The Raven Report

SOAR (Safety - Ownership - Attitude - Respect) represents the core values we expect all members of our school community to uphold. By embracing these responsibilities, we can foster a safe, inclusive, and enriching learning environment for everyone.

Eastside Secondary School is committed to providing a safe, positive learning environment for all students which allows students to thrive in an atmosphere which emphasizes respect for learning, self, others, authority, property and the environment. We actively promote acceptance of all students and we teach understanding, tolerance and communication. There is no place for violence, intimidation or foul language at Eastside Secondary School. In-school and or out-of-school progressive discipline will be used to address any such issues. Students are expected to review the full Student Responsibilities.

We will be hosting our Family/Teacher Interviews on Thursday, October 24th from 5 - 7pm in the gymnasium. Parents/guardians can show up whenever it's convenient for them and wait for their child's teacher to have an opening. If you're not able to make it but would like to set up a meeting at an alternative time, please reach out to your student's teacher directly. https://ess.hpedsb.on.ca/about_ess/staff_directory

Starting on Monday, October 7th, the office staff will provide Tribard bus passes for a student to ride a friends bus. Here is the process we need students and families to follow:

1. Please provide the office with a signed note indicating the date and the name of the student your child is riding home with.

2. Please bring notes with the office by 9:45am.

3. The bus pass will available for pickup at lunch.

Please note that this is for special circumstances only. If your child requires a bus to an alternative location on a regular basis, please complete a bus form to register a seat with Triboard.

Grad Clothing can be ordered through the following website - https://eastsidegrad2025.itemorder.com/ Orders are due by October 20th.

University Fair Trip to Queen’s University, Kingston – October 17th

Skilled Trades Trip to Oshawa – October 22nd

College Fair Trip to Fleming College, Peterborough – October 25th

Applications to Ontario Colleges – www.ontariocolleges.ca with equal consideration February 1, 2025

Applications to Ontario Universities – www.ouac.on.ca with equal consideration January 15, 2025

Lunch time sessions will be available in guidance every Thursday in November to support student applications and research. We hope to have applications completed before the break in December.

As a host family, you’ll provide a welcoming home for international students, offering meals and a furnished private room. By hosting, you build lasting connections with both the student and your community. While acting as a parental figure, you won’t hold legal responsibility. The ISP staff regularly supports host families, who receive generous, tax-free reimbursement. We welcome all family types. Our students, aged 12-18, come from around the world and are carefully matched with families for 5- or 10-month stays.

We are currently seeking host families! If you are interested in this rewarding experience, join us in creating meaningful cultural exchanges and lifelong memories. Please contact the ISP office: 613-966-1170, ext. 62415

The vibrant Arts department at ESS is already blooming. We are excited to announce the creation of a new visual art club called the Living Artists Society. Our nationally-ranked Improv Team is getting ready for the season, and the Concert Band will return for a holiday concert in December.

We are thrilled to offer many dynamic classes in visual art, ceramics, drama, guitar, instrumental music and Indigenous Arts and Culture. Students are excited and engaged in many creative opportunities.

We are currently beginning to line up special guests for the fall and to plan for our first Coffeehouse evening on October 24th at 6:30pm.

Raven Athletics is in full swing. Check out the ESS Events Calendar on our website for dates and times for all games!

Attending regularly and being on time for class are required for academic success. We expect you to be in classes if you are at school.

If you will be away, please let us know in advance. It’s only acceptable to be away from class for school related activities like trips and sports, or illness, bereavement, unavoidable causes (medical appointments, emergencies), and religious holidays. By using SafeArrival, parents/guardians can report an absence in advance, 24/7, using their choice of a mobile app. the SafeArrival website, or an interactive toll-free phone number. Future absences can be reported any time.

ESS is so proud to be our Terry Fox Run on October 10th. Please help our students fundraise for cancer research and follow in the footsteps of one of our greatest Canadian heroes.

Please donate today: https://schools.terryfox.ca/EastsideSSBelleville.

Together, we can make a difference.

It is important for you to take responsibility for your learning and to be focused on classroom activities. Cell phones must be stored in a student's locker during instructional time. If your family needs to contact you, they can call the main office.

As directed by the Ministry of Education in Policy/Program Memorandum 128, starting in September, all Ontario school boards will be required to follow the updated Provincial Code of Conduct. This includes all students being required to follow strict anti-vaping guidelines. Students cannot bring electronic cigarettes (vapes), tobacco and/or nicotine products to school (including school transportation). If a student is in possession of an electronic cigarette (vape), tobacco or nicotine product it will be surrendered and disposed of and parents/guardians will be immediately informed. If a student is vaping/smoking on school premises, a progressive discipline approach will be followed, which will include an out of school suspension.

Oct 10: Grade 9 Day / Terry Fox / Football Game

Oct 10: Early Progress Reports Available

Oct 11: PA Day

Oct 11: Yom Kippur

Oct 14: Thanksgiving Monday

Oct 24: Parent Teacher Interview Night 5 - 7pm

Oct 24: Coffee House Event 6:30 - 8pm

Oct 25: Grade 9 - 12 Dance 7 - 10pm

Nov 1: Diwali

For all events, be sure to check out the calendar on our website: ess.hpedsb.on.ca

It was a packed house for our Academic Awards with over 650 people in attendance! Congrats to all the amazing students. Let the evening be a reminder that academic success isn't just about numbers and grades—it's about the journey, the struggles, and the growth along the way. You’ve all shown us what can happen when you keep going, one more try at a time. CONGRATS to our top mark award winners. These students have demonstrated grit and resilience as they achieved academic excellence. Combined, these students were SOARing last year and achieved an academic average of 95%!

Big thanks to President's Choice for once again supporting our food for learning program! We were successful in our application for a $15000 grant which will go a long way to support our Ravens!!!

At Eastside, we want our students and families to be well informed. We have multiple ways that we will communicate with you:

1. Direct email: please make sure that when you review the information form in September that you verify a correct email address.

2. Social media: please follow up on Facebook and Instagram so that you can stay up-to-date on the amazing things happening at ESS.

3. Website: be sure to check out ess.hpedsb.on.ca as it has a lot of great information including an ESS Events calendar.

4. Newsletter: We will publish “The Raven Report” newsletter each month and send it directly to the email that we have on file.

We also encourage two-way communication between the classroom teacher and home, so please reach out to your child’s teacher at any point. Contact information can be found on our website.