The below information is for SCDSB families for the month of April.
Applications for the SCDSB Umoja Award are open
The Umoja Black Secondary Student Leadership Award is a $1,000 scholarship that is awarded annually to a full-time registered SCDSB Black secondary school student who will be attending post-secondary school in the fall and demonstrates leadership in their school and in the Black community within Simcoe County.
Selection of the Umoja Award recipient will be facilitated by the SCDSB Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO). The information provided in the application will assist the selection committee (comprised of members of the SCDSB Equity Advisory Committee) in choosing the recipient.
For further information about the award and to apply, visit the HREO page on the SCDSB website. Applications are due May 1, 2026.
Dreams Delayed
The SCDSB acknowledges the structural and systemic nature of anti-Black racism and discrimination in education. The SCDSB recognizes that Black students and staff have historically faced, and continue to face, barriers to equity and inclusion, due to deeply rooted racial biases and discriminatory practices.
In response to the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) Dreams Delayed Addressing Systemic Anti-Black Racism and Discrimination in Ontario’s Public Education System report, the SCDSB is holding consultations for parents and families of Black students. The upcoming consultations are intended to gather feedback from the community on how the recommendations from the report can be incorporated at the SCDSB. The consultations will be held in various locations across the county, including virtually, this spring and will be facilitated by an external consultant.
For more information, please visit the HREO 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 at scdsb.on.ca/elementary/safe_schools.
Learn about cybersecurity and digital well-being at virtual event for parents/guardians
The Simcoe County District School Board’s (SCDSB) Parent Involvement Committee invites all parents/guardians to Safe connections: cybersecurity and digital well-being, a free virtual information session on April 28 from 6 to 8 p.m.
This information session will help families navigate the online world safely. Participants will learn how to protect their child(ren) from identity theft, oversharing, and online scams, and discover strategies to foster healthy technology habits and balance online use at home.
Learn more and register to attend at www.scdsb.on.ca/connections.
Prom Glitz 2026
Grade 12 prom and Grade 8 graduation dresses will be available at the Kozlov Centre at 400 Bayfield Street in the former Doogan’s Pet Shop beginning March 19. All dresses are free, but donations are appreciated. Students can bring one guest to assist them in selecting a dress. For more information and a schedule of hours visit www.promglitz.ca or follow them on Instagram @promglitz or Facebook @PromGlitzSimcoe.
Spring into new math activities this April
New math problems, games, and activities are added to Math at Home monthly. Visit scdsb.on.ca/MathatHome to find fun, engaging ways to support your child in learning math.
In April, activities in school and on Math at Home may include comparing, estimating, and measuring length, perimeter, area, mass, and capacity.
Say hello to SCDSB Weekly — coming soon!
We’re excited to introduce SCDSB Weekly, a refreshed video series with a new host, a new format, and all‑new episodes showcasing the great things happening across the SCDSB. Follow the SCDSB on Instagram, Facebook, and X to see SCDSB Weekly! In the meantime, watch past SCDSB News videos, including the one below featuring Bear Creek SS students.
Bear Creek SS art students created a powerful mural to help reduce the stigma around mental health. Painted in memory of Mitchell, a former Bear Creek SS student, the project was made possible through a partnership between the SCDSB, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and Mitchell’s mom, Natalie. The mural gave students a deeply meaningful way to honour his legacy.💚 It is now on display at the CMHA in Barrie: https://youtu.be/GRI5MEXAUws?si=fsrWo3miobEoCNCB
Kindergarten registration for September 2026 is open!
Kindergarten is the beginning of a wonderful journey of learning, and we want your child to begin their journey in a SCDSB school! Do you have a child who is turning four in 2026? If so, we invite you to register your child for Kindergarten. To register online or for more information visit the SCDSB website at scdsb.on.ca/kindergarten.
Discover Kindergarten in the SCDSB at a Kindergarten orientation session
Kindergarten orientation sessions will be held throughout the SCDSB in the spring of 2026. These sessions provide families with the opportunity to engage with their school community as their children prepare to enter school. Learn more about the sessions and find out when your child's school is holding theirs at www.scdsb.on.ca/kindergarten.
Licensed summer school child care programs
Child care programs for children in Kindergarten to Grade 6 are provided by independent, third-party child care operators in some SCDSB schools. To support your child care needs, some operators offer child care over the summer holidays. Registration in advance is required. Please contact the child care operator directly to discuss fees and to register. More information and contact numbers can be found at scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/childcare_before_after.
EarlyON Child and Family Centres
The Simcoe County EarlyON Child and Family Centres are excited to offer in-person and virtual programs that help prepare children and parents/guardians for Kindergarten. Parents/guardians and children will have the opportunity to interact together in a variety of school readiness activities.
To register for a program in your area visit: earlyonsimcoenorth.ca/GRFK.
Supporting your child’s mental health and well‑being
As a parent/guardian, you foster your child's development and growth, in big and small ways, each and every day. This includes nurturing their mental health and well-being, helping them to build resilience, find school success, and foster independence so they can lead healthy and successful lives. This also involves creating opportunities for your child to learn skills for promoting and maintaining their own mental health.
For an info sheet and video to learn more about this topic visit: https://smho-smso.ca/online-resources/help-me-understand-talking-with-your-child-about-mental-health/
Feedback, recovery and improvement days (secondary)
At the end of each semester, all secondary schools will run feedback, recovery, and improvement days for students. Culminating assessments such as portfolios, essays, examinations, and interviews will take place during instructional days and will be returned to students with feedback.
The last day of regular instruction for students in Semester Two is Monday, June 15. The period from Monday, June 22 to Wednesday, June 24 is reserved for students to receive feedback from an assessment, to rescue or recover a credit, or to improve on an area of missed expectations. Teachers and support staff will communicate with students who will benefit most from attending this opportunity; however, all students will be invited to attend. There will be no new instruction these days. Feedback, recovery, and improvement days are an opportunity for students to work closely with their teacher if they require feedback, recovery, or an opportunity to improve on an area of missed expectations.
Tick-Talk: Protect you and your child from ticks and Lyme disease
Ticks that are infected with Lyme disease can spread it to humans through a bite.
In Ontario, blacklegged ticks are often found in forests, tall grass, and areas with leaves on the ground. After you or your child have been outside in these areas, do a full-body tick check. Watch the video 'Tick Talk: Full Body Tick Check' to learn how. The video is also available in French.
If you find a tick, remove it right away. Use fine-tipped tweezers. Grab the tick as close to the skin as you can. Pull straight up with firm and even pressure. Do not squeeze or burn the tick.
After removing the tick, clean the bite areas and your hands with soap and water. Visit eTick.ca to identify the tick and contact your health care provider to talk about your risk of Lyme disease.
For more information and prevention tips visit the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit's website.
April PA Day
Please note that Friday, April 24 is a PA Day for all SCDSB students. Please refer to the 2025-26 School Year Calendar on the SCDSB website for more information: www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/school_year_calendar.
Date: April 24, 2026
Length: full-day
Topic: safe and caring schools, dismantling racism and discrimination, artificial intelligence (AI), and cyber safety
Host: Simcoe County District School Board
Presenters/Facilitators: school board staff and school administrators
Safe and Caring Schools
Erin’s Law (40 minutes)
Educators will learn about Erin’s Law, a child sexual abuse prevention initiative requiring age-appropriate education in schools. They will learn strategies to recognize potential signs of abuse and respond appropriately. Specifically, educators will learn about their role in providing age-appropriate annual student lessons on body safety, healthy boundaries, and reporting. This professional learning is aligned with updates and revisions regarding Reporting a Child in Need of Protection, also known as ‘Duty to Report’.
Unpacking bullying and anti-human trafficking (60 minutes)
Educators will take the next step of unpacking bully type behaviors from an equity and empathy lens. Educators will dive deeper into trauma-informed practices and strategies to support bully prevention and intervention in our SCDSB schools. In addition, educators will participate in recently updated anti-human trafficking training.
Dismantling racism and discrimination (100 minutes)
Educators will deepen their understanding of racism toward Indigenous communities, antisemitism, and Islamophobia, building on prior anti-Black racism work to strengthen system-wide equity practice. This session emphasizes that this work is essential even when students or staff with these identities are not present, and support educators in committing to concrete actions that foster safety, belonging, and identity-affirming learning environments for all.
Artificial intelligence (100 minutes)
Educators will engage in reflective activities to consider how the SCDSB Guiding Principles for AI Use and selected AI tools have influenced their practice and student learning. Opportunities will be provided to share insights, challenges, and emerging questions in ways that suit individual and school contexts. Educators will revisit themes of equity, digital responsibility, and student agency, and explore optional resources that highlight evolving AI practices in education. Updated cyber safety modules will be included to reinforce responsible digital practice. The session will also encourage reflection on how AI use has supported the development of transferable skills in both educators and students, recognizing that approaches will vary across roles and contexts.