News Board
HDSB Free Menstrual Products Initiative
September 24, 2021All HDSB schools now provide free menstrual products for students in all female and gender-neutral washrooms. Students can now access menstrual products at no cost in our washrooms.
Access and availability of menstrual products in schools impacts the dignity and self-esteem of menstruating students and can impact class attendance and student achievement. The HDSB Free Menstrual Products initiative is an attempt to address some of the gaps in access to menstrual products to promote awareness and alleviate the stigma of menstruation. Free access to menstrual products supports both gender and economic equity and raises awareness of and destigmatizes menstruation. The Free Menstrual Products initiative aligns with the HDSB’s Equity & Inclusion and Mental Health & Well-Being goals in the 2020-2024 Multi-Year Plan, along with Environmental Leadership goals as the initiative involves the responsible use of menstruation products.
We’ve got you. Period.
Bike_Registry_April_2021.pdfHalton Bicycle Registry Program
September 20, 2021The Halton Regional Police Service ("HRPS") has partnered with 529 Garage, a community watch program, in an effort to reduce bike thefts in the region.
Download the 529 Garage App today or visit the 529 Garage Website to register!
For more information about the project, view their BROCHURE!
Online Student Registration
June 28, 2021Do you have children starting school in Fall 2021? Families are able to register their child online through the HDSB website (hdsb.ca) by visiting the Student Registration page. Please share this information with families who are new to your neighbourhood and those who have children starting school in the fall.
HDSB Summer Reading Program
June 16, 2021This year, the HDSB Summer Reading Program is going on a road trip across Canada -- virtually, that is, through lots of fun books, events and activities! This program is designed to encourage all students to continue their love of books and reading throughout the summer months. Visit the program website to learn more.
Also, check out the Virtual Author Visits happening this summer!
Gathering Student Insight into HDSB’s Response to Racism: Grades 9 to 12
The HDSB is conducting virtual focus groups with secondary students during the month of June to gather student insight into the HDSB’s response to racism. The purpose of these focus groups is so we can gather your insight about how the HDSB has responded to incidents of racism in our schools. Gathering this information supports the Board’s ongoing accountability to its equity goals, as outlined in the 2020-2024 Multi-Year Plan and the Human Rights Equity Action & Accountability Plan: The Way Forward.
If you are interested in being a part of these focus groups, please complete the Student Insight Conversations on HDSB’s Response to Racism Registration Form by Monday, May 31 at 4 p.m.: http://bit.ly/StudentConversationsHDSB. Participation is voluntary.
The virtual focus groups will take place between 1 - 3 p.m. or 4 - 6 p.m. on the following dates:
Oakville schools: Wednesday, June 2
Halton Hills schools: Monday, June 7
Milton schools: Wednesday, June 9
Burlington schools: Thursday, June 10
Once students have completed the registration form, students will be emailed a link to a Google Meet for your selected time slot and date. Students who are younger than 18 years of age will need parent/guardian consent to participate. The parental consent form will be emailed to students and can be found here.
The focus groups will be facilitated by HDSB staff in the Equity and Research departments, with school social workers available. The information and insights received will be reviewed over the summer and a report will be developed with recommendations to guide and inform a plan of action and enhanced accountability beginning in the fall.
Learning Models for 2021-2022 School Year
May 21,2021All Ontario school boards will provide the option for students to learn in-person or remotely in the 2021-2022 school year. While we encourage all students to plan to attend school in-person in the fall, we are writing to provide information for students who would like to register for the Remote Learning Model for September 2021.
All HDSB students have been registered at their home school (in-person) for September 2021, including students currently in remote (virtual) schools. If your child will be attending school in person, there is no further action required. If your child requires the Remote Learning Model for September 2021, complete the Remote Learning Registration Form by Tuesday, June 1 at 11:59 p.m.
For information about the HDSB Learning Models for the 2021-2022 school year, and to access the Remote Learning Registration Forms, visit the Return to School - September webpage on the HDSB website.
Asymptomatic COVID-19 Testing at BCS
May 20, 2021Asymptomatic COVID-19 Testing is available at Burlington Central School in the cafeteria (1433 Baldwin St, Burlington) on Saturday, May 22 (9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) and Thursday, May 27 (3:30 - 8 p.m.) for students, families and staff at our school. Asymptomatic COVID-19 testing is voluntary and only for asymptomatic individuals. Refer to the HDSB email sent on May 19 for details. For further information, please view LifeLab’s list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Have Your Say Survey
May 11, 2021The HDSB engagement survey Have Your Say is available from April 26 to May 24, 2021. Students are asked to complete the survey during school time and we invite parents/guardians to complete the parent/guardian survey when you have time.
Parent/guardian feedback and support is integral to the success of our students. Your participation in the Have Your Say survey will help us identify opportunities to improve schools and ensure student achievement and well-being are at the center of everything we do.
Visit haveyoursay.hdsb.ca to take the survey now.
The Have Your Say survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The survey is completely anonymous and individual responses will be grouped together for analysis. For parents/guardians, the survey is available in seven additional languages: Arabic, French, Hindi, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Punjabi, and Urdu.
The HDSB is committed to sharing the results of this engagement survey with the community. A summary of what we hear from parents/guardians, students and staff will be shared by Fall 2021.
Thank you for participating in this survey to provide us with information to support school and system improvement planning.
If you have questions about the survey, please contact Dr. Rossana Bisceglia, PhD, Research Specialist at biscegliaro@hdsb.ca.
New Programs for High School Students
May 5, 2021In partnership with the University of Toronto, Mississauga (UTM), Department of Educational Studies, the HDSB is excited to offer a summer school opportunity to Indigenous and/or Racialized Secondary Halton students. This summer school course is being introduced to respond to systemic barriers that Indigenous or Racialized students may face in accessing post-secondary education and programs, and to provide under-represented students greater access to university career pathways, including teaching and other careers in education, as they move through their high school experience. Any student in Grade 10, 11 or 12 who self-identifies as Indigenous and/or Racialized can take this summer course.
Monday, July 5 - Friday, July 30 - 8:00am - 1:30pm
Offered Online (Virtual Teacher Led Instruction)
Registration will be through google forms
Celebration of Student Excellence
May 4, 2021The HDSB is hosting a virtual Celebration of Student Excellence on Thursday, May 6 to recognize this year’s Student Excellence recipients. Tune in to hdsb.ca at 7 p.m. to celebrate our Student Excellence recipients!
Mental Health & Well-Being Sessions
April 21, 2021The HDSB is hosting a series of virtual mental health & well-being sessions from April 27, through to the end of May, led by mental health experts. Please visit the Mental Health & Well-Being Information Sessions webpage for dates. Register now!
Halton Food for Thought:
Healthy Student Snack Bags
February 26, 2021Healthy Student Snack Bags
When we feed students nutritious food, we are offering them their best chance for success. We want students to reach their full potential and lead healthy, active lives. Halton Food for Thought, in partnership with Food for Life, is providing Halton Elementary and Secondary students, nutritious food to fuel their learning, whether they are learning in school or from home!
Weekly HFFT Healthy Student Snack Bags:
Consist of a minimum of 3 healthy snacks per student per school day,
Include both perishable and non-perishable foods i.e., fresh fruit, granola bar, yogurt.
Are universal in nature,
no fee or registration required.
For more information including a list of HFFT Healthy Snack Bag distribution locations CLICK HERE. More than ever, Halton students need access to nutritious food to fuel a full day of learning. To help support student success, please consider volunteering with, or donating to Halton Food for Thought. Together we #FeedTheirFuture!
Human Rights Symposium for HDSB Students: January 22
January 11, 2021HDSB Students are being invited to attend the Human Rights Symposium via their virtual classrooms on January 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to engage in vital conversations and challenge their thinking, together with keynote speakers: Michel Chikwanine & Stephen Leacock - Agenda for the day. Link to Livestream will be made available through students’ virtual classrooms.
BCHS Alumni Speaks
December 7, 2020This inaugural video features Farah Mohamed (Class ‘89), interviewed for this year’s virtual Excellence Awards.
Listen to her story: Farah inspires our students to imagine, empower and achieve.
BCS Student Leadership in the Community
October 23, 2020We are very proud of our young Trojan who helps put Central in the Community through her fundraising and leadership!
With gratitude! #trojanpride
Grade 9 Take Our Kids to Work Day
October 20, 2020The organizers of this event are doing their best to provide a virtual version of this traditional grade 9 event. It includes guest speakers and videos. It falls on Wednesday, November 4, 2020. HDSB will not be encouraging grade 9s to stay home and find a virtual placement for the day. The condensed quadmester timelines, the overlap of grade 9 Math EQAO and the inability to guarantee placements for all students means that classes may choose to participate in the various segments offered throughout the day. More information on this year’s virtual TOKTW 2020 can be found by visiting: The Learning Partnership.
Are you interested to lead in Student Parliament next year?
View the Presentation and apply HERE!
The 2020/21 Student Council Process for Burlington Central High School - Nelson High School - Robert Bateman High School
Break the Stigma
Bell Let's Talk Day: Wednesday, January 29th
It’s not always easy to tell others that your child has challenges managing their thoughts or feelings. And it might not be easy for your child to express that either. Even though it is normal for people of any age to experience these challenges, our culture has told us we need to fear them. In this video ... https://childrenscolorado.org/stigma
Inclement Weather Reminders
To review inclement weather procedures in connection with school closures and bus cancellations, please visit our HDSB website.
Inclement Weather Reminders 2019.pdfInclement Weather Zone Map only 2019.pdfTechnology & You Tip
Brush up on online safety tips by checking out the HDSB's Technology & You resources on the HDSB website (www.hdsb.ca) search: Technology & You, or search #TECHandU on Twitter for technology tips.
What immunizations (shots, vaccines, needles) does your child need for school?
Refer to the Halton Region Health Department and the Ontario Immunization Schedule for the immunizations (shots, vaccines, needles) needed for school.
Report your child's immunization records
It's your responsibility to report your child's updated immunization records to the Halton Region Public Health Department. Your healthcare provider does not report these records for you. ONLINE REPORTING
Consequences for vaping at school:
According to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 vaping is not allowed in schools, on school grounds, and in public areas within 20 metres of school property. Students found vaping on school property could receive a school suspension and be fined by a By-law Officer.
For more information about Vaping, please refer to the following online resources: