Haliburton Highlands Secondary School
Newsletter – April 2025
Students: This newsletter is only sent electronically. If your parent/guardian do not receive emails and would like a printed copy please ask for one in the office.
Semester 2 is well underway. Midterm reports will be emailed home on April 17th. If you would like a printed copy, please contact Steph in guidance [email protected]. Please connect with your child’s teacher if you have any questions or concerns.
OSSLT
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test will be written this week. Passing this is a requirement for graduation.
Students currently in a grade 10 English class will write Tuesday April 8 and Wednesday April 9.
Students not in English this semester who need to complete it, will write on Thursday and Friday (students will have been notified if this is you).
Please make every effort to be present for this. If you know your child will be absent on one of these days and they are writing OSSLT, please let their teacher know as soon as possible or call the office.
Academic Support
We are here to help! If your child is struggling with a class please talk to the teacher to get support.
The Learning Hub is open everyday at lunch and after school until 3:45 with staff members to assist.
Math Club is every Thursday after school until 4:30 in the Learning Hub. Anyone can attend to get help with Math (or other subjects).
Attendance is very important to academic success. If you attend and put effort in you will be successful. Please try to be at school everyday and in class on time ready to learn.
Course Request Confirmation Sheets Due
Students have chosen their courses for next year. Course Request Confirmation Sheets went home a few weeks ago. Please return them signed as soon as possible. You can give them to your homeroom (block A) teacher, or bring them to the guidance office. If parents/guardians would like to make changes, please note this on the form as instructed above the signature.
Job Fair for Students – April 16
Haliburton County Home Builders Association has partnered with HHSS to bring many local businesses and career information to HHSS on April 16. All students will visit the Job Fair in the gym that day. It will also be open at lunch & breaks for students to stop by!
Students can apply for jobs on the spot as well as find out about co-op and volunteer opportunities!
It’s a great day for students to gather info from local businesses and learn about job opportunities in many industries. Thank you to all community partners involved for making this experience possible for our students!
SAVE THE DATE: Hal High’s Got Talent – Open House – May 7
In partnership with our School Council, HHSS will be opening the school to show off our talents on May 7th!
From 5:00-7:00 pm
- classrooms will be open and set up with student work that they have done throughout the year *tours available
- our hospitality classes will cater and set up a delicious spread of finger foods to show off their talents
- community partners will line the halls with info about services they can offer families and students, as well as have opportunities to get volunteer hours
- information about SHSM, COOP and Dual Credits
- Art show will be in the library
From 7-8 – in the theatre
- HHSS students will show off their skills in the Talent Show
- student digital creations will be presented
HHSS Yearbook – Deadline is this Friday (April 11)
The yearbook class has been working hard putting the final touches on the yearbook! This year the theme is “Spotify”. If you would still like to purchase a yearbook, they are $40 and can be ordered through school cash online or at the office until April 11. Don’t miss out! If you don’t order one you probably won’t be able to get one this year. Please don’t miss the deadline!
*Grade 9 students who graduated from ASES last year – your yearbooks were already purchased for you by the grad fundraising committee.
Stay Informed
To help our community stay up to date on what’s happening at HHSS, our Leadership class writes a monthly column for the Echo! It is published in both French & English. Don’t forget to look for it!
If you’re interested in the daily information that we share with our students, our daily morning announcements are linked on our HHSS webpage (main page, on the right hand side).
You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram
Drama Club presents “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” – May 24 weekend
The HHSS Drama club is gearing up for their Spring production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream! They have a great cast and crew ready to perform this hilarious and entertaining work of Shakespeare for the school and community on the weekend of May 24th. More information about the show and how to purchase tickets will be sent out closer to the date!
Pick Up and Drop off
Parents/Guardians: Please try to avoid our bus area (behind the school) during bus times (8:30 – 9:50 and 3:05 – 3:20). If you need to drop off or pick up a student during those times, please do so at the front of the school or in the science wing parking lot. If you do end up picking up your child at the end of the day when buses are present, please do not drive through or out of the parking lot until both waves of buses have left (around 3:20). Thank you to the students who wait patiently during this time as well! We appreciate your help with this.
Did you know…
When our school has a “Lockdown” there is a flashing light at the entrances (with a sign below it). If this light is flashing, please do not enter the school and instead go back to your vehicle, or move away from the school until it stops. This is for your safety.
During a “Hold and Secure”, all of the outside doors of the school are locked and no one is allowed to leave the school or enter until it has been deemed safe to do so. If this is to happen, you will have to stay in your vehicle until it is safe for us to open the doors. Please do not ask students to open the doors to let you in or request that your child be let out.
If these events are to happen, you will be notified through social media and school messenger. Thank you for your help to keep our students and staff safe.
CAMH – Youthvast – HKPR services
A new resource from HKPR Health Unit and CAMH – Youth Vaping and Technology Dependence Support Program (YOUTH-VAST)
For youth who are facing challenges related to vaping, substance use, and/or technology use.
Visit their website for more details.
Webinar Series: School Avoidance
TLDSB, in partnership with Pine River Institute, is hosting FREE virtual webinars for elementary and secondary parents/guardians, and staff.
The last webinar is on: School Avoidance
Tuesday, April 15 – 7 to 8 p.m.
More and more children and youth are struggling to stay engaged in school. What motivates them to attend and how can parents/guardians help?
If you are interested in attending, complete the Positive Parenting Webinar Series Registration Form.
Note, you will get access to all events even if you can only attend one, including recordings afterwards. The previous 2 webinars were on “Mental Health & Emotional Development” as well as “Cellphones & Vaping”.
UPCOMING DATES
Dates for our events, sports, excursions & activities are on the HHSS calendar on our website
April 15: Grad Photo Retake day – rescheduled to this date
April 16: Job Fair
April 17: Midterms sent home
April 18: Statutory Holiday
April 21: Board Designated Holiday
May 7: Hal High’s Got Talent – OPEN HOUSE
May 9: India “Try It” Fair – hosted by our Interact Club.
May 24th weekend: Midsummer Night Dream
May 31: Prom
June 18: Last day of classes
June 19-25: Exams
June 26 at 7pm: Graduation
Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.
Website: hss.tldsb.on.ca
705-457-2950
[email protected]
Student and Family Handbook (linked here).
HHSS is on Facebook and Instagram, if you want to follow us to get information and updates.
Community Events Below:
Ontario Tech University summer programs
Ontario Tech University is offering a number of hands-on in-person and virtual summer youth programs available in July and August to youth aged 14 to 17.
In-person programming is taking place at the Ontario Tech campus in Oshawa, and virtual programs take place weekdays for two hours.
Learn more through the attached poster, or visit ontariotechu.ca/camps.
