• COVID-19
• Commencement at HWDSB
• Senior Team
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• Indigenous Education
• Budget and Finance
• Human Rights Office
• Human Rights and Equity
• Labour Update
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• School Renewal
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• School Year Calendar
• Multi-Year Strategic Plan
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• Wifi in HWDSB Schools

From the Director’s Desk: Welcome & Belonging

Dear Families and Community Members,

Welcome back to a new school year! The first days of September are always special, filled with the excitement, curiosity, and optimism that come with new beginnings. Each year, I am reminded of the important role our schools play in welcoming students, families, and staff into learning spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and included.

While it’s only been a couple of weeks, together we have already:

• Welcomed 55,000 students back to HWDSB
• Supported 3,449 first-year Kindergarten students as they began their educational journey at HWDSB
• Moved over 14,000 students safely across 475 bus routes each day
• Welcomed 45 new Principals and Vice-Principals to their positions
• Had 21 new Secondary and 64 new Elementary permanent teachers join HWDSB
• Welcomed 27 Secondary and 44 Elementary new occasional teachers to HWDSB

…and that is just the beginning of what promises to be another strong school year.

This year, HWDSB continues to focus on achieving the objectives of our Multi-Year Strategic Plan and the goals of our Board Improvement Plan. We take our responsibility seriously, and it is a privilege to serve the students and families of HWDSB. We remain committed to building a public education system that upholds human rights and Indigenous Education, while also fostering a deep sense of belonging for every student. At the same time, we continue to strengthen literacy, numeracy, and well-being, and prepare every student for a bright and successful future.

As part of this commitment, The Director’s Desk will also highlight Days of Significance and important employee recognition celebrations each month. Recognizing these important days helps us uplift the identities, cultures, and histories of our students and staff, while reinforcing our shared commitment to equity and inclusion.

In September, we recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. These days call on us to pause, reflect, and act in alignment with HWDSB’s Strategic Pillar on Reinforcing Indigenous Educational Wellness and Reconciliation. Across our system, Orange Shirt Day will be observed in deeply meaningful ways, guided by the leadership of our Indigenous Education Team and through the collective efforts of our schools and workspaces. Together, we affirm our commitment to truth, reconciliation, and learning from Indigenous voices and experiences.

Thank you for choosing HWDSB and for partnering with us in your child’s learning journey. It is our honour to serve, and we look forward to the many opportunities this school year will bring to support, challenge, and inspire every student.

With appreciation,

Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini
Director of Education