Locker Clean Out Tuesday

Locker clean out is this Tuesday at 11 am. Please bring a bag from home to transport your belongings and don’t forget to take your lock home too! 

Just a reminder that any locks left on lockers after the school closes on June 28 will be cut and the contents will be discarded.

Year End Assembly on Wednesday

On Wednesday, June 19 we will have a school wide recognition assembly so there is a modified schedule for the day. It is also our last full day before exams start on Thursday, June 20.

Wednesday, June 19 Schedule

Period 1: 8:30 - 9:35

Period 2: 9:40 - 10:40

Assembly: 10:45 - 11:40

Lunch: 11:40 - 12:40

Period 4: 12:40 - 1:40

Period 5: 1:45 - 2:45

Exam Schedule & Absences During Examinations

The examination period, as determined by the Halton District School Board’s 2023-2024 Ministry approved school year calendar, is from Thursday, June 20 to Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The exam schedule and the information about what happens in the event of the school’s closure are given below. 

We also wanted to remind everyone that examinations are to be written on the assigned examination date, except in the case of illness and/or extenuating circumstances. As soon as you become aware of a circumstance that will conflict with any exam date, please have your student complete this Exam Conflict Request form.

Please note that from Monday, June  17 through Wednesday, June 19 it is very important for students to attend school. Teachers will be using this time to prepare students for their final exams that start on Thursday, June 20.

All exams begin at 9:00 a.m. and are scheduled to be written in the regular classroom unless a change in location is announced by the teacher. 

Please click here to see the complete exam schedule. 

The library will be closed during the exam period (books can still be returned) and the cafeteria will be closed from June 20 for the remainder of the school year. Students are to exit the building immediately after they complete their exam each day.

The exam schedule follows the format of one exam per day based on a Week A schedule:

Thursday, June 20: Period 1 Exams @ 9 am

Friday, June 21: Period 2 Exams @ 9 am

Monday, June 24: Period 4 Exams @ 9 am

Tuesday, June 25: Period 5 Exams @ 9 am

Wednesday, June 26: Extra day if needed due to school closure

Thursday, June 27: Exam Review Day/Last Day of School - shortened schedule (attendance is taken this day)

If the Board makes a decision to close all schools for any reason, all exams will be cancelled and shifted to the next day in the schedule. (i.e. If schools were closed on Thursday June 20 - Period 1, Thursday's exams would be cancelled and then written the next day on Friday June, 21.  All exams would then shift a day in the schedule).

Exam Review Day - June 27, 2024

Thursday, June 27 is the last day of school for the 2023-2024 school year. It is exam review day and attendance will be taken. Students will follow a modified schedule and have early dismissal as follows:

Period 1 - 8:30 - 9:00 AM

Period 2 - 9:05 - 9:35 AM

Period 4 - 9:40 - 10:10 AM

Period 5 - 10:15 - 10:45 AM

Period 3 (lunch) - 10:45 - 11:45 AM

Cafeteria Closed After Wednesday

The last day of cafeteria service for the 2023-2024 school year will be this Wednesday, June 19 and then the cafeteria will be closed until September. 

Thank you very much to Diane for all of her hard work to keep our cafeteria open and our students and staff fed!

From Your Student Services Department

Summer School - Today is the Last Day to Register!

Summer school registration is now open through myBlueprint. All information around summer school can be found on this document and also on the Gary Allan website. Registration for Summer school will close on Sunday, June 16.

Tuesdays @Ten

This month our session took place on Tuesday, June 11. Matthew Gill, financial aid advisor for Sheridan College joined us to talk about OSAP. Topics covered included: what OSAP is, the application process, considerations, grants vs loans, as well as answering questions.  

If you weren't able to join us, the recording of the presentation can be accessed below

June 11th Recording - OSAP

Important Message from IT for Students Leaving the HDSB

As of July 12, 2024 students who are not:

• actively registered with HDSB (Summer School), or

• Pre-Registered for the 2024-2025 School Year with HDSB

will lose access to the HDSB Network & Halton Cloud / Google Workspace for Education applications, data, and email.

IMPORTANT:  If you have used your HDSB email when applying for post secondary, resume,  job applications, you will need to update your information and change it to a personal email address before access to your HDSB account is lost.

 To retain your Google Workspace data please see one of the options below:

• Transfer email and Drive files to a personal Google Account using Google Takeout Transfer Your Content - see Transfer their content *Personal G Mail accounts only have 15 GB free drive space. All files in your My Drive will count toward your quota. 

• Archive data using Google Takeout - The traditional Takeout is also available to create an archive of all your data in Google Workspace. 

This will enable you to easily retain your email, essays, resumes, science projects and any other files stored on Google Drive before access has been removed to your HDSB account.

This must be completed by July 12, 2024. Please note that the process can take quite some time to complete so don’t delay!

Student Newsletter Juno Journal

Click here to read the June 2024 issue of the student newsletter Juno Journal. Thank you to the student newsletter team and advisors for your work in putting this together. We hope you enjoy this issue.

You can view past issues on our website here.

Grade 11 Physics Rube Goldberg Machines

On Monday, June 10, the 11U Physics classes showcased their Rube Goldberg Machines! The future engineers and physicists showcased their elaborate and whimsical machines designed to accomplish simple tasks in the most delightfully convoluted ways imaginable. From rolling marbles to popping balloons, each contraption is a testament to ingenuity and the joy of the absurd.

This semester the top 3 projects were:

1st Place - Dino Mania: Athrav, Yousuf, Ryen

2nd Place - Batman!!!: Trevor, Ben, Kevin

3rd Place - Mario's Royal Rescue Route: Tala, Mahum, Rebecca

Track at OFSAA

Garth Webb was represented well by our Grade 9 girls at OFSAA on June 7 & 8. Maja Selkirk finished 15th overall in the province in the novice girls 400m and Angela Prentice finished 19th overall in the novice girls javelin! Way to go Maja and Angela!

Thank you to coaches Brendan Monahan and Tim Faulhafer for their work with the team this season.

Technological Design Update

We recently received a very generous donation from Horizon Measurements! 

In our grade 11 Technological Design course (TDJ3M1),  students complete a module introducing them to land surveying and civil engineering. Using theodolites and digital transits, students obtain elevation and topographic data in and around the school that can then be imported into Computer Aided Design (CAD) for designing buildings, infrastructure and the landscape. Thanks to Horizon Measurements, we now own a Total Station, a modern instrument used in land surveying, that uses laser technology to precisely obtain field data. To accompany the Total Station, Horizon Measurements donated a data collector (tablet) with Carlson SurvPC software installed. This tool is a game-changer for students in that it can communicate directly with the total station and enables students to be able to visually see the field data in the form of an on-screen drawing. Thank you Horizon Measurements for donating this amazing tool and encouraging our students to learn about the field of surveying!

Another huge thanks goes to J.H. Gelbloom Surveying Limited for volunteering their time to provide benchmarks and control points around the school property so that students can now complete a traverse and can conduct topographic surveys and layouts with relevant, real-world geographical coordinates. Students interested in civil engineering and surveying now have the tools and project control points to be able to design a pedestrian bridge and much more around the school and surrounding community!

Surveying is a high demand field and a great paying career choice. If you like math, working with cutting edge technology like robotic total stations, GPS units, and drones, having the flexibility of working both in outdoor and office environments, surveying may be for you! It is an exciting career. Please contact Mr. Carrescia, P.Eng. for more information.

GWSS Math Department Helps You Get Ready for Next Year’s Math Class

Have you signed up for a math class next school year? Are you a grade 9 student looking to get ahead and prepare for grade 10 math? Are you looking to start preparing for grade 11 math? Or maybe you want to review your skills before you start a grade 12 math course? The GWSS Math Department has created several resources to help you get ready before starting your next math adventure.

Here you will find a chart organized by grade and course with corresponding review packages and solutions, and/or extra help videos to help you start preparing for next year!

Have a safe and wonderful summer!

GWSS Math Department

June is Portuguese Heritage Month

Statement by Minister Khera on Portuguese Heritage Month

June 1, 2024

Today marks the beginning of Portuguese Heritage Month, a celebratory period to acknowledge and honour the significant contributions Portuguese Canadian communities have made to our country.

Portuguese explorers were among the first Europeans to set foot into what is now known as Canada. Among the first Portuguese communities that came to the country’s major cities in 1953, 70 percent fled difficult living conditions from Portugal’s Azores region. Today, there are nearly 500,000 Canadians of Portuguese descent, representing one of the largest Portuguese diasporas in the world.

Through their courage, perseverance and hard work, Portuguese Canadians have helped our country grow and flourish. Their contributions to building our country in every field serve as an example for all Canadians. From medicine to the arts, science to sports, and politics to education, people of Portuguese descent play an integral role in the fabric of our Canadian society.

On Dia de Portugal (Portugal Day) on June 10, and throughout the month, I invite all Canadians to take part in the activities that celebrate the cultures and traditions of Portuguese communities in Canada.

Happy Portuguese Heritage Month!

Source

Waqf al Arafa - June 16

Waqfat Arafat Day is on June 16 this year. It is a holy day for all Muslims that is observed on day nine of the last month in the Islamic calendar — ‘Dhul-Hijjah.’ It is also the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage, and it comes one day before Eid al-Adha. Waqfat Arafat Day is mostly celebrated on the hillside of Mount Arafat and the Plain of Arafah. This is the place the Prophet Muhammad chose to give one of his last sermons. The dates of Waqfat Arafat Day are not exact since the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle and are based on the sighting of the moon.

Click here to read more.

Eid al-Adha - June 16

Eid al-Adha is also referred to as Qurbani Eid, and follows the completion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, making it one of the most blessed days of the year. The Qurbani (sacrifice) is carried out following the Eid prayers, which are performed in congregation.

What is Eid?

Eid is a term used to refer to the Islamic celebrations that hold religious significance for Muslims. There are two main Eid celebrations in Islam: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Both Eid celebrations are of great importance to Muslims around the world as they are a time of spiritual fulfillment that promotes acts of worship, unity, and charity.

What is Eid al-Adha?

Eid al-Adha is one of the two blessed Eids that we celebrate as Muslims. It falls in the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar, Dhul Hijjah.

On Eid al-Adha we remember the sacrifice made by Prophet Ibrahim (AS). In remembrance of his sacrifice and to help the poor and needy, we give our own sacrifice: Qurbani

Eid al-Adha is different from Eid al-Fitr because they happen on 2 separate days and signify different things. Eid al-Adha means the festival of sacrifice and falls on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah while Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, acting as a time of celebration and gathering to show gratitude towards Allah (SWT) after a month of reflection.

Source

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji - June 16

The Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib is observed on June 16 every year in India. It’s the day to commemorate and celebrate the life of religious figure Guru Arjan Dev who sacrificed his life for the Sikh people. This holiday is annually celebrated usually by reading the Sikh holy book from cover to cover. In some years, processions are held where sweets are distributed to people after a day of worship. It is important to note that this day is not just about sadness or remorse; it’s also about the celebration of his life, as well as the lives that lived because of him. Click here to read more.

World Refugee Day - June 20

Each year on 20 June, the world celebrates World Refugee Day, the international day to honour people who have been forced to flee.

Together, we can champion their right to seek safety, build support for their economic and social inclusion, and advocate for solutions to their plight. Click here to read more.

National Indigenous Peoples Day - June 21

June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day. It is a day of recognizing and celebrating the heritage, cultures, and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in the northern part of Turtle Island, what is now known as Canada.

June is National Indigenous History Month. The HDSB encourages learning in our schools throughout June and every day throughout the year.

National Indigenous Peoples Day is a wonderful opportunity to become better acquainted with the historical and cultural diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, discover the unique accomplishments of Indigenous Peoples in fields as varied as science, the environment and the arts, and celebrate their significant innovations and contributions past and present. Click here to read more.

Litha/Summer Solstice - June 21

"Litha” is the name given to the Wiccan Sabbat celebrated at the Summer Solstice. This is the longest day and shortest night of the year, marking the pinnacle of the Sun’s power to fuel the growing season. From here on out, the Sun will set a little earlier each night until Yule, and so we recognize and give thanks for its warmth. 

Though it’s typically celebrated on June 21st, the exact moment of the Summer Solstice varies from year to year.

Source

Please Provide Input for the 2024-2028 Multi Year Plan

The HDSB is coming to the end of our 2020-2024 Multi-Year Plan (MYP) and starting the process of developing the 2024-2028 MYP.

What is the Multi-Year Plan (MYP)?​

Our MYP is our roadmap that guides us in creating the conditions so that students and staff will thrive. It informs the Board’s decisions and allocation of resources while guiding staff’s collective actions for ongoing improvement over the next four years. ​

Providing Input​

Your voice is critical to getting the right plan for us and setting the direction for the HDSB. We care about your child’s experience and want to hear from you. This is an opportunity for us all to come together, curious about what the next four years may hold, and build an even stronger HDSB community as we focus on planning for the future together. ​

Questionnarie

Students, parents/guardians, staff and community members are invited to share their thoughts and identify areas of focus for the HDSB’s 2024-2028 Multi-Year Plan by completing an online questionn​​​​​​aire by Tuesday, June 25.​

Complete 2024-2028 MYP Questionnaire

The questionnaire is completely confidential and will take approximately 5-7 minutes to complete. Participants will be able to access the questionnaire in Arabic, French, Hindi, Punjabi, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Urdu. ​

A Message from the Director of Education

Dear HDSB students, staff and families:

Amy Collard, Chair, and Curtis Ennis, Director of Education, for the Halton District School Board issue a joint message to all HDSB students, staff, parents/guardians and Halton community members.

We encourage you to view this video to understand the HDSB’s commitment to building a respectful and inclusive environment for all students and staff. 

A message to the HDSB community from Chair Collard and Director Ennis

Director's Cut

For the past several years, we have been bringing the HDSB's 2020-2024 Multi-Year Plan into greater focus through our Director's Cut video series.

In 2021-2022, we introduced staff, students and the community to the framework of the Multi-Year Plan and how it drives learning across the system. In 2022-2023, we took a closer look at the classroom level, showing how each of the five areas of focus are integrated and implemented into everyday instruction. In this final year of the MYP, we are digging even deeper by having students show us from their point of view - literally - how the plan is strengthening their learning and making their educational experience successful and engaging. 

Tune in now: EPISODE #15: Director's Cut | MYP - Environmental Leadership: Student Point of View.

Thank you for being a part of this exciting learning journey.

Upcoming Key Dates

May 27 - Jun 19 Protected Time

Jun 20 - 26 Exam Block

Jun 27 Exam Review Day/Last Day of School (early dismissal)

Jun 28 PA Day - no school for students

Jul 3 OUAC / OCAS Semester 2 Final Mark Upload

Jul 8 Semester 2 Final Report Card Distribution (emailed)

Jul 9-11 Diploma Pick up