St. Dominic School

Prayer 

As we head into the Thanksgiving weekend, we pause to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. We are grateful for our families, our friends, our school community, and the opportunities we have each day to learn, grow, and care for one another.

Help us to notice the little things that bring us joy, to appreciate the kindness of others, and to remember those who may be struggling or in need of support. May we share our blessings generously and find ways to bring hope, comfort, and love to those around us.

Bless our students, families, and staff with a restful and joyful long weekend. May our hearts be filled with gratitude, and may we return refreshed and ready to continue our journey together.

Cross Country Event

Our junior cross country team truly shone at the East end meet last week. Their dedication throughout September was evident, and we are incredibly proud of all our runners. A special congratulations goes to Mya (Grade 5) and to Arnau (grade 6) for their outstanding performances!  We are very proud of all our Dragon runners!

Truth and Reconciliation Day

On September 30th, our school community recognized the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Students and staff wore orange shirts and participated in meaningful learning activities that encouraged reflection on the history and lasting impact of residential schools, the importance of reconciliation, and how we can contribute to a more just and respectful future. Together, we continue our learning journey, honouring the experiences of Indigenous Peoples and recognizing our shared responsibility to move forward with understanding, compassion, and respect.

Student Activity Fee

We invite all families who are able to pay the student Activity Fee at School Cash Online. These funds are collected and used for special projects and crafts, or guest presenters throughout the year.

Picture Day is approaching! 

Mark your calendars if you haven’t already done so.  Our picture day is October 27th.  

Reminder - Allergies

A reminder that we are 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. 

Picking up your child early

Just a reminder that 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 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.

The Importance of school attendance

Regular school attendance is crucial for your child's academic success and social development.  Consistent attendance ensures students don't miss valuable learning opportunities, as each day builds upon the last. Arriving late or leaving early, even occasionally, can disrupt their learning flow and also impact their ability to fully engage in social interactions with peers and teachers. Let's work together to ensure every child benefits from a full and uninterrupted school day.

Lunch Box

Give yourself a break from packing lunches and let us take care of two days a week! Students can enjoy delicious FB Burrito on Tuesdays and Subway on Wednesdays.

Ready to order? Be sure to place your order by Sunday at noon! You can order one week at a time or plan ahead and place orders for multiple weeks at once.

Visit School Cash Online to place your order. Your child’s lunch is just a few clicks away!

The Kinder Workshop: Creating the Best Conditions for Growth and Learning by Hannah Beach

This is the workshop that every kindergarten family needs to attend! At the OCSB we see ourselves as a ‘village.’ We want to work alongside every family so that we can come together to support your child to become their best selves. Part of this means embarking on your child’s school journey with us, as a team. How your child starts school can have a great effect on their feelings about themselves as a learner.

Hannah Beach has been travelling the globe supporting educators and families as they come together to explore the science behind how young children learn best – through relationship and play! We are excited as a board to be working alongside Hannah and we invite you to join us for this important workshop.

Join Hannah for a warm and conversational workshop exploring practical strategies we can use to support our children to thrive. Western culture has replaced play with entertainment. We are now seeing the emotional side effects of the loss of play in the lives of children as aggression and anxiety in our young is at an all-time high. Faced with this epidemic of emotional health crises and behavioural problems, kids are struggling and parents are exhausted.

We will delve into how play reduces aggression, lowers anxiety, supports learning and builds resilience. And we'll explore the emotion behind aggression so that we can jump off the exhausting hamster wheel of trying to fix behaviours over and over again - and instead look at how we can work towards lasting change.

Monday, October 19  •  6:30 PM - 8 PM EDT

Free Virtual Event

Link to Register

E-Scooters 

A few reminders to parents about E-Scooters:

Age and Helmets: Riders must be at least 16 years old. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet.

Stay Off Sidewalks: E-scooters belong in bike lanes or on the shoulder of the road. Riding on the sidewalk carries a $150 fine.

No Passengers: E-scooters are designed for a single rider only. 

Required Equipment: Scooters must be equipped with a bell or horn, as well as a white front light and a red rear light.

Full Attention: The same rules for distracted and impaired driving apply to e-scooters. 

For our driving parents: Remember to slow down, provide a 1-metre distance when passing e-scooters, and be extra watchful in our busy school zones.

For more information, you can visit the City of Ottawa e-scooters web page.

School Council News

Our next meeting is Tuesday, October 27th at 6:30 p.m in the school staff room. Everyone is welcome, and we encourage all parents and guardians to join us! You don’t need to be an elected School Council member to attend. Whether you’re interested in getting involved, sharing ideas, or simply finding out what’s happening at our school, we’d love to have you there. Every voice and idea helps make our school community stronger!

Coming Soon: Annual Pumpkin Carving!

School Council will be hosting our annual pumpkin carving event! More details will be shared next week, so stay tuned for all the fun.

Stay Connected: For the latest updates, announcements, and event details, be sure to join our Facebook group: St. Dominic Catholic School Council.

Have questions or want to get in touch? You can email us directly at info@stdominiccsc.com.

We look forward to connecting with more families and continuing to make St. Dominic a wonderful place for our students to learn and grow!

Upcoming Important Dates

Thanksgiving: Monday, October 12th (school is closed)

Picture Day:  October 27th

Spirit Week:  October 26th -30th (details to follow)

Here is a link to this year’s school board calendar. 

Please view the flyer for more information about picture day on October 27

Please view this document to know more about our Extended Day Program

Please see information letters from the Church regarding both First Communion and Confirmation

Friday September 4

Tuesday August 25

Our school uses SafeArrival to report student absences. SafeArrival is designed to make it easier, faster, and more convenient for families to report absences and late arrivals.

With SafeArrival, there’s no need to call the school and leave a message. Instead, you can quickly and securely report your child’s absence in one of three ways:

• Using the SM Home App: Download and install the SM Home app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

• Online: Visit home.schoolmessenger.ca.

• Phone: Call the toll-free number 1-844-478-2598 and follow the prompts

Further detailed instructions are available on the OCSB website.