Principal's Message

Hello Garth Webb Families!

We hope that everyone's spring break is off to a great start. 5th week reports went out this week to all grade 9 students and students in grades 10-12 if there is a concern for their success. Our parent/teacher interviews will be happening on March 30, 2023 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. 

Please see the important message below about some issues we have been having with our parking lot. We appreciate you talking to your students about this. Also, for grade 12 students, be sure to purchase the graduation package on School Cash Online before the deadline on March 28. We are excited to celebrate the Class of 2023 on Monday, June 12.

Congratulations to our Robotics Team on their first competition last weekend. See the update in this blog for more details. We look forward to another update after the next competition later this month. Thank you to our Equity Team for all of the information shared below. We appreciate the time put into the research and sharing each week.

We wish everyone a restful break. Enjoy the week and come back refreshed and ready to focus on your studies!

Take care,

Pam Jenkins

Important Parking Lot Message

Hopefully everyone got the email that went out earlier this past week about trying to walk to school whenever possible. We have had many issues with our parking lot over the past few weeks and we're asking our parents and guardians for some help. 

Please talk to your students about the importance of only parking in legal parking spots. We have had students parking in the fire route which is extremely dangerous. We have also had many vehicles being left in non parking spots and then blocking other vehicles in. As a reminder, the parking lot on the east side of the building as well as the parking lot by the portables are both for staff members only. We have to make sure that our staff members can park their cars when they get to work and if students are taking those spots, we don't have enough room. Lastly, students must register their vehicle with the main office by using this form. 

Please speak to your students about only parking in the front parking lot and only parking in legal parking spots. It is much preferred for students to walk or take Oakville Transit to the school. Thank you for your help in keeping everyone safe. 

Equity & Inclusive Education 

Holi

Wednesday March 8th marked Holi. Holi is also known as the Festival of Colours and is one of the grandest and most popular celebrations amongst Hindu people in Canada. It is not an official public holiday, but it is being increasingly observed across the country.

The Holi festival traditionally celebrates the victory of good over evil. Many Hindus believe that this holiday shows that the devotion of Hindu people can augment the power of Lord Vishnu. This celebration also honours Lord Krishna, a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu.

In addition to its religious aspects, Holi also celebrates the end of winter and the arrival of spring. The holiday is officially celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Phalguna of the Hindu Calendar, meaning it usually falls in March on the Gregorian Calendar.

In 2017, the Hindu festival of Holi was given special recognition by members of the Canadian parliament who took part in the celebrations themselves. But every year, Indo-Canadian communities across the country keep up this colourful Indian tradition.

Holi is somewhat like New Year’s Eve in that people resolve to live better in the year ahead and to leave the worries of last year behind them. They also decorate their homes with bright colours, sing and dance in small groups in the streets, attend special Hindu services, and often throw colourful chalk powder at one another.

https://publicholidays.net/holi/

Equity & Inclusive Education 

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Guided by the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination recognizes that the injustices and prejudices fueled by racial discrimination take place every day. Observed annually on March 21, it commemorates the day police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid "pass laws" in 1960.

In Canada, this date is an opportunity to reflect on the fact that while progress has been made, Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities and religious minorities in Canada continue to face racism and discrimination every day. It is also a day to re-commit our efforts to combat all forms of racial discrimination, injustice, systemic racism and hate to ensure a world where everyone is respected, safe, and has equitable access to contribute meaningfully to all aspects of society.

Find more information on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

We also invite you to listen to this podcast to learn more on ways in which cognitive biases can perpetuate systemic racism:

• Eh Sayers Season 2 Episode 1 - Created Equal

https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/federal-anti-racism-secretariat/international-day-elimination-racial-discrimination.html

Equity & Inclusive Education

Nowruz

The word Nowruz (Novruz, Navruz, Nooruz, Nevruz, Nauryz), means new day; its spelling and pronunciation may vary by country.

Nowruz marks the first day of spring and is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually occurs on 21 March. It is celebrated as the beginning of the new year by more than 300 million people all around the world and has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions.

Families also set aside a space for a “haft-seen”, or a collection of items that symbolize a different hope for the new year. While some families add their own variations to the haft-seen (more on those in a bit), there are seven things that are always included:

Sabzeh: Some kind of sprout or grass that will continue to grow in the weeks leading up to the holiday, for rebirth and renewal

Senjed: Dried fruit, ideally a sweet fruit from a lotus tree, for love

Sib: Apples, for beauty and health

Seer: Garlic, for medicine and taking care of oneself

Samanu: A sweet pudding, for wealth and fertility

Serkeh: Vinegar, for the patience and wisdom that comes with aging

Sumac: A Persian spice made from crushed sour red berries, for the sunrise of a new day

Inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as a cultural tradition observed by numerous peoples, Nowruz is an ancestral festivity marking the first day of spring and the renewal of nature. It promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighbourliness, thus contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities.

Nowruz plays a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples based on mutual respect and the ideals of peace and good neighbourliness. Its traditions and rituals reflect the cultural and ancient customs of the civilizations of the East and West, which influenced those civilizations through the interchange of human values.

Celebrating Nowruz means the affirmation of life in harmony with nature, awareness of the inseparable link between constructive labour and natural cycles of renewal and a solicitous and respectful attitude towards natural sources of life.

Garth Webb wishes everyone celebrating a Nowruz Mubarak!

https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-nowruz-day

Equity & Inclusive Education

Bangladeshi Heritage Month

Ontario is home to a large and vibrant Bangladeshi community. Bangladeshi Canadians from across the province have made significant contributions to Ontario's scientific, athletic, cultural and political development, and they continue to help foster growth, prosperity, and innovation throughout Ontario.

The month of March is an important one for the Bangladeshi community. Every year on March 26th, Bangladeshis around the world celebrate Independence Day in commemoration of their nation gaining independence in 1971. This day is often marked with music, parades, fairs, and various other public and private gatherings held to celebrate the history and traditions of Bangladesh.

By proclaiming the month of March as Bangladeshi Heritage Month in Ontario, the province honours the many significant contributions Bangladeshi Canadians have made throughout the province, and highlights their important role in strengthening the multi-cultural fabric that keeps Ontario's communities strong.

https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-41/session-2/bill-44

Graduation Packages Now Availavble for Purchase

Grade 12 Graduation will be on Monday, June 12, 2023 at 4:30 pm at the Meeting House (2700 Bristol Cir, Oakville, ON L6H 6E1). Students will be given 2 tickets each for guests to attend.

Grad packages are now ready for purchase on School Cash Online for $55 and include a gown and cap as well as a professional photo that will be taken at commencement. Please order your packages as soon as possible and before the deadline of March 28, 2023.

Prom Tickets Now Available

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.

Morning Announcer Auditions

Students who will be in grade 11 or 12 in the 2023 - 2024 school year are eligible to audition to become a morning announcer for the next school year. We will be accepting video submissions from eligible students from March 20 to April 10, 2023. If you are chosen to be a morning announcer, you will be required to manage the morning announcements for 1 day each week. You would be expected to arrive at the school at 8:10 am so the morning music can start promptly at 8:15 am.

Your video should be of you doing some mock morning announcements (you can choose announcements from any day on this page or write your own). Your video should be a mp4 or mov file format.

Students should use the following in their video:

1. Start with this script: “Good morning Garth Webb. Please remove your hats and rise for the playing of the Land Acknowledgement and O Canada.” (you don’t need to include the Land Acknowledgement or O Canada in your video but you can if you like).

2. Morning announcements of your choice (please include at least 3 different announcements).

3. Finish up with the following script: “those are all of the announcements for today Garth Webb, have a great National (make up your own) Day”.

When your video is complete, please use the link below to share your video for the main office staff to view.

If you have any questions, you can visit Mrs. Lee in the main office.

VIDEO SUBMISSION LINK

Save the Date - Spring Concert

Our spring music concert will be happening on Thursday, June 1, 2023. All are welcome to attend. Please put this date into your calendar.

Extended Absence Reminder

In secondary school, any absence that is longer than 3 consecutive days is referred to as an extended absence. If you know that your student will be away for more than 3 consecutive school days, please print this extended absence form and fill it in with the information requested 2 weeks prior to the planned absence (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. 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). 

Please note: parents/guardians 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.

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

Order Your Yearbook Today

Don't forget to order your copy of the 2022-2023 yearbook before it's too late. Yearbooks are available to order on School Cash Online only. We do not order extra copies so you must order online before the deadline to be able to get a copy of the yearbook.

If you don't see the fee available on School Cash Online it is most likely because you have already purchased the yearbook for this year. Please check in your purchase history to confirm. 

Don't miss out on ordering this keepsake!

Fashion Forward Open Houses

The Halton District School Board will host open houses in March and April for students to select, at no cost, donated formal wear for upcoming prom or graduation celebrations.

Called Fashion Forward, 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. There are many different styles, colours, and sizes of formal dresses available as well as suits, shirts, ties, and shoes. 

The dates to browse for formal wear are:

• Saturday, March 25* - 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at New Street Education Centre (3250 New Street, Burlington)

*An opportunity is available for gender diverse youth who would prefer a more private shopping experience between the hours of 10-11 a.m. on this day

• Monday, April 17 - 2:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Elsie MacGill Secondary School (1410 Bronte St. S, Milton)

• Thursday, April 20 - 2:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Elsie MacGill Secondary School (1410 Bronte St. S, Milton)

Students are required to bring student identification to the open house they attend.

Bronte Legion Poster Contest Winners

This past weekend students who placed in the Legion Poster contest attended a luncheon and ceremony where they heard from and met several veterans from the Bronte Legion. They were presented with their certificates, medals, and prize money.   

Congratulations to:

Intermediary - Colour

Bella Zhao - 1st

Sumaya Cabral-Abdidahiv - 2nd

Mary Sredzinski - 3rd

Intermediary - Black & White

Zara Sarfraz 

Sienna Dodgson 

Mina Tran

Intermediary Poetry Contest

Alayna Bland - 3rd

Additional Congratulations goes out to Mina Tran who placed 3rd at the Provincial Level!

From Your Student Services Department

Tuesdays @Ten

This past Tuesday, March 7 at 10 am, Christopher Lehman from School Programs joined us to  share information around OYAP, Apprenticeship Pathway and the Skilled Trades.  If you weren’t able to attend, the recording and slides from the presentation are available below.

Recording Slides

Scholarships for the Trades!!!

Are you enrolling in College for September 2023 in a skilled trades program? The Schulich Foundation is thrilled to announce a new scholarship program focused on skilled trades.

We are awarding 100 scholarships for skilled trades at 10 Ontario colleges, with a value of $40,000 per award for two-year diploma programs and $20,000 per award for one-year certificate programs.

We rely on skilled trades to build and maintain the infrastructure of our cities and towns. Our challenge is not having enough of these talented people to meet the demands fueled by our growth. Schulich Builders will combat the shortage of skilled trades in Ontario and amplify their importance and value to our communities by awarding 100 annual scholarships to the most promising candidates.

Click HERE for more detailed information.

If interested in being nominated by GWSS, please send an email to Mrs. Mactaggart (mactaggark@hdsb.ca) describing the trade you are pursuing and why you have a passion for this trade (150 words max) by Friday, March 31, 2023.

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 to be posted in our March 26 blog.

Women as Career Coaches

HIEC is thrilled to be bringing our in-person Women as Career Coaches (WACC) back to the community on Thursday, March 23, 2023 from 5:15 pm - 9:00 pm at the Burlington Convention Centre. 

Women As Career Coaches brings together a community of young people and adult mentors for an impactful, inspiring and uplifting evening. Students will have the opportunity to hear from spotlight speakers as they discuss their personal career journeys, participate in roundtable conversations with women from the community from a variety of backgrounds, and ask your questions about how to navigate pursuing a career that you can be proud of. After the disruption of the last few years, we're very excited to re-connect young women with a community of support and insights as they envision their future careers. 

Contact Ms. Anjos for further information and to register for this event.

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. Themes include Mental Health and Well-Being, Environmental Leadership and Indigenous Perspectives and Awareness. 

Future sessions in the series include:

• Environmental Leadership (Tuesday, April 18 at 6 - 7:30 p.m.)

• 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.

Save the Date: HDSB Parent Involvement Conference 2023

A CONFERENCE PLANNED BY PARENTS FOR PARENTS 

LEARN, GROW AND INSPIRE TOGETHER

April 29, 2023

The Halton District School Board’s Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) welcomes parents, guardians and community members to join us for a great conference, filled with outstanding speakers and curated content. Free entry and childminding.

Keynote Speaker:

Dr. Jean M. Clinton, BMus MD FRCP(C)

Clinical Professor at McMaster University - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences

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.