Good afternoon HCI Community,

I hope everyone enjoys this mid February break with friends and family, the weeks are flying by, and we have some fun events on the horizon! As we have now had a change in the student email address, I want to take a moment to revisit the idea of Tech Safety Tips from a school perspective. Now is a good time to ask your teen to do a password refresh on the apps and programs they use.

Some best practices include:

• Use a phrase, not a word, a series of words is hardest to crack
• Do not use the same password across apps
• Do not share passwords (passwords are like toothbrushes - you may trust your best friend, but you still don't want to share a toothbrush with them!)
• Always change your password if you have received a phishing email
• Do not log into your apps on other people's devices

As well, I would like to provide an update on the much anticipated 2026 Commencement for our grade 12 Grads! As the former venue is no longer available due to the World Cup, we have been working very hard behind the scenes to ensure we secured a fantastic venue to celebrate all the accomplishments of our graduates. This year our grads will cross the stage of Convocation Hall at the University of Toronto on Wednesday June 24th (mid-day). We recognize this is scheduled as the Exam Review Day, there will be an amendment to the schedule so that there are not competing events on this day. I will be sending out much more detailed information in the very near future; including specifics about timing, the venue, tickets and all things commencement! Moving forward, I will be sending graduation specific information directly to the graduating class and their parents/caregivers.

Please see below for information on the upcoming week.

 

Week at a Glance

HCI Whole School Calendar

Monday, February 16th	-Family Day (No School)
Tuesday, February 17th	-Day 1
Wednesday, February 18th	-Late Start (pd 1 begins at 9:55)
Thursday, February 19th	-Day 1
Friday, February 20th	-Day 2

 

Save the Date

Monday, February 23rd --> myBlueprint, course selection, closes

Tuesday, February 24th --> School Council Meeting @ 6:30 (Library)

 

Humberside Celebrates

Each February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and celebrations that honour the legacy and contributions of Black people in Canada and their communities. HCI's Black Heritage Association will be providing a spotlight for our HCI Celebrates on some of the many accomplishments from the Black community that, deserve to be honoured, throughout the month of February.

Throughout history, some individuals quietly shape the course of science and medicine, leaving behind a legacy that endures despite their short lives. Dr. Alice Augusta Ball is one such trailblazer. A pioneering African-American chemist, she developed the first effective treatment for leprosy, a disease that had tormented humanity for centuries. Known as the “Ball Method,” her groundbreaking work brought hope to countless patients and stands as a lasting testament to her brilliance and determination.

Academic Info

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) --> The OSSLT will be written for any previously eligible and any student enrolled in ENG2D (grade 10 English) during semester two. The dates for this semester are: Monday, April 13th (booklet 1) and Wednesday, April 15th (booklet 2).

February is Course Selection Month--> Guidance will visit all classrooms from February 9 to February 20. During the visits, counsellors will review graduation requirements and how to select courses using myBlueprint. We will also provide resources for students to do some reverse planning by looking at post-secondary information.

myBlueprint --> Opens on February 9th and students' course selections are due February 23. Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Sign-Off Sheets must be given to Day 1, Period 1 Teachers.

 

School Business

Grad Photos --> If you did not get your grad photo taken during the last session planned here at HCI, please call 1-844-992-5372 to book a photo sitting directly with Clear Images.

Student Activity Fee - New Registrants --> If you are a new registrant to HCI for semester two, please use this link to ensure you have paid the student activity fee.

The Student Activity Fee (Student Activity Card - S.A.C) for the 2025/2026 school year is $70.00. It is recommended that each student purchase a S.A.C. package which includes the following:

- Hermes (Hard Cover, Colour Yearbook)
- Financial support of Extra-curricular Athletics (Partial Support)
- Student Council Operating Budget - Provides financial support for clubs, intramurals, student leadership groups and other activities

The individual items in the Student Activity Card (SAC) Package Fee cannot be purchased separately. Students who don’t pay the Student Activity Card Fee (SAC) are not eligible to participate in extra-curricular activities. Families who have financial needs should speak with their Vice Principal, Mr. Barghout (A – L) or Ms. Tranah (M – Z).

 

Did You Know?

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) --> SHSM is a program that combines course learning, professional certifications and real-world experience in the health and wellness sector to give students a great experience to feel and see what a career in health and wellness can be. The SHSM program combines course learning, professional certifications in key skills, including first aid, CPR and Infection Control, and real-world experience in the health and wellness sector. They graduate with the SHSM Red Seal on their diplomas, resume experience, and a public recognition of their achievement. Join up by enrolling in CO-OP and talking with a guidance counsellor.

Please speak to your guidance counsellor for more information about our SHSM program!

Student Quotes:
"SHSM is a great program where I learned a lot about possible career choices and opportunities.";

"The SHSM program helped me gain experiences to build my resume and help me stand out. It further helped push me to build connections to the industry before graduating high school."

 

HAC Highlights of the Week

Winter Sports Update --> Get excited, Huskies - it’s playoff season! Best of luck to all of our Humberside athletes competing at regionals this week and next. A special shoutout to our swim team for an outstanding performance, capturing Overall Girls, Overall Boys, and Overall Combined titles in the West Region! Be sure to check out all sports recaps on Instagram @hci_hac.

Dodgeball Intramurals--> Intramurals are back!! Check out the dodgeball schedule to see when your team is playing! Reminder that all games are played in the Upper Gym from Tuesday-Friday at lunch.

 

School Council

Humberside School Advisory Council (aka Parent Council) --> The next meeting is coming up on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 6:30pm in the school library. Everyone is welcome to attend. We will have our regular updates from the admin team and student leaders, and we will be discussing how to allocate the funds raised from our November fundraiser.

"Just Ask Jessica" --> Do you have a question for Principal Pearson? Submit it to us by email at humberside.sac@gmail.com. We will group and summarize relevant questions for Ms. Pearson before our next meeting. You can attend the meeting to hear the answers, or read them afterward in our meeting minutes. All questions will be kept anonymous. This feature is for general topics only, not for questions about individual students or teachers.

Happy Friday,
Jessica Pearson
Principal