Welcome Back!
Welcome back Flames!
We sincerely hope that all our families have had a wonderful summer creating many new memories. We cannot wait to hear about your adventures. We are excited to welcome several new staff and families once again to our community, and as always we are thinking of those who have left our school to venture into new school communities.
We remain dedicated to providing a quality Catholic education rooted in fostering a sense of community and belonging, nurturing responsible students, and promoting high expectations in learning. We welcome and value your positive energy and dedication to excellence in education too, and we look forward to working with you and your child(ren) again this year.
Our sincerest appreciation is extended to our custodial staff Brandon, Abraha, and Matthew! Over the summer, they have been thoroughly cleaning the building and working to ensure that our school is ready to welcome students back. We are grateful that they have deep cleaned all classrooms and washrooms, waxed the floors, and moved furniture in preparation for the beginning of the year. Thank you.
I hope that this newswire will answer any questions you may have. Please read it carefully and continue to check for ongoing communication from our school & School Board website https://www.wcdsb.ca/.
Please also note most informative posts/news items will be sent out through Newswire, including the “Flames Update” you will receive each week. This provides a weekly glance at any news items from the school, board & parish along with what to expect in the week ahead. Additionally, we will send out occasional School Messenger or SchoolCash Online updates to share any important occurrences to keep our community informed.
| Please see the School Hours and Important Dates for the 2023-2024 school year:
SCHOOL HOURS 8:30am Opening Bell and Classes Begin 9:40 – 9:55 Morning Recess 11:15 – 12:15 Lunch / Lunch Recess 12:15pm Classes Begin 1:35 – 1:50 Afternoon Recess 3:00pm Dismissal
2023-2024 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND P.A. DAYS Holidays: Thanksgiving October 9, 2023 Christmas December 18-22, 2023 Family Day February 19, 2024 March Break March 8-15, 2024 (Friday March 8th is a Board Holiday) Easter March 29-April 1, 2024 Victoria Day May 20, 2024
Professional Activity Days – No school on these days: August 31, 2023 October 6, 2023 November 13, 2023 January 19, 2024 April 19, 2024 May 31, 2024 June 28, 2024 School ends Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 3:00pm (June 28 is a PD Day) |
| First Day of School:
Kindergarten: A kind reminder, NO Kindergarten students attend the first day of school. Our Year 2 (Senior Kindergarten) students’ first day of school will be Wednesday, September 6th. For our Year 1 (Junior Kindergarten) students, you will receive notification from your teacher about a time and date when you can come in to meet your child’s Kindergarten team. To help with the transition to school, all Year 1 students (JK) have a staggered start in the first week of school. Your child’s first week of school schedule will be shared at your visit. |
Grades 1-8:
To support our transition back to school, families will be receiving classroom teacher information at the end of the week prior to the long weekend. On Friday, September 1st, please check your SchoolCash Online. An email with information will notify you of your child’s new classroom teacher. Please note that class lists continue to be tentative due to ongoing registrations which has significant staffing implications due to evolving enrolment. We will require patience, flexibility, and understanding on behalf of our students and families. Working together as a home-school partnership will allow for a positive school start-up.
Staffing and classroom changes are directed by the Board office and this process may occur during the first few weeks of school which could lead to classes being revised. Often, we can see classroom assignment changes continue into September.
A great deal of time, effort, and thought has gone into the classroom placement process. Careful consideration is given with input from teachers and our support staff well that consider identified student learning styles. Moving students, unless directed by the Board office, causes imbalances and inequities that are carefully thought out by the professionalism from our staff.
All of our staff work hard to make school a positive experience for all students. We are eagerly looking forward to enriching your child(ren)’s life. Thank you for understanding that it can take a few weeks for a child to acclimate to a new grade, peer group, and teacher, and thank you for being positive with your child!
Plan for First Day Procedures for Students Entering Grade 1
Just before the 8:30am bell, all the grade 1 students are asked to meet in the backyard of the school beside the big climber where they will be greeted by Miss Stevens and their Kindergarten teachers from last year, along with their new grade 1 teacher. Staff will assist in gathering students and bringing them into their new classroom.
If it is an inclement weather situation, we will gather the grade 1’s in the front foyer to be organized.
Plan for First Day Procedures for Students Entering Grades 2 to 8
Just before the 8:30am bell, students will line up in the backyard where they will find their classroom teacher for this year. We will have several staff members on hand to help all of the children. Classes will be led into the school by the teachers, one class at a time.
If it is an inclement weather situation, students will meet their teacher as outlined above in the gymnasium to be brought right into the classrooms.
Transportation
For all inquiries related to bus transportation, please contact Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region: http://www.stswr.ca/.
As always, students not eligible for bussing are encouraged to walk to school. If it is absolutely necessary to drive your child to school, we ask that you use Lourdes St. or enter through the Church parking lot for drop off.
*There is no parking for parents available in the staff parking lots. Please note that Bylaw has marked the front of the school entrance as No Parking.
Back-to-School Shopping
There is no need to buy or send in any extra school supplies at this time. Students will only need a pair of indoor running shoes, lunch bag, reusable water bottle and a backpack. Please remember to label all personal belongings.
Lunch Program
Please stay tuned for more details that will be sent via Newswire and Schoolcash.
Nutrition for Learning Program
It is a pleasure to announce that we will be participating in the Breakfast Bin Program again this year.
Welcome Back Open House
Mark your calendars! Our Welcome Back Open House will be Tuesday September 12th from 5-7pm. Classrooms will be open to pop in and meet your child’s teacher from 5-6pm followed by outdoor socializing with the school community from 6-7pm. More information to come!
Catholic School Advisory Council
Our first meeting is on September 19th at 6pm in the school library. Please complete the form on School Cash Online if you are interested in joining the council. The more the merrier! Thank you for considering.
Start-up Forms
Most start-up forms will be processed through School Cash Online. There are a number of documents that require input of information and your signature and there are a couple of read-only documents. Student Verification forms will go home as a paper copy where you may update student information. This is especially important if contact information has changed including guardian and phone number updates.
Medical Information
If any of your child’s medical information has changed, please be sure the office has been updated.
Dressing for the Weather
Please ensure your child is dressed for the weather every day. We are committed to giving students breaks and exposure to fresh air during recesses, even if the weather is not perfect, e.g., misty, light rain. Parental requests for students to stay inside at recess are not feasible as we do not have the space or supervision to support such arrangements. Thank you for your understanding.
We greatly appreciate your support in working together to create a positive learning environment for all our students. Please watch out for more NewsWire updates as we continue to communicate important information. It is our continued goal to have our families feel a part of our school community!
Our OLOL Team is looking forward to seeing all of our incredible students soon!
Erin Stevens
Principal