September 6th Newsletter
Principal’s Message
It was a great week welcoming students to the 2024-2025 school year. We are privileged to lead the St. Dominic school dream team of educators as we strive to offer our students an enriching and fun learning experience. We look forward to seeing you at the various events we will be hosting this year. Wishing you a wonderful school year!
Warm regards,
Carrie-Anne Gravel (Principal) and Dan Rigley (Vice-Principal)
Parent Portal and School Messenger
It is important that all parents register on the OCSB parent portal. If you have not yet done so, please visit the following site, for a step by step guide.
In addition, please be sure to register for School Messenger as all school messages are sent via Messenger.
YOU ARE RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER TODAY BECAUSE THE EMERGENCY FEATURE OF MESSENGER WAS USED. ALL FUTURE COMMUNICATION WILL BE SENT USING THE REGULAR FEATURE. THIS MEANS IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED FOR SCHOOL MESSENGER YOU WILL NOT BE RECEIVING COMMUNICATION FROM THE SCHOOL.
Parent’s Homework
Please have a look at the following document. It contains many links that will be helpful to sign up for many school and school board applications.
List of supplies
A list of school supplies was shared with families. For easy reference, here are the lists of supplies per division.
Please label your child’s items. An identified water bottle makes it so much easier to return to its owner!
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.
School hours and tardiness
Our school hours are from 9:15 am to 3:45 pm, and it is crucial that students arrive promptly to make the most of their educational experience.
Attending school on time has numerous benefits for your child's academic progress and overall development. When students arrive punctually, they have the opportunity to settle in, prepare for the day ahead, and engage in valuable classroom activities right from the start. This sets a positive tone for the rest of the day and allows them to fully participate in all learning opportunities.
Regular and timely attendance also helps students build important life skills, such as time management, responsibility, and discipline. By consistently attending school on time, students develop a strong work ethic and establish a routine that will benefit them throughout their lives. Of course, appointments do happen and we understand that scheduling them outside of school hours can be challenging.
School Fees
We will be keeping the school fees 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.
Drop off / Pick up
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. Thanks to those parents who have found a new routine. Your cooperation is keeping everyone safe.
Meet the Educator Evening
We are excited to invite you to our "Opening our Doors" event on Wednesday, September 11th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. This informal gathering is an opportunity for you to drop in, meet our dedicated team of educators, and get a glimpse of where your child spends their day. Since educators are still getting to know their students, please remember that this evening is not a formal interview; it is more an opportunity to connect, meet the educators and learn more about our school community. We look forward to seeing you there!
Terry Fox Run
As is in past years, St. Dominic students will participate in the Terry Fox Run and will be collecting donations for this very worthy cause. Our run date is Friday, September 27th. More details will be sent in a separate communication.
Smile - Picture Day
Mark your calendars! St. Dominic’s picture day is October 30th.
Volunteers
Your school needs you! Please consider volunteering. There are many tasks and activities which require volunteers, ranging from a few hours a week to once in a while, ie: field trips or school events. Please note that all volunteers require a yearly Volunteer check. The form is to be completed online and can be found at https://www.ocsb.ca/contact/volunteers/.
School Council News
St. Dominic School Council would like to welcome you back to our amazing community (and extend a very warm welcome to all our new families)! Next week you will see some important information being sent out (sent home with your child as well as electronically) about School Council, including what we do, how you can be involved and our upcoming meetings.
School Council is a great way to meet new families, get a behind the scenes look at what's happening at St. Dominic and across the OCSB, as well as have a tangible impact on your child's education. You do not have to have a specific role on Council (though you're more than welcome) to attend our monthly meetings - parents are always welcome. The Council supports the school financially, organizes community and school events, and provides advice on matters affecting students' learning. Parents and guardians can get involved by attending meetings, volunteering for events, running for elected positions, and/or participating in activities and fundraising efforts.
Our first meeting will take place on Thursday September 26th at 6:00 pm at the school (in the Learning Commons) We will close out the previous year, hold elections for the current year and start looking ahead at our plans for 2024 - 2025. We look forward to seeing lots of parents and guardians of our St. Dominic Dragons!
For more information about School Council, please email us at info@stdominicCSC.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stdominicCSC.
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.