Update From Guidance
| GUIDANCE
  UPDATES -  October 16 | 
| UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS University applications are NOW OPEN. https://www.ouac.on.ca/guide/undergrad-guide/  Week of October 14th: Required Student Information sent to students electronically by ITS via GAPPS email.PLEASE NOTE: 
 | 
| COLLEGE APPLICATIONS College applications are NOW OPEN. https://www.ontariocolleges.ca/en/apply  Week
  of October 14th: Required Student Information sent to students
  electronically by ITS via GAPPS email.  | 
| MARINE CAREERS EXPO Are your students ready to embark on a journey of discovery and
  adventure? We are thrilled to invite you and your students to the Marine Careers Expo
  2025 – a chance for students to learn about marine industry, and
  chart a course towards many rewarding career opportunities with the Canadian
  Coast Guard (CCG)! We will be hosting a booth filled with opportunities and
  insights into maritime careers with the Canadian Coast Guard. Admission is free, and all are welcome! Location: Sugar Beach Park Date/Time: October 17th @ 11:00-6:00/October 18th @
  10:00-4:00                      Why Should Your Students Attend? Discover Diverse Career Paths: Help your students explore the myriad of
  career options available within the Canadian Coast Guard, from navigating the
  seas to safeguarding marine environments, and more. Meet the Experts: Provide your students the opportunity to interact with
  experienced Canadian Coast Guard personnel who will offer valuable insights
  and guidance on maritime career development and advancement opportunities. Network and Connect: Enable your students to connect with like-minded individuals,
  industry leaders, and potential mentors who can support them on their
  maritime career journey. Inspiration for the Future: Whether they dream of protecting our
  oceans, serving their community, or embracing adventure on the open water,
  this event is their gateway to an exciting and fulfilling career. National Outreach & Recruitment Team/Équipe nationale de
  rayonnement et recrutement Canadian Coast Guard/Garde côtière canadienne Government of Canada/Gouvernement du Canada | 
| BFCN - SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION WORKSHOP The Black Foundation of Community Networks (BFCN), in
  collaboration with YRDSB, is offering a free online Scholarship
  Application Workshop on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, from 6:30
  p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This workshop is designed for high school students and
  will guide them through how to search, prepare, and apply for scholarships
  and bursaries. Students are encouraged to attend with their families to make
  the most of this informative session. 🔗 Register directly
  at: bit.ly/BFCNWorkshopNovember11 📧 Meeting link will be
  provided upon registration | 
Halloween within YRDSB Schools
We kindly ask for your support in reviewing this information with your child.
Halloween is celebrated and acknowledged in a myriad of ways across schools and communities. We want to remind all students of the following:
- In the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, it is important that costumes do not trivialize and devalue the lives of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
- If your child is planning on wearing a costume on Halloween, it should be respectful of others. Symbols or objects representative of a person’s race, culture, ethnicity, or religious beliefs should not be worn as another person’s costume, nor should costumes that caricature social identities through stereotyping.
- Halloween masks
- Replica weapons of any kind
- Students should only use single-use make-up
Take Our Kids To Work
Take Our Kids to Work Day (TOKW ) Wednesday, November 5, 2025 is a national initiative that allows Grade 9 students to explore career options by spending a day in a real-world work environment. Students may join a parent/guardian, relative, family friend, or volunteer at their workplace, or participate in career-related activities at home or school.
To participate, parents/guardians must complete the Informed
Consent Google Form sent to their student’s GAPPS account on Wednesday, October
15, 2025, indicating their child’s choice of activity. Resources are available
through The Student Commission of
Canada.  Please complete the Informed Consent Form by Friday,
October 24, 2025.
| GUIDANCE
  UPDATES -  OCTOBER 7 | 
| Post Secondary Applications Grade 12 potential graduates can begin the application process
  for Ontario Colleges and Universities in October.   To apply for Ontario Universities, students should visit OUAC (the Ontario University
  Application Centre) and start by setting up an account and completing their
  profile.  Students will require their OEN (Ontario Education Number),
  this can be found on a report card.  Students will also receive this
  information in an email from YRDSB the week of October 14th (to their gapps
  accounts). Applications for Ontario Colleges will be open as of
  October 10th.  Start by clicking on the “Apply Now” button and setting
  up an account.  Students will require their OEN (Ontario Education
  Number), this can be found on a report card.  Students will also receive
  this information in an email from YRDSB the week of October 14th (to their
  gapps accounts). On October 16th, during period 1, Guidance will be holding an
  assembly for Grade 12s to go over the application process and answer any
  questions that students may have. *Any student who has a spare during period
  1 needs to make arrangements to be at the assembly.  On
  October 22 from 6:00-8:00pm Hodan Nalayeh Secondary School will be hosting a
  Post Secondary Information Fair for students from Westmount, Stephen Lewis,
  and Maple.  This is a great opportunity to do some research and speak
  with both college and university representatives. | 
| GUIDANCE
  UPDATES -  OCTOBER 6 | 
| SHAD CANADA 2026 Application Open! Shad offers transformative programs for grade 10 and 11 students
  across Canada. With live-in and virtual programs, and specialty options like A-Plus and Unplugged, students engage in STEAM learning,
  mentorship, and innovation, building the confidence and leadership skills
  they’ll carry into the future. Early Bird Advantage: Apply by November 3. The first
  650 accepted applicants are guaranteed placement at one of their top 10
  campus choices. | 
| NYCS (Newcomer Youth Connections for Success) There are two important Newcomer Youth Connections for Success (NYCS) Events we are having in November. Email amy.feigelsohn@jvstoronto.org to register Workshops for Newcomer Teens Mentorship Event  Our Mentorship Event is happening on Tuesday, November 4th from 4:30-6:00pm at 540 Finch Avenue West, where we will have our university and college student mentors offer advice and insights to our newcomer students. This is an incredibly valuable experience for youth. Career Exploration We are having a Career Exploration Workshop on Friday, November 21st from 2:30-5:30pm at 540 Finch Avenue West. In this workshop, a career counsellor will lead a free, interactive workshop with coaching and a personality test which will prepare students for their future career. This is a YRDSB PA Day so we sincerely hope that many of your students will be able to attend. We offer transportation support to eligible students in the form
  of a Presto Card and will have snacks and drinks available during the
  workshops. | 
School Council Meeting Slides
  
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