I am writing to express our concerns regarding the proposed 2026–2027 school calendar at North Toronto Christian School. While I appreciate the effort that goes into planning an academic year, the current structure presents significant challenges for students and families.
The decision to begin the school year one week earlier than other schools effectively shortens students’ summer break, reducing valuable time for rest, family connection, and enrichment. In addition, the distribution of multiple non-standard weeks off throughout the year—including breaks in October, February, late March, and May—does not align with the schedules of most other schools in our community.
This creates a number of practical and developmental concerns:
* Childcare challenges for families: These off-cycle breaks make it extremely difficult for working parents to find appropriate childcare, as camps and programs typically operate during standard school holidays such as March Break and summer.
* Disruption to family schedules: Parents are required to adjust work schedules multiple times throughout the year, which is not always feasible and places unnecessary strain on families.
* Social impact on students: Students miss out on shared experiences with peers, cousins, and friends in other schools—particularly during March Break and summer—when most families plan vacations and activities.
* Limited access to activities: Organized programs, sports, and camps are not widely available during these off-cycle weeks, leaving students with fewer meaningful opportunities during their time off.
In total, these differences amount to approximately four to five weeks of disruption compared to the standard academic calendar followed by most schools. This divergence is already leading to significant concern among parents, and, in some cases, decisions to leave the school.
I respectfully urge the Board to reconsider this calendar structure and to engage in meaningful consultation with parents before finalizing future academic schedules. Aligning more closely with the standard school calendar would better support student well-being, family stability, and community cohesion.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I would welcome the opportunity to participate in further discussions on this matter.
Sincerely,
Parents from multiple Elementary School grades
6 Comments
Coordinating big family gatherings during holidays is becoming more challenging.
This has been our concern for a while. The kids are missing out with friends and families in an other schools. And it has been difficult for families who has other kids on a different school to manage their time off.
I'm struggling with the same issue.
Consult with parents before making decisions.
I strongly support this petition. The proposed changes have caused concerns for my family and many others in NTCS community. I urge the school board to listen to our feedback and reconsider the new school year schedule.
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I am writing to express our concerns regarding the proposed 2026–2027 school calendar at North Toronto Christian School. While I appreciate the effort that goes into planning an academic year, the current structure presents significant challenges for students and families.
The decision to begin the school year one week earlier than other schools effectively shortens students’ summer break, reducing valuable time for rest, family connection, and enrichment. In addition, the distribution of multiple non-standard weeks off throughout the year—including breaks in October, February, late March, and May—does not align with the schedules of most other schools in our community.
This creates a number of practical and developmental concerns:
* Childcare challenges for families: These off-cycle breaks make it extremely difficult for working parents to find appropriate childcare, as camps and programs typically operate during standard school holidays such as March Break and summer.
* Disruption to family schedules: Parents are required to adjust work schedules multiple times throughout the year, which is not always feasible and places unnecessary strain on families.
* Social impact on students: Students miss out on shared experiences with peers, cousins, and friends in other schools—particularly during March Break and summer—when most families plan vacations and activities.
* Limited access to activities: Organized programs, sports, and camps are not widely available during these off-cycle weeks, leaving students with fewer meaningful opportunities during their time off.
In total, these differences amount to approximately four to five weeks of disruption compared to the standard academic calendar followed by most schools. This divergence is already leading to significant concern among parents, and, in some cases, decisions to leave the school.
I respectfully urge the Board to reconsider this calendar structure and to engage in meaningful consultation with parents before finalizing future academic schedules. Aligning more closely with the standard school calendar would better support student well-being, family stability, and community cohesion.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I would welcome the opportunity to participate in further discussions on this matter.
Sincerely,
Parents from multiple Elementary School grades
6 Comments
Besides missing out March break community activities, students need to get used to the academic calendar without frequent breaks when they go to universities. They will not have the luxury of taking pauses to catch up work or study. It is better to follow the normal schedule at a younger age.
Coordinating big family gatherings during holidays is becoming more challenging.
This has been our concern for a while. The kids are missing out with friends and families in an other schools. And it has been difficult for families who has other kids on a different school to manage their time off.
I'm struggling with the same issue.
Consult with parents before making decisions.
I strongly support this petition. The proposed changes have caused concerns for my family and many others in NTCS community. I urge the school board to listen to our feedback and reconsider the new school year schedule.
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Besides missing out March break community activities, students need to get used to the academic calendar without frequent breaks when they go to universities. They will not have the luxury of taking pauses to catch up work or study. It is better to follow the normal schedule at a younger age.