News & Announcements
Commencement 2018 Info
Click here for information about our 2018 Commencement Ceremony on October 26th.
Emergency Drills
As a reminder, each year our school must conduct drills to ensure staff and students are prepared in the event of a real emergency. While our school has been conducting fire drills, lockdown drills and tornado drills for the last several years, beginning this school year, we are also required to conduct a bomb threat drill.
The following number of drills are required each school year:
- Three (3) fire drills in the fall and three (3) fire drills in the spring
- Two (2) lockdown drills
- One (1) tornado drill
- One (1) bomb threat drill
For each of these drills, there is an education component to explain why they are necessary. All drills are conducted in a manner that is sensitive to the needs of our students.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.
School Trips vs External Trips
We would like to remind parents and guardians that any Westside trips that are being planned have staff contacts and have school permission forms. Recently students have been contacted regarding a trip through ‘breakawaytours’. This company is not associated with the school, and this is not a school sanctioned trip.
There have been many concerns in the media recently regarding companies that offer grad/student trips that provide very little supervision to students. We strongly encourage parents and students to do research before signing up for any external trip.
Wednesday, October 17th Day 2
Peer tutoring in math, science, Grade 11 chemistry, geography, history and business will be available in the library at lunch today.
Anyone interested in joining the girls varsity rugby team come out to room 230 at lunch today! If you can’t make it find Ms. Montgomery! See you there!
Senior boys soccer team – please leave class at 2pm to get ready for our playoff …
OSSLT (Literacy Test) Info
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is set to run on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. All grade 10 students, along with any grade 11 student who was previously unsuccessful on the test, will be writing on that day. Successful completion of this standardized test is a graduation requirement.
An information booth for parents will be set up at Parent Teacher Interview Night, Thursday, October 18, 2018, to outline the …
Tuesday, October 16th Day 1
The library will be closed today as Westside welcomes Mr. Elly Gotz as a guest speaker. Grade 12 students with a spare in block B are invited to attend his talk on international law. All law students should also attend. Toonie lunches can still be picked up in the library today at lunch.
Rock Climbers unite! Any PPL students interested in a day of climbing at …
Monday, October 15th Day 2
Do you ever wish you heard your favourite song for hurry up music? Well you’re in luck. You can now come to the office and fill out a music request form and move your way to class. All music will be checked for explicit language and content.
Senior Soccer Team is reminded to leave class at 1:15 this afternoon for our game in Fergus.
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Friday, October 12th Day 1
Chef’s block B class please go to portable 4 today.
Today is photo retake day – Please listen carefully as we will begin to call students alphabetically by last name to the cafeteria right after the announcements.
Peer tutoring in math, science, Grade 11 chemistry, geography, history, and business will be available in the library at lunch today.
There are two post secondary visits …
Thursday, October 11th Day 2
Hey Westside….listen up! Pink Day is coming up on Friday November 2. You don’t know about Pink Day? It’s our biggest event of the school year raising awareness for Breast Cancer Society of Canada. Tomorrow we will start with our Pump Up Pink Day Friday’s. Get your pink on tomorrow and let’s make this pink day the best yet!
Tomorrow is photo retake day for staff …
Parents/guardians: Take our survey on secondary school education
The Upper Grand District School Board is seeking secondary student, parent and staff input as part of the board’s strategic review of secondary school education across the district.
Read more about Parents/guardians: Take our survey on secondary school education »
Information for parents re: province-wide student walkout
The following message was sent to all parents/guardians via our school’s phone call-out system on Wednesday Sept. 19.
Read more about Information for parents re: province-wide student walkout »
Secondary Program Review: UGDSB creating guiding vision for secondary school education
The Upper Grand District School Board is conducting a strategic review of secondary school education across the district. The purpose of the review is to create a guiding vision for secondary education in the UGDSB to meet the learning needs of all students. We are gathering feedback and information on existing programs to create a current snapshot of secondary education in the UGDSB.
Health and Physical Education Letter for Parents
Dear parents and guardians,
We are writing to you to address some of the questions and concerns we have received regarding changes to the Health and Physical Education Curriculum. As you may know, the Government of Ontario has directed all school boards across the province to use the re-issued 2010 Health and Physical Education Curriculum (Grades 1-8). Since all school boards are required to teach the curriculum that is approved …
Read more about Health and Physical Education Letter for Parents »
Life-Threatening Allergies
We have students in our school with potential life-threatening allergies (called anaphylaxis) to various foods and other materials. Anaphylaxis is a medical condition that can cause death within minutes. In recent years, anaphylaxis has increased dramatically among students. Although this may not affect your child’s class(es) directly, we are letting you know so that you are aware that we aim to create an allergy safe environment at our school. …
Students with Life-Threatening Medical Conditions
UGDSB Policy 518: Students with Life-Threatening Medical Conditions, outlines the roles and responsibilities for all in the educational community to support students with possible life-threatening medical conditions. The prevalent medical conditions covered under this policy are Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Diabetes and Epilepsy/Seizure Disorders. If your child has one of these, or any other life-threatening medical condition, please visit: www.ugdsb.ca/board/policy (and look for Policy 518) or contact the school as …
Read more about Students with Life-Threatening Medical Conditions »
Staff Presentation of the Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) Final Report
The Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) Final Report (Draft) will be presented at the Business Operations Committee meeting on June 12, 2018. 
The meeting starts at 7 pm in the boardroom at the Guelph Board Office, 500 Victoria Road N, Guelph.
The final report has considered the feedback received during the second phase of public engagement conducted throughout May. The LTAP Final …
Read more about Staff Presentation of the Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) Final Report »
Long Term Accommodation Plan Final Report (Draft) – Public Meetings
The Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) Final Report (Draft) is going to be presented at 5 regional public meetings throughout the month of May.
The draft report includes a list of proposed short (1-5 yrs.) and long (6-10 yrs.) accommodation priorities. The report does not include any recommended changes to school programs or boundaries.
We invite you to attend any of the following …
Read more about Long Term Accommodation Plan Final Report (Draft) – Public Meetings »
Release of the Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) Final Report (Draft)
Board staff is presenting the Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) Final Report (Draft) and Phase 2 Public Engagement Plan at the Board’s Business Operations Committee meeting on April 10, 2018. The meeting will be held at the Guelph Board Office located at 500 Victoria Rd N, Guelph starting at 7:00pm. All are welcome to attend.
The draft report includes a list of proposed …
Read more about Release of the Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) Final Report (Draft) »
