The mission of The Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School is to develop literate students who are innovative, well-rounded lifelong learners and critical thinkers. We aim to foster caring global citizens who maintain inclusive and respectful interactions with others.
This Week at Williams
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
Monday, Jun. 23 | Period 3 Exams |
Tuesday, Jun. 24 | Period 4 Exams (Grades 9-11) |
Wednesday, Jun. 25 | Exam Review Day (am only), Graduation - Hazelton Manor |
Thursday, Jun. 26 | PA Day |
Friday, Jun. 27 | PA Day |
Message from the Principal
Hello families,
As the school year wraps up, I want to express my deep pride in our students’ accomplishments this year. From academic achievements and artistic performances to athletic success and community leadership, our students have truly demonstrated resilience, growth, and character. Thank you to our families for your ongoing support; your partnership continues to make all the difference.
Looking ahead, we are excited to begin a new chapter as The Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School moves to our new home at 11 Spring Farm Road this September. This modern facility will provide incredible opportunities for learning, collaboration, and innovation. We can’t wait to welcome our students to this inspiring new space.
To support this transition, two new ‘school special’ YRT bus routes will be in place starting in September (see maps of these routes here: 426 and 428).
A special message to our graduating Class of 2025: We are so proud of you. Your journey at Williams has been filled with growth, challenges, friendships, and countless accomplishments. We look forward to celebrating with you and your families at our Graduation Ceremony on June 25th at Hazelton Manor. It will be a well-deserved evening of recognition and celebration.
Wishing all of our students and families a safe, restful, and joyful summer. We look forward to seeing you in our new building this fall!
Warmly,
Andrew Gazaneo
Principal
School Notices
York Region Transit currently has two School Special bus routes that service Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School. The bus routes that service the school will be changing for the 2025/2026 school year due to the relocation of the school to 11 Spring Farm Road. The updated route maps are attached and the changes for each route are listed below:
Route 426 - Dr. G.W. Williams School Special via Hollidge changes:
- Route will be restructured to accommodate the relocation of Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School to Bayview Avenue and Spring Farm Road
- Rename “Route 426 – Dr. G.W. Williams School Special via Hollidge” to “Dr. G.W. Williams School Special via Stone”
- One morning trip and two afternoon trips aligning with the bell times
Route 428 - Dr. G.W. Williams School Special via Henderson changes:
- Route will be restructured to accommodate the relocation of Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School to Bayview Avenue and Spring Farm Road
- One morning trip and two afternoon trips aligning with the bell times
Dear Parents / Guardians,
Student Transportation Services of York Region (STSYR) is committed to supporting student achievement by planning and managing safe, efficient transportation that focuses on customer service and utilizes innovative
resources. STSYR is responsible for ensuring all students receive transportation service in accordance with the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) Policy #680- Student Transportation.
Each year, during the summer planning period, STSYR Transportation Planners adjust bus route schedules to accommodate new students, boundary or program changes, bell time changes, and new school openings. Transportation Planners also assess routes to ensure they are operating efficiently and effectively to provide optimal service for the students of York Region.
As a result, some students may experience changes to their transportation arrangements, including their stop location, stop time, route number, or vehicle type.
To ensure you have the correct, up-to-date information, all families are encouraged to check the Find Your Bus Stop page on our website at www.SchoolBusCity.com in August. Please note: changes may also occur from
time-to-time throughout the school year as students move into or out of the system.
Thank you for your time and attention to this information. We wish you a continued happy, productive, and successful school year.
Niall Smith
Manager, Student Transportation Services of York Region
Locker clean out took place on Tuesday, June 10th during period 2. Students were asked to take all personal items home, and all lockers should now be empty. Locks should have been returned to the back office so they can be moved to the new school. Students no longer have access to their lockers.
TeachAssist is a platform for students and parents to access the student record information. Students can see their courses and progress on TeachAssist.
Parents can access TeachAssist through the use of the parent portal. Instructions are available.
As the school year begins to wrap up , please have your grade 12 child pick up their medications, epi-pens, etc., from the main office before exams begin if they aren’t returning to us next school year.
Please see the YRDSB Mental Health and Addictions Newsletter for the month of June which includes a Summer Wellness Guide.
School Mental Health Ontario also offers resources such as: Five everyday tips for a mentally healthy summer break to help you prepare for a summer break that supports well-being. As we look forward to the summer break, we encourage you to embrace this time for rest, reflection, and reconnection.
Save the Date: June 25, 2025 for the Dr. G. W. Williams S.S. Graduation
Hazelton Manor, 99 Peelar Road, Concord, Ontario L4K 1A3
Start Time: 6:30 p.m.
Doors open @ 6:00 p.m.
If you are interested in pre-ordering roses for your graduates please see the website : https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/williamsss
Please note:
- All exams begin at 8:30 am.
- Performance-based and oral exams are scheduled directly with the classroom teacher.
Students must write their exam at school on the day and at the time for which it is scheduled. If students are absent from their exam, they will receive a mark of zero (0) for the final exam. Final exams will NOT be rescheduled to accommodate alternate activities which conflict with the timing of exams (i.e. vacations, employment commitments, appointments, etc.).
Below is a schedule that outlines our exam schedule and important dates for the end of semester 2.
Exam Review Day Schedule - Wednesday June 25
| Time | Period |
|---|---|
8:20 - 8:25 | Homeroom |
8:25 - 9:02 | Period 1 |
9:07 - 9:44 | Period 2 |
9:49 - 10:26 | Period 5 |
10:31 - 11:08 | Period 4 |
11:13 - 11:50 | Period 3 |
11:50 | Dismissal (please note, buses will run at normal times) |
YRDSB and Community Notices
If you are interested in more information regarding the Virtual Summer Teen Mentoring Program offered by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel/York please visit their website.
York Region Sports is hosting a Summer Beach Volleyball Training program for students from Grades 3-10 who are interested in learning and improving on their volleyball skills. If you are interested, please visit their website.
The Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is having their 4th Annual walk on Saturday September 20, 2025. For more information please visit their website.
Service Canada representatives will be visiting schools to help students and newcomers apply for their Social Insurance Numbers, learn about the Canada Job Bank and Summer Program for Youth and the Federal Dental Program!
As a Board, we value the participation of students, families, caregivers, and others at school events and activities. School sports, arts and cultural events may create future memories for some students and may build school spirit and community.
While it is important to have fans in the stands and the audience, being a spectator at any of our schools is a privilege. The Spectator Code of Conduct, which is a new addition to the Caring and Safe Schools Policy #668, aims to ensure that these events are positive, fun, and safe for everyone. All spectators must follow the Spectator Code of Conduct in order to attend school events.
Note: The term spectator refers to anyone attending and watching a school event. The term spectator also applies to anyone participating in a school event (i.e., a team member whose team is not currently playing).
As we reach the end of the school year, schools will be sharing student report cards by June 30 for elementary schools and July 10 for secondary schools. Report cards will be available in the Family Dashboard until July 30. You will receive an email when your child’s report card is available.
For families who do not yet have a Family Dashboard account, you can sign up for an account at any time at family.yrdsb.ca. You can find information on how to create an account on the Board website or in this instructional video.
The Family Dashboard gives parents/guardians secure one-stop access to information and applications related to your child’s education. It is designed to make it easier for families to engage with their child’s education.
Please note, you can still request a printed copy of your child’s report card if you prefer by contacting your child’s school.
As we wrap up the school year, we also want to remind families that it’s important that the school has updated contact information for students and parents/guardians, including home address, phone numbers, email address and emergency contacts. This will ensure that the school can contact families in case of emergency, and also that you continue to receive important communications and updates from the school. Please contact the school directly with any changes.
The YRDSB 2025-2026 school year calendars have been approved by the Ministry. These calendars may be accessed on the YRDSB website at: https://www2.yrdsb.ca/school-year-calendar.
Guidance
Check us out on Instagram @gww.guidance
Toastmasters is offering the opportunity to gain volunteer hours. If you are interested please visit their website.
Looking for volunteer opportunities? - Check out the bulletin board outside the Guidance Office or visit Neighbourhood Network. Need to submit your volunteer hours? Please use this form and submit it to the Guidance office.
YRDSB Summer School information can be found on the Board website. Students can begin to register via their My Pathway Planner account on April 15, 2025.
The Aquatic Leadership Program is offered in partnership between the York Region District School Board, Continuing Education, the Town of Aurora, and the Cities of Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan. The program uses a blended learning format consisting of pool instruction, face-to-face instruction and on-line learning to deliver Ministry of Education credits and Swim, Lifeguarding and Instructor Certifications.
All grade 11 and 12 marks are shared with OUAC (Ontario Universities) and OCAS (Ontario Colleges). Our school sends grade 12 midterm and final marks for each semester on the following dates - please note that the grades are not updated in real time and universities and colleges only see the grades that are sent on these dates:
- Ontario Colleges:
- OCAS 1st Transmission: October 4, 2024
- OCAS 2nd Transmission: November 15, 2024
- OCAS 3rd Transmission: February 14, 2025
- OCAS 4th Transmission: April 25, 2025
- OCAS 5th Transmission: July 4, 2025
- OCAS 6th Transmission: August 8, 2025
- Ontario Universities:
- OUAC 1st Transmission: November 7, 2024
- OUAC 2nd Transmission: November 19, 2024
- OUAC 3rd Transmission: February 13, 2025
- OUAC 4th Transmission: April 24, 2025
- OUAC 5th Transmission: July 7, 2025
- OUAC 6th Transmission: August 1-29, 2025
On October 9th, Grade 12 students were invited to attend a Financing Your Education workshop. The slide deck is now posted under “Classwork” on the Guidance Google Classroom, along with a live document with other scholarship information and opportunities. Students are encouraged to make an appointment with their guidance counsellor for support in their application process.