A Message from your Administrator
Dear Families and Community Members:
Welcome to the start of the 2025-2026 school year! We are really looking forward to a successful year at LSS. We know that our students will once again be busy pursuing their academic goals and participating in extracurricular activities to ensure that they have a wonderful school year. Our students amaze us! Their excitement at being back in the school, in classes, with friends, peers, and teachers, has given the LSS staff a wonderful start to the school year. We love what we do, and it is so nice to start this year with all the smiling faces.
This first week of school has been very busy at Langstaff and has been characterized by the registration of many new students and student timetable changes. I would like to thank you for your patience and support while our Guidance Department works tirelessly meeting with students and making timetable changes where possible. I am so proud of the hard work of everyone. We are getting settled and we are raring to go!
Our Grade 9 Day, on September 2, was awesome! We welcomed a wonderful new group of grade 9s, and many parents joined as well. We wanted our newest Langstaff students and their family members to feel important on their first day. We rolled out the “blue carpet” and the Administration and Teachers stood outside in the morning, and clapped and cheered our newest high school students into the building. It was awesome! The Class of 2029 felt special, and the parents who attended could feel the excitement and warmth for which Langstaff Secondary School is known.
Our first School Council meeting will take place at 7:00 pm on Monday, September 15 in our Library. We hope to have a wonderful turnout. These meetings are a great way to find out the “inside scoop” on what is happening in our school. As well, we often have great guest speakers from our school, who share great information on a wide range of topics. During the first meeting, we will have our elections for School Council Chair, and we will also be sharing our professional development plans for staff and students that will be our foci for this year. As well, we will be available to answer any and all questions from our community.
On Thursday, October 9, we will be having an Information Evening for the LSS International Field Trip!!! Mark this date in your calendar. In May of 2026, LSS students will have the opportunity to travel throughout Italy. If you and/or your child are interested in going on this amazing travel opportunity, please come out to the information evening on October 9 in the Library on the second floor of the building. Hope to see you there!!!
Some other important dates to keep in mind:
September 19 - School Photo Day: All students will have their pictures taken for the yearbook, and photo packages will be available to purchase.
September 25 - Terry Fox Walk/Run: All students will be participating in the 45th Terry Fox Walk/Run
I strongly believe in and value the community school concept, where the school is an integral part of the community and serves students and their families by providing opportunities for life-long learning. I truly believe a school is a place where parents, students and staff can work in partnership to improve student achievement. I look forward to working with all of you to make this school the warm, welcoming place that it is. Please feel free to contact me at sheri.epstein@yrdsb.ca as I welcome your comments or questions. Thank you again for your patience and support; together, we can truly make a difference for our children.
Ms. Sheri Epstein, Principal
School News
School Council Meeting
Monday, September 15, 2025
7:00 pm—8:30 pm
In the School Library—2nd Floor
Please join us on Monday to learn more about this school year.
What Questions Do You Have? How is School Going thus Far? What Do You Want to Know?
We are so excited to be able to have our first School Council Meeting in person! It has been too long!
Our Guest Speakers will be the LSS Admin team-Ms. Epstein, Ms. Gymnopoulos, and Mr. Schellenberg. As well our Head of Library, Ms. Sharon Romero will be there as well!
We hope that you will join us—in person– on Monday, September 15th for our first School Council meeting Please join us at 7:00 pm in Library (which is located on the 2nd floor of the school in the North East corner of the building)
Message from Our Trustee
September 2025
Welcome back to school to all of our new and returning students and families. This is an exciting time, filled with new beginnings and new opportunities for learning, growth, and connection. We look forward to another great school year together.
As a school board trustee, I have the privilege of representing our community. Trustees play an important role in shaping the direction of public education in York Region by setting the budget and policies, establishing priorities through our Multi-Year Strategic Plan, and communicating with families. I look forward to connecting with many of you at school and Board events over the coming months, and encourage you to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. I will also continue to share important updates through these quarterly messages.
I also encourage you to stay connected with your child’s school. Your voice matters, and we truly value the important partnership we share with families. In addition to school communications, you can stay connected by following the school board on social media, visiting our newsroom, listening to our Board podcast, and exploring the Board website and refreshed school websites for information and updates.
We recognize this is a time of transition - whether your child is starting a new school, taking the school bus for the first time, or getting to know a new teacher, these early weeks can bring excitement and questions. Our caring and dedicated staff are here to support students and families every step of the way. We also understand that some students may be requesting timetable changes, and transportation services may still be finalizing routes. We thank you for your patience and understanding during this time, and want to assure you that we are working to support a smooth start for all.
We remain committed to delivering high-quality, inclusive public education that supports the success and well-being of every student. Our Multi-Year Strategic Plan guides our work and reflects our priorities: student achievement, mental health and well-being, human rights, and inclusive education.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership in education. I wish your family a wonderful start to the school year.
Cindy Liang,
Trustee, Richmond Hill Wards 3, 5, and 6
School Start-Up Forms
School Start-Up Packages were sent home with your child on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025.
The packages contain school information and 4 forms which are to be returned with your child to school and given to their period 2 teacher by September 12th, 2025
Attendance Reminder
Parents/Guardians are reminded to report all absent and/or late notices to the Attendance Office
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE by calling: 905-889-6266 ext.:
OR
email: langstaff.ss.attendance@yrdsb.ca
Should your student have a planned absence for 3 or more days, an Extended Absence Form must be signed by each subject teacher, parent/guardian and the Vice-Principal prior to leaving for the absence; Extended Absence Forms are available at the Main Office.
Student Parking
Langstaff SS has a student-designated parking lot, which is on the west side of the school. To park there, students must come to the main office and pick up a student parking form and have it filled out and signed by their parent/guardian.
School Bell Times
Period | Time |
|---|---|
Period 1 | 8:25 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. |
Period 2 | 9:45 a.m. - 11:05 a.m. |
Lunch | 11;10 a.m. - 11;50 a.m. |
Period 3 | 11:55 a.m. - 1:10 p.m. |
Period 4 | 1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
Age of Majority Consent
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. In order for the school to maintain contact, our adul child (i.e. after their 18th Birthday) must sign and return the Age Majority Consent Form. This form can be obtained from the Main Office.
For any student who has not submitted the 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 Main Office.
Communication with Home
At LSS we offer several methods of communication to share information on a regular basis with our parents/guardians homes. A calendar of school events and our bi-weekly news bulletins are posted on our school website.
We also provide daily attendance reports to parents and guardians everyday. In order to provide you with up-to-date attendance reports and other information, we request that all parents and guardians submit current email addresses; these can be updated by sending your email address to: langstaff.ss@yrdsb.ca
Allergies/Medical Conditions
If your child has a serious of life-threatening allergy or medical condition, please let Main Office know immediately and completing 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 into contact with these foods, they may have an anaphylactic reaction.
“To help create an allergen-safe environment, do not bring nut or nut product school”
Please notify the school if your child has one of the following medical conditions:
- Anaphylaxis - Anaphylaxis Health Care Plan
- Asthma - Asthma Health Care Plan
- Diabetes - Diabetes Health Care Plan
- Epilepsy / Seizure Disorder - Epilepsy Seizure Disorder
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.
Student Council
Langstaff’s Student Council, or STUCO, is excited to be back in action this school year. We have a lot of activities planned throughout the school year, such as:
· Halloween pumpkin carving competition
· Global Bears orientation
· Holiday Candy Grams
· Battle of the Bands
· Fundraiser events
· Valentine's Serenades
· International Food Festival
· And many more!
You can keep up to date with STUCO news and upcoming events via our Instagram: @yrdsb.schools also on: (@langstaffstuco)
Guidance News
Accessing Your Guidance Team |
Your Guidance Department Mission Statement Support and promote students' interpersonal development, and career development in order to help them develop resilience and realize their potential (success) as individuals and as valuable members of society. -Ontario School Counsellors' Association |
Contact Information: Please note the Guidance Counselors below
Ms. R. Chidiac Alpha: A-M | Ms. S. Starkman Alpha: N-Z | |
Mrs. L. Rico Guidance Secretary |
Stay Connected and in the “Loop”: Continue to stay up to date
by following us on Instagram and LSS Guidance & Success Google Classroom
Instagram: @llsguidance
Guidance Appointments: can be made in person by coming to guidance. There is a red binder on a standing desk in the Guidance Office. Students can book with their respective counsellor, by alpha last name. The appointments are made available every Monday morning for the week.
Timetables
Guidance will continue to work on timetables through the next two weeks. We are working on new registrations and students with spares/missing prerequisites, thank you for your patience while we work on these. We are also reviewing timetable change requests and making changes where possible. Please ensure your child is following their current timetable in the event we need to locate them. Thank you for practicing kindness and patience during this busy period.
Night School - Continuing Education
The program will be delivered virtually in real-time (synchronous). Classes are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:45 p.m.
Semester 1 - Fall: September 25, 2025 to January 22, 2026
Registration is still open and available via mypathway planner/myblueprint.
More info, including courses offered, can be found here
Post Secondary Preparation
1. The Ontario Universities Fair (OUF)
Date: Sep 27-28
9:30 am - 5pm Daily
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building - Free
2. The Ontario College Fair will not take place in 2025. Students are invited to attend one of the College Information Program opportunities offered at colleges and polytechnics throughout Ontario
3. YRDSB POSTSECONDARY FAIR
Thursday, November 6 @ Alexander Mackenzie High School, 6:30pm-8:30pm
All LSS students and parents are welcome.
4. Guidance will host a presentation for students in late October to prepare for post secondary applications