Principal's Message

Topic: Ride Into June – Bike to School Week at GWSS!

Dear Students, Families, and Staff:

Get ready to roll! From June 2 to 6, 2025, Garth Webb Secondary School will be participating in Bike to School Week, part of the larger Halton-wide initiative to promote active, healthy, and sustainable transportation.

This is a chance for GWSS students and staff to show their commitment to environmental responsibility and personal well-being by choosing to bike instead of drive or take the bus—even if just for a day or two. With summer around the corner, there's no better time to enjoy the outdoors while building healthy habits.

🚴‍♀️ Why Participate?

• Boost Your Energy and Focus – A morning ride is a great way to start your day, whether you’re heading to class or work.

• Support Your Mental Health – Physical activity can help relieve stress and clear your mind.

• Reduce Traffic and Emissions – Fewer cars mean safer school zones and a healthier environment.

• Build a Stronger School Culture – When students and staff take part together, it strengthens our sense of community.

• It’s Simple and Fun – Even biking once during the week makes a difference!

🚲 How to Get Involved

Bike to school any day (or every day!) from June 2 to 6. Then help us track participation through the Active School Travel Student Survey—every ride counts.

Record Bike to School Week using the Active School Travel Student Survey!  Use our school’s survey code:
👉 GWSS-4417

✅ Quick Tips for a Safe Ride:

• Always wear a helmet

• Follow traffic rules and signals

• Bring a lock for your bike

• Check tires, brakes, and chain before heading out

Let’s finish the school year strong—by making a healthy choice for ourselves and our planet. We look forward to seeing students and staff out riding during Bike to School Week!

Keep rolling,

Luisa Botelho

This year, we have been sharing our Equity & Inclusive Education section on a standalone page on our site. Please click here to read about the various days of significance throughout the year.

Days of significance added this week:

• Filipino Heritage Month - June

• Italian Heritage Month - June

• National Indigenous History Month - June

• Portuguese Heritage Month - June

• Pride Month - June

• Shavuot - Jun 2-3

• Hajj Pilgrimmage - Jun 4-9

• Waqf al Arafa - Jun 5-6

• Eid al-Adha - Jun 6-10

Wear Your Rainbow Colours

On Monday, June 2 we get to really celebrate our year long efforts for inclusion! Staff and students, wear your rainbow colours and come out at lunch to join us as we raise the pride flag.  

Happy Pride Month! 

2SLGBTQIA+ Parent/Guardian Advocacy and Support Group

This month's meeting for our group will be in person in the Garth Webb Library and we are inviting, parents/guardians, students, and staff to join us. 

Thursday, June 5 @7 PM

We are excited to host former Oakville MP Pam Damoff and former HCDSB student Tyler Wisner who will share information with us about a government study that happened in December 2024. The purpose of the  study was to examine the concerning rise in hate motivated violence targeting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, with a focus on understanding its impacts and identifying comprehensive measures for improved support and safety. The study ended when parliament was prorogued after Justin Trudeau stepped down as PM. Pam has summarized the findings from the study and will share that with us along with information about how we can all get involved to help make positive change in our community and in Canada.

Tyler Wisner, who testified at the hearing for the government study, will share with us about his experience being a student in the HCDSB not all that long ago and how he was instrumental in the start up of the first ever GSA at his Oakville high school. Tyler is also involved at Camp Ten Oaks which is a summer camp in Ontario for youth of 2SLGBTQ+ identities and he will talk about that as well.

We look forward to welcoming you  to this informative and hopefully inspiring evening! We want to leave people feeling like they have some of the necessary tools to pick up the baton and run with it to try to make positive change that will benefit us all!

We are always happy to welcome new members so please come out to our meeting on Thursday, June 5. If you would like more information about the group, or to join our mail list, please email Kerri Lee at leeke@hdsb.ca.

The HISTORYTELLERS Exhibit! 

In Semester 1, grade 10 History Students in Mr. Duncan's classes completed The HISTORYTELLERS Project, building new historical narratives to tell 2SLGBTQ+ Canadian history. We partnered with Canada's 2SLGBTQ+ Archive (The ArQuives) and had our work edited by amazing and inspiring leaders in the 2SLGBTQ+ community here in Canada. 

Our work will become (link VERY soon) a Virtual Exhibit on The ArQuives website, and through the generosity of the Halton District School Board and Halton Learning Foundation has become a physical exhibit. 

It's finally time to celebrate this achievement, and so I eagerly invite you to attend The HISTORYTELLERS Exhibit at Garth Webb. Drop in, explore the incredible work we've done, and learn a little history too.

Thursday, June 12 - 6 - 8 pm

University of Waterloo EV Challenge

This year marked the launch of our school's very first Electric Vehicle (EV) Team, and what a journey it’s been. With little existing framework or prior team history to guide us, a passionate group of students came together to chart new territory. Early on, student leaders stepped into key roles, taking on responsibilities in design, fabrication, logistics, and team management.

Our build season was anything but easy. Facing tight deadlines, technical challenges, and late-night problem-solving sessions, the team showed incredible resilience. In the final days leading up to the competition, students were still completing last-minute repairs and fabricating key components to get our vehicle track-ready.

Despite the obstacles, we arrived at the University of Waterloo EV Challenge with a functional electric vehicle — a huge accomplishment on its own. On race day, our students faced breakdowns, performed rapid repairs, and even completed trackside welding, demonstrating remarkable teamwork and determination.

While we didn’t claim a podium finish, the team proudly received the Rookie Team Award in recognition of our outstanding performance on and off the track, the quality of our build, and our positive spirit throughout the event.

A sincere thank you to all the students, parents, and staff who made this season possible! Thank you also to the Garth Webb School Council for their financial support. We couldn't have done this without you!

Grade 9 Exam Tips & Tricks

🎓 Grade 9 Exam Tips & Tricks Workshop – Hosted by the Student Senate

As we head into the final stretch of the school year, we know that exam season can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry, you’re not alone!

The Student Senate is excited to present a fun and interactive “Tips & Tricks” workshop designed to help our Grade 9s tackle exams with confidence. These sessions will offer practical advice, study strategies, and time-management hacks to help set students up for success.

📅 Workshop Dates:

June 4 – Focus on Math & Science

June 11 – Focus on Languages & Social Studies

🕚 Time: 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM (During Lunch Period)

📍 Location: Room 2020

We encourage all Grade 9 students to join us and take advantage of this opportunity to prepare, connect, and feel more confident going into their exams. For any questions, please reach out to the Student Senate directly.

Let’s finish strong, Chargers!

Ecuador Trip 2026

It's time to register for our international trip to Ecuador March Break 2026! Please read the information slideshow for details. It includes information about safety, our itinerary, service work, cost, payment options, and more! Are you ready for Ecuador? 

Click here to register: eftours.ca/2797949MD

Questions? Email zinkenc@hdsb.ca or call the EF Tours traveler support line at 1-800-263-2806 (available between 9am – 5:30pm). 

Land restoration, personal growth, and Amazonian adventure converge on this misty adventure deep into the vibrant landscape of Ecuador – the only question is: how will it change you?

Garth Webb Greenhouse

The Garth Webb Green Economy Club has been working hard all year to refurbish and make use of our school greenhouse. From physically rebuilding the structure to maintaining it throughout the cold winter months and finally starting to grow plants in January, their work has led to a truly flourishing greenhouse. Inside, you'll now find tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, corn, basil, kale, spinach, peas, and parsley all growing! This is an awesome project that took dedication and a lot of learning along the way. Major shoutouts go out to Menha Omer for initiating this project, as well as to Serenity Le and Samantha Halim for their daily efforts in maintaining and watering the plants! You can keep up with our greenhouse on Instagram at @gwss.greenhouse.

GW Fun Fest 4HLF Thank You

Thank you to all of the staff and students who helped make the GW Fun Fest 4HLF a huge success! We managed to raise over $1,750 for HLF! Thank you to all who donated.

Thank You also to our Amazing Community Supporters! We are so grateful to the generous local businesses who donated prizes to our GW Fun Fest 4HLF fundraiser in support of the Halton Learning Foundation. This wonderful event provided a fun and meaningful way for our students to raise funds for a cause that truly makes a difference in our community.

The Halton Learning Foundation works tirelessly to remove financial barriers so every student can thrive—whether that’s through providing nutritious meals, supporting extracurricular participation, or offering essential resources. Your donations helped motivate our students and made the event even more exciting and rewarding.

Thank you for your commitment to education and for partnering with us to support the success and well-being of every student in Halton. We appreciate your generosity and are proud to feature your support here.

Class of 2025 Commencement

Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Time: 7:30 -9:30 pm

Location: Sixteen Mile Sports Complex (3070 Neyagawa Blvd, Oakville, ON L6M 4L6)

Entrance: Students will enter through the west entrance on the lower level. Guests will enter through the north entrance (main entrance).

Guests: All guests will check in with staff upon arrival under the student's name. Guest names are on the list and there are no paper tickets needed. All students who asked for an additional ticket (4 guests total) have been informed that they are able to bring their 4th guest.

Gown Packages: Grad gowns and caps will be handed out at school the week before commencement. Students will be informed of the date/time/location via morning announcements and the information will be posted to the Grade 12 google classroom.

IMPORTANT: PARKING IS VERY LIMITED AND THERE IS ONLY ENOUGH ROOM FOR 1 VEHICLE PER STUDENT/FAMILY. PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY AND CARPOOL WHERE POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.

Pre Order Gifts for Commencement

Once again this year, The Commencement Group will be  offering flowers and graduation teddy bears for sale for anyone who would like to purchase them for commencement. The Commencement Company has an online store where you can order your items ahead and pick them up at the commencement ceremony on June 25. They will also have a kiosk set up at commencement on June 25 where families can purchase items on the day of if they choose.

LINK FOR PRE ORDERS

Rugby Update

This past week, our Garth Webb student athletes had some historic accomplishments! Both the Senior Boys rugby team and Varsity Girls rugby team are going to OFSAA!!

The Senior Boys defeated Oakville Trafalgar 60-5, becoming Halton Champions!  Oakville Trafalgar Senior Boys dominance in Halton is well established - they have been champions for 51 out of 54 seasons.

The Varsity Girls defeated St. Francis Xavier of Milton 44-0 to become the GHAC Champions!

Please congratulate the players and now they head to OFSAA!

From Coach Emmerson:

I am super proud of the players and coaches who helped made this possible.  This program is a fantastic example of what commitment can achieve, and I am thankful to have an opportunity to teach this sport I love and all the values that come with it.

Thank you to everyone who has shown support our way.

Go Chargers!

Varsity Girls Soccer

The varsity girls soccer team lost 3-2 to Bishop Reding in their GHAC challenge game which ended their journey to OFSAA. Ciana Robillard scored another incredible goal on a header and Rainn Baliat scored on a beautiful cross from Layla Nosarka.

Even though they are not heading to OFSAA, this is the first time a Garth Webb girls soccer team has become Halton Champions and the girls should be so proud of their season. Way to go Chargers!

Thank you to coaches Kerr & Galbraith for all their work with the team this season!

Jr Boys Soccer

The Jr. Boys Soccer Team played an incredible season this year, finishing with a 3-3-0 record in regular season games and the highest goal differential of +8 in their division. The team won 6-4 against Nelson in the quarter-finals, followed by a 1-0 victory over Blakelock in the semis. The boys played an amazing final match, dominating possession for most of the final against White Oaks, falling to a 1-0 loss in Golden Goal extra time. This team has a lot to be proud of this season, and take home a second place finish for Garth Webb! 

Track & Field Update

Our Track & Field team has had a busy couple of weeks! First, the track team had an awesome showing at the GHAC Championships in Hamilton where our top eight finishes included: 

-Maja Selkirk: 1st in Junior Girls Triple Jump, 2nd in 300m Hurdles, 3rd in 400m

-Liana Mohamed: 4th in Junior Girls 3000m, 5th in 1500m, 5th in 800m

-Maria Medellin: 2nd in Novice Girls 800m, 5th in 400m

-Caden Ekpe, 1st in Novice Boys 100m Hurdles

-Millen Sidhu, 4th in Senior Boys Triple Jump, 4th in High Jump

-Jessica Angus, 4th in Junior Girls Shot Put

-Sienna Sevenpifer, 5th in Senior Girls 400m Hurdles, 7th in 400m

-Angela Prentice, 5th in Junior Girls Shot Put

-Mason Perenack, 5th in Senior Boys Javelin

-Aditya Balla, 6th in Junior Boys 3000m, 7th in 1500m

-Henry Zhong, 6th in Senior Boys 1500m, 8th in 3000m

-Alex Tasev, 6th in Senior Boys Javelin 

-Liam Kent, 7th in Novice Boys 3000m

-Sofia Henry, 7th in Senior Girls 100m Hurdles

-Mason Beale, 8th in Novice Boys 100m Hurdles

The Open Girls 4 x 400m relay of Maja, Maria, Sienna and Samantha Halim finished in 4th place

Then, all athletes/relays that finished in the top five competed at the South Regional Championship over a two day period this past week and had great showings. 

Caden Ekpe and Maja Selkirk both qualified for the OFSAA Championship by finishing third in the Novice Boys 100m Hurdles and fourth in the Junior Girls 400m!

Millen Sidhu finished sixth in the Senior Boys High Jump, Liana Mohamed finished ninth in the Junior Girls 1500m, Mason Perenack finished 12th in the Senior Boys Javelin, Maria Medellin finished 12th in the Novice Girls 400m, and Henry Zhong finished 13th in the Senior Boys 1500m.

Maja Selkirk qualified in her second event for OFSAA in the Junior Girls 300m Hurdles by finishing fourth overall. Liana Mohamed finished 6th and 9th in the Junior Girls 3000m and 800m. Sienna Sevenpifer finished 9th overall in the Senior Girls 400m Hurdles, Aditya Balla finished 9th in the Junior Boys 3000m, Maria Medellin finished 10th overall in the Novice Girls 800m, Jessica Angus and Angela Prentice finished 14th and 15th in the Junior Girls Shot Put. The 4 x 400m relay team of Maja, Sienna, Maria and Samantha Halim finished 14th overall. 

We wish both Maja and Caden good luck next week as they compete at OFSAA! Go Chargers!

Summer School

Summer school registration is now open.  Please check out Gary Allan’s website for course offerings and timelines.  Registration for courses will occur through myBlueprint.  Also be sure to check out their Frequently Asked Questions.

Tuesdays @Ten NEW DATE JUNE 10

We are rescheduling the June Tuesdays @Ten session to June 10. We will be joined by a representative from Sheridan College who will provide an virtual information session on OSAP and financially planning for postsecondary. An overview of applying to college and university programs at college will be included.

Co-op Update

Check out our new website! Follow us on Instagram! @GWSSCoop

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.

Opportunities for this Week:

Snapology, Oakville -  2025 Summer Camp Volunteer

Join Snapology as a student volunteer this summer and gain valuable experience in both STEM and Education! You will be working with campers ages of 5 to 11 years old and lead activities such as :

• Fun S.T.E.A.M lessons and building activities using LEGO® bricks

• Indoor and Outdoor Active Play

• Arts & Crafts

• Camp Games

Location: St Luke's Palermo Community Centre, 3114 Dundas St W, Oakville ON L6M 4J3

Date: You can select your available weeks and shifts. 

Detailed info & Application form: 

• https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1orS6t4R5a-9QWOvTlsZjjT-YYeOoVIYkUkoVi2xXoTI/viewform?pli=1&pli=1&edit_requested=true

• https://haltonsummercamps.com/oakville#ee94723d-b853-4c3c-ba84-461981820e29

Heritage Glen P.S. Spring Fling Fun Fair

Heritage Glen School Council is hosting their Annual Spring Fling Fun Fair on Thursday, June 12 and we could use your help!  We are looking for a number of volunteers to help out at the event at a variety of different roles including set-up, clean-up, helping run games like giant jenga, corn hole, hatchet throwing and more, helping with food - serving pop, drinks, popcorn, ice cream, and cotton candy and also helping with simple face painting, temporary tattoos, and gems. The best part is that the time spent helping at the Fair will count towards your volunteer hours.  

Please complete the following form if you are interested in helping! If you have any questions, please reach out to kristibilling@gmail.com for more information.

Vaping Awareness Info Sessions

The HDSB and Halton Region Public Health are hosting joint information sessions to raise awareness about the impact of vaping on youth and how parents/guardians can support their children. At the information sessions, parents/guardians will gain a better understanding of vaping, including how to spot the risks, recognize the signs, talk to children about vaping and discover tools, strategies and resources to support their child.

Information Session Details:

The sessions, hosted by Halton Region Public Health and school principals/vice-principals, will be held at four secondary schools across Halton. Each session will run from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. The sessions will deliver identical content and parents/guardians are encouraged to register for the session that best fits their schedule:

• Oakville: Garth Webb Secondary School – Monday, June 2

• Burlington: Nelson High School – Tuesday, June 3

• Virtual: Those who are unable to attend in-person can register for a virtual session on Thursday, May 22 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

To register, complete the registration form on the Vaping and e-cigarettes webpage of the HDSB website (hdsb.ca) by Thursday, May 22.

Youth Vaping, Substance Use & Technology Dependence

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has launched the Youth Vaping, Substance Use, and Technology Dependence (Youth-VAST) Program to provide comprehensive, personalized support for Ontario youth (ages 12 to 21) to manage their vaping and other nicotine use, substance use, and excessive technology use. This program offers assessments, group and individual programming, and connections to specialized resources, virtually or in person.

Homestay Hosts Needed in Halton

Each year, the HDSB’s International Student Program (ISP) welcomes students into schools, and as a result, our programs benefit, our community benefits and local students create lifelong friendships and global connections. Canada Homestay Network (CHN) is currently looking for hosts in Halton for international students joining the HDSB in September. 

Hosting an international student is a unique and rewarding experience. You'll give a young learner a life-changing opportunity while creating lasting memories for your own family. As a host, you provide a private bedroom, three daily meals, access to WiFi and laundry and a welcoming, supportive and safe home. CHN offers full training, 24/7 support and a monthly stipend.

Families who are interested in becoming a homestay host can apply online through the CHN Host Portal: https://hostportal.chnonline.ca/apply 

To learn more, visit whyihost.ca, email hostinfo@canadahomestaynetwork.ca or call 1-877-441-4443.

Upcoming Key Dates

Jun 10 Tuesdays @Ten - NEW DATE

Jun 19-25 Semester 2 Final Evaluation Block

Jun 25 Class of 2025 Commencement @Sixteen Mile Creek 7:30 pm

Jun 26 Exam Review Day

Jun 26 Last Day of Classes for Semester 2

Jun 27 Professional Activity Day – No Classes

Jul 2 OUAC/OCAS Upload

Jul 4 Final Report Cards Sent Electronically

Jul 7/8 Diploma Pick Up 9 am - 2 pm