Friday October 9, 2026
5th Week Progress Reports
5th Week Progress Reports were emailed to parents and guardians yesterday, Thursday, October 8. Grade 9 students received a report for every course. For Grades 10–12, reports were only sent if a teacher has concerns regarding academic progress, attendance, or participation. Please contact your child’s teacher directly if you have any questions.
Parent-Teacher Interviews
Parent-Teacher Interviews will take place on Thursday, October 22, From 6:00pm to 8:00pm. From 6 - 7, teachers will be available in the cafeteria for informal meet and greet opportunities. From 7 - 8 parents can book 10 minute formal interviews. Instructions for booking interviews can be found HERE Interviews can be booked starting Tuesday, October 13.
The 87 Minute Advantage
On the morning of Wednesday October 14, we are offering 87 minutes of academic and wellness support for our students. This is an opportunity for students to connect with their teachers outside of regular instruction.
Please see the teacher schedule and wellness activities available. Students can choose to engage in whichever sessions they feel would be most beneficial to them. Students can choose to meet with one or more of their teachers, engage in the various different activities, or stay in one location for the entire 87 minutes. Please take the time to plan how you will take advantage of this opportunity.
The 87 Minute Advantage will end at 10:21am and regular classes will begin at 10:30am, following the shortened schedule below.
Any field trips/student workshops will run as regularly planned.
Buses will run on their usual schedule.
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87 Minute Advantage
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8:54am - 10:21am
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Break
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10:22am - 10:30am
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Period 1 + Announcements
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10:30am - 11:30am
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Period 2
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11:33am - 12:28pm
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Period 3
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12:31pm - 1:26pm
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Period 4
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1:29pm - 2:24pm
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Period 5
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2:27pm - 3:21pm
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Scent Free Environment
For many people, a fragrance is something that smells good, such as perfume, aftershave, or room deodorizers. We don’t often stop to think that fragrances might be bad for our health or the health of others. Some of the effects that scents can have on individuals are headaches, sore throat, runny nose, sinus congestion, wheezing, shortness of breath, dizziness, anxiety, anger, nausea, fatigue, mental confusion, and inability to concentrate.
A number of staff and students at GDHS have an allergy to fragrances and experience adverse health effects which can be very uncomfortable. Therefore due to health concerns from exposure to scented products, HDSB is making every effort to maintain an unscented environment and we need your assistance to do so.
We would like to ask that your child not wear or use scented products when they are at the school. It can cause an adverse health reaction for someone else.
Thank you for your ongoing cooperation in making GDHS a safer, healthier place for everyone.
Safety in our Parking Lots
Please use the pool entrance off of Guelph Street or the field entrance off of Maple Avenue when you are dropping off or picking up your student. We ask that you avoid the area between the main office doors and the library/cafeteria entrance during arrival and dismissal times. Please consider parking on a nearby side street and having your student walk to/from there. Thank you for helping keep GDHS students safe!
Take Our Kids to Work Day
Take Our Kids to Work Day will happen this year on Wednesday, November 4th, 2026. All grade 9 students across the HDSB are encouraged to participate in an observational one-day job shadowing experience at the workplace of a family member, friend, or other trusted adult. Information and permission forms have been handed out in period 4 classes. Signed permission forms should be returned to their child’s period 4 teacher by Monday November 2nd at the latest. If students have misplaced their copy, it can be found HERE.
For students who are unable to attend TOKTWD, they have two options.
- Attend regularly scheduled classes (teachers will be taking attendance) and participate in the Virtual Career Exploration Activities OR:
- Participate in the Virtual Activities at home (to be shared at the end of October) (parents will need to call their child in for attendance or it will be considered an unexcused absence).
Volunteers Wanted!
We are looking for strong math and English students to help Grade 7 and 8 kids improve their literacy and numeracy skills. GDHS hosts a program for local elementary students interested in enrichment opportunities on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:15 to 6:15. This is a volunteer opportunity that would look great on a resume and also allow for the accumulation of Volunteer Hours toward graduation. IF INTERESTED PLEASE SEE MS. MENKA IN THE LIBRARY.
We are also looking for strong math, science, and English students in grades 11 and 12 to be peer tutors during a period 3 or 4 lunch or spare for a drop-in peer tutoring program that will be starting in our Student Success Room. The time commitment would be 1 period a week and peer tutors will accumulate volunteer hours. IF INTERSTED PLEASE SIGN UP IN THE GUIDANCE OFFICE.
Mental Health Student Self-Referral
All secondary students have received a message inviting them to self-refer for Mental Health Psychology support including: single-session consults, executive functioning groups, individual support, and monthly learning-strategy drop-in sessions. Please consider sharing with your school community as a reminder that these services are available.
Students are required to register via the following referral form: MH Psych Student Self-Referral Form. For students who are unsure what support they are looking for they can choose a single session on the referral form to help determine what might best support their needs.
Halloween Costume Bike Parade
See THIS FLYER for information about an upcoming community event.
-Admin Team
