News & Upcoming Events

Proposed 2025-2026 School Year Calendar

Dear HDSB parents/guardians,

We are writing to provide you with the proposed calendar dates for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

Trustees of the Halton District School Board approved the proposed calendar dates for the 2025-2026 school year at a recent Board meeting. Please note that final approval of the calendar is required by the Ontario Ministry of Education, which is expected in the Spring. We will notify you again once we receive final approval.

View the Proposed 2025-2026 School Year Calendar

The calendar includes Professional Activity (PA) days 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 proposed for Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025.

The school year calendar is developed with the School Year Calendar Committee consisting of representatives from interested and affected groups including parents/guardians. 

Winter Safety Reminders

Dear HDSB parents/guardians,

With the recent heavy snowfall, we are actively working to clear and salt our school properties. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue snow removal efforts throughout the day and into the week. 

In partnership with Halton Student Transportation Services (HSTS), we are sharing some important reminders for safely travelling to and from school.

Snowbank Safety at Bus Stops and School Loading Zones
Families are asked to remind children to stay off snowbanks at bus stops and school loading zones. Snowbanks create blind spots for drivers and increase the risk of students slipping, tripping or sliding into traffic.

Dress for Winter Weather
Cold temperatures and snow can lead to delays in school transportation. Families are reminded to dress warmly for the weather while waiting at the bus stop.

Check for Bus Delays & Cancellations
In the event of inclement weather, please check the Halton Student Transportation Services (HSTS) website for updates on school bus delays and cancellations. For information about the Halton District School Board’s Inclement Weather procedures, please visit the Bus Cancellation and School Closure – Inclement Weather page of the HDSB website. 

Stay Informed with the BusPlanner Delays App
If you have not yet downloaded the BusPlanner Delays App, we encourage you to do so to receive real-time delay and cancellation notifications for your child’s bus routes and runs, as well as general notices for inclement weather.

The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. Safety tips for students who walk to and from school can also be found on the Walk and Wheel to School webpage.

Thank you for your support as we work together to keep students safe this winter. 

Updates to what can be accessed on HDSB devices and networks

The HDSB has made changes to what can be accessed on Halton District School Board (HDSB) devices (e.g., Chromebooks, iPads) and Wi-Fi to enhance network performance for all schools and align with Ministry expectations. Starting Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, streaming platforms and TikTok will no longer be available on HDSB devices and networks for students and staff. 

Why are we doing this?

Streaming services (e.g. Netflix, Disney+, etc.) and social media platforms such as TikTok use a lot of bandwidth and data which slows down the internet for essential educational functions like accessing critical online learning resources and assessments and video conferencing tools. We’re seeing that a disproportionate percentage of the HDSB’s bandwidth and data usage is utilized by streaming platforms and social media, with an exceptional amount of bandwidth being used by TikTok, which is straining our network infrastructure.

By limiting streaming and TikTok access during school hours, we can prioritize bandwidth for the things that are critical to students’ education, ensuring a faster and more reliable experience for all students. 

As you may recall, the Ontario Ministry of Education announced changes last Spring regarding social media access in schools through updates to the Provincial Code of Conduct and School Board Codes of Conduct (Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM) 128. This requires all school boards in the province to restrict access to social media platforms on school devices and networks. The HDSB is in the process of implementing these restrictions, beginning with TikTok and continuing with other social media platforms in the future.  

What does this mean for your child?

The HDSB network, including devices and school Wi-Fi, is intended for educational purposes to support student learning and is neither designed nor intended for recreational use. As a result, access to streaming services and TikTok will be disabled on HDSB devices and networks for students and staff on Feb. 18, 2025. Of course, streaming services and social media remain accessible on personal devices with data plans. This information has been shared with students. 

Thank you for your understanding as we work to improve the educational experience for all students by providing efficient and reliable network access that supports student learning.

mental health & well-being information sessions


The HDSB has announced additional Mental Health & Well-Being Information Sessions for parents/guardians this Winter and Spring.   Each session will be led by a mental health expert in that area who will share their knowledge and provide helpful information and resources. 


The upcoming sessions include: 

Monday, February 24 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 4 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 18 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 25 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.


Families and staff can learn more about the sessions available by visiting our Mental Health & Well-Being Information Sessions webpage and register online by completing the 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. Questions can be submitted when completing the registration form or during the session. Sessions will not be recorded. 


After School Virtual Groups for Elementary Students (Student Well-Being) 


The HDSB is offering four psychoeducational groups for students in Grade 3 to 8 who would like to develop skills for managing stress and worry, learn about thoughts, actions and behaviours and enhance their well-being. This program is based on the TRAILS for Wellness curriculum and principles from Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). Led by HDSB Child and Youth Counsellors, the sessions will be held on Google Meet on Tuesdays or Wednesdays from February 17 until April 11.  

To register for these programs, parents/guardians must complete the Registration Form by Tuesday, February 11 and request which group the student would like to attend. If the student is available for both Tuesday and Wednesday, you may choose both options. After registration, a Child and Youth Counsellor will contact families to schedule an intake session. Spots are limited and final time slots will be confirmed based on registration numbers. 

Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®)

The HDSB invites Grade 9 and 10 students to participate in a modified version of the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®), an evidence-based social skills program designed to help students make and maintain friendships. PEERS® uses video modelling, games and social coaching to help students build friendships and learn how to start/end conversations, choose friends, handle disagreements and navigate social events. The program will be available in person at select schools (based on demand) and virtually after school. Students in Grade 9 to 12 at Milton District High School are also eligible to participate.

The in-person sessions, led by HDSB Child and Youth Counsellors (CYCs), will run weekly from Monday, March 17 until the week of April 28.  Specific days, times and locations will be provided at a later date. 

Virtual sessions will take place Tuesdays and Wednesdays from Februry 18 to April 9 via Google Meet. Those interested are invited to complete a Referral Form by February 11, 2025 to schedule an intake call. If the program reaches capacity and a spot is unavailable, you will be notified and placed on the waitlist.

Gathering Student Voices on Homophobia and Transphobia

Dear HDSB secondary students,

The HDSB values student voice and is committed to creating safe, inclusive and welcoming learning environments for every student. To gather student insight into the HDSB’s response to incidents of homophobia and transphobia, we are conducting virtual focus groups with secondary students (Grade 9-12) in March. Information gathered through this research will help us to evaluate the effectiveness of current policies and tools in addressing incidents of homophobia and transphobia within HDSB schools.

Participation in the focus groups is voluntary. The focus areas of these sessions were chosen based on community voice/feedback and identified needs of the HDSB.

Students who are interested in participating can complete the Registration Form by Friday, January 31 by 4:00 p.m. Students will need to log in to their HDSB account to complete the Google Form. Students can choose one of two available sessions based on their preferred date:

These sessions will be facilitated by HDSB staff in the Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion Department, staff from the Research Department and community partners. Students requiring support will be connected with their school social worker and community organizations. 

When registering, students will be asked to provide an HDSB email account. Students will be emailed a link to a Google Meet for their selected focus group 24 hours before the session. 

The information gathered through these focus groups will help us fulfill our commitments to Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion, Mental Health and Well-Being and Kindness, Connection and Community, as outlined in the 2024-2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan. The insights provided will be instrumental as we evaluate the effectiveness of current tools and strategies and identify areas for improvement to create safe and caring learning spaces for all. The information gathered will be compiled into a series of reports that will be shared beginning in the Spring through June 2025.

If you have any questions about these sessions, please contact the Research & Accessibility Department at research@hdsb.ca. 

Thank you for your continued partnership in helping us create safe and welcoming schools where every student feels a genuine sense of belonging.

STUDENT & FAMILY RESOURCES