Principal's Message

Topic: Community Starts Here at GWSS

Hello Everyone:

As we finish our first full week of classes, I want to take a moment to thank you for the energy, care, and thoughtfulness you’ve brought to the start of this school year. It’s been a busy week filled with community-building, learning routines, and checking in on where students are in their learning journeys; all foundational pieces that set us up for a successful year.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to share an important reminder about our role in the wider community. Garth Webb is built on a “walk to school” model, and many of our students live nearby and travel through the neighbourhood each day. With that comes a shared responsibility to be good neighbours. The homes, parks, and sidewalks our students pass are part of someone’s daily life, and we want to ensure those living around the school experience the same care and respect that we value inside our building.

We ask that you take a moment to talk with your student about what it means to be a responsible and respectful community member. This includes:

• Respecting the privacy and property of our neighbours

• Using respectful language and being mindful of noise

• Avoiding littering and picking up any litter when possible

• Driving safely, including following speed limits and watching for pedestrians

• Treating public transit spaces and drivers with courtesy

• Reporting any concerns such as vandalism or safety risks

• Being kind and helpful if someone appears to need assistance

We know Garth Webb students are thoughtful and capable of making positive choices. By working together to reinforce these expectations at school and at home, we help them grow into citizens who understand the impact they have on the world around them. Thank you for your continued support and for all you do to help make Garth Webb such a strong and connected community.

Warmly,

Luisa Botelho

Principal

Farewell from Mrs. Lee

Hello Garth Webb Families!

I have been an Administrative Assistant in the main office here for the past 8 years and I am grateful to be a part of such a special school community and a truly amazing group of staff members who I have had the pleasure of working with. 

I wanted to share with you that I have accepted a position in School Operations at the HDSB head office and I will be leaving Garth Webb S.S. this week. For the first time in my 15 years with the HDSB I will not be working in a school and I will miss the daily interactions with students and families. I am excited for this next chapter in my career and I will still be able to support HDSB schools and families, just in a different way.

As I am primarily responsible for the Principal’s Blog each week, we are going to have a bit of a hiatus after the Sunday, September 21 blog. The blog will return to your inbox in some fashion in the coming weeks.

My last day at Garth Webb will be this Wednesday, September 17, 2025. Wishing you all the best in the future and I hope all of our students have a fantastic year at GWSS. 

Go Chargers!

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.

Days of significance being recognized this week:

• Holy Cross Day

• Powley Day

Don't Forget to Order 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.

Start Up Form Update

All students were sent home with the Secondary Intramural Acknowledgement of Elements of Risk, Consent to Participate, and Medical Information Form this past week. Those forms need to be returned to homeroom teachers ASAP. ALL students must have a completed form (whether or not they will be participating in intramurals). For students who have a spare or online class in period 1, they will need to collect a blank form from the main office and hand in their completed forms to the main office ASAP. 

The electronic forms for Medical Danger-Anaphylaxis, Statement of Personal Information Practices, Authorization for use of Student Photos/Videos and other Personal Identifying Information, and Informed Consent were sent out on Monday, September 8. Please be sure to complete these forms ASAP and before Monday, September 22.

We are expecting to be able to send the final piece of our start up package to families this week. We will send the verification forms out to our families with instructions on how to inform us of any necessary updates.

In the meantime, please be sure that your student has returned the paper form that was sent home last week and that you have completed the online forms linked here.

We need completed forms for ALL STUDENTS. Thank you.

Boys Rugby International Trip

BOYS RUGBY ARE GOING TO PORTUGAL AND SPAIN

Garth Webb's Boys Rugby team have been granted an exciting opportunity to travel to Portugal and Spain for a rugby tour this March break! This trip is open to all current and new players interested in playing this school season. 

We will have an information meeting for families this Thursday, September 18 at 6:30 pm at the school. This will give parents/guardians and students more details, requirements, and a final itinerary, but the following is what is included in the tour (approximate cost of $4,000):

• Return airfare from Toronto to Lisbon

• Private luxury motorcoach and driver in Portugal and Spain as per itinerary

• 9 nights’ accommodation, including breakfast each morning

• 2 of the 9 nights at an all-inclusive sports resort, with four 90-minute training sessions

• Transportation and admission to all selected excursions as noted on the final itinerary

• 2 friendly matches versus local teams in: Seville and Lisbon

• All applicable taxes and service charges

• Daily services of a Tour Director 

We are trying to secure 32 spots for the trip, and we will start accepting deposits after the meeting takes place. The $200 deposit is required to reserve your spot as this trip will have a cap student limit. Please attend the information meeting if you are interested in this opportunity for your student. If you are unable to attend, and you would like further information, please reach out to Mr. Emmerson.

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

Ontario Universities

Please see the following ways you can connect with Ontario Universities

Registration is now available for Ontario Universities' Events!

Ontario Universities' Fair (OUF)

• September 27-28, 2025, from 9:30 am to 5 pm, daily

• Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building

• Gathers Ontario's universities in 1 place

• Once-a-year, free event where attendees can talk directly with university representatives at their booths and attend presentations

• Quiet spaces, a multi-faith space and a daily smudging ceremony will be available

Ontario Universities' Regional Fairs

• Fair-style events hosted across Ontario

• Students can speak directly with Ontario university representatives and research their options

• Events run from September 15 to October 17. A full schedule is available on the OUEvents website

Ontario Universities' Information Sessions

• Virtual events on September 16, 6-8 pm (ET), and November 10, 5-7 pm (ET)

• Great opportunity to get answers about programs, admission requirements, student life and much more

College Information Program 

(note: recruitment events may be impacted by the labour action at the Colleges, please double check events prior to attending)

Starting on September 22, representatives from Ontario’s colleges will be kicking off the College Information Program (CIP) tour – a six-week tour with 39 stops across the province. Including one near you.

Don’t miss out on an awesome opportunity to meet with college reps and get the information you need to make your decision about postsecondary education.

Learn about all kinds of careers and the programs that will lead you into them

• Discover unique programs that are only offered at Ontario’s colleges

• Learn about pathways between college and university

• Get all the information on how and when to apply

• Ask questions about campus life, housing and student services

• Get great advice on how to pay for your college education

Community Hours

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 as community scholarships are in the Spring.  Please feel free to investigate these Scholarships to see if you are eligible.  More information will be shared with the Graduating Class of 2025 during the post secondary application presentation (will take place early Oct)

Deadlines:

Loran Scholarship - Oct 16th, 2025 

Queen's - Deadline December 8, 2025

Lester B. Pearson (International Student Scholarship) - Nov 7th, 2025

Schulich - School Nomination Jan. 29

Western National - TBD but usually mid-February

HDSB Scholarship Page

Google Classroom

Please join the appropriate classroom for your Grade to stay up to date with information from Student Services:

Grade 9 Code: d2jitb6l

Grade 10 Code: oerdcjf

Grade 11 Code: euk4ho6

Grade 12 Code: bix3yen 

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.

This Week's Opportunity:

Volunteer Well is looking for volunteers!

They are a non-profit organization that currently runs a Senior Care Connect program to give elders active activities.

They are currently looking for students to assist in events under the Local Chapter Lead in the Oakville area.

This role involves supporting the planning and execution of events and programs (both in person and virtually). Responsibilities may range from administrative tasks to day-of-event assistance.

By volunteering, students will gain valuable experience in event management, teamwork, and community engagement, along with plenty of transferable skills in areas that they would like to build a career in. They also recognize that high school students have busy schedules, and they are happy to offer flexibility to accommodate commitments.

See this letter for more details.

If interested, send a message and resume, to this email: hr@volunteer-well.org.

Co-op

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

Assessment and Evaluation

At our school, we are committed to assessment and evaluation practices that support student learning, align with provincial policy Growing Success, and reflect the values of fairness, equity, and transparency.

Assessment and evaluation are guided by the principles set out in the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Growing Success document, as well as the most recent updates (2024). These practices are designed to provide meaningful information about student learning, inform instructional decisions, and help all students achieve success.

A few key points we would like to share with you:

1. Curriculum Expectations vs. Learning Skills
Student achievement is evaluated based on overall curriculum expectations for each course or subject. This includes assessments collected through observations, conversations, and student work (assignments, presentations, projects, tests, etc.).

Learning skills and work habits: such as responsibility, organization, independent work, collaboration, initiative, and self-regulation - are important indicators of a student’s growth and success. However, they are evaluated and reported separately from a student's academic achievement. While they do not factor into the final course mark, they provide valuable insight into how a student approaches their learning.

2. Final Course Grades (Grades 9-12)
In secondary school, final course grades are determined as follows:

• 70% of the final grade is based on assessments completed throughout the course. This reflects the student’s most consistent level of achievement, with more recent evidence given greater weight.

• 30% of the grade comes from a final evaluation (e.g., exam, performance, essay, or project) administered near the end of the course. This allows students to demonstrate their comprehensive understanding of the course expectations.

3. Transparent and Ongoing Communication
Teachers clearly communicate learning goals, success criteria, and evaluation methods to students and families. Assessment is ongoing and varied, allowing students multiple opportunities to show their learning in different ways.

We are committed to ensuring that all students feel supported and confident in their learning journey. If you have any questions about how assessment and evaluation work, or how your child is progressing, please don’t hesitate to reach out to their teacher or the school office.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Library News

New this year! GW’s Library Learning Commons has new hours. The Library Learning Commons will be open everyday from 8:15 am until 2:45 pm. Our Library Technician will be available to students in the Library from 8:15 -11:15 am. Our Teacher Librarians are available Periods 1, 4, and 5 and can help students with research and citations, e-learning courses, finding books, and other resources, as well as run class lessons. GW’s Library is a hub of collaborative and individual learning. 

We look forward to supporting students this year!

Be Wise YMCA Workshops

Be Wise is a free support service for Youth aged 12-18 in the Halton region, through workshops and one-on-ones. 

We’re hosting a few series and workshops throughout the Fall for Youth ages 12-18:

• Youth Engagement Series (YES) (in-person starting October 22nd): 6-week series, for youth (ages 15-18), Youth will have the opportunity to hear from the Halton Regional Police Services, while engaging in recreational activities. The programs aim is to develop positive interactions between youth and police services.

• Employment Workshop (online September 17th and 24th): In this two-day session Youth learn how to write a resume, job search and interview techniques. As well as tips and tricks that employers look for when hiring and conducting interviews.

• Youth Wellness Program: 7-week series, for youth (ages 15-18 starting October 16th), that aims to provide support in developing coping strategies for mild to moderate anxiety. The curriculum is based on Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), and includes education about mindfulness, mindfulness techniques and self-compassion.

SAVIS’s 36th Annual Take Back the Night

Each year our Take Back the Night is a promise kept to survivors, and a reminder to everyone that when we work together – sexual violence has no place in Halton.  This year we are planning a special celebration of community, support, and a declaration of safety for all.

Event Details:

Date: September 18, 2025 (5 - 8pm)
Location: 171 Speers Road, Oakville, L6K 38W (Film.ca Cinemas)

Take Back the Night is a great opportunity to connect with community partners and local changemakers within the Halton Region! This year’s theme is “Shatter the Silence, Stop the Violence”, so we are planning for a MASSIVE turnout – our march through downtown Oakville will be loud and proud! Friends & families are welcome!

Cybertip

Cybertip.ca is run by The Canadian Centre for Child Protection, a national charity dedicated to the personal safety of all children. Their goal is to reduce the sexual abuse and exploitation of children, assist in the location of missing children, and prevent child victimization through a number of programs, services, and resources for Canadian families, educators, child-serving organizations, law enforcement, and other parties.  In reviewing their resources and “tip/alert” pages, there are a number of great resources you can use to help students check out their page on “Sextortion” which is a growing trend online targeting young people, or their free online safety resources. .

For more information and resources, visit:

• Canadian Centre for Child Protection

• HDSB AST Website 

• HDSB Technology and You Website

• OPC Cyber Safety Parent Tip Sheet

Fall ROCK Groups

This Fall, ROCK will be running several in person groups for children and youth in Burlington, Oakville and Milton with a variety of focuses including but not limited to DBT Skills, Self Esteem and Social Competencies. ROCK is also offering online groups with focuses on Caregivers, ADHD, and Anxiety. 

All of the available Groups are listed on the ROCK website https://rockonline.ca/group/. Families or Service Providers can refer through the online form or by calling the Access Line at 289 266-0036 https://rockonline.ca/referral/

Upcoming Key Dates

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)