Family BBQ

We would like to invite students and their families to attend a Welcoming BBQ on Wednesday, Sept. 27 from 5 pm to 7 pm in our school yard.  There will be inflatable obstacle courses, games, hotdogs and popcorn for people to enjoy. (while supplies last)

Hello to Our Lady of Mount Carmel School Community! 

Please see some important updates below.

Family BBQ

We would like to invite students and their families to attend a Welcoming BBQ on Wednesday, Sept. 27 from 5 pm to 7 pm in our school yard.  There will be inflatable obstacle courses, games, hotdogs and popcorn for people to enjoy. (while supplies last)

School Council

As well, we are hoping to start up our School Council in the month of October.  If you are interested, please click on the link below:

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School Council

More information to follow.

Morning Drop Off

Please remember when you are dropping  your child in Grade 1 to 6 in the school yard that parents/guardians are not permitted to remain on the yard for safety reasons.  If you choose to wait to see your child in please wait either on the other side of the fence by the parking lot/portable or the edge of the yard by the baseball field.  Thanks for your cooperation and understanding.

Walk a Block

Did you know that walking all or part way to school helps create safer school zones by reducing vehicle congestion? If you live too far away from school to walk the whole way, consider parking 5 to 10 minutes away from the school and walking the rest of the way. Take this small step to help make school zones safer for everyone!   OSTA has designed a  Walk-a-Block 

Click on the link to  download yours today!!

For more information about OSTA’s #GetYourWalkOn Programs and Resources please visit OSTA’s Ottawa Student Transportation Authority:  

Sean Crookshank

Principal

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Welcome Back

I would like to wish everyone a warm welcome as we start off a new school year. The staff has been eagerly

preparing for the upcoming year as we welcome the students back. I am honoured to be the  principal to such a dynamic group of staff that are looking forward to working in partnership with you, the parish, and community in providing the learning that will help foster your child’s growth during this unique time.

I am looking forward to an excellent year!!

Sean Crookshank

Principal

Opt in to receive emails

To receive all types of email messages, you must opt in. Otherwise, we will only send you emergency and attendance email messages.  (Families with children in our Board since 2017 and who had previously provided Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation(CASL) consent will receive General messages.)

You can opt in by creating an account with SchoolMessenger and choosing your contact preferences for each type of message. To receive any emails sent by the school, your preference must be set to “yes” for General Messages. To receive any emails that may be sent by your child's teacher, your preference must be set to “yes” for Teacher-to-Parent Messaging. 

Create your SchoolMessenger account

1. Go to ocsb.ca/SchoolMessenger to learn how to create your account.

2. Create your account using the email address you provided when you registered your child for school.

3. Choose your contact preferences for each type of message.

Have questions? 

If you are having difficulty creating your parent account, please email the OCSB at School.Messenger@ocsb.ca.

Message from our Trustee

Dear Our Lady of Mount Carmel School Community,

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to another school year. Often our excitement is accompanied with some anxiety over little ones starting school for the first time, perhaps beginning high school or simply progressing to a new grade or program. As your trustee and vice-chair of the board of trustees I remain committed to providing our students with quality education and a positive school experience.

In my role as school trustee I act as your liaison with the school board. As such I am available to you to help navigate challenges that can not be resolved at the school level. You can contact me at 613-878-0237 or at Cindy.Simpson@ocsb.ca.

I hope to meet you at a school event in the near future. If present, please don’t hesitate to come and introduce yourself and your family - as a former principal and now your trustee, I find joy in meeting the children, youth and families in our schools.

Best Wishes on a very memorable and successful 2023-24 school year!

God Bless you on your academic journey,

Cindy Desclouds-Simpson

Trustee, Zone 10 and Virtual Schools

The recommendation of the school board is to have parents verify student information via the parent portal. This information is pulled from PowerSchool. All of the information regarding registration and access to the Parent Portal is found at https://www.ocsb.ca/parents/parent-portal/. If you have any questions please contact the school either by email or phone (listed at the bottom of this email).

Just a friendly reminder that drop off for students in the morning is between 9:00-9:15. If your student is going to be away/ late please call the office to report their absence.  Late students need to sign in at the front office.  Kinders are dropped off in the kindergarten yard, rest of the students in the back school yard.  Parents are not permitted on the yard for safety reasons and are asked to wait outside the school yard boundaries if they so choose.

Prayer for Beginning a New School Year

Father,

We thank you for the opportunity

to begin the 2022-23 school year,

and we ask that you bless

the staff, students, and students' families.

We pray that you will guide us in all ways,

and that we will seek your will

in everything that we do.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

All OCSB elemenatry schools are closed throughout the summer. Register for school using our online form. If you have questions, contact our Admissions Department by email at admissions@ocsb.ca or by phone at 613-228-3338.

Community Dental Screenings activities will continue over the summer at Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs.  The bilingual dental screening poster is attached. 

Dental screenings are free and all ages are welcome.  Registered dental hygienists can also support clients with the Healthy Smiles Ontario and Ontario Seniors Dental Care Plan enrollments. 

Full schedule for services and locations of Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs: www.OttawaPublicHealth.ca/NeighbourhoodHub

June 12, 2023

Today’s scheduled Family Get Together will be canceled due to the weather.  An update will be sent home if we are able to reschedule the event.

Thanks,

Sean Crookshank

  As the school year nears an end, during this beautiful season of summer, God will give us the opportunity to spend time in the outdoors, admiring nature and all its beauty.

Let us reflect upon what seeds we have planted and nurtured this school year in our inner gardens and in the hearts of others.

Gracious Gardener,

How wondrously You care for my soil,

You send Your waters of refreshment.

You fertilize me with Your wisdom.

You warm me with Your tender kindness.

You keep drawing us toward your light.

New growth continually sprouts

From the soil of my spiritual garden.

Flowers of creativity bloom.

Herbs of joy flavour my days.

Vegetables of nourishment flourish.

Gracious gardener,

I trust that You will continually

Water my growing garden

And drench my flower beds

With Your abiding love.

Amen 

           I would like to wish each of you a wonderful summer, hoping that you will have an opportunity to spend time with friends and family. Before we know it, it will be September and we will be speaking of back-to-school.

Cherish every moment of the summer. 

Sean Crookshank, Principal

Report Cards

Just a friendly reminder that Report Cards and IEPs were published to the parent portal yesterday, June 27, 2023.

School Council

Next year we are hoping to start up our Catholic School Council. More information will be sent home in September.

Staff and Students that are leaving us.

We wish our leaving staff and students success in their future. Their time at OLMC was appreciated by all and we do hope they know that they are always welcome to come back to visit us and for our graduating 6s, to look at their class photograph on our wall.  We enjoy hearing from you. 

Stay safe everyone and blessing to all.

May 31st Updates:

NO PIZZA DAY THIS WEEK

Just a friendly reminder that there is no Pizza Day this week due to the Grade 6 trip.

END OF THE YEAR FAMILY GET TOGETHER

On Monday, June 12th, we will be hosting a family get together at the school from 5:00 pm to 6:30pm.  There will be displays by the Ottawa Fire Services, Ottawa Police, Inflatable Obstacle Courses, and Games.  We are hoping you will be able to join us.

COMMUNITY CONCERNS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY AFTER HOURS

We have recently noticed an increase in youth hanging around the school property after hours.  This includes illegal behaviour such as drug use, vandalism, intimidation of EDP students, trespassing into the school, etc.  Both current and former students of OLMC have been mentioned, along with other youth.  We ask the community to keep an eye out for this behaviour and to please contact the police if you notice anything suspicious/illegal.  They are going to be stepping up patrols to assist with this.

Thank you once again for all your support as we wrap up the current school year!

Sean Crookshank

Principal

Hello Parents/Guardians,

During Education Week the students have the opportunity to take part in our annual Scholastic Book Fair.  Wednesday students will have the opportunity to look at what is available (i.e. book titles, posters, book marks, pencils, etc.) and write down prices, etc.  On Thursday and Friday morning, parents and students will have the chance to make purchases.  The Learning Commons receives a portion of sales to buy more books for the students to use! 

Please come out and see all the wonderful books. posters  etc  There are books for all ages from  1 year and up

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students, 

Each year, the Catholic community engages in a week-long celebration of the unique identity and distinctive contributions of Catholic education during Catholic Education Week. This year’s celebration is entitled, “Catholic Education: We are Many, We are One” and will be celebrated during the week of April 30 to May 5, 2023.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR SCHOOL LITURGY ON THURSDAY MAY 04 @ 11:00AM

Catholic Education Week celebrates the ongoing gift of publicly-funded Catholic education. Publicly funded Catholic education has existed in Ontario since 1841 and its graduates have served Ontario and Canada very well. The current generation of students in our publicly funded Catholic schools will serve with the same spirit and generosity as their previous generations.

As a Catholic community, our theme of "We are Many, We are one" is a wonderful opportunity to share the gift of resilience that is borne of our faith.

We are Many, We are One Twitter Challenge #CathEdWeek

During Catholic Education Week, we invite you to share messages, photos, videos or drawings of “We are Many, We are One” related to these daily themes:

Monday

When we see / En voyant: We see with more than our eyes alone. Our perspectives also reflect what feeds our hearts and souls. Seeing the face of Jesus Christ in the faces of my friends and loved ones is often not all that challenging. Finding this in the awesomeness of the majesty of creation is also more obvious. Generally speaking, the love, joy and gratitude shared with these people and in nature is enough to find the presence of Christ there.

The real challenge is seeing the face of Jesus Christ in the faces of those we do not know as well or in places that we would call ordinary. Yet, that is what we are called to do – to look at each person and situation we encounter and to see the face of Christ there.  So the challenge for all on this day is this: please see for the face of Christ in the ordinary and extraordinary in all you encounter today. Capture by video or photo something that embraces the wonder of the face of Christ of When we see. It can be a scene of nature, the wonder of a child, and/or the joys of charity and service.  Be sure to share it using the hashtag #ocsbJoy and #CathEdWeek.

Tuesday

When we listen / En écoutant: Listening is a Divine art and disciplined practice of acknowledging others and their needs to be heard, listened to, and understood ahead of our own.  Let us create a world where each of us does this. To put others in the center, focused on their uniqueness and to give everyone what all of us desire. This is to be valued and appreciated for just being who we are. Even though we are but one person, together we are part of a large community of faith through which we can collaborate to promote unity and community everywhere we go.  We are all different, but special and we are all loved by God. We need each other and we need to encourage each other in order to build up God’s kingdom.

For this challenge, we encourage you to practice your listening skills as you play, collaborate, and interact with others. You can share examples of problem solving, play, and Deep Learning that require listening skills with your family, students and staff. Capture by video or photo of your collaborative When we Listen. Be sure to share it using the hashtag #ocsbJoy and #CathEdWeek.

Wednesday

When we reflect / En réfléchissant: Christian Meditation is an active, meditative, restorative and reflective prayer practice.  The practice is a physical and spiritual reminder of the importance of prayer and meditation. Christian Meditation is a prayer of the heart, not of the mind. It allows the individual to reflect on the day, week, month and/or year you have had. It allows the opportunity to focus on blessings in your life.  We will have an opportunity during Catholic Education Week to learn more about Christian Meditation.  As well, Prayer, Liturgy and Mass are also times for reflection.

From your classroom or school community, please amplify, highlight and share some amazing opportunities for reflection. Capture by video or photo of your REFLECTIVE practice. Be sure to share it using the hashtag #ocsbJoy and #CathEdWeek.

Thursday

When we learn / En apprenant: Many of our school communities are named after a Saint.  These Patron Saints help to establish the personality of their school.  Each lived lives that were unique, faithful and amazing. Some of our schools are not named after Saints, but their communities embrace all of the characteristics of the Saints. Throughout this week, however, you are encouraged to do so all year, share stories and activities about your patron Saint, connect the Saint’s life to the themes of your classes, and spend time learning about them. Eventually your community will have a stronger relationship with the Saint.

Please amplify and share your experiences with the OCSB Community. Please Capture by video or photo you practising your LEARNING about the Saints.  Be sure to share your message using the hashtag #ocsbJoy and #CathEdWeek.

Friday

When we act / En agissant: Social action is about people in a community coming together to help improve the lives of those in need and relieve the challenges in their community. This action can be local and/or local.  We have Advent and Lenten projects, as well as full year activities. These can include volunteering, collecting specific items for those in need, Parish and community action or simple neighbourly acts and clean-up projects. These acts have so many benefits to both the giver and receiver. This is an opportunity to share these acts to shine a light on the amazing acts of love and charity. Capture by video or photo of you ACTing in JOY.   Be sure to share your message using the hashtag #ocsbJoy and #CathEdWeek.

We look forward to celebrating Catholic Education Week with your messages and images of Joy in our community!

Sincerely, 

Sean Crookshank

Principal

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

“We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members, one of another.” (Romans 12:5)

 «Nous qui sommes plusieurs, nous sommes un seul corps dans le Christ, et membres les uns des autres.» (Romains 12, 5)

We would like to invite you come into the school to go through the  Lost and Found items--  We have many items of clothing, jackets boots, water bottle, show, hat, mitts, snow pants etc  We would love to get these items back to the children who own them.  Please come to the school  on Thursday and Friday of this week to look through lost and found to see if you see any of your child's lost items    Next week the remaining items will be donated to Value Village 

Age altering filters mislead victims – blog post with information for parents/caregivers

On March 30th, C3P released a new blog post on our ProtectKidsOnline.ca website that includes information about face-altering filters, as well as tips for parents and caregivers to have conversations with their tweens/teens. To help schools share this information with families, we have created a ready-to-use social media post: https://www.kidsintheknow.ca/app/en/social_media.

Online Risks and Trends – video

In support of schools looking for online safety information to share with parents/caregivers, we have created short video titled Safeguarding Children and Youth: Online Risks and Trends. Some schools have shared this information with caregivers in newsletters, by email, or on social media. We also have designed web images that can be used to link directly from school websites.

Intervention and Support Services – videos, resources, support

C3P offers support services to those who have been victimized online. Our new survivor and family support services webpage provides information, resources, and specialized help when a youth has been victimized through the use of technology.

·         Staff and families can contact Cybertip.ca to consult – this may include instances where unsolicited and unwanted sexual actions and behaviours are directed towards youth online or where a nude or sexual image or video of a youth is online or circulating via technology

·         Youth and families can also seek support through NeedhelpNow.ca to connect with a member of our support services