New HWDSB Websites: Coming Soon!

Dear HWDSB Community,

We are excited to share that new websites are coming for our school board and all 93 HWDSB schools the first week of May. These refreshed sites are designed to be easier to use, more accessible, and make it simpler for families to find the information they need. This work is part of our ongoing efforts to enhance how we share information, connect, and collaborate with families, staff, and communities across the system.

We would like to thank the close to 550 families who visited HWDSB’s Engage page as part of this work. Your participation helped inform the direction of this update and reflects the strong connection between our schools and the communities we serve.

Special thank you goes to Allison Reynolds, Senior Manager of Communications and Community Engagement and Carly Holmstead-Calder, Communications Officer, for their outstanding leadership of this complex and expansive project.

Key features include:

• A clean, modern design that is easy to navigate
• Improved accessibility for all users
• A consistent look across all HWDSB school and board sites
• A “Report a Problem” feature to quickly flag information that may need updating

As we move from the current websites to the new ones, there may be a short period where web browsers catch up as older sites are turned off and the new sites go live. This will resolve itself quickly.

All elementary and secondary school websites should launch at the same time, with no phased in implementation.

More details will be shared soon. If you have questions, please contact HWDSB’s Communications Department at [email protected].

As a final note, the new look reflects HWDSB’s strong and welcoming brand, with our outstanding students front and centre. Through photos and stories, the websites highlight what matters most to us: student achievement, well-being, and belonging. They send a clear message that HWDSB is a place where every student belongs and is supported to succeed.

Sincerely,

Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini
Director of Education, HWDSB

Frequently Asked Questions:

When will the new websites launch?
The new board and school websites will roll out in early May. When the new sites go live, we will communicate with you via School Messenger and Social Media. 

Why is HWDSB implementing new websites?
HWDSB is implementing new websites to improve accessibility, usability, and consistency across the Board and all school sites. The new design centres the experience of students, families, and community members, making it easier to find important information quickly and intuitively. This work supports clearer communication, better access across devices, and a more inclusive online experience for everyone.

Will the new site have the subscription feature? 
Yes, the new platform will continue to have the subscription feature. For those of you who are currently subscribed, you should have received an email asking you to confirm your subscription. For those folks who wish to subscribe, you can do so when the platform goes live in May! 

Will families need to do anything?
No action is required. Once the new sites go live, you’ll be able to access them as usual. 

Will all schools have the same website design?
Each school site will follow a consistent structure and design while still reflecting the unique identity of its school community.

Who can I contact if I have questions?
If you have questions, please email [email protected]