St. Patrick's High School Newsletter

Catholic School Council 

Our next meeting will take place virtually on Monday, February 9, 2026. We hope to see you there! 

Irish Family Program Night 

You're Invited!!!!  All families of students transitioning from Grade 6 to Grade 7, parents of students transitioning from Grade 8 to Grade 9, and parents of current HS students are invited to the St Patrick’s High School Program Night.  Join us for a chance to meet staff, meet students, learn about our programs and extracurricular activities.  Our staff is looking forward to welcoming you and will be planning a fun scavenger hunt for our Grade 6 families to go around the building to get you familiar with the spaces and some of the fun things you will see and do here.  A carousel of tables from all departments, as well as a preview of extracurricular activities will be set up in the mall of the school.  We look forward to welcoming you to the Irish Family.

Date: Thursday, February 12th, 2026

Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Place: 2525 Alta Vista Drive

Room: Welcome address to take place at 5:00 pm in the Cafetorium

Grade 8s Tour of the H.S. Creative Arts Areas 

In anticipation of course selection next month, our grade eight students will have the opportunity, on January 29th, to tour the Creative Arts areas of our school.  The visits are to familiarize them with the different areas in the Arts before choosing their courses for grade nine. They will visit the Art room, Dance studio, Music room, and Drama room. They will meet the Creative Arts teachers and some of their former students, who will provide a glimpse of their experiences in each of these classes.  We look forward to welcoming you next year! 

Cafeteria Closures During Exam Period 

Please note that our cafeteria service will not be available during the exam period (January 22 - 30).  A reminder that Intermediate students are not to leave school property during lunch, so please plan on packing lunch for your child on those days. 

Student Services Updates 

Pathway Planning and Course Selection for September 2026

Information and Important Deadlines

Classroom Fall & Winter Visits (Grades 8-11)

Guidance counsellors have completed Fall class visits for Grades 9-12 to provide support for students in their pathway planning. We are currently visiting Grade 8 classes. 

We have set out the following goals during these visits. We encourage parents and guardians to review the credit summary (Grade 9-11) and Myblueprint plan with their child. 

1. High school students - to provide a copy of their most up-to-date credit summary to review graduation requirements and to help them plan for future courses.  Please review this form with your child to ensure that all courses and information are accurate. Please reach out to a guidance counsellor if there are any questions or discrepancies. 

2. To review possible pathways in high school and to help students plan for their high school courses and post-secondary goals.

3. Interactive session in myblueprint to prepare course selection for next year (Grades 8-11). Students can continue making changes in their Myblueprint plan as they do their research over the next couple of months.  We are encouraging them to do their research and planning well in advance of the course selection process in February. If assistance is needed, we encourage booking an appointment well in advance of the February 19th submission deadline.  

4. Provide the following resources for planning and research:

• Myblueprint (access through icon in Student Portal). Students should not create their own account. A personal account will not link to the school’s course selection system.

• School website - Student Services Section (sph.ocsb.ca)

• Post-secondary institution websites

Pathway Planning and Course Selection - Timelines & Important Dates

November to January

Guidance Counsellor Classroom Visits

Mid-January

Official Course Selection Opens 

(myblueprint)

Grade 8 students

February 2nd to 6th

Official Course Selection Opens (myblueprint)

Grades 9-12 students

February 12th (5:00-7:00 pm)

Program Information Evening 

Grades 7-12 students/parent/guardian

February 19th 

Course Selection Submission Deadline (myblueprint)

Grades 8-11 students

Important Information for Grade 12 & Graduating Students

Guidance counsellors completed fall classroom visits and provided students with their most recent credit summary sheet.  We reviewed their graduation plan and reminded students of the importance of ensuring that courses are scheduled for their post-secondary plans.  Please review these sheets with your child and speak to your child’s guidance counsellor if there are any concerns or discrepancies. 

Graduation requirements and more information on programming and post-secondary options & applications are available in the Student Services section of the school website (sph.ocsb.ca).

Ontario University Application deadline (OUAC)

January 15th, 2026 - for equal consideration

Ontario College Application deadline (OCAS)

February 1, 2026 - for equal consideration

Students have been reminded of the following information for university  applications (OUAC) and college applications (OCAS) within Ontario.

• The first automatic transmission of courses and mid-term marks have been sent to OUAC & OCAS.  It is the student’s responsibility to verify all marks & courses in their application to ensure accuracy. If there are any discrepancies, it is important to communicate with the guidance counsellor as soon as possible. Students will have access to this information once an application has been completed and submitted.

Universities and Colleges outside of Ontario

Deadlines and application processes vary depending on the institution. Information and applications can be found through the institution’s website. Students will need to request a submission of marks/transcript to the institution directly. Provide Student Services with the contact information and allow our office up to one week to send this information.

Semester 2 - Schedules & Course Change Requests 

Updated Schedules for Semester 2

Schedules will be available on mySPH the weekend before Semester 2.  Students must check their updated schedule (on Saturday or Sunday). There may have been changes to their Semester 2 schedule since September.  Students must follow this updated schedule and can report directly to period 1 on the first day. 

Course Change Requests

We have very limited availability to make course changes. Most course changes were made during the course change process in September for both semesters.  We will open up the course request form on February 2nd at noon for more extenuating circumstances and needs. Please read the form carefully before completing a request.  It will be available in the Student Services section of the school website (sph.ocsb.ca). 

Student Services Appointment Requests

Please note that any appointment requests made during the RST/exam period will more than likely be scheduled in the first part of Semester 2.  If the appointment is regarding a course change for Semester 2, a course change form request can be completed.

Signing Out Procedures 

Students that need to sign out, and are under 18 years of age, need to have a parent or guardian contact the office to confirm when the student will be signing out and where the parent or guardian will be meeting the student.  Please note that only parents and/or guardians can consent to having their child signed out.  If you are sending someone on your behalf, please notify the office in advance of who this individual is.  Emergency contacts are not authorized to sign out your child/children.  Please contact the office if you need to update the information in our system.  Furthermore, the contact to sign out a student needs to be done directly with an office member to ensure we release your child at the right time and to the correct person.  

Once signed out, the student must leave school property at the designated time.  Students are NOT to sign out of class to go to the Learning Commons or to hang out in or around the building.  

We appreciate your support and cooperation in this matter.  Safety is our top priority!

Student Census

Coming soon: OCSB’s 2nd Student Census will take place Feb 24th - March 13th

Each student in grades 4 through 12 will complete the census at school.  Parents will be sent a link to the census for each child in grades Kindergarten through 3.  Answers are voluntary and confidential.

The information collected will help the OCSB:

• Plan programs and services that support student success.

• Understand language, cultural, and identity needs in our schools.

• Improve resources for students with diverse backgrounds.

• Guide equity and inclusion work.

• Identify areas where additional support is needed; and

• Create schools where every student feels safe, welcome, and included.

Want to learn more? 

Attend a Parent Engagement Session:

Virtually: Thurs, Jan 29th at Noon or 7:00 PM  

Sign up for a session HERE using the same email address you will use to access the Google Meet.

Translation will be provided automatically through closed captioning.

In-Person: 

Wed, Feb 4th at St. Paul High School  (6:30 PM)   OR   

Thurs, Feb 5th Lester B Pearson High School (7:30 PM)

On-site child minding will be provided.

Need more info? Consult: Board Census Webpage and FAQ 

Note: If you prefer that your child not participate, an opt-out form will be available from Feb 2nd - 13th on our website and a link will be sent directly to your email in February.

Students 18+ - Changes to Parent Portal Access 

Yesterday, parents or guardians should have received a message centrally from the Board explaining a change to access to the Parent Portal for parents and guardians of students 18 and older. 

As of Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Compass, the parent portal provider, will block access for parents and guardians of students 18 and older. This is a legal requirement. Parents and students who are or will turn 18 during this school year should have received an email yesterday, January 14. 

The letters explain that: After a student turns 18, parents no longer have the right to access that student’s records without the student’s explicit permission. On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, our information systems will be realigned to comply with this legal requirement. This means that once your child turns 18, our system will automatically remove your access to their report card and other school records. This applies to all courses, both in-person and eLearning. (Note that you will continue to receive notifications from School Cash Online (SCO) unless your child requests to be disassociated from your SCO account.)

Parents who have been blocked in Compass can regain access by asking their child to log into the student’s portal account and sign the Over 18 - Parent Portal Consent Access. Once that form is submitted, their access will be restored with the overnight refresh. 

If your child is over 18 with special education needs and is not able to provide informed consent, the letter outlines steps to take to regain access in order to continue supporting your child’s educational needs.

International Languages Program 

The International Languages (IL) program with OCSB offers language classes at St. Patrick's HS on Saturdays. Attention Grade 7 and 8 students: If you want to pick up a new language or sharpen your skills in Arabic or Spanish, visit https://conted.ocsb.ca/elementary/international-languages-elementary/ for more information and to register. 

Volunteering opportunities in the IL program are also available for students from grades 9 to 12. If you are interested, please contact Ms. Safaa Sabbah at safaa.sabbah@ocsb.ca

French Virtual Tutoring - Canadian Parents for French

The Ottawa Catholic School Board has partnered with Canadian Parents for French again this year in order to be able to offer free virtual tutoring programs to our students. There are limited spaces available. 

To families of students in Grades 7-10 in your school:

Registration Link

https://form.jotform.com/260106927554256

Waitlist

https://form.jotform.com/260108005601238

Franco-Fun  W26FFO9  Wed., 4:45pm 7, 8 Core

Franco-Fun  W26FFO10 Tue., 6pm 7, 8 Core

Vive La Parole  W26VPO1 Tue., 6pm 7, 8 FI

Vive La Parole  W26VPO2 Wed., 6pm 7, 8 FI

Vive La Parole  W26VPO3 Tue., 7pm 9, 10 Core

Vive La Parole W26VPO4 Thu., 6pm 9, 10 FI

Description of programs:

Payment Option Moving to School Cash Online ONLY 

Starting February 2nd, the St Patrick’s Main office will no longer be accepting cash payment for items listed on School Cash Online.  Team fees, field trip payments, grad fees, student fees, spiritwear etc. will now be paid through School Cash Online only.  This is to streamline our financial processes with those of the OCSB.  

If there are extenuating circumstances that prevent you from using School Cash Online, please contact the office directly to make necessary arrangements.

Uniform Reminder 

As we approached the Christmas Break, we have noted a decline in student compliance when it comes to wearing the school uniform.  I am resharing with you the expectations for all St Pat’s students on a daily basis to avoid having students being sent home or asking parents to bring uniform items to the school! 

Bottoms: black dress pants, black cargo pants, black skirt or SPH Kilt (black leggings may be worn under the skirt and/or kilt however NOT on their own). NO jeans or jogging pants are to be worn. 

Tops: Top Marks tops as well as Spirit wear can be worn.  No other tops are to be worn over them.  Grade 12 students are permitted to wear their Grad sweatshirt as part of their uniform as well..  

Students are expected to be in proper uniform all day, every day. 

*** 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. 

We ask that you support your child in arriving at school in proper uniform starting on January 5th.

Minister’s Certificate of Recognition for Community Involvement 

The Ministry of Education has introduced a new Certificate of Recognition to be given out at Graduation to students who go above and beyond the required 40 hours of community service hours.  Please click on this LINK for further information. 

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.  A reminder to families that Grade 9–12 exams and RSTs cannot be moved for vacation or travel plans.  Please schedule all appointments outside these dates. If a student is ill, a Vice-Principal must be contacted before the exam; a medical note is req

Once again, Grade 9 students will only complete RSTs, they will NOT have exams as part of their final assessments. Grade 9 students are expected to attend everyday as per the schedule below in the Important Dates.  

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 6 - 21, 2025

Semester 1 Examinations (Grades 10-12)                            January 22 - 28, 2026

Semester 2 RST Period                                                             June 1 - 17, 2026

Second Semester Examinations (Grades 10-12)                  June 18 - 24, 2026

Important Dates 

Please mark your calendars for the following key dates:

First Day of Classes in 2026! - January 5, 2026

United in Black Day - January 19, 2026

High School Final Assessments/Exams Period 1 - January 22, 2026

High School Final Assessments/Exams Period 2 - January 23, 2026

High School Final Assessments/Exams Period 3 - January 26, 2026

High School Final Assessments/Exams Period 4 - January 27, 2026

PD Day - January 30, 2026

First Day of High School Semester 2 and Intermediate Term 2 - February 2, 2026

7/8  Term 1 Report Card posted on Parent Portal - February 11, 2026

S1 Final Report Card posted on Parent Portal (9-12) - February 13, 2026

Early Dismissal (1:30 pm) Grades 7-12 - February 19, 2026

7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews - February 19, 2026

                                                                                              Stay Safe and Have a Great Day!