Principal's Message

Good Morning Garth Webb:

Thank goodness for the snow up north for our Alpine Ski and Snowboard teams!!!  Mya Wong won Silver for Girls Snowboarding, Nolan Beale won Gold for Boys Snowboarding, and James Lawrie won Gold for Boys Skiing!! These wins added to yet another week of amazing sport accomplishments here at Garth Webb.  

The Art Show brightened our front foyer with the talented display of student work (see some of the pictures below).  It always amazes me what students are able to produce in a relatively short amount of time. Whenever I walk into an Art class there is always a buzz of excitement and creative work going on!! Congratulations on your outstanding projects!!! 

We had a fun Senior Breakfast with 150 of our Grade 12s enjoying a catered 7:30 am breakfast from the Sunset Grill restaurant.  A hot breakfast does motivate some students to get up early!! Thank you to the Gr. 12 Leadership Class for organizing this event. Students would like it to become a tradition for our Gr. 12s and we think that going forward we will host it in the spring and call it the "Grad Breakfast" and hopefully even more students will sign up!

Most of the Final Performance Tasks have been completed in class and any last minute task work or missing assignments need to be submitted this week. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are for term work and final task completion, term work review, asking questions, and going over what will be on the exams. This all helps to prepare students for the exams that start this Thursday, January 25th.

Study hard and good luck on your exams Chargers!!!

Take care,

Jacquie Pece

From Your Student Services Department

Semester Two Schedules

Semester two schedules will be shared with students via their email accounts during the week of Jan 29.

Night School Registration

Night School classes are now open for registration on myBlueprint (closing Wednesday, February 14). The course list includes Math, English, and Science classes for semester two and Korean, Spanish, and Japanese classes.

Detailed information can be found here on their website.

2024-2025 Course Selection

(multilingual assist document)

The course selection period is now open and will close on Thursday, February 8, 2024. Please use the resources below to help you with the process.  Students will be using myBlueprint in order to submit their courses (www.myblueprint.ca/halton).

Please read through the document below as it outlines considerations and key messages for each grade in order to ensure students are making an informed decision.

GWSS 2024/25 Course Selection Information

Tuesdays @Ten

During our January session we reviewed the course selection presentation with those in attendance.  The slides as well as the recording of the session are available for those who were unable to attend.

Slides Recording 

Post Secondary Applications

Applications to Colleges (through OCAS) due soon. Students can apply anytime between now and the deadline.

College Application Portal – applications are due prior to Feb 1, 2024

Exam Schedule & Absences During Performance Tasks & Examinations

The semester 1 examination period, as determined by the Halton District School Board’s 2023-2024 Ministry approved school year calendar, is from Thursday, January 25 to Wednesday, January 31, 2024. The exam schedule and the information about what happens in the event of the school’s closure are given below. In addition, 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 aspect of the final 30% of course evaluation(s) - please have your student reach out to their alpha Vice Principal.

Semester One Final Evaluation Block

Students will be completing Final Performance Tasks between the period of Monday, January 8, 2024 and Wednesday, January 24, 2023.  Final Performance Tasks must be completed under the supervision of the classroom teacher and should require no significant new learning to be done at home. If a course has both a Final Performance Task and a Final Exam, the FPT will be completed no later than Friday, January 19 in order that there is significant class time remaining for Final Exam review (Monday, January 22—Wednesday, January 24).

Final Exams will begin on Thursday, January 25. 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. The library will be open each day from 8:15—8:45 am only and the cafeteria will be closed from January 25 - February 2 and will reopen on Monday, February 5. 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, January 25: Period 1 Exams @ 9 am

Friday, January 26: Period 2 Exams @ 9 am

Monday, January 29: Period 4 Exams @ 9 am

Tuesday, January 30: Period 5 Exams @ 9 am

Wednesday, January 31: Extra day if needed due to school closures

Thursday, February 1: Exam Review Day - shortened day schedule (attendance is taken this day)

Inclement Weather Procedure

Cancellation of Transportation - all exams will still be written that day (GW has no buses).

Board Closes Schools - all exams will be cancelled and shifted to the next day in the schedule.

(i.e. If schools were closed on Thursday Jan. 25th - Period 1, Thursday's exams would be cancelled and then written the next day on Friday Jan, 26th.  All exams would shift a day in the schedule).

Exam Review Day - February 1, 2024

Thursday, February 1 is the final day of  semester 1 classes. 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

Grade 11 & 12 Semi Formal

The Student Activities Council (SAC) is excited to share that we will be hosting a senior (Grade 11 and 12) semi formal this year.

When: Thursday, February 29, 2024

Where: Burlington Convention Center (1120 Burloak Dr, Burlington, ON)

Time: 6-10 pm (doors open at 5:45 pm and dinner is at 7 pm)

Cost: $75/ticket

What’s included: Buffet dinner and DJ dance (halal option available) - Click here to view menu

Please note, this event is for Garth Webb students only. Students must be in Grade 11 or 12 in order to purchase a ticket. An event for Grade 9 and 10 students will occur in the spring. There will only be 355 tickets available to be purchased due to the hall capacity.

All students and parents/guardians must complete and sign the Event Contract after purchasing a ticket. Signed contracts must be submitted to the main office prior to Thursday, February 15, 2024. Hard copies of the contract will be available for pick up in the main office.

Considerations:

The tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. As this is a school sanctioned event, all GW rules and expectations apply. Students will need to bring their student card with them to the event in order to enter.

Tickets will be available for purchase on School Cash Online starting today. Please purchase as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as tickets will likely sell out. The last possible day to purchase tickets will be Thursday, February 15, 2024 or when tickets are sold out.

5409 Robotics Update

On January 6 Garth Webb’s  5409 Robotics team attended  Craig Kielburger Secondary School for the 2024 FIRST Robotics big game reveal CRESCENDO . The game reveal was thrilling and we got right to work learning the rules and strategizing . We are so excited for our first competition at Nipissing University on March 22, 2024.

Let’s go team 5409!!!!!!

Fashion Forward - Donate at GWSS

Donations of clean, current styled formal wear for the HDSB’s Fashion Forward are being accepted until the end of the day on Friday, Jan. 26. The Halton District School Board will host Fashion Forward Open Houses in February and May for students to select, at no cost, donated formal wear for upcoming prom/graduation celebrations.

Students will have the opportunity to view and try on formal wear in a friendly and welcoming environment. Students may select from a variety of new and gently-used attire that has been donated for proms, graduations, and other special events. Many different styles, colours, and sizes of formal dresses will be available as well as suits, shirts, ties, shoes, and accessories.

The Open Houses will be held at W.I. Dick Public School (351 Highside Drive, Milton) from 3:30 - 8 p.m. on the following dates:

• Thursday, Feb. 22 

• Monday, Feb. 26

• Thursday, May 30 

*An opportunity will be made available for gender diverse youth who require a more private shopping experience between the hours of 3 - 3:30 p.m. during the Open Houses.

Formal wear such as party dresses, formal gowns, formal suits, dress shirts, ties, footwear, and accessories can be dropped off at Garth Webb (during school hours) by end of day on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

Students are required to bring student identification to the open house they attend.

Co-op Student of the Week

Student:  Olivia Goodstadt, Grade 11       

Placement:  Anne J. MacArthur Public School, Grade 1 Classroom

During my Grade 1 placement, I am responsible for working one on one with certain students who need assistance, conducting small group activities, leading the morning meetings and circulating around the classroom during independent work time for extra assistance. When I am not busy with the tasks directly involving the students, I also do several things around the classroom to prepare for upcoming lessons and maintain organization, such as photocopying worksheets, marking student work, updating the word wall, creating seating charts and using the laminator.

One of the most important skills that I have learned during my time at Anne J MacArthur is the importance of building relationships with the students and getting to know each student individually. This is so important for creating and fostering a caring classroom community. Additionally, I have been able to significantly improve my classroom management skills using several different tricks and strategies to help. This is very important in maintaining a calm and organized classroom. Finally, my placement has allowed me to continue developing my problem solving and adaptability skills. The majority of the time in a grade 1 classroom can be very unpredictable, so it is important to be able to adapt to any situation.

My co-op experience has taught me so many valuable real-world lessons that I can apply to future jobs in education. I have learned so much about what it means to be a teacher and the work that it entails. It has also helped me to solidify my passion for becoming an elementary teacher and has confirmed that I definitely want to go into teaching after high school.

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.

Opportunity for This Week:

VR Pro Inc. is looking for volunteers to assist with the 2024 Chilly Half Marathon taking place on Sunday, March 3 in Burlington. Please see this pdf for more information on volunteer roles and signing up.

2SLGBTQIA+ Parent/Guardian Advocacy and Support Group

In February we will be starting a new 2SLGBTQIA+ Parent/Guardian Advocacy and Support Group at Garth Webb. We invite parents and guardians of children who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ and/or parents/guardians who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ themselves to join our group. The group will meet monthly online and our first meeting is on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 7 pm. Kerri Lee is the GW staff member who will be hosting this group. Ian Duncan is our staff advisor and our admin supporter is Jacquie Pece.

The goal of the group is to provide a safe space to share resources, expand our education, learn how to better advocate for and support our children, and to share our challenges and victories.

We will work together to advocate for all students who experience social and systemic discrimination based on their 2SLGBTQIA+ identity.

We have a zero tolerance policy for any kind of discrimination within our group.

If you would like to attend our meeting on Thursday, February 1 or would like more information about the group, please email Kerri Lee at leeke@hdsb.ca.

Tu B’Shevat - January 24-25

Tu B’Shevat/Tu BiSh’vat, the Jewish holiday that celebrates the birthday of the trees, occurs on the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shevat, sometime in late January or early February. Originally an agricultural festival, the main customs of this holiday are to taste some of the fruits and nuts of Israel and to plant trees. Tu B’Shevat is a time to give gratitude to God for all the fruits of the earth and everything that he gives us.

Read more about Tu B'Shevat here.

International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust

Every year on 27 January, UNESCO pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to counter antisemitism, racism, and other forms of intolerance that may lead to group-targeted violence. The date marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp of Auschwitz -Birkenau by Soviet troops on 27 January 1945. It was officially proclaimed, in November 2005, International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust by the United Nations General Assembly.

Visit this page on the United Nations website for resources and learning opportunities. 

Professional Activity Day for HDSB and HCDSB Rescheduled to Monday, April 8, 2024

The Halton District School Board (HDSB) and the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) jointly announce that the Professional Activity (PA) Day initially scheduled for Monday, April 22, 2024 has been rescheduled to Monday, April 8, 2024. This decision was made in consultation with Halton Student Transportation Services.

This change is due to a total solar eclipse taking place on Monday, April 8. The eclipse is expected to begin at approximately 2 p.m. and end around 4:30 p.m., coinciding with student dismissal times and blocking all sunlight during this time.

By rescheduling the PA Day to coincide with the eclipse, we mitigate possible transportation and safety concerns and challenges for families that could arise as a result of the darkness that would be experienced during school dismissal time. As noted on the Government of Canada’s website, there are risks associated with viewing a solar eclipse. Directly looking at the sun, even during an eclipse, without appropriate protection can lead to severe eye damage or loss of eyesight.

While we recognize the inconvenience this rescheduling may cause, both HCDSB and HDSB are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our students. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of our students, families and staff.

Ensure Immunization Records are Up to Date with Halton Region Health

Students in Grades 9 to 12 must have up-to-date immunization records with Halton Region Public Health.

Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires that all children and adolescents attending school be fully immunized against several designated diseases. All immunization requirements for school attendance align with Ontario’s publicly funded immunization schedule. Vaccines required for school attendance are free, safe and effective.

Parents/guardians of all students born in 2006 to 2009 (Grades 9 to 12) must complete the following steps:

1. Review your student's online record at halton.ca/immunize.

2. If your student has missed any vaccines, make an immunization appointment with a health care provider.

3. Report vaccines online at halton.ca/immunize. Every time a health care provider immunizes a student, parents/guardians must report the vaccines to Public Health. Healthcare providers do not report the vaccines they give to their patients.

Students born in 2006 to 2009 must have up to date immunization records (or a valid medical or non-medical exemption) against the following ISPA designated diseases:

• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio;

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella; and

• Meningococcal Disease.

Halton Region Public Health is reviewing the immunization records of Halton students born in 2006 to 2009. Parents/guardians will be notified by mail if their student's record is not up-to-date, starting in October 2023. This school year, students in Grades 9 to 12 may be suspended from school in early 2024 if their immunization records are not updated by the December 2023 deadline.

Please note, at this time COVID-19 vaccines are not required to attend school. You cannot report COVID-19 vaccines using the online reporting tool.

If your student is unable to be immunized for medical reasons or if you choose not to immunize your student, you must submit a vaccine exemption to Halton Region Public Health. For more details about this process, please visit halton.ca/immunize.

To learn more about immunizations, including translated resources, visit ontario.ca/vaccines, immunize.ca/resources or download A Parent's Guide to Vaccination at canada.ca/vaccines.

Upcoming Key Dates

Dec 18 - Jan 24 Protected Time

Jan 25 - 31 Exam Block

Feb 1 Exam Review Day (early dismissal)

Feb 2 PA Day - no school for students

Feb 5 First Day of Semester 2

Feb 6 Tuesdays @Ten

Feb 9 Semester 1 Final Report Card Distribution

Feb 13 OUAC / OCAS Semester 1 Final Mark Upload

Feb 16 PA Day - no school for students

Feb 19 Family Day (School Closed)

Feb 20 Semester 2 Photo Day (new students)

Feb 21 CP Day - Classes start at 9:30 am

Mar 5 Tuesdays @Ten

Mar 7 5th Week Report Distribution (grade 9 students)

Mar 11 - 15 Spring Break (School Closed)

Mar 27 CP Day - Classes start at 9:30 am

Mar 29 Good Friday (School Closed)

Apr 1 Easter Monday (School Closed)

Apr 2 Tuesdays @Ten

Apr 8 PA Day - no school for students

Apr 17 Last Day of Term 1

Apr 18 First Day of Term 2

Apr 24 OUAC / OCAS Semester 2 Midterm Mark Upload

Apr 24 CP Day - Classes start at 9:30 am

Apr 26 Semester 2 Midterm Report Card Distribution

May 3 Full Disclosure

May 7 Tuesdays @Ten

May 20 Victoria Day Holiday (School Closed)

May 22 CP Day - Classes start at 9:30 am

May 23 15th Week Report Distribution

May 23 Grade 12 Prom

May 27 - Jun 19 Protected Time

Jun 4 Tuesdays @Ten

Jun 10 Class of 2024 Commencement

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 and Diploma Pick up