ADS Newsletter
April 25th, 2025

Hello Bearcat Families,

Just to share some updates about the CBC filming of “Still Standing” comedy hour that will be filmed in our school. The filming will be on Friday, May 23rd after school hours. I am waiting to hear from the CBC folks if staff/students/ families can purchase tickets to be in the audience. The show will be filmed in the gym which holds 450 people. There will be no disruption to the school day. I will continue to provide updates on this exciting event. This is a great opportunity for our school to be featured nationally and have some fun at the same time.

We have set up local food vendors to gradually bring in options for lunch for our students. As explained earlier we will be piloting this over the remainder of the year and then hopefully have all the bugs out for a smooth immediate start in September. Twice the Deal pizza served our secondary students this week on Thursday and this will continue through June. Starting next Wednesday we will have Pita Pit bring their pitas in for secondary students. The elementary students will not be included in the Pita Pit delivery next week but we are hopeful for the following week.

I love to visit our classes and see what the students are working on. I am sharing a quick picture of this afternoon’s transportation class and captured Sara Reinders in action. You go girl.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kelli

Secondary Pizza Day May 1st, 2025

Pizza Day May 1st, 2025

Our school is offering a Pizza Day for our Secondary Students. Our pizza is being supplied by Twice the Deal Pizza - Acton.

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU RECEIVE A RECEIPT AND CHECK YOUR ORDER HISTORY TO ENSURE THAT YOUR ORDER WAS PUT THROUGH.

Choose EITHER Cheese OR Pepperoni- We are not able to provide a combination of both.

Late orders cannot be accepted.

NO REFUNDS if a student is absent on purchased lunch dates. Food cannot be saved due to student absence.

-Students will pick up their pizza in the Cafe on their lunch hour

Proceeds will be used to support extra curricular clubs, student resources, activities and school initiatives.

*** FEE CLOSES April 29 NOON ***

Secondary Pita Pit Order!

We are pleased to partner with Pita Pit to offer fresh and delicious Pita Pit lunches to students every Wednesday for the remainder of the 2024–2025 school year.

Please use this form to place your weekly lunch orders for the months of April and May. Each submission should be completed for one student only. The deadline to submit your order is Monday, April 28, 2025, by 8:00 PM (EST).

Once your order has been submitted, the school will contact you with payment details. Lunches will be provided on the following Wednesdays: April 30, May 7, May 14, May 21, and May 28.

https://forms.gle/qsXDWLZBsx9vRnPr5

A new form will be sent out later in May for June Dates. Pita's will be delivered at 12:30pm

Pricing: (Please note when billing comes out on School Cash Online 2.5% cost recovery fee will be added to pricing)

Salads:

Small 24oz bowl - $5.75

Large 32oz bowl - $8.50

Pitas:

Small 6" Pita - $5.50

Large 9" Pita - $8.25

Smoothies:

Small 9oz - $3.25

Pita Pit can accommodate any allergy or special requirement like gluten free for an additional $1.50.

Elizabeth Fry Group for Girls Grades 9 & 10

The Empowering Against Exploitation group aims to teach young women about exploitation in it’s many forms, how girls can both avoid and combat it. Topics include healthy relationships, self-esteem, online safety, empowerment, and provides resources on health and safety through discussion and group activities.

The EAE group at Acton will take place once weekly, between May 8th and June 12th for a total of 6 sessions. It will run during the period 4 lunch break. Pizza and community service hours for attendance will be provided.

There is space for a maximum of 15 participants. If interested or have questions, please contact our School Social Worker, Lisa O’Halloran at ohalloranl@hdsb.ca to obtain permission forms and secure a spot.

**Ticket Sales Close Monday, April 28th, 2025**

Tim Horton’s Smile Cookie Campaign

Smile Cookie week is back! We are very grateful to the Tim Hortons Acton, 318 Queen St E location for choosing HFFT and the local Student Nutrition Programs through their Queen St store and the store on Trafalgar and 22nd Sideroad.

There are some volunteer slots available for student volunteers for next week at the following times. There is a minimum one-hour time commitment. HFFT will provide a letter confirming the student volunteer hours and we are very appreciative of any time the students may be able to provide.

There is space in each of the following time slots for a maximum of two volunteers:

Monday: 2 – 3 pm, 3- 4 pm, 4- 5 pm, 5- 6 pm.

Tuesday: 2-3 pm, 3-4 pm, 4-5 pm, 5- 6 pm.

Wednesday: 3-4 pm, 4- 5 pm, 5-6 pm.

Thursday: 3 – 4 pm, 4- 5 pm, 5-6 pm.

Friday: 1 -2 pm, 2-3 pm

Please come to the Guidance Office if you are interested in signing up.

What’s Cooking?!

Grade 11’s wrapped up our Cultural appreciation unit making global pizzas that highlighted the benefits of acculturation as we combine foods and flavours from around the world in new ways. This Unit allowed students to expand their food acceptability while exploring sustainable food ways - students made and taste tested a variety of ‘meat’balls, and a variety of chocolate chip cookies - can you guess which was made with cricket flour!

YEARBOOK ORDER OPEN!

Hello Acton Families,

Softcover and hardcover yearbooks are now available for purchase on School Cash Online.

To order, please visit your student(s)' School Cash Online account.

Deadline to order: May 9th, 2025

Don’t miss out on the memories—order your yearbook today!

Marketing Field Trip - Sheridan & Square One - Students visited Sheridan

College and participated in a marketing workshop where they applied the P’s of marketing in creating their own pop-up shop!

Career Coaches Presentation Announcement

Attention parents/guardians of Grade 10 students!

On Monday, April 29th, during Period 3 class, our grade 10s will be participating in a special Career Coaches session, sponsored by the Halton Industry Education Council and funded by the Ontario Government.

This is a great opportunity to connect with professionals who have made their way into various industries and travelled many different pathways. All Grade 10 students will be divided into 12 small groups to meet and speak with industry volunteers, who will share insights about their career paths, experiences, and advice for the future. Have your student ask what group number they will be in for the event from their period 3 teacher.

So, encourage your grade 10 to: Get ready to ask questions, engage with the coaches and listen to real-world knowledge that can help shape their future!

SPRING FORMAL! - Last week, the Student Council hosted a wonderful Spring Dance! The event was a huge success, filled with food, dancing, fun games and great memories! Special thank you to all the staff that helped supervise, for our community volunteers that brought the best lighting and DJ experience, and Mr.Fraser for building Giant Jenga and Cornhole for our games zone!

Courtesy Seat Application for Next School Year

Each year, in accordance with Halton Student Transportation Services Procedure HS-1-004 – Courtesy Seats, families with children who are not eligible for school bus transportation to and from school, may apply for a courtesy seat. The HSTS Courtesy Seat online application will be open for submissions from April 15th, 2025 until Monday, June 30th, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.

HSTS will complete the courtesy seat application review and allocation process over the summer, in order to allow courtesy riders to begin riding the bus on the first day of school in September 2025. Parents and guardians will be advised of the status of their application by the third week of August via email, to the primary contact provided to the school. Approved applicants can access their transportation schedule via the HSTS Parent Portal (Parent Portal Instructions) during the third week of August.

Career Exploration Opportunities Coming Soon!

We are excited to announce that Acton DS will be hosting guest speakers through the Ministry of Education’s Career Coach Program, which is being led by the non-profit HIEC. This initiative connects students with industry professionals to explore career pathways and develop essential skills for their futures.

Students will hear directly from experts about career options, industry insights, and ways to pursue meaningful opportunities.

Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Time: Secondary Period 3 - 11:25-12:40

Location: The Cafetorium

More information, including sectors represented, coming soon!

If you are interested in becoming a career coach click here.

For more information, please contact Shawn Brown at brownsh@hdsb.ca

Thank you for supporting meaningful learning opportunities at Acton District School!

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Grade 12 Graduation

Grade 12 Graduation will be on Thursday June 26 at 5pm here at Acton District School. More details will be shared closer to the time.

Grad packages are now ready for purchase on School Cash Online for $45 and the package includes:

https://hdsb.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/157880/181/False/True

A Gown and Class of 2025 Cap

Grad Breakfast (June 6th-more details to follow) and commemorative gift

Decorations

Photobooth and Photos

Printing Services

Please order your packages as soon as possible and before the deadline on June 2nd.

Please note that all students who are attending Commencement must purchase a grad package. If you need financial assistance with this purchase, please reach out to our principal.

Extended Absence Reminder

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.

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

Important Announcement for Parents and Caregivers: Free Webinar Series on Substance Use, Addictive Behaviours and Youth Mental Health

We are excited to share a valuable opportunity to support your child’s well-being. School Mental Health Ontario is offering a free webinar series as part of the By Your Side learning hub, designed to help parents and caregivers navigate important topics related to substance use and addictive behaviors.

This expert-led series will provide insights and practical strategies on:

How to talk about substance use at home

The intersection of addictions and mental health

Recognizing signs of substance use and behavioural addictions

Current trends in student substance use in Ontario

Technology overuse and problematic gaming

The webinars will also include answers to questions that parents/caregivers can provide ahead of the webinar, giving you the chance to ask questions and gain practical guidance.

Sessions run throughout April and May

Please also see community webinars coming up from the ROCK - Focusing on Access and System Navigation - Information on How to Access Services.

We encourage all parents and caregivers to participate in these learning opportunities. Together, we can support the well-being of our children and communities.

Guidance Staff:

Mrs. Schnekenburger - Head of Guidance

Mr. Brown - Guidance (Period 4)

Mrs. Sint Maung - Guidance (Period 1)

Please visit our Student Services Page on our website for the most up to date information:

https://act.hdsb.ca/student-services

Timetabling Update for the 2025-2026 School Year

We want to inform our school community that the timetabling process for the 2025-2026 school year has begun. As part of this process, we have reviewed course requests, and, unfortunately, some courses with low enrollment have been cancelled.

Students who have been affected by course cancellations have received an email with details about the cancelled course and the alternative course they’ve been enrolled in. Please note that the alternate course is a holding course. If students wish to make any changes, they are encouraged to speak with their guidance counsellor for further assistance.

We encourage families to check in with their child regarding this update and reach out to the school if there are any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we strive to provide the best learning experience for all of our students.

Grade 12 Students - Community Hours are due by May 30th. This is a requirement to graduate. If you need assistance finding a placement to complete your hours, please come to Guidance, check the Google Classroom, listen to the morning announcements, and check the Bearpit TVs.

If you are looking for Volunteer opportunities, please visit Student Services for assistance.

Are you part of a SHSM and want to see the available Awards and Scholarships? Please click on the link:

SHSM Awards and Scholarships

For additional awards and scholarships, please see the Acton District School website

If you would like more information about SHSM, Dual Credit, OYAP or OYAP FAST please stop by Student Services.

Course changes for next year are now closed while the timetable is being created. You will have an opportunity to meet with your counselor about changes before September.

HDSB needs Homestay Hosts in the Acton Community

Homestay Hosts in the Acton Community Needed for Students in the HDSB International Student Program (ISP)

Dear Halton District School Board families:

The HDSB welcomes international students to our schools every year. International students benefit our programs, our communities, and provide experiences that positively shape the worldview of our local students. International students perform better in school when they live in a home that welcomes them and provides a supportive, safe and nurturing environment. We are looking for Homestay Hosts in the Acton area - You can help by inviting international students to stay with your family while they study with us.

Our partner homestay agency works with public schools boards; colleges and universities across Canada. They are well established and provide support to host families 24x7.

Host families who welcome international students into their home:

Grow their understanding of the world’s cultures
Make life-long friendships
Get to share the beauty of their home and community
Receive a generous allowance to offset expenses

What you provide:

Three nutritious meals / day
Utilities including laundry and internet
A private bedroom, desk and closet
A patient, caring, and friendly home atmosphere
The same guidance and attention you would want for your loved ones travelling overseas!

Please share your interest by completing the following form: https://forms.gle/fnHzpFjXpb48Cxxw8

Thank you!

The HDSB International Student Program Team

Halton Learning Foundation (HLF) Month is here! April 2025 is the second annual HLF Month and HDSB schools and community members are coming together to help raise awareness and funds for the financial support, provided by HLF, that many HDSB students need to fully engage in learning such as school supplies, food and clothing.

Each year, HLF supports more than 3,000 students in the HDSB by providing financial support that removes educational barriers and providing the essential resources students need to focus on schoolwork and thrive to their full potential. HLF’s goal is to ensure that they can continue to say ‘yes’ to every request for support received.

Families can learn more about the Halton Learning Foundation and how to support HLF Month by visiting the HLF Month webpage on the HLF website (haltonlearningfoundation.ca).

The School Year Calendar for the 2025-2026 school year has received final approval from the Ontario Ministry of Education. To view the calendar, visit the HDSB School Year Calendar webpage. This calendar is developed with input from the School Year Calendar Committee, consisting of representatives from the school communities including parents/guardians and employee groups. The calendar outlines the Professional Activity days (PA) for staff when schools will be closed to students, as well as school breaks and holidays. The first day of school for the 2025-2026 school year is Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

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

The upcoming sessions include:

Strengthening Your Relationship with Your Child: Resource Overview, Relationships and Self-Care - Monday, April 14 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.

School Mental Health Ontario - Supporting Your Child’s Well-being: Free webinars

School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) is offering a free webinar series designed to help parents/guardians navigate important topics related to substance use and addictive behaviors. This expert-led series will provide insights and practical strategies on:

How to talk about substance use at home
The intersection of addictions and mental health
Recognizing signs of substance use and behavioural addictions
Current trends in student substance use in Ontario
Technology overuse and problematic gaming

Sessions will be facilitated by Ontario parents/guardians and caregivers, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask presenters questions before and during each session. Learn more and register.

Pesach/Passover - April 12 - 20

Mental Health Supports for students:

Support Services are available to students year round! If you find yourself in need with your mental health and well-being over the break, you are not alone. Be sure to use one of the resources that are available to you:

ROCK 24 hr crisis line support: 905-878-9785
COAST (16+): 1-877-825-9011
Kids Help Phone (up to age 24): 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline (24 hr support for all ages): call or text 9-8-8.
One Stop Talk Connect with a Therapist: www.onestoptalk.ca or 1-855-416-TALK
Visit HDSB Student Support Services website.

Upcoming Fashion Forward events

The Halton District School Board will host Fashion Forward Open Houses in the spring 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 dates and locations of the Fashion Forward Open Houses to browse for formal wear are the following:

Wednesday, May 7 from 3:30 - 8 p.m. at W.I. Dick Middle School (351 Highside Dr., Milton)

By Your Side Toolkit for Parents:

A few weeks ago, we shared a new resource called “By Your Side Toolkit” from School Mental Health Ontario, a new parent/caregiver online resource hub and school-facing toolkit designed to support Ontario parents and caregivers in fostering their children’s mental health and well-being.

School Mental Health Ontario has now created a YouTube playlist to support By Your Side. These videos can be used to support communication with parent(s)/caregiver(s) and used alongside the By Your Side toolkit resources.

With temperatures still keeping us guessing, winter weather could surprise us any time! To stay prepared, families are encouraged to review the HDSB Inclement Weather Reminders to know how we communicate important updates about school closures and bus cancellations. A printable version of this information is also available. If your child is bused to school, please ensure you know which transportation zone you are located in. Let’s stay connected and safe when wintry conditions arrive!