Principal's Message

Good Morning Garth Webb:

Semester 2 is up and running! The vast majority of students wanting a timetable change have now been seen by our Guidance department and classes are now settled.  Thank you Guidance Counsellors!!!   

Sports are in full swing again and there is no shortage of wins by our Chargers again last week. The Swim Team came 3rd as a team on both the men’s and women’s sides at the Halton Championships. We had multiple relays and individual events qualify for GHAC and they also made the OFSAA qualifying time. The Snowboard and Ski Team had a very successful showing at their Halton Championships with multiple individuals winning medals and the Snowboarders placed third as a team overall. Looks like they will be moving on to OFSAA (we will need some colder temperatures and snow for that!!) The Jr. & Sr. Boys Basketball teams are winning their way through the playoffs. The Jr. Girls Volleyball team won their quarter final match over Milton District to advance to the semi-finals. In the arenas, both the Girls and Boys Hockey teams are doing great! The boy's team is in second place, with only one regulation game loss (first time they have placed that high). The girls are in third place and knocking off the second place team OT in the last game. Let's go Chargers!!!!

The Robotics program had COGECO in filming on Thursday. They wanted to learn about our program and feature them in an upcoming episode through various media platforms. They interviewed students and teachers and learned about our outstanding integration of ISTEM here at GW. They got to see the students in action and were very impressed as students demonstrated their skills and abilities.

Week B reminder - Period 1 & 2 stay the same and only the afternoon is flipping (see the schedule below).

I hope that you all had a chance to enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend. Brace yourselves, I hear... winter is coming back next week. The groundhog did say it would be an early Spring though, if that makes you feel any better!!!

Take care,

Jacquie Pece

New "Week B" in Semester Two

We wanted to remind our families that starting this week on Monday, February 12 with our first Week B of semester 2, there will be a change to our schedule. We will no longer be flipping the morning periods. Going forward, during Week B, only the afternoon periods 4 and 5 will flip. 

Here is our new Week B schedule going forward:

NEW WEEK B

Period 1 8:30 - 9:50 AM

Period 2 9:55 - 11:10 AM

Period 3 (Lunch) 11:10 AM - 12:10 PM

Period 5 12:10 - 1:25 PM

Period 4 1:30 - 2:45 PM

Click here to view the school schedule including CP dates and the semester 2 exam schedule.

Report Card Reminder

Just a reminder that semester 1 final report cards went out electronically on Friday, February 9. Please be sure to download a copy on your computer now as the link is only valid for 30 days.

From Your Student Services Department

Night School Registration

Night School classes are now open for registration on myBlueprint (closing Wednesday, February 14). The course list includes Math, English, and Science classes for semester two and Korean, Spanish, and Japanese classes.

Detailed information can be found here on their website.

2024-2025 Course Selection - Past Due

(multilingual assist document)

The course selection for 2024/2025 school year is now past due.  Starting Monday, Student Services will be calling down any students who have missed the deadline.  If we cannot connect with the student, we will have to make course selections for them.  If your student has not submitted their selections please do so as soon as possible.   Please use the resources below to help you with the process.  Students will be using myBlueprint in order to submit their courses (www.myblueprint.ca/halton).

Please read through the document below as it outlines considerations and key messages for each grade in order to ensure students are making an informed decision.

GWSS 2024/25 Course Selection Information

Tuesdays @Ten

This past Tuesday, Feb 6th @ 10 am we were joined by our School Social Worker, Nidhi Bedi to discuss supporting your teen with their mental health and well-being as well as accessing support at school and in the community.   If you missed the presentation a recording of it is below

Recording

EQAO Results

EQAO has notified us with the results of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). 

Individual Student Reports (ISR)  will be distributed during the week of February 12th from the main office. Students should listen to the announcements for more details. 

Please note: Students who were not yet successful have already been notified. 

If you have any questions please contact your student’s Guidance Counsellor.

Grade 11 & 12 Semi Formal

The Student Activities Council (SAC) is excited to share that we will be hosting a senior (Grade 11 and 12) semi formal this year.

When: Thursday, February 29, 2024

Where: Burlington Convention Center (1120 Burloak Dr, Burlington, ON)

Time: 6-10 pm (doors open at 5:45 pm and dinner is at 7 pm)

Cost: $75/ticket

What’s included: Buffet dinner and DJ dance (halal option available) - Click here to view menu

Please note, this event is for Garth Webb students only. Students must be in Grade 11 or 12 in order to purchase a ticket. An event for Grade 9 and 10 students will occur in the spring. There will only be 355 tickets available to be purchased due to the hall 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 Thursday, February 15, 2024. Hard copies of the contract will be available for pick up in the main office.

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.

Tickets will be available for purchase on School Cash Online starting today. Please purchase as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as tickets will likely sell out. 

The last possible day to purchase tickets will be Thursday, February 15, 2024 or when tickets are sold out.

Arts Council Valentine's Spirit Day

This Wednesday at lunch you and your friends can meet up in the drama room and pay a toonie to have some candy, make a valentine, and watch a movie. Don't forget to wear pinks and reds and bring your $2 with you.

Fashion Forward Open Houses

The Halton District School Board will host Fashion Forward Open Houses in February and May for students to select, at no cost, donated formal wear for upcoming prom/graduation celebrations.

Students will have the opportunity to view and try on formal wear in a friendly and welcoming environment. Students may select from a variety of new and gently-used attire that has been donated for proms, graduations and other special events. Many different styles, colours and sizes of formal dresses will be available as well as suits, shirts, ties, shoes, and accessories.

The Open Houses will be held at W.I. Dick Middle School (351 Highside Drive, Milton) from 3:30 - 8 p.m. on the following dates:

• Thursday, Feb. 22 

• Monday, Feb. 26

• Thursday, May 30 

*An opportunity will be made available for gender diverse youth who require a more private shopping experience between the hours of 3 - 3:30 p.m. during the Open Houses. Students are required to bring student identification to the open house they attend.

5409 Chargers Robotics

Has robotics piqued your interest? Now's your chance to experience 5409’s community outreach tour! All the action can be seen during one of our build nights.

Build Nights are: 

Tuesdays 3 pm - 9 pm

Thursdays 3 pm - 9 pm

Saturdays 9 am  - 4 pm

If you, or someone you know is interested in what happens behind the scenes at Garth Webb Robotics, we'd love to invite you on a tour! Please email Ms. Everett with a date that works for you! everettk@hdsb.ca

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:

Stay tuned for a new opportunity next week...

Black History Month

This week we wanted to share some images of the traveling exhibit “Oakville’s Early Black History”.  Period one classes will be visiting the display throughout the month and completing a scavenger hunt activity using the 14 displays.

As a follow up to the display, we will be offering a virtual field trip for students who are interested in learning more about Oakville’s history.  The presentation will occur on Tuesday, Feb 27 from 1:30 -2:30 pm.  Permission forms can be found in Student Services and a descriptions of the program can be found below.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Jared Hines or Adrienne Tolton.

Oakville and the Underground Railroad Virtual Program

Through virtual tours, digitized artifacts, stories, and a live video interactive presentation, this inquiry-based education program helps students immerse themselves into historical experiences that offer unique opportunities to experience our shared living heritage. Students will explore Oakville’s relationship with the United States in the context of the Underground Railroad. They will learn about how Oakville Harbour played a significant role in the journey to Canada for many freedom seekers. Key figures in the Oakville Underground Railroad story are introduced through the exhibition Freedom, Opportunity, and Family: Oakville’s Black History, and excerpts from the multimedia presentation The Underground Railroad: Next Stop Freedom.

Ash Wednesday - Feb 14

Ash Wednesday is on February 14 in 2024 - this day marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is 40 days long and represents Christ’s time of temptation in the wilderness where he fasted and where Satan tempted him. Lent asks believers to set aside a time each year for similar fasting, marking an intentional season of focus on Christ’s life, ministry ,sacrifice, and resurrection. Ash Wednesday is a solemn day of repentance and prayer, usually through personal and communal confession. To learn more about this significant time in the Christian faith please click here.

Vasant Panchami - Feb 14

Vasant Panchami is a Hindu festival dedicated to the Goddess Saraswati. The festival of Vasant Panchami is also known as Shri Panchami/Saraswati Panchami/Saraswati Puja.

The color of Vasant is yellow which symbolizes peace, prosperity, light, energy and optimism. This is why people wear yellow clothes and make traditional delicacies in yellow hues. In Bengal and Bihar, Goddess Saraswati is offered boondi and ladoo. Sweet rice with saffron and dry fruits is made in almost every house on this occasion. Mango wood, shriphal (coconut), Ganga water, and baer are also offered, particularly by Bengalis. Traditionally, in Punjab, Maake ki Roti and Sarso Ka Saag are savoured. In Bihar, people celebrate Saraswati Puja by offering delicacies like Kheer, Malpua and Bundi to the Goddess.

Nirvana Day - Feb 15

Nirvana Day is an annual Buddhist festival that remembers the death of the Buddha when he reached Nirvana at the age of 80.Nirvana is believed to be the end of the cycle of death and rebirth. Buddhism teaches that Nirvana is reached when all want and suffering is gone.Most Buddhists celebrate Nirvana Day on the 15 February. Others celebrate it on 8 February. It is also known as Parinirvana Day. Click here to learn more about Nirvana day! 

Ensure Immunization Records are Up to Date with Halton Region Health

Students in Grades 9 to 12 must have up-to-date immunization records with Halton Region Public Health.

Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires that all children and adolescents attending school be fully immunized against several designated diseases. All immunization requirements for school attendance align with Ontario’s publicly funded immunization schedule. Vaccines required for school attendance are free, safe and effective.

Parents/guardians of all students born in 2006 to 2009 (Grades 9 to 12) must complete the following steps:

1. Review your student's online record at halton.ca/immunize.

2. If your student has missed any vaccines, make an immunization appointment with a health care provider.

3. Report vaccines online at halton.ca/immunize. Every time a health care provider immunizes a student, parents/guardians must report the vaccines to Public Health. Healthcare providers do not report the vaccines they give to their patients.

Students born in 2006 to 2009 must have up to date immunization records (or a valid medical or non-medical exemption) against the following ISPA designated diseases:

• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio;

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella; and

• Meningococcal Disease.

Halton Region Public Health is reviewing the immunization records of Halton students born in 2006 to 2009. Parents/guardians will be notified by mail if their student's record is not up-to-date, starting in October 2023. This school year, students in Grades 9 to 12 may be suspended from school in March 2024 if their immunization records are not updated.

Please note, at this time COVID-19 vaccines are not required to attend school. You cannot report COVID-19 vaccines using the online reporting tool.

If your student is unable to be immunized for medical reasons or if you choose not to immunize your student, you must submit a vaccine exemption to Halton Region Public Health. For more details about this process, please visit halton.ca/immunize.

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

Upcoming Key Dates

Feb 13 OUAC / OCAS Semester 1 Final Mark Upload

Feb 16 PA Day - no school for students

Feb 19 Family Day (School Closed)

Feb 20 Semester 2 Photo Day (new students)

Feb 21 CP Day - Classes start at 9:30 am

Mar 5 Tuesdays @Ten

Mar 7 5th Week Report Distribution (grade 9 students)

Mar 11 - 15 Spring Break (School Closed)

Mar 27 CP Day - Classes start at 9:30 am

Mar 29 Good Friday (School Closed)

Apr 1 Easter Monday (School Closed)

Apr 2 Tuesdays @Ten

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