Be.Connected@HWDSB
news

Be.Connected@HWDSB: April

April 10, 2026

As we enter the final three months of the school year, we arrive at an important moment for reflection and renewed focus. This time invites us to pause and check in on the goals we set at the beginning of the year, the supports we continue to provide, and the impact we are striving to have on student achievement across our system. 

Grounded in our shared commitment to excellence for every learner, these final months of the school year challenge us not only to aspire to that excellence, but to intentionally create the conditions that allow every student to reach it. This is a time to realign our efforts, sharpen our focus, and ensure that the work we do each day is helping students move forward—academically, socially, and emotionally. 

In this edition of Be Connected, we are proud to highlight the many ways our schools, staff, and partners continue to support student achievement and well-being. You’ll see how literacy instruction is evolving and strengthening how student engagement is flourishing through choirs, bands, and extracurricular opportunities, how music education is thriving through outstanding leadership and recognition; how community partnerships are expanding access to mentorship, belonging, and care; how nutrition initiatives are helping students learn and thrive; and how program and equity efforts are opening pathways so every learner can see themselves reflected in their future. 

As always, thank you for your continued dedication, collaboration, and commitment to our students. Together, we move into the final stretch of the school year with clarity, purpose, and a shared belief in and commitment to the potential of every learner. 

Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini
Director of Education 

APRIL EDITION: FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

This month’s edition highlights the importance of mental health and well-being as HWDSB enters the final three months of the school year, recognizing this period as both meaningful and demanding for students and families. It reinforces the Board’s commitment, through its Multi-Year Strategic Plan, to create inclusive, supportive learning environments where well-being and achievement go hand in hand.  

You can find that message here: April’s from the Director’s Desk 

COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIES REGARDING BEAR SPRAY USAGE 

Hamilton Police Services have launched a campaign regarding the dangers and consequences of using bear spray. Part of this work includes information sessions available in the community for families and caregivers. Below are the dates & details:

In Person Session 

  • Tuesday, April 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 55 York Blvd, Hamilton 
  • Thursday, April 16 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Valley Park Library, 970 Paramount Drive, Stoney Creek 
  • Tuesday, April 21 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Les Chater Family YMCA, 356 Rymal Road, Hamilton 

Virtual Session

  • Tuesday, May 12 at 5:30 p.m. Platform details will be provided upon registration.  
  • Please register at [email protected] 

Find out more about the campaign here: Hamilton Police Address Increase in Youth Violence 

ONE CRUNCH – AN IMPRESSION THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME 

Across our system, we continue to seek meaningful ways to make learning about nutrition engaging, memorable, and connected to students lived experiences. I was delighted to join students, staff, and community partners at Shannen Koostachin Elementary School to celebrate the Great Big Crunch: an event that truly brings these goals to life. 

This joyful moment of shared learning would not have been possible without the leadership and care of our community partners, including Taste Buds Hamilton, the Healthy Action Team, Healthy Action Educator Melissa Ritchie, and Farmer Mr. Drummond of Drummond Farms. Their collaboration reflects a deep commitment to student well‑being and to building strong connections between schools and the wider community. 

Since 2008, the Great Big Crunch has brought together students and community members across Hamilton in a simple yet powerful way—learning about healthy eating and local food systems through one synchronized apple crunch. Our Nutrition Programs continue to support healthy eating habits, and overall student well‑being through equity of access —values that are central to HWDSB’s Mission. 

I especially enjoyed hearing directly from the students. Their apple‑themed reflections and student‑created video demonstrated thoughtful engagement with wellness and healthy choices, reminding us how essential student voice is in shaping vibrant, inclusive school communities. 

It was truly a joy to crunch together and to celebrate the power of healthy food, community partnership, and student voice.  Let’s continue the conversation about Nutrition around HWDSB. 

2026 LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

We are looking forward to welcoming students and leaders to an upcoming Student Leadership Gathering on April 17, 2026 taking place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the HWDSB Education Centre. 

Organized by the Student Trustees and Senate, this event is designed to center student voice, connection, and leadership while creating a welcoming, intentional space for learning and collaboration!   

Interested in attending? Connect with your guidance counselor or student success teacher!  

Date: Friday April 17, 2026 | Time: 9am – 1pm  | Location: Education Centre , 180’s  

Sessions Include:  

  • Be you Be the leader you aspire to be @HWDSB 
  • How to Stand Out as a Leader   
  • Indigenous Governance 
  • HWDSB behind the Board Table   
  • Self-awareness and How to Make the Most out of Volunteering   

HELP SPREAD THE WORD – SUMMER CO-OP DEADLINE APPROACHING 

Summer Co‑op registration will close on April 27, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Please remind and encourage students to complete their registration before the deadline. Thank you for your continued support in helping students access meaningful co‑op experiences.  

https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/cce/summer/summer-credit-programs/summer-co-op/  

FOCUS ON YOUTH IS BACK!

I’d like to take a moment to highlight Focus on Youth, an important summer work program within the Hamilton‑Wentworth District School Board that supports student leadership, community engagement, and skill development. Since 2008, this program has provided meaningful employment opportunities for students while strengthening connections between our schools and communities across Hamilton.

I’m pleased to share that Focus on Youth 2026 is now accepting applications, with the application window open from April 1 to May 1, 2026. The program runs from July 6 to August 21, offering community‑focused placements throughout the city. Students work 32 hours per week, Monday to Friday, and are able to earn two co‑op credits while gaining valuable, hands‑on experience.

Focus on Youth is ideal for students who are passionate about contributing to their communities, developing leadership skills, and working alongside HWDSB staff and students. I encourage you to share this opportunity with eligible students and families and to support awareness of the program within your schools.

This initiative reflects our broader commitment to student success, experiential learning, and community partnership, and I thank you for helping to champion opportunities like Focus on Youth across our system.

JUNOS 2026 WRAP UP 

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Raquel McIntosh, named the 2026 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award recipient—an exceptional honour awarded to just five nominated educators across Canada. This national recognition reflects not only Raquel’s outstanding talent as a music educator, but also the vibrant, inclusive learning environment she has cultivated at Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School, where students have discovered confidence, creativity, and a strong sense of community through music. 

As the JUNOs arrived in Hamilton, HWDSB proudly showcased the remarkable musical talent within our schools through our new JUNO Juniors Instagram series—an initiative unique to our board. The series offered a joyful window into students’ creativity while highlighting Raquel’s transformative impact, including rebuilding music programs, nurturing student voice, and ensuring every learner felt seen, supported, and celebrated through the arts. 

Raquel’s achievement is a powerful reminder of the dedication and passion of HWDSB educators, and of the role that strong community partnerships play in helping students unlock their potential and deepen their sense of belonging.