Week of October 5, 2025

WEEK B

Our school website has a NEW look!

Our school website has a new look!

We’re excited to announce that our school website has been refreshed with a modern design, simplified and intuitive navigation, improved organization of content and a focus on clarity and accessibility to better reflect the needs of our school community.

You will notice some new features and layouts as you explore. Our site will continue to be updated with new content and information throughout the school year to help our school community stay up-to-date with events, announcements and helpful resources.

We invite you to explore our refreshed website and all the resources available by visiting: https://www.hdsb.ca/gws

Principal's Message

Topic: Experiential Learning at Garth Webb Secondary School

Hello everyone,

I hope you’ve had a fantastic week and enjoyed the warm weather!

At Garth Webb Secondary School, we’re proud to be a vibrant and dynamic learning community, full of enriching opportunities for our students. One of the ways our dedicated teachers enhance student learning is by providing experiential learning opportunities: meaningful, hands-on experiences that often extend beyond the classroom.

Why Experiential Learning?

As part of Halton District School Board’s long-term focus on Creating Pathways to Success, experiential learning plays a vital role in engaging students and deepening their learning. It helps bridge classroom knowledge with real-world experiences and encourages students to better understand both themselves and their future possibilities.

What Is Experiential Learning?

Experiential learning is more than just learning by doing. It gives students the chance to:

Participate in authentic, hands-on experiences that connect to a broader community—locally, nationally, or globally;
Reflect on those experiences to derive meaning and insight;
Apply what they’ve learned to future decisions, actions, and goals in their academic, personal, or career pathways.

Whether it’s through trips like the recent visit to Crawford Lake and the Outdoor Ed Grand River Rafting Trip, involvement in community programs, or school-based initiatives, experiential learning supports deeper engagement and prepares students for the world beyond high school.

The Three Key Elements of Experiential Learning:

Participate – The What: Students actively engage in meaningful experiences that support their learning.
Reflect – The So What: Students think critically about the experience to draw out key insights and personal meaning.
Apply – The Now What: Students use their learning to inform future choices, set goals, and take action.

Warmly,

Luisa Botelho

Principal

Crawford Lake Field Trip

On Wednesday, September 24th and Thursday, September 25th the Grade 11 English (Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Voices) classes traveled to Crawford Lake! In the deepest part of the lake 75 ft below the surface, sediment is deposited in annual layers and remains totally undisturbed. Scientists researching this sediment in the early 1970s discovered corn pollen dating from the 13th to 15th century. This led to the discovery of the archaeological footprints of a Wendat or Attawandaron village. Three longhouses from this village have been reconstructed on their original footprint to help educate the public about the area’s Indigenous history. Students took a walking tour of the lake, learned about the uses of different plants as medicine, visited a three sisters garden, played lacrosse, and explored the reconstructed longhouses. This experience built on the discussions we’ve had in class about Indigenous ways of knowing and really brought all our learning to life.

Outdoor Ed Course - PAD3O1

This coming week the outdoor ed (PAD3O1) class is taking our first overnight excursion to the Grand River. This is a highlight for the semester as we spend 4 days camping, hiking, rafting and canoeing along the Grand River, through Brantford and Paris Ontario. It is the perfect place to disconnect from the business of everyday life, and bond with one another over cooking, campfire games and songs, indigenous workshops and surviving in nature. It is a place for many firsts, like starting a campfire from collected items in the forest, filleting a fish, learning how to stern a canoe and meal plan for 4 days. Students are forced to learn through these experiences, taking the hands-on approach to survival, teamwork and perseverance. The Lessons learned from this excursions will lead into a better understanding and preparation for the winter trip to Blue Springs Scout Reserve.

Important Dates for Your Calendar

Upcoming Key Dates

Oct 7 Tuesdays@ Ten

Oct 9 5th Week Progress Reports Emailed

Oct 10 Professional Activity Day – No Classes

Oct 13 Thanksgiving Day – No Classes

Oct 14 Photo Retake Day

Oct 14 Excellence - Honour Roll 2024/2025 Certificates Emailed

Oct 16 Parent/Teacher Interview & Grade 9 Program Night 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Oct 30 CP Day (Thursday late start @9:30 am)

Terry Fox Update

Garth Webb held its annual Terry Fox Event, which our PLF Leadership classes organized for the entire school. This year, we had a bake sale, fundraising class competitions, a whole school walk, and many fun activities for the grade 9 and 10 classes to enjoy and build community with each other. The event day had gorgeous weather, which made the day even more enjoyable.

In total, we fundraised $6,579.25 towards cancer research and the Terry Fox Foundation!! Thank you to everyone for your donations and support!

Great job, Chargers!

5th Week Reports

On Thursday, October 9, 5th Week Progress Reports for each course will be emailed to the parent or guardian of students at Garth Webb Secondary School. Every Grade 9 student will receive an email for each of their semestered courses. For students in Grades 10-12, 5th Week Progress Reports will be issued for any course in which, in the teacher’s professional judgment, the student’s performance and achievement requires careful attention at this early point in the semester. The 5th week report will be in the form of emails to the parents/guardians and will not have a mark assigned.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to your student’s teacher to ensure steps are in place to support your student’s success at school.

Parent/Guardian & Teacher

Interview Night

On Thursday, October 16th you are invited to attend our Semester 1 Parent/Guardian Teacher Interview Night (Open House Format). This is in follow up to our 5th Week Reports. These will be sent out on October 9th to all Grade 9 students, and to students in Grades 10 to 12, who may be experiencing some difficulties. Parents/guardians will have an opportunity to connect informally with teachers and to discuss their student’s overall learning skills and coursework to date.

Staff members will be available to meet parents/guardians between 5:30 - 7:30 PM. Location details will be provided in the main foyer just inside the main doors. In order to accommodate all parents/guardians, we have asked staff to keep discussions to a maximum of 5 minutes in order to meet as many parents/guardians as possible. If you require a more detailed interview with a staff member, please contact the teacher directly through email to set a mutually convenient date and time.

Grade 9 Program Information on Thursday, October 16

Grade 9 parents and guardians are invited to connect with information sessions that will be delivered at 5:30, 6:00, 6:30 and 7:00 on the following topics.

Graduation Requirements (Adrienne Tolton: 2002)
Student Engagement (Kelly MacTaggart: 2004)
Family Engagement (Nemanja Pjanic & Andrea Brock: 2011)
Student Support (Ruqayyah Hosany: 2005)

Please feel free to attend these as needed and in any order. These sessions will be about 10 minutes in length followed by open space to ask questions and investigate resources relevant to high school. This format will allow Grade 9 families to connect with teachers in between and visit rooms most relevant to their needs. If you miss a session or have specific questions, our support staff will be available in the above rooms to answer questions.

As we look forward to welcoming parents/guardians to the upcoming parent/guardian-teacher interviews, we kindly ask that all interactions remain respectful and focused on positive, two-way communication. Let’s work together to ensure a productive and supportive environment for all. For further details, please refer to the HDSB Code of Conduct. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, October 16!

📸 Photo Day #2 – Tuesday, October 14

Students who missed Photo Day in September will have another opportunity to get their school photo taken on Tuesday, October 14.

A photographer will be set up in the lower cafeteria during Periods 1 and 2. There is no set schedule — students simply need to ask their teacher for permission to go down during one of those periods.

Teachers will help by reminding any new students to stop by and have their photo taken.

If you have any questions about Photo Day or the school photo process, please don’t hesitate to contact our main office team.

Scooter Parking Reminder

We kindly ask that families remind their students to use the designated scooter racks at the front of the school (pictured on left side), rather than the student bike racks. These student racks are provided to ensure safety, accessibility, and adequate space for all.

Please also remember: While we do our best to provide a safe environment, personal items brought to school — including bicycles, scooters, and other equipment — are the responsibility of the student, and we cannot guarantee their security. We strongly recommend using a sturdy lock.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school grounds organized and safe!

Ecuador Trip 2026

Final Registration Opportunity Information

This past spring we launched Garth Webb Secondary School’s next service learning trip to Ecuador during March Break 2026! We’ve got over 25 students joining us already, but we’re offering one final opportunity for students to join us on this amazing adventure!

We launched the trip in the spring for grade 11 and 12 students to ensure our senior students had the opportunity to register. Now, because we have a few spots left, we’re opening the trip up to grade 10 students as well. Grade 11 and 12 students who are interested but didn’t join in the spring are also welcome to register now.

Information:

There will be a PARENT info meeting held virtually on Monday, October 6th at 6:00pm on google meet. If you would like to learn more about the trip, please attend this meeting. We’re asking families to RSVP with this link: https://forms.gle/oGF2TeuHdVAJKh938. If you cannot attend the virtual parent meeting, RSVP as “no but send info” to receive updates about the trip.

Ready to enroll? Click here: https://www.eftours.ca/tour-website/2797949MD

Manufacturing Program: City TV News

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Douglas and our incredible students on the exceptional growth and success of our Manufacturing and Robotics program.

Through Mr. Douglas leadership, vision, and dedication—and the hard work and talent of our students—the program has reached exciting new heights. Most recently, it was featured on City TV News LINK HERE, showcasing the vital role education plays in preparing the next generation of skilled trades professionals.

Congratulations to Mr. Douglas and our students on these well-deserved achievements!

Part 2: Assessment & Evaluation

At Garth Webb S.S., we are committed to assessment and evaluation practices that support student learning, reflect fairness and equity, and align with the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Growing Success policy (including the latest 2024 updates). Our goal is to provide meaningful, accurate information about your child’s progress while helping all students reach their full potential.

This week, we’d like to highlight a key element of assessment: Triangulation of Data.

What is Triangulation of Data?

To determine a student’s grade, teachers collect and interpret evidence of learning from three sources:

Observations (e.g., watching students during group work or hands-on activities)
Conversations (e.g., class discussions, check-ins, student-teacher conferences)
Products (e.g., assignments, projects, tests, portfolios, presentations)

Using multiple sources ensures that all students have a variety of opportunities to demonstrate their learning in ways that work best for them. This approach also allows teachers to adjust instruction and provide feedback tailored to student needs.

Examples of this in action include:

Small group discussions where students explain their thinking
Projects or demonstrations that allow creativity and depth
Portfolios or presentations that show learning over time

The Role of Professional Judgement

Teachers also use their professional judgement to make fair and informed decisions about student learning. This means they consider:

Curriculum expectations
The context of learning
Quality and consistency of student work
Which assessments carry more weight based on their depth and relevance
Any incomplete or missing assessments

Professional judgement is not subjective guessing: it’s a thoughtful, reflective process based on expertise, training, and ongoing observation of each student’s progress.

By using triangulation of data and applying professional judgement, our teachers strive to ensure that every student is assessed in a way that is accurate, inclusive, and focused on growth.

If you have any questions about how assessment works at GWSS, we encourage you to reach out to your child’s teachers or our school team.

GWS School Council

Last Monday, September 22, we held the final meeting of our 2024–2025 School Council and are pleased to share that our new 2025–2026 School Council has now been formed. To learn more about the dedicated parents and guardians who will be serving on our new School Council this year, please click here to see the full list of members.

We want to sincerely thank all parents and guardians who contributed their time, energy, and ideas over the last school year (2024–2025)—your efforts helped strengthen our school community in many meaningful ways.

We’re excited to begin working with our new council and look forward to another year of collaboration. Please remember that all parents and guardians are always welcome to attend our School Council meetings. For meeting dates and updates, please visit the School Council section on our school website.

Student Fees Explained

Student Engagement Fee

Each year in September, we ask families to purchase the Student Engagement Fee option through their School Cash Online account. Garth Webb is an active and inclusive place to learn. The Student Engagement Fees generate start up and operating funds for student run clubs including but not limited to environment issues, global issues, student newspaper, philanthropy, wellness council, etc. The fees also supplement the cost of school wide spirit events, LINK Crew transition, leadership training, motivational speakers, and student recognition awards and events. In addition, student engagement fees fund Student Council events such as assemblies and anti-bullying initiatives.

In September alone, the fees will go towards supporting our Grade 9 Welcome BBQ, our Link Crew activities, our Terry Fox Run, and our whole school assemblies. We will have many more activities and events throughout the year that the money collected through these fees will support.

Our school fee is $30 per student and although it is optional to purchase, we greatly appreciate and depend on the support from our families. We remain aware of the social economic constraints in our present day lives and are working hard to keep these fees low. Please visit School Cash Online today to pay the Student Engagement Fees. Thank you so much for your support in advance!

Athletic Fee

All students who participate on a team sport at Garth Webb will be required to pay the Athletic Fee on School Cash Online. The fee this year is $100 and it only needs to be paid once per year even if your student participates on more than one team. This fee contributes toward the costs associated with transportation, facility rentals, referees, the annual athletic banquet, OFSAA entry fees, and the wear and tear over and above the normal phys ed classes on shared equipment. This fee will be available on School Cash Online for your student once they have joined a team.

Start Up Forms

There are three parts to the start up packages for all students and the HDSB requires a completed package for all students for all three parts.

All students were sent home with the Secondary Intramural Acknowledgement of Elements of Risk, Consent to Participate, and Medical Information Form during the first week of school. Those forms need to be returned to homeroom teachers ASAP. ALL students must have a completed form (whether or not they will be participating in intramurals). For students who have a spare or online class in period 1, they will need to collect a blank form from the main office and hand in their completed forms to the main office ASAP.
The second part is the electronic forms that were sent out on September 8. Please complete this online form ASAP. We must have the form completed for every student
The final piece of our start up package, the verification forms, were sent out to families this past week. Please review the information on the verification form and inform us of any changes that are required.

Please be sure that you have completed all three parts of the start up packages ASAP. We need completed forms for ALL STUDENTS. Thank you.

Fitness Centre Membership

The fitness centre will be open at lunch starting Monday, September 26. The cost of a yearlong membership is $20 and can be purchased on School Cash Online.

Important: students must have submitted their signed start up forms to the office before they will be allowed to use the fitness centre. Stickers for the back of the student card can be picked up in the Phys-Ed office as of Monday.

GWSS Math Peer Tutoring Program

Free 1-1 Tutoring

Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday

Room 3021 @Lunch

Tutoring for:

Grade 9 Math - Grade 10 Math - Grade 11 Math

Grade 12 Math (depenging on availbility)

Interested?

Email your Math teacher to enroll

Questions?

Please email Ms. Carmichael

Order Your Yearbook Today

The 2025-2026 yearbooks are now available to order on School Cash Online only. We do not order extra copies so you must order online before the deadline to be able to get a copy of the yearbook. Order early to avoid disappointment!

Don't miss out on ordering this fantastic keepsake!

HDSB Post Secondary Exploration Central Event

Grades 9-12+ | Tuesday, October 21 | 6-9 pm

Global Admissions Fair @ Iroquois Ridge High School (Canada, US, and Beyond)

Garth Webb Post Secondary Event:

Wednesday, October 29 - 9:00-12:15

We will be hosting a postsecondary fair for grades 11 and 12 students in Gym A with representatives from universities, colleges, trades, and community organizations. It will run period 1, 2, and at lunch.

OUAC/OCAS Upload/Opt Out Notification for Fall 2025

Please click here to read some important messaging that was sent out regarding the OUAC/OCAS Upload and Opt out.

College Information Program

(note: recruitment events may be impacted by the labour action at the Colleges, please double check events prior to attending)

Starting on September 22, representatives from Ontario’s colleges will be kicking off the College Information Program (CIP) tour – a six-week tour with 39 stops across the province. Including one near you.

Don’t miss out on an awesome opportunity to meet with college reps and get the information you need to make your decision about postsecondary education.

Learn about all kinds of careers and the programs that will lead you into them

Discover unique programs that are only offered at Ontario’s colleges
Learn about pathways between college and university
Get all the information on how and when to apply
Ask questions about campus life, housing and student services
Get great advice on how to pay for your college education

Community Hours

Students who complete more than 40 community involvement hours are encouraged to maintain their own record of completed community involvement hours. Secondary schools will no longer track and collect documentation for the completion of community involvement hours beyond the 40 hours required. Students can maintain a record of completed involvement hours through a digital or hard copy portfolio should they wish to have proof of hours for future scholarship, award and/or special program opportunities.

Community Involvement Recording Sheet

Submit Your Community Hours

National Scholarships - Grade 12 Students

Information around scholarships will be shared via the google classroom throughout the year. Please note that most National Scholarship deadlines are in the fall where as community scholarships are in the Spring. Please feel free to investigate these Scholarships to see if you are eligible. More information will be shared with the Graduating Class of 2025 during the post secondary application presentation (will take place early Oct)

Deadlines:

Loran Scholarship - Oct 16, 2025

Queen's - Deadline Dec 8, 2025

Lester B. Pearson (International Student Scholarship) - Nov 7, 2025

Schulich - School Nomination Jan. 29

Western National - TBD but usually mid-February

HDSB Scholarship Page

Volunteer Club

Volunteer Club dedicates to provide more volunteering opportunities to our students. Our goal is to make the information more accessible for everyone. We post opportunities weekly with all of the information included in our google classroom! If you want to learn more about our club and wish to find more opportunities, please join our google classroom through code: dtpah5l.

You can also find us on instagram (@gwss.volunteer), LinkedIn (GWSS Volunteer Club), and Twitter (@gwss_volunteer)! If you have any question, feel free to email us at gwssvolunteerclub@gmail.com.

This Week's Opportunity:

Emily Carr PS is having a welcome back BBQ on October 9th during their open house. They need a few volunteers to help M&m Meat Shops run the BBQ. If interested, send an email to eccarrnival@gmail.com

Important Information

GWSS is Scent Free

Our school is a Scent Free Environment. Please help us to accommodate the members of our school community who are sensitive and/or allergic to fragrances and other scented products by keeping the air fragrance free. Please do not wear fragrances or scented products. Thank you.

HDSB Concussion Protocol

Concussions and Returning to Learning

When a student is diagnosed with a concussion, whether it happened during school or outside of school, the HDSB has a process to follow to ensure that the student returns to learning safely. There are two documents that must be completed by the parent/guardian (if the student is under 18 years of age) and by a medical practitioner. The two documents are as follows:

Appendix B - Home and School Concussion Management Plan - Part B

Appendix C - Concussion Medical Clearance

By following this guide, school staff, parents/guardians, and healthcare professionals can work together to support the student, making sure they have the right accommodations as they recover.

As you complete this paperwork, please sign it and return it to the school (either by email or in-person in the main office). For more information about concussion prevention, identification, and management, please review this page on the HDSB’s website.

Be Wise YMCA Workshops

Be Wise is a free support service for Youth aged 12-18 in the Halton region, through workshops and one-on-ones.

We’re hosting a few series and workshops throughout the Fall for Youth ages 12-18:

Youth Engagement Series (YES) (in-person starting October 22nd): 6-week series, for youth (ages 15-18), Youth will have the opportunity to hear from the Halton Regional Police Services, while engaging in recreational activities. The programs aim is to develop positive interactions between youth and police services.
Youth Wellness Program: 7-week series, for youth (ages 15-18 starting October 16), that aims to provide support in developing coping strategies for mild to moderate anxiety. The curriculum is based on Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), and includes education about mindfulness, mindfulness techniques and self-compassion.

Cybertip

Cybertip.ca is run by The Canadian Centre for Child Protection, a national charity dedicated to the personal safety of all children. Their goal is to reduce the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, assist in the location of missing children, and prevent child victimization through a number of programs, services, and resources for Canadian families, educators, child-serving organizations, law enforcement, and other parties. In reviewing their resources and “tip/alert” pages, there are a number of great resources you can use to help students check out their page on “Sextortion” which is a growing trend online targeting young people, or their free online safety resources. .

For more information and resources, visit:

Links to Mental Health Resources

School Calendar & Sports Schedule

Families can use the link below to find details on game days/times for our various athletic teams throughout the year.

If you have any questions or suggestions for improving the school, our door is always open. Please feel free to contact our admin team by email.

Please remember that our work hours may not be your work hours. As a result, responses to emails sent outside our standard hours may not be immediate. We appreciate your understanding. Thank you.

Luisa Botelho, Robin Toffolo, Melanie Baird, Sahar Monzavi-Bacon

Garth Webb S.S. Admin Team

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