Celebrating Education Week 2026: Spotlighting Student Achievement
The Halton District School Board joins school boards across Ontario in celebrating Education Week from May 4-8, 2026. This week provides an opportunity to showcase the meaningful work taking place across HDSB schools and workspaces, and to recognize the achievements and contributions of students, staff and the broader school community.
Throughout the week, the HDSB is sharing stories and initiatives that demonstrate how the 2024–2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) is shaping learning environments and supporting student success and well-being.
Today, on Thursday, May 7, we are celebrating student achievement by recognizing the success of 109 students at the 42nd annual Celebration of Student Excellence event and sharing student success stories from across HDSB schools that highlight how students are thriving in their academic journeys.
42nd annual Celebration of Student Excellence
The HDSB is proud to recognize the success of 109 students at the 42nd annual Celebration of Student Excellence event that will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2026. One student from each HDSB elementary and secondary school is honoured for their excellence in self-improvement, enhancing the school and/or local community, citizenship, student leadership, academics, vocational studies and specialized programs or extra-curricular activities. A link to view the ceremony will be available on the HDSB website (hdsb.ca) and a recording of the event will remain online for friends and families to view afterward.
Learn more: https://www.hdsb.ca/academics-resources/student-learning-success/student-excellence-awards/
HDSB continues to achieve strong results in EQAO scores and independent rankings
Results released from the Ontario Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) show Halton District School Board (HDSB) students continue to perform above provincial standards in literacy and mathematics, with growing achievement year-over-year. These results highlight the HDSB’s ongoing commitment and focus on providing high-quality instruction, supporting student well-being and implementing evidence-informed teaching. Independent rankings released by the Fraser Institute also place many HDSB schools among the highest-rated in Ontario. These rankings reinforce the HDSB’s consistent record of academic excellence and the impact of the skilled teaching and support delivered by HDSB educators.
HDSB Schools Win Top Honours at Inaugural AgRobotics Student Challenge
Milton District High School and Abbey Park High School made waves in the agricultural technology world at the first ever AgRobotics Ontario Challenge, a new educational robotics competition designed to engage high school students in solving real-world problems facing modern agriculture. Of the six schools selected to compete, Milton District HS took home first place and Abbey Park HS received second place. The Milton District HS team developed LifeLoop, a device that automates egg candling and incubation monitoring using AI, while Abbey Park HS created BuzzRover, an autonomous rover designed to transport heavy honey supers on beekeeping operations.
HDSB Students Earn Numerous Accolades at Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair (BASEF)
HDSB students enjoyed an evening of celebration and recognition at the 2026 Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair award ceremony, held on March 24. With 160 projects submitted, 85 were honoured with awards that resulted in more than $16,000 in cash prizes and prestigious scholarships to top Canadian universities. Two projects are advancing to the International Science & Engineering Fair and 10 projects are advancing to the Canada-Wide Science Fair.
Record-Breaking Swimming Season at T.A. Blakelock HS
T.A. Blakelock High School's swim team broke five GHAC (Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference) records, one of which had stood for two decades, and earned two individual OFSAA gold medals, cementing the program's place in school history. Grade 11 student Zayden Dindayal broke a 20-year-old school record in the 100m Individual Medley, while Grade 12 student Melanie Heuft claimed gold in the Senior Girls 50m Breaststroke. The team's success was fuelled by technical coaching from Annamay Oldershaw, a former Olympian and world record holder.
