ADS Newsletter
March 13th, 2026

Hello Acton Families,

Best Wishes for families celebrating Eid-al Fitr, Chet and St. Patrick’s Day over the break!

We hope you are going to spend this coming week enjoying your student(s) at home, perhaps travelling together or just hanging out at home. The weather does not look promising so that means this week is a good opportunity to play board or video games, watch movies or just talk. Secondary fifth week reports were sent out last week to all grade 9s and students in grades 10-12 who may be showing signs of struggles in a course. Please have those important discussions with your students about planning for homework time, limited phone time and how to develop self-discipline.

Thursday March 26th is our Parents’ Night for Secondary students. I look forward to seeing all of you there to support your children.

Our elementary students enjoyed celebrating the Olympics in Mr. Zuzek’s phys ed class! Ms. Pearson and Mrs. McKellar will led our VEX Robotics team to a tournament last week and a big one is coming up in Burlington on March 25th for Halton Elementary Skills Competition. Good Luck Students!

Parents please note, we have been having some issues with the secondary washrooms. Students must follow the limit of students permitted in the washroom e.g. the Sr. boys washroom allows 3 students in at a time. This is posted clearly on the door as you enter. Crowds of boys are going in at the same time and then other problems arise. Please reinforce at home the school’s expectation that the prescribed limit is followed and can not exceed the maximum.

Parent Peek into the Classroom for this week:

I really enjoyed watching our students in Gr 10 learn about vehicle maintenance and how a car engine works. Hands-on learning is always engaging for students and it’s so great to see both genders enjoying the learning. Our Tech programs are alive and well in Acton District! (see pics below)

Spring OSSLT April 8th and 9th 2026

A reminder that students in grade 10 who are taking English this semester, and any grade 11 or 12 students who have not yet met the Literacy Requirement for graduation, will be writing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) on Wednesday April 8th and Thursday April 9th this spring.

Students have been invited to join a Google Classroom to complete practice activities and help them prepare for the test. Two helpful websites to help students practice include the EQAO Practice Test website found here, and Ontario Literacy website with practice activities here. Students will also complete practice activities in grade 10 English class ahead of the test.

If you have questions about the OSSLT, please feel free to contact me via email at: andrewa@hdsb.ca

The HDSB Discriminatory & Harmful Language Protocol provides clear expectations for how staff respond when harm is caused. Should incidents of discrimination or hate occur in our schools, HDSB staff are committed to responding quickly using the Discriminatory and Harmful Language Protocol. This protocol responds to discriminatory language used against people based on the protected grounds in the Ontario Human Rights Code. This protocol will be followed by students and staff to promote a school environment free from discriminatory language.

https://www.hdsb.ca/our-board/human-rights-equity/discriminatory-harmful-language-protocol/

Free webinar series for parents/caregivers: Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health from School Mental Health Ontario.

We are excited to share a valuable opportunity to support your child’s well-being. School Mental Health Ontario is offering a free webinar series as part of the By Your Side Learning Hub, designed to help parents and caregivers navigate important topics to support their children’s mental health.

This expert-led series will provide insights and practical strategies on: 

balanced device use
vaping
body image
anxiety

The webinars will also include answers to questions that parents/caregivers can provide ahead of the webinar, giving you the chance to ask questions and gain practical guidance. 

Sessions run March to June

We encourage all parents and caregivers to participate in this informative series. Together, we can support the well-being of our children and communities. 

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

KRISPY KREME DONUT FUNDRAISER

To help support school activities, the ADS Parent Council is offering another opportunity for you to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Beginning March 9, you can order a dozen Krispy Kreme glazed donuts for only $15.

Purchases must be made through School Cash Online, and sales will close on March 24.

Donut pickup will be on March 30 after 2:00 PM.

Thank you for your support, and enjoy your donuts!

ADS Parent Council

Grade 12 Graduation will be on Thursday June 25 at 5pm here at Acton District School. More details will be shared closer to the time.

Grad packages are now ready for purchase on School Cash Online for $50 and the package includes:

A Gown and Class of 2026 Cap
Grad Breakfast (June 5th-more details to follow) and commemorative gift
Decorations
Photobooth and Photos
Printing Services

Please order your packages as soon as possible and before the deadline on June 2nd.

Magazine Donations Needed

Are you looking for a way to support Acton District School? The Library Learning Commons is looking for this year’s printed copies of the following magazines:

The Hockey News
MotorTrend
Bake
Brainspace
Canadian Geographic
National Geographic

Please drop off your donations to the main office. It is very appreciated.

If you would like to donate through a subscription, please contact Ms. Thatcher for a title selection.

The Indigenous Rights and Education Team of the Halton District School Board is focused on supporting Indigenous students and families toward student achievement. The Team can be easily accessed by connecting with the school. Please note, the process of self-identification with the school board is completely voluntary and those who choose not to self-identify are still able to access the support of the Indigenous Rights and Education Team. If you choose to self-identify for a family/kin member, you can either contact your school or a member of the HDSB Indigenous Rights and Education Team:

System Principal - Gabriela Echeverria (echeverriag@hdsb.ca)

Indigenous Education Lead - Karie Hanson (hansonk@hdsb.ca)

Instructional Program Leader - Rob Rooksby (rooksbyr@hdsb.ca)

Instructional Program Leader - Tracy O’Connell (oconnellt@hdsb.ca)

Student Support Coordinator - Tanya Vardy (vardyt@hdsb.ca)

Secondary 5th Week Reports and Parent-Teacher Interview Evening

Hello Bearcat Families,

5th week progress reports were 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 student’s 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.

Parent interview night will take place on Thursday, March 26th beginning at 6:00 pm. Teachers will be available in the cafeteria between 6:00 and 7:00 for informal interviews. To book a formal interview with a teacher between 7:00 and 8:00 please contact the main office at (519) 853-2920. If you require accessibility accommodations please let us know.

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.

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

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

Summer School 2026 – Registration Opens April 15!

We’re pleased to share some details about Summer School 2026 through the Halton District School Board (HDSB). This is a great opportunity for students to earn credits, upgrade marks, or get a head start on next year’s learning.

📅 Registration Dates – Please Mark Your Calendar

Registration Opens: Wednesday, April 15

Registration Closes (myBlueprint): Wednesday, June 10

Families are strongly encouraged to register as early as possible once the system opens on April 15, as courses can fill quickly. After June 10, myBlueprint will close for regular registration.

📚 Program Details

Full Credit: June 29 – July 27

Co-op: June 29 – July 31

Session 1: June 29 – July 13

Session 2: July 14 – July 27

Class Time: 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (in-person and online options available)

🏫 Course Options Include:

Full Credit & Half Credit courses ( details will be found in myBlueprint on April 15)
Reach Ahead (HDSB only)
Upgrades (HDSB only)
Summer Co-op (HDSB only)
Travel Credits
Credit Recovery (not offered for 2026)
In-person locations (limited busing provided from Acton DS to Elsie MacGill SS (Milton)

📝 How to Register

HDSB students: Register through myBlueprint

📌 Remember: Registration opens April 15 and closes June 10. Please ensure you complete registration within this window to secure your child’s spot.

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.