Hello Acton Families,

I hope as you read this you are bundled up somewhere warm. As temperatures drop it is important that students prepare for the cold weather when they leave home in the morning. I see some students coming in the door in Crocs! Help prevent the spread of colds and flu by keeping your student(s) home when they are unwell and making sure they get their daily dose of Vitamin C’.

Staff Note: Teachers have been busy learning about A.I. ( Artificial Intelligence) and optimum strategies to teach mathematics across all grades.

Something to warm the heart next week, our annual Holiday Music Night is happening on Wednesday December 11th. Both our elementary ( Mr. Landry) and secondary students ( Ms. Dugas) will be playing and it is just what we all need to get us into the holiday spirit. It is the same night as the concert at MSB but the Acton music begins at 5:30 and will finish up just in time for families to get some fresh air and take in an evening stroll  across the field and attend the MSB event.

Next Thursday night is one of our biggest hits of the year with the elementary Robotics Tournament ( Mrs.Tscherner) in our cafeteria. We have had hundreds of parents attend in the past and we will all be very toasty together as we watch the students demonstrate their amazing tech skills with the robots. So much fun!

There are lots of great days ahead of us before the holiday and we always welcome our families to join us for the festivities. The Annual Hockey Tournament at Acton Arena is a fan favourite!

Have a great weekend,

Kelli

Jingle Jamz 2024!
Please join us for the Acton DS Music Department’s annual festive evening concert!
Wednesday, December 11th at 5:30 PM

Featuring:

•  Junior Band, directed by Mr. Landry

•  Senior Music class, directed by Ms. Dugas

Senior Showdown: Winter Edition Buyout

December 12th  the Girls & Boys volleyball teams will be competing in a snowball spike-off! Grade 9-12 students may purchase a ticket to cheer on their senior bearcat team and participate in a lively half-time game.  

The Intermediate Band is preparing for the upcoming Winter Concert scheduled for Wednesday December 11th from 5:30pm-6:20pm. The band will be performing for their classmates during the day, participating in their regular band practice after school and then should remain at school in preparation for the Winter Concert at 5:30pm. There will be an extra band practice on Monday during second nutrition break. 

Festive Festivities!
Student council has planned a variety of activities to lead up to winter break. Stay tuned or visit the @adsstudentcouncil instagram for details about our upcoming spirit week. Candy grams will be available for purchase next week to be Delivered December 18th.  Spirit dress up days will be happening Dec 16-20th with surprise activities to celebrate heading into the new year! 

Acton Hockey Tournament: A Fun-Filled Annual Event 

On December 19th, Mr. Brown's leadership class will be hosting an annual hockey tournament to raise awareness for mental health, raise school spirit, and raise money for charity. This event is open to students as well as the public so parents, feel free to stop by!

Get ready for a day of excitement at the Acton Hockey Tournament! The event kicks off with the annual action-packed Student Tournament Games, where teachers will join the teams for some friendly competition. Afterward, don’t miss the thrilling Police & Students game!

Off the ice, we have plenty of fun activities for everyone to enjoy:

• NHL and mental health trivia

• A Bake Sale with delicious treats

• Tasty Pizza available for purchase

• Fun Games for all ages

• St. John Therapy Dogs to bring smiles

• Palm Reading for a touch of mystery

• A Video Game Tournament

• A Caricature Artist to capture the fun

Tickets for all off-ice events can be purchased through School Cashonline, so no need to bring cash!

This event is also a charitable fundraiser, with all proceeds supporting Kids Help Phone and the Acton’s Youth Centre. Bring your family and friends to enjoy the games and festivities while supporting a great cause!

Secondary Students will attend Period 1 & 2 as normal on the day, and then 1125am-3:20pm students will have the option to: 

1) attend the arena for the remainder of the day,
2) attend the study hall in the library to get caught up on work, or,
3) be excused for the reminder of the day

A permission form outlining these three options will be coming. 

This awesome tournament is being held at the Acton Arena, Mcknight Rink. The on-ice portion is from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM and the off-ice portion goes from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. 

See you there! 

Grade 7&8 Skating

The Grade 7’s and 8’s are going skating in the new year! Four sets of ice times have been booked for each class at the Acton Arena. This will take place on the last block of the school day on the following dates:

7-1 and 7/8

Tuesday Jan. 14 

Monday Jan. 20

Monday Feb. 3

Tuesday Feb 11

8-1 and 8-2 

Wednesday Jan. 15

Wednesday Jan 22

Wednesday Feb. 5 

Wednesday Feb. 12

 7-2 and 7/8FI

Thursdays Jan. 16 

Thursdays Jan. 23

Thursdays Feb. 6

Thursdays Feb. 13

There is no charge for the ice time, but equipment is needed: specifically skates and HOCKEY helmets. No other type of helmet will be permitted, as per the OPHEA guidelines which HDSB follows. The arena does offer a LIMITED number of rentals for this equipment, but it's best that you try to source your own first. Start asking neighbors, family and friends over the break or hunt on Facebook Marketplace, Kjijij or your local used sports store. There is tons of used equipment out there for this age group! 

If your child does not know how to skate or is unsure of their ability, it’s a great place to learn. We’ve had lots of kids over the last few years that have had a blast being taught by their friends and teachers.

Forms will go home first thing in the new year. If you have any questions send them to Mr. Bloemendal: bloemendalt@hdsb.ca

Out of Area Transfer Requests (2025-2026) 

Students looking to attend a school other than their home school can do so by completing an Out of Area Transfer Request Application. Applications are being accepted from Jan. 6 - Feb. 28, 2025 and can be submitted to your home school.

Please note that not all schools are open for transfer requests. For a list of open schools and to obtain a copy of the application, visit the HDSB website: https://www.hdsb.ca/schools/Pages/Transfer-Schools-within-the-HDSB.aspx.ACTION

Intermediate badminton is in full swing…on Tuesday and Friday mornings at 7:40am. All grade 7’s and 8’s are welcome to attend. Please grab a form from Mr. Bloemendal or Ms. Baxter if you are interested in joining the fun. 

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!

• December 11 Holiday Music Night - Jingle Jamz

• December 12 Secondary 15th Week Distribution 

• December 19 Hockey Tournament Day (School VS. Police)

• December 20 Last Day of Classes in 2024 (*early dismissal*) 

• December 23- Winter Break
  January 3

• January 6 First Day of Classes After Holiday

• January 22 Secondary Last Day of Classes for Semester 1

• January 23 - 29 Secondary Semester 1 Final Evaluations (Exams)

• January 30 Secondary Final Evaluations (Exam) Review Day

• January 31 PA Day (Secondary Only) – No Classes