September 29 2025 • Issue #68
Celebrating the incredible achievements, inspiring moments
and everyday successes that make our district a wonderful
place for students, families and staff.
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We were so excited to welcome students, staff and families back for the 2025-2026 year. By focusing on supporting student achievement, we are looking forward to another incredible year at Thames Valley.
As part of #TVDSBFirstDay, we welcomed students and families to two brand new schools – Northwest Public and White Pine Public School. We can’t wait to see where Thames Valley takes you!
| Best First Day with the Thames Valley Education Foundation | |
The Thames Valley Education Foundation and United Way Elgin Middlesex distributed over 4000 backpacks filled with essential school supplies to students as part of our ‘Best First Day’ backpack drive.
This community-wide initiative aims to give every student in the Thames Valley District School Board the supplies they need to go back to school in September. This not only helps foster educational success but gives them confidence and pride as they head back to school.
We are incredibly grateful for the community support, generous donations, and hundreds of volunteers who came to help us pack bags. Let’s do it again next year!
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Thames Valley District School Board was pleased to offer a wide range of summer program offerings during Summer 2025.
In addition to Virtual Summer School courses, Thames Valley offered a Cooperative Education Program, In-Person Summer Programming for First Nation, Métis or Inuit Identifying Students, a Travel for Credit program, and non-credit programs such as High School Here I Come!
Thames Valley’s Summer Learning Programs enable students to gain and improve credits, experience new learning opportunities, reduce learning loss through the summer and continue social skills development.
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Thames Valley BSU hosts
Black Graduation Celebration
| On June 27, Thames Valley hosted a Black Graduation Celebration at King’s University College in collaboration with students from the TVDSB Black Student Union (BSU). The event celebrated the accomplishments of Black students, centering Afrocentric values and highlighting the rich diversity within the African diaspora. The event represented a meaningful opportunity for Black students, families and the community to come together in celebration of this important milestone. | |
Students pitch innovative ideas at
Scotiabank Scholars Summer Camp
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In partnership with Huron University and Scotiabank, grade 11 and 12 students participated in the Huron Scotiabank Scholars Summer Camp from July 10-22. Students enjoyed a unique opportunity to experience university life on campus while earning their grade 12 University English credit.
The students engaged in full days of academic programming on campus, culminating in a pitch fair designed to showcase their learning. Students explored issues related to water through literature, film and field trips with our partners at Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. Then, they followed a design-thinking approach to select an issue, develop a solution and present it to their family, friends and community partners. The project built upon valuable skills like analysis, communication and collaboration, which are key to post-secondary success.
Learn more about the Scotiabank Scholars program.
| Meet and Greet with the RCAF Snowbirds | |
On September 4, aviation students from Montcalm Secondary School had the opportunity to participate in a private meet-and-greet with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Snowbirds at the Fanshawe Aviation Centre!
Learn more about aviation programming at TVDSB by visiting the Aviation School Website.
| Education Day at London Airshow | |
The Thames Valley District School Board in partnership with Airshow London offered a once in a lifetime opportunity for approximately 1500 grade six students to participate in a series of interactive and educational activities, with a focus on aviation and science.
Students were exposed to many different career pathways and were given an up close and personal look at the various careers in aviation.
Let’s find out what the students and staff thought about the day!
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Everyone has a role to play:
TVDSB Code of Conduct
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Everyone has a role to play in creating positive school and work environments that are safe, caring and inclusive. TVDSB is committed to promoting caring relationships between students, parents, caregivers, community members and staff, so that we can become an even better place to learn, work and grow.
The new Creating Safe and Caring Schools Policy was created based on extensive input and feedback from hundreds of community members like you. This includes the new TVDSB Code of Conduct, created to ensure that everyone understands their rights and responsibilities as members of their school community.
For more information about the Code of Conduct, Creating Safe and Caring Schools Policy and related procedures, visit our website.
| Orange Shirt Day Learning at Thames Valley | | |
Tuesday, September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, as well as Orange Shirt Day.
Thames Valley is taking important steps on this day and throughout the year to honour residential school survivors and remember those who did not make it home.
The TVDSB Indigenous Education Portfolio has developed age-appropriate resources and lesson plans to support learning about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
TVDSB schools are also encouraged to provide programming for students of all ages to learn, reflect and recognize this important day.
On September 30, all Thames Valley schools will lower their flags to half-mast and change their school signs to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
| | Parents and caregivers are key partners in a student’s education journey. As part of PPM 170, the Ontario Ministry of Education has created Your Child’s Education: A Parent Guide to our School System to help you actively participate in your child’s education journey. You can also join your School Council to make an impact in your school community. | | Call for Submissions: Share Your Good News! | | |
Thames Valley Highlights is looking for stories to feature in upcoming editions! We want to celebrate the incredible achievements, inspiring moments and everyday successes that make our district a wonderful place for students, families and staff.
Do you have a story to share about:
- A student’s academic achievement or personal growth
- A teacher or staff member going above and beyond
- Community partnerships making a difference
- Exciting events, projects, or initiatives at your school
- Acts of kindness, inclusion, and collaboration within the school community
If you have a story that deserves to be spotlighted, we’d love to hear from you!
How to Submit:
- Send a brief description of the story.
- Include any relevant photos (with permissions) or quotes.
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Please submit your story to communications@tvdsb.ca
Let’s celebrate all the amazing things happening in our schools! We look forward to hearing from you and sharing your stories with the wider Thames Valley community.
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