Wow! October arrives next week already. Where did the month go?

It has been particularly busy this start-up because we have had several staff changes and adjustments to make. I want to say a heartfelt thank you to Retired Principal Tony Churchill for coming in to be our Acting Elementary Vice-Principal for the past month. Tony’s skills and demeanor make him very easy to work with and the whole school will miss his daily positivity. His last day is today and Melissa Johnson from Robert Little will be coming into the role permanently. We welcome her with great enthusiasm and it is wonderful that so many of our elementary students already know her. They were very happy to see her in our halls this week.

Our staff has not missed a beat from the first day forward. Our Office Staff is like no other. They have been helping your kiddos with everything from lockers to lunch management. They make sure all students are accounted for each morning and have an endless supply of TLC. Thank you to Jessica Skinner who returns every year to beautify our school with her outstanding plant arrangements in our foyer. 

Our AP Prep classes are up and running in math and science, we have had opening assemblies and a wonderful Bearcat welcome (Ms. Schnekenburger, Ms Anceriz, Mr. Brown) for our new students. Student participate every year in Education Day to kick off the Acton Fall Fair and our Leadership class under Mr. Brown gives our young leaders a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate their skills and build confidence delivering games and curriculum content to our local feeder schools. 

Cross Country ( Ms. Shire) and Golf (Mr. Evoy) teams have been out competing and our Volleyball  teams are practicing hard. Our Flag Football team (Mr. Zuzek, Mr Mitchell) is competing in the Kilbride Cup today.  Discussions around this year’s school play are happening. Yesterday, you may have seen all of us out in the community, as we held our Terry Fox Run through the town. Thank you to Mr. Brown, Mr.Leckie, and the Leadership class gain for organizing this important event. We are flying! The return of our students always gives us so much energy and life is back in the building. It was so great to have so many parents come out for our Grade 9 Information Night and walk through their student’s timetable. Every year families start September without the ability to give their students a strong start. 

Many can not purchase backpacks, shoes, to help all children feel noticed and part of the community. You can help them.  This is how I need your assistance to help them:

 Last Chance to Help HDSB Students

Some students in our community started this school year without essential supplies. Thanks to the Halton Learning Foundation (HLF), many have already received urgent support—but the need is still high.

The Back-to-School Campaign is in its final days, and HLF is making a last push to help 300 students by September 30. They are asking for the community’s help to continue saying “YES” to every student who needs support.

Here's what one parent shared about the impact of this support:

“The support from HLF was crucial. It came at the right time, just when back-to-school shopping was necessary. It made my children extremely happy, and I’m so thankful for your support.”

To help the HLF meet their goal, please consider making a gift for a student in need today and Donate Now

Together, we can give students not just supplies, but confidence, dignity, and hope.

On Tuesday September 30th at 7pm in our Library, we will host our first School Council meeting for all committed parents. Come out and attend this year’s elections and maybe put your best foot forward to be more active in your student’s daily school life. Nominate yourself here! nomination form. I look forward to seeing our parents next Tuesday!

Have a beautiful weekend,

Kelli

Each year, the HDSB Student Senate welcomes students from schools across the board to advocate for student voices at the board level. These students could identify challenges affecting students in schools and work towards student-led solutions for these problems.

The process to nominate students to be a rep has begun. We will have one student senate rep nominated from our gr 7 and 8 cohort and two senate reps nominated from the gr 9 - 12 cohort.

Some info about the position:

The position of Student Senator is one that requires hard work, dedication to community, and a commitment to attend 1 meeting per month. These meetings will take place from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Some meetings are virtual and some are in person. 

For interested students, this Google Form needs to be completed by Oct 1st. You can post the link to the form on your google classroom.

Grade 12 Leaders & Ag/Vet SHSM Students Shine at Acton Fall Fair Education Day

Last week, the Grade 12 Leadership class and the Agriculture & Veterinary (Ag & Vet) SHSM students proudly represented our school at the Education Day of the Acton Fall Fair.

Throughout the day, these students welcomed visiting classes from local elementary schools and guided them through the many exciting exhibits. From helping with interactive agricultural displays to answering questions about farm animals and rural life, our students made sure every guest had a fun and educational experience.

A big thank you to our Grade 12 Leadership and Ag & Vet SHSM students for being good  ambassadors of our school and for bringing learning to life in our community!

On September 30th Wear ORANGE!

Every year on September 30th, people across Canada acknowledge the history and voices of Indigenous people of this land. We continue to feel the tremendous impacts of residential schools, so on National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, we wear Orange as a symbol of what was lost to the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit, but also of their resilience in the face of adversity. 

On the 30th, The ADS Equity Team has prepared a few events to help commemorate the day. At the beginning of period 2, students and staff will be welcomed to attend an “Every Child Matters” flag raising ceremony. During lunch and periods 3 and 4, students are invited to come to the BEAR PIT to donate 25 cents for an Orange Shirt Pin and/or to purchase baked treats with the proceeds going to the “Water First Charity Fund. Please help us to reach our goals by donating in person or by accessing our Acton District Cares Charity Page: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/acton-district-cares/

School immunization clinics

New for 2025/26: Halton Region Public Health will be visiting schools October through January to offer grade 7 and 8 students school-based vaccines. Nurses will no longer be visiting schools in the spring. The clinic for Acton District Grade 7's will be held on Tuesday October 14th, 2025.

If your child has already received these vaccines from their primary healthcare provider, please review and update your child’s immunization record (external link).

At school clinics, eligible students who have a consent form consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian will be offered:

• Meningococcal Conjugate-ACYW-135 (Nimenrix®, Menactra®)

• Hepatitis B (ENGERIX®-B)

• Human Papillomavirus (GARDASIL®9)

Grade 12 Post-Secondary Application Information Night 
Monday, October 6, 2025

Attention Grade 12 students and families!

Acton District School will be hosting a Post-Secondary Application Information Session on Monday, October 6, 2025, in the Acton District School library. This session will walk you through the steps of applying to colleges and universities in Ontario.

📅 Date: Monday, October 6, 2025
📍 Location: Acton District School Library

Schedule:

• 🕕 6:00 – 6:30 PM – How to Apply to Ontario Colleges
  
  

• 🕡 6:30 – 7:00 PM – How to Apply to Ontario Universities
  
  

Grade 12 students and their families are encouraged to attend one or both sessions based on their child’s post-secondary plans.

✅ Please indicate your interest by filling out this Google Form by Thursday, October 4, 2025.  Your response will help us plan for seating and materials. 

School Cash Online

At Acton District., we use School Cash Online for all payments made to the school. It is recommended that you set up your account so you are prepared for any fees that pertain to your student throughout the school year.

Some of the benefits of using School Cash Online include:

· Ability to pay by credit card and Visa debit or echeck(out of bank account)

· Receive reminder emails so you never miss a payment due date

· See only items available to purchase online that are applicable to your student(s)

· Uses Google Translate in over 100 languages to assist you when making purchases

· Make an online donation and receive your tax receipt by email

· Support available 24 x 7

Visit hdsb.schoolcashonline.com to sign up today and have the ability to track all payments made. You will need the Halton student number for your student (not the OEN)  in order to set up an account. Please contact the school at 519.853.2920 if you don’t have your student’s number.

Secondary Pizza Day May 15th, 2025

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. 

• September 17 Fall Grad Assembly

• September 18 School Photo Day

• September 23 Halton Water Festival

• September 30 Parent Council Meeting

• October 7 3rd Annual Forest Festival

• October 8 Elementary Track and Field

• October 9 5th Week Reports

• October 10 PA Day

• October 13 Thanksgiving (School Closed)