School board communication with parents/guardians
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is committed to ensuring consistent and reliable information is made available to parents/guardians and acknowledges the positive impact of parent/guardian engagement on student achievement. Visit the SCDSB website to learn how the SCDSB and your child’s school will communicate with you, to review the SCDSB service commitment, and learn how you can communicate your appreciation or concern. You can also find information about how to support your child’s education in the Ministry of Education’s Your Child’s Education: A parent guide to our school system.
It’s important to get accurate information about what’s going on at the SCDSB. Here are some ways to do that:
SCDSB Code of Conduct
The safety of students and staff is very important to us, and we recognize that all members of our school community have the right to be safe and feel safe. The SCDSB’s Code of Conduct supports and enhances the Provincial Code of Conduct and sets clear standards of behaviour for all members of the SCDSB community. The SCDSB Code of Conduct has been designed to create and maintain inviting and supportive school environments. It sets clear standards and specifies consequences for actions that do not comply with these standards.
Parents/guardians are responsible for reviewing the SCDSB Code of Conduct and discussing expectations for behaviour with their child(ren). They can acknowledge they have done so using the SCDSB acknowledgement and permission form that is distributed at the beginning of each school year.
The SCDSB Code of Conduct and other information related to safe schools is available on the Safe Schools page on the SCDSB website.
Creating safe and welcoming spaces for students, staff, and visitors
We strive to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space where all students, staff, and visitors are treated respectfully. We expect an environment free from harassment and violence. Staff will not tolerate or respond to aggressive or abusive behaviour, whether in person, on the phone, or online via email or social media.
When visiting or contacting our schools, please help us maintain a positive and safe school environment for all. Information related to safe schools is available on the SCDSB website.
Reporting a student absence
Secondary schools
All parents/guardians are asked to notify the school when their child will be absent. To notify the school of an absence from a secondary school, call 1-888-885-8065.
Elementary schools
All parents/guardians are asked to notify the school when their child will be absent. To notify the school of an absence from an elementary school, please use one of the following methods instead of calling the existing attendance line:
App
- Download and install the SM Home app (SchoolMessenger Home) from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
- Login or sign up to create your account using the same email address on record with the school. If you have an existing account with SchoolMessenger, you can login using the password from that account.
- At the bottom of the screen, select Attendance, then Report an Absence.
Website
- Visit https://home.schoolmessenger.ca
- Login or sign up to create your account using the same email address on record with the school. If you have an existing account with SchoolMessenger, you can login using the password from that account.
Phone
- Call 1-833-275-6699 (toll-free) and follow the prompts to report an absence.
SCDSB 2026-27 Student Handbook
The SCDSB student handbook contains a variety of information that the SCDSB is required to share with all students and families. This September, schools will be distributing the student handbook to all families via email. The SCDSB 2026-27 Student Handbook can also be found on the SCDSB website at www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/parent and on school websites under ‘students’.
Use of Traditional Indigenous Medicines
Students and parents/guardians will notice signage on the front doors of all SCDSB buildings identifying that Traditional Indigenous Medicines are used in all SCDSB facilities. This is to inform all community members, staff, and students that smudging, which may include some airborne particles, may take place in the building.
If smudging is taking place in a particular area, additional signage will be posted in that area. Every effort will be made to inform the school community before Traditional Indigenous Medicines are used.
Policy Consultation
The SCDSB is committed to creating and maintaining respectful and collaborative relationships with students, parents/guardians, and community partners. Through consultation, the SCDSB strives to gather input, feedback, and perspectives on policies that are necessary for the day-to-day operations of the board.
Engaging the SCDSB community in policy consultation allows those involved in public education to contribute to changes that enhance student achievement and well-being while improving outcomes and experiences for students and staff.
The current policies open for consultation are:
- 2198 - Use of Copyright Protected Works of Education
- 3320 - Professional Learning
The consultation period runs from Aug. 19 to Sept. 23, 2026. Provide your feedback.
Student and Family Support Office
The team within the Student and Family Support Office at the SCDSB provide families with an additional avenue to obtain support with complex questions or concerns related to their child’s education. Teachers, principals, and vice-principals continue to be the initial point of contact for parents/guardians as most matters can be quickly addressed and resolved at the school level.
If your question or concern requires additional follow-up or assistance beyond the school level, you may access the Student and Family Support Office by completing the support request form. To learn more or access the form visit the Student and Family Support page on the SCDSB website.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Sept. 30
On Sept. 30, we recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honour the children who never returned home, the Survivors of residential schools, and their families and communities. It is a time for learning, reflection, and remembrance. As a school community, we are committed to understanding the truths of our shared history and working toward reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. We encourage students and families to wear orange on Sept. 30 to show support and to take part in meaningful conversations and activities that foster respect and healing.
Universal Otis-Lennon School Ability Test Screening Process
The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT) is a standardized group test of ability. The results of this test will help us gain a better understanding of students’ areas of relative strength and need as related to their verbal and non-verbal abilities so that we can plan our programs and supports accordingly. Results may also be used to inform identification (e.g., Intellectual: Gifted).
Students who display an advanced degree of general intellectual ability may require additional program support to reach their educational potential. This support may be through enhancing the curriculum, differentiated instruction, and through providing program extensions and enrichment. This type of programming is important to engage, motivate, and challenge students who are identified as gifted.
A consent form examining the universal OLSAT screening process in greater detail will be sent to parent(s)/guardian(s) of students in Grade 3 via SchoolCash Online in September.
If you require further information about the universal OLSAT screening process, please contact the school.
School council nominations for 2026-27 school year
School council is a committee made up of elected parents/guardians, community representatives, staff, and sometimes students that help to provide the community voice and parent/guardian perspective on important school topics. School council is a good way for parents/guardians to get involved in their child/children’s education while playing an important role in the partnership between home and school.
School council nominations take place every fall. If you are interested, please watch your email for upcoming communication and for more information visit www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/parent/school_councils.
Annual notice to adult students or parent(s)/guardian(s) of students under the age of 16
A completed Student Medical Form (Form A1420 - 1) is required each school year for all students with life-threatening and non-life-threatening medical conditions and when administration of medication is required.
Parent(s)/guardian(s)/adult students are responsible for ensuring that a current, completed Student Medical Form is on file at the school. Parent(s)/guardian(s)/adult students are also to complete a Plan of Care for students with life-threatening medical conditions, such as anaphylaxis, asthma, type 1 diabetes, or epilepsy/seizure disorder.
Some students may experience severe life-threatening allergic reactions to bee, hornet, wasp, or other insect stings or to certain foods or food ingredients such as peanuts. For students with life-threatening allergies, it is recommended that two doses of an epinephrine auto-injector are available on site at school.
Specific to asthma, every student under the age of 16 is permitted to carry their asthma medication if the student has the permission of the parent(s)/guardian(s).
Please do not hesitate to contact the school with any questions you may have.
Standard acknowledgment and permission form/student information computing technology appropriate use agreement 2026-27
The 2026-27 Acknowledgment and Permission Form and Student Information Computing Technology Appropriate Use Agreement are required forms for all SCDSB students. The forms have been made available electronically through SchoolCash Online until Oct. 11. SchoolCash Online is the preferred method for forms. If you are unable to submit these forms electronically, please contact the office for paper copies.
Student accident insurance 2026-27
The SCDSB does not provide accident insurance coverage for student injuries that occur on school premises, at board-sponsored events, or during school extracurricular activities (e.g., athletics, clubs, etc.). However, accidents can and do happen. Injuries can result in substantial expenses that are not covered by the SCDSB or provincial health care. If families do not have existing or sufficient extended health or dental coverage, a variety of plans and benefits at reasonable annual prices can be found via the SCDSB website.
Participation in extracurricular activities (e.g., athletics, clubs, etc.) require the purchase of this insurance, or other extended health and dental coverage.
Updating student information on file at the school
Parents/guardians are responsible for advising their child’s school of any changes to student information on file. This may include but is not limited to:
- student’s legal or preferred name
- student’s primary address – property and mailing address
- home phone number
- parent/guardian information, including custody arrangements
- parent/guardian email address
- emergency contacts with a current phone number
Please contact the school to advise of any changes to student information or to review information that is on file.
Volunteering in schools during the 2026-27 school year
Volunteers are an important part of what makes our schools great places to learn and grow. We value and appreciate the support of our volunteers. Volunteers have various roles at our schools including:
- School event volunteer
- Hot lunch day organizers
- Field trip supervisors
- Classroom helpers
Interested in volunteering? Visit the volunteering page on the SCDSB website. To learn about available opportunities, contact your local school’s office.
If you do not have a computer or require assistance, please contact the school.
Current volunteers
Current approved volunteers must keep their Community Apps account/Volunteer Portal information up-to-date with email address changes. Communication is sent throughout the year to the provided email address with respect to timelines, necessary requirements, etc. regarding your volunteer status. Visit the volunteering page on our website for more information and instructions.
Procedures help keep our school safe
We have a number of procedures in place to keep our school safe. Parents/guardians should review the following emergency procedures with their children:
- Shelter in place - used when there is an environmental or weather-related situation.
- Hold and secure - used when there is a situation in the community, not related to the school.
- A lockdown - used when there is a major incident or a threat of violence related to the school.
Please visit the Safety Procedures page on the SCDSB website to learn more about our safety procedures and emergency evacuation plans.
It’s important for you to know we will always take whatever precautions are necessary to keep our school and students safe.
Please note the following:
- Elementary school main doors are locked during the school day. Visitors must use the intercom system and wait for assistance. Staff may not be available to answer the door immediately, so please be patient.
- Staff must complete a criminal record check, including a vulnerable sector screening before having contact with students.
- We ask parents/guardians of elementary students to contact us when their child will be absent from school as part of our Safe Arrival program. When we don’t hear from a parent/guardian and a student is absent, we will call home to find out the reason for the absence.
- At least two staff members in every school are trained in first aid and CPR. All SCDSB schools have automated external defibrillators (AED).
Student dress code
Our board’s dress code is one way that we embed the principles set out in the SCDSB and Ministry of Education documents, Caring and Safe Schools in Ontario and Equity and Inclusive Education, to ensure safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environments for all of our students. In SCDSB schools, we believe that students should be able to learn in a safe and caring space that is free of bias and discrimination. When making choices about what to wear to school, we respect your individuality. To ensure that our learning environments are safe and respectful spaces, our board has consulted with students and staff to develop a set of shared standards for student dress.
The SCDSB dress code is available on the SCDSB website. If you have questions about the dress code, contact your school principal.
School bus ‘Bus Tag’ program helps students get to and from school safely
The Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium’s Bus Tag program supports safety for Kindergarten and other school-identified students. The program helps match students to their assigned afternoon school bus and identifies that they must be met by a parent/guardian at their afternoon bus stop.
The program provides a colour-coded bus tag with the assigned p.m. route number, to be attached to the student’s backpack, and a colour-coded route card with route number in the windows of the school bus that the bus tag is matched to. The program can also provide tags for students who are walkers and/or who remain at an on-site child care centre to make sure they don’t get on a bus in error.
For more information, visit main.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca.
Learn a new language for free with the SCDSB!
Children in Grades 1-8 can learn to listen, speak, and write in a new language or extend their knowledge of their first language through the SCDSB’s International and Indigenous Languages Program. Offered evenings, in-person, at the Barrie Learning Centre, the program includes 2.5 hours of instruction each week, at no cost.
Languages offered are based on sufficient enrolment and may include Farsi, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish, and Indigenous languages.
To learn more and preregister for the program, visit the Learning Centres’ website. Program start dates will be established once minimum enrolment is reached.
Looking for international and Indigenous language instructors
Are you fluent in a language other than English and passionate about teaching and sharing? The SCDSB is looking for enthusiastic instructors for our International and Indigenous Languages Program! We are seeking individuals to teach conversational language skills to children in Grades 1–8 in person at the Barrie Learning Centre. Classes run once or twice a week in the evenings for 2.5 hours per session. We are currently looking for instructors for languages such as Farsi, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish, and Indigenous languages, though other languages may be considered based on student interest.
If you are interested in inspiring the next generation of multilingual learners and supporting the SCDSB’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we would love to hear from you.
To learn more, visit the International and Indigenous Languages page on the Learning Centres website.
Equity Advisory Committee seeks members
The SCDSB is committed to identifying and removing barriers within our system to ensure that all students and staff are offered supportive, inclusive, and respectful learning and working environments. To support this work, the SCDSB has an Equity Advisory Committee (EAC) comprised of parents/guardians, trustees, community partner organizations or associations, and board staff. The committee has existed since 2022.
As per the committee terms of reference, the SCDSB is seeking new parent/guardian members for the EAC. Parent/guardian membership will be decided by a selection committee.
To learn more and to apply to be a parent/guardian member of the EAC visit the SCDSB website.
September PA Day
Please refer to the 2026-27 School Year Calendar on the SCDSB website for a list of important dates.
For a summary of planned activities for educators during Professional Activity (PA) Days visit the School Year Calendar page on the SCDSB website.