SDHS Welcome Letter 2026 2027

August 17, 2026 

Dear Students and Families:

Welcome to the 2026-27 school year!  At Sutton District High we are committed to supporting the academic achievement and well-being of our students and believe it is essential that home, school, and community work together to support students through their high school years. 

SDHS is truly a community school and it is our intention for all our students and families to feel connected and welcome here. Families are encouraged to connect with teachers and other staff members often.  Your voice is important and encouraged.

At Sutton District HS we value ourselves and others in our community.  We encourage students to do this by always doing their best and supporting others to achieve theirs.  Students are encouraged to:

• Be responsible, kind and caring citizens
• Arrive on time and attend regularly
• Be prepared and ready to learn
• Ask for help when experiencing difficulty
• Use technology appropriately
• Keep Cell phones stored away during class time
• Complete assignments on time and with their best efforts

Our staff also provide many great opportunities for students outside of the classroom and we encourage you to get involved.  If you are not sure how or have some obstacles preventing you from joining any school activity our administration would like to hear from you so we can help you to overcome these obstacles and so students can be involved both inside and outside of the classroom.

Our school website is a great resource for families and students. Be sure to contact us if you need further information. 

Thank you,

Rob Cotey

Principal, Sutton District High School

IMPORTANT DATES FOR START-UP

Visit the SDHS website for additional important dates. 

SDHS DAILY SCHEDULE 

School begins at 9:25 a.m. Please encourage your child/children to arrive by 9:10 a.m. so they can visit their lockers and get organized for the day.

TIMETABLES 

Timetables will be emailed Thursday August 20, 2026 to students via their GAPPS account. Some Semester 2 schedules may display a “NOCOURSE” notification, please know that Guidance staff is aware of this and will be connecting with students to rectify any course selection issues in a timely manner. Locker information will be provided in Homerooms. For those new to the YRDSB who do not have a GAPPS email, timetables will be sent to the parent/guardian email provided at the time of registration. New YRDSB students will receive their account information the first week of school. Students must follow their assigned timetable. Due to the limited space available in most courses, requests for changes will only be considered for exceptional circumstances and the “2026/2027 course change request” form must be completed. 

LUNCH 

Student seating for lunch is available in the cafeteria as well as in designated areas outside.  Students are permitted to leave school property at lunch, and are reminded to be mindful of bell-times and to be positive ambassadors of Sutton District HS in our community.

ENHANCEMENT FEES 

Given the fee guidelines from the Ministry of Education, there are no fees related to supplies for coursework required for graduation; however, the guidelines do allow fees for enhanced materials that are voluntary enrichments beyond what is necessary to meet the curriculum expectations.  Participation in athletic programs will require students to pay a fee for participation on teams.  A breakdown of the costs for each team will be provided to students during tryouts. You will receive an email indicating when items are available for purchase on School Cash Online.

Physical Education (Gym) Clothes (optional but students must change into appropriate clothes daily). A variety of items/packages will be available for purchase. 

*Please note all costs including taxes and processing fee and are payable via School Cash Online.

BUSSING

Students who will be riding a school bus (or taxi) to and from school, will need to visit the Student Transportation Services of York Region website to determine their pick up and drop off locations / times. If you are unsure if you are eligible for student transportation, this can also be determined by visiting the website after August 24th. To view Board Policy #680 Student Transportation, please visit www.yrdsb.ca

PARKING 

Student vehicles are to be parked in the Student Parking area (located in back of the school). When dropping off / picking up students, please avoid the bus loading zone Students driving recklessly or dangerously on school grounds will have their driving privileges on school property revoked. 

SCHOOL COUNCIL 

School Council is run by parents, for parents. Council meetings are an excellent way to become informed about and involved with your child’s school community.  Meetings are open, informal discussions on school matters, with a focus on student success.  We encourage our students’ parents/guardians to participate in our School Council.  Information about our School Council and their meetings will be provided in our electronic newsletter. Our first School Council meeting will be held on Monday, September 14, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the school Library.  School Council Elections will take place at this first meeting.  If you are interested in one of the following positions, please complete and submit the “School Council Candidate Nomination Form”, which will be sent home the first week of school. 

Any questions or concerns? Please email sutton.dhs@yrdsb.ca or call 905-722-3281, ext 0.