Dear Bearcat Community,

As we move into the heart of December, our school has been buzzing with excitement, achievement, and plenty of Bearcat pride. This week, our swim team made a big splash at their meet and truly rocked it—congratulations to all of our athletes for their hard work and strong performances. Our volleyball teams also showcased incredible skill and determination during their double-header, and we’re thrilled to share that our boys’ basketball team is officially back in action! It’s inspiring to see our students competing, supporting one another, and representing our school with such positivity and enthusiasm.

We also hosted our Winter Arts Night, an evening that highlighted the amazing creativity within our building. Families and staff enjoyed viewing a beautiful collection of artwork created by our talented students, and it was wonderful to celebrate the diverse artistic strengths within our community.

Winter weather has certainly made its presence known, including our first bus cancellation day of the season. As always, thank you to families and staff for adapting as needed and staying informed during these unpredictable months.

Looking ahead, we are excited for Spirit Week next week! It’s a great opportunity for students and staff to come together, have fun, and show their Bearcat spirit. Please also note that we will have early dismissal on December 19 as we wrap up for the holiday break.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement—our school community is truly special. Stay warm and enjoy the weeks ahead!

Elementary Pizza Days!

Pizza Days (Session 2) – January 8 to March 26, 2026
Pizza will be supplied by Pizza Hub – Acton.

Important Information:

Please record these lunch dates on your 2025/2026 calendar.

Orders are for the full term only (11 delivery days).

Choose ONE option only for the term: (Cheese or Pepperoni, Vegan, Gluten Free)

No combination orders.

Late orders cannot be accepted.

No refunds for absences; food cannot be saved.

Always check your receipt and order history to ensure your order went through.

Pizza Days run every Thursday from January 8 – March 26 (11 days total).

Fee closes Thursday, December 18th at NOON. 

Black Creek Coffee and 70 Below Fundraiser-PICK UP NOTICE

Thank you, families, for purchasing items from either local roastery Black Creek Coffee or local freeze dried “treatery” 70 Below.  We sold over 60 bags of coffee and 100 bags of treats.  All money raised will go towards supporting school transportation in athletics and field trips.

  For those who purchased, they will be available in the office from Tuesday December 16th to Thursday December 18th. Any items not picked up by then will have to wait until after the break.

There are two ways to receive your items:

1. Have your child come to the office to pick up 

2. A parent comes to the school office to pick up 

If there are any issues with pick up, please let Melissa Johnson know at johnsonme@hdsb.ca 

Happy weekend Bearcats!! 

On Thursday, December 18th, Mr. Brown's leadership class will be hosting the annual hockey tournament. This is a great opportunity to get out there and support this year's charity of choice: SAVIS of Halton. 

What is SAVIS of Halton?

This organization provides sexual assault and violence intervention services for everyone. 

You may remember this organization from previous assemblies where they have covered consent and healthy relationships. 

What can you expect from the tournament? 

There will be a variety of off - ice activities for students to participate in, mini sticks, face paint, a silent auction and video games to name a few! During intermissions, the students can once again look forward to the popular “chuck - a - puck” game!  The leadership class is excited to see everyone out there and enjoying all the hard work that has been put into this event.

Acton District School is proud to announce that Junior Boys Basketball is BACK! Our Junior boys have played 2 tournaments so far, with another one coming up on Friday Dec 12 at White Oaks SS. The team has shown talent, hard work and class at all practices and games and we are so pumped to celebrate their accomplishments! 

On Thursday, December 4th, our school community came together for a truly enchanting evening at the semi-formal dance! With the theme “Enchanted Forest,” the cafeteria was transformed into a magical woodland, complete with twinkling lights and whimsical décor.

Students enjoyed an evening filled with dancing, delicious food, and refreshing beverages, all while celebrating the season with friends. Laughter, music, and holiday cheer filled the air, and it was clear that everyone in attendance had a wonderful time.

A big thank you to all who helped make the night so special.  This year’s semi-formal will certainly be remembered as a night of magic and memories!

The hockey tournament is coming!

Acton District School will host its annual Acton Hockey Tournament on December 18th, a fun school-wide event that raises funds for SAVIS of Halton.

Secondary Student Schedule:

• Periods 1–2: Regular classes (except tournament players and Grade 12 Leadership students).

• Periods 3–5: Students choose one of the following:

  1. Attend the Tournament at Acton Arena (no cost to attend). Optional tickets for food, games, and activities will be available on School Cash Online, until December 16.

     • $1 = 1 ticket

     • $5 = 5 tickets

     • $10 = 10 tickets

  2. Library Study Hall for quiet work time.

  3. Leave after Period 2 with parent permission (must sign out and have the absence recorded in School Messenger, along with permission form).
     
     

A permission form outlining these options must be returned to Period 1 teachers by December 17th and was given out to all secondary students this past week. 

Parents are welcome to join us at the arena and enjoy the event. Thank you for supporting this long-standing tradition and the important work of SAVIS of Halton.

 For our Elementary students, we will be joining in the afternoon.  Students will walk over with their class at various times throughout the afternoon to partake in the activities (if they so choose) and/or to watch two of their teachers Mr Zuzek and Mr Mitchell on the ice.  Permission forms have gone home.  Although there is no cost for the excursion, we do require permission for them to go to the skating rink. 

Grade 8 Grad Hoodie Now Available!

We’re excited to announce that this year’s Grade 8 Graduation Hoodie is now available for purchase on School Cash Online for $50!

This special hoodie will feature the signatures of all our Grade 8 graduates, making it a meaningful keepsake your child can cherish for years to come. It also makes a fantastic holiday gift!

To order, simply log in to School Cash Online, select your child’s hoodie size, and complete the payment there. Hoodies will be delivered in the new year. 

The order link will be live from Friday, December 5 to Sunday, January 11 to give you lots of time to order!

Let’s celebrate our amazing Grade 8s in style!

Bearcat Spirit Wear Now Available!

We’re excited to share that Bearcat Spirit Wear is now open for orders.
Please note that delivery will take place after Christmas.

Show your Bearcat pride and get your gear today! 🎉

www.lcms.ca/adsbearcats 

Aspen Family Portal

The HDSB offers the Aspen Family Portal - a secure online space that provides parents/guardians with convenient access to:

• Student Information
  View your child’s demographics, contact details, and real-time attendance records.

• Report Cards
  Access report cards electronically instead of paper copies (unless requested). Once posted, report cards remain in the portal for future reference. Please note that report cards issued before the portal’s launch will not be available.

• Key Links in One Place
  Quickly access HDSB-approved websites and resources without the need to search or save links.

Activate your Aspen Family Portal Account 

Please use a computer (not a mobile device) and follow these steps to activate an HDSB parent/guardian account in our secure Aspen Student Information System. 

This account is meant to be created by a parent/guardian. A valid e-mail address (the email address on file at your child’s school) is required to verify your identity when requesting an account. Once the account is created, you will be able to login to the HDSB Family Portal.

Please visit our Student Services Page on our website for the most up to date information:

https://act.hdsb.ca/student-services

📢 Stay Connected: Join Your Grade’s Google Classroom!

All students are encouraged to join their Grade Google Classroom to stay informed throughout the school year. Each classroom is tailored to your grade and will be used to share important announcements, guidance updates, post-secondary planning information, volunteer and job opportunities, and more.

By joining, students can ensure they don’t miss out on key dates, events, and resources that support both academic and personal success.

🔑 Join using the code for your grade below:

• Grade 9: n54uhqn6
  
  

• Grade 10: rgbi47nv
  
  

• Grade 11: xslvacpi
  
  

• Grade 12: 4uxurjpz

We strongly recommend all students join as soon as possible. It's one of the best ways to stay in the loop and make the most of the school year!

📣 Student Services Update – New Way to Submit Your Community Hours!

Dear Students,

We’re excited to announce a new and improved way to submit your community service hours to Student Services! 💼✨

Starting Wednesday, September 3rd, all students will be able to submit their community hours online through our updated system. This change is designed to make the process faster, easier, and more convenient for everyone.

🔹 What’s New?

• Online Submission Form: Submit your hours directly from your phone or computer — no need to hand in your paper forms!

• Upload Documentation: Attach your signed Record of Community Involvement Hours form or a photo of the form in just a few clicks.

• Instant Confirmation: Receive an email confirmation as soon as your hours are submitted.

🔹 How to Submit:

1. Visit:  Acton District School - Community Involvement
   
   

2. Fill out the required details
   
   

3. Upload your supporting documents
   
   

4. Click submit — and you're done!
   
   

We know your time is valuable, and we’re committed to supporting your involvement in the community. 

If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to
Mrs. Norton in the guidance office.

Thank you for all the incredible work you do in and around our community! 💙

Sincerely,
Student Services Team

School Cash Online

At Acton District., we use School Cash Online for all payments made to the school. It is recommended that you set up your account so you are prepared for any fees that pertain to your student throughout the school year.

Some of the benefits of using School Cash Online include:

· Ability to pay by credit card and Visa debit or echeck(out of bank account)

· Receive reminder emails so you never miss a payment due date

· See only items available to purchase online that are applicable to your student(s)

· Uses Google Translate in over 100 languages to assist you when making purchases

· Make an online donation and receive your tax receipt by email

· Support available 24 x 7

Visit hdsb.schoolcashonline.com to sign up today and have the ability to track all payments made. You will need the Halton student number for your student (not the OEN)  in order to set up an account. Please contact the school at 519.853.2920 if you don’t have your student’s number.

Secondary Pizza Day May 15th, 2025

Extended Absence Reminder

Parents/guardians who withdraw students during school time are advised that, depending on the timing and length of the absence, academic performance of your student may be affected. It is the student’s responsibility to catch-up on missed work.

In secondary school, any absence that is longer than 3 consecutive days is referred to as an extended absence. If you know that your student will be away for more than 3 consecutive school days, please print this Planned Absence Form and fill it in with the information requested 2 weeks prior to the planned absence (hard copies are available in the office). Students should ask their parent/guardian and teachers to fill in the form and once it is complete, the form should be handed in at the main office. The Vice Principal will then review the form and it will be given to the attendance Administrative Assistant for attendance to be entered (absences longer than 3 days are not able to be entered into School Messenger by parents). If you have any questions about this process, please reach out to the main office at 905-847-6875. Thank you. 

Secondary Students and Families, please visit our website for your January Exam Schedule 
https://www.hdsb.ca/act/our-school/exam-schedule/

• December 18 School Hockey Tournament

• December 19 Early Dismissal - 1:50PM

• December 22- Christmas Break - School CLOSED
  January 2

• January 5 First Day Back After Winter Break