News & Announcements
Dufferin-County Black Parent Advisory Council
We invite you to attend the Dufferin-County Black Parent Advisory Council.
When: March 28, 2024
Where: Orangeville District Secondary School
Time: 7 pm – 9 pm
Weapons Awareness and Reduction: What you need to know. Gr. 9 & 10
Dear Parents/Guardians:
This is to inform you that members of the OPP Police service will be doing a virtual presentation on Community Safety as part of a Safe Communities Presentation for all students in Grade 9 and 10 at our school on Tuesday March 26, 2024.
The focus of this presentation will be on reducing the prevalence of weapons in the community and reviewing reporting protocols and procedures.
If you have any questions or concerns, please call Kevin Taylor at 519-938-9355 ext 223.
Thank you,
Kevin Taylor
Principal
Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) Final Report
GUELPH, ON – At the March 19, 2024, Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting, Upper Grand District School BoardTrustees received the “Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) Final Report.”
The report will now be taken to the Board Meeting on April 9, 2024, for approval by Trustees, where there will be an opportunity to delegate (procedure) to speak on the report.
For more information on the LTAP and the LTAP Final Report, please visit the UGDSB website.
2023-2024 Yearbook for sale!
Hello Parents/Guardians,
Don’t wait to reserve your student’s copy of the 2023-2024 Westside Yearbook! Purchases are available through School Cash Online for $29 each!
These are the days that students will want to remember forever, reserve a yearbook now!
Yearbooks will be distributed in June.
Thank you,
Westside Yearbook Committee
Professional Activity Day Description – April 8, 2024
Information for Elementary Parents/Guardians
Date: April 8, 2024
Length: Full Day
Topics:
- Elementary Topic AM: Mathematics
- Elementary Topic PM: Mental Health and Well-Being
- Secondary Topic AM: Mathematics or Artificial Intelligence
- Secondary Topic PM: Mental Health and Well-Being
Entity Hosting: Upper Grand DSB
Description:
Elementary
- Morning (150 mins) – Mathematics
- A choice of math topics and strategies to focus on with staff, related to resources available in the Grade 3 Essentials, Let’s Go! UGDSB Let’s Learn.
- Afternoon (150 mins) – Mental Health and Well-being
- A curated session to support learning for teams around trauma and trauma informed practices.
Secondary
- Morning (150 mins) – Mathematics or Artificial Intelligence
- Math Departments will focus on math topics and strategies.
- Other Departments, through the principal, will be given resources and information to explore AI.
- Afternoon (150 mins) – Mental Health and Well-being
- A curated session to support learning for teams around trauma and trauma informed practices.
Entity Hosting: Upper Grand DSB
Presenter(s)/Facilitator(s): Independent / Individual
Parent’s Guide to Ontario’s Education System
The Ministry of Education is pleased to inform you that the Parent’s Guide to Ontario’s Education System was launched last week.
This new resource will provide parents with helpful information that supports them to have a stronger role and actively participate in their children’s education. The guide covers a number of subjects such as knowing how their child is doing in school, learning about suspension and expulsion processes, attending a school council meeting or parent involvement committee meeting, and knowing about specialized supports to help all children succeed.
This initiative is part of the government’s recent efforts to increase transparency and accountability in our school system.
The full guide can be found at www.Ontario.ca/educationguide.
Prom Fundraiser
Calling all chocolate-lovers!
Our spring Purdy’s campaign has sprung and the deadline to order is fast approaching!
Stock up on your favourite Purdys treats (did someone say Hedgehogs?) AND support a great cause at the same time. All fundraising profit raised will directly support our graduates so every order makes a great difference to us.
Ordering is as easy as eating chocolate. Just click this link https://fundraising.purdys.com/1705239-115576, fill out your information and click “Join Campaign”, enter the campaign number – 66484, and order to your heart’s content!
The order deadline is March 12th, so get shopping! Once orders close, we’ll notify everyone when and where you can collect your treats.
Please share with anyone you know who might be interested. It would help us so much.
We would also like to thank everyone for participating in our Winter Fundraiser, your support means a lot to us.
Thank you,
2024 Prom Committee
Teacher-Parent/Guardian Interviews
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We hope this message finds you well. As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering strong partnerships between home and school, we would like to inform you about the upcoming parent/guardian interviews.
These interviews provide a valuable chance for us to connect with you, discuss your student’s progress, address any concerns you may have, and collaborate on strategies to support your student’s development and success. Your insights and perspectives are incredibly valuable to us, and we look forward to sharing information and ideas with you.
Please find below the details regarding the parent/guardian interviews:
Interview bookings open March 4th at 9am.
Date: March 21st2024
Time: 6-8pm
Location: Room location will appear when you book the interview online
Format: In person
To schedule your appointment’s, please follow the instructions attached in red below. If you encounter any difficulties or have specific scheduling needs, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Teacher ParentGuardian Interviews
If you are unable to attend at the scheduled time, please let us know.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation in partnering with us to ensure the success of your student.
Kevin Taylor, Principal
Kaley Kowaluk-Mainland, Vice Principal
Learn more about the DELF French proficiency exam
Grade 12 students in the Upper Grand District School Board who are taking Core French or French Immersion are invited to learn more about the DELF.
The Diplôme d’études en langue Française (DELF) is an internationally recognized exam that measures French proficiency across four competencies: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The DELF exam has two parts; a written exam and an oral interview. The DELF is optional. Students interested in taking either the B1 or B2 test are invited to apply.
Please see the following information about upcoming exam dates and more: DELF Information Spring 2024
And for even more information about the DELF, visit: DELF in UGDSB
International Women’s Day Event
Please find attached flyer for the International Women’s Day Event at Markham African Caribbean Canadian Association on March 14, 2024 at 10:30 am – 1:30 pm.
Skills Ontario Events: Umoja Series for Black youth and their families.
These conferences are for Black youth and families to learn about post-secondary pathways leading to successful careers in skilled trades and technologies industries. During the conference, we will provide strategies to mitigate systemic racism, discrimination, and stigma. During the virtual conference attendees will be able to hear from potential employers, including businesses, corporations, services providers, and other relevant stakeholders.
Elementary student event: February 27, 2024
Secondary student event: February 28, 2024
Parent/Caregiver event: February 29, 2024
Check the SKILLS website for updated information and resources.
WHY Survey
In February, Upper Grand District School Board, is collecting information on student health and well-being from youth, parents and school staff. The Well-Being and Health Youth Surveys are designed to help us understand how well we are doing creating safe, welcoming, and inclusive environments in our schools. It also provides important information about the physical and mental health of youth in our area.
If you did not complete the WHY Survey in November, and would like to complete the WHY Survey as a parent/ guardian, please click on this link is.gd/2024parentwhy.
The WHY Survey has been translated into Amharic, Arabic, Filipino/ Tagalog, Hindi, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Tigrinya, Urdu, and Vietnamese. If you require a translated video walkthrough, please click on this link to access these videos. Google doc translations can be found here.
Provide your input on the 2024-25 School Year Calendars
Planning for the next school year has begun and the Upper Grand District School Board is seeking feedback on the proposed 2024-2025 school year calendars.
Each year, the UGDSB’s School Year Calendar Committee submits draft calendars for the upcoming school year to the Ministry. Once approved, these calendars are posted online and outline the school days, PA Days and holidays for the coming school year.
To view the draft 2024-25 school year calendars, please visit the board website.
Public Feedback
Staff, students and families in our district are invited to take a few minutes to provide their input on the UGDSB’s draft 2024-2025 School Year Calendars via an anonymous online survey.
SURVEY LINK: https://ca.research.net/r/UGDSB-calendars-2024-25
The survey is open for responses until February 25, 2024, at 11pm. Your input is important to us and we appreciate your time in submitting your comments.
For more information, please visit the School Year Calendar page on the UGDSB website, which also provides a link to the Ministry of Education website.
February UGDSB Newsletter
Please see the link below. February 2024 Communications Newsletter (ugdsb.ca)
Elementary Remote Learning Pre-Registration for the 2024-2025 school year
During the 2023-2024 school year, the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB), in partnership with Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) and Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB) worked together to provide remote learning for elementary students. While we believe that in-person learning best supports students, we recognize that some families may want their child to learn remotely, due to their unique circumstances.
Final Exams for Semester 1
UPDATED SCHEDULE : Busses Cancelled January 25th, 2024: Final Exams for semester 1 classes begin tomorrow, Friday, January 26th, 2024 with Block B/Period 2 Class evaluations. Exams for BlockA/Period 1 Classes that were …
WDGPH Contact for Immunization Records
Client and Community Support Line: 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006 (Monday–Friday 8:30am-4:30pm).
Spring Purdys Chocolate Fundraiser
Calling all chocolate-lovers!
Our spring Purdy’s campaign has officially SPRUNG! After a successful winter campaign, we have decided to team up with Purdys again, to fundraise for our 2024 Senior …
Professional Activity Day Description – Feb. 1-2, 2024
School Staff will be working on Assessment and Evaluation. There will also be time scheduled for School Improvement Planning, with a focus on Literacy and STEM.
CMHAWW offering 2nd part to Understanding Human Trafficking webinar
The Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington, in partnership with the Upper Grand District School Board and several other community partners, is pleased to announce part two of the Understanding Human Trafficking series.
Free Online Parenting Workshops – January Schedule
Please see the link below for free online Parenting Workshops information! January2024 Workshops
Westside Course Selection Information Night
Hey Westside Families! Do you have a student in grade 9, 10 or 11? Do you want to help your student plan for their post-secondary pathway? Then please join us for our Westside Course Selection Information Night on Tuesday February 13th from …
Immunization Clinic – December 12 at Westside SS
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health will be visiting Westside Secondary School on Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 to provide vaccines to students who recently received an immunization notice for overdue vaccines.
As well, any students who would like to receive or complete their …
Grad Photos – December 4-8th
Attention grade 12s!
Time slots are now available online for booking your Grad Photos on the Pegasus website, at the link below..
Grad photos will be taken December 4-8th in the …
Warm Winter Wishes Donations
Winter can be a difficult time for many families and students, but you can make a difference by donating to the Westside’s Warm Winter Wishes. Donations will be used to purchase gift cards & essential items that are tailored …
Parents/guardians invited to complete WHY Survey to help improve well-being of youth
All parents/guardians in the Upper Grand District School Board are invited to complete the 2023 WHY Survey, in partnership with Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.
The purpose of the Well-being Health and Youth (WHY) Surveys is to collect information from youth, parents, …