The Maple Ridge Arts Department is pleased to announce that we have partnered with Make It Sow, a Canadian supplier of quality garden and flower seeds, to raise funds to support the Arts at Maple Ridge. Make it Sow uses only high-quality, non-GMO seeds, germination-tested for Canadian climates. Funds will be utilized to purchase much-needed equipment for the arts.
The Make It Sow program will also plant one tree for every ten packages that we sell.Ordering is now available on SchoolCash Online, with our first delivery of seeds arriving at the end of April for spring planting. Please ensure that you have placed your order by April 10th to have your order delivered at this time.
School Council
Upcoming Council Meeting Dates:
- Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM
This year, the Council has set a priority of purchasing
BBQs and a deep freezer for the school. These additions will help
better support school clubs, sports teams, community gatherings, and
other school events.
We are committed to raising funds to support student fundraising efforts and to help offset costs wherever possible.
If you wish to contribute to this initiative, donations can be made through the QR code below. ***please ensure that in your donation message you identify that your donation is for School Council BBQs***
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.
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
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.
Keep Reading for SCDSB News
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.
Licensed summer school childcare programs
Childcare programs for children in Kindergarten to Grade 6 are provided by independent, third-party childcare operators in some SCDSB schools. To support your childcare needs, some operators offer childcare over the summer holidays. Registration in advance is required. Please contact the childcare 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
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.
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.