ECSS Newsletter - October 9, 2026

Dear Families,

It has been another great week at Emily Carr, and one of the highlights was definitely our Senior Sunrise for the Class of 2027. It was great to see our Grade 12 students come together early in the morning, grab some breakfast, spend time with their friends, and enjoy a special start to their final year at Carr.

A big thank you to the families and staff who donated and helped make Senior Sunrise such a memorable event. These are the kinds of moments our students will remember long after they leave Emily Carr, and it was great to see so many of our seniors enjoying the morning together.

We also had some great activities this past week that brought our whole school community together. Students had the chance to wear their CARR clothing and show their school spirit while taking part in a fun day that included our Terry Fox Run during Period 2, a Fall Fair at lunch with games, ice cream, and more, and an after-school soccer game. It was great to see students connecting with friends, getting involved, and enjoying everything that makes being part of the Emily Carr community so special.

As we get further into October, I also want to remind our students about the importance of getting a good night's sleep. The days are getting shorter, the mornings are darker, and our students have a lot going on. Getting enough sleep can make a real difference in how students feel, focus, and learn throughout the day. We want our students to take care of themselves and make sleep and rest a priority.

We are also looking ahead to Family Night on Thursday, October 22. Families should have received information about the schedule and evening earlier this past week. As we get closer to the event, teachers will be opening up their Teach Assist calendars for appointments during the following week. We encourage families to connect with their child's teachers and book a time to check in about their progress and learning. We have also included all the details in this week's newsletter below.

Thanks, as always, to our students, staff, and families for everything you do to make Emily Carr such a great school community. It has been a busy few weeks, but it has been great seeing so much energy and school spirit around the building.

Have a great week ahead, everyone!

Go Coyotes Go! 💙🐺

Senior Sunrise, Special Thank you to Families!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our school community, families, and staff for your incredible generosity in supporting our Senior Sunrise. Thanks to your continued contributions, our Grade 12 students enjoyed an unforgettable celebration together!

Growing Together - Planning for Success 

Presented by The Centre for Black Student Excellence

The move to high school is a critical milestone, and we are committed to ensuring every student and family feels fully prepared and equipped for success.

We are excited to invite Black students and their families in Grades 6 through 10 to an upcoming event highlighting the opportunities available to support pathway planning, specialty programs, and the transition between elementary and secondary school.  

This is a key opportunity for Black students and their families to connect with educators, ask questions, and build a personalized roadmap for a successful and fulfilling secondary school experience.

Dinner and Child Care will be provided.

Please register via this registration form.

Caring and Safe Schools Reminder: One Pack!

At Emily Carr Secondary School, we are building a culture of care where every student feels a strong sense of belonging. Our Code of Conduct applies to everyone and promotes positive behaviour and respect for one another.

Coyotes work together in packs, and no Coyote runs alone. We look out for each other at school, in the community, and in local stores. If you experience or witness a problem, report it to a caring adult. Be an upstander by speaking up and supporting those around you.

Together, we are one pack, and everyone belongs.

Guidance Updates

SAVE THE DATE! The ECSS Pathways to Opportunity Night is taking place on Thursday, November 12th from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. This is an event where students and their parents/guardians have an opportunity to meet with representatives from various postsecondary institutions in order to learn more about the different programs they offer.

The Ontario College Application Service and the Ontario Universities’ Application Service have opened for students to apply for fall 2027. Students are asked to review the All Things Grade 12 Google Classroom, refer to the Guidance website, and/or schedule a guidance appointment for support. We are happy to help!

The ECSS Student Wellness Team wants to thank all students and families who helped make Senior Sunrise such a memorable event. From food donations and hot chocolate to glow sticks, your contributions warmed our students’ hearts, brightened their day, and created lasting memories for all. Check out our Instagram page for some beautiful photos.

The College Information Program (CIP) Tour is a series of free events held across Ontario where students and families can meet representatives from Ontario's public colleges and polytechnics, all in one place. Sign up and connect with Ontario’s colleges and polytechnic.

The Ontario Universities' Events are hosting a collection of events this fall, where students and their supporters can speak directly with university and student representatives. Sign up and connect with Ontario’s universities at the Ontario Universities’ Events.

Missed Photo Day? There’s Still Time!

Date: Tuesday, October 20th, 2026

Edge Imaging will be returning to our school to give students and staff who missed the first photo day another opportunity to have their photo taken.

We encourage anyone who missed the original photo day to take advantage of this opportunity.

Be sure to sign up at edgeimaging.ca/photoday to receive reminders, photo proof notifications, and exclusive offers.

For more information, contact Edge Imaging at 1 (866) 707-3343.

We look forward to seeing you in front of the camera!

Family Interview Night - Thursday, October 22nd, 2026

Dear Families,

Family Interview Night is on Thursday, October 22nd, 2026, from 6:30-8:30 pm.

We welcome all families to have an opportunity to meet with your child(ren)’s teacher(s) and learn more about the classroom. Families can use TeachAssist, an online platform, to schedule a meeting time with their child(ren)’s teacher(s) on Interview Night. All students in our school currently have a TeachAssist account to access information associated with their class assessments. 

Accessing Teach Assist Booking System

Families may access appointment bookings on Tuesday, October 13th to Tuesday October 20th,  through the TeachAssist Parent Portal available at parent portal - one time access request. From there, enter in your email address and leave the password blank, to set up a one time access link or to reset a password that you've created. An email will be sent with a time limited link that will look similar to this:

Once logged in, parents/guardians will have the option to set up a password. For instructions on how to book an interview through TeachAssist, please click here or see below. If you have any questions about this process, please contact our main office.

If you have any challenges with meeting in-person on Thursday, October 22nd, 2026, please contact your child’s teacher to make alternative arrangements for another day via email.

We look forward to welcoming you into the school! Please see the important information regarding the format of the evening and attention to timelines below as the date approaches.

FORMAT OF THE EVENING

6:30-7:00 pm Staff Meet and Greet in the Cafeteria

• We encourage ALL families to take advantage of the opportunity to meet and greet with all staff. This format offers families and parents a chance to meet and connect with staff in a less formal setting than the interview portion of the evening. Please join us for this important opportunity to connect together as a community at the start of the evening. Coffee and tea will be provided.

7:10-8:30 pm - Formal Parent/Guardian Teacher Meetings 

• Parents Meet with teachers during their formal allotted time
• We ask all families to be mindful of their allotted time so that all families have access to their interview time 

IMPORTANT TIMELINES: October 2026