I hope this message finds you well as we move into another busy and exciting stretch of the school year. I want to take a moment to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of our Annual Craft Show this past weekend. The turnout was incredible, and the talent displayed by our vendors and student artisans made the event truly special. Your support helps strengthen our school community and allows us to continue offering meaningful opportunities for our students and community.

This past week we also had the pleasure of hosting a basketball tournament, welcoming teams from across the region. The sportsmanship, teamwork, and energy displayed by our athletes were outstanding. A huge thank-you to our coaches, volunteers, and student leaders who helped the event run so smoothly.

Looking ahead, we are excited for our Semi-Formal Dance, now scheduled for next week. As you know, we made the decision to postpone this week’s date due to the pending weather, prioritizing student safety. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and flexibility, and we look forward to an enjoyable evening for our students.

I would also like to highlight a wonderful fundraising opportunity currently being organized by our Parent Council. We are partnering with two fantastic local vendors—Black Creek Coffee and 70 Below—to support school initiatives and student programming. This fundraiser is a great way to shop locally while giving back to our school. We encourage families to take part and spread the word.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support, enthusiasm, and community spirit. ACT continues to thrive because of the dedication of our students, staff, families, and partners.

Kelli

School Cash Online has reopened and tickets are available until Monday, December 1st. 

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

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 

Acton District Student Senator News 

Caleigh Bastarache and Jayde Weaver are your High School Acton Student Senators. As Student Senators we participate in school board meetings to represent Acton Districts thoughts and opinions. Each senator gets placed in a subcommittee and each subcommittee focuses on a specific issue within the school board. Jayde is the representative for the Environmental and Global Citizenship subcommittee. This group focuses on making a positive environmental impact at our school. Caleigh is a representative for the Kindness, Connection, and Community that focuses on making our school a kind and caring place for our students. Stay tuned for more information from your Student Senators on our weekly updates.

Grade 9 Academic Follow-Up Activity: “Achieving Excellence”

Last week, our Grade 9 students took part in an Academic Follow-Up Activity titled “Achieving Excellence,” an engaging session designed to help students reflect on their learning habits and set a strong foundation for future success. Each Grade 9 class connected with their Bearcat Crew Leader, who guided them through thoughtful discussions and hands-on activities focused on personal growth and the pursuit of excellence.

Throughout the session, students explored what it truly means to strive for excellence, not perfection, and considered the many ways they may unintentionally limit themselves. Whether it was fear of failure, hesitation to ask for help, or uncertainty about their strengths, the activities encouraged students to recognize these barriers and find ways to move beyond them.

Goal-setting was another key component of the experience. Students worked on identifying meaningful, achievable goals for the months ahead, reflecting on the importance of planning, persistence, and a positive mindset. Bearcat Crew Leaders helped students connect these goals to their academic progress, personal interests, and daily habits.

The “Achieving Excellence” activity provided Grade 9 students with valuable strategies and motivation as they continue to navigate the school year. With renewed confidence and a clearer sense of direction, our Bearcats are ready to reach higher and take the next steps toward their personal best.

On Tuesday, the Junior Girls Volleyball Team stepped onto the court for their first game of the season - earning their first win against Burlington Central. The team plated with focus and showed the kind of unity that Acton does so well! 

Ms. Flynn is so proud of the team’s teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship, all of which shone as brightly as the victory itself! A special shout out to our senior volunteer coaches, Allison, Astrid, and Toveh for their expertise and waking up early to volunteer their time at morning practices. 

🏒 Silent Auction Donations Needed for Our Charity Hockey Tournament! 

Our annual Charity Hockey Tournament is just around the corner, taking place December 18 at the McKnight Rink in the Acton Arena—and we need your help to make it our most successful event yet!

This year, our grade 12 Leadership class has chosen to support SAVIS of Halton, a local organization dedicated to providing confidential support to survivors of sexual violence. SAVIS offers 24/7 crisis assistance, counseling, advocacy, and education programs aimed at creating safer communities and supporting individuals on their path to healing.

To help raise funds for this important cause, we will be hosting a Silent Auction during the tournament. We are reaching out to families, community members, and local businesses for donations of items or services that can be included in the auction. Popular contributions in past years have included gift baskets, sports memorabilia, handcrafted items, gift cards, event tickets, and specialty services—but all donations are gratefully accepted!

How to Donate:
Items can be dropped off at the main office, c/o Shawn Brown, anytime leading up to the event.

Your generosity will not only support a meaningful cause but also help bring our community together for an exciting day of hockey, fun, and positive impact.

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

📚 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:

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. 

• November 28 Elementary Parent/Teacher Interviews

• December 1-3 Graduation Photo Days

• December 11 Winter Arts Night

• December 18 School Hockey Tournament

• December 19 Early Dismissal - 1:50PM

• December 22- Christmas Break - School CLOSED
  January 2