Principal's Message

Topic: Vaping

Hello Everyone:

This week, I’d like to talk about vaping and seek your help in educating our students about its harmful effects on their health and well-being. Vaping has become increasingly prevalent in secondary schools and also at Garth Webb. 

We find that many of our students are experimenting with vaping, often unaware of the significant health risks associated with it. As educators, we are committed to fostering a safe and healthy environment for our students, but we cannot do it alone. We need your help to educate our children about the harmful effects of vaping and to reinforce the importance of making healthy choices.

As a school, we are actively monitoring the washrooms and engaging in meaningful conversations with our students. We provide education on vaping through morning announcements and will be displaying posters throughout the school to highlight its health risks. We're collaborating with our community liaison officer and Halton Health Department to understand how our students are acquiring vapes. Additionally, we are exploring other preventive measures, such as vape detectors. We also welcome any suggestions you may have to support our efforts.

I encourage you to have open conversations with your children about this topic. Discuss the dangers of vaping, including its impact on physical and mental health, and help them understand the importance of making informed decisions.

Together, we can work to raise awareness and ensure our students are equipped with the knowledge they need to protect their well-being.

Thank you for your continued support.

Check out these two resources:

• Parent/Caregiver resource: Let's talk about vaping 

• Vaping Presentation with more details

Sincerely,

Luisa Botelho

Student Senate

Meet Your 2024-2025 Student Senators!

We are excited to introduce the Garth Webb Student Senate for the 2024-2025 school year! Your Student Senators are here to represent your voice and ensure that student concerns, ideas, and initiatives are heard and addressed. We are dedicated to fostering a supportive, inclusive environment, and we have six key goals for this year that we’ll be working towards as a team.

To kick off the year, we will be visiting classrooms to introduce ourselves and let you know how we can support you. Here is our introductory slideshow for reference. Make sure to follow us on Instagram at @gwss_student_senate for updates on all the projects and events we’ll be rolling out this year!

Meet Your Senators:

Aaisha Hassan: As a Grade 12 student, I am deeply committed to student advocacy, particularly in promoting mental health awareness and support for my peers. My leadership experience includes serving as President of the Youth Council for Oakville MPP Stephen Crawford, Manager of Communications for SAC, Link Leader, and Exec for the Volunteer Club. I also co-founded and hosted the first-ever TEDx event at Garth Webb Secondary School. Through these roles, I strive to represent your voice and drive meaningful change within our school community.

Arthur Chao: I am excited to serve as Student Senator and drive meaningful change at Garth Webb. As Captain of the Senior Mock Trial team and President of MPP Youth Council of Oakville North-Burlington, I have developed strong leadership skills and a deep appreciation for diverse perspectives. This year, I am committed to advocating for more opportunities for student involvement and sustainable initiatives. 

Reeva Jiyani: I'm thrilled to represent our community at Garth Webb SS, as this year's student senator. I bring passion and dedication to everything I do, and I’m eager to put your ideas and feedback into action. My involvement in DECA, the Mock Trial Team, and NGOs that support education and empowerment have taught me strong problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills. I believe in being the change you wish to see, let's go CHARGERS!

We are all here for you! Feel free to reach out to any of us with suggestions, concerns, or anything else you’d like to share using this form. You can also email us, contact us directly through our Instagram page, or speak to us when you see us around the school. We would love to talk to you!

Looking forward to a great year together!

Visit our page here.

Grade 11 & 12 Law Trips

On October 8, the Grade 11 Law class traveled to Brampton to visit the Ontario Court of Justice. Students were able to observe various legal matters. The highlight of the day was a Q&A session with the Honourable Justice Jaffe! It was an awesome experience for all of us.

This past week, the Grade 12 Law class traveled to visit the Ontario Court of Justice at the new "megacourt" in Downtown Toronto. Students were able to observe a variety of criminal law matters of their choice, including trials, plea court, and sentencing court. Students also participated in an informative chat with Honourable Justice Giourgas, where they heard about the need to maintain awareness of one's identity and biases in the legal process while always keeping in mind the humanity of all involved.

We Scare Hunger Food Drive

Garth Webb’s Youth in Action club is partnering with Oakville’s Haunted House (Solingate Manor) to “scare” hunger out of our community. We will be collecting food items to donate to the Fare Share Foodbank, an organization supporting over 1,000 households in Oakville. Students can bring in items to their Period 1 class until October 30th (if they have a spare or online class they can help out another class or bring it to their second-period class) and the class which collects the most donations will receive a special prize. Boxes and reusable bags are also greatly appreciated, as we can store the food in them. Below is a list of possible food items that Fare Share needs, but anything is greatly appreciated! 

CANNED ITEMS:

• Meat (ham, chicken, corned beef, etc.)

• Soups

• Canned Fruits and Vegetables (peaches, peas, tomatoes, etc.)

• Baked Beans (canned)

• Pasta Sauce

• Fish (tuna, salmon, sardines, etc.)

DRY GOODS:

• Rice and Pasta

• Instant Coffee

• Crackers

• Oatmeal

• Jams

• Cereal

• Teas (herbal, green, etc.)

OTHER:

• Pudding/Fruit Cups

• Baby Cereal

• Baby Formula

• Fruit and Veggie Pouches

Questions? Email the Youth in Action teacher supervisors: Ms. Zinken and Ms. Smallbone.

March Break 2025 International Trip

Attention Garth Webb!  We have a special and unique opportunity to visit the European battlefields of WWI and WWII, where brave Canadians helped shape our nation. During March Break 2025, we will be traveling to France with 40 students, to visit the Juno Beach Center, various battlefields, cemeteries, and Paris. 

We held an information session this past Thursday at the school and there seems to be quite a lot of interest in the trip. We expect it to fill up fast and we have a short timeline and limited spots available. 

If you would like to take advantage of this great opportunity Chargers, please email Mr. Anderson for more information and to get a registration form link.

Take Our Kids to Work Day - Nov 6

Take Our Kids to Work Day will proceed this year on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.  Grade 9 students will be invited to participate in an observational one-day job shadowing experience at the workplace of a family member, friend, or other trusted adult.  Please read this family message for more information on the event.

We are asking that all permission forms be returned to their homeroom teacher (Period 1 Week A) prior to Thursday, October 31.

If your student needs help with finding a placement, please contact Mrs. Andrea Brock (brocka@hdsb.ca).

Grade 12 - Post Secondary Applications and Graduation Requirements

This past week, Student Services met with all Grade 12 classes.  As a follow up to the presentation, we wanted to share the information below with students and their families. This message is a reminder of some important information as you navigate the postsecondary application process and completion of the final graduation requirements.

Community Hours

Students need to submit 40 community hours no later than May 1, 2025 for completion of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Students can submit their hours HERE. If needed, they can complete our recording form found HERE.

Online Learning Requirement

Students are also required to take two e-learning credits to graduate. However, students can opt out by returning this form to Student Services.

Post Secondary Applications - University

Students can apply via the Ontario Universities' Application Centre using their OENs (Ontario Education Number) and personal email account. An OEN can be found on a student’s report card. The due date for applications is January 15, 2025.

Post Secondary Applications - College 

Students can apply via ontariocolleges.ca using their personal email account. The due date for applications is February 1, 2025.

Scholarships

Information will be posted on the Grade 12 Google Classroom stream as well as in a document in Classwork. Information can also be found via the HDSB website: HDSB Scholarship Resources.

More details and resources on the above information can be found in our Grade 12 Presentation and Resource Slide Deck: Grade 12 Presentation 2024.

HDSB Post Secondary Exploration Central Events Ontario - Save the Dates

Grades 11-12+:  Wednesday, October 23 and Thursday, October 24 | 5:00 - 8:30 pm

HDSB Post-Secondary Pathways Event @ Sheridan College (Trafalgar Campus)

*families will register to attend one 90 minute block on one of the two nights; capacity will be limited.

Community Hours: New in the 2024-2025 School Year

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 has community scholarships are in the Spring.  Please feel free to investigate these Scholarships to see if you are eligible.

Deadlines:

Queen's - Deadline typically early December

Schulich - School Nomination Jan. 30

Western National - TBD but usually mid-February

HDSB Scholarship Page

Tuesdays @Ten

On Tuesday, October 1 Student Services hosted our monthly virtual community engagement session. Our October presentation was geared to the Grade 12 community as we reviewed the post secondary application process.  

If you weren’t able to attend, please access the recording and slide deck.

Important Information from Halton Public Health

As we head into the Fall and Winter, and temperatures cool, people tend to spend more time gathered indoors. This makes it easier for infectious diseases like viral gastroenteritis to spread quickly in the community and at school. Viral gastroenteritis is an infection caused by a variety of viruses (e.g. norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus, etc.) that results in vomiting and diarrhea.

Halton Region Public Health has provided guidance on enhanced cleaning procedures and other measures we can implement to significantly reduce the risk of spread at school. We ask that families review the resources provided by Public Health and reinforce these measures at home so that we can all help keep our community healthy. Students, families and staff can also contact Halton Region Public Health directly by phoning 311 or visiting halton.ca. 

A Future that Fits 

Grade 10 Presentation

A Future That Fits is a mandatory period 1 grade 10 virtual event and will take place at GWSS on Tuesday, October 29. The purpose of this event is for grade 10s to explore SHSM, OYAP, and dual credit programs in their region. It will be hosted through afuturethatfits.ca and program leads will be virtually presenting about their focussed programs. Grade 10s will be able to choose 3 presentations they want to attend virtually.

All classes will remain in their period 1 classrooms and will be supervised by their period 1 teachers. Students will need technology and headphones to participate in virtual sessions using a device. Students should plan to bring these items to school that day as we will have a limited number of devices available for students to use.

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

Please note that Appendix B is an ongoing process, therefore you should only fill out what you can at each stage of the process. It outlines steps to follow during recovery, ensuring that students can manage their symptoms while gradually getting back to their studies. This is important because it helps prevent further injury and allows students to adjust their schoolwork based on how they feel. 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.

Coyote Safety

The Town of Oakville is sharing information about coyotes as the winter mating season nears and has provided a Fact Sheet for awareness. Oakville is experiencing an increase in the number of sightings and encounters with coyotes. Coyotes are common in wooded areas and in ravines in urban areas. They are typically shy animals who are looking for food or garbage. Coyotes intentionally fed by people will lose their fear of humans and may develop aggressive behaviour.To learn more, visit the Town’s Coyotes page. 

Tips include:

• People should never feed wildlife. It’s one of the main reasons conflict arises between people and animals.  

• All garbage including organic waste should be placed in receptacles with lids. 

• If you see a coyote, keep your distance and the animal will most likely avoid you.

• Never approach or touch a coyote.

• Do not turn your back on, or run from, a coyote. 

• Back away from the coyote while remaining calm.

• Stand tall, wave your hands and make lots of noise. 

• Carry a flashlight at night to scare off coyotes.

• If a coyote poses an immediate threat or danger to public safety, call 911. 

HDSB Hosts Director’s Panel Virtual Session on Schools, Human Rights, and the Canadian Charter

Families, students, staff and community members are invited to attend the first session of the Director’s Panel series for the 2024-2025 school year on Monday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. Each session in this series explores issues and themes impacting students and education today. Sessions are led by Director of Education Curtis Ennis and Human Rights & Equity Advisor Pardeep Nagra. Panelists featured in the Director’s Panel series may also include HDSB students, parents/guardians and subject-matter experts. 

The upcoming session in the series will be:

Schools, Human Rights and the Canadian Charter

Monday, Oct. 21 from 6 - 7 p.m. 

This will be a virtual event with the livestream linked on the HDSB website (hdsb.ca). 

Registration is not required.

Schools, Human Rights and the Canadian Charter explores how human rights and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms are applied within HDSB schools. Through thoughtful discussion and open dialogue, the panel will delve into emerging challenges and consider best practices for upholding human rights in a way that supports both individual freedoms and the collective well-being of our school communities.

Joining the session as a panelist will be Gillian Tuck Kutarna, a lawyer specializing in legal advice for organizations in the education and not-for-profit sectors. With extensive experience navigating complex human rights issues, particularly in situations where rights or interests conflict, Gillian will offer valuable insights on how these challenges can be addressed in schools, including strategies for balancing competing rights.

Those interested in attending the event can submit a question to the panel before the session through this Google Form.

“As we begin the Director’s Panel series for the 2024-2025 school year, this first session will provide an opportunity for us to come together and engage in meaningful discussions about how to support individual students and our school communities as a whole,” says Curtis Ennis, Director of Education for the Halton District School Board. “Through these important conversations, we will explore ways to ensure that our schools are environments where both individual rights and the rights of all are upheld and respected, and where all students feel a sense of belonging, kindness and community, preparing them to become informed global citizens.”

An Important Message from Halton Region Public Health

Translated into the following languages: 

اَلْعَرَبِيَّةُ (Arabic)     Français (French)     हिंदी (Hindi)     ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi)     中文 (Simplified Chinese)      

Español (Spanish)     اردو (Urdu) 

Students in Grade 9 to 12 for the upcoming school year must have up to date immunization records on file with Halton Region Public Health. This letter explains how to report your immunizations to Public Health if you have not done so already.

In Halton Region, many students do not have updated immunization records, either because they missed receiving routine vaccines, or because parents/guardians have not reported their children’s immunizations to Public Health.

In Ontario, the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires that children who attend school be immunized against nine diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis (meningococcal disease), whooping cough (pertussis), and chickenpox* (varicella - *immunization required for children born in 2010 or later).

For the 2024-2025 school year, Halton Region Public Health will review the immunization records of all Halton secondary students. Parents/guardians will be notified if their child’s record is not up-to-date. As directed by the ISPA, students may be suspended from school if their immunization records are not updated by October 2024. If your child is unable to be immunized for medical reasons, or if you choose not to immunize your child, you must submit vaccine exemption documentation to Halton Region Public Health. For more details about this process, please visit halton.ca/immunize.

Immunizations required for school attendance are free, safe, and effective.

Halton Region Public Health is asking parents/guardians of all students born in 2007 to 2010 (Grades 9 to 12 in the upcoming school year) to complete the following steps:

1. Review your child’s online record by visiting halton.ca/immunize.*

2. Book an immunization appointment with your health care provider if your child has missed any vaccines, or visit halton.ca/immunize to schedule an appointment at a Public Health Community Immunization Clinic (available throughout summer 2024).

3. Report vaccines to Public Health. Parents/guardians are responsible to report every vaccine their child receives to Public Health, because health care providers do not report immunizations they provide. Report vaccines by visiting halton.ca/immunize.  

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

*For students who are new to the HDSB and from outside Ontario:

Students over 16 years, or parent/guardians/ custodians of students under 16 years, can either take their home country vaccine records in person to the Halton Regional Headquarters Building at 1151 Bronte Road in Oakville. 

OR a digit copy/photo can be emailed to accesshalton@halton.ca 

AND - request an Immunization Identification Number and Online Account access by emailing: vaccinerecords@halton.ca

For the email Subject Line, use --> "HDSB Student Outside of Ontario Vaccination Record Submission"

In the email body, please attach:

a photo or PDF of the student's vaccination record from their outside of Ontario jurisdiction, and include the following student information in the email: Student full LEGAL Name, which would be the name on their passport/ birth certificate.

Student Date of Birth, written with Month Day, Year - For example January 1, 2021

The HDSB School the student(s) are attending - For example: Garth Webb Secondary School

Click here for further information.

Upcoming Key Dates

Oct 29 A Future that fits (grade 10 period 1 - Virtual)

Nov 11 - Dec 13 Grad Photos

Nov 5 Tuesdays @Ten

Nov 6 Grade 9 Take Our Kids to Work Day

Nov 7 First Day of Semester 1, Term 2

Nov 13 CP Day (late start @9:30 am)

Nov 13 OUAC/OCAS upload at 8 am

Nov 14 Grade 8 Family Evening – 6:30 pm

Nov 15 Semester 1 Mid-Semester Reports Distribution

Nov 22 Full Disclosure date for Grade 11 & 12 students

Nov 29 Professional Activity Day – No Classes

Dec 3 HDSB Pathways - 4 - 10 pm (@IRHS)

Dec 3 Tuesdays @Ten

Dec 4 Club Photo Day for Yearbook @lunch

Dec 11 CP Day (late start @9:30 am)

Dec 12 15th Week in Danger Reports Emailed

Dec 20 Last Day of Classes in 2024 (early dismissal at 1:15 pm)

Dec 23 - Jan 3 Winter Break

Jan 6 First Day of Classes After Holiday

Jan 7 Tuesdays @Ten

Jan 22 Last Day of Classes for Semester 1

Jan 23 - 29 Semester 1 Exams

Jan 30 Exam Review Day

Jan 31 Professional Activity Day – No Classes