Hello Acton Families,

To our families celebrating Ramadan,

“Wishing you a Ramadan filled with endless joy and blessings. Ramadan Mubarak to you and your family.”

In the Student Spotlight:

I have exciting news to share about a couple of exceptional students. Emily Eggett in Grade 12 is considering a full scholarship to Brair Cliff University in Sioux City Iowa, for bowling! Emily has been bowling since she was 3 yrs old. She has competed in Collegiate Showcases in the U.S. and became ‘known’ over the past 3 years. She has won a number of tournaments, including the Ivan Nelson tournament where she represented southern Ontario and went on to the Nationals in British Columbia. Emily has been ranked 2nd best in Canada. Emily says bowling is “Super technical and super fun.” She explained that bowling is a sport where you can start earning scholarship money as early as 3 yrs old and you may also use some of the money to put towards driving school. She says it’s a great opportunity for a student to excel in because it is a small community. Emily is very excited about her post-secondary plans and recognizes that bowling has offered her many wonderful opportunities. We know her self discipline, skills and focus on her goal had led her to be this successful. We are so proud of you Emily!

I also learned this week that we have our own Acton ‘Ninja’ in our student body who competes in the World Ninja League. Grade 9 student Riven Dales!  What is the World Ninja League? Think American Ninja Warrior or ‘Parkour”. The competitor trains hard to be able to interact with their environment by being efficient and creative and perform acrobatic feats. I watched a quick video of Riven being a Ninja on the rings, and I felt I was watching her run the old Medieval Gauntlet. Brave girl. It’s amazing.  Riven will be competing in the World Ninja League Championships in June in Greensboro North Carolina. Riven has been ranked 1st in Canada in her age category. What an amazing opportunity for Riven to compete on the world stage. We are so proud of her and her accomplishments.  Go Riven!

Today we recognized Pink Shirt Day and staff and students took a stand against bullying. Please see our Bullying Prevention Plan on our school website. Students may report bullying anonymously on our website and the report goes directly to administrators.

Please take note Secondary parents and guardians that 5th week reports will be sent via email next Thursday. All students in Grade 9 receive a report. Also,  If your student is achieving less than 60% in a course you will be updated. 

Please read these details:

5th week progress reports will be sent home on March 5th. 5th week reports are generated for all students in grade 9 and for students in grades 10-12 for whom the teacher has concerns regarding the students achievement.  The purpose of these reports is to allow each student, with the support of their parent(s) or guardian(s), the opportunity to address issues that may be standing in the way of academic success.

The format for 5th-week reports is:

• Parents of students who are progressing well in grade 9 (receiving greater than 60%) will receive an email stating your student is progressing well. 

• Parents of students who are not progressing well in grades 9-12 (receiving less than 60%), and any student with whom the teacher has concerns (progress, achievement or learning skills) will receive an email and a personalized comment from the teacher highlighting one or two areas of concern and recommending strategies for improvement.  This includes students in Self Paced Learning.

• No overall mark for the courses will be shared at this time because the school year is only at the 5th week mark and there is not enough evaluation to report a meaningful mark. The usual Markbook printouts will not be issued at this time.

Please review each of these reports with your child.  Success can be enhanced through regular and punctual attendance, adequate preparation for class, consistent homework completion, and preparation for tests and quizzes.  Students should also ask their teachers questions in class for clarification.

Parent Peek into the Classroom for this week:

I enjoyed a period in Mr Evoy’s grade 9 geography class when they hosted the Credit Valley Conservation Team into the classroom. Mr. Evoy has partnered with Credit Valley Conservation to pilot a brand-new program where students are using Microbytes and coding to create sensors that collect environmental data. Friday was the first of two workshop days, and it was fantastic to see how engaged the students are already. The team had the students using Microbytes (tiny controllers with LED lights and sensors used for coding) to write code and set up ‘tools’ for monitoring aspects of the environment e,g, counting wildlife within a certain parcel of land, determining  plant hydration needs, species of trees in the space, and much more. Environmental consciousness is alive and well in grade nine. I had a personal tutor for the exercise, Alaister Murray, (green hat below) who taught me enough simple code to create a heart shape symbol using the microbyte (baby steps). Credit Valley staff return to Mr. Evoy’s class in the spring to take their creations into the outdoors and use them for the designed purpose. These students will also spend that day planting dozens of trees to support the re-greening of Acton spaces. Mr. Evoy has long been an environmental steward in our school community and he is fostering this same level of care and concern for the environment in his students. See the great pics below!

Please note, We continue with our regular safety drills and we will practice our lockdown procedures in March.

Congratulations to our elementary robotics team.  They participated in a VEX IQ  Robotics Tournament at Escarpment View on Thursday after school and made ADS proud!  Out of 22 teams, one of our teams placed in 2nd and another in 14th.  Way to show Halton District that we may be a small school, but our brains and perseverance are mighty! 

For all grades and staff at Acton DS of all abilities. Interested? 

Get ready to make your move! Acton District School is thrilled to announce March [CHESS] Madness, an exciting chess tournament open to all students in Grades 7-12 as well as staff! Because, who wouldn’t want to take a teacher on the chess battleground?

Whether you're a seasoned grandmaster or just learning the ropes, this is your chance to test your skills and maybe even take home the championship title!

Here's what you need to know:

• What: March [CHESS] Madness Tournament

• Who: All Acton District School students in Grades 7-12 AND staff

• When: The first round of games will kick off the first week of March!

• Where: Details to be provided to registered players, but games will be played in the library

Ready to Play? Sign Up Now!

Don't miss out on the action! Sign up today to secure your spot. Further details regarding the tournament format, rules, and schedule will be shared with all registered players.

Let the madness begin!

Help Us Celebrate 100 Years of Acton District School!

In 2027, Acton District School will proudly celebrate 100 years of learning, community, and shared history — and we need your help to make this milestone truly special.

As we prepare to showcase the last century of this incredible school, we are looking for artifacts, photos, memorabilia, and memories from past students, families, staff, and community members. Whether it’s an old class photo, yearbook, trophy, program, story, or personal keepsake, we would love to see and share the moments that helped shape Acton District School over the last 100 years.

If you have items or memories you are willing to share, or would like more information, please reach out to the school:

519-853-2920
actds@hdsb.ca

Thank you for helping us honour the past and celebrate the legacy of Acton District School. We can’t wait to celebrate this exciting milestone together!

Warm regards,
Acton District School

For Graduating High School Students: Community Involvement Certificates & March 31 Deadline

We want to share an important update regarding community involvement hours and a new recognition opportunity for graduating students.

Community Involvement Certificates (New)
This year, students may be recognized with Bronze, Silver, or Gold Community Involvement Certificates, a new recognition from the Ontario Ministry of Education, for completing community involvement hours beyond the minimum requirement. Certificates are ordered in April based on verified hours submitted by schools.

Deadline for Submitting Community Involvement Hours
To allow time for schools to review documentation, enter hours into Aspen, and determine certificate eligibility, all community involvement hours must be completed and submitted through our online submission form by Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

Hours not completed and submitted by March 31, 2026, will not be eligible for certificate consideration.

Students are encouraged to review their current hours and ensure all documentation is submitted on time. Questions may be directed to the guidance department.

Thank you for your attention to this important information.

Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)

For the 2025/2026 school year, Halton Region Public Health will be enforcing Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (external link)

 (ISPA) for students born 2008 to 2013, and 2016 to 2018 who are missing immunization records with Public Health. Get more information on immunizations required for school attendance.

Have you received a vaccine letter from Public Health?

Halton Region Public Health has mailed letters to students born 2008 to 2013, and 2016 to 2018 who are missing immunizations records required by the Immunization of School Pupils Act (external link)

 (ISPA).

You may have received a letter because:

• Your child’s immunizations have not been reported to Public Health.

• Your child is missing a required vaccine.

• Your child received vaccines that do not meet the requirements of Ontario's routine immunization schedule.

Please note:

• Some vaccines, such as Influenza, Hepatitis B, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV), are recommended by the Ontario Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule but are not required under the ISPA for school attendance.

• If you have recently reported your child’s immunization record, you may still receive a letter due to processing times.

• If 4 to 5 weeks have passed since your submission, we encourage you to login to ICON to review your child’s record and make sure it includes your updates, and that there are no additional vaccines required.

• All immunization records submitted to Public Health are individually reviewed and processed by staff.

• We are currently experiencing a high volume of record submissions, and the processing time is 4 to 5 weeks.

• Call 311 (or if outside of Halton Region, 905-825-6000) to reach our call centre and speak directly with a public health nurse.

• Students and/or parents/guardians are encouraged to login to Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) to verify the online record has been updated, and to make sure no additional vaccines are required.

We thank you for your patience during this time.

A reminder that suspension lists will be sent to schools approximately 4-5 weeks prior to the suspension periods:

• Elementary school cohort: Students born in 2012, 2013, 2016 – 2018 (grades 2 to 4, 7, 8)  

  • Suspension period: March 31st to April 29th

  • Secondary school cohort:  Students born in 2008 – 2011 (grades 9 to 12)

  • Suspension period: April 30th to May 28th

Community immunization clinics

January community immunization clinics for students in grades 2-12 are now closed. Additional clinics are being planned for March, 2026. Appointments will be available for booking online starting in late February.

Schools do NOT have immunization records on file, all records are kept and must be updated with Halton Region Public Health.  If you have questions about your child's immunizations, please contact Halton Region Public Health by calling 311. 

🍽️ Food Days Are Back!

We’re excited to share that Food Days will continue for the remainder of the school year:

Weekly Schedule:

• Monday: Quesada

• Tuesday: Mum’s Fish and Chips

• Wednesday: Mum's Poutine and Drink

• Thursday: Elementary Pizza Days

• Friday: Mum’s Chicken Tenders & Fries

Orders will be available through School Cash Online. Each food day will be listed separately, so families can pick and choose the days that best suit them.

Be sure to watch for ordering details and weekly cut-off times on School Cash Online.

🏀 Important Notice: Spectator Entry for Sporting Events

To maintain the safety of our students and ensure that the final period of the day remains focused and uninterrupted, we have a policy regarding entry for athletic events.

Parents and spectators are not permitted to enter the school building for sporting events until the end of the school day at 3:20 PM.

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. 

March 8, 2026, at 2:00 A.M.: Clocks are set forward 1 hour (“spring forward”), losing an hour. Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour later than the day before. There will be more light in the evening. (Again, we generally change our clocks before bed on Saturday.)

• March 5th 5th Week Distribution - Secondary 

• March 8th March 8, 2026, at 2:00 A.M. Spring Forward

• March 16th-20th March Break

• March 26th Secondary Parent Interview Night

• April 24th PD Day Elementary and Secondary

• April 29,30 May 1 Play Evenings