Student Services
Welcome to Student Services
We are located on the main floor at the front of the school beside the Main Office. Please arrange an appointment (before school, during breaks, lunchtime or after school) by booking at this link:
Book a Guidance Appointment Link
If it is an emergency, please see Mrs. Harvey at the reception desk in Student Services and she will connect you with someone as soon as possible.
The telephone number for Student Services is 905-522-1387 ext. 3754
Contacts
MRS. A. HARVEY (email: [email protected]) STUDENT SERVICES OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
MRS. C. QUAGLIA (email: [email protected]) – Surnames A-B
MS. K. PARKES-HALLMARK (email: [email protected]) – Surnames C-G and I.B. Students (Grade 11/12)
MR. D. MEYER (email: [email protected]) – Surnames H-M
MS. C. O’LEARY (email: [email protected]) – Surnames N-V
MS. T. KUDER (email: [email protected]) – W-Z ESL/EDL A-C
MS. K. GIROLAMETTO (email: [email protected]) STUDENT SUCCESS
Westdale Secondary School
700 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8S 1A5
Phone: (905)522-1387 ext. 229
Fax: (905)521-0542
E-mail: [email protected]
Choosing Your Courses For Grade 9
Grade 7/8 Information Night
7/8 Info Night Program 2025-2026
Grade 8 Course Selection Information: Thursday January 15th 6pm-7:30pm
Grade 8 Information Session presentation for students & parents/guardians:
Grade 7 & 8 Information Night Westdale 2026
2026-2027 Grade 9 Option Sheet
Grade 8 Option Presentation Jan 2026
Grade 9 Option Process for students currently attending Westdale’s Associate Schools:
Grade 9 Option Process for students currently attending Westdale’s Associate Schools:
Our current Associate Schools are: Bennetto, Dalewood, Guy Brown (FI students only), Hess Street, Kanétskare, Sir William Osler (FI students only).
For students attending our six associate schools:
- Access fillable Westdale Grade 9 option sheet from Student Services section of Westdale school website. Grade 8 teachers can support students with this process.
- Students and guardians complete the option sheet.
- Submit completed option sheet to Grade 8 teacher.
- Student to complete myBlueprint option entry with support of Westdale staff in their Grade 8 classroom in February 2026.
Grade 9 Option Process for students who reside in Westdale’s catchment currently attending an HWDSB school other than Westdale’s associate schools:
Beginning in February:
- Access the Westdale 2026-2027 option sheet:
- Complete all steps in the option sheet.
- Email completed option sheet to [email protected]
- Westdale Student Services will contact family to request copies of proof of address, and proof of residency documents.
- Grade 9 course requests may be entered in myBlueprint mid February.
Registration Process for students in Westdale’s catchment attending a school outside the HWDSB:
- Register through HWDSB: Westdale Registration Link Beginning Early February
- Westdale Student Services will contact family to request copies of proof of address, and proof of citizenship or residency documents
2026-27 Registration
- Details to be shared Early February
HWDSB: Westdale Registration Link
Not sure of your catchment?
- If you are unsure of your catchment status, please visit the HWDSB website and use the Find a School tool to determine which school your student will attend.
- Type in your address, select your grade level, select your program (French Immersion or Regular), then click “Search”
Choosing Your Courses For Grade 10 to 12
Course Selection for 2026 – 2027:
To help you with your planning please use the following presentations to help you in choosing your courses for the 2026-2027 school year.
COURSE OPTIONS PRESENTATIONS 2026-27 School Year
Westdale Course Offerings (2026-2027)
Grade 12 and 12+ Course Selections
FALL PRESENTATIONS (PATHWAY PLANNING)
Online course selection using myBlueprint should be completed by February 21st 2026 . Students may access myBlueprint through “Class Tools” in the Hub or on the Guidance Hub page on the Main content screen. Families will receive confirmation of courses selected in Parent Portal. There will be an area in Parent Portal for Families to indicate approval of courses selected.
myBlueprint Course Planner is active and will accept option submission from students as of February 2nd, 2026.
Support with Course Selection
Westdale Guidance will be conducting information sessions for each grade beginning early February. These information sessions will include review of graduation requirements, making course selections with an eye to post-secondary requirements, opportunities at Westdale, and how to enter courses in myBlueprint. Presentation slide decks will be posted after presentations.
Students can make Guidance appointments to ask questions about 2026-2027 course selections in January for support.
Students New to Westdale:
Semester 2 Registration:
Westdale Online Registration Link
2026-27 School Year Registration
Not sure of your catchment?
- If you are unsure of your catchment status, please visit the HWDSB website and use the Find a School tool to determine which school your student will attend.
- Type in your address, select your grade level, select your program (French Immersion or Regular), then click “Search”.
Community Involvement Hours
Students and parents can access information about opportunities for community involvement hours by visiting the HWDSB’s website.
Community Involvement form: Record of Community Involvement Hours (40 Hours).pdf
Students can find updated information regarding Community Involvement Hours for the school year on the Westdale Guidance course on The Hub.
Please submit your Community Involvement Hours Form to Student Services or in the Main Office.
Cooperative Education Program
Westdale S.S. Co-op Education Teachers
Mr. M. Daschko ([email protected])
Ms. L. Wilde ([email protected])
Dual Credit Programs
In Dual Credit Programs, participating students are able to experience and gain credit for college while working toward their OSSD.
Students interested in participating in Dual Credit should contact their Guidance counsellor. Please see additional information for the 2026-2027 school year in the forms below.
Dual Credit 2026-2027 Courses and Descriptions
Guidance Newsletters
Grade 12 Newsletters
Grade 12 Students:
Each week Student Services will be posting a letter for you to see important dates and events that are upcoming.
Please share this communication with your families.
Grade 12 Newsletter December 1 - 5, 2025
Grade 12 Newsletter November 17 - 21, 2025
Grade 12 Newsletter November 3-8, 2025
Grade 12 Newsletter October 10, 2025
Grade 12 Newsletter September 22, 2025
International Baccalaureate-Prospective IB Students
International Baccalaureate Programme
Welcome to the IB Prospective Student section of our website! The International Baccalaureate (‘IB’) Diploma Programme is a world-renowned pre-university course of studies, offered during the last two years of secondary school. The information provided in this area is for students interested in applying to IB in their grade 10 year.
International Baccalaureate Program
Current Grade 8 students will attend their home schools for Grade 9 and Grade 10. Students will move to their cluster school that has the IB program for Grade 11. Students who are interested in this program should be aware of program requirements prior to the start of the program in Grade 11.
In September 2024, students interested in the IB Diploma program will:
- Attend their home school for Grade 9 and Grade 10 and begin the IB Diploma program in Grade 11 in the appropriate school as per the IB School Boundary Map provided; students will be encouraged to plan appropriately with the assistance of their Guidance Counsellor to ensure they have the course requirements necessary to begin the diploma program.
- Complete an IB Application Form for the respective school in January of their Grade 10 year. Families will financially commit to the program once the student has started in the program (September of their Grade 11 year).
Presentation Information from Wednesday Dec 10th 2025 is linked below, please reach out to your students Guidance Counsellor to answer further questions.
IB Info Night 2025-26 LINKED APPLICATIONS
Understanding the IB Diploma Programme Scores
The IB Diploma Programme: A strong predictor of success in University
Post-Secondary Pathways
2025-2026 Post-Secondary Presentation
Thursday Sept 25th 6pm Westdale Secondary School: Post Secondary Pathways Presentation for Families Link below:
2025-2026 Post-Secondary Parent Presentation applying to College and University
Applying to OUAC Presentation:
September 2025 Applying to OUAC
Accessibility Resources for University and College:
Explore this resource with your child to determined the accessible services are available and what documentation is required.
Transition Resource Guide for Students with Disabilities – Transition to Post-Secondary Education
Websites as references for information for all pathways:
Scholarship Information
Westdale S.S. subscribes to the Scholarship Report. This is an excellent resource for students to learn about available scholarships and application skills. The Scholarship Report is available to students in the Westdale Guidance course in The Hub.
Please see your Guidance counselor for more information.
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- Automatic Entrance Scholarships based on marks and no application is required
- Additional Scholarships are available but may require an application (e.g. TD Community Leaders)
- Additional Scholarships are available but may require school nomination with your application (Queen’s Chancellor’s, Schulich Leaders)
- Scholarship information available on OCAS, EINFO, Scholarships Canada – see links below
Links:
List of Scholarships Offered by each Ontario University
Ontario Universities Info – Scholarships
Specialist High Skills Major
Westdale offers Specialist High Skills Major programming in Arts and Culture, Construction, Health and Wellness, and Information and Communications Technology. SHSM is a ministry-approved specialized program that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and assists in their transition from secondary school to apprenticeship training, college, university or the workplace. Programming is available in all pathways for all SHSM programs offered at Westdale.
Each SHSM includes the following five components:
- A bundle of 8-10 Grade 11 and 12 credits that includes:
- 4 major credits that provide sector-specific knowledge and skills
- 2-4 other required credits, in which some learning activities are contextualized to the sector
- 2 cooperative education credits tied back to the major credits
- Sector-recognized certifications and/or training courses
- Experiential learning activities within the sector
- “Reach ahead” experiences connected with the student’s chosen postsecondary pathway
- Development of key Essential skills and work habits required in the sector, and use of the Ontario Skills Passport (OSP)
For information about either of these SHSM programs, students should see their Guidance counsellor, or the sector lead for the SHSM program they are interested in (indicated below). Students should also go to the Guidance course on The Hub for information about courses that qualify as Major Credit or Additional Credits for SHSM programs
Specialist High Skills Major (Mr. Kipp) – Construction
Specialist High Skills Major (Ms. Moore) – Arts and Culture
Specialist High Skills Major (Ms. Taylor) – Health and Wellness
Specialist Hight Skills Major (Mr. Wilson)- Information & Communications Technology