Aldergrove News, February 6, 2026

Message from Admin 

This week at Aldergrove, our Intermediate Boys and Girls Basketball teams competed in games and continued to demonstrate wonderful growth in their skills, teamwork, and confidence as they prepare for the Area Tournament later this month. We are proud of the dedication and spirit they bring to the court each week.

We also participated in WWF Sweater Day, joining communities across Canada in lowering the heat and bundling up to raise awareness about reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This initiative supports our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, helping students understand that even small actions—when taken together—can make a meaningful difference for the health of our planet.

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Looking Ahead to Next Week

Next week is shaping up to be an exciting one at Aldergrove!

Valentine Cookie Sale — All week long, students will be able to purchase Valentine cookies, with proceeds supporting our music program as we work toward purchasing additional instruments.

VOICES Program (McMichael Art Gallery) — Some of our classes will continue their participation in the VOICES arts program, exploring identity, creativity, and self expression through guided sessions with McMichael educators.

BSU at NAACCA Black History Month Event — Our Black Student Union (BSU) members will be attending a Black History Month event hosted by NAACCA, giving students the chance to engage in rich cultural learning and celebrate Black excellence.

Winter Carnival Celebration — We are excited to celebrate Carnaval, a joyful French Canadian cultural tradition. Students will enjoy a special poutine lunch, fun outdoor winter activities, and a visit from the beloved Bonhomme Carnaval.

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Theme of the Week: Culture

As we enter Carnaval week, our theme is Culture—recognizing and celebrating the diverse traditions, identities, and stories that enrich our school community. When students learn about and appreciate different cultures, they build understanding, empathy, and a strong sense of belonging.

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Quote of the Week

“A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people.” — Mahatma Gandhi

Warm regards,

Mr. Louca                         Mr. Pamayah

Principal                           Vice Principal

Parking Lot Safety Update

To ensure the safety of all our students, we are implementing an important change to our parking lot procedures.

Our parking lot will now be for staff only during morning drop‑off and afternoon pick‑up. Recently, we have experienced a significant increase in vehicle traffic in the lot, including vehicles blocking others in and drivers exiting their cars to drop-off students. This creates unsafe conditions for our students. Student safety is always our highest priority. For this reason, no cars will be permitted to park in the school parking lot during drop‑off or pick‑up times. Anyone parked in the lot will be asked to find street parking instead.

Families are kindly encouraged to:

Walk to school whenever possible, or use street parking in an alternate location and walk their child to and from school.

Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and continued support in helping us keep all Aldergrove students safe.

2026-2027 Kindergarten Registration

Bright Beginnings, Endless Possibilities

Kindergarten Registration Opens January 16, 2026

Is your child turning 4 or 5 in 2026? Or do you know someone who is? 

Mark your calendars and follow these simple steps. 

1. Find your home school. 

Use our school finder to find your home school - the school in your neighbourhood. 

2 .Register for Kindergarten. 

You can register online, in person, or by phone or email.

Visit www.yrdsb.ca/kindergarten to access the online registration portal or download the registration form. Once you have completed your application, the school will contact you to make an appointment to review and verify the required documents. 

3. Register early for Before and After Care 

All schools offer before and after-care programs. Check your school’s website or our before and after care directory for details. Contact providers early to secure your spot. 

4. Explore and Prepare for Kindergarten

Kindergarten is where big dreams start small. Learn how Kindergarten helps children develop the academic and social skills they need to thrive in Grade 1 and beyond. Our skilled and caring teams of certified teachers and early childhood educators work together to support every child in a welcoming, inclusive environment.

Ready to Begin?

Start your journey at www.yrdsb.ca/kindergarten.  

Extracurricular Calendar

Learning Commons Update

This week, the Kindergarten and Primary classes engaged in a discussion about the cultural significance of hair.  We talked about how hair textures can be different, hair colour, shape, and styles.  We discussed how in Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh’s wear items like turbans and hijabs to cover their hair which is seen as a spiritual act honouring God and his creation of all human forms.  We discussed how in Indigenous culture, hair is also very significant and tied deeply to spirituality and their connection to the Creator and Earth.  We read a book called “Afro, NO!” written by young author Amaya James. This book discussed the uniqueness of hair for members of the Black community.  Amaya uses her story and her character Emmie to talk about how much she loves her hair, how she gets it braided, and about how much care goes into it. During these discussions teachers and students shared their personal experiences or noticings about their own hair. 

We have started a Rubik’s club for the month of February. Students have signed up and we will meet on Wednesday’s during lunch to solve different kinds of cubes. Students are also engaging with virtual cubes and ways to solve them.  At the end of the month, we will have a contest to see who can solve a cube the fastest! But all through the month, we will just have fun solving and puzzling. 

On Wednesday, Grade 1-2 classes attended a virtual author presentation through Storyvoice.  The author was Charles R. Smith and his book “Through the Telescope”; a book about Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to go into space.  Students also were able to hear information and stories from a female NASA astronaut named Jasmine Moghbeli as she detailed her mission to space and time on the International Space Station.  Classes have been assigned a task to complete their own constellation that represents something of their identity which will develop into an exhibit for classes to visit later in the month. 

Just a reminder of some events happening at Milliken Mills Library this weekend!!!

Saturday Feb 7 → 11:00-11:30 – Storytime. This is a drop in event to go and listen to a story read out loud and engage in questions with other families.  This event is offered weekly. 

Saturday Feb 7 →  11:30-12:30pm – Mini Makers.  This is a SIGN UP event through the Markham Public Library. You can click HERE to do that.  In this workshop students will engage in STEM activities that activate curiosity and problem solving through building.  This workshop is offered weekly. 

Sunday Feb 8 → 1:00-2:00 pm – Lunar New Year Dance Presentation and Lesson. This is a not repeating event and does require registration. Please click HERE to register.