Parent Tell October 20-31, 2025

Williams’ Tell Weekly – Parent Edition

Week of Oct 20-31, 2025

The mission of The Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School is to develop literate students who are innovative, well-rounded lifelong learners and critical thinkers.  
We aim to foster caring global citizens who maintain inclusive and respectful interactions with others.

This week:

Next Week:

To support your family planning, the prospective 2025-2026 YRDSB School Year Calendar is available on the YRDSB website.  Additionally, all dates for school events are continually updated on our Google calendar on our school website and all confirmed events have been updated for 2025-2026 on our website.

Message from our Principal

Hello families,

As we move through the semester, we look forward to connecting with families during our upcoming Teacher Interview Night this Thursday, October 23. This event provides a valuable opportunity for parents and guardians to meet with teachers, discuss student progress, and work together to support learning and well-being. At Williams, we believe that strong partnerships between home and school are essential in helping students reach their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally.

We encourage families to take this opportunity to celebrate successes, ask questions, and collaborate on next steps for continued growth. If you were unable to book an appointment, or if your child’s teacher does not have space available, please reach out via email; your child’s teacher will book a time for a phone call to keep you updated.

Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement in your child’s education. We look forward to seeing you at Teacher Interview Night.

Andrew Gazaneo
Principal

School Council

Welcome back to a new school year!

On behalf of the School Council, we are excited to begin another year of working together to support our students and school community. We had a wonderful turnout at our first meeting, where the 2025/2026 School Council was formed. We’re pleased to introduce our executive and voting members:

·       Chair: Johana Vigneswaran

·       Vice Chairs: Nisa Chaudhry and Jack Long

·       Secretary: Cascindra Kawczynski

·       Treasurer: Sana Naqvi

·       Community Members: Kathy Duncan and Fariha Salma

·       Voting Members: Erica Zhao, Mahnaz Alikhani, and Lydia Wen

We are looking forward to a rewarding year filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute to the success of our students. We hope to see many of you at our next School Council meeting on November 17th. The focus of the meeting will be determined by filling in our survey. Your participation and ideas truly make a difference, and we look forward to connecting with you then!

School Notices

Boys Flag Football tournament

On October 23rd, 2025, our school will be hosting the Boy's Flag Football tournament. To celebrate our awesome athletics, school spirit and the brand new field, we have invited ChaTime and Under Armour to attend our event as well. Please note that this event is occurring during school hours, and our main priority is to have our students attend their classes. The students should only be out spectating the games during their lunch or spare. The students will have the opportunity to watch the games if the teacher brings out their class or after school. We, the coaches, appreciate your support of our athletes! We will have staff and volunteers to make sure that we are all on our best behaviour.

Elevator Use

If your child is in need of the elevator because they are on crutches, in a wheelchair or hurt in any way that prevents them from using the stairs your child can come to the office to sign out an elevator card.  There is a $20 deposit for this card which will be returned once the use of the elevator is no longer needed.  Should the card be lost, the deposit will not be returned.  

Take Your Kids to Work Day (Grade 9) - Wednesday, November 5

Take Our Kids to Work (TOKW) is an initiative that provides Grade 9 students with the opportunity to OBSERVE a work environment for one day. This program will support students to begin planning their future career path by helping them better understand the world of work. 

On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Grade 9 students will have an opportunity to spend the day at a workplace of a parent/guardian, relative or family friend.  There will be no formal instruction/lessons for Grade 9 students on November 5th.

Parents/guardians are asked to complete this google form to indicate your child’s plan on Take Our Kids to Work day by Friday, October 24, 2025.

Update Your Contact Information

If your email or phone number has changed, please contact the main office to update your record. Students who are 18 years or older are also asked to provide their own phone number and email address. This ensures you receive all important messages.

Driveway and Parking Lot

To help ensure a safe and smooth traffic flow during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up, we will be following a one-way traffic pattern on school property:

• Entry points: Families are asked to enter either from Springfarm Road or the north entrance on Conover Drive.
• Exit point: All vehicles will exit through the south exit on Conover Drive.

To ease congestion on school property, we encourage families—where possible—to make arrangements for student drop-off and pick-up on nearby side streets. This will help reduce traffic volume and make the process safer for all students.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in helping us keep our school community safe.

Student Parking

Student parking passes have been distributed. Please stay tuned to announcements for updates on any additional spots that may become available.

York Region Transit 

York Region Transit has two School Special bus routes that service Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School. As of the 2025/2026 school year, the routes have been updated to reflect the school’s relocation to 11 Spring Farm Road. The updated route maps are linked below:

Route 426 (map) - Dr. G.W. Williams School Special via Stone 

Route 428 (map)  - Dr. G.W. Williams School Special via Henderson 

Student Transportation 

Please see memo here regarding bussing information for September 2025/26 school year.  

TeachAssist for Parent and Student

TeachAssist is a platform for students and parents to access the student record information. Students can see their courses and progress on TeachAssist.

Parents can access TeachAssist through the use of the parent portal. Please click this link for instructions.

School Calendar for 2025-2026

Our School Calendar for 2025–2026 is currently under construction on our school website. Please check back for updates as events are added.

School Start-Up Forms

Parents/guardians received an email from YRDSB Update with instructions to complete start-up forms. It is important that these forms are completed as soon as possible at the start of the school year as they contain information and permissions. 

The forms can be found in the family dashboard at family.yrdsb.ca.  Click on the arrow by your child’s name and select the start-up forms button. You can choose your language. Please follow these steps for each child.  Forms will automatically populate with your child’s information through the Dashboard. 

Learn how to create a Family Dashboard account if you do not have one. 

The forms are also available online at https://startupforms.yrdsb.ca. You will need your child’s student number.  Tips are available on the Board website. Translation is also available on the website. 

Please note:  You must complete a separate form for each child attending school. If you prefer to complete the forms on paper or have questions about the information in the forms, please contact the school office. 

Secondary School Student Forms

Secondary school students can complete the secondary school student form at https://startupforms.yrdsb.ca/students. They will also receive the link in their student GAPPS account. 

Medical Information 

If your child has asthma, seizures, anaphylaxis, or diabetes, please complete the appropriate  Health Care Plan form as soon as possible. If your child requires an EpiPen, inhaler, or any  other medication related to their condition, please ensure it is provided to the Main Office ASAP. The school board requires updated medical information for these  conditions each year. 

Fillable Health Care forms are available for families who have children with asthma, seizure  disorders, anaphylaxis, and diabetes. These forms can be accessed through the link provided  or a paper copy can also be requested from the main office. Please choose the one that applies  to your child, click download and fill out. 

Please email lisa.degeer@yrdsb.ca the completed form or return to Mrs. DeGeer in the Main  Office. 

Important:If your child no longer requires a Health Care Plan, please email us to  let us know so we can update our records. 

YRDSB and Community Notices

YRDSB invites YRDSB students, staff and families to celebrate Islamic Heritage Month this October. Please see link.

Spectator Code of Conduct

As a Board, we value the participation of students, families, caregivers, and others at school events and activities. School sports, arts and cultural events may create future memories for some students and may build school spirit and community.

While it is important to have fans in the stands and the audience, being a spectator at any of our schools is a privilege. The Spectator Code of Conduct, which is a new addition to the  Caring and Safe Schools Policy #668, aims to ensure that these events are positive, fun, and safe for everyone. All spectators must follow the Spectator Code of Conduct in order to attend school events.

Note: The term spectator refers to anyone attending and watching a school event. The term spectator also applies to anyone participating in a school event (i.e., a team member whose team is not currently playing).

Access Report Cards in the Family Dashboard 

For families who do not yet have a Family Dashboard account, you can sign up for an account at any time at family.yrdsb.ca. You can find information on how to create an account on the Board website or in this instructional video. 

The Family Dashboard gives parents/guardians secure one-stop access to information and applications related to your child’s education. It is designed to make it easier for families to engage with their child’s education.  

We also want to remind families that it’s important that the school has updated contact information for students and parents/guardians, including home address, phone numbers, email address and emergency contacts. This will ensure that the school can contact families in case of emergency, and also that you continue to receive important communications and updates from the school. Please contact the school directly with any changes.  

2025-2026 School Calendar 

The YRDSB 2025-2026 school year calendars have been approved by the Ministry. These calendars may be accessed on the YRDSB website at: https://www2.yrdsb.ca/school-year-calendar.

Guidance - Check us out on Instagram @gww.guidance

Guidance Counsellor Contact Information

Ms. Morelli (last names A-Gl) susanna.morelli@yrdsb.ca 

Ms. Murad (last names Go-Le) zahra.murad@yrdsb.ca

Ms. Chow (last names Li-Sc) simone.chow@yrdsb.ca

Ms. Durbacz (last names Se-Z) sue.durbacz@yrdsb.ca

Post-Secondary Pathways Fairs & Information Sessions

Post-Secondary Events Information

• YRDSB’s Post-Secondary Events Information Page

Ontario Universities Virtual Information Session

• November 10, 5:00 - 7:00pm
• Sign-Up Here

Toronto Global Post-Secondary Event

• October 22, 2025
• A.Y Jackson S.S
• 6:00 - 9:00PM

Ontario Post-Secondary Program Information

• www.ontariocolleges.ca
• www.ouinfo.ca

OUAC & OCAS Transmission Dates

Identifying information will be shared through a secure transmission to the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) and the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) to support students with their application to post-secondary institutions. Potential graduates who are not planning to apply to an Ontario college or university this school year, and who do not wish to have their data shared, must notify their guidance counsellor by October 9, 2025.  

Looking for volunteer opportunities? - Students can find information on various opportunities on the Guidance Google Classroom or visit here. Need to submit your volunteer hours? Please use this form and submit it to the Guidance office. 

Aquatics Leadership Program

The Aquatic Leadership Program is offered in partnership between the York Region District School Board, Continuing Education, the Town of Aurora, and the Cities of Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan.  The program uses a blended learning format consisting of pool instruction, face-to-face instruction and on-line learning to deliver Ministry of Education credits and Swim, Lifeguarding and Instructor Certifications.

Fall 2025 Aquatics Leadership Program Flyer

Winter 2026 Aquatics Leadership Program Flyer

Student Success

Every Minute Matters. 

Did you know?

• Chronic absenteeism (1 day every two weeks or more) has been linked with a multitude of adverse student outcomes including poor academic achievement, lower emotional well-being and early termination of high school.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.
• Attendance is an important life skill that will help your student graduate from university/college and keep a job.

What can you do?

• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day; make that the expectation.
• Don't let your student stay home unless they are genuinely sick.
• Help your student maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night's sleep.
• Try not to schedule hair, dental or medical appointments during school hours. Arrange family holidays during scheduled school holidays.
• Encourage meaningful extracurricular activities that your student enjoys, such as sports and clubs, to develop positive relationships with and have success outside of a classroom setting. These activities can help your student feel part of the group, important to the school and more motivated. 

Attendance Procedures

Extended Absences

Planned absences of three or more consecutive school days require the completion of an “Extraordinary Absence” form at least one week in advance of the leave.  The form is available in the Attendance Office.  The process includes obtaining signatures from teachers and a school administrator.  It is the student’s responsibility to catch up on all work missed.  

Parents/guardians should contact the Attendance Office to indicate when their child will be absent and the reason for the absence.  The Attendance Office can be reached at 905-727-3131 ext. 188.  If the attendance secretary is busy please leave a voice message OR send an email to drgwwilliamsss.attendance@yrdsb.ca.  If a student leaves school resulting in a late or an absence to a class period, they are to go to the attendance office to sign out.  

Students are expected to be in their Period 1 classroom at the start of the day.  Classes begin at 8:20 am.  If a student arrives late for Period 1 and before 8:35 a.m., they are asked to report directly to their class where their homeroom teacher will let the office know the time of arrival.  If the 8:20 bell has rung, students are asked to stand in the hallway for the anthem before proceeding to their period 1 class.  For any other period, whenever a student arrives at school after the first scheduled class period has begun they are to report to attendance to sign in.  

Students are expected to be in class by the times listed above.

Students, parents, and staff have a role to play in ensuring that students attend classes regularly and punctually.  Students are responsible for:

• attending all scheduled classes, and being on time;
• being prepared for classes, and participating fully in the planned learning activities;
• reporting absences (preferably in advance), and presenting proper documentation to staff, and covering the material missed when they are absent.

Absences must be both valid and authorized by a parent.  Examples of valid reasons include illness, bereavement, medical appointments, court appearance, etc.  If no phone call, e-mail, or note is received by the school, the absence will be considered “truant”.  Truancies are unacceptable.  

Students who have been signed out of classes by a parent/legal guardian cannot remain on school property.

Parent(s)/guardian(s) and students aged 18 and older and students who have declared their independence must report all absences, late arrivals and/or changes to departure plans to the school in a timely manner. Where possible, notify the school in advance by calling the school and leaving a message on the answering machine or emailing the school’s attendance address.

If a student is unable to attend school and will miss more than two school days, homework may be requested from the Guidance Department and picked up at the school.  Teachers require 24 hours to complete homework requests.  If a student is absent due to a prolonged illness, he/she may be required to provide a medical note.

Website Resources for Families and Students

Resources for students and families on the YRDSB board website, including quick access to online tools, learning platforms and resources, community support, and translation tools.

Renewed Computer Technology Application

Applications are now open for Renewed Computer Technology, which is a program to help limited income families gain access to technology. Please click here to see more information. There is also a flyer. 

PA Days for Williams (but not necessarily for elementary schools in our area) are:

Friday, October 24, 2025;

Friday, November 21, 2025;

Friday, January 30, 2026;

Monday, May 4, 2026;

Thursday, June 25, 2026; and

Friday, June 26, 2026.