Principal's Message

Good Morning Garth Webb:

Exams are underway and students are busy studying and writing as well as making sure that all work is complete for courses. So far the weather has held out and we have not had to move any exams.... fingers crossed for next week!!!

One of our Vice Principals, Ms. Meg Carey, will be moving on to Craig Kielburger Secondary School as a VP there for semester 2. We are sad to see Ms. Carey go, as she has been an instrumental member of our school administrative team. Her hard work and dedication to students and staff will be dearly missed. Her knowledge of equity work and the implementation of board initiatives has really assisted our school in moving forward. Ms. Carey made my own transition to GW run much smoother due to her wealth of knowledge about GW... and I will always be grateful for her help. We wish her all the best at her new school.  

We will be welcoming Ms. Robin Toffolo from White Oaks Secondary School here starting Monday, February 5th.... more on Robin in next week's blog!!

I hope that the students are able to enjoy some downtime once they are all done with their exams this week. Time to regenerate before the start of Semester 2. Please double check student timetables and make an appointment in Guidance if needed.

Enjoy the pictures that students took below from the grade 11 photography class.

Take care,

Jacquie Pece

From Your Student Services Department

Post Secondary Applications

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

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

Semester Two Schedules

Semester two schedules will be shared with students via their email accounts this week.

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

Exam Schedule & Absences During 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.

Final Exams began 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 is open each day from 8:15—8:45 am only and the cafeteria is  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 and is still based on a Week A schedule:

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 Monday, January 29 - Period 4, Monday's exams would be cancelled and then written the next day on Tuesday, January 30.  Then Tuesday's Period 5 exams would shift to the make up day on Wednesday, January 31).

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.

Fashion Forward - Thank You

Thank you to everyone who was able to donate formal wear to the Fashion Forward project. The open houses are scheduled 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.

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

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:

Halton Community Services Directory

The Halton Community Services Directory search engine is a great tool to find volunteer opportunities in Oakville. Click on this link to see updated information on local organizations looking for high school students.

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.

Imbolc

Imbolc is a pagan holiday celebrated from February 1 through sundown on February 2. Based on a Celtic tradition, Imbolc was meant to mark the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox in Neolithic Ireland and Scotland. The holiday is celebrated by Wiccans and other practitioners of neopagan or pagan-influenced religions. Imbolc is just one of several pre-Christian holidays highlighting some aspect of winter and sunlight, and heralding the change of seasons.

Click here to read more. 

Black History Month

As we enter into the month of February, the Garth Webb school community will be celebrating Black History Month.  Our staff and students have planned a variety of activities throughout the month which we will be sharing via the Principal's Blog.  Look out for our Food Festival as well as activities honouring the legacy of Oakville's early Black history.

Anti-Sex Trafficking Information Session February 15

The Halton District School Board (HDSB) is hosting an Anti-Sex Trafficking Information Session on Thursday, Feb. 15, in collaboration with the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) and the Halton Collaborative Against Human Trafficking (HCAHT). The session will be held from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Elsie MacGill Secondary School (1410 Bronte St. S, Milton). 

The session will uncover the realities of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation and provide insight into who is at risk, digital and cyber security considerations, warning signs and how to keep our children and youth safe. 

Those interested in attending can register online. This information session is open to all members of the community, and child minding will be provided at no cost for children aged four and above. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from and connect with representatives from local organizations SAVIS of Halton and EFRY Hope and Help for Women. The event will also be attended by survivors of sex trafficking and their families, offering a unique opportunity to learn about the direct effects sex trafficking has on the individual and their community. 

Additional anti-sex trafficking information and resources: 

Anti-Sex Trafficking - Halton District School Board 

Anti-Sex Trafficking Information Session - Halton Catholic District School Board

Halton Collaborative Against Human Trafficking 

SAVIS of Halton

EFRY

We look forward to connecting with you at this session. If you have any questions, please email contact@hdsb.ca. 

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 March 2024 if their immunization records are not updated.

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

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