ADS Newsletter
November 7th, 2025

Hello Acton Families,

I had decided to write a message in the final Newsletter each month but I find I must acknowledge an act of kindness today. A huge thank you to our anonymous donor of books, including gift receipts to our library. Whomever you are, we are thrilled and grateful to you. Our students will enjoy some new reading material which is so expensive these days. Thank you, Merci, to our secret benefactor.

In my years at ADS as Principal, I have come to know the tremendous generosity of this community. I would like to make you aware once again of ways you can support our school:

Please join us at the Stellar Sellers Craft Sale in our school on Saturday November 22nd (Proceeds to support DECA Club)
Our School Council Parents will be running a fundraiser for coffee and candy with all proceeds going to our school student activity fund ( Athletics and the ARTs)
Consider paying the annual Activity fee ( Guest Speakers, Special events) which has always been optional to families but so very much appreciated

Have a wonderful weekend–you may need to round up your students to help with shovelling on Sunday. We’ll see ;)

Hello Families,

Just a friendly reminder that any time you come to the school to see your student you must sign in at the front office counter rather than roam the building. Our office staff will help to efficiently locate your student and connect you with them readily. All visitors must sign in every time regardless of the reason for the visit.

Thank you so much!

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

Guide Dog Awareness Week

For Guide Dog Awareness Week, we have raised $432.10 from the donation jar, the bake sale and the buyout. Throughout the week, we saw lots of kids having fun whether it was playing basketball, volleyball, fun games, tug of war, spike ball or, being at the volleyball buyout having fun, enjoying all of the excitement and energy during the game. Every day, the word of Guide Dog Awareness was spreading helping us push the message out more and more. This week was an absolute success, and although there were some challenges. Being able to do something good that was bigger than ourselves is something that not everyone can do. So congratulations to a successful week and many more to come. Thank you to the grade 12 leadership class for bringing awareness to this important charity.

Career Coaches Inspire Grade 10 Students

This week, our Grade 10 students took part in an engaging session with the Career Coaches, a province-wide initiative supported by the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Halton Industry Education Council (HIEC).

Through small group conversations with professionals from a variety of fields such as business, trades, technology, business, policing and the arts, students explored how their interests and skills connect to real-world careers. The coaches shared their personal career journeys, offering insights and advice that helped students see the many pathways available after high school.

The session encouraged curiosity and confidence as students begin planning their next steps. We thank the visiting coaches, HIEC, and teachers for making this valuable experience possible.

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!

Hello Acton families. The Acton District Library Learning Commons is once again looking for BOOK DONATIONS. Your gently used books for all ages will either be incorporated into our Library OR sold at the Acton Stellar Christmas Market hosted on November 22nd at Acton District School to raise money for the Library. Please bring your books to the school to drop off in the bin at that front entrance.

We appreciate your generosity once again.

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!

A huge thank-you to Cody’s Cows and Smerek for your generous donation of pumpkins! Your kindness and community spirit helped make our event festive and fun for everyone. We truly appreciate your support and the effort you put into making this season special.

www.facebook.com/smerekfamilygardens

www.facebook.com/codyscowsacton

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.