St. Dominic School

We are very excited for the start of the 2026-2027 school year and look forward to welcoming our returning and new Dom Dragons next week.  At this time, we would like to share some important information leading up to our first day.  

The first day of school for our grade 1 to 6 students is Tuesday, September 1st.  

Returning Senior Kindergarten students have been scheduled a time for their literacy screening on September 1st and will all begin their first day on Wednesday, September 2nd.  

Junior Kindergarten students will first come for an orientation meeting.  An email with your child’s specific date and time will be sent later this week.  

School hours are from 9:15 to 3:45.  Students are welcome on the yard starting at 9:00 when there is staff supervision.  To help establish a secure environment and foster independence from day one, the school yard is a student-only zone for all drop-offs and pick-ups, including the first day of school.

Please drop your child off at the main gate/entry line. Staff members will be stationed throughout the yard to greet students, guide them to their assigned class lines, and assist anyone who needs help finding their way.

Keeping the yard parent-free ensures our staff can easily identify and account for all students, keeps sightlines clear, and allows children to settle in with their peers without added congestion.

We completely understand that parting ways on the first day can bring mixed emotions for both parents and kids! Rest assured that our team will be right there to offer high-fives, clear direction, and reassurance to any student feeling nervous.

Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in keeping our school community safe and organized.

While families typically are informed of their child’s teacher on the Friday before school starts, our staff will be participating in a scheduled Professional Development day on Monday, August 31st. Consequently, homeroom teachers will be using this time to finalize preparations and will send a personal welcome email to parents by late afternoon on Monday, August 31st. This email will serve as your teacher's introduction and will let you know which class your child is in for the upcoming year. Keep an eye on your inbox that afternoon. 

To keep our phone lines clear during this busy preparation day, we kindly ask that parents refrain from calling the main office to inquire about placements. If you miss the email or run into any technical issues, don't worry— school staff will be out in the yard on the first day of school with master class lists to help guide every student to the right group.

List of supplies

A list of school supplies was shared with families.  For easy reference, here are the lists of supplies per division.  The list can also be found on our school website, 

Kindergarten

Primary

Junior

Please label your child’s items.  An identified water bottle makes it so much easier to return to its owner! 

Drop off / Pick up

A reminder that the parking lot and the bus lane are not accessible to parents at the start of the day between 8:50 and 9:15 and again at the end of the day between 3:20 and 3:45.   If you are driving your child during these peak hours please park on the side streets and walk. Your cooperation is keeping everyone safe.

New Sign In / Out Process

Starting this September, you will have the option to fill out a Google Form to sign your child in or out! This will help speed up the process of getting kids in and out, and avoid some of the lineups you may have seen in the office previously. QR codes will be posted in the office to direct you to the link. 

Parents must still present themselves with the child being signed in or out for security reasons.

Our traditional paper sheets will remain available for the time being, should you prefer.

Transportation Information

Please be sure to sign up on the Parent Portal of the transportation authority by visiting OSTA’s website at Ottawaschoolbus.ca.  This will ensure that you receive timely notices of transportation delays or cancellations.

If you’d like to get a head start on preparing for the upcoming school year, the supply lists for each division are now ready! Purchasing items over the summer is completely optional, but it's a great way to skip the late-August rush. You can find the specific links for your child's division below to help ensure they have everything they need for a smooth first day back.

Kindergarten

Primary (Gr 1-3)

Junior (Gr 4-6)

Is your child new to our school community? Registration remains open throughout the summer. The first day of school is Tuesday, September 1st.

Although OCSB elementary schools are closed during the summer, families can still register online. 

REGISTER TODAY ›

For assistance, contact the Admissions Department at admissions@ocsb.ca or 613-228-3338.

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.