Dear LPCI Community,

As we approach the end of the year, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible energy and dedication that defines Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute. Before we head into the winter break, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who makes this school a true community.

To our staff of educators, support staff, office staff, and caretakers—thank you for all you do for our students and families every day. Your commitment is the foundation of LPCI. To our School Council and parent community, we truly appreciate your partnership and the unwavering support you provide; whether through your volunteer hours, your advocacy, or your contributions to school initiatives, your involvement enriches the student experience and strengthens our school culture. To our students, we are so proud of the journey you have taken so far this year! Beyond your academic efforts, we see the kindness you show one another, your leadership in clubs, councils, arts and athletics!

As I have said before, wellness and self care is key. With that in mind, please take some time to review the TDSB Winter Wellness Guide, which offers many valuable resources for students and families to explore.

We wish everyone a safe and peaceful holiday break filled with time to rest and reflect. We look forward to being back at LP together with you on Monday, January 5th, 2026!

Lorraine Sutherns, Tamara Massey and Rob Tallevi
LPCI Admin Team

New: Student Council -- Happy Holidays!
The Student Council wishes the entire LP community (staff, students and their families) a Happy Holidays ! We hope you enjoy a joyful, safe, and relaxing break filled with cheer and good memories. See you next year, Panthers! 

New: Save the Date: Friday Jan. 9th, 2025 - AI Co-op Conference

As we head into the holiday break, we’re excited to share what’s coming up in the new year. On Friday, January 9, 2026, in the morning, LPCI will host its first-ever AI Co-op Conference, a student-led event featuring our Co-op students as AI Ambassadors, showcasing how artificial intelligence is already shaping today’s workplaces, and what that means for the future. Through interactive booths, short videos, and student-created AI podcasts, select Grade 10 classes will explore how AI is transforming industries including Law & Politics, Healthcare (Hospitals & Clinics), Veterinary Science, Teaching, Customer Service, Accounting, Marketing & Hospitality, Mechanical Engineering, Skilled Trades, and Film & Media. Stay tuned. This is one event you won’t want to miss!

New: Faculty of Languages  --  Results of the contests organized by Royal Canadian Legion
The French teachers routinely advertise various French contests (essay, video, poetry, poster, public speaking, etc.) to their students. These opportunities not only contribute to increased skills and fluency, they also often lead to university bursaries, scholarships and expense-paid travel. We are pleased to announce that our students (listed below), made Lawrence Park proud as their work received awards from the Royal Canadian Legion's Remembrance Day contests  BRAVO !  Félicitations!  For more information please contact Mme Benais at marie-helene.benais@tdsb.on.ca

Junior essay contest

Caroline Higgins; 1st place

Senior essay contest

Victoria Lu; 1st place

Jacob Rowntree; 2nd place

Pavel Minailov; 3rd place

Senior poetry contest

Daniel Manandhar; 1st place

Lucas Wakil;  2nd place

Nathan Licas;  3rd place

New: African Heritage (Black History) Month Poster Challenge - January 9 Deadline
Each year, TDSB recognizes African Heritage (Black History) Month in February. This year's theme is The Power of Us. It focuses on Black student well-being, building a sense of belonging, and celebrating Black Brilliance, inviting all to participate in building community and supporting Black Mental Wellness.  We are excited to invite TDSB students in grades 4 to 12 who are of African/Black heritage to participate in a poster challenge. Please see the full message for details on eligibility, guidelines, prizes, and more.   

All entries must be submitted to the Google Form through a TDSB student account by January 9 at 4 p.m.  Questions? Please contact Meghan Grant (elementary) and Amani Ausar (secondary). 

Chinese Heritage Month - Poster and Artwork Challenge
The TDSB proudly recognizes Chinese Heritage Month (CHM) in February. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most significant holidays in Chinese culture. This year, the celebration begins on February 17 and lasts for 16 days. We will be welcoming the Year of the Horse: Play, Progress, Prosper. Students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 are invited to participate in a Poster and Artwork Challenge to celebrate Chinese Heritage Month and the Lunar New Year. Please see the full message for complete details, including guidelines, prizes, and submission instructions. The deadline is January 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. We look forward to your submissions! 

Greek Heritage Month - Multi-Media Contest
The TDSB proudly recognizes Greek Heritage Month in March. This month is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Greek Canadians and explore the rich history of Greek culture. A highlight of Greek Heritage Month 2026 will be the Multi-Media Contest, inviting students to submit original work in three creative categories: 

• Be graphic! Design a poster 

• Sharpen your pencil! Write something 

• Let’s get digital! 

This year’s theme is Celebrating Identities: From Alpha to Omega” / «Γιορτάζοντας Ταυτότητες: Από το Άλφα στο Ωμέγα». Entries will be accepted from three groups: Kindergarten to Grade 3, Grade 4 to 8, and Grade 9 to 12. Winning submissions will be selected from each group. 

Please submit entries to Barbara Siskos. A Media Consent Form must accompany each submission. The submission deadline is January 30, 2026. 

See the full GHM Contest 2026 message for complete details. Questions? Contact Anna Epitropou or Konstantinos Flegas. 

Semester One Final Exams and Culminating Activities
Students who have exams will be scheduled into only ONE exam per day. Exams will be written in classrooms with the respective course teachers. All semester-long accommodations will be provided by teachers and seamlessly integrated into the exam setting. Students should use the afternoons to focus on studying and preparing for their next exam.  The exam schedule will follow a Day 1 Schedule as below.

Grades 9/10: 1 hour exam + 30 minutes extra time (ends at 10:30 am)
Grades 11/12: 1.5 hour exam + 45 minutes extra time (ends at 11:15 am)

The detailed exam schedule is here Final Exam Schedule - January 2026. Note: not all courses have exams and some have a combination of an exam and culminating activity.

Please review all expectations regarding exams and culminating assignments on the LPCI Exam Site. Students are encouraged to attend drop-in sessions offered through student support services in January for preparation. Please see HERE for what is coming up and mark your calendars now!

Moratorium Period - January 15-20, 2026

During the moratorium period of four school days prior to the scheduled final exam days, there will be no:

• excursions

• projects or assignments for students writing an examination

• culminating activities for students writing an examination

Homework that is considered to be part of the systematic review and examination preparation process (such as review quizzes, sample examination questions, or practice tests) may be assigned during the moratorium period.  If there are no scheduled written examinations in the subject, in-class culminating activities will continue through the moratorium.

Math Extra Help
Math Extra Help is available for students on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:15 – 9:00 am in Room 316. This support is open to students from all grades and math courses.Students will have the opportunity to receive assistance from peer tutors as well as from Ms. Tello. We encourage all students to take advantage of this support to strengthen their skills and succeed in math.

Important Dates for Moratorium, Exams and last week of Semester 1

Moratorium - January 15-20

EXAMS - Jan 21 - 26

Exam Medical Make up Day - Tuesday, Jan 27

Exam/Culminating Review/Credit Rescue Day - Wednesday, January 28

Schedule for Jan 28th (Attendance taking day)

9:00-9:45  Period 1

9:50-10:30 Period 2

10:35-11:15   Period 3

11:20-12:00   Period 4

12:00-1:00 Lunch

1:00-3:15  Credit Rescue (by invitation)
 

Exam/Culminating Review Morning:

These shortened periods are intended for review of the final exam and/or culminating activities.  This is an excellent opportunity for students to view the results of their final exams/summative assignments and debrief with their teachers. This is also a good time to ensure students have returned all loaned materials to their Semester one teachers.

Afternoon Credit Rescue Block (by invitation):
The goal of this Credit Rescue block is for classroom teachers to provide students with an opportunity to work towards earning their credit through finishing and completing course assignments and assessments.
 

PA DAY-  Thursday January 29th 

Semester 2 Begins- Friday January 30

Semester 1 FInal Report Cards Distributed - Wednesday February 4th 

EQAO Math Assessment - Grade 9 for Semester 1
The grade 9 Math EQAO assessment for semester 1 is coming up soon, and it is worth 10% of the overall grade 9 Math course mark (MTH1W1/5). To help students prepare for this assessment, there will be a practice class on Friday, January 16th, during grade 9 Math classes (MTH1W1/5).  This preparation class will support students in becoming familiarized with the online EQAO platform using their TDSB Chromebooks. There is also a Sample Test available on the EQAO website, if students wish to explore the types of questions that will be on the assessment.

The Math EQAO assessment, which consists of two sessions, will take place on Monday January 19th (Day 1), and Tuesday, Jan. 20th (Day 2) during regular math periods.  Students must attend both of these sessions to complete the entire assessment. Students, please bring your fully charged TDSB Chromebook, if you have one, to your Math classes on Friday Jan. 16th, Monday Jan. 19th, and Tuesday Jan. 20th.  If you require accommodations, please talk to your grade 9 Math teacher or Mr. Ho, the ACL of Math, by Wednesday Jan. 14th, so that we can make arrangements for you. For questions, please contact Mr. Ho at chikin.ho@tdsb.on.ca.

GoGuardian Parent App Now Available
Families of students enrolled in the Student Device Program from grades 6-12 can now access the GoGuardian Parent App, allowing parents, guardians and caregivers to manage their children’s internet use outside of school hours including blocking specific websites and restricting internet access completely. Information about the app and a support guide have been made available to families through the December edition of the TDSB Connects communication for families. 

What you should know:

• GoGuardian Parent works only outside of school hours. Parents/guardians can make changes between 4:01 PM and 7:59 AM. During school hours, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, GoGuardian is managed by the teacher.

• The application is available for iOS devices (iPhone/iPad) and Android devices (phone/tablet) only.

• The TDSB School Community IT Support service is available to assist families with questions they may have about GoGuardian Parents. 

• Each student can have a maximum of two parents or guardians connected to the application.

Special Education and Inclusion Parent Engagement Sessions - January 2026
Special Education and Inclusion is pleased to offer a number of sessions for parents/guardians/caregivers in January. Please find information in this flyer. All parent engagement sessions for the 2025-26 school year can be found on the Special Education and Inclusion webpage. 

Parent newsletters can be found here.

TDSB Guide to Special Education and Inclusion Resource
Please take a moment to review the TDSB Guide to Special Education and Inclusion Resource for Parents.  If you have specific questions or concerns, please reach out to our head of Special Education, Janet Hanway Fleming at janet.hanwayfleming@tdsb.on.ca

Please Pay SAC Fees
There are still many students who have not paid their Student Activity Fees. Please ensure you pay the SAC fee of $60.00 using School Cash Online. This fee covers a Student Card, Yearbook, and many student activities throughout the school year. If you haven't yet registered, please visit https://tdsb.schoolcashonline.com to get started.

School Calendar and Vacation Planning 2025-26

The 2025-26 School Calendar is now available on the TDSB website. Please click here for PA day and  holiday dates. Calendar items specific to Lawrence Park can be viewed on the main page of our school website linked here.  A reminder that vacations are not considered a legitimate absence from instructional days or Exam days. Every effort should be made to avoid scheduling family vacations during school time. In the event of a missed evaluation due to a family vacation, teachers are not required to provide an alternative form of evaluation or Exam and a mark of zero may be assigned.

Steps to Address Questions and Concerns

Below is the best way to talk to us, and who you should reach out to and when. You can review steps to take when addressing a question or concern here: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Contact-Us/Steps-to-Address-Questions-Concerns 

OUAC Deadline January 15, 2026
Grade 12 students are reminded to submit their Ontario University Application by January 15, 2026. Please note: The OUAC is officially closed for the holidays from December 24, 2025 to January 2, 2026, inclusive. The OUAC website and online applications will be available during this time.

OCAS Deadline for competitive programs February 5, 2026
As the holiday season approaches, we’d like to make you aware that OCAS will be closed from December 25, 2025, to January 4, 2026. We’ll return on January 5, 2026. During the closure, applicants can continue to apply to colleges, request transcripts, and accept offers. All OCAS services will be available, and reports will be updated daily.

2025/2026 PLAR Challenge
The 2025/2026 PLAR Challenge Process officially begins with the Virtual Information Session for Families. Students are strongly encouraged to attend if they intend to challenge a credit.

Virtual Information Session 

Date: January 14, 2026

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. 

Please keep these dates in mind:

• February 26, 2026 - Deadline for students to submit applications, with appropriate documentation, to the school Guidance Office by 4:00PM

• March 2, 2026- Deadline for your school (Guidance) to email applications to PLAR@tdsb.on.ca

For more information, please click here. 

New: Scholarships and Grants

Schulich Leader Scholarships 

These are awarded to entrepreneurial-minded high school graduates enrolling in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math program at partner universities: LPCI will nominate 1 candidate.

The deadline to submit a draft application, including reference letters to guidance, is January 15th, 2026. The deadline to apply is January 28, 2026.

Western National Scholarship Program 

This is designed to recognize all-around excellence. It is awarded on the basis of outstanding academic performance to candidates who demonstrate ability for creative and innovative thought and a passion for the pursuit of learning: LPCI will nominate up to FOUR  candidates 

The deadline to submit a draft application, including reference letters to guidance, is January 30, 2026. 

myBlueprint Micro-grant

December's Industry Immersion Series

Agriculture Career Exploration Challenge . Incentive: $10,000 in micro grants

·  This challenge was created in collaboration with thinkAG and Agriculture in the Classroom Canada.

·  The Canadian agriculture and food system sector leads in innovation, sustainability, and community development.

·  This challenge invites students to explore the diverse career pathways in agriculture, from traditional farming practices to modern food technology and environmental stewardship.

Student Support

Peer Tutoring! Fill out the Peer Tutor Request Form to be assigned a 1-1 or Peer Tutor or drop by on Mondays and Wednesdays @ lunch in Room 106.

Request a Guidance Appointment - Students are also welcome to drop in to guidance or email their counsellor directly.

Guidance Google Classroom

All students have been invited to their grade’s Guidance Google Classroom. We will post information in your grade’s Google Classroom about volunteer opportunities, post-secondary pathways, scholarship opportunities, and more. Be sure to check it regularly.
Further Information
Please refer to the LPCI guidance website for more information about general guidance information (ie. scholarship opportunities) and various opportunities for students (ie. volunteer, academic). 

New: 🌟 Holiday Drive For Sistering - Thank You LPCI! 🌟

Our 2nd Annual Holiday Drive for Sistering was a huge success—and it’s all thanks to YOU!

Because of your generosity, we were able to collect an incredible number of hygiene products and new clothing items to support Sistering, a vital organization that helps at-risk, socially isolated women and gender-diverse people in Toronto who are homeless or precariously housed.

Your kindness and commitment to giving back truly embody the spirit of the season. Every donation makes a difference, and together, we’ve helped spread warmth and hope to those who need it most.

A special shout-out to our LP Administration for their support throughout this drive, and to the following amazing clubs who collaborated to make this drive possible:  Young Women on the Move, United Artists, Pages of Promise, Book Club, TEDxYouth@LPCI, and the Library Club.

Thank you, LPCI community, for showing that when we come together, we can make a positive impact! 💙

Library Update
Please see our LPCI Library Learning Commons November 7th 2025 Newsletter Update.

November 5th was I Read Canadian Day!  This day is to celebrate reading Canadian stories by Canadian authors.  When you read Canadian you celebrate the diversity and richness of Canadian literature.  How can you celebrate I Read Canadian Day?  Come out to our Library and celebrate by checking out and reading a book by a Canadian author! For each check out, you will be entered into a draw to win a prize!  This contest will run for the month of November.

Please check out the following links to learn more about our Library programming:

Virtual Library

LPCI Library Learning Commons

LLC Google Classroom (join with the code 2mvgxib)

Teacher-Librarian Contact Information:

Julia Zwaan (ACL Library & Special Projects)

julia.zwaan@tdsb.on.ca

416.393.9500 extension 20010 

📚 Happy Reading, Panthers!

If you have any questions about sports teams at LP please contact karen.daigle@tdsb.on.ca or doug.hunnisett@tdsb.on.ca  We would be happy to answer any questions you have. 

Athletic Council Social Media
Follow the Athletic Council on Instagram: @lpciathletics for up to date information about athletics at LP!

School isn't only about the classes! LPCI has many clubs and councils. Click on the link to get more information! https://sites.google.com/student.tdsb.on.ca/lpclubscouncils/home 

Next School Council Meeting

Please note, there will be no December School Council Meeting. The next council meeting will be on Monday, January 19 @ 6:30 pm.

2025-2026 School Council Executive Team

Please see HERE for the newly announced LPCI School Council

School Council Social Media

Follow the Parent Council: Instagram: @lpciparentcouncil

Online: The LPAA website https://www.lpcialumni.com/ 

On Facebook
The LPAA is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/LPCI75th/. Lawrence Park Collegiate 1983 is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/68735842927. Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute Over 30! is moderated by Ara Yeremian and can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lpciover30

Instagram
LPAA’s Instagram account is @LPCIAlumni.

Contacts
Something to say to the LPAA – want to get involved - want to publicize an alumni relevant event – want to be a class rep? Info@lpcialumni.com.