Register throughout the summer. School starts on Tuesday, September 3.
All OCSB elementary schools are closed throughout the summer. Register for school using our online form. If you have questions, contact our Admissions Department by email at admissions@ocsb.ca or by phone at 613-228-3338.
School News ~ June 20
Dear St. Dominic Families and Friends,
Well, the end of the school year is drawing near. The 2023-24 year has been a great one! Sincere thanks to all of the parents and guardians for your continued support. Here are a few update for you as we head into the summer:
STAFFING CHANGES: In addition to the staffing changes announced in the June 3rd school newsletter, we have a few more updates for you.
This year, we have had many long and short term staff members who have made a real difference. For all they have done this year, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Linda Zhou, Amy Delahunt, Jasmine Boyer, Ashley MacDonald, Darien Boland, Raminder Kaur Kurichh, Elly Hicks, Ryan Ekong, Leah Harper and Daphnee Lafleur.
In addition to the new staff members announced in the last newsletter, we would also like to welcome Shannon Sutherland, Jamie Doherty, and Prema Gopalsamy to the St. Dominic team.
SCHOOL COUNCIL: Every month, the St. Dominic School Council gets together to plan fundraisers, special events and ways to support our school. This year, the group planned pizza days, the September welcome event, the Christmas Sing-A-Long, Shrove Tuesday pancakes, the Paint Night, the Family Mass, the Year End Family BBQ and much more. Many thanks to Danielle, Lindsay, Alicia, Angella, Christine, and James. Thanks also to all the staff members who were a part of the Council this year.
LIBRARY BOOKS: We are still missing over 40 library books with a total value of over $500 from our Learning Commons. Please take a look to see if any of those books might be hiding at home.
KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION AND SCREENING: We will be staggering the start of our Junior and Senior Kindergarten students in the fall in order to give Teachers and Early Childhood Educators the opportunity to do some literacy screening before the start of the school year. Please refer to the letter being sent home soon with all current Junior Kindergarten students. Key dates are also listed at the end of this newsletter.
REPORT CARDS: Report cards and Individual Education Plans (IEPs) will be available on the Parent Portal starting on June 26th. Be sure to take a look. If you aren’t yet able to access the Parent Portal, please contact the school before the end of next week.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES: What supplies will your child need for school in September? The easy answer is that we provide most of what students will need. Please click the links below to see lists of additional supplies that students might like to have for the school year ahead.
NEW MER BLEUE SCHOOL: The Ministry of Education recently announced the approval of a new OCSB elementary school to serve students in the Mer Bleue Community in Orleans. The new school will be located on Jerome Jodoin Drive, south of Sweetclover Way. The opening of the new school may impact enrolment at St. Dominic, as well as Our Lady of Wisdom and St. Kateri Tekakwitha. A future consultation with the affected school communities will be held to establish the attendance boundary for the new school. The school is currently planned to open in the 2026-27 school year, though please note that the timeline is subject to change.
DENTAL SCREENINGS: Free dental screenings are held over the summer at Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs. Click the link to find out more.
SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES: Here are 4 ways to keep the learning happening this summer:
Grade 4 to 6 students can use Times Tables Rock Stars to build their times tables fluency. All it takes is 6 minutes a day! When signing in, be sure to select St. Dominic School, Ottawa!
Check out the new OCSB Math at Home K-12 Math site. There are many great resources to explore
Kindergarten families: sign up for a special workshop with Hannah Beach. Visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/ottawa-cspa-35352194143 to find out more.
Sign up for the OCSB International Languages Summer program taking place at Our Lady of Wisdom School in Orleans. For more information and to register, visit Register for the Summer 2024 IL Elementary program.
BUS/VAN NEWS: If your child accesses Bus/Van transportation through the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority, please see the OSTA Bus/Van Summer News posted on our school website.
SUMMER MENTAL HEALTH TIPS: Visit our school website to access a variety of resources, tips and ideas to support children’s mental and physical health over the summer.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
August 27 ~ School Office re-opens
September 2 ~ Labour Day
September 3 ~ First day of school for Grade 1-6 students
September 3 ~ Senior Kindergarten Orientation and Screening Visits
September 4 ~ First day of school for Senior Kindergarten students
September 4 ~ Group 1 Junior Kindergarten Orientation Visits
September 5 ~ First day of school for Group 1 Junior Kindergarten students
September 5 ~ Group 2 Junior Kindergarten Orientation Visits
September 6 ~ First day of school for Group 2 Junior Kindergarten students
Have a wonderful summer!
Immunization Information
For information about immunization, please see this letter from Ottawa Public Health.
Summer Mental Health Tips
Dear St. Dominic Families,
At the OCSB, we strive to create a supportive and nurturing environment for all students. We understand that a child's mental health is just as important as their physical health, and that families play a crucial role in supporting their well-being.
Here are a few helpful strategies and resources to navigate challenges while promoting well-being this summer.
Good Family Strategies:
Routine is key: As much as possible, stick to regular routines for meals, sleep, and family activities. This provides structure and a sense of security for your child.
Family traditions: Continue to enjoy cherished family activities and traditions as well as creating new ones. These moments of connection and shared experiences can boost mood and create happy memories. (See some great ideas here - July 2024 Wellbeing Calendar and August 2024 Wellbeing Calendar)
Thought-Changing Strategies:
Challenge negative thoughts: Help your child identify negative thoughts and challenge their validity. Talk through situations and encourage them to focus on more realistic and positive perspectives.
Gratitude practice: Encourage your child to practice gratitude. Take time each day to reflect on things they're thankful for, big or small. This can shift focus towards the positive aspects of life.
For additional support please visit:
OPH’s Parenting in Ottawa mental health page for information about child and or youth mental health agencies.
Youth Services 24/7 Crisis Line: If your child is experiencing a crisis, please contact the Youth Services Crisis Line at 613-260-2360 (Ottawa) or toll-free 1-877-377-7775 (outside Ottawa) for immediate assistance.
Kids Help Phone: Kids Help Phone provides 24/7 counselling and referral services across Ontario. Your child can call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868 to access these free resources.
Additional Mental Health Resources (About Kids Health, Anxiety Canada, School Mental Health Ontario, Counselling Connect)
Phone line support for youth -Phone Line Supports
Remember, you are not alone.
There are many resources available to help you support your child's mental health. Please see this sheet containing Tips For Wellbeing This Summer for a few ideas on how you can maintain mental health and well-being.
Summer Learning Opportunities
Dear St. Dominic Families,
Here are 4 ways to keep the learning happening this summer:
Grade 4 to 6 students can use Times Tables Rock Stars to building their times tables fluency. All it takes is 6 minutes a day! When signing in, be sure to select St. Dominic School, Ottawa!
Check out the new OCSB Math at Home K-12 Math site. There are many great resources to explore
Kindergarten families, sign up for a special workshop with Hannah Beach. Visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/ottawa-cspa-35352194143 to find out more.
Sign up for the OCSB International Languages Summer program taking place at Our Lady of Wisdom School in Orleans. For more information and to register, visit Register for the Summer 2024 IL Elementary program.
OSTA Bus/Van News - End of June 2024
Dear St. Dominic Parents and Guardians,
If you access Bus/Van transportation through the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority, please note the following from Joel Lemieux at OSTA’s General Manager:
Are you Moving or Changing Daycare Providers?
Information accuracy affects OSTA’s planning. Any changes to your home or alternate addresses must be provided to your school. It is critical that parents and guardians provide their school with any changes to home/alternate addresses AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to avoid extended waiting for a transportation change in the fall.
Joint Custody and Transportation to Two Homes – Renewals
Important Deadline – Joint Custody renewals must be done every year. The renewal form for existing variable transportation arrangements (Joint Custody) is available online. Renewal Joint Custody Forms must be submitted NO LATER THAN June 30 by at least one parent/guardian.
Empty Seats/Courtesy Seating for the 2024-25 School Year
Over the past few years, we have experienced significant disruption to our transportation services due to the driver shortage. Though we are cautiously optimistic that this coming fall's service will roll out smoothly due to our proactive measures, it is difficult to predict driver status. It is not uncommon for drivers to not return after the summer break or to resign early in the school year. As our first priority is to provide reliable transportation to eligible students, the Empty Seats/Courtesy program will NOT be reinstated in September. We will re-evaluate this decision later in the fall when we have better visibility on the status of our services.
OSTA Parent Web Portal Closed
OSTA’s Parent Web Portal (Bus Stop Finder) will be closed from the end of June until mid August. The portal will reopen with next year’s transportation information. Please regularly check OSTA’s website and social media pages for important transportation announcements, deadlines, and other vital information.
Not Using the Bus Next Year? Let OSTA Know by Declining Transportation Are you eligible for transportation but not using it next year? Decline today. Keeping OSTA informed is important as it allows us to better use available transportation services for those who need them. For more information, visit OSTA’s website.
School Zone Safety and Walk-A-Block
Help make your school zone safer. Reduce congestion around your school site by parking away from it and using #Walk-a-Block instead. Find your school map here.
School Bus and Pedestrian Safety Day
Learn all about school bus and pedestrian safety at OSTA’s safety day event on Sunday, Aug. 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Children can ride a real bus and participate in pedestrian safety training with the Ottawa Safety Council. For more information and to register, visit OSTA’s website. OSTA also provides extensive resources on its website, including several age-appropriate bus safety videos, which are easily accessible to parents/guardians. Parents/guardians are encouraged to visit the website with their child(ren) prior to the start of the new school year.
Take the Wheel and Drive Yellow Today
Looking for a satisfying part-time job that fits your work-life balance? Take the wheel and drive yellow. Yellow school bus drivers are impactful workers who are highly valued by our communities for getting kids safely to school. Visit driveyellow.ca for more information on becoming a school bus driver.
Recognizing our Dedicated School Bus Drivers
As we look back on the challenges of the past school year, the shortage of school bus drivers stands out as a significant issue that affected many families, causing disruptions in transportation services. While efforts to recruit new drivers are ongoing, it's essential to recognize that retaining our current drivers is equally crucial in addressing this shortage. Let's set an example for our children by teaching them to show respect and gratitude towards these essential workers. Recognizing the contributions of school bus drivers not only fosters empathy and kindness but also nurtures a culture of appreciation within our school community. Together, as parents, schools and students, we can create a supportive and respectful environment that honours the invaluable role of our school bus drivers. By collectively acknowledging and respecting these dedicated professionals, we can ensure our children's continued safety and well-being during their daily commute.
BusPlanner Web Account
Are you seeking information about your child’s bus stop location and pick up/drop off time? Once you have created a subscriber account in BusPlanner Web you can add your child. Simply input their OEN (Ontario Education Number) along with their birthdate, grade, and the school they attend, and you will have access to all of your child’s transportation information. The OEN can be found on your child’s report card or by contacting your child’s school.
OSTA Rebrand
OSTA is thrilled to announce the launch of its revamped brand identity and new website this summer. This transformation signifies a new beginning for OSTA, highlighting our dedication to leadership, modernization, inclusiveness, and community engagement. We aim to showcase our commitment to being a dependable and caring transportation provider. Our new website is modern, accessible, and user-friendly, ensuring seamless navigation for all users. It offers clear information about our services, policies, and updates. Stay tuned!
Summer Communication
As a commitment to transparency, OSTA will continue to provide bus driver status updates throughout the summer as it gears up for another school year. OSTA is dedicated to providing students with a safe way to travel to and from school while giving parents/guardians the peace of mind they deserve. Updates will be available on the OSTA website.
Good Shepherd Parish News
Parish Newsletters:
Sacraments:
Typically, children in Grade 2 receive the sacrament of Reconcilliation and First Communion. In Grade 6, children typically receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Information about sacramental preparation courses will be shared with families through an email from the school in the fall. Of course, information about sacramental preparation can also be obtained by contacting the Good Shepherd Parish directly by email (office@thegoodshepherdparish.com) or by phone (613-824-4394).
3092 Innes Road
Ottawa, ON
K1W 1C8