School board approves draft 2026-27 calendar

GUELPH – The Upper Grand District School Board approved  next year’s school calendars during its Feb. 24 board meeting without discussion. 

The calendars will now be submitted to the Ministry of Education for final approval.

The calendars were reviewed by a committee of stakeholders, including representatives from all bargaining units, principals, human resources, board staff, transportation and parents, board officials stated in a press release. 

The calendars were out for public feedback for 10 days in February. 

People submitted 520 responses for the elementary school calendar and 204 for the high school calendar. 

Of these, 52 per cent of respondents support the elementary school calendar and 56% support the high school calendar. 

Board staff say key concerns were the scheduling of PD days, the timing of school start and end dates and the proximity of March break to Easter. 

Both the elementary and secondary school year calendars consist of 187 school days and seven professional activity days. 

For secondary schools, 10 school days have been scheduled for examinations. 

The calendars meet regulation requirements and abide by respective UGDSB collective agreements.

Students are set to start the year on Sept. 8. 

Professional development (PD) days are set for Sept. 2 and 3, Nov. 27 and June 30 for all schools. 

PD days for just elementary schools will be Oct. 26, Jan. 29 and June 4. 

High schools will have PD days Feb. 2 and 3 and June 29. 

For the Winter Break, classes will run until Dec. 18 and resume on Jan. 4. 

High school students are set to write exams from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1. 

March break will be from  March 15 to 19, 2027. (Easter will be March 28.) 

The last day of school for elementary students will be June 29, 2027. 

High school students’ last day is set for June 21, followed by exams from June 22 to 28. 

The draft calendars will be posted on the UGDSB website once the Ministry has given final approval.