Back to School (2023-2024)
The ‘back to school’ information below is for our current students and families, but also for those interested in checking out what we’re all about!
Have you registered yet?
If you are new to our board and have yet to register, please check our School Registration page. It has all the details you need about which school your child will attend, bus information and a link to our registration system. Returning students do not need to register.
Wondering about bus information?
We can't wait to welcome you!
What do you need to know about going back to school?
What about school supplies?
Key Dates
Tues Sept 5
Are you new to AMDSB?
Who we are
If you are new to Avon Maitland (or checking us out), we are a full service public English school district in southwestern Ontario. We serve families in Huron and Perth Counties.
At AMDSB, our goal is to enable students to be successful graduates who can say “I am Well, I am Prepared, I am Engaged.” We track a wide range of data and information so that we can make adjustments throughout the school year to meet the needs of our students. Read our 2020-2024 Strategic Plan.
Our motto is “Always learning” - as students and staff encounter new knowledge, they not only learn, but grow. We are a small school board that can pivot and shift when needed so that we meet the needs of our students.
Our schools provide a caring, welcoming and inclusive community for our students. We complete an annual survey about belonging and school culture and use the results to organize student-led activities. We promote a safe environment for all students and teach them about bullying and how to be supportive of one another. We are committed to inclusivity. We fly the Pride flag in June and we recognize Orange Shirt Day, Black History Month, and many other cultural heritage days, weeks and months. We also provide free products in washrooms used by grades 4-12 students (menstrual equity). We support the Ontario Indigenous Education Strategy, which engages students who identify as First Nations, Métis and Inuit. Our schools also take part in many activities that provide Indigenous learning opportunities.
We support students who do not speak English at home or who are learning English as another language through our Multi Language Learner Support Program (MLL). If students or families need support settling in Canada, we can facilitate connections to YMCA Settlement Services and the Huron County Immigration Partnership.
Our Schools
There are 31 elementary, 8 secondary and 1 e-learning school in the Avon Maitland District School Board.
Compared to other school boards in Southwestern Ontario, many of our schools are small and located in friendly communities. Students and their families are able to build close relationships with staff and other families. For secondary students, this means valuable community service or co-op placement opportunities.
See a list of all of our schools.
Not sure which school your child should attend? Use our School Finder tool.
Register your child at one of our schools today!
Elementary Student Experience (Grades K to 8)
We offer a wide variety of programs to meet the needs of our students. Check out a few examples below that are specific to elementary students! For a full list of elementary programs, you can visit our elementary programs page.
Our Kindergarten teams provide safe, nurturing environments that promote cognitive, social, and emotional development. Classrooms include materials and experiences to encourage collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, communication, and problem solving.
We offer French Immersion programming for elementary students in Stratford at Bedford and Anne Hathaway Public Schools (both are grades K to 6), and Stratford Intermediate School (grades 7 and 8).
Our Mental Health and Well-being (MHWB) team supports students with their “Staying in the Zone” system. Posters in each classroom provide consistent language to express feelings and strategies to deal with challenging situations in positive ways. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) skills help us to be successful at home, school, and work, and they are crucial for friendships, completing tasks, and staying positive in the face of stress or adversity.
Caregivers, staff and students should work together to foster mentally healthy schools and classrooms. Our MHWB team recently hosted a caregiver mini series – view the videos on our Promoting Positive Mental Health at AMDSB page.
We also celebrate a variety of Awareness Days where we encourage students, staff, and caregivers to learn more about mental health and well-being. Examples include Pink Shirt Day, Children’s Mental Health Week and Bullying Prevention Week. These celebrations are an excellent opportunity for student and caregiver-led promotion and prevention across the system.
Many of our schools offer space to community partners who provide before and after school care. Each year, we conduct a survey to determine where partners should provide programs. Find details about the 2023/2024 programs on our Before and After School Program page.
Secondary Student Experience (Grades 9 to 12)
Our secondary schools offer rich learning experiences for all students. Check out a few examples below that are specific to secondary students! For a full list of secondary programs, you can visit our secondary programs page.
We encourage students to pursue their passions and explore a wide variety of options as they prepare for their next stage. All our schools offer experiential learning opportunities to help students discover their skills and interests and gain valuable career experience. We offer:
- Cooperative Education
- Dual Credit courses in partnership with Conestoga, Fanshawe, and Lambton Colleges
- Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
- Specialist High Skills Majors
Learn more at amdsb.ca/pathways.
We also offer French Immersion programming for secondary students in Stratford at Stratford District Secondary School.
Our Mental Health and Well-being (MHWB) team works with community partners to provide resources and support for our students and educators around stress, coping and building resilience. Our Mental Health Counsellors work in our schools to promote MHWB and guide student teams as they develop plans for their peers.
For those who may need extra support, we provide one-on-one counselling in partnership with local community providers like Huron Perth Centre for Children and Youth, Rural Response for Healthy Children, and Choices for Change. This helps ensure students have access to the support that they need. Visit the Mental Health and Well-being section of our website to learn more.
See these videos below to learn more about what each of our secondary schools has to offer (videos will open in a new tab):
Central Huron Secondary School
F.E. Madill Secondary School
Goderich District Collegiate Institute
Listowel District Secondary School
Mitchell District High School
South Huron District High School
St. Marys District Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Stratford District Secondary School