At Rosedale Heights P.S. we emphasize the importance of our students demonstrating good character in their classrooms, the school, and the community at large, as reflected in the school’s touchstone. Our school is filled with citizens of good character. Every day we see students demonstrating respect, responsibility, honesty, empathy, fairness, initiative, perseverance, integrity, courage, and optimism. We also have students adopting growth mindsets – positive attitudes about themselves as learners, which recognize the importance of dedication, learning from mistakes, and hard work which nurture a love of learning and resiliency that contribute to their success.

At Rosedale Heights P.S., we are Rockets. So naturally, when our students do great things, it makes them Blast Off! We’d like to acknowledge our students demonstrating good character by sharing the Blast Offs in our school displays, during periodic assemblies and on our daily announcements.

We’d like your help, though! We only see what our students do at school, but we would like to extend our emphasis on positive behaviours and attitudes beyond the school, recognizing our students’ good character at home and in the community. Is there something you know of that would warrant blasting off for your son or daughter? Please send in your own Blast Off messages to be read on the announcements or displayed throughout the school by emailing blastoff@rosedaleheightsps.com.

Consider some examples:

“We are sending out a Blast Off for Jennifer Smith for completing her yellow belt in Karate. She worked very hard over the last six months, practicing three times a week to reach her goal.”

“We are sending out a Blast Off for Kevin Lee for helping out at home when his mom and dad were sick. He showed tremendous initiative in making dinner for his younger siblings so his parents could rest.”

“We are sending out a Blast Off for Shelley Green for scoring her first goal in ice hockey. Six months ago she couldn’t even skate, but she was determined to learn, and we’re so proud of her perseverance.”

“We are sending out a Blast Off for Jeff Singh who volunteered all weekend at the community centre to run programs for younger children. He took the role seriously and showed great responsibility.”

Help be our eyes and ears in the community and share your Blast Off!

For those families who may be interested, Holiday Nights of Lights is an immersive walk-through experience featuring more than 1.5 million LED lights animated and synchronized to holiday music. Running from November 25th through January 9th in Vaughan, this pop-up event features many new displays and interactive activities including the opportunity to walk through giant ornaments, animated tunnels, and other unique experiences.

Our School Council has managed to secure a discount for all Rosedale Heights P.S. families looking to visit. Simply use the promo code MOREFUN20 for 20% off admission tickets when purchasing online at www.nightsoflights.ca.

We look forward to seeing you there!

With cold weather (and snow!) already in the forecast, our Grade 7 and 8 Student Leadership Team wants to share with everyone that they’re planning a Spirit Day next week.  They officially declare Wednesday, November 16^th, Beach Day!  They’re also planning a surprise event for everyone, too.

All staff and students are invited to spread some Summer cheer in the midst of the November!  Sunglasses, sun hats, towels and sand toys are all welcome.  Students can even bring in flip flops or Crocs for photographs, but we’d ask they still have regular indoor and outdoor shoes, too.  Let’s bring our sunniest smiles and bring some warmth to the chilly forecast!

And to avoid any confusion, Photo Day is the following day, on Thursday November 17^th.  (We don’t want student dressed for the beach on Photo Day!)

We thank our Grade 7 and 8 student leaders for their enthusiasm!

We are excited to share that students’ individual school photos will be taken on Thursday November 17th by Edge Imaging.  Students will have the opportunity to be photographed at school and proofs will be available shortly thereafter, with photos available to purchase online.  Please note, class photos are scheduled for a separate day on Wednesday, December 14th (along with any photo retakes needed). Graduation photos for grade 8 students will be taken in the New Year, details to follow.

So be sure to send your children to school looking extra dapper on Thursday November 17th –but please do not have them wear green to avoid blending into the background.  And don’t forget to smile!

For more information, see the flyer from Edge Imaging.

Did you know that students at Rosedale Heights P.S. (and across the York Region District School Board) have access to a large collection of digital resources (including many eBooks, graphic novels, audiobooks and streaming video) from Sora?

Sora is a repository of e-books available to York Region District School Board students, providing access to resources on many topics across a range of levels, as well as many popular fictional titles and even current bestsellers.  Students can use their student numbers to access the platform and ‘borrow’ digital resources, allowing them to read or listen on phones, tablets or computers. 

YRDSB students can access e-books on Sora by following these easy steps:

1. Go to the YRDSB Sora homepage (or download the Sora app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store)
2. Click on “My school is York Region District School Board”
3. On the drop down menu, click “Select your school”
4. Choose “Students” and then enter “0” plus your YRDSB student number (e.g. 0123456789).
5. Click the “Sign in” button

Students can borrow two books at a time and place up to three books on ‘hold’ at a time. Books will automatically be ‘returned’ at the end of the lending period. Additional features allow students to adjust reading or audio settings, define new or unfamiliar words and even create and export highlights and notes.

Be sure to take advantage of this excellent resource!

We are reaching out to the Rosedale Heights P.S. community as we begin collecting donations of non-perishable (mainly food) items in support of the Richmond Hill Community Food Bank.  The Richmond Hill Community Food Bank is an independently run, non-profit, non-government agency, founded to provide temporary assistance to alleviate food insecurity for Richmond Hill and Thornhill community members.

Regrettably, across Ontario, there has been an increase in food bank usage over the past two years, including first time usage.  This Richmond Hill Community Food Bank gives temporary emergency food assistance to local residents, so if you’re able to make a donation, it will be helping someone in our own greater community.

Among the items appropriate to donate include any in-date and unopened canned food items, dry packaged items, packaged toiletry items, sealed glass items in jars and baby diapers and formula.  They have currently identified the following items as most needed: breakfast cereal, all varieties; cookies; granola bars; crackers; tinned pasta; toilet paper; shampoo; baking, cake and muffin mixes; Jello and instant puddings; flour; sugar; small apple juice boxes; 1 litre juice boxes; canned tomatoes; canned kidney beans; mustard and salad dressings; sizes 4 and 5 diapers; women’s incontinent products.

We will collect items starting next week and throughout the lead up to a special event later in November.  There will be donation boxes in the foyer and you or your child can drop off items directly.  If you have numerous items or heavier items to donate that cannot be sent with your child, simply bring them to the front door of the school and press the intercom button, and we will help have the items brought in.

We welcome and thanks all members of the Rosedale Heights P.S. community who are able to participate in this campaign of giving.

Together, we are a community.

With the school closure to students looming for this Friday, November 4^th, this first scheduled Pizza Day will be rescheduled for Thursday, November 17^th (the following day, Friday November 18^th, is a P.A. Day).

Updated Pizza Days will be as follows: Friday November 11^th, Thursday November 17^th (new), Friday November 25^th, Friday December 2^nd, Friday December 9^th and Friday December 16^th.

Our thanks for your support.

Parent-Teacher Interviews for students in Year 2 Kindergarten (SK) through Grade 8 will be held after school on November 17, 2022 and on the morning of November 18, 2022.  Today by 10:00 a.m., an invitation to book appointments will be sent to your Edsby inbox. For support with Edsby, such as signing up for Parent-Teacher interviews, please be sure to visit https://www.edsby.com/help/parents/.

Please note that only families who create an Edsby account prior to the schedule being opened will have access. If you are experiencing difficulty activating your Edsby account, please contact the school for assistance.

Important Timelines

Nov 1	Parent-Teacher Interviews schedule opens at 10:00 a.m. for booking, an invitation to book appointments will be sent to your Edsby inbox with a notification to your email.
Nov 9	Parent-Teacher Interviews scheduler closes at 4:00 p.m.
Nov 16	Progress Report Cards sent home
Nov 17 (evening) and 18 (morning)	Parent-Teacher Interviews