Welcome to Markham District High School
Dear Students, and Parents / Guardians,
Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year at Markham District High School! We hope you all had a restful, refreshing summer filled with wonderful memories.
Our dedicated teachers and staff have been working to prepare classrooms, refine curricula, and create an environment where all students can thrive both academically and personally. Extra curricular activities will be starting as early as next week with our Mini Club Fair, where students can learn about the many clubs available at MDHS. In addition to clubs, try outs for sport teams, and Student Athletic Association (SAA) and Student Activity Council (SAC) activities are also in the works and will provide many opportunities for students to get involved in student life here at MDHS.
High school is a time of immense growth, discovery, and preparation for the future, and we are incredibly grateful for your continued partnership as we guide our students toward success. Together, let’s make this an unforgettable and rewarding year!
Your MDSH Administration Team,
Kathy McAlpine, Raymond Luong, and Marianne C. Hamilton
Student Timetables
Students and families will receive course timetables for 2026-2027 by email communication on Friday, September 4. Students can also view their timetable on Teach Assist. In addition to the timetable, you will also receive information on how to request a course change and the process with which those requests will be addressed.
Upcoming Events at M.D.H.S.
Please visit our MDHS google calendar at: https://markhamdistrict-hs.yrdsb.ca/calendar for upcoming events.
Grade 9 Day Schedule
Welcome to Markham District High School. Please see the overview of Grade 9 Day (Tuesday September 8) below:
Parent/Guardian Schedule:
8:15am - 9:00am, Grade 9 Day Parent/Guardian Presentation in the library with Administration For those who are not able to attend, there will be a repeat of this presentation at our School Council meeting on September 28 at 6pm
Grade 9 Student Schedule:
Grade 9 students will go directly to their scheduled classes. Students who do not have a timetable can go to room 138 where there will be support to get them their timetables.
Period 1 8:10 - 8:50
Period 2 8:50 - 9:30
Period 4: 9:30 - 10:10
Period 5: 10:10 - 10:50
Lunch: 10:50 - 12:10 (students who ordered a chicken or veggie burger from SchoolCashOnline can pick up their food in front of the cafeteria)
Students will go to their period 5 classrooms, and then a teacher will take them through a rotation of activities:
Rotation 1: 12:15 - 12:50 - Amazing Race (around the school)
Rotation 2: 12:55 - 1:30 - Team-building Activities Outdoors (indoors if it rains)
Rotation 3: 1: 35 - 2:10 - Supports in the Building Presentation (cafeteria)
End of Day Activity: 2:15 - 2:50 - Pep rally in the gym
We are looking forward to welcoming you to MDHS and to having a fantastic Grade 9 Day!
Parking Lot and Student Drop off and Pick up
MDHS' parking lot can be a very busy place. To ensure the safety of students and to prevent congestion please adhere to the following:
- The WEST parking lot at the front of the school is the only location to be used for drop offs and pickups. Please do not use the EAST parking lot.
- The fire routes/drop off area is a “no standing zone”. Please park in the parking lot if you arrive early. Vehicles should not be waiting in the drop off loop or in front of the school.
- To avoid congestion and to increase the flow of traffic, please do not double park and keep all lanes open to allow cars to exit the parking lot.
- Please do not block the crosswalks as this is for pedestrian traffic and safe access to the parking lot.
- Do not park in an accessible parking space if you or your passenger does not hold a valid permit.
- Always be vigilant of pedestrians who are using the sidewalks at the school entrances/exits.
Thank you for your understanding, cooperation and keeping our students safe.
E-Scooters and E-Bikes
YRDSB continues to encourage families to use safe transportation to and from school. We encourage students to use active school travel whenever possible. Active travel refers to any form of human-powered transportation, including walking, cycling, rollerblading, skateboarding, and scootering.
School Property
Students using any transportation device, whether electronic or not-electronic, must dismount before arriving on school property. This includes all sidewalks, pathways, and walkways on school grounds. Please note that the school is not responsible for lost or damaged equipment.
Provincial Regulations
These modes of travel offer many physical, mental, and community benefits. Please visit the Ontario website for a full list of regulations. Every cyclist under 18 must wear a properly fitting bike helmet. Some students may also choose to use electronically assisted devices, such as e‑scooters or e‑bikes. In Ontario, you must be 16 or older to ride an e-scooter or e-bike. When riding e‑scooters or e‑bikes, it is important that students follow all applicable municipal regulations to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
Municipal Regulations
Before riding any device, it is important for students and families to be aware of the regulations set by their local municipality. These may include minimum age requirements for operating electric devices, helmet laws, and other safety guidelines.
Respectful Riding
Pedestrians always have the right of way. Students are expected to ride with caution by slowing down, using a bell when approaching others, and passing on the left. Wearing reflective clothing is encouraged to increase visibility and promote safer travel.
For more information, parents/guardians are encouraged to visit:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/bicycle-safety
https://www.ontario.ca/page/riding-e-bike#section-0
All Parents/Guardians are invited to join our School Council Meeting on Monday September 28, 2026
- Date: Monday, September 28, 2026
- Time: 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
- Location: Markham DHS Library
- Parents/Guardians/Family members who are interested in holding an elected position on School Council are invited to complete the School Council Candidate Nomination Form (PDF)
All parents/guardians are invited to join our School Council Meeting.
The evening will include:
- Grade 9 Parent/Guardian Welcome MDHS Session - (6:00 - 7:00 pm) in the Markham DHS Library. Please note that this is a repeat of the parent/guardian session on Grade 9 Day, Tuesday, September 8, 2026
- Election of the School Council Executive
Caring and Safe School Assemblies: Sept. 21 - 25
As the new school year is beginning, students will be attending Caring and Safe Schools Start-Up Presentations. These presentations are designed to underscore behaviour expectations as we continue to sustain caring, safe and inclusive school environments.
Presentation topics include:
- Racism and types of discrimination;
- Bullying;
- Progressive discipline;
- Using personal mobile devices such as cellphones, smart watches, and tablets;
- Vaping; and
- Standing up for each other, including methods of reporting incidents of racism, discrimination and bullying.
Inappropriate Behaviour
In the Start-Up Presentation, students are learning about racism, discrimination, and bullying. This learning will continue throughout the school year. Instances of racism, discrimination and bullying are not acceptable and are addressed through progressive discipline. In some cases of racism and discrimination, York Regional Police may be involved.
Students will also be reminded about safe school behaviours, including what items must never be brought to school, such as peanut products, vape products/drug paraphernalia, weapons/replica weapons (including knives).
Reporting Behaviour
Standing up for one another and reporting when something does not feel safe is part of a caring and safe school environment. Students should report incidents involving other students that make them or others feel unsafe or uncomfortable, including acts of racism, discrimination and bullying. Students can report incidents by:
- Telling a caring adult;
- Using the YRDSB’s “Report It Button” (Located on our school’s website, the online Report It button allows students and families to share information about inappropriate student behaviour and incidents of hate or discrimination. Contacting Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868).
For More Information
For more details on these items or other Caring and Safe Schools topics, please read the Guide to the School Year or visit the Caring and Safe Schools section on the YRDSB website for more information and to access family resources to continue these conversations at home.
Thank you for helping us create a caring, safe, and inclusive school community.
Indigenous Languages and International Languages - Secondary Classes
The Indigenous Languages and International Languages (ILIL) program at the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) offers secondary credit-bearing courses (Levels B, C, D) that may count towards the Ontario Secondary Diploma and be used for post-secondary applications. Please consult your Guidance Department for academic planning and course selection.
Secondary Credit Courses (Grades 9 to 12):
- The program is delivered virtually through synchronous learning, supported by asynchronous activities.
Please continue to check the Indigenous Languages and International Languages webpage for registration information and updates.
