The below information is for SCDSB families for the month of January.
Provide your feedback on the proposed SCDSB 2026-27 school year calendar
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) invites public school communities to submit input regarding the proposed school year calendar for next year (September 2026 to June 2027).
Provide input by visiting the School Year Calendar page on the SCDSB website.
All staff, parents/guardians, students, and members of the school community are invited to provide feedback. The deadline to provide feedback is Jan. 16, 2026, to ensure the SCDSB meets school year calendar development timelines set by the Ministry of Education.
Inclement weather and bus cancellation information reminder
All information regarding cancelled buses in Simcoe County is posted on the Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC)’s bus information website at main.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca. If you don’t know which zone you are in, you can find out here.
Inclement weather cancellations are effective for the whole day and buses cancelled in the morning will not run at the end of the day. You can follow the Consortium on Twitter @SCSTC_SchoolBus for bus cancellations and other information. You can also subscribe to receive bus delay notifications here: scstc.ca/Subscriptions/Login.aspx.
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.
Is your child turning four in 2026? Get ready for Kindergarten with us!
A big milestone is just around the corner! To help you and your child prepare for this exciting transition, the SCDSB offers Kindergarten Connections, a monthly enewsletter filled with tips, key dates, and everything you need to know about starting Kindergarten. Visit www.scdsb.on.ca/Kindergarten to learn more and sign up!
How is your infant, toddler, or preschool child developing?
Is your child meeting their milestones? Age-appropriate speech and language skills are critical to your child’s ability to read, write, and be successful in school as well as to their ability to engage with their peers. Free services are available to support you with your child’s development. Preschool speech and language programs are located across the County of Simcoe. Call 705-739-5696 or 1-800-675-1979 to complete a developmental screen. The earlier we work together the better!
Licensed March Break school age 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 on PA days and holidays including over the March Break (March 16 - 20). 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.
Check out the SCDSB News video series
The SCDSB News is a weekly video series highlighting positive events, initiatives, and learning happening within school communities across the SCDSB. Follow the SCDSB on social media to catch all of these weekly episodes, and check out our recent video below featuring Ignite Your Future, a career pathways expo hosted by the SCDSB.
The SCDSB recently hosted Ignite Your Future, a career pathways expo where students and their families explored education and career options beyond high school. See how students were introduced to different post-secondary opportunities: Lighting the way to many career pathways
High school information events for Grade 8 students
Is your child starting Grade 9 next year? High school information events will take place in person this winter! Student leaders and staff at the school will give an overview of what’s new and what to expect. Learn about courses offered, as well as information about teams and clubs. Please visit the SCDSB website at scdsb.on.ca/secondary/planning_for_high_school/high_school_information_nights to find details on your high school’s info night, and contact the school directly for more information.
SCDSB families invited to explore math games and activities at Family Math Nights in February 2026
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) invites families to participate in a Family Math Night. Each event will feature a variety of engaging math games and activities for families with children from pre-Kindergarten to Grade 8.
Family Math Nights will take place at the following locations:
- Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 – Nottawa ES, Collingwood, from 4:15 to 6 p.m.
- Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026 – Tay Shores PS, Midland, from 4:15 to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026 – Lions Oval PS, Orillia, from 3:45 to 5:30 p.m.
Drop in with your children to explore math stations hosted by SCDSB educators and staff. Families will leave with valuable tools and resources to support learning at home. Families are welcome to attend any location, regardless of their child’s home school. Register to attend a Family Math Night.
What is mental health? Introducing By Your Side resource
As parents/guardians and caregivers, we want our children to grow up physically and mentally healthy, build meaningful relationships, and successfully navigate life’s challenges. When we understand what mental health is, we are in a better position to support our loved ones. By Your Side is a website from School Mental Health Ontario that offers resources for parents/guardians and caregivers. Learn more about the basics of mental health, and the difference between mental health and mental illness, at: smho-smso.ca/online-resources/what-is-mental-health.
Culminating Task Days and 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.
Below is the process and schedule for the culminating task days and feedback, recovery, and improvement days that will occur at the end of the semester.
Culminating task days will take place on Jan. 21, 22, 23, and 26, 2026.
- There will be four culminating task days.
- Each day will begin with a 120-minute period dedicated to students completing their culminating task.
- Culminating tasks come in a variety of forms such as assignments, presentations, conferences, interviews, and exams.
- Teachers will determine the method that best meets the requirements of the course and the needs of the students.
- The school day will be structured into three periods.
- There will be no new learning or assessment and evaluation (other than the culminating task) during these days.
Feedback, recovery, and improvement days will take place on Jan. 27, 28, and 29, 2026.
- These will occur in the remaining three days of the semester.
- Students can attend to complete assignment(s), receive feedback, or improve an area of missed expectation.
- Students will be provided with a reflection form that they are encouraged to complete before attending these days. They will be asked to reflect on their learning and develop a plan to improve their learning, if they choose, based on specific areas of the course expectations.
- Teachers will be available to assist students in completing the form, if necessary.
- All students have the option to attend the feedback, recovery, and improvement days.
Enabling multi-factor authentication on student devices
Students travelling internationally must enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to access SCDSB online services (email, D2L, Google Classroom) from outside of Canada.
MFA must be set up at an SCDSB location using a Windows 11 device.
Step 1: Sign in to Office.com
- Go to office.com.
- Sign in with the student’s school account.
Step 2: Access security settings
- Once signed in, click the profile picture or initials in the top-right corner.
- Select ‘View account’.
- In the left-hand menu, click ‘Security info’ or ‘Security & privacy’.
- Choose ‘Update info’ under ‘Security info’.
Step 3: Add a method
- Click ‘+ Add sign-in method’.
- Choose ‘Phone number (SMS or call)’.
- Follow the prompts to verify and complete setup.
School playground structures are closed for the winter
To ensure the safety of all users, playground equipment is closed and off-limits as of Nov. 1 until the protective surfacing is tilled in the spring. This is due to winter hazards, icy equipment, and frozen ground conditions.
Every winter, school playground structures are closed. Students are made aware of this during school hours through announcements and staff reminders during breaks. This may not be well known throughout the community, despite signs indicating that playground structures are a winter hazard and are closed. The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) regulations make recommendations for the depth of ground cover required to minimize injuries (e.g., sand, pea gravel, or wood chips). These surfaces cannot be maintained when the ground freezes. Injuries from falling would be more significant on frozen ground. Please do not allow your children to play on any structures while the ground is frozen, until the structures are re-opened in the spring by the school board.
Character recognition nominations
Do you know a student, staff, or volunteer that demonstrates strong character within the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB)? The Character Recognition Awards Evening will be happening on May 28, 2026. This event recognizes students, staff, and volunteers who demonstrate strong character in their daily lives.
Each year nominations from schools, work sites, and the Education Centre are received, highlighting the strong character of our students, staff, and volunteers. From this group, randomly selected nominees are invited to the Education Centre in a celebration of those who exemplify the SCDSB character attributes.
The nomination process begins on Jan. 5, 2026, and ends on March 13, 2026. Recommendations must be made by submitting this form: Character education form.
Interested in learning more about special education in the SCDSB?
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is developing videos to assist parents/guardians in learning more about programs, supports, and ways that we work together to support students with special education needs. Topics will include transitions, reading strategies, communication strategies, and more.
Take a look at the first video, Individual Education Plans – Information for parents/guardians, and visit the SCDSB website to find others as they are added.
New year, new math activities!
New math problems, games, and activities are added to Math at Home monthly. Visit www.scdsb.on.ca/MathatHome to find fun, engaging ways to support your child(ren) in learning math.
In January, activities in school and on Math at Home may include representing fractions using tools, and adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing whole numbers and fractions.
Your child’s immunization record
The Ontario Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires local health units to have up to date immunization records for all students attending school. In accordance with ISPA (2014), students are required to be immunized for the following diseases:
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio and Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella – two doses after the first birthday
- Meningococcal Disease – one dose after the first birthday and another in Grade 7
- Varicella (chickenpox) – required for those born in 2010 or after
In Ontario, health care providers do not automatically provide immunization records to the health unit. Parents and guardians must submit this information directly to the health unit.
There are two convenient ways to report your child’s immunizations:
For more information, contact the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit Immunization Program at 1-877-721-7520 x 8827 or visit the SMDHU school immunization page.
January PA Days
Elementary
Friday, Jan. 30, 2026
Length: Full day
Topic: Evaluation and reporting
Host: Simcoe County District School Board
Presenters/Facilitators: not applicable
Educators will be working to complete the first provincial report card which will reflect students’ achievement of curriculum expectations introduced and developed from September to January of the school year, as well as students’ development of the learning skills and work habits during that period. This process includes both evaluation and reporting.
Elementary report cards will go home to parents/guardians on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.
Secondary
Friday, Jan. 30, 2026
Length: Full day
Topic: Evaluation and reporting
Host: Simcoe County District School Board
Presenters/Facilitators: not applicable
Educators will be working to complete the first provincial report card which will reflect students’ achievement of curriculum expectations introduced and developed in Semester 1 courses from September to January of the school year, as well as students’ development of the learning skills and work habits during that period. This process includes both evaluation and reporting.
Secondary report cards will go home to parents/guardians on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026