BLPS Community Wave - Week of January 19-23, 2026

Coffee, Conversation & Community: New this year at Bond Lake from your BLPS School Council…Coffee, Conversation and Community!

What is it? It is a casual drop-in session that allows parents/guardians who are interested in becoming more involved in their child’s school community to come together with other parents, staff, and administration to discuss the joys and challenges of parenting, ideas for future gatherings to help foster an even stronger school community at Bond Lake, and other topics of interest.

Why now? In our busy modern world, we have lost the “village” that previous generations could rely on to help raise healthy, happy and resilient children. We are trying to make our own “village” at Bond Lake so that we have a greater sense of belonging and community.

 When? We are hosting 3 dates to meet in person and virtually on the following dates/times:

• Thurs. Jan. 22 from 6:00 - 7:00pm (In-Person in the Library)
• Thurs. Jan. 29 from 7:00 - 8:00pm (Virtual via Microsoft Teams)
• Wed. Feb. 4 from 8:15 - 9:15am (In-Person in the Library)

Please use the links above to RSVP for the events. Come with ideas or come just for the coffee! Everyone is welcome.

Tamil Heritage Month Event: Families are invited to join YRDSV as we come together to celebrate Tamil Heritage Month Charles Howitt Public School on January 29, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Please see the flyer for more information. 

YRDSB Adult Day School: Registration is now open for Quad 3 registration for YRDSB Adult Day School. Adult Day School offers high school credit courses including English as a Second Language (ESL) Credit Courses. Please see the flyer for more information. 

Renewed Computer Technology: Do you need a computer? Renewed Computer Technology (RCT) is a not-for-profit, charitable organization that empowers learners, educators and not-for-profit organizations with increased access to information and communications technology (ICT), skill development and learning

opportunities, in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Partnering with York Region District School Board, we are offering affordable, renewed computer packages. Please see the flyer for more information and cost details.

Black History Month Celebrating STEM with YRDSB: Join YRDSB for an inspiring evening on Wednesday, February 11 at Richmond Hill HS to celebrate Black History Month. Activities will:

• A shared dinner and community gathering to open the evening
• Hands-on STEM and STEAM learning experiences connected to Black innovators and scientists
• Interactive coding activities facilitated by Black women engineering students from Ontario Tech University
• Student-led panels and displays highlighting Black inventors and innovators, with opportunities for families to hear directly from students about their learning and curriculum connections

Please see the flyer for more information and a registration link.

Understanding and Navigating the Education System - Families of YRDSB Black Students January Session: Understanding and Navigating the Education System - Families of YRDSB Black Students Monthly Virtual Information Session on Monday, January 26, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

Families, parents, and caregivers, please join us for our monthly virtual meeting, where families with Black children come together to learn about resources and upcoming programs for Black students in both elementary and secondary schools.  Please see our flyer for more information and the registration link.

Black Foundation of Community Networks (BFCN) Scholarship: Black students and their families are invited to attend a virtual edition of the BFCN Scholarship Application Workshop on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. This is a free workshop designed to guide Black students and their families on how to search, prepare, and apply for scholarships and bursaries.

For more information and to register please visit: Meeting Registration 

For more information about the workshop or the Black Foundation of Community Networks, contact Cheryl Yarde at info@bfcn.ca

Chinese Heritage Month Celebration: York Region District School Board, Inclusive School and Community Services (ISCS) invites students, families, and staff to join us for an evening celebrating Chinese Heritage Month Celebration.

• Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026
• Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Location: Bur Oak Secondary School (933 Bur Oak Ave, Markham, ON L6E 1G4)

This student-centred, community-focused event highlights the richness of Chinese culture and history, and the contributions of Chinese-Canadian communities. We welcome all students, staff and families to attend and participate. Please register for the event to help us with planning for the event.

Supporting East Asian Students (SEAS) 2025-2026 Family Engagement Series - Pathways Planning and High School Course Selection Workshop Part 2: Families, parents, and caregivers are invited to join us for this Supporting East Asian Students (SEAS) Family Engagement evening to deepen their understanding of pathway planning and the course selection process in the Ontario Education System. 

YRDSB Teachers and Guidance Counsellors will be delivering information focused on:

• Understanding the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirements
• Exploring pathways and planning for post-secondary opportunities
• Navigating the high school course selection process in YRDSB

Date: Thursday, February 5th, 2026 

Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm 

Location: Unionville High School, 201 Town Centre Blvd, Unionville, ON L3R 8G5 

The workshop session will be in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.

Please register  by Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

York Region Volleyball High Performance Team: York Region Volleyball is hosting a Winter Children's High Performance Volleyball program in Aurora for students in Grade 7-8 who are interested in specialized training in a team atmosphere. See the flyer for more information. 

Family Conference: Learning Together: Experiencing the Joy of Kindergarten Conference 2026: In collaboration with the York Region Child and Family Collaborative, the York Catholic District School Board, and the EarlyON Child and Family Centres in York Region, the York Region District School Board invites families of children eligible for Kindergarten in September 2026 to join us for a two-part conference.

This free, family-friendly conference supports caregivers and children as they prepare for a successful transition to Kindergarten.

Part One: Virtual Session (Adults Only)

Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Highlights:

• Kindergarten Program Overview: What families can expect when their child starts school
• Keynote Speaker – Laurie McIntosh: Discover how relationships, shared reading, and everyday moments support children’s social, emotional, and academic growth
• Expert Panel & Q&A: Hear from school board principals and educators
• Learn about school board and community resources

Part Two: In-Person Session (Attend with Your Child)

Choose either a morning or afternoon session

Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026

Location: Richmond Green Secondary School

Highlights:

• Learn, play, and explore together
• Children and adults will enjoy interactive activities
• Connect with community agencies
• Each family will receive a conference bag filled with books and resources

For registration information, please visit www.yrdsb.ca/kindergarten