Summer Mailing

Back-to-School 2023-24

Greetings From CDS!

Dear CDS Parents,

We trust that you and your family have been enjoying the summer months and are starting to prepare for Back to School in September. Before you know it, we will be welcoming your children back on campus! 

The coming year will see the school’s enrolment crest 800 students for the first time. This is as a result of strong enrolment across all grades, but more specifically because of the addition of a second JK and SK class. In addition to more than 150 new students, we also have a number of new faculty/staff joining our CDS team, and look forward to hosting everyone at our annual Welcome Back BBQ on the first day of school, Wednesday, September 6th!

You will notice some facility project updates upon your return to campus. After a much-extended construction cycle, our Junior School rejuvenation project is largely complete and occupancy has been secured! Additionally, the Paul C. Duckett Theatre has had an entirely new seating system installed with brand new carpet and seats.

There is also much work taking place on Dufferin Street, where the Township is running water and septic lines on the wayside, to which the school will shortly connect after almost 20 years of waiting! And, as is the case every year, our Facilities team has been massively busy preparing the school in every manner and fashion for your return.

More detailed information will follow in school divisional communications, but for now, I hope that the remainder of your summer is peaceful and safe, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in September!

Warm regards,

John Liggett
Head of School

School Wide Information

List of 4 items.

  • General Store Information

    Online

    The online store will re-open on August 14th and orders can be collected from the Performing Arts Centre Monday through Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The General Store team will be available as of that date to answer any uniform questions and help with returns and/or exchanges. Please be aware that wait times may be longer than usual during this period due to uniform fitting appointments.

    In Store 

    The store will be open for current families to come in and purchase items on August 23rd and August 24th between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. No appointment necessary. 

    Regular Store Hours 

    The store will also be open on Tuesday, September 5th (orientation morning) and then regular open hours will resume from Wednesday, September 6th:
    • Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM
    • Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 12:00 PM to 4:15 PM (or 3:15 PM on early dismissal days)
    If you would like the option for your student(s) to charge your sundry account for store purchases, please complete the CDS Account Permission Form (available on MyCDS or on the General Store webpage) and email it to generalstore@cds.on.ca.

    Please note: If you chose this option last year, you DO NOT need to complete this form again.

  • Pre-Owned Uniform Sales

    The CDS Association will be holding Pre-Owned Uniform Sales in the Di Ciano Atrium on August 23rd and August 24th between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

    There will also be a Pre-Owned Uniform Sale in the Di Ciano Atrium on Tuesday, September 5th from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

    A large selection of almost-new uniform items will be available at very reasonable prices. We accept payment by cash, cheque, credit, or debit. Visit the Association's pre-owned web page at www.cds.on.ca/preowned for price lists and more information.
     

  • CDS Athletics

    CDS offers many athletic options, and students will be asked to indicate their interest in trying out for one of the many athletic teams in homeroom on the first day of school. Tryouts for students in grades 7 through 12 will begin on Monday, September 11th at 3:30 p.m. Tryouts for students in grades 4 through 6 will begin on Tuesday, September 12th at 3:30 p.m. Players are expected to commit themselves to three or four days a week with occasional morning or late afternoon practices. The teams that will be offered for the winter and spring terms will be advertised prior to each athletic term.

  • CDS Cosmo Music Letter

    Please see attached for this year's Cosmo Music letter.

Junior School

List of 3 items.

  • Letter from Mrs. Wildberger

    Please see attached for a welcome letter from Mrs. Wildberger, Director of Junior School.

  • Orientation Day - Tuesday, Sept. 5th

    All new students to the Junior School in SK to grade 6 are invited to the Orientation morning planned for Tuesday, September 5th, 2023. Students are not required to wear their uniform for this event. Students are to be dropped off at school for 8:45 am, ready for a 9:00 am start. Please see the Junior School FAQs below for drop-off and pick-up zones. These will be the zones for the entire year, so Orientation Day will be good practice. Students will be ready for pick-up at 11:00 am from the same location where they were dropped off. Siblings can be dropped off and picked up from the zone of the youngest child in the family. Faculty will be on hand to help answer any other questions you may have.

    Junior kindergarten students will not take part in Orientation Day. They will begin school on either Wednesday or Thursday, September 6th or 7th in their staggered entry format, as outlined in the welcome letter coming to you from your child(ren)'s teachers. Senior kindergarten students will also have a staggered entry. 

  • Junior School FAQs

    Please see attached for answers to Junior School FAQs for 2023-24.

Middle School

List of 5 items.

  • Letter from Mr. Waldron

    Please see attached for a welcome letter from Mr. Waldron, Director of Middle School.

  • Orientation Day - Tuesday, Sept. 5th

    Tuesday, September 5th is Orientation Day from 8:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. All grade seven and NEW grade eight students (along with their mentors) are expected to attend. Middle schoolers do not need to wear their school uniform today. 
     
    Drop off will happen between 8:30 - 8:45 a.m. at the Middle and Senior Drop off area. All grade 7 and NEW grade 8 students should meet in the Di Ciano Atrium. The day will end by 12:15 p.m., except for new middle schoolers to CDS who will need to complete a music orientation. New students will be picked up by parents at 12:30 p.m.

    Students will have the opportunity to meet their homeroom teacher and become familiar with their new surroundings and also hear about all the exciting things ahead including what to expect on a daily basis and what the Middle School will expect of you. Orientation Day is a wonderful opportunity to be together, meet your homeroom teacher and start to become familiar with Middle School routines as you start this exciting new journey.

  • Online Textbook Orders

    If you have not already ordered your textbooks for the 2023-24 school year please do so immediately to avoid backorders and shipping delays. You will need to login to MyCDS and visit our Online Bookstore. Books are being supplied by Canadian School Book Exchange.

    Login to MyCDS, click on Resources, then Order Textbooks.
    Next, click on Place Student Order and select 2023/2024 Academic year. If you have an existing account you can login, if not you will need to create an account. To order textbooks you will need a credit card.

    If you have any questions, please contact:

    Canadian School Book Exchange
    inetsales@csbe.net
    1-800-335-5043 or 905-828-7200

    OR

    lia.kitchen@cds.on.ca
    (905) 833-1220 ext. 288

  • Fall Drama Production: A Lighter Shade of Noir

    Attention all students in Grades 7 to 9 - Auditions for the Fall Production happen the first week of school!

    Auditions for the fall production of A Lighter Shade of Noir will be in the FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL and are open to all students in grades 7 to 9. More information and an audition package will be available the last week of August.  We need people for both on and off stage. If you’re interested in auditioning, please email Ms. B at gisa.bevacqua@gx.cds.on.ca for more information. You can pick up an audition package at the Senior School main office starting August 28th.  A description of the show - a hilarious detective spoof - is below.
     
    A Lighter Shade of Noir
    by Patrick Derksen

    Trent Trowel is your typical gumshoe. Searching the mean streets for crimes to solve. He joins some of the world’s most famous detectives at the International PD gala. There’s Shirley Holmes, Jean Louis Phillip Eustache… and Aunt Beatrice. But is this just an innocent gala? Will the world’s most dastardly villains foil them with a fiendish master plan? Will Aunt Beatrice ever get an English muffin? Everything is not what it seems.

    A fabulously funny and high-styling take on film noir - it’s a lighter shade of noir after all!

  • Managing Independent Decisions Form

Senior School

List of 7 items.

  • Letter from Ms. Bland

    Please see attached for a welcome letter from Ms. Bland, Director of Senior School.

  • Orientation Day - Tuesday, Sept. 5th

    Orientation Day is designed to give students who are new to CDS an opportunity to meet their teachers and become familiar with their surroundings. ALL Grade 9 students and any NEW Senior School students are expected to attend. CDS #1 Dress Uniform should be worn on this day.

    ALL new students are to arrive at the main entrance to the Senior School at 8:30 a.m. They will receive their name tags and will then go to their homeroom for homeroom orientation with their advisor.  Students should bring their textbooks, school supplies and binders, as they will be assigned their lockers during this morning.

    Following that, all new students and their faculty advisors will meet at the Learning Stairs for a welcome from the Head of School, Mr. John Liggett, the Directors and the Student Council. They will then participate in orientation activities until 12:15 p.m.  Lunch in the Dining Hall will be provided and will include options for dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten & dairy free).

    Pickup is at 12:15 p.m. at the front of the Senior School.

    For Temagami canoe trippers, there will be a meeting from 12:15 – 3:15 p.m. in the Senior School Art Room.

    For those who wish to be part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Program, there will be a meeting (to be announced) in the first few weeks back to school.

    *NOTE: If you are a member of Student Council or a mentor for Grade 9-12 students, please meet with Ms. Bland and Mr. Huckvale in S4 at 8:15 a.m.

  • Uniform

    Dress Code

    Please keep in mind the Dress Code when you are doing your Back-to-School shopping; it is an important part of how we identify ourselves at CDS. In particular, pay attention to:
    • Charcoal grey dress pants
    • Black polishable dress shoes with black soles (no coloured trim, or sneaker-style shoes e.g. running shoes)
    • Black leather belt (used with pants, not kilts)
    • Blue socks must be knee high
    • Hair should be a natural colour
    Please ensure shirts fit properly and that kilts are no more than a playing card above the knee. While these may seem like small details, it is this attention to detail that makes the difference at CDS. For complete uniform details, please refer to the 2023-24 Family Handbook.

  • Online Textbook Orders

    If you have not already ordered your textbooks for the 2023-24 school year please do so immediately to avoid backorders and shipping delays. You will need to login to MyCDS and visit our Online Bookstore. Books are being supplied by Canadian School Book Exchange.

    Login to MyCDS, click on Resources, then Order Textbooks.
    Next, click on Place Student Order and select 2023/2024 Academic year. If you have an existing account you can login, if not you will need to create an account. To order textbooks you will need a credit card.

    If you have any questions, please contact:

    Canadian School Book Exchange
    inetsales@csbe.net
    1-800-335-5043 or 905-828-7200

    OR

    lia.kitchen@cds.on.ca
    (905) 833-1220 ext. 288

  • Fall Drama Production: A Lighter Shade of Noir

    Attention all students in Grades 7 to 9 - Auditions for the Fall Production happen the first week of school!

    Auditions for the fall production of A Lighter Shade of Noir will be in the FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL and are open to all students in grades 7 to 9. More information and an audition package will be available the last week of August.  We need people for both on and off stage. If you’re interested in auditioning, please email Ms. B at gisa.bevacqua@gx.cds.on.ca for more information. You can pick up an audition package at the Senior School main office starting August 28th.  A description of the show - a hilarious detective spoof - is below.
     
    A Lighter Shade of Noir
    by Patrick Derksen

    Trent Trowel is your typical gumshoe. Searching the mean streets for crimes to solve. He joins some of the world’s most famous detectives at the International PD gala. There’s Shirley Holmes, Jean Louis Phillip Eustache… and Aunt Beatrice. But is this just an innocent gala? Will the world’s most dastardly villains foil them with a fiendish master plan? Will Aunt Beatrice ever get an English muffin? Everything is not what it seems.

    A fabulously funny and high-styling take on film noir - it’s a lighter shade of noir after all!

  • Music Camp

    The Music Department is excited to be offering our annual music camp from Wednesday, September 20 to Saturday, September 23, 2023 at Glen Bernard Camp in Sundridge, just north of Huntsville. This camp is specifically designed for Senior School students who wish to participate in Concert Band, Jazz Band and Choir.

    It is strongly encouraged that all students participating in the Senior Music ensembles for the year attend, as this will build a strong foundation for all ensembles as well as help develop friendships.

    Please refer to the Music Camp permission form for complete details.

    To help us in our planning for this music camp, please complete the form below and return it to the music department by Tuesday, September 12, 2023.

  • Bring Your Own Device

    Please see attached for a letter regarding Bring Your Own Device requirements.

Important Downloads

Helpful Links

Stationery Lists

Land Acknowledgment

The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.

School Information

13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5 
(905) 833-1220 

communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca

Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.

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