March 26, 2023

WEEK A

Principal's Message

Hello Garth Webb Families!

Spring is here and April is just around the corner.  I hope everyone enjoyed the break last week.  Semester 2 really does go by very quickly.  This coming week we have our parent teacher night on Thursday, March 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.  Our outdoor ed classes were out on their overnight trips this past week.  It really is a pleasure to watch them get on the bus so excited and then return, getting off the bus, so happy to be home.  It is so important to get our students outside and really engaged with the outdoors. Thank you to Mr. Bachelor, Mr. Monahan, Ms. Szymus, and Ms. Beltran for taking the time to give our students these wonderful and worthwhile overnight adventures!

Ramadan began this past week on Wednesday, an exciting time of year for many of our students. 

This coming weekend we have our robotics team at another tournament in Waterloo - we wish them all the best and hope that strong forever relationships are made and that they develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills as they overcome adversity through the competition. Thank you to Mr. Douglas, Mr. Sauve, Mr. Brooks-Prenger, and Ms. Everett.

We are starting to plan for next year as well during this time of year and we are getting ready for our graduation on June 12 for our Grade 12s. Please don't forget to purchase the graduation package as the firm deadline is this Tuesday, March 28 and all students attending must purchase a package.  

Remember to get involved if you haven't already as the spring sports and clubs are always fun and many of them take place outdoors. 

Enjoy your weekend.

Pam Jenkins

Graduation Package Deadline is on March 28

Graduation packages are available for purchase on School Cash Online. There is a firm purchase deadline of March 28, 2023 to allow time for ordering the gowns from our vendor. This order deadline cannot be extended, so please purchase your package ASAP. 

All students who are attending commencement must purchase this package. 

The fee of $55 includes: venue, grad gown package, and one professional printed photograph per student which will be taken as they cross the stage. The fee is all inclusive (cannot be broken up) and must be purchased by all students attending commencement. If you need financial assistance with this purchase, please reach out to our Principal Pam Jenkins directly.

Commencement Details:

Monday, June 12, 2023 @4:30 pm at the Meeting House (2700 Bristol Circle, Oakville).

Students will be given 2 tickets each for guests to attend. At this time, we do not know if there will be any extra tickets available. Once that is determined (likely sometime in early May), we will communicate with families how they can add their name to the list for one extra ticket to be given out by lottery.

Please visit School Cash Online today.

Equity & Inclusive Education 

Ramadan Mubarak!

Ramadan is the seventh month of the Islamic Calendar. Following the month of Shaban, Ramadan's starting and ending date depend on the sighting of the new moon. 

Muslims are to fast from dawn to sunset in this sacred month. Fasting includes no food or drinks (yes, not even water) during said time constraints. Muslims don’t only fast from food and drinks, they also fast from bad habits such as smoking which is harmful to the body. 

Fasting is one of the five pillars that make up Islam. It is a necessity for all Muslims. However, there are some exceptions. Women on their menstrual cycle, sick people who need medication, and pregnant women cannot fast during this sacred month.

Ramadan is a month to appreciate what we have. Muslims fast to appreciate the food that we get on a daily basis and take the opportunity to reflect on the less fortunate. This month is used to get closer to their one and only God, Allah by repenting  for their sins and thanking God for what they have. 

One very special day in Ramadan, Laylatul Qadr, is “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months,” (Qur'an, 97:3). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever prays on Laylatul Qadr out of faith and sincerity, shall have all their past sins forgiven,” (Hadith, Bukhari, and Muslim). This night is unknown to Muslims so that they repent everyday and not only on the one specific day. However, it is known to fall in one of the last 10 days of Ramadan. Muslims thus spend the last 10 days pushing themselves in prayers, donations, and asking for forgiveness. 

At the end of Ramadan is a celebration that lasts three days which is known as Eid-Al-Fitr. The date of Eid is also determined by the sighting of the moon and is celebrated as a positive conclusion of the month of Ramadan. 

Written by: Mariam Hussain (Grade 11)


Below is a display in the Garth Webb library for Ramadan.

Save the Date 2nd Annual Iftar

GWSS will be holding the 2nd Annual Iftar event on Thursday, April 13, 2023 @6:15 pm. Please put this date into your calendars and more details will be shared soon.

Parent Teacher Interview Open House This Thursday

On Thursday, March 30 you are invited to attend our second semester Parents’ Night. Parents will have an opportunity to connect informally with teachers to discuss your student's overall learning skills and coursework to date. This is not the venue to discuss your student’s marks.

Interviews: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  Staff members will be available to meet parents in various locations around the school. Due to the tremendous turnout of GWSS parents we have asked staff to keep interviews to a maximum of  5 minutes in order to meet as many parents as possible. If you require a more detailed interview with a staff member, please contact the teacher directly to set a mutually convenient date and time.

Parents who are unable to attend this evening are encouraged to make personal contact with specific staff members to arrange a mutually convenient time to connect (in person or via email) in order to review your student’s performance over the first 5 weeks of the semester. By the same token, as the evening will conclude promptly at 8:30 p.m., if you encounter a problem connecting with a specific teacher on Thursday night, please do not hesitate to contact the teacher by email to set up a mutually convenient date and time to discuss your child’s progress.

PLEASE NOTE: Guidance Counsellors, Special Education Teachers, and our Student Success Teacher will be available in the Student Services area adjacent to the Main Office.

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.

GWSS is Scent Free

Our school is a Scent Free Environment. Please help us to accommodate the members of our school community who are sensitive and/or allergic to fragrances and other scented products by keeping the air fragrance free. Please do not wear fragrances or scented products. Thank you.

Earth Hour 2023

The Halton District School Board proudly joins communities around the world in support of Earth Hour on Saturday, March 25 from 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. Every year, since the inaugural event in Australia in 2007, at 8:30 p.m. on the last Saturday of March, people across the world unite, taking action on and raising awareness of the issues facing our planet. The GWSS Library participated at lunch on Friday, March 24 by turning off all the lights.

Earth Hour draws attention to biodiversity loss, climate change and the need for cooperation to secure a bright tomorrow for all people and the environment. HDSB schools are encouraged to spend at least 60 minutes on Friday, March 24 doing something positive leading into Earth Hour , including:

Participation in Earth Hour supports the Board’s continued commitment to environmental leadership and taking action for a sustainable world ⎼ one of the five areas of focus in the Halton District School Board’s 2020-2024 Multi-Year Plan.

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 are now accepting video submissions from eligible students until April 10, 2023. Don't miss out on your chance to join our morning announcer team!

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:

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

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 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 upcoming dates to browse for formal wear are:

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

Guidance Counsellors

 For the 2022-2023 school year, the following counsellors are working with each group of students:

 Ms. Tolton (A-E)

Ms. Mactaggart (F-L)

Mr. Sanderson (M-Q)

Ms. Hosany (R-Z) 


Google Classrooms

 Grade 9 - bix3yen

Grade 10 - krgiixa

Grade 11 - reyclkl

Grade 12 - cenqs5v

From Your Student Services Department

Tuesday’s @Ten

Save the Date - Tuesday, April 4 @10 am virtual meeting

Our topic for the month of April will be OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program).  OSAP is a government funded program to help support students with the financial aspects of post secondary school.  This month, we will be joined by an OSAP rep from Sheridan College who will outline the program and answer any questions you may have.  The link to the meeting will be shared the day prior to the event.

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

Summer School

Information around summer school registration and course offerings will be available by mid-April.  Messaging will be shared centrally from the board to all families.

Volunteer Club

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:

Town of Oakville Seniors' Centres

One sure way to meet new people, have fun and use your skills is by volunteering at our seniors centres. A wide variety of volunteer opportunities are available, including:

We can always use your help! For more information, please contact or drop by your local Seniors Centre. See locations via this link.

Links to our Regular Columns

Please take some time to click on the below links to view these regular Principal's Blog columns online.

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.

Sessions include: 

Note: An additional session will be available in May. More information will be available regarding this session in the coming weeks.

Registration is required for these sessions as limited spots are available. Parents/guardians can register by completing the Mental Health & Well-Being Information Sessions Registration Form. 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.

Young Women in Leadership Program

MP Pam Damoff is once again offering an opportunity for students to get involved in the 4th annual Young Women in Leadership Program.

The program, which will run from May 23-26, offers young women and gender non-conforming youth between the ages of 15 and 25 in Halton the opportunity to job shadow in a local business, agency, organization, or government. The goals of the YWIL program are to allow young women and gender non-conforming youth to increase their knowledge of specific occupational skills and workplace settings and gain career readiness skills, including the “soft skills” that employers look for in entry-level workers.

 

Those interested must submit their application using this link by the end of the day on Wednesday, March 29. Please contact Adrienne Windmill with any questions at pam.damoff.c1b@parl.gc.ca.

Oakville Soccer Club Job Opportunity for Students

Currently, the Oakville Soccer Club is recruiting youth for the role of Soccer Referee for the upcoming summer season. They have created a recruitment video outlining the roles. This opportunity is an excellent way for youth to develop both their communication skills and self-confidence.

Here is the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfoj6g10TrY

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. 

Future sessions in the series include:

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.

School Calendar & Sports Schedule

Click here to view the sports schedule on HSSAA

Important Dates for Your Calendar

Upcoming Key Dates


Mar 27 School Council Meeting (Virtual)

Mar 30 Parent Teacher Interviews

Apr 4 Tuesdays @Ten Parent Session

Apr 7 Good Friday - School Closed

Apr 10 Easter Monday - School Closed

Apr 12 International Day of Pink

Apr 13 Iftar Event

Apr 19 CP Day - Late Start at 9:30 am

Apr 20 GW Parents for Black & Biracial Student Achievement Meeting

Apr 24 PA Day - No School for Students

Apr 26 OCAS/OUAC Midterm Mark Upload

Apr 27-29 Spring Play

Apr 28 Midterm Report Card Distribution

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

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

If you have any questions or suggestions for improving the school, our virtual door is always open. Please feel free to contact our admin team by email anytime.

Pam Jenkins, Meg Carey, Nancy Annibale, Derek Graham

Garth Webb S.S. Admin Team