School News ~ April 12
Happy Easter! Spring is definitely in the air: Garlic planted last fall is now sprouting in our garden. Children have been preparing for, and will soon receive Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. The air is warm, the mud is plentiful, and there is lots of energy in the school. We’re all set for a great final few months of the school year.
Below is some news and information that you will hopefully find helpful.
Wishing you and your family many Easter blessings,
~ The Staff of St Dominic
Freezie Fridays are back! Our Grade 6 students are fundraising again! On April 19, April 26, May 10, and May 17, they will be visiting classrooms with Freezies to sell for $2. Anyone interested in purchasing a Freezie should bring a Toonie on the dates mentioned. Limit of one FREEZIE per student. Proceeds raised will go towards ensuring Grade 6 has a memorable send off at the end of the school year. Thank you in advance for your continued support.
Upcoming Masses: We have 2 upcoming Masses. On Friday, April 19th at 11 a.m., Father Virgil will be coming to the school to celebrate an Easter Mass with us. Students in Grade 4 have been busy practicing readings and learning songs. We hope that you will be able to join us. We also hope you will join us for a special Family Mass taking place at Good Shepherd Parish on May 8th at 7pm. Stay tuned for more details.
Sacramental Preparation: We are thrilled that students will be soon receiving sacraments. On April 13, 14, 20 and 21 many of our Grade 2 students, as well as a few other students, will be receiving the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. On April 30th, a group of our Grade 6 students will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. We are so happy for all those who will be receiving sacraments.
OFF SITE PERMISSION FORM: Towards the end of the school year, many classes plan excursions to Vista Park. If you haven’t already done so, please log into the Parent Portal to complete the Off Site Permission Form. Completing the form allows the students to travel to destinations within walking distance of the school. Rest assured, when such outings are planned, teachers will still let parents/guardians know in advance.
Coming Soon to our School Yard: Some of our students with communication challenges use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in class. These electronic devices are very helpful, but they aren’t perfect for use outside at recess (especially when it is wet). To promote more interactions between all students, the OCSB is installing outdoor communication boards in many schools across the city. Read more about this initiative in this blog post from our school board.
BUS LANE: Just a reminder that the bus lane at the front of the school is CLOSED TO ALL VEHICLES except school buses and special transportation vehicles from 8:45-9:15 and from 3:30 until 4:00. Please do not drive in the bus lane at these times.
LATE ARRIVALS AND EARLY PICKUPS: As much as possible we ask that you avoid late arrivals and early pickups. Not only do children miss out on learning when they arrive late or leave early, but late arrivals and early departures are also very disruptive to classroom activities. Many thanks for your cooperation.
MANDARIN AND SPANISH CLASSES: Did you know that the OCSB International Languages Program offers free MANDARIN (simplified) and SPANISH on Saturday mornings at St. Clare Catholic School? Although classes end in June, registration is ongoing, so if you are interested, please see the flyer linked here.
TCHOUKBALL: Our Tchoukball teams recently went to the Oz Dome in Stittsville for a tournament. Congratulations to all the athletes, including Charlie, Evelyn, Maysoon, Hannah, Milana, Jemima, Moreen, Anabelle, Suri, Faith, Rory, Nari, Olivia, Emma, Hannah, Veronica, Morgan, Leah, Saniya, Jessica, Joshua, Elliot, Cuinn, Cole, Precious, Jonathan, Teddy-Bryan, Joel, Ethan, Nikolas, Ryan, Marlon, Joe, Austin, Callum, Alain, Nathan, Davis, Julien, Jacob, Elisee, and Rafael. Many thanks to Coach Bourgeois and Coach Paialunga, and to Mrs. Rayner who convened the tournament.
BASKETBALL: Basketball is another sport that is in full swing. Yesterday, our Girls Teams went to a tournament, and our Boys team will soon be heading out to proudly represent St. Dominic. In an upcoming school newsletter we will let you know all about the players and coaches.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
April 15 ~ St. Peter visits St. Dominic Grade 6s
April 17 ~ School Council Meeting
April 18 ~ Pizza Day for those that ordered
April 19 @ 11:00 ~ Easter Mass with Father Virgil
May 6 to 10 ~ Book Fair in our Learning Commons
May 8 ~ Muffin Breakfast and Open House (Details to follow)
May 8 @ 7pm ~ Family Mass at Good Shepherd Parish
May 9 @ 4pm ~ Welcome to Kindergarten Evening (for Kinder students starting in September)
May 13-17 EQAO Assessment for Grade 3 and 6 students
May 15 ~ School Council Meeting
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