Principal's Message

Hello Garth Webb Families!

We hope that everyone had a good week. Just a reminder that mid term report cards were sent home with students on Friday.

Thank you to the Wellness Team for their work in putting together announcements and activities for Children's Mental Health Week this coming week. Thank you to the Equity Team for sharing information with us on the upcoming days of significance.

This week is our first spring spirit week organized by GWAC. Please see the info below about the theme for each day. We hope to see lots of school spirit Garth Webb!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday Chargers.

Sincerely,

Main Office Team

Equity & Inclusive Education 

Feast of Saint Mark April 25

The Feast of St. Mark is observed on April 25 by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. It helps bring awareness to St. Mark and his efforts to spread Christianity. The holiday takes place on the death anniversary of St. Mark, believed to be one of the 70 disciples sent out by Jesus to preach the gospel in Judea. He is believed to have authored one of the four Gospels in the New Testament.

St. Mark was a traveling companion and close friend of Saint Peter, who holds the “keys of Heaven.” He is also the founder of the church in Alexandria, Egypt. Click here to read more on nationaltoday.com.

Beltane May 1

Beltane, also spelled Beltine, Irish Beltaine or Belltaine, also known as Cétamain, festival held on the first day of May in Ireland and Scotland, celebrating the beginning of summer and open pasturing. Beltane is first mentioned in a glossary attributed to Cormac, bishop of Cashel and king of Munster, who was killed in 908. Cormac describes how cattle were driven between two bonfires on Beltane as a magical means of protecting them from disease before they were led into summer pastures—a custom still observed in Ireland in the 19th century. Other festivities included Maypole dances and cutting of green boughs and flowers.  Click here to read more on britannica.com.

National Day of Awareness for MMIWG and Red Dress Day May 5

May 5 is the National Day of Awareness and Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse People. On this day we aim to raise awareness about this ongoing crisis and take action. On this day we remember the people who have lost their lives to colonial, gender-based violence, and their families and communities that live daily with the grief of losing loved ones.

The Final Report on the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was released in June 2019. There were 2,836 individuals who participated in the truth–gathering process and 231 calls to justice were recommended. To date, there has been little action on the calls to justice. In our efforts to raise awareness of this ongoing crisis we remember people who have lost their lives to colonial, gender-based violence and their families and communities who live daily with the grief of losing loved ones.

Credit: Women’s Centre of Calgary

Vesak Day May 5

"Vesak" or "Wesak", the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May, is the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world. It was on the Day of Vesak two and a half millennia ago, in the year 623 B.C., that the Buddha was born. It was also on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha attained enlightenment, and it was on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha in his eightieth year passed away.

The General Assembly, by its resolution 54/115 of 1999, recognized internationally the Day of Vesak to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over two and a half millennia and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity. This day is commemorated annually at the UN Headquarters and other UN offices, in consultation with the relevant UN offices and with permanent missions, which also wish to be consulted.

Click here to read more on un.org.

Children's Mental Health Week

May 1 -7 is Mental Health Week in Halton and throughout Ontario. More importantly, the Webb Wellness Team has worked enthusiastically to provide a week full of exciting activities planned by students for students to help raise awareness, educate, and grow a culture of caring within our school community. 

At GWSS, mental health matters. Our students recognize the importance of the impact that a sense of belonging, kindness and friendship has on their own mental health and the mental health of others. Our student team would like to challenge their peers to participate as much as possible in all or any one of the activities offered throughout the week because #Webb Wellness Matters!

Schedule of Activities

Monday - Student Panel Discussion on how social media and pop culture affects how students see themselves and others. Come join the conversation #WebbWellnessMatters 

Tuesday - Quiet Activity Room - Coloring Books, Puzzles, Crafts

Wednesday - Meditation Session - Staff and Students are welcomed to join. Take a walk , get a sticker to wear to show that Mental Health Matters @ GWSS. 

Thursday - Come meet Ms. Bedi and learn more about how you can take care of yourself and others when someone needs your help. 

Friday - Final Fun Day ! Outside between the portables at lunch.

GWAC Spirit Week Coming Up

Athletic Council (GWAC) is having a Spirit Week to show support for all of the GW home games happening for our spring teams.

Monday, May 1 - Twin Day

Tuesday, May 2 - Jersey Day

Wednesday, May 3 - Tropical Beach Day

Thursday, May 4 - Star Wars Day

Friday, May 5 - Rhyme Without a Reason Day

Go Chargers!

Prom Ticket Deadline is May 11

Grade 12 Prom will be on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at the Oakville Conference Centre (2515 Wyecroft Rd, Oakville, ON L6L 6P8). Tickets are now available on School Cash Online. Tickets are $90 and will need to be purchased no later than Thursday, May 11, 2023. Everyone attending will need to have a ticket.

All students must complete a prom contract and submit it to the main office once their ticket has been purchased. Blank contracts can be picked up in the main office. If students are bringing a guest, a second ticket will need to be purchased and the guest will need to complete their portion of the contract as well. Please allow time for the guest's school administrator to fill in their section. 

All ticket purchases and contracts must be in by Thursday, May 11, 2023.

5409 Chargers Robotics Update

The Garth Webb robotics team is back from the World Championships in Houston, Texas.  What an experience!

Going to Worlds has been this team's goal since its establishment and after 9 hard years of work we  made it! We had  an amazing experience! Overall our robot had its best performance of the season ranking 6th in the division for offensive power, and we are very proud of the hard work put in by the whole team!

The team placed 33rd in the Milstein division and was the third pick for alliance 6. As the backup robot we didn't see any playoff playtime, but we watched our alliance fight a tough battle. Unfortunately we lost the first playoff game by 2 points, and then were eliminated in our second match. We are so proud of our accomplishments and became closer as a team throughout this season.

While in  Houston, the team had the chance to experience a Blue Jays game, visit NASA's space center, and also take part in a tour around Buckhardt’s Compression Plant. Thank you to Mr. Bowern for helping us organize that.

We want to give a special thanks to Mrs. Wong for the organization of the team meals and for making our stay away from home feel like family.

We also want to take the opportunity to give a huge thank you to all the mentors and teachers who helped out this season and organized this experience of a lifetime. We appreciate your dedication and consistent effort that has contributed to our success and we thank you for inspiring us to do our best everyday.

Juno Journal

Click here to read the April 2023 issue of the student newsletter Juno Journal.  Thank you to all of the students who contribute to the newsletter. Great work!

From Your Student Services Department

Grade 11 Class Presentation

Next week, guidance counsellors will be visiting all Grade 11 classes, to introduce and discuss the post secondary application process. This presentation is a quick introduction so students are aware of the various timelines that exist in their Grade 12 year. 

Summer School

Summer school registration is now open. Students can register through myBlueprint. All information can be found on the Gary Allan website as well as in the communication shared with students and families last week.

Tuesdays @Ten

Please join us virtually on Tuesday, May 2 as we discuss Summer School, the new eLearning graduation requirements, as well as the 40 hours of Community Involvement graduation requirement. A link to the meet will be emailed out to all families the day prior.

Scholarships and Awards

Community Awards (Rotary, Halton Learning Foundation, Maycourt, CFUW, Lion's club, Chinese Canadian Association).

It's that time of year when applications open for the various community awards. All information can be found on the NEW online awards hub. Please take a look at the site and direct any questions you may have to your guidance counsellor. Students are encouraged to create an account and review the various award criteria. Please note that most application deadlines are in the Spring.

Awards Hub

Full Disclosure - Grade 11/12 Students

The full disclosure date for semester two is Friday, May 5, 2023. Courses dropped after this date will appear on a high school transcript. If you are considering dropping a course, we encourage you to speak with your guidance counselor and be mindful of the deadline.

Volunteer Club

Volunteer club dedicates to provide more volunteering opportunities to our students. Our goal is to make the information more accessible for everyone. We post opportunities weekly with all of the information included in our google classroom! If you want to learn more about our club and wish to find more opportunities, please join our google classroom through code: dtpah5l.

 You can also find us on instagram (@gwss.volunteer), LinkedIn (GWSS Volunteer Club), and Twitter (@gwss_volunteer)! If you have any question, feel free to email us at gwssvolunteerclub@gmail.com.

Opportunity for This Week:

Volunteer Halton - Supporting Non-Profit Agencies

This database is a great tool for searching for volunteer opportunities in Oakville. You can filter results based on activities that qualify towards your 40 hours of community service for graduation. There are many opportunities open for the 2023-2024 school year.

https://halton.cioc.ca/volunteer/student.asp

HDSB Hosting Mental Health & Well-Being Information Sessions for Parents/Guardians This Spring

The Halton District School Board is hosting additional Mental Health & Well-Being Information Sessions for parents/guardians this Spring. Covering specific topics based on feedback from parents/guardians, each session will be led by a mental health expert in that area who will share their knowledge and provide helpful information and resources.

Upcoming Session: 

• Tuesday, May 2, 2023 from 6 - 7 p.m. - Navigating the Mental Health System for your Child - Information & Registration Link 

New Sessions:

• May 11, 2023 6-7pm: Empowering Parents: Supporting Children's Mental Well-Being in the Muslim Community  - Information & Registration Link

• May 23, 2023 6-7pm: Prevention of Disordered Eating - Information & Registration Link

• June 1, 2023 6-7pm: Cyberbullying - Parenting in Today's Online World - Information & Registration Link

Registration is required for these sessions as limited spots are available. Sessions will be held on Google Meet, where closed captioning is available in various languages. Registrants will be emailed a link to access the session. Sessions will not be recorded. 

Parents/guardians will have the opportunity to submit questions when completing the registration form or during the session. The Board’s Mental Health & Well-Being webpage has information for parents/guardians and students on mental health, ways to support positive mental health and well-being, and how to get additional support at school and in the broader community.

Director’s Panel Series: Bringing the Multi-Year Strategic Plan to Life

We are inviting families, students, staff and community members to the Director’s Panel Series on Bringing the Multi-Year Plan to Life to raise awareness about the commitments outlined in the HDSB’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan (2020-2024). Each session in the series will explore issues and themes outlined in our Multi-Year Plan from various perspectives, including student voice. 

Next session:

• Indigenous Perspectives and Awareness (Tuesday, May 16 at 6 - 7:30 p.m.)

Through the Director’s Panel Series, we will dive deeper into the work we’re doing to advance Mental Health and Well-Being, Environmental Leadership and Indigenous Perspectives and Awareness, as reflected in the HDSB’s Multi-Year Plan 2020-2024 and the Human Rights Equity Action & Accountability Plan - The Way Forward.

Online COVID-19 Screening Tool

 It is recommended that students continue to complete the Government of Ontario’s online COVID-19 school screening tool prior to attending school each day. Please be sure to read all questions carefully as they do change on occasion. Please carefully follow the instructions that you get at the end of the screening telling you whether to stay home or attend school. Thank you to our families for doing the daily self assessment to help keep everyone safe. For information on COVID-19 health and safety procedures for the 2022-2023 school year, please click here: COVID-19 information page.

Upcoming Key Dates

May 2 Tuesdays @Ten Parent Session

May 5 Full Disclosure Date

May 17 CP Day - Late Start at 9:30 am

May 18 GW Parents for Black & Biracial Student Achievement Elevating Excellence

May 22 Victoria Day - School Closed

May 23 Grade 12 Graduation Assembly

May 25 15th Week Report Distribution

May 25 Grade 12 Prom

May 29 School Council Meeting

Jun 1 Spring Concert

Jun 6 Tuesdays @Ten Parent Session

Jun 12 Class of 2023 Commencement

Jun 22 - 28 Semester 2 Exam Block

Jun 29 Exam Review Day - Last Day of School - Early Dismissal

Jun 30 PA Day - No School for Students

Jul 5 OCAS/OUAC FInal Mark Upload

Jul 6 Final Report Card & Diploma Pick Up