ADS Newsletter
November 14th, 2025

Advanced Placement Prep program

Acton District School will continue to offer the Advanced Placement Prep program to our Grade 9 and 10 students. In future, we will offer the Grades 11–12 AP Self-Study and Exam opportunities as part of our continued academic programming. Please find the application forms on our school website. One form is for students who attend school outside of our Board and one is for students who are HDSB students currently. HDSB students need to choose course codes with the 6th character ending in P on their course selection page. If a student’s designated home school does not offer AP programming, families may submit an Out-of-Area Transfer Request to attend a school that does.

Students interested in beginning Advanced Placement learning in Grade 9 may apply to the AP Prep entry program through the AP Prep Application during the Fall application window.

2025-26 AP Key Dates

Oct. 24, 2025 - Online Application Opens
Dec. 2, 2025 - Online Application Closes at 11:59 p.m.
Dec. 5, 2025 - Date by which schools will inform candidates as to the status of their application
Dec. 12, 2025 - Last date for students to accept a spot in the program

The application form is open to current HDSB students who log in using their current HDSB account. Each applicant is asked to answer three questions about their experiences and learning goals.

If your student is not already enrolled with HDSB, they can complete the External Student Application Form.

AP Application Form ( for current HDSB students)

AP Application Form External Students

Honouring Sacrifice: Acton District High School's Remembrance Day Ceremony

Acton District School held a moving Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11th, providing students and staff a moment to reflect on the immense sacrifices made for Canadian freedom.

The assembly began with a call for respect, followed by the playing of "O Canada" set to a video of the Vimy Memorial in France. The service emphasized the importance of remembrance and featured a poignant reading of "In Flanders Fields" in both English and French by students Rebecca Paul and Charlotte McRae .

A significant portion of the ceremony was dedicated to inclusion, with Sophie MacKay offering the Land Acknowledgement and addressing Indigenous Veterans Day. The program also included a presentation by the GSA and Equity Club, highlighting veterans who overcame barriers of inequity and discrimination.

The traditional moment of silence followed the Last Post, as class representatives laid wreaths, at the front of the stage that also showed an art display by Ms. Gruca's students themed "Peace is in Our Hands." The Acton District Choir performed "Highway of Heroes," led by Mr Landry adding a powerful musical tribute to the event, reminding all Bearcats to continue honouring those who served.

Celebrating World Kindness Day – Thursday, November 13th

On Thursday, November 13th, our school celebrated World Kindness Day! The Student Council spread positivity throughout the day by greeting students with a cup of flavored water to go along with their bagel breakfast and handing out kindness stickers to brighten everyone’s day.

In addition, the council created a beautiful Kindness Tree in the Bearpit, featuring leaves adorned with inspiring kindness quotes. Students and staff were encouraged to read and share the messages, spreading kindness throughout our school community.

Thank you to the Student Council for helping make this day so special and reminding us all that small acts of kindness can make a big difference!

From Halloween to Habitat: Students Turn Pumpkins into Forest

Feed

This November, students from the Eco-Club, Food Studies classes, and Grade 11 Math

collaborated on a hands-on sustainability initiative that gave Halloween pumpkins a second

life—and helped the planet in the process.

After the spooky season wrapped up, dozens of carved pumpkins were collected from

classrooms. Instead of sending them to landfill, where they would decompose anaerobically and

release methane—a potent greenhouse gas—students chose a greener path.

The Grade 11 Math class weighed and recorded a total of 187 kg of pumpkins, then safely

chopped them into manageable pieces. These were transported to nearby forest edges and

gently scattered to become nutritious feed for local wildlife.

This thoughtful act supported forest animals as they prepare for winter and significantly reduced

greenhouse gas emissions. In landfills, organic waste breaks down without oxygen (anaerobic

decomposition), producing methane. By placing the pumpkins in the forest, aerobic

decomposition occurred—where oxygen is present—resulting in far less methane and a more

natural return to the ecosystem.

Environmental Impact

This initiative diverted 187 kg of organic waste from landfill and transformed it into a powerful

lesson in ecology, mathematics, and environmental stewardship. It’s a shining example of how

small actions, when done collectively, can lead to meaningful change.

Key Outcomes:

Methane reduction: Approximately 78.7 m³ of methane could have been produced

from 187 kg of pumpkins through anaerobic decomposition. Methane is 25 times more

potent than CO₂ over a 100-year period.

Transportation emissions avoided: A waste management truck driving 26 km with 187

kg of organic waste would produce approximately 6.3 kg of CO₂.

By diverting the pumpkins from landfill and avoiding this truck trip, students helped prevent:

6.3 kg of CO₂ emissions from transportation

Up to 78.7 m³ of methane emissions, equivalent to a significantly larger CO₂ footprint

This reinforces the environmental value of the forest-feeding project—not only in terms of waste

diversion, but also in reducing greenhouse gas emissions across multiple stages.

Seeds of Sustainability

With enthusiastic participation from the Intermediate school, students also collected all the

pumpkin seeds and brine, salted and roasted them, and distributed the snacks to all

participating Period 2 classes. This delicious gesture added a flavorful layer of community spirit

and circular thinking to the project.

Bravo to all the students and staff who made this initiative possible!

Your creativity, teamwork, and commitment to sustainability are truly inspiring.

Swim Team's first meet a success!

Big applause for our School Swim Team! Their latest meet was a huge success, featuring a flurry of personal bests and significant time drops. The high-fives and smiling faces captured the pure joy and great teamwork on display.

Thursday November 27th is the date for their next meet!

Attention Grade 12s!

Graduation photos are coming up December 1–3. 🎓

Make sure you book your time slot online by visiting https://booking.edgeimaging.ca/ and using our school code ACT.

Don’t miss out on capturing this milestone moment!

There is still time to register for the upcoming Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) Conference!

The conference will take place on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Elsie MacGill Secondary School in Milton. The theme for this year’s event is Embrace. Engage. Celebrate: Building Welcoming Communities Together.

This free event will feature informative workshops, community partners and displays and a keynote address by Pardeep Nagra, Human Rights & Equity Advisor at the HDSB.

Lunch will be provided and child minding is available at no cost for Kindergarten-age children

up to 12 years of age. Morning refreshments and a light lunch are also provided. Transportation may be available for attendees who require it to travel from various areas within Halton to the conference.

Learn more and register by Friday, Oct. 31: https://tinyurl.com/az3tmdx6

student Lunch Drop off Procedure

If you're dropping off lunch for your child during the school day, please place it on the grey table located just outside the office. This helps minimize classroom disruptions and ensures a smooth process for everyone.

If a student forgets their lunch, they should first check the lunch table. If their lunch isn’t there, they are welcome to visit the office for a snack from our food bin.

Thank you for helping us keep things running smoothly!

2025-2026 - Student Engagement Fee-Secondary

Welcome to a brand-new school year! Whether you’re joining us for the first time or returning for another exciting year, we’re thrilled to have you as part of our Acton District High School community.

We are asking all students in Grades 9–12 to consider paying the optional $40.00 Student Engagement Fee. This fee goes directly toward enriching your high school experience—helping to fund many of the fun, meaningful, and rewarding opportunities students enjoy throughout the year.

Here’s just some of what your $40 helps make possible:

Bearcat Crew – Grade 9 welcome & mentorship events
Clubs & Teams – tournament entries, event costs, and equipment
Acton Achievers & Athletic Awards celebrations
Motivational Speakers and student workshops
School-Wide Events – spirit days, assemblies, socials, and more

We truly appreciate your support. These fees go a long way in helping us create a school culture that celebrates involvement, achievement, and school spirit.

Let’s make this year one to remember!

https://hdsb.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/168448/181/False/True

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

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

📚 Semester 1 Course Changes & Full Disclosure Information

As we settle into the school year at Acton District School, we’d like to remind students and families about important upcoming dates regarding Semester 1 course changes and the Full Disclosure policy.

📅 Course Changes Deadline for Semester 1 has passed.
Students who wish to make changes to their Semester 2 timetable may do so. Guidance appointments are available—please contact the Guidance Office to schedule a meeting.

❌ Last Day to Drop a Course – November 24, 2025
The final day to drop a Grade 11 or 12 course without it appearing on a student’s transcript is Monday, November 24, 2025. After this date, any dropped, failed, or completed senior-level course will be recorded on the student’s official transcript with the grade earned at the time of withdrawal.

ℹ️ What is Full Disclosure?
Full Disclosure is a policy that applies to all Grade 11 and 12 courses. It means that:

Any Grade 11 or 12 course dropped after November 24 will appear on a student's transcript, along with the mark earned at the time of withdrawal.
If a course is dropped before November 24, it will not appear on the transcript.
Grade 9 and 10 courses are exempt from Full Disclosure.

Students are encouraged to consult with their guidance counsellor if they are considering a course change or withdrawal. Making informed decisions early can help avoid unnecessary impacts on future post-secondary opportunities.

📢 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:

Visit: Acton District School - Community Involvement
Fill out the required details
Upload your supporting documents
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

Bicycles, Scooters & Skateboards

Many students at Acton District School ride bicycles, scooters, and skateboards to school daily. Bicycles and scooters must be locked up outside at the bike and scooter racks out front of the school (near the main entrance). Please be sure that students have a working lock and remind them to use it EVERY time they park their bike or scooter. There have been unfortunate instances of theft when items are not locked up. Please note that scooters can no longer be parked in the main office due to health and safety protocols. Skateboards can be stored in lockers.

It is also recommended that students use the 529 Garage app to register their bicycles. The Halton Regional Police Service has partnered with 529 Garage to introduce their bicycle registration app to residents of Halton. 529 Garage is an application that connects you, other cyclists, police, and local bicycle shops in the event your bicycle is stolen. Registration is easy - simply download the app, input your contact information and bicycle serial number, and upload photos of yourself and your bicycle. Registrations can also be made on the 529 Garage website if you do not have a smart phone or tablet. Once you have registered your bicycle on the app, if it is stolen or goes missing, you can notify 529 Garage and they will issue an alert from the app that is sent to other local cyclists and bike shops alerting them to the missing bicycle. Once an alert for your bicycle has been posted, the app will also direct you to the HRPS online reporting tool where you can report it to police. By registering, if a bicycle is recovered, it is easier for police to identify and return the bicycle to the proper owner.

Please remind students that bicycles, scooters, and skateboards should not be used on school property.

Wear a helmet!

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.

Mental Health Supports for students:

Support Services are available to students year round! If you find yourself in need with your mental health and well-being over the break, you are not alone. Be sure to use one of the resources that are available to you:

ROCK 24 hr crisis line support: 905-878-9785
COAST (16+): 1-877-825-9011
Kids Help Phone (up to age 24): 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline (24 hr support for all ages): call or text 9-8-8.
One Stop Talk Connect with a Therapist: www.onestoptalk.ca or 1-855-416-TALK
Visit HDSB Student Support Services website.