decision-making for their future. Topics will include exploring high school courses, careers, experiential opportunities, and more. This event will take place the evening of January 27, 2026. Please stay tuned for registration details.
ONTARIO COLLEGE APPLICATION DEADLINES is 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.
Supporting East Asian Students (SEAS) 2025 - 2026 Family Engagement Series
Pathway Planning and High School Course Selection Workshop Part 2 - Families, parents, and caregivers are invited to join us for this Supporting East Asian Students (SEAS) Family Engagement evening to deepen their understanding of pathway planning and the course selection process in the Ontario Education System.
YRDSB Teachers and Guidance Counsellors will be delivering information focused on:
- Understanding the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirements
- Exploring pathways and planning for post-secondary opportunities
- Navigating the high school course selection process in YRDSB
Date: Thursday, February 5th, 2026 Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Unionville High School, 201 Town Centre Blvd, Unionville, ON L3R 8G5
The workshop session will be in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Please register by Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
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 4, 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.
COURSE SELECTIONS FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR will open in myBlueprint (MyPathwayPlanner) on Thursday, February 12th at 9:00 am and will close on Friday, February 20th, 4:00p.m. Please see some key points below to assist in your conversations with your child/student:
- Students will participate in a Course Selection assembly during period 1 the week of February 2nd.
- The ECSS Course Offerings Fair will take place on Monday, February 9th in the main hallway during the lunch period from 11:25 am - 11:55 am. This is an opportunity for students to connect with course experts to help make informed decisions about their 2026-2027 course selections and pathway programming. *We strongly encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity to help prepare for our upcoming course selections and ask parents and guardians to assist with this reminder.
- Students can begin adding courses into their planner prior to this date but can only begin locking in/submitting courses as early as Thursday, February 12th.
- This is not a “first come, first served” process - as long as students make their selections prior to the Friday, February 20th, 4:00 p.m. deadline, all requests are treated equally.
- Grade 12 Students who are graduating and any other students who are not returning, must submit a “Not Returning" response at this time to finalize their next steps.
- Please note that course selections are not completed/locked in until parent/guardian has approved selections via email (email comes from myBlueprint - parents/guardians should check junk mail folder if they cannot find the email).
We want to inform families about a new opportunity for students to earn a Minister’s Certificate of Recognition for Community Involvement upon graduation. The Ontario Ministry of Education has introduced this certificate to acknowledge students who go above and beyond in their volunteer work throughout high school.
The certificate program has launched for the 2025-2026 school year and will recognize graduating students who earn 50 or more community involvement hours with these certificates:
- Bronze: 50–99 hours
- Silver: 100–199 hours
- Gold: 200+ hours
Please note that while the graduation requirement to obtain an Ontario Secondary School Diploma remains 40 hours of community involvement, ECSS students can continue to submit additional hours beyond this requirement to be considered for the Certificate of Recognition.
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.