Principal's Message

Stay tuned, this section will return next week...

Some Highlights from This Week:

Commencement Ticket Orders Due

Lock Up Your Bikes!

Grade 12 Prom Tickets on Sale

Wear Pink on Wednesday

And much more...

Commencement Ticket Order Form

We are going paperless this year for commencement. Students can now order their Commencement tickets using this form. There is no cost for the tickets. Please place your order ASAP for either 1 or 2 tickets. Students can also request to enter the ticket lottery to potentially receive 1 extra ticket. Students must be the ones to order the tickets.

There will be no paper tickets for commencement and instead, guests on the list will check in with staff when they arrive at the venue.

Commencement Details:

Monday, June 10, 2024 @4:30 pm at the Meeting House (2700 Bristol Circle, Oakville).

Students order your tickets today!

From Your Student Services Department

Tuesdays @Ten

Our April Tuesdays @Ten session took place virtually on Tuesday, April 2. This month we were joined by the two of the board's psychologists to discuss executive functioning. It was a great session where they provided us with practical strategies that families can use to help their student learn and develop the skills needed for executive functioning. 

If you missed the session, you can access the recording here.

Scholarships and Awards

Canadian Federation of University Women - Oakville Scholarships and Awards

Deadline to apply is April 22. See application info below:

CFUW Scholarship Poster

CFUW Letter

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 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

2024 Don MacDonald Optimist Bursary Awards

The Optimist club is offering bursaries for graduating Oakville high school students, worth $2,500.00 for each recipient. Ten bursaries will be awarded this year. The criteria for this award is outlined in the attached Guidelines and applications are available through the Awards Hub.

Summer School

Summer school registration with the HDSB will open on April 17. Students will be able to register for courses through myBlueprint. Further information will be available in the coming weeks.

DECA Business Club Fundraiser: Donuts for DECA This Friday!

The DECA business club will be hosting a one day "pop-up" store for Krispy Kreme donuts:

Date: Friday April 12, 2024

Time: Lunch hour

Location: Main foyer

Purpose of the fundraiser:

Students are invited to support the students in the DECA Business Club who will be attending the prestigious DECA International Competition in Anaheim, California at the end of April 2024.  Profits from the donuts sold will help reduce the cost that students pay to attend this competition. Please bring cash and coins next Friday to grab some fabulous original glazed donuts!!

Krispy Kreme X Garth Webb Pop-Up Store Pricing (CASH sales only)

1 donut for $2

2 donuts for $3

3 donuts for $5

6 donuts for $10

12 donuts for $20

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 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 recent instances of bicycle theft when items are not locked up. 

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.

Students who are riding their skateboards to school, can store them in the main office while they are in class. There is a skateboard rack where items can be safely stored (locks can also be used).

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.

Grade 12 Prom May 23

Grade 12 Prom will be on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at the Oakville Conference Centre (2515 Wyecroft Rd, Oakville, ON L6L 6P8). Tickets are now available on School Cash Online. Tickets will need to be purchased no later than April 30, 2024. 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 April 30, 2024.

Junior Semi Formal

The Student Activities Council (SAC) is excited to share that we will be hosting a Junior (Grade 9 and 10) Semi Formal this year.

When: Thursday April 25th, 2024

Where: Garth Webb SS Cafeteria (students will not have access to the rest of the school, including lockers)

Time: 7-9:30 pm 

Cost: $15/ticket

What’s included: Snacks (pizza and cupcakes), DJ Dance, and Photobooth

Please note, this event is for Garth Webb students only.  Students must be in Grades 9 or 10 in order to purchase a ticket. There will only be 300 tickets available to be purchased due to the school capacity.

All students and parents/guardians must complete and sign the Event Contract after purchasing a ticket. Signed contracts must be submitted to the main office prior to Friday April 19. Hardcopies of the contract will be available for pick up in the main office. Please complete this google form to let us know what type of pizza you would like and if you have any dietary restrictions.

Considerations:

The tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. As this is a school sanctioned event, all GW rules and expectations apply. Students will need to bring their student card with them to the event in order to enter as there are no physical tickets.

Please note that students will not be able to access their lockers at any point during the evening.  This event will be taking place in the cafeteria and there will be no access to any of the other areas of the school. We ask that students plan accordingly.

Please purchase as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as tickets will likely sell out. The last possible day to purchase tickets will be Friday April 19th, 2024 or when tickets are sold out.

TEDx Save the Date

On Thursday, May 9, 2024 GWSS will be hosting our first licensed TEDx Youth event, Building Our Own Future: Teenage empowerment for a prospective tomorrow! Tickets to this proud platform for the passionate voices of our diverse student population will be available on April 25. Keep an eye on our website for more information. 

Co-op Student of the Week

Student: Jaslyne Marek, Grade 12     

Placement: Nature’s NEAR

At Nature’s NEAR, I have developed an educational environmental program along with my fellow co-op students. This includes researching and putting the program together, and now presenting them into classes in grades 4-6. I am responsible for setting up our outdoor activities (an outdoor game and seed ball making), and engaging the kids to get them excited to learn about nature! Additionally, I make weekly social media posts to create easily accessible online resources to learn about the environment.

During my placement I have learned how to make information and research easily understandable for young kids, as well as how to be engaging and implement experiential learning into lessons. I love getting the kids hyped for playing games by bringing energy into the classroom. Because of co-op I also know how to identify certain bird species, and I have grown my knowledge about plants and animals in my local environment. I have gotten the chance to go on many nature walks and learn how to use binoculars correctly, while also developing skills on how to notice identifiable features on birds such as their physical appearance, behaviour, songs, etc. 

Co-op has allowed me to meet and network with so many people who work with the environment and sustainability, and see the path they have taken to get to where they are today. I have been able to spend more time outside in the environment and apply my learning to real life. My placement has only made me more excited to pursue environmental science in post secondary.

To see what else the Co-op Crew has been up to, please follow us on Instagram @GWSSCoop

Co-op Information Night

Save the date and join us on Wednesday, May 22 at 8 pm online to learn about what the GWSS Co-op Program entails, including student expectations and how to secure a placement. 

Please click here to register.

 If you have any questions, you can contact Ms. Anjos at anjosc@hdsb.ca. 

University of Waterloo Math Contest Update

Congratulations to our Mathletes who wrote the University of Waterloo Pascal, Cayley, and Fermat Math Contests. A special congratulations goes out to the following student school champions who earned the top score at GWSS and the students who earned distinction certificates (meaning they earned in the top 25% in the province of Ontario).

Pascal Grade 9 Contest:

School Champion: Anvay Mathur

Distinction Certificate: Anvay Mathur, Minjae Kim, Ritvik Rachamallu 

Cayley Grade 10 Contest:

School Champion: Alice Yang

Distinction Certificate:  Alice Yang, Henry Zhong, Seungdon Lee, Brandon Namgoong, Jun Huang, Grace Han, Gavin Zhi

Fermat Grade 11 Contest:

School Champion: Rick Liu

Distinction Certificate:  Rick Liu, Carey Cui, Max Lu, Ricky Zhuang, Arav Mathur, Carter Wang

Senior Boys Soccer

The Sr. Boys Soccer team won their first tournament this past week by defeating Iroquois Ridge (3-1), Georgetown (2-1), and Abbey Park (3-0). Goals came from Mazen Rashid, Athrav Sewuram, Romaan Naseeb, and Filip Trifunov. Congratulations to the team on a strong start to the season!

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:

Milton Soccer Club

Their summer recreational soccer program is designed to provide children with a fun and inclusive environment where they can learn and develop their soccer skills while fostering a love for the game. They are seeking passionate individuals who are enthusiastic about soccer and who are eager to make a positive impact on the lives of our young players.

Volunteer coaches will have the opportunity to:

• Lead and Coach soccer  games for children ages 4-12.

• Teach fundamental soccer skills and techniques in a supportive and encouraging manner.

• Serve as positive role models and mentors for young athletes, promoting teamwork, sportsmanship, and personal growth.

• Create a safe and enjoyable learning environment where every child feels valued and included.

• Gain valuable coaching experience and contribute to the success of our soccer program.

No prior coaching experience is required, as they will provide training and support to all volunteer coaches. They welcome individuals of all backgrounds and skill levels who are passionate about working with children and who are committed to upholding the values of sportsmanship and fair play.

If you are interested, contact  ldigennaro@miltonmagic.com. 

Eid-ul-Fitr April 10

Eid-ul-Fitr, known as “the festival of breaking of the fast,” is the celebration that marks the end of Islamic holy month Ramadan. For Canadian Muslims, Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations normally include attending the mosque, exchanging gifts, socializing with family and friends, giving away to charities, and attending community Eid events.

Eid-ul-Fitr will most likely be celebrated on April 10 this year, depending on the sighting of the moon. Most families across Canada, pretty much like across the world, begin the Eid celebrations by looking their best in new clothes, and decorating their houses with lights and other ornaments. People drive down to the local mosque for the special Eid prayer accompanied by a short lecture. After prayers, everyone greets each other. Pictures are taken at the prayer ground, then everyone returns back home to eat their first mid-day meal in a month. Often, people visit relatives and friends. Some mosques host fun events such as BBQs, or carnivals with games and prizes. Overall, it is a fun-filled day. Muslims hope to implement the good habits they cultivated during the month of Ramadan into their everyday lives in order to improve themselves and the rest of society. Muslim families across Canada also enjoy a variety of Eid events hosted by the Muslim community.

International Day of Pink April 10

The International Day of Pink is this Wednesday, April 10, 2024. This day is an International Day against bullying, discrimination, homophobia, transphobia, and transmisogyny in cities and towns all across the world. On this day, everyone is invited to celebrate diversity by wearing a pink shirt and by organizing activities in their workplaces, schools, and communities in support of the day. Join us in wearing pink this Wednesday Chargers!

Vaisakhi April 13

Although Vaisakhi has traditionally been a harvest festival in Punjab and across South Asia for centuries, the day has a very special significance for Sikhs. This year, Vaisakhi will be celebrated on April 14. On Vaisakhi Day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh created the order of the Khalsa. The Khalsa are those Sikhs who have accepted the Sikh initiation or “khande kee paahul” and commit to live their lives in the spirit of service to all, equality, and compassion. The founding of the Khalsa was a seminal event in Sikh history which gave the Sikh faith its final form. Click here to read more about Vaisakhi on the WorldSikh.org website. Happy and joyous Vaisakhi to all who are celebrating. 

Mesha Sankranti (Solar New Year) April 13

Mesha Sankranti, also known as Mesha Sankramana, is a famous festival for the Hindus marked by the day when the sun enters the Mesha (Aries) zodiac sign. It is the Indian version of the vernal (Spring) equinox with a few days of difference in terms of actual date, Mesha Sankranti is a solar event and occurs mainly on April 13 but can vary slightly each year. Click here to read more.

Sinhala & Tamil New Year April 14

Many countries in the world celebrate the new year in 1st of January. Yet there are several calendars around the world that celebrate different days to welcome the New Year. In Sri Lanka, new year celebrations start on 13th of April and end on 14th of the month. Based on the sun’s movement from the Meena Rashiya (House of Pieces) to the Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries) Sri Lanka welcomes the new year in April with a lot of firecrackers, fireworks, and gourmet of traditional sweets. Click here to read more.

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

The Halton District School Board has announced additional Mental Health & Well-Being Information Sessions for parents/guardians this Spring. 

The upcoming sessions include: 

• Supporting Elementary Students (K - Grade 8) with Anxiety: Practical Strategies and Interventions - Tuesday, April 9 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. 

• How to Identify Youth at Risk of Suicide - Wednesday, April 10 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

• Supporting Secondary Students (Grade 9-12) with Anxiety and Depression: Practical Strategies and Interventions - Wednesday, April 10 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

• Black, Mixed Race and Identity - Thursday, April 11 from 6 - 7 p.m.

• Healthy and Unhealthy Stress - Monday, April 15 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

• Storytime and Strategies - Thursday, May 9 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Learn more about the sessions available by visiting our Mental Health & Well-Being Information Sessions webpage and register online by completing the registration form. When you register, you can also submit a question for the presenters.

Registration is required for these sessions as limited spots are available. Registrants will be emailed a Google Meet link to access the session. Captioning in various languages is available.

Register for the 2024 Parent Involvement Committee Conference

The Halton District School Board’s Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) welcomes parents/guardians and community members to attend the annual Parent Involvement Committee Conference on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Elsie MacGill Secondary School (1410 Bronte St S, Milton). The theme of this year’s conference is Getting Connected. 

Registration is now open. Complete the HDSB Parent Conference Registration form to register by Friday, April 12, 2024. 

This year’s conference features keynote speaker Kristi Herold, founder and CEO of JAM and best-selling author of It Pays to PLAY.  As a parent and a leader, Kristi will share her knowledge and experience with families on how they can foster a healthy and well-connected family and community. Discover how harnessing the power of play can improve mental health and well-being and support the development of essential life skills. 

We look forward to welcoming you to an engaging conference, filled with an outstanding keynote speaker, practical workshops and curated content for parents/guardians and community members. Workshops will include Self-Regulation and You, Anti-Sex Trafficking - Introduction and Awareness, Collaborative Problem Solving - Challenging Kids and All Kids Lack Skill, Not Will and many more.

Child minding is provided at no cost for Kindergarten age children up to 12 years of age. Morning refreshments and lunch are also provided. 

For more information and to register for the conference, visit the PIC webpage on the HDSB website (hdsb.ca). 

Upcoming Key Dates

Apr 8 PA Day - no school for students

Apr 17 Last Day of Term 1

Apr 18 First Day of Term 2

Apr 24 OUAC / OCAS Semester 2 Midterm Mark Upload

Apr 24 CP Day - Classes start at 9:30 am

Apr 26 Semester 2 Midterm Report Card Distribution

May 3 Full Disclosure

May 7 Tuesdays @Ten

May 20 Victoria Day Holiday (School Closed)

May 22 CP Day - Classes start at 9:30 am

May 23 15th Week Report Distribution

May 23 Grade 12 Prom

May 27 - Jun 19 Protected Time

Jun 4 Tuesdays @Ten

Jun 10 Class of 2024 Commencement

Jun 20 - 26 Exam Block

Jun 27 Exam Review Day/Last Day of School (early dismissal)

Jun 28 PA Day - no school for students

Jul 3 OUAC / OCAS Semester 2 Final Mark Upload

Jul 8 Semester 2 Final Report Card Distribution

Jul 9-11 Diploma Pick up