Newsletter June 2026
Principal’s Message:
May truly had so much to offer our school community—it was an amazing month filled with learning, celebration, and connections for our students and the community as a whole.
We were proud to host our Mental Health and Wellness Fair, featuring a wide range of positive mental health promotion activities. This meaningful event was made possible through the incredible support of our many community partners, and we extend our sincere thanks to all who contributed their time and expertise.
Our Green Industries Program Plant Sale was another highlight, and we are grateful to everyone who came out to support this valuable program within our school.
It was wonderful to bring our school together for a vibrant Talent Show, where students shared many terrific performances. This event was a great way for our school community to celebrate the diverse talents within our school, and I thank all of those who participated.
Our History Fair was a resounding success, with over 200 historical inquiry projects showcased. We are immensely proud of the dedication and excellence demonstrated by our students, who spoke so confidently about their research. A special thank you goes to our Canadian and World Studies teachers for their ongoing guidance and support throughout the semester to bring this evening to fruition.
We were also delighted to see our potential graduates celebrate Prom — a memorable occasion marking an important milestone in their high school journey.
Our Arts Night showcased the incredible work of our visual arts, drama, and music programs. The creativity and talent of BDHS students was truly inspiring and greatly appreciated by all members of our school community who attended.
Additionally, we were proud to have a number of students participate in the annual SCDSB Together We Rise Conference for Black Students, which provided a powerful day of learning, celebration, and connection.
As we look ahead to June, we are excited for several upcoming events, including Relay for Life on Friday June 5th, in support of the Canadian Cancer Society, our annual Athletic Banquet to celebrate the accomplishments of our student athletes, and a Graduates Breakfast on Friday, June 12th to honour the Class of 2026.
As we move toward the close of the school year, students will be preparing for their culminating task and final exam days, scheduled from Tuesday, June 16th to Friday, June 19th. Additional information regarding schedules and procedures for these days will be shared with families in a future message. We also encourage strong attendance throughout this important time, as students complete their studies for the semester.
In closing, it has been a true pleasure to serve the Bradford District High School community throughout this school year, and I look forward to meeting our new grade 9 students in the fall. Our school community is excited to be a part of the many celebrations we will host this month, as we honour the accomplishments and success of our students.
My warmest regards,
Heather Lagace
Key Dates to Remember:
- Monday June 1st – CMHA Mobile Youth Walk-In Clinic (MOBYSS) at BDHS
- Friday June 5th – Relay for Life
- Thursday June 11th – Athletic Awards Banquet, 2:30 – 4pm
- Friday June 12th – Graduates Breakfast, period 2, cafeteria
- Tues June 16th – Friday June 19th – Culminating Task / Final Exam Days
- Mon June 22nd – Wed June 24th – Feedback, Recovery & Improvement Days
- Thursday June 25th & Friday June 26th – PD Days (no classes)
- Thursday June 25th – BDHS Commencement, Innisfil Recreation Centre, 7pm
Trades and Technology Night:
Bradford District High School will be hosting its 4th annual Trades and Technology night on October 22, 2026. We are looking for local organizations/ businesses to set up information booths for parents, students and staff. We have a huge interest in the construction, transportation, hospitality and technology sectors at our school so your contributions would be greatly appreciated.
The details of the Trades Night are as follows:
5:30 PM - 6:00 PM - introduction to the trades, SHSM, our technology program & OYAP
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM - information booths in the cafeteria, experiential learning opportunities, and classroom tours
Location:
Bradford District High School
70 Professor Day Drive
Bradford, ON
If you are interested in being a vendor at this event, please contact Shannon Dunn via email: [email protected] or complete the form: Bradford District High School's 2026 Trades & Technology Night Vendor RSVP – Fill out form
Athletics Update:
Spring sports are wrapping up at BDHS! The cricket team, girls’ slo-pitch, junior boys golf and track and field will continue to compete in the first week of June.
We are pleased to invite students to attend our Athletic Banquet, which will take place on Thursday, June 11 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the school cafetorium.
This special event is an opportunity for us to celebrate the achievements and dedication of our teams, athletes, and coaches throughout the 2025–2026 school year. We look forward to recognizing athletic accomplishments, team successes, and the commitment that has made this year so memorable.
Athletic Banquet Details:
- Date: Thursday, June 11
- Time: 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Location: School Cafetorium
- Cost: $10 per student - purchase through school cash online
2026-27 School Year Calendar
The 2026-27 School Year Calendar outlines the key dates for elementary and secondary schools. These include PA Days, school holidays, evaluation and reporting days, and the first day of school. Please note, the first day of school is Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
Feedback, recovery, and improvement days
At the end of each semester, all secondary schools will run feedback, recovery, and improvement days for students. Culminating assessments such as portfolios, essays, examinations, and interviews will take place during instructional days and will be returned to students with feedback.
The last day of regular instruction for students in Semester Two is Friday, June 19. The period from Monday, June 22 to Wednesday, June 24 is reserved for students to receive feedback from an assessment, complete assignments, or to improve on an area of missed expectations. Teachers and support staff will communicate with students who will benefit most from attending this opportunity; however, all students will be invited to attend. There will be no new instruction these days. Feedback, recovery, and improvement days are an opportunity for students to work closely with their teacher if they require feedback, recovery, or an opportunity to improve on an area of expectations.
Co-operative Education:
This month features co-op students at St Angela Merici, Magic Pow and Shoppers Drug Mart.
If you or someone you know would be willing to be a community partner and mentor a co-op student, please contact us! [email protected] [email protected], [email protected],
Guidance Update:
2026-27 Student Timetables
Student timetables for the 2026-27 school year will be visible in Student Portals on Monday June 8th. At that time, if students would like to make a change to their schedule, they will be able to request that through a form that will be posted in the Guidance D2L page. Please note that due to some classes reaching capacity, there may be limited opportunities to make changes. Priority for timetable changes is given to students who are missing pre-requisites (i.e. grade 10 academic science is required before grade 11 university prep biology) or who have pathway changes (i.e. switch to college pathway from university). Changes in electives may not be possible, should a class already be full. Students are asked to consult the Guidance D2L page for further timetable change instructions
Students can access the link to the student portal via this page: Student Dashboard
BDHS is now recruiting future grade 11 or 12 students for our 2026/2027 SHSM programs!
What is SHSM? A Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) provides students with an opportunity to focus their learning and gain valuable experience for both work and post-secondary opportunities.
Upon graduation, students are given a specialized red seal SHSM diploma and transcript which demonstrates they have learned the knowledge and skills of today’s sector specific requirements. The program is open to all students, in all pathways (workplace, college, and university).
These programs require students to complete a total of 9-10 specific grade 11 or 12 courses related to the sector. SHSM also requires a total of 2 cooperative education credits linked to Information and Communications Technology, hospitality, transportation, or construction.
In addition to the course requirements, students must complete a designated amount of compulsory and elective sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses/programs along with experiential learning opportunities. All of these training/certifications/experiential learning opportunities are provided at no cost during school hours.
Being part of the program gives you preferential access to our sought-after technology courses!
BDHS has four different SHSM programs: ICT (Information Communications Technology), Hospitality and Tourism, Construction and Transportation. Each program is designed to prepare you for a career in the field and can make you a more competitive candidate for future opportunities.
If you are interested in joining SHSM and are starting grade 11 or 12 in September 2026, speak to your guidance counsellor!
Summer School
Students signed up to take Summer School are reminded to complete the Multifactor Authentication (MFA) to ensure that you can access your account if you leave the province. This is recommended for ALL students. Students can visit the Learning Commons to get assistance with this process.
If students are still interested in signing up for Summer School, they can still access the registration request link within the Guidance D2L page. Please note that available space may be limited.
University Applications – Potential Spots Available
For students who applied to university but didn’t receive an acceptance to a preferred program, there is a process available to access spots that are still available at various universities, called the Admission Information Service. This process becomes available on June 3rd. Please contact your guidance counsellor for more information.
Community Service Hours Reminder
Students need to complete 40 community service hours to graduate from high school. They can start accumulating these hours in the summer before they enter Grade 9. Community involvement is intended to:
- encourage students to understand the roles they play in their community
- help students to develop a greater sense of belonging
Students are encouraged to choose activities that interest them or help them explore potential careers. Many students complete more than 40 hours, which can be beneficial for scholarships for post-secondary.
The Community Service Hours tracking form can be found in Guidance. Contact the Guidance Department if you have any questions. Alternatively, you can also visit the SCDSB website for forms and additional information.
Online learning graduation requirement and opt-out options
Students are required to earn two online learning credits to graduate from secondary school, beginning with every student who entered Grade 9 in the 2020-21 school year. The online learning graduation requirement now also applies to adult learners, beginning with those that entered the Ontario secondary school system in the 2023-24 school year. The graduation requirement is intended to support students in developing familiarity and comfort with learning and working in a fully online environment, as well as developing digital literacy and other important transferable skills that they will need for success after secondary school, including in post-secondary education and the workplace.
Opting out
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their children out of the mandatory online learning credits required for graduation. To opt out, a parent/guardian must submit the Secondary Online Learning Graduation Requirement Opt-out Form:
https://www4.scdsb.on.ca/app/Questionnaires/SCDSB/ELEARNING_OPT_OUT.
Exemption from the online learning graduation requirements may be requested by:
• the parent/guardian of the secondary student
• students who are 18 years of age or older
• students who are 16 or 17 years of age and have withdrawn from parental control
Information and updates from the SCDSB
This month, the SCDSB is sharing information related to the below topics. To read this information, visit the SCDSB website.
- 2026-27 School Year Calendar
- Feedback, recovery, and improvement days (secondary)
- Online learning graduation requirement and opt-out options
- Use of student information to transition from elementary to secondary
- Shelter in place
- See what’s new in the SCDSB Weekly!
- Kindergarten registration for September 2026 is open!
- Licensed summer school childcare programs
- Spend a fraction of your time on math!
- Digital safety and citizenship resources for parents and guardians
- YouthReach
- June PA Days