School News
Parent/Teacher Conferences & Early Dismissal - Oct 24
Grades 9-12: Guardian/Parent-Teacher Conference Booking Instructions
Interviews will take place on Thursday, October 24 in person.
Booking an Appointment:
CLICK HERE or scan the QR code to book an interview with your child’s teacher(s). It is important that you enter your details accurately.
Event code, if asked, is: bvg8t
Fill in your contact information and click "Continue to Make Appointments"
Click on the name of a teacher with whom you wish to schedule an appointment
Click on an available time at which you wish to have your meeting
Repeat Steps 3 and 4 until you have scheduled all the teachers you wish to meet
Click on "My Schedule" (top left of the page)
Email, print out, or copy down your schedule
In Person & Drop-In Parent Teacher Conferences will be held in the Wood Floor Gym.
There will be early dismissal on Thursday, October 24 at 1:30 due to interviews. All after school activities will be cancelled, including ND after 3.
Grade 9 - Take Our Kids To Work Day - 2024
On Wednesday, November 6, Canada’s longest-running, highest-profile career exploration event is back!
Parents of grade 9 students are encouraged to make arrangements to have their child attend work with them on November 6. Students are asked to complete this Permission form and return it to school by November 1. (Permission Forms will also be handed out in students' homeroom classes.)
Students who remain at school will participate in career exploration activities. Regular coursework will not be completed by grade 9 students. Students who participate at a workplace will not be responsible for any additional work from school that day.
If you cannot take your child to your workplace, students are also able to visit a workplace with a relative, neighbour or family friend.
We are hoping all students will be able to take part in this exciting day!!
A Message From OSTA
Students should not move their physical card to their phone using an app such as Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. The PRESTO cards in these Wallets do not work in Ottawa on OC Transpo. If a student does this there is no easy way to restore it to a physical card. Students doing this will need to submit a replacement card form to OSTA so they can cancel the card and issue a new one the following month.
Launch
Do you ever wonder about life after high school for your children? What should you be telling them to consider for career exploration? What do they know about pathway planning? If so, LAUNCH is for you!
Parents and grade 10-12 students across the Ottawa Catholic School Board will have the opportunity to visit the LAUNCH Virtual Education and Career Conference for Teens on Wednesday, November 6.
The OCSB has partnered with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board and the Peel District School Boards to provide students the opportunity to explore many post-secondary institutions, associations, employers, and unions, spanning all pathways. Students will be able to interact with representatives who will be available to answer questions through a combination of pre-recorded videos and live chats. Students will also be able to attend live presentations on a variety of topics, including scholarship application tips, budgeting for post secondary, careers in the trades, and many, many more. Please see a complete list of presentations here.
We are also excited to announce that we will also have a keynote address by Aubrey Noronha. Aubrey Noronha (NA-ROW-NA) is a recognized Character Education and Safe Schools Speaker who believes in the possibility of a safer and more emotionally connected school culture. Through his work, Aubrey seeks to instill his hope for the future into the minds and hearts of youth and caring adults.
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 from 9am to 8pm
Registration: Students, educators and parents must register on the Landing Page prior to the event.
All of the sessions will also be recorded and shared on our OCSB LAUNCH website following the event.
Attendance Really Matters
We caring adults will soon face one of the greatest challenges to consistent attendance: winter. Cold days, reduced sunlight, and snowy commutes can present a challenge for many people when it comes to attendance.
At home, there are a few actions that families can take together to maintain strong attendance:
Keep it routine: consistent evening and morning routines (including healthy habits like exercise and sufficient sleep) help make getting to school on time a habit
Keep it in the conversation: please continue to discuss the importance of attendance
Keep us informed: if your child is struggling with attendance, please reach out to us. We're here to help! We want to work with you.
Keep it going: school wide attendance is improving because we work together
Previous Attendance Matters Updates:
Attendance is improving!
8:30 is on time
Checklist for students returning to school after long absences
Final Assessments - Exams adn RSTs
Grade 9 - 12 students’ examinations and Rich Summative Tasks (RSTs) WILL NOT be rescheduled for holiday or travel, and all appointments should be scheduled so as not to conflict with exams and RSTs. If a medical problem arises, a Vice Principal must be contacted prior to the exam or RST.
In January and June, teachers administer end-of-semester assessments that constitute a significant portion of students' final grades. It is expected that students complete these assessments only during class time. Teachers will provide more specific dates for each assessment in their classes.
As a general rule, it is advised to avoid any planned student absences during the months of January and June as this is when RSTs and exams are scheduled.
More information about final exams will be shared later in the semester.
Uniform in Cold Weather
At this time of year, even the school temperature can be cool at times. We recommend that students wear layers beneath their uniform to stay warm if they are cold. If layers are worn, the uniform item must be the top layer.
Students must be in full uniform at all times. Jogging pants are not allowed to be worn, nor are non-uniform sweaters. Students wearing these will be sent home to change.
A Message About Costumes
The students of Notre Dame are incredibly respectful and inclusive. With Hallowe’en just around the corner, it is important to continue being so by taking a thoughtful approach to costumes. Costumes must not be worn if they appropriate culture. Costumes need to follow the expectations and spirit of the student dress code. There is no expectation that students will wear costumes.
INFORMATION FOR TRIP TO ITALY IN SPRING 2025
Your child is invited — please RSVP by Oct 22, 2024.
We’re thrilled to partner with EF Educational Tours Canada to offer this incredible experience. Please register for our upcoming information session on October 22 to learn more: https://rsvp.eftours.ca/kr9jswd.
When students travel, they expand their understanding of the world, gain self-awareness, and build confidence—key skills for becoming global citizens. We would love for your child to join us on this journey.
During the session, we’ll cover:
How this experience will benefit your child
What we’ll see and do on our trip
What’s included in the tour package.
Our commitment to safety and affordability
How to secure a spot during EF’s risk-free enrolment period
Make sure to register and attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity!
Information for Graduating Students
Very important information will be sent to graduates weekly via email.
Please stay up to date with all things related to the grade 12 year by reviewing these emails together. It is very important that these are read to avoid missing essential information.
For example, the first email was sent this week with information about:
Grad fees
Important dates
Scholarships
Grad Mass
College and University applications
First meeting with grads will be Sept 26 during period 2
Students with Medical Conditions or Life-Threatening Allergies
To ensure students with medical concerns or life-threatening allergies are safe at school, please click here for information on submitting their plan of care if you have not done so yet. Your child’s safety and well-being is our top priority, which is why we have many policies and procedures in place. For help with this, please contact your child’s vice-principal.
Uniform Requirements
Notre Dame is a uniform school. Students wear the uniform as a symbol of school pride and unity. If your student will not have their uniform by the first day of school, please contact their vice-principal by emailing NotreDame.High@ocsb.ca.
All students are expected to be in school uniform at all times with the only exceptions being gym/fitness class, spirit days, or dress down days. Sweaters, jackets, and other items that are not school uniform are not to be worn in the school at any time. Jogging pants are not allowed.
Clothing for the uniform must be acquired through the authorized supplier: Top Marks. Order forms are on-line at www.topmarks.ca or by calling 1-800-667-7105. You may place an order with school code: NOT01.
Students must wear a uniform top and bottom and it must be worn properly (ie// shirt must be fully on, buttoned fully). No alterations of the uniform are permitted, nor is attaching a ‘Top Marks’ tag to a pair of non-uniform pants. With the kilts, solid coloured nylons, tights or leggings may be worn provided they match the school uniform colours (white, navy blue, grey, black). No sweatpants are allowed.
Eagle Wear or Club Wear is appropriate to wear as part of the uniform. Eagle Wear is available for order twice per year; Club Wear is made available by coaches or club supervisors.
The Principal may issue further clarification on this policy as required. Should a student be out of uniform, they will be asked to go to meet with their Vice-Principal. Outcomes could include: being sent home to change; being asked to remain in the office for the day; calls home; or other consequences determined by considering the specific situational circumstances.
IMPORTANT: Update your SchoolMessenger Settings
If you are not receiving emails such as the Principal Updates, Parent-Teacher Conferences, OSSLT, Early Dismissal, etc, please be sure to update your SchoolMessenger settings. You want to have the email icon under "General Email" turned green.
Uniform Donations
We encourage everyone to consider donating used uniforms. These can be dropped off at the main office. If you would like us to pick up the uniform donation, please call the school office and we can arrange pickup.
Parent Portal & Forms
It is very important that all guardians/parents update and verify the following information in the “Parent Portal” ASAP.
Student Verification
Responsible Use of Technology
Consent for Use and Disclosure of Information
Offsite Permission
Please note that this must be done each school year. To update your information on the Parent Portal, please follow these instructions.