Principal’s Message

Second semester is well underway and we have had a BIG February to kick it off!!!!  I am so proud to share the many highlights of this past month.  Please join me in congratulating all of our students and staff who made this past month so vibrant and energizing!

VP Sheila Cousineau is away until mid-April - while on leave, retired VP John O’Connor will be taking over her duties.  We welcome Mr. O’Connor to the Irish Family - even if only for a short period of time.

I am proud to share that St Patrick’s High School has TWO Director of Education Commendation nominees: Mrs. Sheila Cousineau and Ms. Linda LoFaro!!!!  We are so proud of you and thank you for your unwavering dedication to our school community.  Winners will be announced at the end of March!

A special request to families to review with your children the uniform required to attend St Pat’s, in particular the bottoms: black DRESS pants, black CARGO pants, black SKIRT, or KILT.  Students are not permitted to wear jogging pants, leggings, yoga pants, or jeans in place of their uniform bottoms.  Please visit the Top Marks website if you need to order uniform pieces.

Whether traveling or staying close to home, I would like to wish you and your loved ones a safe and relaxing March Break. 

Mme Al Koura

Catholic School Council

A quick reminder of the following date for our last meeting of the year: 

                Monday, May 13th, 2024 - Virtual

To join the May meeting virtually please email the school to get a link for the meeting.

Our Council is continuing its fundraising efforts and THANK YOU for supporting our school. Please, consider buying your gift cards through Fundscrip. Money raised helps to contribute funds to various Clubs/Teams within the School, Teacher Wish Lists (supplies) for the Classroom and Special Events at the School.

FundScrip (www.fundscrip.com) is a fundraising program that asks you to pay for your everyday purchases with gift cards bought through the FundScrip program. Invitation code is HZYTCL or by clicking on https://www.fundscrip.com/support-a-group/HZYTCL.  There are over 250 retailers to choose from. 

• It doesn't cost you anything extra

• You don't have to change where you shop or what you buy

• Your everyday purchases add up to make a difference very quickly

Please consider buying one gift card of $25 for gas or groceries or a card used as a gift to give every month.

You have the following options to pay:

• Online Banking Bill Payment - FREE

• Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) - FREE Requires completed application form and void cheque sent to FundScrip to be activated.

• Interac Online - earnings reduced by $0.85 per transaction for those with accounts at the following financial institutions: RBC Royal Bank; BMO Bank of Montreal, ScotiaBank and TD Toronto Dominion

• Credit Card (earnings are reduced by 1.99%)

CSPA 

CSPA is hosting an event on March 20, 2024, please see the details below for inclusion in the school Newsletter.  

Respectful Conversations about Race

Date: Wed, Mar 20 • 7:00 PM EDT

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/respectful-conversations-about-race-tickets-850586275447?aff=eivtefrnd&utm_share_source=org-profile_android

Aubrey Noronha: Colour Blind

St Patrick’s High School Catholic School Council is proud to present Aubrey Noronha: Colour Blind on Tuesday, March 19th at 7:00 pm.  Child-minding will be available while parents can enjoy the talk in our cafeteria.  Light refreshments will be available as well as door prizes.  

Aubrey's engaging talk will discuss conscious and unconscious bias, the evolution of the word "racism" and what "systemic" really means. We will learn practical steps how to transform ourselves from being a ”non-racist” to an “anti-racist”

Aubrey Noronha is a recognized Safe Schools, Mental Health and Anti-Racism Speaker who believes in the possibility of a safer and more emotionally connected school culture.

https://www.hellohope.ca

Screenagers Under the Influence: Vaping Drugs & Alcohol in the Digital Age

St Patrick’s High School and the SPH Catholic School Council are inviting you to a FREE screening of “Screenagers Under the Influence: Vaping Drugs & Alcohol in the Digital Age”, the last of three movies.  The screening will be taking place VIRTUALLY, on Thursday, May 22nd starting at 7:00 pm.

“Join Screenagers filmmaker, Delaney Ruston as she picks up her camera once more to examine the impact of our digital age on teens’ decision-making in relation to substances such as vaping, alcohol and drugs.”

Please see the website for more information.

https://www.screenagersmovie.com

We hope to have you amongst us!

April Professional Development Day (PD Day) - Date Change to April 8, 2024

The following messaging was sent to families last week, but in case you missed it, please make note:

The Professional Development Day, initially planned for Friday, April 26, has been rescheduled. The new date for the PD Day is Monday, April 8, 2024, pending Ministry approval. 

Why the Change?

We rescheduled the PD Day because there will be a solar eclipse in Ottawa on April 8, coinciding with our school's dismissal time. There are safety concerns for our students and staff who will be outside at this time because looking directly at the sun during the eclipse can cause damage to one's eyes.

The Board of Trustees Approved the Change

The Board of Trustees has approved the date change and wanted to inform staff and families about it as soon as possible so you can plan accordingly. We have requested the PD day change to the province and are awaiting final approval. We are confident the request will be approved, as it has been for other school boards across the province.

St Patrick’s Day

Most years, St Patrick’s Day falls during March Break and as such is not celebrated here at the school.  With St Patrick’s Day falling on Sunday, March 17th, our Student Council has proposed extending the celebrations to Monday, March 18th - our first day back from the March Break.  As such, we have approved a St Paddy’s Day Spirit day where students will be invited to wear St Paddy’s Day accessories with their proper uniform.  Leading up to the March Break we will have a classroom door decorating contest, Spot the Leprechaun activity and on the Monday after March break we will have morning trivia and a photo booth at lunch.  Wishing everyone an early Happy St Patrick’s Day!!!!!                     

Special Olympics Ontario - School of the Month

Congratulations to our Special Olympics Ontario St Patrick’s Bocce team for receiving a School Program Recognition Award!!!!  Join me in celebrating this beautiful group of athletes!!! 

Black History Month

February was an inspiring month focussed on celebrating Black Culture, Black Joy and Black Successes through the OCSB theme of ‘Boldly Me, Diverse We:Shaping Our Collective Future’.  Staff and students participated in a variety of experiences that connected them not only with our history, but also with all that our community has to showcase the amazing contributions of our Black brothers and sisters.

Every day, we started off with interesting facts or mini-lessons created by student leaders within the BSA that highlighted in their own words significant moments, people or culturally relevant topics for each week’s theme.

On February 22nd, our SPH BSA students and invited guests spent the day at the National Gallery of Canada.  They had a private tour of the gallery’s several beautiful pieces and then participated in a “Meet the Artist” talk with Deanna Bowen who shared her work “The Black Canadians (after Cooke)” which is currently installed on the gallery’s South facade.  A special thanks to David Kajoba, our Black Grad Coach, for making this day possible.  It was a fantastic day for all involved!

On February 27th, Stacey Martin shared her powerful story of hope, determination, tenacity, resiliency and creativity with our student body.  In her words, “As a Black woman entrepreneur, my mission is to inspire students by providing representation that fuels their belief in achieving extraordinary heights.”  And that she did!!!!

As always, the highlight of our BHM celebrations is the student-led Student Showcase.  Our BSA, alongside our various student associations and dance teams/troops gave us over an hour of >>>>>>>>>>>

Have a Heart Day

On February 14th, members of our Indigenous Student Association as well as Mrs Williams’ English class, attended the Have a Heart Day event at the Meridian Theatre at Centrepointe.  

“Have a Heart Day is a child and youth-led reconciliation event that brings together caring Canadians to help ensure First Nations children have the opportunity to grow up safely at home, get a good education, be healthy, and be proud of who they are.”

PINK Shirt Day

On Wednesday, February 21st, SPH staff and students were invited to wear pink shirts to take a stand against bullying.  All ages have the power to create and make change, and elevating the voices of ALL begins by advocating for kindness and inclusivity.  As with many of our campaigns, the drive falls on ONE day, ONE week, ONE month, but the goal is that this becomes part of our daily routines so that kindness and inclusivity remain a year-round commitment.  Staff and students had a chance to fill out a commitment heart on what they hope to do (everyday) to encourage behaviours/mindsets that combat bullying. 

Athletics

From February 8 - 10th, the Varsity Boys Basketball team traveled to southern Ontario to participate in the All Ontario Catholic Classic tournament. This tournament has been running since the 1960s and invites the top Catholic school from each athletic association across the province to participate in it each year. The team used the opportunity to prepare themselves to defend their city championship, and make a run at returning to OFSAA for the second year in a row. While in the Niagara region the team was also able to take in one of Canada's most recognizable features, as well as one of the world's natural wonders in the horseshoe waterfalls. The team went 1-1 in the tournament, only losing to eventual finalists, Notre Dame (Brampton) by nine points. The trip was a good bonding experience for the team, while opening their eyes to one of Canada's natural wonders. 

Guitar/Vocal Music Workshop

On February 27th, the board held its first workshop day focused on guitarists, bassists, and vocalists. This event provided a valuable opportunity for our high school music students to enhance their current knowledge and connect with fellow musicians from across our school board. After welcoming all of the students together, they were split into their respective groupings in order to learn new techniques and styles in the morning. Each student then chose a song from the ones available that they wanted to focus on for the afternoon, all of varying styles. Once they did, they were put into groups made up of some guitars, basses, and vocalists. Each group worked collaboratively to learn the song and perform it before the day was over. All of the groups performed with resounding success, showing how much they learned throughout the experience, all while meeting some new friends in the process!

International Language Credit Program

As students are choosing courses for September, a reminder of the International Language Credit program as an option where up to 3 credits can be earned in a language other than English or French.  Essentially, classes are held starting in the Fall, on Saturdays (one is offered two times a week) in both in-person and virtual formats.

On behalf of the Continuing Education department, all information and the registration process are available by clicking on this link.

Grade 12 Visual Arts Show

The Grade 12 Visual Arts students had a busy first semester creating impressive art, which they displayed at the Grade 12 Art show in December.  Spectators were amazed at the level of talent, and the students were so proud to showcase their work. Some of these students have also been preparing their portfolios for post-secondary programs in the Arts.

St Pat’s Christmas Concert

On December 20th, our school community came together for our much-anticipated Annual Christmas Concert, a delightful showcase of our students’ talents and creativity. The evening featured a variety of performances by our high school and intermediate music students, and the vibrant melodies of our board jazz band. It was a wonderful evening, where families and friends gathered to celebrate our students' hard work and dedication. The high school Concert Band and R&B Band filled the air with festive tunes and showcased their mastery of pieces they had diligently practiced throughout the semester. Our intermediate students, including the Concert Band and Glee Club, returned to the stage, impressing everyone with their remarkable progress in such a short time. The board jazz band, composed of talented students from various high schools, delivered a fantastic performance that demonstrated their versatility across different musical styles while also featuring many different soloists. The students are looking forward to the many more performances and opportunities that lie ahead in the second semester, including our Spring Concert!

St. Patrick’s Indoor Plant Sale

Attention Plant Parents! St. Pat's will be having a spring indoor plant sale at various times throughout May and June. If you can help with donations of small indoor house plants or cuttings please contact Kathryn.Robinson@ocsb.ca 

Italy 2025

Italy 2025! Is your child interested in traveling? Is your child currently in grades 9-11? St. Patrick's High School is once again partnering with EF Educational Tours to bring a wonderful opportunity to our school! Your child will have the chance to spend 9 days traveling through Italy in April 2025. Please email Ms. Bellefeuille at katie.bellefeuille@ocsb.ca with any questions and for more information. Andiamo!

Semester 2 Assessment Schedule

An early reminder that the June Assessment/Exam Schedule is already available.  We ask that families plan any vacations or early departures around these dates.  Students are required to be present for their RSTs and final assessments/exams.

Semester 2 RST Period                                                                      June 4 - 19, 2024

Second Semester Final Assessment/Exam (Grades 9/10-12)    June 20 - 26, 2024

Important Dates

Please mark your calendars!

Last Day of Classes before March Break

March 8, 2024

March Break

March 11-15, 2024

First Day of Classes after March Break

March 18, 2024

School Council Event - Aubrey Noronha

March 19, 2024

Good Friday - No School

March 29, 2024

Easter Monday - No School

April 1, 2024

**NEW PD Day date

April 8, 2024

**New OSSLT Dates

April 9-15, 2024

Have a wonderful and safe March Break!

Principal’s Message

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!  The Irish Family is excited to welcome all new and returning students!  We have missed you!  We have been busy getting ready for your arrival on Tuesday morning.  

We are now in the third and final year of our Board’s 3-year Spiritual Theme: Gratitude, Rooted in Joy, Fills Us with Hope.  Our focus this year is on “HOPE”!  I invite you to reflect on what your HOPES are for this coming school year so that you can meet with success; and identify ways you will commit to making these HOPES a reality.  I hope that this year, you will continue to find GRATITUDE and JOY in all the projects, challenges and goals you work through.

This year, we are welcoming a new member to our Administration team: Mr. Paul Tamburrini.  Mr. Tamburrini is joining us after serving the Notre Dame community in the classroom for 14 years.  I had the pleasure of working with him for 4 of those years and I am very excited to have him join our team.  Mr. Tamburrini will be working with families with last names starting with D - Me.  Welcome to the Irish Family!  

Due to the sudden and quick announcement of Mr. Philippe Cossette’s transfer to Lester B. Pearson Catholic School in the last week of school, I was unable to share my sincerest gratitude for his support and dedication during his 4-year tenure here at St Pat’s.  I would like to wish him the best at his new school - and remind him that he will always be a part of the Irish family!

Our building has been undergoing some major “renovations” in the locker bay area following a flood mid-August.  Construction crews have been working 7 days a week to ensure the space is ready and I am grateful for their hard work.

I would also like to thank our Custodial Staff, Office and Support staff as well as our Guidance Team for their continued dedication to complete all summer tasks so that we are prepared to welcome your children on Tuesday.  

My HOPE for this year is that each and every student entering into our building this year finds “their” place and meets with success for the ‘23-’24 school year.

Stay Safe and Be Well!

Mme Al Koura

Catholic School Council

Our first Catholic School Council meeting will take place on Monday, September 25th at 7:00 pm.  At this first meeting, we will elect our executive and confirm the dates for future meetings. The meeting will be virtual.  To join the meeting please email the school to get a link for the meeting.

Bell Times/Schedules

A reminder of our schedule and bell times: please ensure your child is familiar with their bus route and/or walking route so that they are arriving on time.  If your child is going to be late or absent, please call the school to report the absence/late.  If your child is late, they will be asked to sign-in at the main office using our automated system.  You will receive a communication letting you know the time your child signed in.  If your child is absent, you will receive a different message to indicate the absence. 

High School Schedule                            Intermediate Schedule

8:30-9:55 HMRM + P1                     P1                       8:30-9:25

10:00-11:15 P2                                    P2                       9:30-10:20

11:20-12:00 LUNCH                            P3                       10:25-11:15

12:05-1:20 P3                                    P4                       11:20-12:10

1:25-2:40 P4                                    LUNCH               12:10-12:50

                                                                P5                       12:55-1:45

                                                                P6                        1:50-2:40

Uniforms

St Patrick’s is a uniformed school and our uniform supplier is Top Marks.  All families are asked to open an account with Top Marks if you have not already done so and to place your order directly to the company.  Top Marks will deliver the uniform to your home address.  Please visit their website at: www.topmarks.ca with the St Patrick’s High School code PAT02

UNIFORM INCLUDES:

TOP (all items from Top Marks with St Patrick’s logo)

• white polo shirt / white blouse or white long or short sleeve shirt with St Patrick’s school logo

• St. Patrick’s V-neck sweater, Crew neck sweater, or rugby shirt are permitted; older versions of the uniform (i.e. the St. Patrick's Intermediate hooded sweatshirt) are no longer part of the uniform

BOTTOM 

• black dress pants/cargo pants 

• black skort or tartan kilt

• black cargo shorts

PLEASE NOTE: 

• 7/8 physical education uniform includes black gym shorts and a grey t-shirt and is mandatory for all grade 7 and 8 students.

If your order has not arrived by the first day of school, we ask that your child arrive at school in black bottoms (dress pants, cargo pants, skirt - NO jeans, leggings or jogging pants) and a white-collared polo or dress shirt.

***IMPORTANT: BLACK JEANS, LEGGINGS AND JOGGING PANTS ARE NOT considered uniform bottoms. ***

Donation of used uniforms for families in need would be greatly appreciated to help replenish our Used Uniform supply.  

Meet the Teacher

You are invited to our Meet the Teacher event that will be taking place “IN-PERSON” this fall.  Please join us on Thursday, September 21st between 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm for an opportunity to meet your child/children’s teachers.  An opening gathering will take place at 4:30 in the cafeteria before you can meet Intermediate staff in the 7/8 gym and the High School staff in the main gym.

OC Transpo

Our school uses public transit as our school’s transportation.  We do not use yellow bus service.  If your child is eligible for a Presto pass (this is determined by OSTA) and did not pick it up on the designated days last week, they will receive it on the first or second day of school.  Students are asked to register their card immediately upon receiving it.  Lost cards are not replaced by the office.

Opening Procedures

This year, all 7/8 students will have received an email communication (in their OCSB email account) indicating where they are to report on the first day (Grade 7s to the 7/8 Gym and Grade 8s to Gym C).  Any new students or those who cannot access their email account can report to the main office.  High School students can check MySPH on Monday evening for their first period homeroom class. 

Lockers will be available for use this year and will be assigned starting on the first day.  Due to the increase in student enrolment, we are currently awaiting the delivery and installation of 140+ lockers.  We have prioritized students in Grades 7-10 to be assigned lockers once they have their lock.  Some Grade 11 and 12 students will be assigned lockers at this time while the remainder will be assigned upon the installation of the new lockers.  We ask for your patience in this matter.

Students in grades 7- 12 must have a combination lock in order for their locker to be assigned.  A reminder that lockers are on “loan” to students for the duration of the school year.  Students are responsible for the contents of the locker they are assigned.  The practice of sharing combinations with friends or peers is highly discouraged. 

Students Services - Welcome, High School Schedules and Course Changes

The Student Services Department looks forward to welcoming students and working with parents this school year.  We invite you to visit the Student Services section of our school website (sph.ocsb.ca) for important information on Grade 7-12 programming, Community Service Hours Opportunities and Graduation & Post-Secondary information.  Appointment requests forms can also be accessed through this site. Please note:  dates and information will be updated throughout the school year as they become available.

High School Schedules (Grades 9-12)

Schedules for the current school year will be finalized the week before school.  

Returning students are asked to check their MySPH portal to view an updated schedule on Monday evening (September 4th).  Students can go directly to their Period 1 class on Tuesday morning.

Students who are new to the school may not be able to access MySPH and are asked to come to Student Services for a copy of their schedule.  Volunteers will be available to help students find their classes and to answer any questions. 

If a student has a blank on their schedule in Semester 1, they are asked to come to Student Services during the blank period to select a course. 

Students should ensure the following:

• They have a full schedule - 8 courses for the year. Grade 12 students can have one study period/spare per semester if it works as part of their graduation plan.

• They have all course prerequisites for the courses on their schedule.

• Graduating students have all courses required for post-secondary (Ontario universities require a minimum of six 4U or 4M level courses, Ontario Colleges require a Grade 12 English for all programs)- research website is available on the Student Services section of the school website.

High School Schedule Changes (Grades 9-12)

An online course change request form will be available on the school website (Student Services section) on Tuesday, September 5th to address any issues with schedules. The form will be open until Wednesday, September 13th (8:00pm).  Course changes will be made based on availability and prioritized for the following reasons:

• Incomplete schedule (blanks) due to conflicts with selected courses

• Missing a prerequisite course for a current course

• Pathway/level change (priority to Grade 12 students)

As was communicated during course selection, we are not able to make any changes to Grade 9 & 10 elective courses.

Guidance counsellors will respond to requests by email and will make appointments when needed. Students must check their school email for a response to their course change request.

It is very important that students continue to follow their current schedules until a guidance counsellor has communicated with them.  We will do our best to accommodate course change requests when possible.

Student Appointments (Grades 7-12)

Guidance counsellors will be focused on scheduling in the first week of school.  An online appointment request form will be available on Tuesday, September 12th for students wanting to meet with their counsellor for academic, career or personal counselling. The form will be on the school website (Student Services section).

Lunch Time and Cafeteria Service

We are very happy to have the cafeteria service return this fall.  Our cafeteria accepts cash and tap cards.  

7/8 students cannot leave school property at lunchtime (exception: if they are being signed out by a parent/guardian). 

High School students who chose to go off property at lunchtime must ensure they return to school in time for the start of their afternoon course.

The cafeteria service will only be available to serve students until 8:30 am and/or during their respective lunch block.  We ask that students NOT leave class to access the cafeteria service.

The Breakfast program will resume.  It will be a “Grab ‘N Go.”  Information on how to access the program will be shared with students in the first few days.

High School Exams and RSTs 

Our Grades 10-12 students will once again be completing RSTs and/or Exams as a part of the final assessment of their courses.  Once again, Grade 9 students will only complete RSTs, they will NOT have exams as part of their final assessments.  Please watch for an update regarding their schedule during that period.  

RSTs will be completed in the final 2-3 weeks before exams.  We ask that families please take note of the following dates and to avoid any non-essential travel or absences during those periods.  It is critical that students complete the designated final assessments to be able to earn their credit.  

Semester 1 RST Period                                                            January 8 - 24, 2024

Semester 1 Examinations (Grades 10-12)                            January 25 - 31, 2024

Semester 2 RST Period                                                             June 4 - 19, 2024

Second Semester Examinations (Grades 10-12)                  June 20 - 26, 2024

Student Fees

The fees for 2023-2024 school year are $45 and $30 for any additional siblings.  A reminder that this fee also covers the Yearbook, which will be available at the end of the school year.

Parent Portal, School Messenger and School Cash Online

In order to receive timely communications from the school, pay for any fees or access your child’s report card, you must sign-up for the following services.  If you have not already done so, please click on the links below to create your accounts.  

NEW THIS YEAR: Verification Forms, Consent Forms and Use of Technology forms MUST be completed online through the Parent Portal.  We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

Parent Portal: https://ca.schoolcash.net/OttawaCatholicSchools/Login

School Messenger:  https://go.schoolmessenger.com/#/account/signup

School Cash Online: https://ca.schoolcash.net/OttawaCatholicSchools/Login

International Languages Secondary Program

Did you know that you can learn or master a language other than English and French while earning credits towards your high school diploma? The International Languages Secondary program with OCSB offers courses in languages such as Spanish, Arabic, Yoruba, and more.  Classes are held virtually or in-person every Saturday morning, from 9 am to 12:30 pm. For more information, check out the brochure in the guidance counselors' office or visit 2023-2024 IL Secondary (Credit) program.

Important Dates

Please mark your calendars!

First Day of School

September 5, 2023

Picture Day

September 14, 2023

Last Day to Request Course Changes for Semester 1

September 16, 2023

Meet the Teacher (4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

September 21, 2023

First Catholic School Council Meeting

September 25, 2023

PD Day

October 6, 2023

Thanksgiving

October 9, 2023

H.S. Letters of Intervention

October 12, 2023

H.S. Parent-Teacher Interviews (Early Dismissal)

October 19, 2023

Photo Retakes

October 26, 2023

7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews (Early Dismissal)

November 23, 2023

Wishing Everyone a Wonderful 2023-2024 School Year!

Principal’s Message

The summer season has come and gone and we welcome fall with all of its beauty and colours!  

This past week marked National Truth and Reconciliation Week.  Every morning through song, prayer and spoken words, we took time to reflect, learn, and discuss our commitment to action here at SPH.  Each class was asked to complete the following statements: “We commit to reconciliACTION by…” and “Our HOPE is…”.  On Thursday, approximately 150 students and staff traveled to Lansdowne Park to attend an event brought to Ottawa by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) which focused on honouring survivors of residential schools. The event was  called "Gidinawendimin - We Are All Related". It was a powerful and moving experience for all who attended.  See further down in this newsletter for more details.  And lastly, all staff and students were invited to participate in Orange Shirt day on Friday.  We recognize the importance of our commitment to continue our work, our learning and putting our HOPES and intentions into ACTION!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Meet the Teacher!  We had such a great turnout and really enjoyed seeing so many smiling new and familiar faces.  We look forward to continuing our work with our families throughout the year.  

On Friday, we said “Congratulations” and “Farewell” to one of our custodians, Bob Garrard.  Bob was seen and known by most of our students - often greeted by him in the mornings when he unlocked the doors, or the quick “flash” as he rushed by to get to the next task.  Thank you for your service to the OCSB Bob and wishing you the very best in retirement!!!!

Stay Safe and Be Well!

Mme Al Koura

Catholic School Council

Our first Catholic School Council meeting took place on Monday, September 25th at 7:00 pm.  At this first meeting, we elected our executive and I am pleased to introduce our members:

                Co-Chairs: Elizabeth Bartlett and Dawn Eady-Dowdall

                CSPA Representative: Nadine Robinson

We are still looking to fill the following positions: Treasurer, Secretary/Co-Secretary and Fundraising Coordinator(s).  If you are interested in holding/sharing one of these positions, please email the school at your earliest convenience.

I would also like to confirm the following dates for our future meetings. 

                Monday, November 27th, 2023 - In-Person/Hybrid

                Monday, February 26th, 2024 - Virtual

                Monday, May 13th, 2024 - Format TBC

To join the November meeting virtually please email the school to get a link for the meeting.

CSPA is hosting an event with Dr. Niigaan Sinclair, Anishinaabe writer, editor, activist, and Head of the Department of Native Studies at the University of Manitoba.  May I kindly ask you to this information about this event with your parent/guardian community:

Truth & Reconciliation: We All Have a Role to Play w/Dr. Niigaan Sinclair

Thursday, October 5th at 7pm

St Paul High School

Child Minding Available

Register: OttawaCSPA.eventbrite.com

Dr. Sinclair_Fall 2023.png.pdf

Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age

On Thursday, November 16th, St Patrick’s High School and the SPH Catholic School Council are inviting you to a FREE screening of “Screenagers: Growing up in the Digital Age”, the first of three movies.  The screening will be taking place starting at 7:00 pm in the cafetorium.

‘Screenagers is about the impact of the digital age on children and how to help families minimize harmful effects and find balance.’

Please see the website for more information.

https://www.screenagersmovie.com

We hope to have you amongst us!

Drop-Off/Pick-Up and Walk-A-Block

A gentle reminder that the speed limit in our parking lots as well as the pick-up/drop-off zone is 10 km/hr.  To ensure the safety of students and staff, we ask that you pay close attention to the directional arrows so that we can maintain a smooth traffic flow at these busy times of the day.  When picking up or drop

MAP

St Patrick’s Remembers: Remembrance Day

On Thursday, November 9th we will be having our Remembrance Day Assemblies. 

We would like to invite any Parents or Guardians who are retired or currently serving in the Canadian Armed Forces or Royal Canadian Mounted Police to join us for this event.  

Due to the size of our school population, there will be two Assemblies: 

Period 1 (8:50 - 10:00) and Period 2:  (10:10 - 11:15).  

If you would like to join us, please email:  pamela.roddick@ocsb.ca to confirm your seat.   In your email, please indicate which assembly (or both) that you would like to attend. In your RSVP email, please also indicate your formal title/rank.

Uniforms

A gentle reminder that if your Top Marks order has not yet arrived, we ask that your child arrive at school in black bottoms (dress pants, cargo pants, skirt - NO jeans, leggings or jogging pants) and a white-collared polo or dress shirt.  By choosing St Pat’s as your school, you are agreeing to wearing the uniform everyday!

*** BLACK JEANS, LEGGINGS AND JOGGING PANTS ARE NOT considered uniform bottoms. ***

Donation of used uniforms for families in need would be greatly appreciated to help replenish our Used Uniform supply.  

Changes to Community Service Hours

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education (EDU) temporarily waived some policy restrictions set out in PPM 124A so that students had more flexibility in how they could complete community involvement hours required to graduate.  These temporary measures expired at the end of the 2022-2023 school year on August 31, 2023.

In addition, the Ministry has revised and released a modernized policy for the 2023-2024 school year and going forward effective September 1, 2023.  Please find a link to the new PPM 124 here

OC Transpo

We have our first early dismissal for Parent-Teacher Interviews coming up on October 19th.  We anticipate our “Special” buses to arrive in time for the early dismissal time, however in case the buses do not arrive early, we advise families to explore alternative routes or options to get home.  

Athletics

Athletics at St Patrick's High School are up and running for the new school year.  The Fall teams that have kicked off their seasons, or will be soon, include:

                      Varsity Football

                      Varsity Boys Soccer

                      Varsity Girls Basketball

                      Varsity Cross Country Running

                      Sr Boys Volleyball

                      Varsity Non-Contact Hockey

                      Varsity Girls Rugby 7's

                      Varsity Boys Rugby 7's

Parents and family members are encouraged to come support your athletes in action.

H.S. Cross Country team: We currently have our largest team ever!  We have over 30 current members that have signed up to take part on the School Team. Gr. 9 - 3-4 Km, Gr. 10 - 5 Km, Gr. 11/12 - 6 Km. The events take place at the Hornets Nest.  The race dates are: Race 1 - Oct. 19th and Race 2 - Oct. 26th.

Asian Student Association

This year, we will be starting up the Asian Student Association (ASA). This association is student led, where we will host weekly lunch meetings to discuss various topics, concerns, and the celebration of Asian culture. This ASA will encompass a wide range of cultures that belong under the Asian umbrella including the Middle East, South East Asia, and more! The goal is to connect with community organizations to get everyone involved, and to eventually plan events and activities for Asian Heritage Month in May 2024.  Stay tuned!

The Annual St. Pat’s Craft Fair

We at St. Pat's are excited to announce that the Annual St. Pat's Craft Fair will take place on Saturday, November 25th this year! Our craft fair has grown over the years to include over 100 vendors who bring a wide range of handmade products. As a community event, the craft fair offers our students a great opportunity to get involved while accumulating volunteer hours towards their graduation requirements. Each year our student volunteers are the highlight for vendors! At last year's craft fair there were over 100 student volunteers who helped vendors get set up, run errands for them, as well as  help them return their materials to their vehicles at the end of the day. Those St. Pat's smiles have become a staple of the craft fair and one which returning vendors look forward to. The first craft fair took place in 2018 and since then, the proceeds have been used to support various groups, teams and initiatives within the school. Admission to the craft fair is $2 and there will be a concession stand run by the St. Pat's Dance Team, available for those that wish to nibble on something or have a drink as they peruse the many, incredible vendors and their products. Vendors include many local artisans and crafters, including a few that are from our school community. Make sure to mark November 25th on your calendars and come out to support this year's St. Pat's Craft Fair. 

Grade 9 Assessment Schedule During the Exam Period

Following our schedule last June, grade 9 teachers will extend the assessment/evaluation process of grade 9 students into the exam period.  This will involve student activities, primarily work associated with the students’ rich summative task (RST) taking place during a final class (120 minutes in duration) during the high school exam period.  The following is an example of what this schedule would look like: 

Student timetable

Student schedule during the exam period

Period 1

English

Period 2

Math

Period 3

Phys Ed.

Period 4

Religion

1st day of exams

continuation of English RST

2nd day of exams

continuation of Math RST/EQAO

3rd day of exams

continuation of PE RST

4th day of exams

continuation of Religion RST

RSTs will be completed in the final 2-3 weeks before exams.  We ask that families please take note of the following dates and to avoid any non-essential travel or absences during those periods.  It is critical that students complete the designated final assessments to be able to earn their credit.  

Semester 1 RST Period                                                            January 8 - 24, 2024

Semester 1 Examinations (Grades 10-12)                            January 25 - 31, 2024

Semester 2 RST Period                                                             June 4 - 19, 2024

Second Semester Examinations (Grades 10-12)                  June 20 - 26, 2024

Community Services for Families in Need

The OCSB has created a document with a list of Community Services that families can access for various needs that they may be facing.  Please take a moment to review this document  Community Services for Families in Need

Adult Volunteers Needed - Talk About Your Job or Career

Do you have an interesting job? Was the path to finding your career full of lessons you would like to share? Have you ever thought about sharing what your workplace is like with students taking a Careers’ class? If you have answered yes to any of these questions and are open to the opportunity of speaking to students about the work that you do, then please reach out to Mme Julie Guèvremont! 

We are looking for a number of adults who can share their experiences about a variety of different jobs or careers, from the self-employed to those who have a trade, from those who are earlier in their careers to workers who are now in management, from lower paying to higher paying jobs etc. Our main goal is to share a snapshot of the “world of work” with our students. 

This is a great teaching and learning experience for those who volunteer! There is a time commitment and some preparation for the presentation with the teacher is required. For more information and a further conversation, please email Mme Guèvremont at julie.guevremont@ocsb.ca.

Verification Forms, Consent Forms and Use of Technology Forms

A reminder that  Verification Forms, Consent Forms and Use of Technology forms MUST be completed online through the Parent Portal.  Please note that these updated documents help us maintain accurate records in order to be able to reach you in case of an emergency or to communicate updates, as well as your child’s photo(s) being included in the yearbook.  

We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

Parent Portal: https://ca.schoolcash.net/OttawaCatholicSchools/Login

School Messenger:  https://go.schoolmessenger.com/#/account/signup

School Cash Online: https://ca.schoolcash.net/OttawaCatholicSchools/Login

Activating Black Student Success: Parent Engagement Event

Our parent engagement event is coming up October 14th! Please make sure you are sharing this event within your schools, with staff and the parents of your students! 

Register Link

Field Trip - Gidinawendimin - We Are All Related 

On September 28, around 100 students from St. Patrick HS attended the Gidinawendimin field trip to TD place, where they watched performances by Indigenous singers, and dancers, and listened to Residential School survivors' stories to commemorate Truth & Reconciliation week.

Grade 12 Grad Retreat

The Grade 12's and several staff came together on a beautifully sunny day for their Grad Retreat where they shared their messages of Hope for the year, bonded with old and new friends and committed to goals that will lead to giving back to the community they love so much this year. 

A competitive spirit of fun through the amazing race, reflection and gratitude through letter writing as well as inspiration offered up by Coach Paul Racine and former graduate Jesse Luketa motivated the grads throughout their day. We are looking forward to all that they will accomplish together this year!

International Languages Secondary Program

Did you know that you can learn or master a language other than English and French while earning credits towards your high school diploma? The International Languages Secondary program with OCSB offers courses in languages such as Spanish, Arabic, Yoruba, and more.  Classes are held virtually or in-person every Saturday morning, from 9 am to 12:30 pm. For more information, check out the brochure in the guidance counselors' office or visit 2023-2024 IL Secondary (Credit) program.

Important Dates

Please mark your calendars!

PD Day

October 6, 2023

Thanksgiving

October 9, 2023

H.S. Letters of Intervention

October 12, 2023

Opening Liturgies

October 12, 2023

9-12 Letters of Intervention

October 13, 2023

H.S. Parent-Teacher Interviews (Early Dismissal)

October 19, 2023

H.S. Academic Awards

October 25, 2023

Photo Retakes

October 26, 2023

7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews (Early Dismissal)

November 23, 2023

We will be holding Parent-Teacher Interviews for Grades 9-12 on Thursday, October 20th.

Appointments from 2:00 – 5:00 pm will be held in person at the school. Appointments from 6:00 –

7:30 pm will be held by phone or virtual meeting. This term, you will be able to schedule your

Parent-Teacher Interviews online. If you wish to schedule a meeting with any of your child’s teachers,

please follow the instructions printed further down the page. You will be able to schedule appointments

until October 19 th at 11:00 pm.

Instructions

1. Go to the St. Pat’s scheduling webpage at https://parentinterview.com/s/stpat

2. Enter the Parent Code (printed below) and click “Sign In” (please make a note of your Confirmation #)

3. Fill in your contact information and click “Continue to Make Appointments”

4. Click on the name of a teacher with whom you wish to schedule an appointment

5. Click on “Available” for a time at which you wish to have your meeting

6. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 until you have scheduled all the teachers you wish to meet

7. Click on “My Schedule” (top left of the page)

8. Print out, email or copy down your schedule

The Parent Code for this term is

PAT2022

Do not share this code with anyone outside your school community

Should you wish to delete an appointment you have made, click on "Delete" beside the meeting you

wish to have removed from your schedule. If you misplace your schedule, you may use your

Confirmation # to retrieve your schedule from the website at any time. If you need help using the

service, please email support@parentinterview.com

We look forward to speaking with you.

In this issue

- Principal’s Message 

- Catholic School Council

- Introducing our Grad Coach for Black Students

- Updates from the Student Services Team

- Grad Hoodie Store is Open

- Black Student Association

- High School Athletics

- Reminders About Strangers in the Neighbourhood

- Important Dates

Quick Links

St. Patrick 

OCSB

CSPA 

OSTA 

Parish Links

Immaculate Heart of Mary

613-733-9636

Trustee for Zone 8 - Alta Vista - Gloucester - Southgate Wards

Mark Mullan

Chairperson

(613) 841-4836

mark.mullan@ocsb.ca

Principal’s Message

We welcome the month of October after a busy September!  During the month of September we held our Meet the Teacher, celebrated our Opening Liturgies, and had a number of sports teams begin their season. 

We also honoured our Indigenous communities while discussing a pathway to reconciliACTION.  Our National Truth and Reconciliation Week Committee offered our community moments of reflection so that we can commit to #ocsbReconciliAction by learning, listening, and praying.  Resources were shared and activities were taking place in classrooms to enter into dialogue with our students.  On Friday, we joined with Canadians across the country in Orange Shirt Day and were grateful for the leadership of our Indigenous students and staff who led us in prayer as we engaged in a day of reflection and commitment to action.

This Friday is a PD Day (no school for students) and leads into the Thanksgiving weekend.  I want to thank all of our families for continuing to make St Patrick’s High School the place to be!  Our enrollment has increased since last year and we are thankful for each and every one of you!

  Stay Safe and Be Well!

Mme Al Koura 

Catholic School Council

We held our first Catholic School Council meeting on September 26th.  Please join me in congratulating Elizabeth Gibbons (Chair), Dawn Eady-Dowdall (Vice-Chair) and Nadine Robinson (CSPA Representative).  

Our next meeting will take place virtually at 7:00 pm on November 7th.  Please email the school to get a link for the meeting.

Introducing our Graduation Coach for Black Students

We are thrilled to introduce our new Graduation Coach for Black Students, Mr. David Kajoba. His home schools are St. Patrick’s and Lester B. Pearson and he’s here to help! Follow him on Twitter @kajoba_d and reach out directly to him via email at david.kajoba@ocsb.ca.

Updates from the Student Services Team

#IAMSTPATS, Dedicated To My Pathway:  Rolled out April 2022 - present

• School wide campaign (including our seven feeder schools)

• Helping our students identify and maintain their individual pathways

• Recreating our Irish Family school community, showcasing every aspect of our school, including our SPH Alumni and community supporters 

More info: #IAMSTPATS Campaign

University of Ottawa school visit: Tuesday, October 4 @ Lunch in the St. Patrick’s HS Learning Commons (#IAMSTPATS)

A representative from the university will provide SPH students with information and answer questions regarding programming, scholarships, important deadlines and support available on campus.  

Mandatory Grad Assembly: Thursday, October 6, Period 1 in the St. Patrick’s HS Cafetorium (#IAMSTPATS)

Our Student Services department will be addressing our gr. 12 students around graduation requirements, university and college applications, scholarship information and important graduation and application dates.  

Gr. 12 Classroom Visits (#IAMSTPATS): 

Our Student Services team will be visiting all of our gr. 12 classrooms over the next couple of weeks to speak to students around their individual pathways.  Each student will receive a hard copy of their credit summary sheet to reference their credit accumulation, community service hours and the Ontario School Literacy requirement.  In addition, we will be able to provide further clarification around post secondary opportunities and answer any questions around pathways.

Grad Hoodie Store is Open

The grade 12 grad hoodie store is open until October 5, 2022.  Go to gradwear.ca and select St. Patrick's High School - GRAD account. The direct link may also be found at: https://grdwr.co/StPatricksGrads2023

Delivery to the school is free of charge, and students will be contacted for pickup in room 070 when the item has arrived. There is a $15.00 shipping fee if you select delivery to your home address.

The brand name is Champion and the composition is 50% cotton/50% polyester. Please check the online sizing chart when ordering, and if you are between two sizes, order the larger size.

All grads received this information directly in their school email account.

The store will be open until October 5th, 2022.

See Ms. Laderoute in Room 070 for questions. 613-733-0501 ext 3070

Black Student Association

The Black Student Association or BSA is starting up again for the school year. This student-led club for students is open to all grades. It aims to provide a safe space where Black students can speak their truths and support each other. We aim to allow students to use their voices to help create ideas for positive change in their school community while making new friends, and sharing our lived experiences. If your child is interested in joining the BSA please ask them to complete the following form and a student leader will reach out to invite them to our next meeting: BSA Sign Up

High School Athletics

We are excited to have our St. Patrick’s Irish High School sports team returning to action for another year.  This Fall, the following teams have been hosting tryouts and practicing, getting themselves ready to start their seasons:  

Varsity Girls Basketball Varsity Girls Rugby 7’s

Sr Boys Volleyball Varsity Non-Contact Hockey

Varsity Football X-Country Running

Varsity Boys Soccer

Our spectator policy this year will allow St. Pat’s students (who were in attendance in class the day of the game) to attend all games. Parents/guardians of both our team and visiting teams are also welcome.

Upcoming Winter season sports include Sr. and Jr. Boys Basketball and Sr Girls Volleyball.  Students should be listening to announcements and looking for sign-up posters soon.

Our players and coaches are looking forward to your support on the fields, rinks and courts.

Reminder about Strangers in the Neighbourhood

We have had a number of reports about strangers trying to interact with our students as they walk in the neighbourhood and/or on the path behind our neighbouring schools.  Although it may seem odd to be speaking of “Stranger Danger” with High School students, we are never too old to be extra cautious.  Please take a moment to have a conversation with your children about the importance of not engaging in conversations with strangers, not sharing any personal information with them and to report to a trusted adult if the strangers are making them feel uncomfortable.  It is also extremely important to NOT take or ingest anything from a stranger.  We are NEVER TOO OLD TO BE SAFE!!!!

Important Dates

Please mark your calendars!

Grad Assembly (Gr. 12s) - Period 1

October 6, 2022

PD Day

October 7, 2022

Thanksgiving

October 10, 2022

Vaccination Clinic for Grades 7/8

October 12-13, 2022

H.S. Letters of Intervention

October 13, 2022

H.S. Parent-Teacher Interviews (Early Dismissal)

October 20, 2022

OCSB Black Student Forum

October 27, 2022

Photo Retakes

October 27, 2022

Take Our Kids to Work Day (Grade 9s)

November 2, 2022

Civics/Careers Turnaround Day

November 9th, 2022

Remembrance Day

November 11th, 2022

PD Day

November 18th, 2022

7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews (Early Dismissal)

November 24, 2022

God Bless!

St. Patrick’s High School

2525 Alta Vista Drive

Ottawa, ON  K1V 7T3

Phone: 613-733-0501

Email: Patrick.High@ocsb.ca

Website: sph.ocsb.ca

Twitter: stpatricksIRISH

The provincial government has revised the high school graduation requirements to include mandatory online courses. Students still need to earn 30-course credits to receive their Ontario Secondary School Diploma, but at least two of those credits need to be from e-learning courses. 

Who’s affected?

The new requirement applies to any student currently in grade 10 or below. It does not affect students currently in grades 11 and 12.

Why the change?

The new requirement is intended to help students become familiar with working and learning in a fully online environment. e-Learning courses help develop digital literacy and other necessary transferable skills that will serve students well in all aspects of their lives.

What counts as an e-learning course?

An e-learning course is any asynchronous grade 9-12 online learning credit course delivered entirely using the internet. It does not require students to be present with one another or with their educator in the school or online. Because courses taken through St. Josephine Virtual High School are synchronous, they do not meet the criteria for this requirement. 

Advantages of e-learning

In addition to developing students’ digital fluency and skills, e-learning courses have several other benefits. Students have access to a broader selection of courses and are not limited to those offered by their home school. Because the courses are asynchronous, students have greater flexibility and can choose to learn when best suits their schedule.

e-Learning at the OCSB continues to grow

The OCSB has offered e-learning courses since 2014. Both course offerings and participation have grown significantly since then. This year, 13% of students in grades 11 and 12 are enrolled in e-learning courses.  When surveyed, 89% of current OCSB e-Learning students said they would take another e-learning course. Next year, we will offer 42 e-learning courses. These are designated with a J or a V in myBlueprint. Students can also talk to their guidance counselor to access additional courses offered by school boards across Ontario. 

Can my child be exempted?

Despite its advantages, e-learning is not for everyone. Parents/guardians may opt out their child from the mandatory e-learning graduation requirement. Log into the parent portal and complete the Mandatory e-Learning Opt-out form to exempt your child from the graduation requirement. By completing the form in the Parent Portal, all your child’s student information will be automatically filled in. 

If you do not have a parent portal account, you can use this link to access the Mandatory e-Learning Opt-out form. 

Students who opt out of the e-learning courses will need to complete all 30 of their credits through in-person courses. Students will be reminded of the e-learning requirement and the option to opt out each spring during the course selection period.