June 1, 2026

St. Patrick's High School

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St. Patrick's High School Parent Newsletter | May 2026

Message From The Principal

It is hard to believe that we are already in the month of June and less than a month away from the end of the 2025-2026 school year. Last weekend, we marked Pentecost, the day that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem and the beginning of the Apostles’ mission to spread the gospel. Our Grades 7-11 students gathered on Thursday to celebrate the end of year liturgies. Our Grade 12s will come together this Wednesday for the Grad Mass.

Eid Mubarak to our Muslim families who marked Eid El-Adha last week as well.

A reminder that the proposed school year calendar that was submitted by the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) in January has now been approved by the Ministry of Education. As this fall’s start date falls before the traditional post-Labour Day start, I wanted to highlight once again that the first day of school is September 1, 2026. Further details are available at this link: Approved 2026-2027 School Year Calendar.

Stay Safe and Be Well!

Mme Al Koura

Catholic School Council

On Tuesday, May 12th, our Catholic School Council hosted a very successful Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) event. Led by Justine Ogle, lead Social Worker with the OCSB, many great discussions took place to explore mental health trends as well as ways we can support our children in identifying good vs bad stress and how to handle stress in general.

Our next meeting will take place on Monday, June 8th, 2026. Due to the nature of this meeting, it will be an in-person meeting only. It will take place in the Learning Commons.

Invitation from the Prince of Peace School Community

Our feeder school, Prince of Peace, is inviting parents from the St Patrick’s School community to join them for a parent evening on June 9. Special guest (and a friend of St Pat’s), Aubrey Noronha, will be speaking about staying connected with your kids.

Details

Date: June 9

Time: 5:00 pm.

Location: Prince of Peace School Gym @ 1620 Heatherington Road

RSVP Google Form

Come listen to Aubrey Speak about " Practical tools for fostering mental health and building lasting connections with your kids!".

St. Patrick’s at the CAPPIES

We are so proud to share with the entire Irish community that our Musical: In the Heights has received 23 nominations at this year’s Cappies. WOOHOO!!!!!

We are so very proud of all our students and staff who supported this successful production! Win or not, we are so VERY proud of you.

AWARD CATEGORIES

1. Cappies Critic Team

2. Top Junior Critic: Sofia Guerra-Nguyen

Top Senior Critic:

3. Ariana Guerra-Nguyen

4. Mariana Kealey

5. Marketing and Publicity: No Me Diga Media

6. Sound in a Musical: The Uptown Beat

7. Lighting: In the Lights

8. Costumes: Fits de Fiesta

9. Sets: In the Set

10. Orchestra: The Barrio Beats Orchestra

11. Choreography: The Bodega Bachatas

12. Creativity: Zion Bonilla-Gordon

13. Stage Management: The Barrio Blackout Crew

14. Ensemble in a Musical: Daniela and Carla

15. Featured Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Kalleigh McArthur

16. Dancer in a Female Role: Yami Workneh

17. Dancer in a Male Role: Omar Shabana

18. Comic Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Ariana Guerra-Nguyen

19. Comic Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Mario Junior Rontal

20. Lead Actor in a Female Role in a Musical: Yafeat Temesgen

21. Lead Actor in a Male Role in a Musical: Zion Bonilla-Gordon

22. Song: 96,000

23. Musical: In The Heights

The Cappies Gala will be taking place on June 14th at the National Arts Centre. We look forward to recognizing and celebrating our production as well as all other Cappies productions from the National Capital Region.

Go Irish Go!!!

End of Cafeteria Service for the 2025-2026 School Year

Please note that the last day the cafeteria service will be operational for this school year is Wednesday, June 17th. As of Thursday, June 18th, all students will have to come to school with a packed lunch and snacks. Students who are signed up for the breakfast program will continue

An important note: UBER/Skip the Dishes deliveries for students are NOT permitted.

Black Foundation of Community Networks: Scholarship Application Workshop

BFCN will be offering another edition of their Scholarship Application Workshop! Join online on Wednesday, June 10 from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM ET.

This workshop is open to all Black students from any school board or institution. Please share this invitation widely and especially with Black youth who are currently in Grade 8 or high school. Access to this information is vital and helps Black students and their families make informed decisions about funding options and their continued educational journeys.

A reminder that the 2026-2027 BFCN Scholarships & Awards application cycle has launched! BFCN will once again be awarding six $1000 scholarships and awards to Black students pursuing post-secondary education in accredited Canadian institutions. All online applications and supporting documents must be submitted by July 31, 2026.

Learn more and apply for the 15th Annual BFCN Scholarships

Learn more and apply for the 12th Annual BFCN Aim 2 Achieve Awards

Also, access the BFCN Scholarship Directory available as a resource for obtaining additional scholarships.

Yellow Bus Transportation

Ottawa Student Transportation (OSTA) is launching its annual opt-out process to enhance bus routing and transportation planning for the 2026-2027 school year. If your child(ren) will not require yellow school bus transportation next school year, please complete the electronic opt-out form to inform OSTA that a seat is not needed. This will help optimize services and minimize disruptions. Requests for reinstated service can be made anytime through OSTA’s Transportation Issues Form, and are subject to availability and eligibility. The opt-out form is now available on OSTA’s website. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2026.

Athletics

The spring sport season is in full swing with a full slate of teams gearing up for their respective playoffs. These teams include: girls soccer, girls and boys rugby, girls flag football, baseball and track and field teams. We are excited to say 13 of our track and field athletes have finished high enough in their respective events at the NCSSAA City Championships and are on their way to the Eastern Ontario OFSAA Championships in Brockville. If they do well in Brockville, they may qualify for the OFSAA Provincial Championships in St. Catharines. Go IRISH!

St. Patrick’s ultimate takes two teams to the Hillcrest ultimate tournament and finishes both teams in top 8 (5 and 8), which places our senior team in the division 1 qualifier for the Orleans cup.

Let’s go Irish!

In our final coed volleyball tournament our team performed incredibly well. We played in 9 sets and 18 total games and came up just short after losing 2 key players to injury and 1 to a job lol only to lose two very close games in the “A”side final. They all represented our school with pride and respect. Well done to the coed team.

The Black Student Association (BSA) Goes to Upper Canada Village

Members of the Black Student Associations at both St Patrick’s High School & Lester B. Pearson High School attended a guided tour of the “Black Canadian exhibit” at Upper Canada Village Museum.

The experience provided students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of Black history in Canada through engagement with historical narratives that are often underrepresented in traditional classroom settings. Through facilitated discussions, students explored the contributions, resilience, and lived experiences of Black communities within Canadian history and reflected on the importance of preserving these stories.

It was a sunny and beautiful day out in the country! Thanks to Oba, the Black Graduation Coach for his lead in organizing the trip.

Arts Trip to Toronto

From May 13-15, 70 High School Drama Club and Band students travelled to Toronto for an exciting three-day Arts Trip filled with fun, friendship, and unforgettable experiences. Students in Grades 9-12 had the chance to see the musical & Juliet, enjoy dinner together at the Old Spaghetti Factory, spend a day at Canada’s Wonderland, visit the aquarium and cheer for their favourite Knight at Medieval Times. The trip gave students an opportunity to connect with one another, experience the arts in a new way, and make lasting memories together. A special thank you goes out to the staff and chaperones whose support and dedication helped make this amazing trip possible.

Let’s Talk Science Black Youth in STEM End of Year Event

Grade 9-12 students had the opportunity to take part in the Let's Talk Science Black Youth in STEM end of year event at Carleton University in partnership with uOttawa. Throughout the day, students engaged in a variety of hands-on lab activities in Carleton University's Health Science labs, explored the connection between science & policy in a model UN style activity, and created and pitched their very own skincare products!

Students also had the opportunity to hear from Black professionals in STEM in a panel discussion, connect with Black post-secondary student associations, and explore career opportunities with local STEM employers.

We look forward to continuing this partnership next school year!

Summer Program for Black Students

Black students in the OCSB from grades 8-12 are invited to register for the Summer Program for Black students by filling out the form on the QR code.

Canadian Parents for French - Enrichment Program over the Summer

Canadian Parents for French Ontario is offering FREE French enrichment programs funded by the Ministry of Education for FSL students from SK to Grade 12. The program is offered in July at 10:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm or 2:00pm, featuring a daily 45-minute class over a two-week session. Virtual Programs will be led by OCT certified teachers or Teacher Candidates in an Ontario Bachelor of Education program. Register here for our programs in July today!

Here are the program descriptions below:

CPF VIRTUAL “Franco-Fun”: Students in SK to Grade 8 will participate in fun and interactive games and activities, chat with new friends while building their French vocabulary, oral comprehension, and communication skills.

CPF VIRTUAL Reading Circle/Cercle de lecture: Students in SK to Grade 8 will read books, articles, poems and other reading materials with new friends and engage in activities to learn new vocabulary and improve their reading comprehension skills.

CPF VIRTUAL “Vive La Parole”: The program features theme-based games and interactive activities that will have students laughing and communicating with each other in French with ease! Our program leaders are eager to help students make new friends from across the province, learn about French culture, including the contemporary Franco Ontarian pop culture scene! This program is for students in Grades 7-12.

Summer School Registration

Registration for Summer School courses and programs with the Ottawa Catholic School Board is open until June 19th. (Summer School Registration Closes June 19th!) There are a wide variety of courses available both online and in person. Please see the summer school website for course offerings and registration forms.

Please note students may only register for one summer school course in July. Here is the flyer first page/second page for quick access!

Summer International Language Program - Elementary

OCSB Continuing & Community Education is excited to share that registration is now open for our Summer International Languages Program - Elementary!

The Summer International Languages Program offers students the opportunity to learn a new language or strengthen their home language through engaging activities such as music, art, storytelling, and cultural exploration. It is a meaningful way for students to build confidence, develop language skills, and connect with diverse cultures in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

The program runs from June 29 - July 31, 2026, at various OCSB locations, with classes available for students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8, and is free for Ontario residents.

Learn More

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 or rescheduled 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 required.

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, June 18 - 23 to complete their final assessments or course work.

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 2 RST Period

June 1 - 17, 2026

Semester 2 Exam Schedule: Gr. 12 Per. 3 June 16, 2026

Gr. 12 Per. 4 June 17, 2026

Gr. 10-12 Per. 1 June 18, 2026

Gr. 10-12 Per. 2. June 19, 2026

Gr. 10-11 Per. 3 June 22, 2026

Gr. 10-11 Per. 4. June 23, 2026