WELCOME TO WEEK 17 @ ACPS
WEEKLY ATTACHMENTS
CLICK THIS LINK FOR WEEK 17 ATTACHMENTS
GRADE 1 FRENCH IMMERSION (FI) INFORMATION SESSIONS AND REGISTRATIONS - THURSDAY JANUARY 15, 2026 @ 7 PM
This year, our Information session for Grade 1 entry into the French Immersion program will take place in French Immersion schools on January 15, 2026, at 7 p.m. Program locations and additional information is available on our website. If families are unable to attend the information session, they can hear about the French Immersion program on the Tune In YRDSB: French Immersion Podcast.
What is French Immersion?
- Provides opportunities for students to develop enhanced proficiency in French.
- Students receive instruction in French from teachers who are fluent in French.
- Begins in Grade 1 and is designed for children whose first language is not French.
- In Grades 1, 2 and 3, all subjects are taught in French. Starting in Grade 4, instructional time is shared equally between French and English.
- Program continues in secondary school.
- Secondary school students must earn at least 10 French Immersion credits to qualify for the French Immersion Certificate upon graduation.
Important Considerations
- Grade 1 is the only entry point into French immersion in YRDSB.
- Communication with parents/guardians is in English including, but not limited to, report cards, newsletters and parent-teacher interviews.
- For the first few months of Grade 1, children may not acquire skills identical to those learned by children in an English program as the focus is on learning in French.
- During the first few years of the FI program, students may not develop the same level of English proficiency as their peers in an English program, however children should acquire these skills by the end of Grade 8. Families are encouraged to continue to read to their children in their first language.
FI Accommodation Plan - YRDSB’s FI Accommodation Plan provides long-term consistency and equity of access to all students in York Region and will enable YRDSB to continue to offer the FI program to all who wish to enrol. The FI program is offered in Dual Track or Single-Track settings, in a variety of configurations. In order to meet community needs and optimize available space in our schools, a community's Grade 1-8 FI program may be provided over more than one school during the course of a student's FI education. Space requirements at some schools may mean that siblings are in different schools for primary dual track French Immersion programs due to differing grade structures. Like any of our schools across the Board, changes to school boundaries, and/or the accommodation model for the French Immersion program may need to be considered when new schools open, a school experiences enrolment growth, and program changes occur. This will allow flexibility in addressing community needs and the opportunity to use existing space in schools.
More information is available on the Board’s website. Please note: Some of the FI accommodation plans will require facility modifications or the development of new schools and will require short-term transition plans that might include overflow while we work toward the long-term vision. Overflow refers to situations in which the Board directs students to attend a school other than their community school or optional program for a specific period of time, as defined in Policy #108.
Registration - FI registration will begin on January 16, 2026. Parents or guardians of Year 2 Kindergarten students entering Grade 1 in 2026, and wishing to enrol in the FI Program, can email or call their home school office and indicate their intention to enrol. The home school will notify the French Immersion school, and the French Immersion school will contact families by phone or email to collect any necessary information. Families are asked to register by February 9, 2026. Registration during this period is not first come, first served.
Late Registrations
Late registrations are those submitted after February 9, 2026. Late registrations will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis and will be considered subsequent to registrations received during the registration period should overflow be necessary.
ANNIE JR. THE MUSICAL AT THORNLEA
Good afternoon Thornlea Community and Feeder Schools! You’re Invited to the Musical: Annie Jr.! 🎶
Thornlea Secondary School is excited to welcome elementary and future students to a special performance of Annie Jr., presented by Ms. Bern’s Grade 11/12 Musical Theatre class!
Performance Dates: January 9 & January 12
Time: Doors Open: 6:00 PM : Show Time: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Thornlea Secondary School, Room 219
Tickets: $11.00
Come enjoy an evening of singing, dancing, and storytelling, and get a glimpse of the exciting performing arts opportunities waiting for you at Thornlea! We can’t wait to see you there!
January 9th: https://yrdsb.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/439440/72/False/True
January 12th: https://yrdsb.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/439471/72/False/True
PLEASE PURCHASE TICKETS ASAP AS WE HAVE LIMITED SEATS!
Nicole Bern
Dramatic Arts/Visual Arts Teacher
Thornlea Secondary School
905.889.9696
EXTRA CURRICULAR PROGRAMS
A reminder to all families who registered their child for Engineering for Kids (Gr. 1-3). This program will begin on Monday at 12pm in the Library.
The Gr. 4-6 TAC After-School Badminton program has also started and is every Thursday at 2:45pm in the Gym.
*Please remind your child to attend if you have signed them up for either of these two programs.
ADRIENNE CLARKSON FAMILY PORTRAIT FUNDRAISER WITH PHOTOWORKS
Adrienne Clarkson Family Portrait Fundraiser
Our families are the foundation that combine to help build our school community.
A family portrait photograph session will be held for up to 6 family members or friends to capture this timeless moment in our lives.
A complementary 8 x 10 print can be chosen as part of a package ordered from the available pictures while supporting school fundraising.
Program Details:
📅 Date: Thursday January 29th
📍 Location: The ACPS Library
🕒 Time: 5 to10 minute sessions are available from 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM
💲 Cost: $35 per session with a complementary 8 x 10 print of your choice
Registration Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044EAEAF29A0FF2-60341128-sirsamuel
Thanks for your support,
Adrienne Clarkson P.S. School Council
JANUARY MATH NEWSLETTER: Sparking Joy through MAKING CONNECTIONS
Welcome, families! As we settle into the new year, let's explore how to make math meaningful by focusing on making connections. This means helping students see how the mathematical concepts and strategies they learn in the classroom are connected to one another and to the world around them. When students connect math to their lived experiences, it becomes more relevant, understandable, and joyful!
Connecting it Back to the Classroom
"Connecting" is a fundamental Mathematical Process, it helps students see how mathematical ideas are related to each other, to other subjects, and most importantly, to everyday life. When students make connections, they move beyond memorizing procedures and build understanding. They begin to understand the why of different math concepts and how it applies to real-world situations. For example, understanding that counting by twos to sort socks is the same foundational math as multiplying by two to figure out how many shoes are in a room.
Engaging in CONNECTION CONVERSATIONS at Home
You don't need a formal lesson to help students make mathematical connections! Here are ways to spark conversations:
- Sorting and Comparing: While folding laundry, sorting toys, or organizing a drawer, pick two items that are somewhat similar but have clear differences. This task encourages students to notice similarities and differences between objects by observing their attributes. It builds early sorting skills and lays the foundation for measurement and geometry concepts.
- Primary Foci
- “What colour/size/shape are they?” ,
- “Can you find something else that looks like this?”
- “Which one is heavier? How could we check?”
- Junior Foci
- What attributes can you use to sort these? Colour? Texture? Size? Shape?”
- “Can you group them another way? Why did you choose that?”
- “Can you describe the differences using measurement words like longer, taller, heavier, or thicker?”
- Intermediate Foci
- “How could you describe these using precise measurements (cm, g, mL)?”
- “Compare these 3D shapes—what properties do they have in common? How do their volumes or surface areas differ?”
- “Can you create a sorting rule that uses two or more attributes at once (e.g., size and weight)?”
- Primary Foci
- Comparing Speed: When going to a familiar place (e.g. the park, a friend's house, or even a different room in your home), discuss two possible routes.This task invites students to estimate and compare travel times using different routes. It introduces concepts like time, distance, efficiency, and eventually rate and ratio.
- Primary Foci
- Which way do you think will be faster? Why?”, “Should we walk slowly or quickly to get there on time?”
- “Let’s time it! Was your prediction right?”
- Junior Foci
- “How many minutes did it take us on each route?”
- “If we were running, would it change the time? What if we were biking?”
- “If the distance is the same, why might one way take longer?”
- Intermediate Foci
- “Let’s figure out the rate: If it took 5 minutes to go 600 metres, how fast were we going (m/min)?”
- “Compare the speed of a car going 50 km/h with a bike going 12 km/h—how long would each take to go 5 km?”
- “How could we use this information to decide the most efficient route somewhere farther away?”
- Primary Foci
- Which is more?: When plating a snacks, arrange them in different ways. This activity helps children develop number sense by making estimates, comparing quantities, and exploring how arrangement affects perception. It can grow into proportional reasoning and understanding percentages.
- Primary Foci
- “Which one looks like it has more? Why do you think that?”
- “What’s another way we could check, besides counting?”
- “Let’s line them up to see if they match.”
- Junior Foci
- “Can you estimate how many are in each bowl before we count?”
- “Do the same number of items always look the same if arranged differently? Why or why not?”
- “If I take 5 from this plate and move it to the other, what happens?”
- Intermeidate Foci
- How can we compare amounts quickly using multiplication or grouping?”
- “How many more grapes are in Bowl A than Bowl B? What’s the difference as a percentage?”
- “If we doubled the number in each bowl, would one still look like more? Why or why not?”
- Primary Foci
A Fantastic Resource for Families: SAME BUT DIFFERENT
A powerful tool for encouraging connection-making is Same But Different www.samebutdifferentmath.com
The main concept is about the sharing of two images( e.g. Numbers, shapes, or situations) that are similar in some ways but different to each other. The challenge is to identify all the ways they are the same and all the ways they are different from a mathematical perspective. The beauty of "Same But Different" is that there's no single "right" answer. It encourages observation and discussion around the many connections based on properties, relationships, and even real-world applications. This resource reaches across numeracy, spatial sense, and measurement concepts and strategies for all grade levels, including secondary students, making it a versatile resource.
By making connections a regular part of your conversations, you'll be developing mathematically curious and capable thinkers who see math as a powerful lens for understanding their world.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY (PA) DAY - JANUARY 16, 2026
Here is information about learning that school staff will be participating in on the upcoming elementary Professional Activity (PA) Day on January 16, 2026. As usual, students do not attend school on PA Days.
WINTER WEATHER
With winter weather here, we want to share a few important reminders.
Dress for the weather
Students should come dressed appropriately for the weather and for outdoor play. Students can stay warm by wearing layers of loose-fitting clothing, a hat, scarf, jackets, snow pants and mittens or gloves. Students may also want to bring extra pants and socks in case they get wet.
Recess
If students are well enough to come to school, they are expected to go outside for recess. Our students benefit from spending time outside and being active. We monitor weather conditions throughout the day. If there are extreme weather conditions, we may consider a shortened or indoor recess.
Bus or School Cancellations
When an extreme cold or inclement weather day is declared, school transportation (including buses and taxis) is cancelled in the morning and afternoon. Schools will remain open. Please notify the school if your child will not be attending school on those days. Students will not be penalized for missing school on these days.
There may be rare instances when emergency weather events occur, and we need to close all schools and Board locations. Please take the time to make plans in the event of an emergency school closure. Information about transportation cancellations and Board closures will be shared through local media, board and school websites and on X @YRDSB.
Our process for extreme cold, inclement weather and emergency weather days is outlined in the board’s Severe Weather policy.
SCHOOL COUNCIL LUNCH TIME @ ACPS
Hot lunches are officially back! Pizzaiolo is being offered on Wednesdays and Kome Shokudo is being offered on Fridays. Find the menu and more details on SchoolCashOnline. The parent council and school admin have strived this year to ensure the meat options are Halal-friendly (such as pork-free pepperoni for pizza), while continuing to offer vegetarian options, in order to be inclusive of all our school population. If your child has other dietary restrictions, and would still like to participate, reach out to our Hot Lunch council reps and they will work with you to try to accommodate.
The hot lunch is still looking for helpers to distribute food this year, especially with the combined lunch times of all grades, we need extra hands to ensure the food reaches the classrooms hot and fresh.
All proceeds go towards fundraising for the school, including athletics, trips, programs, events, instruments, books, and technology. If you have are interested in helping out or have questions regarding hot lunches, please contact our Hot Lunch council reps this year:
Zhen Wang - wangzhenmaggie@hotmail.com
ACPS SCHOOL COUNCIL – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, AND CHECK OUT INSTAGRAM!!!
ACPS School Council is bringing back hot lunches and are looking for volunteers to help with distributing lunch. As lunch times for all grades have been combined, we need more hands to ensure the lunches are distributed quickly. The popular pizza option will be moved to Wednesday, to help parents packing lunches break up the week, and the council is especially looking for help to make this happen. The other hot option will be moved to Friday.
The lunch partners are yet to be confirmed, be rest assured that the council is looking to ensure the food being delivered provides value without sacrificing quality.
All proceeds go towards fundraising for the school, including athletics, trips, programs, events, instruments, books, and technology. If you have are interested in helping out or have questions regarding hot lunches, please contact our Hot Lunch council reps this year:
Zhen Wang - wangzhenmaggie@hotmail.com
Stay up to date with all the exciting school council events—like pizza lunches, the year-end BBQ, and fundraisers—by following our official School Council Instagram (@acps_school_council)! Every activity helps us give back to the school community, including funding new and updated technologies for students to use.
ACPS CALENDAR
If you are looking to find school information and events, please click on this CALENDAR LINK and add to your favorites.
ON THE HORIZON
- THURSDAY JANUARY 15, 2026 - FRENCH IMMERSION INFORMATION SESSSION @ 7 PM
- FRIDAY JANUARY 16 - PA Day today - no classes for students
- FRIDAY JANUARY 30 - PA Day today - no classes for students
Have a SUPERB Weekend😊
Merci,
Mr. Arin Otis
Principal
Adrienne Clarkson PS | 68 Queens College Drive | Richmond Hill, Ontario | L4B 1X3 | 905-709-3554
InspireLearning!
This electronic mail transmission and any related attachments may contain privileged or confidential information intended solely for the individual(s) named above and could be subject to provisions contained in the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, any copying, distribution, disclosure or use of this transmission or any information contained therein is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please contact me immediately and kindly delete the electronic mail transmission and any related information. Thank you.