News Board

A quick look ahead at what the weekend has in store for us, brought to you by our very own Colin MacDougall, who did the weather forecast for Halton News at the end of his co-op semester with YourTV!

Please join us on Wednesday, April 30, from 7 to 9 pm, for HLF Students in the Spotlight showcasing the best in HDSB student talent, live from the stage at Burlington Central! The event will showcase amazing singing, musical, dance, and other performances by HDSB’s secondary and elementary schools. It’s an evening of family entertainment that promises to delight all ages with performers from across the Halton Region. Students in the Spotlight is a fundraiser that will help HLF fulfill its mission to provide HDSB students with opportunities to reach their potential through financial support that removes educational barriers and increases equity. Purchase your tickets now!  HLF received around 135 video auditions, and we are incredibly excited to let you know that five of our talented students, Matthew S., Connor C., Lawson T., Jordan K., and Aidan M., have been selected as finalists for this event! Hope to see you all there! 

September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. Inspired by the story of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad’s experience on her first day at a residential school, September 30 started as an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community intergenerational impacts of Residential Schools. The orange shirt has become a symbol of hope, reconciliation and a commitment to a better future. By wearing an orange shirt on September 30, you make a statement to support reconciliation and commit to the enduring truth that Every Child Matters.

Our talented Central students have been hard at work to bring you the smash hit Mamma Mia, a musical based on songs recorded by Swedish group ABBA! Shows will run daily at 7 pm from December 4 to 7. Students, families, & community members are invited to purchase tickets through School Cash Online soon or at the door. 

Throughout September, Halton Learning Foundation sees many messages of thanks from parents/guardians for the emergency funding they received to help their children go back to school. Food, clothing, and school supplies are beyond the means of many families in Halton. 

So far this month, with the support of our kind community, HLF has helped 168 students receive the basics they need. Our goal is to help 300 students before the end of September, and we need your help to do that. Donate today. 

We’ve already seen a large increase in the number of families struggling in the first few weeks of school. The need is much greater than just a year ago and support from our neighbours has never been so urgently needed.

Who do you help when you give to HLF?

Here are two students who were supported when their families had nowhere else to turn:

“Emma was coming to class wearing her mother's clothes and had very little food.”

“Ethan outgrew his clothes and shoes over the summer, but mom couldn’t afford new ones. Ethan already struggled with his confidence and didn’t always fit in with classmates.” 

You can donate to help students like Emma and Ethan at goback2school.ca. A gift will make a huge difference to the 132 children who still need support before the end of the month.

Can you help one student, possibly in your own child’s school? Donate Now.

• $36 (or just $3 per month) can ensure a student is included on a class trip.

• $75 (or $6.25 per month) can ensure one student has the school supplies they need.

• $250 (or $21 per month) can ensure a student has new clothes, shoes and lunches.

June is #PrideMonth. This month, and beyond, the #HDSB celebrates the historical and contemporary contributions of the Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ community. We are committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and respectful and where everyone feels supported and safe.

Thank you to our staff, students, and families for joining us for our annual Arts & Culture Expo last night! Our evening included an opportunity to showcase our talented students and celebrate the cultural diversity of our school community through student artwork, food, and friendship. 

#gotrojans

The #HDSB values input from parents/guardians, members of the community, staff and students concerning the development of the 2024-2025 school year budget. 

Learn more about the budget development process and share your input today by visiting HDSB's 2024-2025 Budget Input webpage. 

The Halton Learning Foundation (HLF) has provided emergency financial support to almost 1,200 HDSB students since the start of the school year -- 30% more than this time last year. As the cold weather and holiday break approaches, HLF has been inundated with requests from schools to help their students. 

Kids in our schools are at risk of being left behind because they don’t have enough food to eat, warm clothes to get to school, or funds to participate in field trips and other learning opportunities. 

HLF urgently needs your help to ensure that we can say ‘yes’ to every request we receive to help HDSB students with some support to focus on learning and fit in at school. 

A little donation goes a long way. For example:

• $150 (or $12.50/month) can help provide food.

• $60 (or $5/month) can help provide a warm coat or boots. 

Click here to hear from another parent about the impact of your support.

To make your gift, please donate online or call 905-749-4HLF (4453), ext. 102.
 

Are you a HDSB parent who could use some help?

Please contact your child's teacher, principal or social worker and let them know you need HLF's support to secure the basics your child needs to be successful in school. 

*(HLF is a registered charity that solely supports HDSB students and schools. All donations of $10 or more are eligible for a tax receipt. Charitable registration#: 889975223RR0001)

Get ready & get excited for this year’s feature presentation, Disney’s High School Musical: On Stage! Our talented Central students have been hard at work to bring you a musical based on the 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie, High School Musical! Shows run daily at 7 pm from December 6 to 9. Students, families, & community members are invited to purchase tickets through School Cash Online or at the door. 

With cooler weather approaching, we encourage all families to review the HDSB Inclement Weather Reminders. If your child is bused to school, please ensure you know which transportation zone you are located in. Visit Halton Student Transportation Services for bussing advisories/delays due to inclement weather. 

OneStopTalk is a FREE virtual counselling service provided by registered and experienced therapists for students ages 0 to 17 throughout the summer from Monday to Friday, 12 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 12 to 4 p.m. Parents can attend sessions with their child. If additional assistance beyond the session is needed, referrals can be made. To learn more, visit OneStopTalk or call 1-855-416-8255. Further mental health resources can be found by visiting the HDSB Mental Health & Well-Being website. 

June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, an opportunity to learn about the rich cultures, traditions and experiences of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. It's a time to honour the stories, achievements and resilience of Indigenous Peoples and histories as we continue to find a new way forward together. 

Explore the past and honour the truth:

• Learn about Inuit across Canada

• Learn about Métis across Canada

• Learn about First Nations across Canada

Congratulations to our Girls Rugby Team for their GHAC win! We wish them all the best as they compete in the OFSAA Championships in Belleville from June 4 to 7. 

Congratulations to our Junior Girls Soccer Team for their undefeated wins claiming the Halton Championship title! 

Congratulations to our Varsity Baseball Team for also advancing to the Halton finals! #gotrojans

Central’s 100th Anniversary Reunion is fast-approaching and we are excited to welcome current and alumni staff and students from Thursday, June 1 to Sunday, June 4, 2023. Registration is required. 

Please visit the BCHS 100th Webpage to register or email bchs100@hdsb.ca.  

As part of this year’s United Way of Halton and Hamilton campaign, Halton District School Board staff had the opportunity to enter a contest to have Director of Education Curtis Ennis do their job for half a day. Staff raised approximately $55,000 through the employee contribution campaign. 

Our very own teacher, Mr. Sloboda, won the contest on behalf of Central! Watch the video to see Director Enis teach grade 12 calculus to our Central Students! 

Our FIRST Robotics Team 2386, led by Mr. Clement, competed in the FIRST Robotics Competition at McMaster University over the weekend, and was challenged by some world class teams. Team 2386 engineered a new intake claw while making an instant game improvement.  As a result of the outstanding commitment, they won their first Spirit Award and qualified for the Provincial Finals at First Ontario Centre Hamilton ~ On April 6 to 8: Tune in for the livestream! Go Trojans! 

Our Central students, led by Mr. Filkin, competed in the Halton Skills Competition this week. Congratulations to Aiden Dennis for bringing home Gold in Precision Machining and Spencer Burns for bringing home Bronze in Precision machining. Aiden will be moving on to the Ontario Skills Competition to compete for a spot in the Nationals Skills competitions! Honourable mention goes out to Liam Else, Connor Cadeau and Aiden Seepersaud for their professionalism in representing Central with class and dignity. 

Congratulations to the Burlington Central High School Concert Band on their Silver Medal winning performance at the recent GHMF MusicFest competition. This was the band’s first competition and they did not disappoint. The students put in a tremendous effort and had a stellar performance. Please come check out this talented group of students during their next performance, at the Spring Arts Festival, on the evening of May 18th, at Burlington Central. 

From March 28 to April 1 from 7 to 10 p.m., BCS will host the National Theatre Drama Festival. Families and community members are invited to BCS’s Helen Zdriluk Memorial Theatre to check out one-act plays presented by schools across Halton. This is a competitive, juried event where the best plays will move on to a regional round. All evenings will feature 2 to 3 plays per night. Tickets for each night are $12 available on School Cash Online. BCS's Festival feature is Inner Demon, written and directed by Central student Matthew Walker, and is being presented on Friday, March 31. 

In recognition of Black History Month in February, Burlington Central has planned initiatives to celebrate and honour the lives and contributions of Black Canadians, past and present. The theme this year is, Ours to Tell. Centering and illuminating the diverse voices and lived experiences of Black Canadians provides us with a deeper understanding of their historical and contemporary experiences, contributions and triumphs, which is part of Canadian history. 

Our local COBS Bread location is offering Burlington Central the opportunity to participate in their “Dough Raiser” program. Throughout this school year, when families/members of Central purchase a product at COBS Bread Maple Mews and they mention they're raising dough for Burlington Central, COBS will process a 10% donation of the total sale back to Burlington Central. Visit our local COBS to help Central raise some dough!

Ontario has designated the week beginning on the third Sunday of November as Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week to help promote safe schools and a positive learning environment. At this time,  students, staff and parents are encouraged to learn more about bullying and its effect on student learning and well-being.  Halton students and families can report ‘non-emergency’ incidents of bullying through the confidential online Report Bullying tool. Emergencies should be reported directly to the school. Visit HDSB Bullying Prevention & Awareness for support and resources. 

Many HDSB families are in a state of emergency. With the price of food and other necessities rising beyond many people’s ability to afford them, HLF has provided emergency support for close to 600 HDSB students this fall – 30% more than last year at this time. History tells us that our busiest weeks still lie ahead. This season, please consider making a gift to help an HDSB student in need. All donation amounts are welcome and 100% of funds support HDSB students. To make your gift, please donate online or call 905-749-4453, ext. 102.

Are you an HDSB parent who could use some help? Please contact your child's teacher, principal or social worker and let them know you need HLF's support to secure the basics your child needs to be successful in school. 

It is your responsibility to report your student's updated immunization records to the Halton Region Health Department since your healthcare provider does not report these for you.​  Reporting can be done by dialing 311 or via Halton's online Immunization Reporting Tool. Please refer to the Ontario Immunization Schedule for the immunizations required by the Immunization of School Pupils Act. 

The Ministry of Education recently announced that students are required to take two eLearning courses as part of their graduation requirement; this is applicable to students entering grade 9 in the 2020-21 school year or later.  However, parents/guardians (or students 18 +) may choose to opt-out of the mandatory requirement by completing the HDSB eLearning Graduation Requirement Opt-out Form. 

HFFT is dedicated to feeding the success of our students, one healthy, happy student tummy at a time. In partnership with the school boards and our community, HFFT is the sole provider of Student Nutrition Programs in schools across Halton Region. Student Nutrition Programs include nutritious meals and snacks and are available before or during school hours at no cost. These programs are a safe and reliable source of healthy food and are open to all students in a school’s community from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12. 

To help support student success, please consider volunteering with, or donating to Halton Food for Thought. To learn more about HFFT Student Nutrition Programs, visit their website.  Together we #FuelOurFuture!

We are very proud to showcase the skilled artwork of our talented Central Students to our wider community audience. If you missed our recent Spring Arts Festival, check out this video for a virtual walk-through! 

Do you have children starting school in Fall 2022? 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. 

The Halton Regional Police Service has partnered with 529 Garage, a Community Watch Program for bikes to reduce bike theft in our Region. Download the app (ios or Google) and register your bike with the Project 529 Bicycle Registry Program. Registrations can also be made on the 529 Garage website if you do not have a smart phone or tablet. 

In recognition of Mental Health Week (May 2-6), Burlington Central held an outdoor chalking opportunity to help students express their thoughts about positive mental health. Check out the video coverage to see our students in action!

Our very own Jisha G. in Grade 7 will be presenting her uniquely custom painted Muskoka chair city-wide this coming Friday, May 13 at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, in support of Halton's Food for Thought auction in honour of Leonard Cohen. Jisha has been working on her chair for the last month, and although not quite finished, we are sharing the work in progress based on her intricate musical design.

We are so proud to announce that our FIRST Burlington Central Robotics Team #2386 won GOLD at the 2022 Halton Robotics Competition at the University of Waterloo. Congratulations to our talented students, staff, and our lead, Mr. Arnold on your Championship Win!  Follow Team 2386 Trojans: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube

All 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.

This 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. 

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.