Acton families,

Welcome back! It has been wonderful to see our students return this week after the holiday break. The halls are once again full of energy, and it has been great reconnecting with students as they settle back into routines, reconnect with peers, and refocus on learning. Staff have been working hard to support a smooth transition back, and we appreciate the patience and understanding from families as everyone gets back into the rhythm of school.

As we move into the coming weeks, we are entering an important academic period for our secondary students. Secondary exams are quickly approaching, and we encourage students to begin preparing early by reviewing material, organizing study schedules, and reaching out to teachers with any questions or concerns. Adequate rest, regular attendance, and effective time management will all play a key role in supporting student success during this time.

Families are asked to please review the secondary exam schedule provided below to ensure awareness of dates, times, and expectations. Having this information in advance will help with planning and will reduce stress for students as exams approach. If there are any questions regarding the schedule or exam procedures, please do not hesitate to contact the school office for clarification.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Kelli

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

Thursday January 22 9:00AM (Period 1 Exams)

Friday January 23 9:00AM (Period 2 Exams)

Monday January 26 9:00AM (Period 3 Exams)

Monday January 26 1:00PM (Period 4 Exams)

Tuesday January 27 9:00AM (Period 5 Exams)

Wednesday January 28-Inclement Weather Day

Please make sure your student arrives on time for each exam. You can help your student be successful on their exam by making sure there is a quiet place to study at home, free from distractions including T.V., video games, and cell phones. Please also encourage your student to reach out to their teacher if they have any questions or concerns about their achievement. 

Please see here for the exam schedule: Acton District School Semester 1 Exam Schedule 

Thursday January 29 Exam Review Day Altered Schedule

🍽️ Food Days Are Back!

We’re excited to share that Food Days will continue for the remainder of the school year, beginning the week of February 2!

Weekly Schedule:

• Monday: Quesada

• Tuesday: Mum’s Fish and Chips

• Wednesday: Flame Kitchen

• 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.

The Ontario Career Lab, supported by the Ministry of Education, is coming to our school! 

This program connects Grade 9 and 10 students with real-world professionals to explore career pathways and gain valuable insight.

The grade 10s met career coaches in the fall and now the grade 9s get a turn. 

We’re looking for parents and guardians to volunteer as Career Coaches at our upcoming school event on February 11th (morning) for Grade 9 students. It’s a chance to share your career journey, inspire students, and help them imagine what’s possible for their future. The reason we like to have Acton parents and community members is primarily because we like to emphasize the local connection we have with our community.

Interested? Fill out this quick Expression of Interest form and the Ontario Career Lab will reach out to you with further details. 

The event itself will happen for all grade 9s

Date: Wednesday, February 11th

Time: 10:05-11:20am (Secondary period 2)

Location: Cafeteria 

If you have any further questions, please contact Mr Brown. brownsh@hdsb.ca

Transfer Schools within the HDSB

Out of area transfer request​ (transferring schools) is the process where students can apply to attend a school other than the school designated for their area of residence.

The Halton District School Board encourage​s students to attend their designated school but students can apply to a school outside of their home school if there is enough space to accommodate them.​ Students who transfer to another school are not eligible for Board provided transportation.

Applications are being accepted from Jan. 5-Feb.27 2026 and can be submitted to your home school.

For a list of open school and to obtain a copy of the application, visit the HDSB website: https://www.hdsb.ca/schools/transfer-schools-within-the-hdsb/

HDSB hosting Mental Health & Well-Being information sessions for parents/guardians this Winter and Spring

Jan. 6, 2026 - The Halton District School Board is hosting Mental Health & Well-Being Information Sessions for parents/guardians this Winter and Spring. Covering specific topics based on feedback from families, each session will be led by a mental health expert who will provide practical information and resources to support student well-being.

Upcoming sessions will be held from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. and include: 

• Executive Functions in Teens: How Parents Can Help Students Thrive | Jan. 20

• Helping Your Child Build Positive Relationships and Manage Conflict | Jan. 22  

• Halton ADAPT (Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Assessment, Prevention & Treatment Services) - Exploring Our Services | Jan. 27

• AI, Well-Being and the Digital World | Feb. 4  

• Shaping How Kids Feel About Food: Mindful Language and Everyday Actions | Feb. 10 

Additional sessions will be announced in the coming months. Parents/guardians can learn more about the upcoming sessions by visiting our Mental Health & Well-Being Information Sessions webpage. 

Registration Details

Families and staff can register by completing the Mental Health & Well-Being Information Session Registration Form. Registration is required as limited spots are available. Registrants will be emailed a link to access the session. Questions can be submitted when completing the registration form or during the session. Sessions will not be recorded. Sessions will be held on Google Meet, where closed captioning is available in various languages.

The HDSB’s Mental Health & Well-Being webpage has information for parents/guardians and students on mental health, ways to support positive mental health and well-being, and how to get additional support at school and in the broader community.

HDSB 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan

The 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan sets direction and prioritizes the collective actions of all students, staff, families and community members. This plan ensures our efforts as an organization are aligned and coordinated to support more than 65,000 students, 11,000 staff and the broader HDSB community. The six commitments identified in this four-year plan intersect and overlap to ensure that we take a cohesive approach to fulfilling its objectives.

Background resources

Mental Health & Well-Being Information Sessions webpage

Mental Health & Well-Being Information Session Registration Form

Mental Health & Well-Being webpage

🏀 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. 

• January 13th Elementary Skating:
  7-1 & 8-1 @ 9:30
  7-3 & 8-3 @ 12:00 

• January 14th Elementary Skating:
  7-2 & 8-2 @ 9:30

• January 15th Swim Meet @ McMaster

• January 15th Elementary Skating:
  7/8 FI @ 12:00

• January 21-28 Secondary Exams

• January 20th Elementary Skating:
  7-3 & 8-3 @ 9:30
  7-2 & 8-2 @ 12:00 

• January 22nd Elementary Skating:
  7/8 FI @ 9:30
  7-1 & 8-1 @ 12:00

• January 26th PD Day-ELEMENTARY ONLY

• January 29th Secondary Exam Review Day (Altered Schedule)

• January 30th PD Day-SECONDARY ONLY

• February 3rd Elementary Skating:
  7-1 & 8-1 @ 9:30
  7-3 & 8-3 @ 12:00 

• February 5th/6th Grade 8 Graduation Photos