Bi Weekly Bulletin : October 26 to November 7, 2026

A Message from your Administrators

Dear Langstaff Families and Community Members: 

Over the past few weeks, we have had several opportunities where the school has been open to parents and guardians, and it has been so lovely to meet many of you, whether during our IB Information Evening, Parent-Teacher Interviews, or during our School Council Meeting. 

I would like to extend my appreciation and congratulate our newly elected members of Langstaff's Student Council. Ms. Habi Nouri and Ms. Sepide Fatemehsadat are this year's Co-chair's and Mr. Frank Farhudi-Nejad is a voting member on Council. Our next meeting will take place on November 16 at 7:00 pm and will focus on pathways and post-secondary school planning. We invite families and students to attend to learn more about all the courses and programs that Langstaff has to offer. 

On Thursday, October 29th we will be hosting the Awards Assembly at 8:45 am for Grade 10-12 students who received awards from Semester 2 of the last school year.

Students and families in Grade 9 are reminded that November 4th is Take Your Kids to Work Day. Please see below for more information. 

We look forward to our ongoing collaboration. 

Sincerely, 

Ms. Gymnopoulos  

School News

Take Your Kids to Work Day: November 4th, 2026

On November 4th, Grade 9 students across the province will participate in Take Your Kids to Work Day. 

This is a day that runs annually as a career-exploration event and invites Grade 9 students to shadow a parent, guardian, or trusted adult at their workplace instead of coming to their regular school day. 

We wish all Grade 9's a wonderful experience on November 4th at Take Your Kids to Work Day. 

Reminder to Families to Complete the Back-to-School Start-Up Permission Forms

Here is the link: startupforms.yrdsb.ca/ using your child's student number. 

For Paper Copies: Contact the main office, and we will send forms home with your child. 

Student at the Age of Majority Consent Form

Once a student turns 18, it becomes more complicated for School/Teacher to reach out and connect with you, either with specific concerns, or to share information in general. 

To maintain contact, your adult child  (i.e., after their 18th birthday) must sign and return the Student at the Age of Majority Form. This form can be obtained from the Main Office. 

For any student who has not submitted this form after their 18th birthday, contact between school and home ceases. If your child is turning 18 this school year, please discuss with them what will happen when they turn 18.

If you have any questions, please connect with the Main Office. 

Allergies/Medical Conditions

If your child has a serious life-threatening allergy or medical condition, please let the Main Office know immediately and complete the appropriate medical forms.

There are students and staff members in our school who have life-threatening allergies to nuts and other allergens. If they smell or come in contact with these foods, they may have an anaphylactic reaction. To help create an allergen-safe environment, do not bring nuts or nut products to school.

Please notify the school if your child has one of the following medical conditions. You can print and complete the forms below as appropriate to your child and bring them to the main office:

Anaphylaxis: Anaphylaxis Health Care Plan

Asthma - Asthma Health Care Plan

Diabetes - Diabetes Health Care Plan

Epilepsy/ Seizure Disorder - Epilepsy Health Care Plan

Health Care (Other) -   Health Care (Other) Plan

In addition to completing forms, please provide any life-saving medication your child may require at school (e.g., EpiPen, Inhaler/Puffer, etc.)

Thank you for your cooperation in helping ensure a safe and supportive environment for all students and staff.

School Council Meetings

We encourage parents and/or guardians to become involved in the School Council. This will provide great opportunities to become an active and informed part of your child's school.

The following are the 2026-2027 School Year School Council Meeting Dates.

Meetings start at 7:00 pm and are held in the Library.

1. Monday, November 16, 2026
2. Tuesday, February 16, 2027
3. Monday, May 17, 2027

Mathematics Contest

Mathematics Department 

Students have now registered for the Canadian Intermediate and Senior Mathematics Contests. The contests will be written in the morning of Wednesday, November 18th. 

Upcoming Pathways Field Trips

Student Success Department

Dreamer Day at the International Centre in Mississauga for Career Exploration for Female Students/Experience Seneca King Campus for sessions in the areas of Veterinary, Nursing, Police, Early Childhood Education, Social Work and Behavioral Sciences. 

Blood typing mystery activity!

Science Department

First Medicine And Science (MASS) event on Monday, October 26, during lunch in Room 221. 

We'll be doing a Halloween-themed Blood Typing Mystery Activity, where you can solve a little mystery and win some prizes. 

PSK4U1 and SHSM go to McMaster

Physical Education Department

PSK4U1 and SHSM, visit McMaster University to take part in exercise testing in the Department of Kinesiology. 

Please see more information below:

BEARS GO TO MAC

Kinesiology + SHSM Field Trip Recap

Sprints, breath-by-breath data, and a giant egg: a day in McMaster's Exercise Physiology lab

The Details:

When: Thursday, October 15, 2026

Who: PSK4U1 Kinesiology + Health & Wellness SHSM 

Where: McMaster Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology lab

What: VO₂ max, Wingate, Bod Pod + campus tour 

By Mr. Taivassalo (aka Mr.T) 

Hamilton bound! Bus loaded, energy high. On October 15, our PSK4U1 class and Health & Wellness SHSM students spent the day in McMaster's Department of Kinesiology for a real university lab experience. 

Students volunteered as test subjects while classmates watched the data roll in live on the big screens, connecting what we study in class (the body systems behind movement and what affects performance) to real equipment and real numbers. 

For our Class of 2027, it was a look at studying human movement beyond high school, just months before they choose pathways of their own. 

Three Tests, Three Energy Stories

Anaerobic Power 

Wingate Test: 30 seconds, everything you've got

An all-out bike sprint. The ATP-PC system brings the explosive start; anaerobic glycolysis carries the burn to the finish. Short? Yes. Easy? Nobody called it that. 

Aerobic System 

VO₂ Max: mask on, every breath counts

The gold standard for aerobic fitness. The workload climbs step by step while every breath is analyzed, right up to the body's limit: the engine behind marathoners, swimmers and every midfielder. 

Body Composition

Bod Pod: yes, it looks like a giant egg

Hard not to "crack up" in this one. It measures body composition by air displacement: the same idea as underwater weighing, no water required. 

That's A Wrap on MAC

Between tests we walked the campus and took in all the possibilities. Huge thanks to McMaster's Department of Kinesiology for opening your labs and sharing your time. This is what real-life learning, and SHSM, is all about. 

Class of 2027, some of you might be back here sooner than you think. Proud of this group!

-Mme Chidiac and Mr.T

YEARBOOK - 2026-2027 School Yearbooks Are Available for Pre-Order!

From first-day smiles to big games and classroom moments, our annual yearbook preserves all the highlight-reel memories your child will treasure for years to come.

• Price: $35
• How to Purchase: Log into School Cash Online to place your order
• Important Note: Yearbooks are available by pre-order only

Don't let your student miss out on signing day! Order your copy on School Cash Online today to guarantee their copy.

Teacher advisor : Ms. Crognale

School Trip to Portugal - 2027

Hello Langstaff Families!

We hope that the first week was off to a smooth start and wish our students much success in the new school year.

Once again, Langstaff Secondary School has planned a fantastic European experience for our students in grades 9 to 12.

We are very excited to announce we will be visiting Portugal from April 7th to 16th, 2027! The parent information meeting will take place on Thursday October 1st at 7 pm in the library learning commons where details about the cost, itinerary, registration and any questions you may have will be discussed.

If you have any questions, please contact sharon.romero@yrdsb.ca.

Hope to see you there!

Please see below for more information about the trip.

Open To Grades 9 - 12

Trip Price - $5,590.00 per student

Travel Details

Round Trip Flights - Toronto Pearson to Lisbon, from Porto to Toronto

1st Checked Luggage included*

Transportation included throughout trip (bus transfers, trains, and local transit)

Dinners included in-country for group nightly*

Accommodation Details

3 or 4 star hotel accommodations in city-centre locations

4 night accommodation in Lisbon

4 night accommodation in Porto

No bedsharing, free wifi, and breakfast at hotels throughout trip

Trip Inclusions**

Guided tours, admissions & experiences

Tips, taxes & fees

Group support throughout the trip

Trip Highlights

City Walking Tour

Belém Tower

Jerónimos Monastery

Central Mosque of Lisbon

Castelo de São Jorge

Fado in Chiado Show

Aveiro Day Trip

Águeda Day Trip

LX Factory

Shaaré Tikvah Synagogue

Obidos Chapel & Gates

Batalha Monastery

Alcobaca Monastery

Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima

Chapel of Souls

Porto Walking Tour

World of Discoveries

Porto Cathedral

Bolsa Palace

Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

Estádio do Dragão

Jardim do Morro

Cable Car at Jardim do Morro

Monument to the Discoveries

For more information contact: Ms Sharon Romero at sharon.romero@yrdsb.ca or Dr Neil Orlowsky neil.orlowsky@yrdsb.ca

Guidance News

Welcome from the Guidance Department!

We are excited to support you as you navigate your academic journey, plan for your future, and make the most of your high school experience. 

Our Guidance Department is a small team, with one Guidance Counsellor supporting our entire school community. While our team may be small, our commitment to supporting each and every student is not. We are focused on prioritizing student needs, providing support, and ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to be heard and assisted. 

We look forward to working with you, supporting your goals, and celebrating your successes throughout the year. 

FAQs

1. Where do I submit my Community Involvement? : Main Office
2. Where do I submit private school registrations and final report cards? : Please have your school email Ms. Iacoucci (not Guidance) at nadia.iacoucci@yrdsb.ca OR hand in your report cards/letters in a sealed envelope to the main office. 
3. Where do I make a Guidance Appointment?: Please login to teachassist and scroll down to the Appointment Calendar. Search the appropriate date and time - please note that appointments are released on a weekly basis. If you are in crisis, please come to Guidance. 

Seneca Experience Day

Guidance and Student Success are participating in a fun day of hands-on learning at Seneca-King Campus. Students will have the opportunity to tour the campus, explore classrooms, and join hands-on workshops. At King campus sessions would be in the Veterinary, Nursing, Police, Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Behavioural Sciences. 

If you are interested in joining this field trip, please see Mme. Chidiac or Ms.Burley for the permission form.

Date: Dec 2, 2026, full day

There is no cost to students! :)

Communication

Please join the Guidance and Student Success Google Classroom for leadership opportunities, information about volunteering and scholarships for post-secondary education. The class link is https://classroom.google.com/c/NjcxOTQwNzYzNDFa?cjc=4rjwryf and the code is 4rjwryf.