Principal's Message

Topic: Start of the School Year 2025-2026

Good Morning Garth Webb:

As I begin my second year as Principal at Garth Webb Secondary School, I do so with a deep sense of gratitude and renewed commitment. Last year was an incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and immerse myself in this vibrant, inclusive, and dynamic school community. I’m truly honoured to continue this journey with all of you and look forward to serving even more effectively this year, guided by what I’ve learned and inspired by the people I have met and collaborated with in the past year.

Entering my 24th year in education and 10th year in school administration, I remain as passionate as ever about fostering an environment where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. I believe strongly in the importance of both academic excellence and human connection, and I am committed to working alongside our staff, students, and families to ensure that every learner has the tools and opportunities they need to feel a strong sense of belonging and to succeed in their studies.

My approach remains rooted in compassion, collaboration, and accountability. I believe that our greatest successes come from working together, and I am dedicated to building on the relationships and trust that began last year. The proverb, “If you want to go far, go together,” continues to guide my leadership. Garth Webb’s village is strong and together, we can continue to make this a place where all students are affirmed, challenged, and celebrated.

If you have ideas, feedback, or just want to connect, my door is always open. I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you and to another incredible year at Garth Webb.

Introducing our administrative team for the 2025-2026 school year:

Robin Toffolo (She/Her) - Alpha A-F

Welcome back Chargers! I am very excited to begin another year at Garth Webb Secondary School as one of your Vice Principals. Our students are energetic, talented, and committed to excellence in all that they strive to do. I can’t wait to watch their continued success as the year unfolds. Our school is robust in our course offerings and extra-curricular activities. I encourage all of our students to explore some new sports, clubs, and activities this year to maximize their school experience. Looking forward to seeing you soon in the halls!

Melanie Baird (She/Her) - Alpha G-M

I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself as I begin my role as Vice Principal here at Garth Webb. I am truly excited to join this community and to work alongside such a dedicated team of educators and staff.

I am passionate about creating inclusive, supportive, and engaging learning environments for students. I believe in collaboration, open communication, and building strong relationships with both students and families.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to connect, share ideas, or simply chat. I’m eager to learn from you and to be part of the exciting journey ahead.

Sahar Monzavi-Bacon (She/Her) - Alpha N-Z

I am so excited to be returning to  Garth Webb and ready to be back in action with this amazing school community. During my first year at Garth Webb, I learned so much about all of the incredible things that happen in this school every single day and more importantly, I learned that if you look in the right places, there is something here for everyone! If you feel like you haven’t found your place yet, I hope you’ll reach out so that I can help you find it. 

It is an absolute pleasure and honour to serve and support all of you and please know that my door is always open. Let’s make this year a great one, Chargers!

In Closing

As we prepare to welcome students back, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the many individuals who have worked hard behind the scenes to ensure we are ready for a strong start to the year. A special thank you to Vice Principals Robin Toffolo (Alpha A–F), Melanie Baird (G–M), and Sahar Monzavi-Bacon (N–Z), as well as our Business Manager Lori Salisbury, Guidance team, administrative assistants, library technician, and custodial staff. Your commitment and efforts have been instrumental in getting our school ready to go.

Our teachers have also been working tirelessly over the past few weeks, from setting up classrooms, organizing resources, and preparing engaging lessons. Their dedication to creating a welcoming and supportive environment is deeply appreciated and will no doubt set the tone for a positive and successful year of learning.

I’m truly excited for the year ahead and look forward to seeing everyone on September 3 as we come together again as a school community.

Welcome back, Chargers and welcome to the Class of 2029!

Luisa Botelho

Student Fees Explained

Student Engagement Fee

Each year in September, we ask families to purchase the Student Engagement Fee option through their School Cash Online account. Garth Webb is an active and inclusive place to learn. The Student Engagement Fees generate start up and operating funds for student run clubs including but not limited to environment issues, global issues, student newspaper, philanthropy, wellness council, etc. The fees also supplement the cost of school wide spirit events, LINK Crew transition, leadership training, motivational speakers, and student recognition awards and events. In addition, student engagement fees fund Student Council events such as assemblies and anti-bullying initiatives. 

In September alone, the fees will go towards supporting our Grade 9 Welcome BBQ, our Link Crew activities, our Terry Fox Run, and our whole school assemblies. We will have many more activities and events throughout the year that the money collected through these fees will support. 

Our school fee is $30 per student and although it is optional to purchase, we greatly appreciate and depend on the support from our families. We remain aware of the social economic constraints in our present day lives and are working hard to keep these fees low. Please visit School Cash Online today to pay the Student Engagement Fees. Thank you so much for your support in advance!

Athletic Fee

All students who participate on a team sport at Garth Webb will be required to pay the Athletic Fee on School Cash Online. The fee this year is $100 and it only needs to be paid once per year even if your student participates on more than one team. This fee contributes toward the costs associated with transportation, facility rentals, referees, the annual athletic banquet, OFSAA entry fees, and the wear and tear over and above the normal phys ed classes on shared equipment. This fee will be available on School Cash Online for your student once they have joined a team.

This year, we are once again 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:

• Anant Chaturdashi

• Mawlid al-Nabi

First Day of School—Grade 9 Orientation & Tour for New Grade 10, 11, &12 Students

On Wednesday, September 3, 2025 we will be starting the day with the Grade 9 Orientation. Grade 9 students should arrive at the school at 8:00 am and meet in the front foyer. We will end the morning with a complimentary BBQ lunch from 11:00 am—12:00 pm. 

We will also be conducting a tour of the school for students who are brand new to Garth Webb in Grade 10, 11, or 12 starting at 10 am in the front foyer. Please note that this tour is only for students who are new to GWSS.

All returning students in Grades 10, 11 & 12 should plan to arrive at the school at noon and classes will start at 12:10 pm with dismissal at 2:45 pm.

The first day schedule for classes will be:

Period 1 12:10 - 12:45 pm

Period 2 12:50 - 1:25 pm

Period 4 1:30 - 2:05 pm

Period 5 2:10 - 2:45 pm

On Thursday, September 4 we will be back to our regular daily schedule and all students are to be in classes by 8:30 am for morning announcements and attendance.

Medication Drop Off/Exchange

For students who have a medical plan of care AND who require the use of an epipen and/or inhaler and/or other medication, we must have a backup stored in the main office. 

We have scheduled Tuesday, September 2 and Wednesday, September 3, 2025 for the drop off/exchange of your student’s epipen/inhaler/medication. Please plan to come to the school between 8 am - 3 pm on Tuesday to drop off or exchange medication, or you can have your student drop off their medication before noon on Wednesday in the main office.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Kerri Lee.

Photo Days

Photo days this year are Thursday, September 4 and Friday, September 5. We will have students in all grades being photographed on both days.

Grade 9 students will have their photo taken with their period 1 class

Grade 10 students will have their photo taken with their period 2 class

Grade 11 students will have their photo taken with their period 4 class

Grade 12 students will have their photo taken with their period 5 class

The schedule is linked here so that students and parents/guardians can check to see which day they will get their photo taken (Thursday or Friday). Teachers will be taking their class down for photos at the allotted time so students do not require an appointment.

For any students who miss these photo days, we will have another photo day on October, 14, 2025.

Parent/Guardian Volunteers Needed

Garth Webb Values our Volunteers!

Parents/Guardians and community volunteers play a key role in enriching student experiences and building a strong school community. Whether it’s helping with events, field trips, or daily programs, your support makes a difference.  

We are seeking parent/guardian volunteers to help with lunch time supervision in the school library (1 hour each day). If you are interested in helping out with any of these daily supervisions, please follow these steps:

1. Apply for a police check with vulnerable sector screening

2. Complete the Volunteer Form

3. Bring an original copy of your police check and your volunteer form to the main office once both are complete and we will schedule a meeting with our Vice Principal.

If you have any questions about this volunteer role, please reach out to our Vice Principal Melanie Baird.

Weekly School Schedules

Week A and Week B

This year we are continuing our “Week A” and “Week B” schedules. This means that every other week, our afternoon classes will flip (i.e. switch places). We will also have 4 Collaborative Planning days for staff each semester (“CP” days). On CP days, students will start school one hour later at 9:30 am, our periods will be shortened slightly, and lunch time is from 11:40 am—12:40 pm.

We are starting the school year with Week A and you will find the Week A and Week B schedules as well as the CP schedule and dates are on our website here and in the school calendar for your reference. Please put these dates into your calendar.

Cafeteria

Please be aware that there will be no cafeteria service on Wednesday, September 3. Our school cafeteria food service will be open starting Thursday, September 4. Students can make purchases before school and at lunch time with cash or debit/credit.

Spirit Wear & Class of 2026 Grad Gear

The online store for Grad Gear & Spirit Wear is open from now until Thursday, September 25, 2025. Orders should arrive at the school in early November 2025.

Click here to access the online store for ordering.

Football Tryouts on Tuesday

Anyone interested in trying out for the Varsity Football team is highly encouraged to come out to our first tryout. In order to tryout, prospective players must have completed and signed this permission form (hard copies can be picked up in the phys ed office). Signed forms must be handed into the coach at the first tryout.

The first tryout is Tuesday, September 2 (PA Day) at 2:00 pm on the main field. If you cannot make it, but are interested in playing, please contact Mr. Faulhafer.

Go Chargers!

GWS School Council 2025-2026

We would like to thank our current School Council for their support over the past year. For the families who are new to Garth Webb, our school council meets 4-5 times per year and any parent/guardian can attend school council at any time - you do not have to be a voting member on school council to attend and share ideas.

Every year, we do reach out to the community to see if others would like roles on the council. To be on council as a voting member, it is required for you to attend all meetings and if you are the PIC representative you are required to organize parent involvement events for our school.

If you are interested in being a voting member of council, please complete this google form no later than Thursday, September 11 @3 pm. If more than the maximum number of parents/guardians self nominate, a school wide election will occur. If an election is needed, all parents/guardians will be informed of the election on September 12 and will have the opportunity to vote in person at the school between September 12-18.

Student Senate Opportunity

Are you ready to lead?
Want to make a real impact in your school and beyond?
Do you have bold ideas for creating positive social change?

If so, consider applying for the role of Student Senator at Garth Webb Secondary School!

The role of a Student Senator calls for strong leadership, a genuine commitment to representing the voices of fellow students, and the dedication to attend monthly meetings. Throughout the school year, Student Senators are expected to actively gather diverse perspectives from their peers and thoughtfully share them with the Senate.  

Interested?
➡️ Complete the application form here
➡️ Follow us on social media for updates @garthwebbsecondaryofficial
➡️ Or even better—talk to your teacher to learn more!

🗓 Application deadline: Monday, September 22, 2025

For more information, visit the HDSB Student Senate Website:
🌐 https://studentsenate.hdsb.ca/home

Student Schedules

Schedules with room numbers were sent out to students this past Thursday at the end of the day so check your HDSB email. For students who are new to the HDSB, parents/guardians were sent information on how students can access their new HDSB email accounts.

Course Change Process

Wednesday, September 3 will be reserved for students who require a course change for the following reasons only:

1) they have already completed the course in summer school

2) they need to repeat a course based on their June report card

3) they are missing a compulsory course

Students are asked to come to Student Services starting at 10 am and we will see them as soon as possible.

All other course change appointments will begin on Thursday, September 4.  Students will have an opportunity to request a timetable change by booking an appointment with their Guidance Counsellor. The link to book an appointment was shared with students in the email with their timetable.

Please note that many courses are at capacity and we may not be able to accommodate all requests.

The last day to make a change to a semester one course will be Friday, September 12.

Tuesdays @Ten

Guidance Counsellors will be hosting our first Tuesdays @Ten session of the year on Wednesday, September 3 at 8:30 am (special day/time for this session only). This session is geared specifically towards parents/guardians who are new to Garth Webb. This session will take place in person in the school library. If you are a new parent/guardian to Garth Webb, please join us as we welcome you to our school and answer some frequently asked questions.

Click here to visit the Tuesdays @Ten webpage for more information and to view previous sessions.

Students not Returning to GW or Starting after September 3, 2025

If your student is not returing to Garth Webb in September or if your student will be arriving at school after the first day on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, it is very important that you fill in the form linked below.

Thank you for your help!

FORM LINK

Youth Settlement Worker Intro

Garth Webb S.S. is very fortunate to have Uzma Kazi as our Youth Settlement Worker. Here is a little introduction for our new families:

I am excited to support the new families at Garth Webb Secondary School for another school year. I have been a Settlement Specialist at Garth Webb since it opened in 2012. My role is to provide school based settlement services for newcomer families to meet their immediate settlement or ongoing needs after they arrive in Canada, connecting newly arrived families to services and resources in the school and community. I am in the school every Monday and Wednesday. I want to warmly welcome all the new families joining our Garth Webb School community, and I look forward to working with you.

Co-op

Check out our 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.

Stay tuned for new opportunities to be posted in this column soon!

Use of Technology at Garth Webb

The Ministry of Education announced changes regarding cell phone use and social media access which started in the 2024-2025 school year.  Click here to view  the Use of Technology guidelines at Garth Webb. 

Locker Distribution

Starting next week on Monday, September 8, Grade 9 and 10 students will have the option of selecting a locker within the school. Grade 9 students are assigned to only the second floor and Grade 10 students can choose a locker on the third floor. Students will then let their Period 1 (homeroom) teacher know their locker number and the combination (for safety reasons). 

Grade 11 students will have the option of selecting a locker on the first floor starting Wednesday, September 10, followed by Grade 12 students on Friday, September 12. More information will be shared via morning announcements during the week.

Students should remember to bring a lock to secure the locker. There is a limited supply of lockers due to the large number of students at Garth Webb, therefore we ask that you please only select a locker if needed. We also remind students to never put items into a locker without a lock to secure those items. Students must have a working lock in order to claim a locker.

Student Attendance

SchoolMessenger is the application for student attendance and notifications from the school, please sign up if you have not already. This application is used to report all absences from school as well as late arrivals and early departures. You can report using the app on your smartphone (recommended) or by calling 1-877-409-6310.

 Please note that the attendance system does contact parents/guardians during 1st period (the period that starts at 8:30 am) when a student is away from school and the absence/late arrival has not been reported through the SchoolMessenger system. There is a second communication sent to parents in the evening for any unexplained absences throughout the rest of the school day.

 If students are arriving late to school, they should proceed directly to their class and the teacher will update the attendance to reflect the late arrival (students do not come to sign in at the main office). If students are signing out early with parent/guardian permission, they will be dismissed directly from their class. Please remember to enter the early departure through SchoolMessenger so your student’s teacher will see that they have permission to leave at the appropriate time.

 If you have any trouble connecting to the SchoolMessenger system, or if you need any clarification on how our attendance system works, please contact the main office so that we can assist you.

Extended Absences

 Students are expected to be in attendance on school days, unless unable to attend by reason of illness, medical appointment, bereavement, or other circumstances beyond their control. Parents who withdraw students during school time are advised that, depending on the timing and length of the absence, academic performance of your student may be affected. It is the student’s responsibility to catch up on missed work.

In secondary school, any absence that is longer than 3 consecutive days is referred to as an extended absence. If you know ahead of time that your student will be away for more than 3 consecutive school days, please print this form and fill it in with the information requested (hard copies are available in the office). Students should ask their parent/guardian and teachers to fill in the form and once it is complete, the form should be handed in at the main office 2 weeks prior to the planned absence. The Vice Principal will then review the form and it will be given to the attendance Administrative Assistant for attendance to be entered (absences longer than 3 days are not able to be entered into School Messenger by parents). 

If you have any questions about this process, please reach out to the main office at 905-847-6875.

Parking Lot Safety

Please be aware that our parking lot is very busy at school entry and dismissal times. It is preferred that students walk to school whenever possible. However, if you do end up driving your student to school (or for students who are driving themselves), please note that once you enter our main parking lot from the driveway to the west of the stop lights, it will be one way traffic only. You cannot exit the school parking lot from the same place you entered it; you can only exit through the stop lights onto Westoak Trails or Stratus Drive. 

Please drive slowly and always look around carefully for pedestrians who are crossing the parking lot. We advise that people arrive early to avoid delays especially during the winter months and on inclement weather days. Come before 8:15 am if you need a parking spot. Please do not park in “no parking zones” and never park your vehicle in the fire zone at the front of the school.  If you are a student or you are visiting our school, please park in the lot closest to the front entrance of the school only.

Many vehicles enter the east parking lot of our school at the end of the school day. Please note that the east entrance is ONE LANE ONLY. There are two exit lanes, but the entrance is only for one lane of cars at a time. It is preferred that you enter the school parking lot via the main driveway just to the west of the stoplight. DO NOT ENTER THE PARKING LOT THROUGH THE STOP LIGHTS—IT IS AN EXIT ONLY. 

Thank you for helping us to keep everyone safe!

Student Parking Passes

Students who will be driving to school must have their vehicle registered with the main office and must display a school parking pass in their vehicle while it is parked on school property. Read below for more info.

Town of Oakville Parking Lot

The parking lot that is by the playground area is owned by the Town of Oakville and when it is open, students are permitted to park there. Students parking there should still have their vehicle registered with the main office.

Student Parking Passes

Students who will be driving to school on a regular basis must register their vehicle with the main office and must have a school parking pass displayed in their vehicle at all times while it is parked on school property. 

Please use this form to request a parking pass. You will need to have your vehicle make/license plate information to register for a parking pass. The office will contact you via email when your pass is ready.

Students are permitted to park in the lot closest to the front entrance to the school ONLY. Please note that having a parking pass does not guarantee you a parking spot. You must arrive early (before 8:15 am is recommended) to be sure to get a spot as it’s first come, first served.

Free Transit for Students

If students have a PRESTO card, they can use Oakville Transit free of charge. Please visit the Oakville Transit website for further information. Be sure to register your PRESTO card online so balances can be transferred to a new card in the event that you lose your PRESTO.

Garth Webb is a “walk to” school and therefore, we do not have any school busses. However, Oakville Transit has a "School Special" bus route for Garth Webb that runs before and after school. Please click here for more information.

Bicycles, Scooters & Skateboards

Many students at Garth Webb ride bicycles, scooters, and skateboards to school daily. Bicycles and scooters must be locked up outside at the bike and scooter racks on the west side of the school (near the main entrance). Please be sure that students have a working lock and remind them to use it EVERY time they park their bike or scooter. There have been unfortunate instances of theft when items are not locked up. Please note that scooters cannot be parked inside of the school due to health and safety protocols (fire department regulations). We have separate racks for scooter parking outside the front of the school (to the left of the main entrance). Skateboards can be stored in lockers or on the skateboard rack in the main office.

It is also recommended that students use the 529 Garage app to register their bicycles. The Halton Regional Police Service has partnered with 529 Garage to introduce their bicycle registration app to residents of Halton. 529 Garage is an application that connects you, other cyclists, police, and local bicycle shops in the event your bicycle is stolen. Registration is easy - simply download the app, input your contact information and bicycle serial number, and upload photos of yourself and your bicycle. Registrations can also be made on the 529 Garage website if you do not have a smart phone or tablet. Once you have registered your bicycle on the app, if it is stolen or goes missing, you can notify 529 Garage and they will issue an alert from the app that is sent to other local cyclists and bike shops alerting them to the missing bicycle. Once an alert for your bicycle has been posted, the app will also direct you to the HRPS online reporting tool where you can report it to police. By registering, if a bicycle is recovered, it is easier for police to identify and return the bicycle to the proper owner.

Please remind students that bicycles, scooters, and skateboards should not be used on school property. Finally, when traveling to and from school in the designated bike lanes, students are reminded that they are to travel in the same direction as the vehichles on the road. This is important and helps to keep everyone safe.

Wear a helmet!

Nut Free School

We wanted to remind GWSS families that nut products should not be brought into the school. Please read the following excerpt from this document from the HDSB:

We are asking ​ALL​ students, families and members of our school community to adhere to the

following requests regarding peanuts/tree nuts:

• Lunches and snacks are free of peanuts and tree nuts​, as well as products that may contain peanuts/tree nuts such as donuts, granola bars, etc.

• Read food labels, checking for peanut/nut ingredients​ prior to sending them to school.

• Ensure ​food from takeout restaurants is free from nuts​, AND free from cross-contamination of nuts.

• If peanut butter is eaten at home before school​, ensure lips, mouth, and hands are washed thoroughly before attending school (​this is truly an​ ​essential action to prevent cross contamination​).

Thank you for helping to keep the school safe for everyone!

HLF 2025 Back to School Campaign

 The Halton Learning Foundation invites you to support their 2025 Back-to-School campaign.

 As you know, this is a CRITICAL time for HLF to raise enough funds so we can continue to say “yes” to HDSB students in need.

 We would invite you to make a personal donation. Our friends at belairdirect are matching all Monthly Donations up to $15,000 – a great way to double your impact.

 Carrie the Backpack, a new cheerful helper at HLF, wants to make sure every student goes back to school with a backpack full of everything they need. Right now, Carrie sees too many kids in our community walking into class without the basics — no backpack, no supplies, sometimes even no lunch. She wants to help them all, just like you do...and I know they need help TODAY before classes begin!

 Thanks to our donors, HLF helped over 3600 HDSB students last school year with emergency help and school supplies.

 Carrie would be super excited if you could support her with the 2025 Back-to-School campaign. She wants to raise $75,000 to help 300 HDSB students go back to school ready to learn.

Upcoming Key Dates

Sep 1 Labour Day

Sep 2 Professional Activity Day – No Classes

Sep 3 First Day of Semester 1 Classes

Sep 3 Tuesdays@ Ten at 8:30 am

Sep 11 Grade Assemblies

Sep 4 & 5 Photo Days

Sep 24 CP Day (late start @9:30 am)

Oct 1 OUAC / OCAS Demographics Upload @8 am

Oct 7 Tuesdays@ Ten

Oct 9 5th Week Progress Reports Emailed

Oct 10 Professional Activity Day – No Classes

Oct 13 Thanksgiving Day – No Classes

Oct 14 Photo Retake Day

Oct 14 Excellence - Honour Roll 2024/2025 Certificates Emailed

Oct 16 Parent/Teacher Interview & Grade 9 Program Night 5:30 - 7:30 pm

Oct 29 CP Day (late start @9:30 am)