Celebrating Education Week: Spotlighting Student Achievement
The Halton District School Board joins school boards across Ontario in celebrating Education Week from May 5-9, 2025. 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 8, we are celebrating student achievement by recognizing the success of 108 students at the 41st 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.
41st annual Celebration of Student Excellence
The HDSB is proud to recognize the success of 108 students at the 41st annual Celebration of Student Excellence event that will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2025. 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://hdsb.ca/students/Pages/Student-Excellence-Awards.aspx
HDSB I-STEM teams selected as regional finalists in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition
Students from the I-STEM program at Thomas A. Blakelock HS, Elsie MacGill SS and Aldershot School have been selected as regional finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, where students across Canada create innovative solutions to real-world problems using Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) learning. The competition focuses on how STEM can be applied to help address challenges, both locally and globally, enabling students to develop skills in critical thinking, collaboration and community responsibility. Learn more: https://hdsb.ca/our-board/Pages/News/News-Description.aspx?NewsID=1327
HDSB students qualify for the DECA International Career Development Conference
Students from across the HDSB qualified for the DECA International Career Development Conference (IDCD), and many represented Ontario in the international competition. More than 23,000 high school students, teacher advisors, business professionals and alumni were present at the conference, providing students with the opportunity to network, learn and test their skills against the best in the world. The HDSB is committed to providing vibrant and supportive spaces where students are inspired to thrive in their pursuit of excellence. Congratulations to the HDSB students exploring their passion for business by competing in DECA! Learn more: https://hdsb.ca/our-board/Pages/News/News-Description.aspx?NewsID=1335
HDSB students receive Youth Climate Action Fund grants
Three groups of Halton District School Board students have received grants from the Town of Oakville for their work to improve the environment. The Town of Oakville joined Bloomberg Philanthropies' new Youth Climate Action Fund, an initiative designed to empower individuals aged 15 to 24 to address climate challenges by funding youth-led climate action projects. Learn more: https://hdsb.ca/our-board/Pages/News/News-Description.aspx?NewsID=1280
Elsie MacGill SS students soar to victory in Skills Ontario Junk Drawer Air Pressure Rocket Challenge
Four Grade 11 students from Elsie MacGill SS secured gold in the provincial level of the Skills Ontario Junk Drawer Races Air Pressure Rocket Challenge: Hamdan Khurram, Haroon Shah, Abdul Mutaal Farhan and Hassan Rasheed. This competition challenges students to design and build rockets using everyday materials, emphasizing creativity, problem-solving and engineering skills. Learn more: https://www.hdsb.ca/our-board/Pages/News/News-Description.aspx?NewsID=1349
HDSB students advance to Skills Ontario Competition
The HDSB hosted the 33rd annual Halton Skills Competition earlier this year. More than 1,100 elementary and 250 secondary students showcased their skills across various disciplines, demonstrating their creativity, technical proficiency and problem-solving skills. Of those students, 47 qualified for the Skills Ontario Competition which was held on May 5 and 6 at the Toronto Congress Centre, with the Closing Ceremony happening yesterday. HDSB students competed against students from across the province. Learn more: https://www.hdsb.ca/our-board/Pages/News/News-Description.aspx?NewsID=1339. Results from the competition will be shared shortly… stay tuned!
Dozens of prizes awarded to HDSB students at annual Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair (BASEF)
HDSB students excelled at the annual Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair (BASEF), held in late March. BASEF is a regional fair that provides young people with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Of the 123 HDSB student entries at BASEF, 70 projects earned awards with cash prizes totaling $17,965 and scholarships totaling $70,000, as a result of the generous participation of dozens of sponsors and charitable donors. In addition, two projects are advancing to the International Science & Engineering Fair and 10 projects are advancing to the Canada-Wide Science Fair. Learn more: https://www.hdsb.ca/our-board/Pages/News/News-Description.aspx?NewsID=1333
HDSB performs well above provincial average in Education Quality and Accountability office (EQAO) results
Results released from the Ontario Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) show HDSB Grade 3, Grade 6 and Grade 9 students perform above the provincial average based on assessments completed in the 2023-2024 school year. These results on the EQAO webpage demonstrate that HDSB students are well above the provincial standard (Level 3 and 4, or a B grade or above) in Grade 3 and Grade 6 Reading and Writing, as well as Grade 9 Mathematics and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (Grade 10). Learn more: https://www.hdsb.ca/our-board/Pages/News/News-Description.aspx?NewsID=1283
Several HDSB teams qualify for FIRST Ontario Provincial Championship
A total of five FIRST robotics teams from the HDSB competed at the FIRST Ontario Provincial Championship in Mississauga in April. Schools participating included Garth Webb SS (Team 5409), Georgetown District HS (Team 4976), Aldershot School (Team 9263), Oakville Trafalgar HS (Team 1334) and Burlington Central HS (Team 2386). The HDSB held the FIRST kick off in January at Burlington Central HS with more than 250 people in attendance. Learn more: https://www.hdsb.ca/our-board/Pages/News/News-Description.aspx?NewsID=1326
