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School Newsletter for November 10
Prayer
Dear God,
As we step into November and the days grow shorter and colder, thank You for the light that still shines around us and within us.
Help us to find warmth in kindness, joy in learning, and peace in the quiet moments of each day. May we care for one another and remember those who need extra comfort this season. Bless our school community with hope, health, and gratitude.
Amen.
Halloween
October 31st was a fantastic day at St. Dominic, brimming with excitement! Our youngest Dragons kicked off the festivities by parading through the school in their vibrant costumes. Following this, all students bravely ventured through the grade 6 haunted house. The day culminated in a lively Halloween dance party, and our entrepreneurial grade 6 students successfully raised over $300 through their cotton candy sales.
Remembrance Day
Poppies are available for sale in the office, with all proceeds supporting our local Legion. Donations to the Legion are also being collected at School Cash Online, until the evening of the 11th. Parents are warmly invited to attend our Remembrance Day Ceremony; please arrive by 10:35 a.m. as the ceremony will promptly begin at 10:45 a.m.
Dressing for the Weather
As the colder weather approaches, we kindly remind all parents and guardians to ensure their children are dressed appropriately for outdoor activities. Layering is key, and warm coats, hats, gloves or mittens, and waterproof footwear will help keep our students comfortable and healthy throughout the school day.
School Fee
It is still possible to contribute to your child’s activity fee. We kept the school fee amount to $30 per student to a maximum of $75 per family. School fees help offset the cost of guest speakers, special presentations (e.g. Scientist in School, music performance) and various crafts. Student fees can be paid via School Cash Online.
The Importance of school attendance
Consistent attendance is vital for your child's success, as each school day builds their academic foundation and develops essential social skills. Regular presence ensures they benefit from continuous learning and engagement with peers and teachers. Even minor disruptions like frequent late arrivals or early departures can hinder their grasp of concepts. Let's work together to provide every child with the full advantages of an uninterrupted school day.
** NEW POLICY** Picking up your child early
If you need to pick your child up before the regular dismissal time of 3:45 p.m., please notify the school office by 3:00 p.m. This allows us to have your child waiting for you upon arrival. For a smooth transition, early pick-ups are best facilitated before 3:15 p.m. This allows our teachers to wrap up the school day with fewer disruptions.
If you are unable to arrange for an early pick-up of your child by 3:15 p.m., please plan to pick them up at the regular dismissal time of 3:45 p.m.
If you are dropping off your child for the regular start time, we encourage you to use the Vista park parking. We have noticed that there are lots of parking spots and this would greatly reduce the amount of vehicle traffic in the roundabout at the opposite end of the yard.
If you wish to pick up your child during the lunch outdoor recess, please be aware that it can be difficult to find your child in the yard unless we are made aware before 11:50.
Office Snacks
Over the past few months, our office has been happy to provide snacks for students who occasionally forget or run out of their own. However, we’ve noticed that many students are now visiting the office regularly for snacks out of habit rather than need. We kindly ask families to ensure that students bring enough snacks from home each day. While we’ll always make sure no one goes hungry, we appreciate your support in helping students be prepared and responsible for their own daily snacks.
St. Dominic Clothing Order
We are offering a group order for the school Spirit Wear.
Please shop the collection here.
Orders received by November 20th will be eligible for free shipping to the school. There is an option on the order form to not have the clothing distributed to the student, in case you want to make it a gift or surprise.
If you have any questions, please contact dominic@ocsb.ca
Reporting your child’s absence
Please be sure to inform the office of your child’s absence, either by calling the school at 613-424-3760 or by email at dominic@ocsb.ca. Informing of us of your child’s absence is extremely helpful and also avoids an unnecessary attendance call from our automated service. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Student Illness
Please do your part to help prevent the spread of common illnesses by following Ottawa Public Health guidelines if your child is sick. Students can return to school when they are fever-free (without fever-reducing medication) AND their symptoms have been improving for 24 hours. If they are experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis (vomiting/diarrhea), they should stay home until they are 48 hours symptom-free.
Lunch Box
If you would like to order from FB burrito (Tuesdays) and / or Subway (Wednesdays) please remember to complete your order before noon on Sunday. There is an option to order for a week at a time or to place an order for multiple weeks. If you would like to place an order please visit School Cash Online.
School Council News
Join us on Tuesday, November 25 , 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at the school. All parents and guardians are welcome. We hope to see you there!•
Pizza Day: The next pizza day is Thursday, November 13 2025. This is for those who have already ordered for this session.
Annual cookies and Christmas Carol night will be Thursday December 11th , 6:30-7:30 .
Good Shepherd Parish News
Christmas Variety Show
Good Shepherd Parish
Followed by a reception with light refreshments
November 30th at 7pm
Doors open at 6:30pm with a sing-along at 6:45pm
A fundraiser for Food for Families, Coats for Kids, and local food banks
Monetary donations gratefully accepted:
by cheque to “Good Shepherd Parish”
by e-Transfer to finsec9005@gmail.com
(Please indicate in the memo field that the donation is for the Christmas Variety Show.)
Tax receipts will be issued by Good Shepherd Parish in 2026.
Confirmation: The first retreat for Confirmation is Saturday, November 8th from 1:00pm to 4:30pm. More information has been e-mailed to the parents about this upcoming event.
Refresh, Renew, Respond: Is your child preparing for First Communion and Reconciliation this year? If so, you are invited to participate in an interactive adult faith program that will be held on the same dates and times as the children’s preparation classes. Each session is one hour in length, beginning after the 11:15am mass. The 4 sessions include: Building the Relationship, Sacrament of Reconciliation, The Mass, The Eucharist. Please RSVP at cgsgoodshepherdottawa@gmail.com for the second session on November 30th. A light lunch will be provided.
First Reconciliation and First Communion: The second retreat for the children preparing for First Communion and Reconciliation will be held on Sunday, November 30th, starting with the 11:15am mass and finishing at 3:45pm. The theme for the retreat is “We are Forgiven”.
Good Shepherd Youth Group: Our parish youth group meetings are held on Fridays beginning at 7pm and ending at 8:30pm. Our weekly youth group gives students in grade 5 to grade 10 the opportunity to have a safe place to have fun, cultivate friendships and learn more about the Catholic faith. Our youth nights will consist of games, talks and snacks! We hope to see you soon!
Family Rosary: The Knights of Columbus Rosary Program, in association with the Pro-Life Group of Good
Shepherd Parish, aims to build faithful families and communities, as well as a culture of life, through rosary prayer and devotion to Mary. All parishioners are invited to pray the rosary starting at 7pm on Tuesday, November 18th on Zoom. The Zoom session can be joined by running the Zoom app on your tablet, computer, or smart phone and entering Meeting ID: 947 8467 9616 and Passcode: 469494. Alternatively, you may use the following link: Family Rosary November 18
St. Vincent de Paul: The St. Vincent de Paul truck will be at the church during and after each Mass on November 15th and 16th. They will be accepting all donations of gently used clothing and small household furnishings/ housewares. Thank you in advance for your loyal support to St Vincent de Paul Society at Good Shepherd Parish.
Upcoming Important Dates
Remembrance Day Ceremony: November 11th
Progress Reports available on the Parent Portal: November 13th
Parent-Teacher Interviews: November 26th
PD Day: December 5th
Be sure to visit our school website regularly!
Here is a link to this year’s school board calendar.
“We are Called to Build Bridges”
“May we work together for unity in our communities, opening doors and building bridges in place of walls.”
Pope Leo
School Newsletter for October 24
Prayer
Loving God,
We thank You for the gift of working together as one community.
Bless our partnerships—with families, staff, and friends of our school—so that through cooperation and understanding, we may help every child grow in faith, knowledge, and kindness.
Guide us to listen with open hearts, support one another with patience, and celebrate the many gifts each person brings.
May our shared efforts reflect Your love and strengthen our St. Dominic family each day.
Haunted House
Get ready for a frightfully fun time! Our Grade 6 students are hard at work preparing a haunted house for the entire school to enjoy next Friday. This exciting fundraiser will feature thrills and chills tailored to be age-appropriate for all our students. They will also be selling delicious cotton candy ($2), so come on out and support our Grade 6 students!
Spirit Week
Our first Spirit Week is next week! A huge shout out to our Spirit Squad for organizing! You will find the calendar of events here.
The Importance of school attendance
Every school day is a building block for your child's future, laying the foundation for both academic achievement and crucial social skills. When students are consistently present, they unlock valuable learning opportunities and maintain a steady flow in their educational journey. Even occasional late arrivals or early departures can interrupt this rhythm, potentially impacting their ability to fully grasp concepts and engage meaningfully with their peers and teachers. Let's collaborate to ensure every child experiences the full benefits of an uninterrupted school day.
Reminder - Allergies
A reminder that we are a peanut, nut, sesame, fish and shellfish (including shrimp) free school. Please do not send food containing any of these allergens. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping everyone safe.
Reporting your child’s absence
Please be sure to inform the office of your child’s absence, either by calling the school at 613-424-3760 or by email at dominic@ocsb.ca. Informing of us of your child’s absence is extremely helpful and also avoids an unnecessary attendance call from our automated service. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Student Illness
Please do your part to help prevent the spread of common illnesses by following Ottawa Public Health guidelines if your child is sick. Students can return to school when they are fever-free (without fever-reducing medication) AND their symptoms have been improving for 24 hours. If they are experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis (vomiting/diarrhea), they should stay home until they are 48 hours symptom-free.
Lunch Box
If you would like to order from FB burrito (Tuesdays) and / or Subway (Wednesdays) please remember to complete your order before noon on Sunday. There is an option to order for a week at a time or to place an order for multiple weeks. If you would like to place an order please visit School Cash Online.
School Council News
Next Meeting: Join us on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at the school. All parents and guardians are welcome. We hope to see you there!
Pizza Day: Our first pizza day of session 1 was a success. The next pizza day is Thursday, October 30, 2025.
Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest: Our annual St. Dominic School Council Pumpkin Carving Contest is back! Submit a photo of your carved pumpkin by midnight on October 31, 2025, for a chance to win one of two Indigo gift cards. Enter here: https://forms.gle/6UsBK8STcZ3ioeyQ8
Good Shepherd Parish News
Refresh, Renew, Respond: Is your child preparing for First Communion and Reconciliation this year? If so, you may want to participate in an interactive adult faith program that will be held on the same dates and times as the children’s preparation classes. Each session is one hour in length, beginning after the 11:15am mass. The 4 sessions include: Building the Relationship, Sacrament of Reconciliation, The Mass, The Eucharist. Please RSVP by October 19th at cgsgoodshepherdottawa@gmail.com for the first session on October 26th. A light lunch will be provided.
Christmas Craft Fair - Saturday, November 1st, 9am to 2pm: The Catholic Women's League at Good Shepherd Parish will be hosting their famous Christmas Craft Fair on Saturday, November 1st. Doors open at 9am and the event runs until 2pm. Grab a coffee and a muffin, and shop an array of items made by our many crafters. Visit our bake table full of delicious goodies and stop by our lunch room for a bowl of homemade soup. We look forward to seeing you there.
Good Shepherd Youth Group: Our parish youth group meetings are held on Fridays beginning at 7pm and ending at 8:30pm. Our weekly youth group gives students in grade 5 to grade 10 the opportunity to have a safe place to have fun, cultivate friendships and learn more about the Catholic faith. Our youth nights will consist of games, talks and snacks! We hope to see you soon!
Family Rosary: The Knights of Columbus Rosary Program, in association with the Pro-Life Group of Good Shepherd Parish, aims to build faithful families and communities, as well as a culture of life, through rosary prayer and devotion to Mary. All parishioners are invited to pray the rosary starting at 7pm on Tuesday, October 21st on Zoom. The Zoom session can be joined by running the Zoom app on your tablet, computer, or smart phone and entering Meeting ID: 947 8467 9616 and Passcode: 469494. Alternatively, you may use the following link: Family Rosary October 21st
St. Vincent de Paul: The St. Vincent de Paul truck will be at the church during and after each Mass on November 15th and 16th. They will be accepting all donations of gently used clothing and small household furnishings/ housewares. Thank you in advance for your loyal support to St Vincent de Paul Society at Good Shepherd Parish.
Upcoming Important Dates
Spirit Week: October 27th -31st
PD Day: November 7th
Remembrance Day Ceremony: November 11th
Progress Reports available on the Parent Portal: November 13th
Parent-Teacher Interviews: November 26th
Be sure to visit our school website regularly!
Here is a link to this year’s school board calendar.
“We are Called to Build Bridges”
“May we work together for unity in our communities, opening doors and building bridges in place of walls.”
Pope Leo
School Clothing / Spirit Wear
We are offering a group order for the school Spirit Wear.
Please shop the collection here.
Orders received by Monday, October 6th will be eligible for free shipping to the school. There is an option on the order form to not have the clothing distributed to the student, in case you want to make it a gift or surprise.
If you have any questions, please contact dominic@ocsb.ca
Information about Sacraments from Good Shepherd Parish
Please use these links to learn more about this year's Sacraments:
First Reconciliation and First Communion
Progress Reports
I am pleased to inform you that your child’s Progress Report will soon be available via the Parent Portal. The Progress Report contains information about your child’s achievement thus far in a variety of areas. My signature on the Progress Report verifies that this is a recognized provincial report card that will be placed in your child’s Ontario Student Record.
The Progress Report includes information on academic progress to date and also progress on a variety of learning skills. Learning skills are an important measure of skills that will help your child throughout life, so I would ask that you please review these areas in addition to the academic assessment.
Attendance has been shown to be linked to academic success. Each day away from school results in a loss of opportunity to engage with the curriculum and places a challenge on your child to try and catch up when they return. Repeated late arrivals and early departures also impact students’ learning. Certainly if your child is ill, you should be keeping him or her home; however, wherever possible you are encouraged to schedule other appointments at a time that will minimize loss of classroom instruction.
Thank you for being involved in your child’s education. You can continue to support your child in a number of ways including:
Encouraging your child’s learning at home including time spent reading
Attending parent-teacher meetings and school events
Reviewing with your child their use of social media
Encouraging your child to get an appropriate amount of sleep and if they have a smartphone consider keeping the smartphone out of their bedroom when they go to sleep
Teachers are responsible for the specific comments and assessments on your child’s report card. If you have any questions related to the comments or assessments please contact the classroom teacher directly or book an interview using this link.
Sincerely,
Carrie-Anne Gravel
Principal
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