School Newsletter for November 4
Prayer
Dear God,
As the leaves change and the days grow shorter, fill our hearts with gratitude and understanding. Help us to honour the past, share our gifts, and cherish time spent with loved ones. Guide us in learning and growing together with respect and love.
Amen.
Remembrance Day and Poppy Sale
Parents are welcome to attend our Remembrance Day ceremony on November 11th. The ceremony will begin at 10:45 am, so please arrive by 10:40 am. Regular poppies are available at the main office, with proceeds supporting veterans. Furthermore, all students will be given a sticker poppy to wear to the ceremony. Donations can be made via School Cash Online.
Progress Reports and Parent Teacher Interviews
Progress Reports will be available on November 14th via the Parent Portal. Parent-Teacher Interviews will be the following Thursday, November 21st from 4 to 5:30 and 6 to 8pm. Information on how to book your interview time will be shared on the 14th as well.
Lost and Found
We have a large number of lost clothing items at the school. Items are displayed by the main office. Please take a look at the pictures below and see if you recognize any of your child's belongings. If so, please remind your child to collect their item or let your child's teacher know so they can collect the item(s). All unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity on Wednesday afternoon.
St. Dominic Clothing
It is not too late to save on the shipping cost of your St. Dominic Clothing. All orders received by November 8th are eligible for free shipping to the school. Visit our web store at https://st-dominic.secure-decoration.com/ to order your clothing. There are items in children’s sizes as well as adult sizes. A portion of the sales will come back to the school to buy some new gym equipment.
Clothing can also be shipped to your house all year for a small shipping fee. Also, note there is a spot you can click so the school will call you instead of giving it to your child, if you want the clothing to be a gift or a surprise.
Lunchbox
As was shared with the community earlier, we are happy to provide families an opportunity to order lunch from FB Burrito (Tuesdays) and Subway (Wednesdays). Please see the attached instruction sheet for more details on how to order.
Halloween
We had a fantastic time celebrating Halloween. Thank you to our grade 6 ambassadors for organizing and leading this fun afternoon.
Dressing for the Weather
As the weather gets colder, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for spending time outdoors, as a significant portion of the day is spent outside. To help reduce lost items, please clearly label all of your child's outerwear, including coats, hats, and mittens, with their name or initials.
A Reminder from the Eco Club
The St. Dominic Eco Club has been hard at work reminding their fellow students that we are a litterless lunch school. That means that we try to minimize single use plastics in our lunch kits. Our yard has been filled with discarded candy and snack wrappers lately and members have also been generously volunteering their recess time to pick up this waste. It is so wonderful to see such dedicated young environmentalists working hard for our school community.
Friday is a PD Day
There will be no school for students this coming Friday, November 8th as it is a PD day.
Reporting your child’s absence
A friendly reminder to please inform the office of your child’s absence, either by calling the school at 613-424-3760 or by email at dominic@ocsb.ca.
School Council News
We can hardly believe it is November and what a great start to the year! We held our annual pumpkin carving/decorating contest (random draw winners to be announced soon!) and started Pizza Thursdays.
Coming up in December is our Annual Cookies & Carols Christmas Event where we invite children and their families to the school gym for some caroling, milk & cookies and celebrating the Christmas season together. The event will take place Friday December 6th 6:30pm – 7:30pm and as in the past, we will be accepting new (or gently used) waterproof mittens or cash donations for our sister-school, St. Brigid’s.
Our next school council meeting is Thursday November 28th at 6:30pm (note: this is a change as it was previously scheduled to be Thursday November 21st and has moved due to parent-teacher interviews).
Parish News
CONFIRMATION NEWS
Registration forms for the sacrament of Confirmation at The Good Shepherd Parish are due by October 27, 2024.
The Rite of Enrolment is the first formal stage in the preparation of children for Confirmation. Parents bring their children to the Church and present them to the community. The faith community to which the child belongs has the duty and privilege of witnessing and supporting them through the journey of sacramental preparation. Parents are asked to present their children at a regular Sunday mass. The children express their desire to prepare for the sacrament that they will celebrate in the Easter season. Parents accept the responsibility of supporting their children and the parish community promises to support the children and their families through their love, prayers and example. This experience is an essential step in the preparation for the sacraments. This year, the enrollment for children wishing to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation will be on November 9th and 10th. Choose ONE of the following mass times to participate in the Enrolment Ceremony:
Saturday, November 9th, 2024 at the 5:00 p.m. mass
Sunday, November 10th, 2024 at the 9:00 a.m. mass or 11:15 a.m. mass
We ask that you arrive early to sign your name and the Enrolment ceremony will be after the Homily.
Please sign in when you arrive. Late arrivals cannot be enrolled at that mass.
Important Upcoming Dates
PD Day: November 8th - no school for students
Remembrance Day Ceremony: November 11th,10:45am
Progress Reports: November 14th via the Parent Portal
Parent-Teacher Interviews: November 21st, 4pm to 5:30 pm and 6pm to 8pm
School Council Meeting: November 28th, 6:30 pm
Is your daughter interested in hockey?
The East Ottawa Girls Hockey Association (EOGH) is delighted to announce the return of our Learn
to Play Program for the 2024-25 hockey season!
This program is perfect for girls aged 7-18 who are new to hockey or want to get back into it. Join us
for an exciting opportunity to learn the game in a fun and supportive environment! We are thrilled to
bring this initiative to our community, aimed at ensuring a welcoming and enjoyable experience for
families beginning or returning to their hockey journey.
Why Join the Learn to Play Program?
● Accessible & Affordable: We strive to make hockey easy to enter for everyone.
● Safe & Fun: No prior skating or playing experience is needed! Our focus is on creating a
positive environment for all participants.
Program Overview:
● Duration: 12 weekly sessions of 1 hour each from Fall 2024 to January 2025.
Registration Details:
● Open Now: Spots are limited, so be sure to register soon!
● Registration Link: https://www.rampregistrations.com/login?v3=3fe4601850
○ Select "FUNdamental-Senior" package for Learn to Play.
● Cost: $150, which includes twelve weeks of on-ice instruction from Hockey Canada.
● Financial Assistance: Families can apply for EOGH Financial assistance, if needed.
○ Financial Assistance Link: https://www.gcgh.ca/content/financial-assistance
Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to introduce your daughter to the world of hockey or help
get them back on the ice! Join us for a season of fun, teamwork, and skill-building.
For more information on the Learn to Play program, please visit:
https://www.gcgh.ca/content/learn-to-play
If you have any questions about the Learn to Play program program, please contact Misha Celentano
at gcghprograms@gmail.com.
We hope to see you and your family soon!
School Newsletter for October 18
Prayer
Holy Father, We come before You with hearts full of gratitude for the bountiful harvest season. Thank You for the abundance of food, the beauty of creation, and the hands that have worked tirelessly to bring forth this blessing. May we cherish and share these gifts with others, reflecting Your love and generosity. Guide us to be stewards of Your creation, always mindful of Your grace.
Amen.
A Message from St. Dominic Food Drive Team
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who generously contributed to our food drive in support of the Cumberland Resource Center. Your kindness will make a real difference in the lives of local families facing hardship.
Cross-Country Team
Congratulations to our amazing Cross-Country team for their strong performance at the school board event on Tuesday, October 15th! Your dedication and sportsmanship shone through, making St. Dominic proud.
St. Dominic Clothing
As was shared earlier this week, St. Dominic clothing is once again available to order. Please check out our web store at https://st-dominic.secure-decoration.com/ to order your clothing. There are items in children’s sizes as well as adult sizes. A portion of the sales will come back to the school to buy some new gym equipment.
If you order by November 8th, 2024 you can choose to have your items shipped to the school and save on shipping. It can be shipped to your house all year for a small shipping fee. Also, note there is a spot you can click so the school will call you instead of giving it to your child, if you want the clothing to be a gift or a surprise.
Halloween
On October 31st, students are welcome to celebrate Halloween by wearing their costumes to school. Please remember:
No masks or weapons
Minimize accessories to avoid losing or forgetting them before trick-or-treating
If you prefer not to wear a costume, students can show their spirit by wearing black and orange should they wish.
Let's have a fun and safe Halloween!
Dressing for the Weather
As the weather gets colder, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for spending time outdoors, as a significant portion of the day is spent outside. To help reduce lost items, please clearly label all of your child's outerwear, including coats, hats, and mittens, with their name or initials.
Spirit Week
The St. Dominic Spirit Squad has organized a fun Spirit week for the week of October 28th to November 1st. Have a look at this poster Spirit Week for details.
Picture Day
Smile! Picture day is October 30th for all students.
Choir
We are very excited to announce that we will have a school choir this year. Students in grades 2 to 6 are invited to participate.
A Reminder from the Eco Club
The St. Dominic Eco Club has been hard at work reminding their fellow students that we are a litterless lunch school. That means that we try to minimize single use plastics in our lunch kits. Our yard has been filled with discarded candy and snack wrappers lately and members have also been generously volunteering their recess time to pick up this waste. It is so wonderful to see such dedicated young environmentalists working hard for our school community.
Reporting your child’s absence
A friendly reminder to please inform the office of your child’s absence, either by calling the school at 613-424-3760 or by email at dominic@ocsb.ca.
School Council News
St. Dominic School Council's Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest!
Our annual pumpkin carving (or decorating) contest is back! Decorate or carve your pumpkins and submit at the link below before 11:59pm on October 31st! Everyone who submits an entry will be entered into a random draw for one of two $50 Indigo gift cards.
Students can enter as many times as they like (one entry per pumpkin please). For more information, email info@stdominicCSC.com.
Enter using the following link: https://forms.gle/sGd64e12ozUeoiQP6
DYK: Our school is fundraising with Mabel’s Labels!
If you’re not familiar with Mabel’s Labels, they are personalized, durable, waterproof labels. They are great for everything from shoes, clothing tags, water bottles and backpacks. You can customize them with your name and a design, and they are dishwasher, laundry and microwave safe.
Mabel’s Labels also offers clothing stamps, silicone bands for water bottles and medical alert labels.
To support our fundraiser, visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and select St. Dominic School Council (Orleans).
Thank you for supporting us!
Calling Volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering this school year with any council-led events, please reach out to us at info@stdominiccsc.com. This includes things like pizza days, family BBQ, book fair and more!
Parish News
Rite of Enrolment for First Communion/Reconciliation
The Rite of Enrolment is the first formal stage in the preparation of children for First Communion/Reconciliation. Parents bring their children to the Good Shepherd Church and present them to the community. The faith community to which the child belongs has the duty and privilege of witnessing and supporting them through the journey of sacramental preparation. Parents accept the responsibility of supporting their children and the parish community promises to support the children and their families through their love, prayers and example. This experience is an essential step in the preparation for the sacraments. This year, the enrolment for children wishing to celebrate the sacrament of First Communion/Reconciliation will be on Saturday, October 19th and Sunday, October 20th, 2024.
Choose ONE of the following mass times to participate in the Enrolment Ceremony:
Saturday, October 19, 2024 at the 5:00 p.m. mass
Sunday, October 20, 2024 at the 9:00 a.m. mass or 11:15 a.m. mass
We ask that you arrive 15 minutes early since the Enrolment Ceremony will take place at the beginning of mass.
Please sign in when you arrive. Late arrivals cannot be enrolled at that mass.
CONFIRMATION NEWS
Registration forms for the sacrament of Confirmation at The Good Shepherd Parish are due by October 27, 2024.
The Rite of Enrolment is the first formal stage in the preparation of children for Confirmation. Parents bring their children to the Church and present them to the community. The faith community to which the child belongs has the duty and privilege of witnessing and supporting them through the journey of sacramental preparation. Parents are asked to present their children at a regular Sunday mass. The children express their desire to prepare for the sacrament that they will celebrate in the Easter season. Parents accept the responsibility of supporting their children and the parish community promises to support the children and their families through their love, prayers and example. This experience is an essential step in the preparation for the sacraments. This year, the enrolment for children wishing to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation will be on November 9th and 10th. Choose ONE of the following mass times to participate in the Enrolment Ceremony:
Saturday, November 9th, 2024 at the 5:00 p.m. mass
Sunday, November 10th, 2024 at the 9:00 a.m. mass or 11:15 a.m. mass
We ask that you arrive early to sign your name and the Enrolment ceremony will be after the Homily.
Please sign in when you arrive. Late arrivals cannot be enrolled at that mass.
Please also see the attached flyers for more information.
Important Upcoming Dates
Spirit Week: October 28th - November 1st
Picture Day - October 30th
Hallowe’en: October 31st
Remembrance Day Ceremony: November 11th @ 10:45
School Newsletter for October 7
October 7th Newsletter
Prayer
God, we thank you for the gift of life and the blessings you have bestowed upon us. As we will soon gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, we are grateful for the abundance in our lives. We ask that you bless our families, friends, and community. May we always remember those in need and share our blessings with others. Amen.
A Message from St. Dominic Food Drive Team
Thank you to those who have sent in food items for our Thanksgiving Food Drive. There is still time to support the Cumberland Resource Center, The final collection will take place Wednesday, October 9th 2024.
Each grade is asked to contribute the grade specific item that the food bank has
highlighted as some of their greatest needs.
Kindergarten-Crackers and cereal
Grade 1-School snacks
Grade 2-Canned meat
Grade 3- Canned juice (tomato, apple)
Grade 4-Canned fruit and vegetables
Grade 5-Rice and pasta
Grade 6-Canned tomatoes, spaghetti sauce
Should you wish to further contribute, other items that are in great need include:
tomato paste, flour/sugar, vegetable oil, gluten-free products, soap/shampoo/
toothpaste, laundry soap, toilet paper, diapers sizes 5 and 6, pull-ups (L and
XL)/Goodnites.
We thank you for your generosity and continued support.
Terry Fox Run
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported our Terry Fox Run! It was a beautiful day for a walk or run, and thanks to your generosity, our school community raised over $3300 for the Terry Fox Foundation. Your contributions will make a real difference in the fight against cancer.
Homework Help
The Cumberland Branch of the Ottawa Public Library (Ray Friel Centre, 1599 Tenth Line Rd) will be hosting Homework Help sessions on Thursday evenings between 6 pm and 7:30 pm, starting on September 19. United for Literacy volunteers will be present to help students in grades 1-10 with all subjects. Kids should come with their homework and work material. A parent/caregiver must remain in the library while their child is being assisted.
This is a drop-in program; registration is not required. Families are not required to stay for the entire duration of the session – come anytime between 6 pm and 7:30 pm!
International and Indigenous Language Program
Please see this flier from our Continuing Education Department regarding Saturday Language school at St. Matthew’s High School.
Virtual Event for Parents
Do you want to help your child navigate today's world with confidence and resilience? Join award-winning educator Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe for an inspiring session filled with tools and strategies.
On Thursday, October 10th at 6:30 PM, the OCSB is hosting Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe to speak with parents on:
This is a virtual event for all parents and interested community members. Follow the link above more information and how to access this event.
Reporting your child’s absence
A friendly reminder to please inform the office of your child’s absence, either by calling the school at 613-424-3760 or by email at dominic@ocsb.ca.
School Council News
St. Dominic School (Parent) Council is back and in full swing! We kicked off our first meeting of the school year and are happy to announce our 2024 – 2025 School Council elected members:
Co-Chairs: Danielle Fleming & Lindsay Nubel
Treasurer: Christine MacKinnon-Roy
Secretary: Kateri Milan-Martin
CSPA Rep: Ally Stoll
Parish Rep: Angella Ok-Stone
Parents at Large: James Blaskie, Alyssa Gee, Anika Jaura
We are also super excited to have Kim Kenna and Sherri Rayner joining us as Teacher Representatives and Laurie Woodward as our Support Staff Representative. All parents and guardians are always welcome to every council meeting which takes place the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:30pm at the school – next meeting will be Thursday October 17th at 6:30pm.
A few October things to watch for from School Council
Pizza Thursdays are back! School Council is pleased to be offering pizza days again starting October 24th – orders are open now through School Cash Online until October 17th so make sure to get your orders in for this session (will run until the end of January and then we will reopen School Cash Online for Session #2 – February through June).
Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest – as has become a tradition, School Council will hold a virtual pumpkin carving contest where kids and their families can submit pictures of their carved or decorated pumpkins and have a chance to win a gift certificate (anyone who enters is automatically entered into the random draw for one of two gift cards). Keep an eye out for the opening of that contest coming up soon!
Calling Volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering this school year with any council-led events, please reach out to us at info@stdominiccsc.com. This includes things like pizza days, family BBQ, book fair and more!
Good Shepherd Parish News
Good Shepherd Parish is an integral part of our school community, and we encourage you to read the Parish Highlights for the latest on the parish’s upcoming events.
Important Upcoming Dates
Tuesday, October 8th @ 11am - Thanksgiving Mass in the gymnasium
Friday, October 11th - PD Day, Christian Community Day (no school for students)
Monday, October 14th - Thanksgiving (school is closed)
October 17th - Pizza orders due