Hello Acton Families!

We are enjoying our last day before he break with students 

participating in the talent show, wearing their jammies and eating too many treats. This week was packed with activities every day and students and staff were in the spirit. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanza to all who celebrate.

Earlier in the week I had the pleasure of attending the elementary French Immersion Gallery Walk of Canadian Heroes Posters and listened to some wonderful presentations en francais. Thank you Mme Harmon and Mme Medieros for showcasing your excellent students. Have a look at our fantastic FI students! 

Yesterday our Leadership class, led by Mr. Brown, organized another wonderful Annual Acton Hockey Tournament with many students, staff and  Halton Regional Police team players combining to play. This whole school event offered many activities set up off the ice as well, making it a busy day with something for everyone. Approximately $1500.00 was raised by the leadership class to donate to their chosen charity– SAVIS ( Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention). Lots of work, lots of fun, and an amazing donation!

I hope all of our families have a wonderful break together, however you choose to spend it, and our students return safely to school on January 5th. Parents of secondary students, please check the final version of the exam schedule sent out earlier this week. We would ask parents to be mindful about booking medical appointments, planning trips etc that will not conflict with your student’s exam times.

Thank you to all families who purchased coffee and freeze-dried treats to support our School Council fundraiser. It was an amazing success and the funds will help offset the costs for student activities.

Heading into the Talent Show now to enjoy singing, dance and comedy acts, have a wonderful family holiday.

Mrs. P

Hat Tricks and Helping Hands: A Tournament to Remember!

What an incredible day of hockey, community, and giving back! Our annual hockey tournament wrapped up with a resounding success, both on and off the ice. The entire event was organized by the Grade 12 Leadership class as part of the final performance task in that course.

The on-ice action at the McKnight rink was electrifying! The day kicked off with an exciting round-robin tournament that saw students and teachers battling it out for bragging rights. Following the round-robin, the much-anticipated annual Police and Students game brought the day to a thrilling close. It was fantastic to see our local officers hit the ice with our students, fostering camaraderie and some friendly competition that was enjoyed by all.

Off the ice, the McKnight rink was buzzing with a variety of engaging activities that kept everyone entertained. Students enjoyed getting creative with face painting and henna tattoos, while others explored their future with palm reading, by our own Mrs Ross. Acton’s own Lar Desousa was a huge hit, providing humorous and personalized keepsakes in the form of funny caricature art. And of course, no event is complete without an abundance of delicious snacks and food to keep all the hungry players and spectators full and energized throughout the day!

Beyond the thrilling games and fun activities, the true heart of the tournament shone through in our incredibly successful silent auction. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our local businesses and community members, we raised a significant amount of money for a truly worthy cause.

A massive thank you to our amazing donors who provided such wonderful items for the silent auction:

• Olympic Greek Souvlaki

• Acton Optical

• Ang and Adam Shortt

• Ms. Jennifer Ross

• P&H Milling Group

• Kaia Hair Salon

• Rachel Leblanc Massage Therapy

• Tanners Restaurant

• No Frills

• The Bearded Barista

• Tim Hortons

• Dominos Pizza

Your contributions made a real difference, and we are so grateful for your support!

All the money raised at this year's event will be proudly donated to SAVIS of Halton. SAVIS provides vital support and services to individuals in our community, and we are honored to contribute to their invaluable work.

Thank you to all the players, coaches, volunteers, and spectators who made this year's tournament such a memorable and impactful event. We truly have an amazing community, and together, we've made a real difference. 

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!

Junior boys Basketball team played in the HFSAA finals on Tuesday Dec 16 at White Oaks Secondary School. They played a competitive game, coming up short by only 11 points to take the silver medal. Throughout the season we were repeatedly told by the refs and other coaches that our boys showed incredible talent, sportsmanship and etiquette. One ref described them as “the best basketball team to come out of Acton in 20 years” and praised them again for their hard work and skill, pointing out that they “represented Acton District with class.” Coach Dobbie and Coach Fossey are so incredibly proud of these boys!  Congratulations to the team and a big thank you to the parent drivers and the staff and students who supported the team. Go Bearcats!!

Thank you to two generous donors, who have made our elementary robotics club a reality.

The Optomist Club of Halton Hills presented ADS with a cheque for 500$! 

And a very generous Acton Family for a large donation!

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 22- Christmas Break - School CLOSED
  January 2

• January 5 First Day Back After Winter Break