News & Upcoming Events

November 19, 2024 

The following message is sent on behalf of the Halton Learning Foundation (HLF) 

Dear HDSB parents/guardians,

Every day, students like John face unimaginable challenges. John is a dedicated student who lives with his mother, who is battling cancer, and two siblings, one with special education needs. With his mother unable to work, John takes on a part-time job to help support his family. But as winter approaches, he is deeply worried about how he will provide warm clothing for himself and his siblings.

Unfortunately, John’s story is not unique. Since the start of this school year, the Halton Learning Foundation (HLF) has provided emergency support to more than 1,000 students. The need continues to grow and we urgently need your help to meet it.

Today, HLF is launching the No Student Left Behind campaign to ensure every student has the resources they need to thrive in school and beyond. We are committed to helping students like John focus on their education without worrying about having warm winter clothing or enough food to eat.

Your generous donation can help provide:

It takes a village to raise a child and right now, our students need their village. By making a gift to HLF today, you can help provide a lifeline to a child whose family is facing difficult circumstances.

This holiday season, you can make a donation in tribute to a favourite teacher, friend or family member and an e-card will be sent to the recipient to let them know about the meaningful gift made in their name. 

Please consider making a gift to the No Student Left Behind campaign at nostudentleftbehind.ca.

Are you an HDSB parent/guardian who could use some help?

If you are a parent/guardian who needs assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or principal, who can request support from HLF on your behalf.

Together, we can make sure no child in our community is left behind. Thank you for your generosity and support.

November 14, 2024

Register for an Upcoming Consent Education Workshop

Dear HDSB Grade 9-12 students and families of Grade 7-12 students,

The Halton District School Board is developing new resources to help students and staff better understand consent education with the goal of creating safer classrooms, schools and communities. We’re calling this HDSB ConsentEd and we want YOU to be a part of it! 

If you’re a student in Grade 7-12, you are invited to take part in a workshop on the upcoming PA Day on Friday, Nov. 29. This is your chance to dive into important conversations about consent, learn new skills and help shape a positive school culture. Whether you want to take on a leadership role or simply expand your knowledge, this workshop is a great opportunity to get involved.

Building on the success of the recent Anti-Sex Trafficking Awareness event for students held in August, this workshop will provide students with an opportunity to contribute their voices and ideas to the development of these new HDSB ConsentEd resources and roll-out. The workshop will be facilitated by HDSB staff on the ConsentEd team (administrators and teachers), the HDSB Communications team and in partnership with SAVIS of Halton, EFRY Hope and Help for Women and GEquity. 

Register now

The workshop is open to HDSB students in Grade 7 - 12 and will take place at Rattlesnake Point Public School (1385 Kovachik Blvd, Milton). Students can register online by Monday, November 18 for one of two available sessions: 

Light refreshments will be provided. 

Students will learn about the latest consent curriculum resources and contribute to their development and rollout at HDSB schools. We’ll showcase materials we’ve created, empowering students to bring these insights back to their schools. Students passionate about this work can join our ConsentEd team as representatives, supporting the resource launch to all HDSB schools in Spring 2025.

Given the sensitive nature of the topic, EFRY and SAVIS will provide on-site counselling services during the session to support participants.

We look forward to connecting with you at this session. If you have any questions, please email contact@hdsb.ca. 

Sincerely, 

Jennifer Fowler
Superintendent of Education
Safe Schools Department

November 6, 2024

The HDSB has a new Multi-Year Strategic Plan

Dear HDSB families, 

We are excited to announce that the Halton District School Board has a new Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP). This Plan was approved by the Board of Trustees at last night’s Board meeting (Nov. 5). The MYSP is our roadmap for the next four years, guiding us in creating the conditions that students and staff will thrive in.

The development of this plan was guided by thorough public consultation that began in the spring and continued into the fall. We are deeply grateful for the input we received from students, families, staff and community members which helped shape the direction of this plan. Your voices and perspectives have been instrumental in shaping a plan that will have a lasting, positive impact on the HDSB community.

The 2024-2028 MYSP builds on the achievements of the 2020-2024 plan and adds a sixth commitment to emphasize the growing importance of kindness, connection and community within our schools and organization. This new commitment reflects the Board’s dedication to creating inclusive and welcoming learning environments where all students and staff feel a sense of belonging. 

The six commitments outlined in the plan are: 

We are excited to share further information as we roll out the 2024-2028 MYSP and we encourage you visit our website to learn more: HDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) 

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and commitment to the success of our students and our community. We look forward to working alongside you to bring this plan to life and to continue creating kind, welcoming spaces where students can thrive and achieve academic excellence.

Sincerely,

Amy Collard
Chair

Curtis Ennis
Director of Education

Inclement Weather Reminders for HDSB Families

Dear HDSB families,

With temperatures still keeping us guessing, winter weather could surprise us any time! To stay prepared, we would like to share information on how decisions are made to help keep students, staff and families safe when wintry conditions arrive. 

If your child is bused to school, please ensure you know which transportation zone you are located in. This is important information to have on days when weather conditions may affect bus routes.

In the event of inclement weather, the decision to close schools and/or cancel buses is communicated by 6:30 a.m. We use a variety of methods to communicate this important information including the HDSB website (hdsb.ca), SchoolMessenger email system, the HDSB Mobile App, social media, TV and radio news channels.

We encourage all families to review the HDSB Inclement Weather Reminders. A printable version of this information is also available. 

Please note: When schools are closed due to inclement weather, both in-person and e-learning support will not be provided. If buses are cancelled but schools remain open, in-person and e-learning courses will continue as scheduled. We recommend students dress appropriately for the weather and follow our safety tips for walking to school if attending school on these days.

Thank you for helping us keep our school communities safe and warm during the winter months and throughout the school year. 

Sincerely, 

Halton District School Board


October 30, 2024

REMINDER: Executive Functioning Supports for Students

Dear HDSB students in Grade 9-12,

Are you feeling stressed and overwhelmed with your schedule or assignments?  Are you easily distracted and have trouble staying focused?  Are you feeling disorganized and forgetful or struggling with procrastination?  

Consider accessing support provided by the HDSB’s Mental Health & Well-Being Department for students in Grade 9 - 12 this year.

Navigating the Chaos

Productivity Over Procrastination

Monthly Learning Skills Drop-in Sessions 

These sessions will cover a variety of learning skills, including time management, organization, effective study skills, managing attention/focus and managing stress. View a full list of available topics, dates, times and Google Meet links. Sessions are held from 4 -5 p.m. and registration is not required.  

NEW: Unlock your potential with Executive Functioning Coaching - Limited space available! 

These support programs are facilitated by HDSB Mental Health Psychologists and Psychotherapists. Students self-refer to these services and no information is shared without a student's permission. Students must use their HDSB email to access the referral forms. 

If you are unsure which support might be right for you, please book a single session with an HDSB Mental Health Psychologist using this referral form to help you decide on the best fit. Additional resources for students can be found on the HDSB’s Mental Health & Well-Being webpage. 

If you require any assistance or have any questions, please contact: 

Larissa Pipe
pipel@hdsb.ca

Lisa Sedore
sedorel@hdsb.ca

Laura Belford
belfordla@hdsb.ca

STUDENT & FAMILY RESOURCES