Communications

Communicating with families in a clear, concise, timely and transparent manner is a top priority for The York School. Effective communication is at the heart of our relationship-based approach to the home-school partnership. 

The York School has a number of channels to communicate with our full school community:

  1. Online platform

YorkNet is the online platform that you and your child used to apply to The York School. It will now become the portal through which you can access day-to-day information about the school. YorkNet is password protected and customized to each member of our community.

When you log in, you will see school calendars, announcements, news, registration forms, directories, lunch menus and more. During the school year, YorkNet will be your bridge to:

  • Scheduling parent-teacher interviews

  • Viewing athletic programs and co-curricular schedules

  • Finding your monthly statement of account/billing

  • Keeping track of your child’s activities and progress

How to access YorkNet:

A YorkNet login tab is located in the right-hand corner of our website banner.

Steps:

  • Click the YorkNet link and enter the same username and password you used throughout the admission process.

  • Review your family’s information in YorkNet and make any necessary updates.

Your custom view will look somewhat like this:

If you wish to alter your privacy settings in the school directory, please contact helpdesk@yorkschool.com. Forgot your password? Just click “need help” and enter your email to reset!

Student Resource Pages

You can use YorkNet to access resource pages that complement the curriculum for students from JK through Grade 12. These resources will keep you informed and can be used to help your child at home. No extra usernames or passwords are required.

2. The Flash and JS Nest Weekly e-Newsletters

The York School’s two digital touchpoints – The Flash (Middle and Senior School) and the JS Nest (Junior School) – are designed to keep our families informed, engaged and organized.

The Flash, our weekly Middle and Senior School e-newsletter, provides an overview of what’s happening across the entire school. It also serves as the primary lens into life in the Middle and Senior Schools. During the school year, The Flash is emailed to all parents on Thursdays at the end of the day.

You’ll find the following sections in The Flash:

  • All School Page with school-wide news, celebrations and announcements that affect the entire York community, including York Parents’ Association (YPA) events.

  • Divisional Sections with dedicated tabs for the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools. This is where you’ll find daily schedules and information about school events, field trips, etc. *The Junior School tab links parents to The JS Nest, a special website for the Junior School community.

  • Beyond York includes information pertaining to career guidance and upcoming university events.

Upcoming Highlights. A preview of major events such as drama festivals, school plays and arts showcases, as well as community initiatives like the Terry Fox Run.

The JS Nest, our weekly Junior School e-newsletter, provides an overview of what’s happening across the entire school on the homepage, but specifically highlights the Junior School’s “week at a glance.” This password protected newsletter provides all the practical information that Junior School parents need to make daily and weekly plans for their child. During the school year, the JS Nest is emailed to all parents on Thursdays at the end of the day.

  • JS Nest Homepage with school-wide news, celebrations and announcements that affect the entire York community, including York Parents’ Association (YPA) events. You'll also find important reminders, details about upcoming field trips and permission forms.

  • The Week at a Glance, a detailed, day-by-day schedule of what is happening at the Junior School campus the following week. 

  • Events section with details about upcoming events for parents and students, and photo galleries from recent events.

  • Co-Curricular Clubs & Athletics: Find updates about clubs, teams and other extracurricular programs, as well as schedules and other information.

  • Parent Resources: In this section you can quickly access forms, the Principal’s Newsletter, and specific grade-level information.

A Partnership in Communication: The Flash and The JS Nest help support York’s home-school partnership. Both newsletters build our community connection and share our upcoming school-wide events. The JS Nest ensures that Junior School parents have the logistical details they need for the week ahead.

Note: Incoming families will begin receiving The Flash/JS Nest via email at the start of the 2026/2027 academic year. For urgent or sensitive matters, families will receive direct emails from the Head of School or Divisional Principals.

3. Website 

Our website (yorkschool.com) is an excellent resource for general information about the school.

You’ll find stories about current students and alumni in the News section, which can be found under the Junior School, Middle School and Senior School tabs.

Under the About Us tab, you’ll find information about our leadership and faculty, our Strategic Plan and our Board of Directors.

Under the Support Us tab, you can access information about the Annual Fund and the Junior School renovation (More Great Spaces), and read our latest Donor Impact Report/Year in Review.

 4. Social Media

The primary purpose of our social media platforms is to tell stories about students, academic and extracurricular life, and our community. Our posts provide a window into the school and sometimes invite the reader to visit York’s website to learn more.

We’re a very active community where exciting events, projects and initiatives are taking place every day. Film festivals, community clothing drives, Junior School plays, debating conferences and sports competitions can sometimes take place during the same week. To stay connected and engage in conversations that are happening in real time, follow York via your social media channel of choice.

For the digital safety of our students, The York School’s policy is to refer to them by their first names and last initials only when they are mentioned on our official public platforms.

The York School is active on the following social media platforms: 

Facebook - Follow TYS on Facebook to see photos from special events, field trips and extra-curriculars.

Instagram - Follow TYS on Instagram to see day-to-day student life, in-classroom learning, events, field trips and extra-curricular updates. 

LinkedIn - Follow us on LinkedIn for alumni updates, news, and networking opportunities. 

YouTube - Follow us on YouTube for video-rich content about our mission and values, student life, academics, the IB program and upcoming projects. 

TikTok - Follow us on TikTok for video content about student life at York.

We use the hashtag #yorklearns on our posts so you can check in anytime.

5. Urgent, automated notifications

The York School has implemented the BrightArrow Notification Service. It allows the school to send automated messages via voicemail, text, and/or e-mail to provide important information in the event of an emergency, snow day or other unexpected occurrence.

We don’t want your family to miss any important notifications. We kindly ask all parents to visit YorkNet to ensure that we have your most current phone numbers and email addresses.

Steps to update contact:

  1. Once signed into Yorknet, navigate to your top right and select Profile.

  2. Scroll down and update your phone number, email address and mailing address.

Thank you for your cooperation and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at helpdesk@yorkschool.com.

6. TYS WhatsApp Guidelines: A Space for Connection and Community

Grade Level WhatsApp groups are a wonderful way to stay connected and share the excitement of our children’s journeys at The York School. The purpose of these groups is to foster positive communication and help us all stay informed about grade-level activities and YPA events.

To keep this a welcoming and constructive space for everyone, please use official school channels, rather than this group, to share personal grievances or documents regarding school decisions. This will ensure that your concerns reach the people who can actually help, and will prevent "off-topic" discussions from escalating.

Communication Guidelines

  • Maintain Professionalism: While WhatsApp is an informal space, we expect all participants to communicate in a civil and respectful manner.  Members agree to mirror the values in the York School Code of Conduct.

  • Focus on the Facts: Avoid sharing gossip or personal opinions.

  • Respect Privacy: Be mindful of the privacy of all students, parents and teachers by not sharing confidential information.

  • Stay Informed: Use The Flash, Yorknet, the JS Nest, and official TYS/YPA Instagram pages as your primary sources for updates.

Direct Inquiries: For academic or behavioral issues related to your child or other students, please contact the appropriate teacher or staff member directly.

The Role of Your Grade Reps

  • Community Builders: Reps foster a welcoming and supportive community by organizing social events, welcoming families, and disseminating information about YPA/school events.

  • Empathetic Liaisons: If you approach a Rep with a concern, they will listen attentively and empathetically. They help relay general information but are not responsible for explaining school-wide decisions.

  • Neutral Facilitators: Reps remain neutral in any disagreements and focus on facilitating communication rather than resolving individual conflicts.

  • Communication Conduits: If a Rep doesn’t have an immediate answer, they will acknowledge your message and guide you to the appropriate YPA Co-Chairs, Communications team, or Co-Presidents.

  • Collaborative Volunteers: For grade-wide initiatives or contributions, Reps consult with the YPA, teachers, or relevant York School Departments to ensure that information is accurate. Reps are volunteers and are encouraged to reach out to the school or YPA leadership if they feel a situation is beyond their capacity or comfort level.

 7. York’s Policy on Public Statements

Like many other educational institutions, The York School does not regularly issue statements regarding worldwide geopolitical events during moments of heightened crisis. As an IB world school, we work to provide students with the skills to engage in thoughtful, open and respectful discourse.

If you would like to learn more, please read the document entitled Keeping Our Community United During Challenging Times.