January 30 2025 • Issue #72
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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It's time to register for
High School at Thames Valley!
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As we look ahead to a new school year, Thames Valley District School Board is excited to welcome the next class of high school students! Registration is now open for Grade 9 students beginning their secondary school journey in fall 2026, and families are encouraged to complete the process early to ensure a smooth transition.
At Thames Valley, students can look forward to a welcoming environment where they can explore their interests, develop new skills, and build the foundation for future success. With a wide range of programming—including academic, arts, athletics, technology, French Immersion, and Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM)—every student has the opportunity to discover their unique strengths and pathways.
Why Choose a TVDSB Secondary School?
- Student‑centered learning: High schools across TVDSB offer supportive, inclusive spaces where every student is encouraged to thrive.
- Wide range of programs: From advanced academics to hands‑on tech courses, students can choose programs that reflect their passions and goals.
- Caring educators: Our teachers, counsellors, and support staff are committed to helping students build confidence and achieve their potential.
- Pathways for every future: Whether students are planning for college, university, apprenticeships, or the workplace, TVDSB provides tailored guidance and opportunities.
Visit www.tvdsb.ca/HighSchool to register today and start your journey with Thames Valley!
| | Indigenous Student Associations at A.B. Lucas and feeder schools participate in Winter Solstice art activity | |
In December, Indigenous Student Associations (ISAs) at A.B. Lucas Secondary School, Jack Chambers Public School and Northridge Public School gathered together to learn about the Winter Solstice, make community connections and explore opportunities for ISAs in Thames Valley.
At the gathering, students created Winter Solstice artwork led by Marsha Cornelius from Oneida Nation of the Thames.
A.B. Lucas ISA members welcomed the feeder school ISAs from Jack Chambers and Northridge and will stay connected for future opportunities.
| A slam dunk: Pro basketball player Mo Bolden mentors TVDSB students in collaboration with BGC London | |
This community partnership is a true game-changer!
Mo Bolden, former London Lightning star and NBA G League player, now brings his passion for basketball to Thames Valley students as a Basketball Program Specialist with BGC London. Through the Next Level Sports program, Mo visits schools like Northbrae Public School every week to coach basketball, read with students and explore future pathways.
Students aren’t just learning basketball skills—they’re building teamwork, supporting one another and discovering the value of dedication and hard work.
Check out this short video showcasing Mo’s incredible impact on Northbrae students and the school community!
| North Middlesex DHS students explore new ingredients with Canadian meal kits | |
Food and Nutrition students in grades 10 and 12 at North Middlesex District High School explored new ingredients by cooking Canadian meal kits during their recent Food Lab!
Students cooked with fresh ingredients like bok choy, pineapple and capers while closely following the step-by-step instructions from the donated meal kits to further engage with food and nutrition curriculum content and practice meal preparation skills.
These recipes helped students connect with the food and nutrition curriculum, build their culinary skills and learn more about the importance of nutritious meals.
| | School of Rock: H.B. Beal rock band club | |
Welcome to Beal’s very own School of Rock!
Two years ago, H.B. Beal launched a rock band club in the music department — and it’s been incredible to watch it grow! What started with just two student bands has exploded into seven unique rock bands, each bringing their own style, energy, and song choices to the stage.
From coffee houses to concerts, students have been performing all year long! Check out this video to see what makes Beal’s rock band club unforgettable.
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Elgin students participate in
international art exchange
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Grade 9 art students at East Elgin Secondary School recently participated in a virtual cross-cultural exchange with students from Chuangke Xiancai Senior High School in Maoming, China.
During the virtual exchange, students from both schools shared presentations about their respective cultures, communities and daily school life, highlighting the many similarities and unique differences between these two groups of students.
Each school presented art lessons rooted in their cultural traditions, including a calligraphy lesson from their peers in Maoming, who guided students through writing the characters for "China" and "Canada." East Elgin students reciprocated by sharing their own artistic practices and perspectives.
Building on the success of this initial exchange, the schools plan to continue their relationship through a pen pal letter program, allowing students to foster a sense of global citizenship, deepen their connections and continue learning from one another.
| Get a career head start at College Ave with one of Ontario’s only High School HVAC Programs | |
Did You Know? College Ave Secondary School is home to one of Ontario’s only HVAC programs!
College Ave SS offers an incredibly unique and highly specialized HVAC program — one of only a handful in the entire province. Students gain hands-on experience, earn multiple industry-recognized certifications, and even graduate with their G3 gas fitting license, setting them up for success in the skilled trades.
With strong connections to local industry, a robust co-op program, and a partnership with Fanshawe College that brings post-secondary HVAC training right into the school, students are supported every step of the way as they prepare for college, university, or apprenticeships.
If you’re interested in skilled trades or want a head start on a high‑demand career, HVAC at College Ave is the place to be!
| Forest school adventures enrich learning for Stoneybrook Kindergarten students | |
Each week, Stoneybrook kindergarten students head into the nearby forest for a unique blend of play and learning, supported by their educators and enthusiastic volunteers from King’s University College. The children take part in a variety of favourite activities—building forts, sculpting clay faces on trees, experimenting with tools like rubber mallets and trowels, working with pulleys, creating structures from logs and branches, balancing on fallen trees, following animal tracks, and of course, the biggest highlight: tapping maple trees for sap!
Beyond the fun, the forest provides rich opportunities for language development, hands-on math, and meaningful real‑world problem-solving. It also offers a space for children to be physically active, find calm, and reflect on their experiences before heading back inside to journal about their adventures.
This vibrant outdoor learning program is made possible through a new partnership with King’s University College. Stoneybrook has collaborated with the Child and Youth Studies program to create a university course focused on Forest School teaching and learning principles. Upper‑year university students deepen their understanding through readings, journaling, and discussions—and then bring that learning to life by volunteering alongside the kindergarten classes.
The impact of this partnership has been overwhelmingly positive. University students gain meaningful, hands‑on experience working with young children while earning academic credit, and Stoneybrook students benefit from additional support, attention, and enriched learning opportunities. Forest School days have quickly become a favourite, helping children feel excited about coming to school and supporting a positive start to their educational journey within the Thames Valley District School Board.
| | Thames Valley Education Foundation Raises $83,500 for Caring Fund on Giving Tuesday | |
Thames Valley Education Foundation’s annual Giving Tuesday campaign has raised an incredible $83,500 in support of the Caring Fund, exceeding the goal of $50,000 thanks to the generosity of donors across the community.
The Caring Fund provides emergency assistance to students and families facing unexpected challenges, ensuring access to essentials such as winter clothing, groceries and other critical needs. Since its inception in 2008, TVEF has distributed more than $2.1 million through nearly 7,100 Caring Fund requests, helping students feel cared for, valued and connected to their school communities.
“We are thrilled to kick off the Foundation’s 25th Anniversary year with such a powerful response from the community,” said Cecile Klerks, Executive Director. “As requests to the Caring Fund continue to grow, this remarkable support ensures that every student in need can receive help when it matters most. We are deeply grateful for the kindness and trust shown by our donors – I would like to extend special thanks to Sandy Mikalachki and Nicole Spriet, whose matching donations amplified the impact of this year’s Giving Tuesday campaign.”
For more information about the Caring Fund or to make a donation, visit www.tvdsb.ca/tvef
| Real world skills leads to real world success with Project SEARCH | |
Project SEARCH is a transformative, award winning one year school to work transition program designed for students with intellectual disabilities. Through three immersive 10 week internships at St. Joseph's Health Care London’s Parkwood Institute, students gain real world experience, build marketable skills, and prepare for meaningful, year round employment.
Enjoy this video from St. Joseph’s and learn more about how Project SEARCH empowers students to build confidence, independence, and a pathway to a bright future.
🔗 Discover the program: www.tvdsb.ca/projectsearch
| Saunders students build 30 doghouses for local Indigenous communities | |
(Kendra Seguin/CBC News)
Saunders Secondary School students are volunteering their time to retrofit shipping crates into insulated and shingled doghouses for local Indigenous communities. By the end of this school year, the students plan to donate 30 doghouses to Delaware Nation at Moraviantown, Oneida Nation of the Thames, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and Munsee-Delaware Nation.
Since starting this incredible project over a decade ago, students have built and donated more than 300 doghouses. Great work, Sabres!
This amazing school tradition is one of many ways students can Succeed at Saunders!
Read the full story on CBC London
| WesternU Space visits Eva Circe-Cote PS | |
Dr. Thaker and Jack Hostrawser from Western University’s Institute for Earth and Space Exploration visited Eva Circe-Cote PS to speak about space exploration and the Skylark CubeSat project, which tracks migratory birds & supports wildlife conservation.
Through hands-on learning with meteorite kits, students connected STEM education with environmental citizenship.
| | 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 highlighted, we’d love to hear from you!
How to Submit:
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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