Falcon News

MAY 2026

Principal's Message

May is a spectacular month! The days are longer, the weather is finally improving, and our school community is alive with activity. One of the best parts of this time of year is seeing our students outside and active as the spring athletic season gets underway. Soccer, Track and Field, Slow Pitch, Rugby, Unified Games and Flag Football are all in full swing, and it is wonderful to see so many students representing our school and supporting one another. Thank you to the many staff members who volunteer their time to coach and make these opportunities possible.

We also have some great opportunities coming up to celebrate student creativity and performance. In the coming weeks, we look forward to hosting our Visual Arts Night and our final music concert of the year. These events are always highlights of the spring and provide a great opportunity for families to see the incredible creativity and talent of our students.

As we move through May, our attention will also begin turning toward some of the most memorable moments of the school year. Before long, we will be celebrating our graduating class with Prom and Convocation in June. These milestones are an important time for our graduates and their families, and we look forward to recognizing the accomplishments of this outstanding group of students.

The final stretch of the school year is always a busy and exciting time. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to make OSS a vibrant place for students to learn, grow, and take flight.

Sincerely,
Dan Lake

What's Happening...

MAY

May 7 Prom Planning Meeting

May 4 Mental Health Week - PJ Day

May 5 Mental Health Week - Anything But A Backpack Day

May 6 Mental Health Week - Hats on for Mental Health

May 7 Mental Health Week - Monochromatic Day

May 7 Prom Planning Meeting

May 8 Mental Health Week - Falcon Apparel Day

May 13 and 14

Grad Sign Pick-Up

May 15 PD Day - No Classes

May 18 Victoria Day - School Closed

May 19 Jr. High Performance ABA Provincial Festival (Red Deer)

May 20 School Council Meeting

May 20 CUE Visit

May 21 Prom Planning Meeting

May 21 PAT Part A ELA Exam

May 28 Ohpaho Secondary School Art and Photography & Film Year End Visual

Arts Exhibition

MEET OUR PRINCIPAL INCUMBENT

Justin Klaassen

Hey Ohpaho!

I am excited to join you next year for your third year of operation and my seventh year as a principal!

I grew up in the Devon area, and after going to university, living in Japan, and teaching in Edmonton, I decided to come back. I'm still there with my wife and two kids, who will be in grades 10 and 11 next year!

I love being dusty in the shop, wearing a well-cut suit, riding mountain bikes, having breakfast with friends, and sitting around a fire with family. I'm not a huge fan of card games or puzzles, but I love figuring people out. I'm typically gregarious in public, but I appreciate the quiet when at home.

Finally, I love a good story or engaging conversation, and I'll be looking forward to either one with you!

All the best!

STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM

Assistant Principal

Mr. Dykstra

Assistant Principal

Mrs. Hamilton

Alpha Group N to Z

Assistant Principal

Mr. Hancock

Alpha Group A to F

Assistant Principal

Mrs. Maltais

Alpha Group G to M

Counsellor

Mrs. Drover

Alpha Group L to Z

Counsellor

Mr. Hayes

Alpha Group A to K

Please visit us at Student Services to book an appointment with your designated Counsellor or

the Office to book an appointment with your designated Administrator.

WELCOME TO STUDENT SERVICES

Who will you find in Student Services?

A team powered by smiles, good vibes, and "we are here to support you" attitude!

Mrs. Thiessen - Learning Support Teacher

Mr. Hayes - Counsellor

Mrs. Drover - Counsellor

Alexa (Mrs. Lonsdale) - Family School Liaison

Mrs. Unger - Administrative Assistant

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

OSS SCHOOL COUNCIL

GRAD/PROM 2026

Thank you Student Volunteers

Thank you Students

Thank you Staff

REMINDERS

SCHOOL FEES ARE DUE

Please check your PowerSchool Parent Portal for any posted school fees.

Please be advised that any uncollected fees will be forwarded to the Black Gold School Division Office and may be submitted to a collection agency.

School Fee Transfer Process

In order to transfer the credit, follow the steps below:

Access your PowerSchool account https://powerschool.blackgold.ca/public/
Select the "Student Fees and Forms" in your Power School account
Select the "Menu" option on the top right of the screen
Select the Transfer Money option which will generate to pop-up menu
Choose to move your credit from the current school to the desired Black Gold location. This credit will now be available for future use at the selected location.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Fitzsimmons at 587-671-0331, ext. 304.

OSS Personal Electronic Device Policy

Staff will be applying our Personal Electronic Device Policy more consistently to support student learning and minimize distractions.

The full policy may be viewed on our webiste (oss.blackgold.ca/textbook-policy), our main expectations are as follows:

Students must have their cell phones stored away in their lockers during class time.
Students cannot be on their cell phones during class time (this includes being in classrooms or in common spaces while they should be in class).
Students on a spare may use their cell phones in the following spaces only:
- Learning Commons (Library)
- Cafeteria Area
- Second-floor common area

Students have plenty of time to access their devices before school, during breaks, at lunch, and after school. We also ask that parents/guardians refrain from calling or texting students during class time, as they are expected to be engaged in learning. If there is an emergency, please contact the school office and we will ensure your child is reached promptly.

If a student is found using their cell phone during class time, either in class or in common areas, the device will be confiscated and brought to the student’s Grade Administrator. The phone will be returned to the student at the end of the school day.

Important Reminder for Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up:

To ensure the safety of all students and help traffic flow smoothly, we’d like to remind parents and guardians of the following:

🚗 The drop-off and pick-up lane is a continuously moving lane.
🚗 For safety, students should always exit the vehicle from the right side.
🚗 If your child needs extra time during drop-off, or if you are waiting during pick-up, please use the additional parking areas or the student parking lot. This keeps the main lane clear and helps prevent congestion.

Please note:

🚪 Multiple entrances and exits are available before the first bell and after dismissal—use them to help ease traffic.

🅿️ Visitor stalls are reserved for those entering the school building.

🅿️ The staff parking lot is reserved for staff only. The area marked with a red "X" is included in staff parking and should never be used. It is a high collision risk due to its proximity to the exit.

🚌 Always yield to buses and keep the bus and emergency lanes clear at all times. Bus lanes must remain clear after school until 3:50 PM.

We appreciate your continued cooperation in keeping our school safe, efficient, and welcoming for all students and families.

The front doors are locked at 4:00 PM daily. All sports spectators or community use members will need to use the community doors. Please do not ring the doorbell to get access to the doors. There is no access to the gym from the front entrance after hours.

Visitors attending events during school hours (8:00 AM to 4:00 PM): Please do not park in the staff parking lot. Our staff access the school at various times throughout the day, and it is important that these spaces remain available for their use. Additional parking stalls are closer to the community use doors.

Library Policy

Textbooks are issued to students at the start of each semester, or school year, and are due on the day of the final exam of the subject being written.
Textbooks not returned will be considered lost and the replacement cost will be added to PowerSchool for payment.
Textbooks returned damaged are subject to full replacement cost.
Notification emails will be sent to the parent/student for any outstanding books or fines.
If a student withdraws from a course, he/she must return the relevant textbook immediately. Textbooks not returned will be subject to the replacement cost.