Week of March 9 to 13

March 6, 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I wanted to send an update regarding the Novel Coronavirus, commonly referred to as COVID-19. With the heightened news coverage and changing situation worldwide, some children and their families may be feeling anxious. Fortunately, there are currently no confirmed cases in Ottawa, making the immediate health risk low to our community. The chance of getting COVID-19 in Ottawa remains very low at this time.

As a School Board, we are responding and are prepared. We are in regular contact with Ottawa Public Health (OPH) and with the Ministry of Education and the Ontario Ministry of Health. Dr. Vera Etches, the Medical Officer of Health, has released this video to help Ottawa residents better understand the coronavirus.

What's Happening in Our Schools?

Touchpoint cleaning with a focus on common areas such as handrails and doors continues to be our focus in our buildings, as advised by OPH. During flu season, our custodial staff routinely disinfect classrooms and take extra care to sanitize common areas such as doorknobs, handrails, and countertops.

Education

We take our local direction from Ottawa Public Health. Board staff are in regular correspondence with OPH regarding the Novel Coronavirus - COVID-19 and follow their recommendations. Ottawa Public Health posts updated information on this site.

Your children's educators are reminding students of the importance of washing their hands for an appropriate length of time to limit the spread of germs. We have posted Handwashing posters, and in our elementary schools’ teachers are using games and songs to make handwashing fun.

Difficult Decisions Regarding High School International Trips

We have made the difficult but precautionary decision to cancel all High School European trips for March and April. We considered several factors in making this difficult decision, including Health Canada advisories.

We also took into account the real potential that staff and students could be quarantined, either overseas or upon their return to Canada. Also, we considered how these trips might impact the health and safety of our greater school community upon the students' arrival from overseas trips.

Board-Parent Communication

We will continue to monitor the Novel Coronavirus situation in collaboration with our health partners. OCSB Board staff are in regular correspondence with Ottawa Public Health and will follow their direction. We will provide updates through our website, social media channels and directly with families through School Messenger if there are new developments.

What Can We All Do?

We encourage everyone to practice good health habits, including:

• Get a yearly influenza vaccination, available from clinics and pharmacies (for flu only);
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer;
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze;
• Avoid touching your face, eyes or mouth;
• If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve or arm; and
• If you or your family members are ill, stay home.

We recognize that there are communities and families who have been impacted more directly by this virus. We continue to keep the health and safety of all of our students and staff in all of our decisions and actions.

Sincerely,

Denise Andre

Director of Education.

Postponement of Road Closure

At the request of the contractor, ZW Project Management Inc. the closure of Marketplace Avenue (Ward 22) from Longfields Drive to Sue Holloway Avenue has been postponed. A new permit and notification will be distributed once a revised work schedule has been determined.

Other Important Information

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a restful and relaxing March Break!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events

Thursday, March 26: 7-12 Parent-Teacher Interviews

Monday, April 6: School Council Meeting at 7 p.m. in Learning Commons

Week of March 2 to 6

Schools Will Be Closed Thursday, March 5, 2020

All Ottawa Catholic School Board Schools (OCSB) will be closed on Thursday, March 5, 2020. The Provincial, Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) called a one-day, province-wide strike for Thursday, March 5, 2020. This planned strike action will take place unless an agreement is reached between the Province and OECTA. The closures affect all OCSB Elementary, Intermediate and Secondary schools.

No Bus Service

There will be no bus or van transportation for Catholic students on Thursday, March 5, 2020. Schools will be closed to students.

What Else is Affected by the Labour Actions?

The school closures include all regular school day activities, Co-op, OYAP, Dual Credit, home instruction, extra-curricular activities, field trips, and clubs. OCSB Community Use of Schools programming is NOT affected by the one-day Provincial strike.

What About Child Care Programming?

Before and after school programs will be cancelled for the day. However, all Ottawa Catholic Child Care Corporation Toddler and Preschool programs and all EarlyOn Centres will be open and will operate according to their regular hours. (A list showing the status of individual child care programs is posted on our Board website at https://www.ocsb.ca/labour.)

Government Reimbursement

Parents who wish to apply for government reimbursement for child care costs related to labour unrest may direct their questions to the Support for Parents Helpline at https://www.ontario.ca/page/education-contract-talks-stay-updated

Labour Updates

We will monitor the progress of negotiations and provide regular labour updates through our website, social media channels and directly with families through School Messenger to keep you up-to-date regarding labour negotiations. https://www.ocsb.ca/labour/

Agreement

We pray a fair and equitable agreement can be reached at the provincial bargaining table soon.

Road Closure and Affected Bus Route

We received notice that Marketplace Avenue will be closed between Longfields Drive and Sue Holloway Avenue. The road will be closed Monday, 2 March 2020 to Wednesday, 4 March 2020. The contractor will be placing a mobile crane and equipment in the roadway to facilitate the installation of a tower crane at 150 Marketplace Ave.

RUN AFFECTED:

X75 SJE.103

This does not affect any stops, just the route between stops, along with some short time delays. The driver should turn right onto Sue Holloway Dr. after Stop #3 Bayrose at Sue Holloway, turn right onto Lindernshade Dr., right onto Longfields Dr., left onto Chapman Mills Dr., left onto Mancini Way, left onto Silverstone Way, stop at stop #4, then turn right onto Clearbrook to continue on the run.

Black History Month

We closed off Black History Month on Wednesday with two spectacular assemblies showcasing all the great talent here at St. Joe's. We also collaborated with Holy Trinity and St. Mother Teresa high schools for something a little different this year. The photos below showcase some of the performances.

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events

Week of Feb. 24 to 28

The Ottawa Catholic School Board received notice late this afternoon the Province and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) will return to the Central Bargaining Table on Monday, February 24, 2020.

And as such, OECTA is suspending its one-day full withdrawal of service scheduled for Tuesday, February 25, 2020. OCSB schools will be open.

Ottawa Student Transportation Authority - Bus Service

Buses will operate per usual.

Regular Programming Will Continue

All regular school day activities, Co-op, OYAP, Dual Credit, home instruction, extra-curricular activities, field trips, and clubs will be operational.

What About Child Care Programming?

Before and after school programs will be open. All Ottawa Catholic Child Care Corporation Toddler and Preschool programs and all EarlyOn Centres will be open and will operate according to their regular hours.

Parent Information

We will continue to monitor the progress of negotiations and provide regular labour updates through our website, social media channels and directly with families through School Messenger to keep you up-to-date regarding labour negotiations.https://www.ocsb.ca/labour/

Thank You

We thank you for your patience and understanding. This new development is good news for our students, families, teachers and the greater school community.

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, February 26: Ash Wednesday

Thursday, February 27: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews (early dismissal for all at 1:10 p.m.)

Parent Information Night at 7 p.m.

Monday, March 2: School Council Meeting at 7 p.m.

Week of Feb. 17 to 21

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Schools Closed Friday, February 21, 2020

You are receiving this email to make you aware all Ottawa Catholic School Board Schools (OCSB) will be closed next Friday, February 21, 2020, unless an agreement is reached between the Province and OECTA. The closure affects all OCSB Elementary, Intermediate and Secondary schools.

No Bus Service

There will be no bus or van transportation for Catholic students.

Why?

OECTA will join all teachers’ unions in Ontario in a province-wide, one-day withdrawal of services on Friday, February 21, 2020.

All Ottawa Catholic Schools will re-open on Monday, February 24, 2020.

What Else is Affected by the One-day Strike?

The one-day closure also includes all regular school day activities, Co-op, OYAP, Dual Credit, home instruction, extra-curricular activities, field trips, and clubs. OCSB Community Use of Schools programming is NOT affected by the one-day provincial strike.

What About Child Care Programming?

Before and after school programs will be cancelled for the day. However, all Ottawa Catholic Child Care Corporation Toddler and Preschool programs and all EarlyOn Centres will be open and will operate according to their regular hours. (A list showing the status of individual child care programs is posted on our Board website at https://www.ocsb.ca/labour.)

Government Reimbursement

Parents who wish to apply for government reimbursement for child care costs related to labour unrest may direct their questions to the Support for Parents Helpline at https://www.ontario.ca/page/education-contract-talks-stay-updated

Labour Updates

We will continue to monitor the progress of negotiations and provide regular labour updates through our website, social media channels and directly with families through School Messenger to keep you up-to-date regarding labour negotiations.https://www.ocsb.ca/labour/

Resolution

We remain hopeful a fair and respectful resolution will be reached at the Central Provincial bargaining table in the near future. I want to wish all of you, and the members of your families, a happy, memorable, restful and safe Family Day.

Sincerely,

Denise Andre

Director of Education

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, February 20: 7/8 Report Card Distribution

Tuesday, February 25: Parent Information Night @ 6 p.m.

Wednesday, February 26: Ash Wednesday

Thursday, February 27: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews (early dismissal for all at 1:10 p.m.)

Week of Feb. 10 to 14

EduTravel InfoNight

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events

Monday, February 17: Family Day

Wednesday, February 20: 7/8 Report Card Distribution

Tuesday, February 25: Parent Information Night @ 6 p.m.

Wednesday, February 26: Ash Wednesday

Thursday, February 27: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews (early dismissal for all at 1:10 p.m.)

Week of Feb. 3 to 7

All Ottawa Catholic School Board Schools (OCSB) will be closed on Tuesday, February 4, 2020. There will be no bus or van transportation for Catholic students on that day. The closure affects all OCSB Elementary, Intermediate and Secondary schools.

Why?

Today we received notice OECTA will take part in another, one day, province-wide, full withdrawal of services on Tuesday, February 4, 2020. All Ottawa Catholic Schools will re-open the next day, Wednesday, February 5, 2020.

What Else is Affected by the One-day Strike?

The one-day closure also includes all regular school day activities, Co-op, OYAP, dual credit, home instruction, extra-curricular activities, field trips, and clubs. The Community Use of Schools programming is NOT affected by the one-day provincial strike.

What About Child Care Programming?

Before and after school programs will be cancelled for the day. However, all Ottawa Catholic Child Care Corporation Toddler and Preschool programs and all EarlyOn Centres will be open and will operate according to their regular hours. (A list showing the status of individual child care programs is posted below.)

Government Reimbursement

Parents who wish to apply for government reimbursement for child care costs related to labour unrest may direct their questions to the Support for Parents Helpline at https://www.ontario.ca/page/education-contract-talks-stay-updated

Labour Updates

We will provide regular labour updates through our website, social media channels and via School Messenger to keep you up-to-date regarding labour negotiations.

Thank you

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we deal with labour disruptions. We remain hopeful the central bargaining table will reconvene and a resolution can be reached.

February is Black History Month. We have a number of student-led activities occurring at St. Joe's to recognize this important event. I will update the Blog with photos as things unfold. Here is a link to various events happening in the Ottawa area:

Black History Ottawa

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events

Monday, February 3: School Council Meeting @ 7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 12: High School Report Card Distribution

Monday, February 17: Family Day

Wednesday, February 20: 7/8 Report Card Distribution

Tuesday, February 25: Parent Information Night @ 6 p.m.

Wednesday, February 26: Ash Wednesday

Thursday, February 27: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews (early dismissal for all at 1:10 p.m.)

Snow Days and the Exam Schedule

High School exams will be written on January 23rd, 24th, 27th, and 28th. In the event of a snow day during the high school exam period, exam schedules at all schools for all students will be affected (not just for school bus riders).

In the event of a “snow day” where yellow school bus transportation is cancelled during the high school exam period, the missed exam will be written the following day.

All other exams will be bumped by one day and the last exam, scheduled for Tuesday, January 28th will be written on Wednesday, January 29th. During a snow day, the school will be open, but exams will not be written.

Friday, January 31st is a PD day with semester two beginning on Monday, February 3rd.

For example, if January 23rd is a snow day and all school bus transportation for our board is cancelled, then:

All exams originally scheduled for January 23rd will be written on January 24th.

All exams originally scheduled for January 24th will be written on January 27th.

All exams originally scheduled for January 27th will be written on January 28th.

All exams originally scheduled for January 28th will be written on January 29th.

Friday is a PD Day

Don't forget that Friday, Jan. 31 is a PD Day for all OCSB 7-12 schools, including St. Joe's; hence, there will by no school for students.

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events

Monday, February 3: School Council Meeting @ 7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 12: High School Report Card Distribution

Monday, February 17: Family Day

Wednesday, February 20: 7/8 Report Card Distribution

Tuesday, February 25: Parent Information Night @ 6 p.m.

Wednesday, February 26: Ash Wednesday

Thursday, February 27: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews (early dismissal for all at 1:10 p.m.)

Week of Jan. 20 to 24

Student Public Transit Feedback

Do you take public transit to school? We want to hear from you!

The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) is conducting an online survey to find out more about student trips using OC Transpo. If you are currently taking OC Transpo to get to and from school then please fill out the survey and share it with other students who also take public transit.

The survey can be found here: Student Public Transit Survey

Let your voice be heard, complete the survey by January 31, 2020

Background

Public Transportation is provided to 12,000 students from grade 7 to 12 at both OCDSB and OCSB schools. This anonymous survey will provide an opportunity to gauge students’ thoughts and impressions of OC Transpo in a structured way. Surveys collect valuable information and the survey results can be used to improve customer service and customer satisfaction.

For more information about OSTA please visit our website: www.ottawaschoolbus.ca.

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events

Thursday, January 23: High School Exams Begin

Friday, January 31: PA Day (no school for students)

Monday, February 3: School Council Meeting @ 7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 12: High School Report Card Distribution

Monday, February 17: Family Day

Wednesday, February 20: 7/8 Report Card Distribution

Tuesday, February 25: Parent Information Night @ 6 p.m.

Wednesday, February 26: Ash Wednesday

Thursday, February 27: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews (early dismissal for all at 1:10 p.m.)

Week of Jan. 13 to 17

Snow Days and the Exam Schedule

High School exams will be written on January 23rd, 24th, 27th, and 28th. In the event of a snow day during the high school exam period, exam schedules at all schools for all students will be affected (not just for school bus riders).

In the event of a “snow day” where yellow school bus transportation is cancelled during the high school exam period, the missed exam will be written the following day.

All other exams will be bumped by one day and the last exam, scheduled for Tuesday, January 28th will be written on Wednesday, January 29th. During a snow day, the school will be open, but exams will not be written.

Friday, January 31st is a PD day with semester two beginning on Monday, February 3rd.

For example, if January 23rd is a snow day and all school bus transportation for our board is cancelled, then:

All exams originally scheduled for January 23rd will be written on January 24th.

All exams originally scheduled for January 24th will be written on January 27th.

All exams originally scheduled for January 27th will be written on January 28th.

All exams originally scheduled for January 28th will be written on January 29th.

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events

Thursday, January 23: High School Exams Begin

Friday, January 31: PA Day (no school for students)

Monday, February 3: School Council Meeting @ 7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 12: High School Report Card Distribution

Monday, February 17: Family Day

Wednesday, February 20: 7/8 Report Card Distribution

Tuesday, February 25: Parent Information Night @ 6 p.m.

Wednesday, February 26: Ash Wednesday

Thursday, February 27: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews (early dismissal for all at 1:10 p.m.)

Week of Jan. 6 to 10

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events

Thursday, January 23: High School Exams Begin

Friday, January 31: PA Day (no school for students)

Monday, February 3: School Council Meeting @ 7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 12: High School Report Card Distribution

Monday, February 17: Family Day

Wednesday, February 20: 7/8 Report Card Distribution

Tuesday, February 25: Parent Information Night @ 6 p.m.

Wednesday, February 26: Ash Wednesday

Thursday, February 27: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews (early dismissal for all at 1:10 p.m.)

Week of Dec. 16 to 20

College and University Application Deadlines

Deadlines for college and university applications are coming soon for our graduating students. The deadline for Ontario universities is January 15th, and for Ontario colleges it is February 1st. If students need help with their application, or have any questions, they are encouraged to see their Guidance Counsellor. For Ontario universities the application can be found at ouac.on.ca and for Ontario colleges at ontariocolleges.ca.

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Monday, January 6: First Day Back after Christmas Break

Week of Dec. 9 to 13

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Wednesday, December 11: Advent Liturgy

Friday, December 20: Last Day of School Prior to Christmas Break

Week of Dec. 2 to 6

The Afro-Caribbean Mentorship Program

The Afro-Caribbean Mentorship Program (ACMP) is an initiative dedicated to supporting the success of African, Caribbean, Black (ACB) and other racialized undergraduate and graduate students on campus, while encouraging them to be confident members in our Ottawa community. The ACMP is looking to provide opportunities for our Ottawa Catholic School Board high school students. Please see the following resources for additional information:

Information Letter

Flyer/Poster

Mentorship Program Information

EduTravel Partnership

The OCSB is excited to partner with EduTravel to provide exciting summer travel learning opportunities this year. These programs embed learning into travel experiences while students work on relevant assessments that meet the course expectations and earn credits.

In this pilot year, we are thrilled to introduce Civics and Careers travelling to Toronto and New York as well as ENG3U and ENG4U touring through England. There are bursary funds available for these programs, as the goal is to create an accessible and equitable opportunity for all students in the school board.

For more information and links please see this document.

St. Joe's Away Game Schedule

St. Joe's Home Game Schedule

Make a Wish Foundation Information

Bank Card Scam

Our Board has recommended parents read the following article about a bank card scam that is targetting high school students. Please have a look at the following link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NoZdKcjKrloz1_9000bFhUT-qFs3e0WxGMfhl35kTYY/edit?usp=sharing

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Monday, December 2: School Council Meeting at 7 p.m. in the Learning Commons

Wednesday, December 11: Advent Liturgy

Friday, December 20: Last Day of School Prior to Christmas Break

Week of Nov. 25 to 29

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Monday, December 2: School Council Meeting at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, December 11: Advent Liturgy

Friday, December 20: Last Day of School Prior to Christmas Break

Week of Nov. 18 to Nov. 22

Kindness /Anti-Bullying Week Activities: November 18-22nd, 2019

*Throughout the week prayer will be focused on Kindness and being kind to ourselves*

Monday

-Choose Kindness Day

-Today’s Challenge: Purposely choose to be kind, today and every day!

-Morning Announcement introducing Kindness Week

-Music and prayer focusing on kindness

-Kindness Pledge in the Atrium at lunch

-Teachers, Administration, and all other Staff Members to start handing out "I Caught you Caring" tickets to students and colleagues.

Tuesday

-A Little Means A LOT Day!

-Today’s Challenge: A small gesture goes a long way. Smile at someone, open a door, and just check in with those around you to make sure they are okay!

-Morning Announcement

-Music and Prayer focused on being kind to others

-Period 2 (HS) and Period 3 (7/8) School Wide Kindness/Anti-Bullying Lesson Plan

-Peer Mentors to post Kindness Post It Notes around the school.

Wednesday

-Battle Bullying Day: Wear Blue to battle against Bullying!

-Today’s Challenge: Be Mindful of how you treat others, online and in person. If you witness bullying - STOP IT!

-Morning Announcement

-Music and prayer focusing on being kind

Thursday

-Random Acts of Kindness Day

-Today’s Challenge: Do Something Nice for Someone - bring a treat for someone, write them a kind note, post a positive message to someone on social media.

-Morning Announcement

-Music and prayer focusing on being kind

-Kindness Kringle Day for Staff

-Kindness Deposit Activity in the Caf during both lunches

-“I Caught You Caring” lists of students to be returned to Student Services by teachers.

Friday

-Be Kind To Yourself Day!

-Today’s Challenge: Treat yourself today- go for a walk, get your nails done, do something that you love!

-Staff Jean’s Day (being kind to ourselves!) - money raised will support a family in our school community

-Morning Announcement

-Music and prayer focusing on being kind to yourself

-LINK Team to hand out Kindness Cards

-I Caught You Caring Draw will be done

Parking

Due to ongoing construction, parking at St. Joe's is extremely limited, to the point where student parking passes will only be distributed to those most in need (e.g. cross-boundary students not eligible for school bus transportation, co-op students who need vehicles to travel to a workplace assignment, etc.). Parking pass distribution to students will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Students who feel they have a strong case for a parking pass are encouraged to see their vice-principal. Please note that previously issued parking passes are invalid.

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Tuesday, November 19: Coffee House at 6:00 p.m.

Monday, December 2: School Council Meeting at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, December 11: Advent Liturgy

Friday, December 20: Last Day of School Prior to Christmas Break

Week of Nov. 11 to Nov. 15

PD Day on Nov. 15 and Early Dismissal on Nov. 14

Don't forget that there is no school for students on Friday, Nov. 15 as this is a Professional Development day in all OCSB schools. Also, please remember that all grades dismiss early, at 1:10 p.m., on Thursday, Nov. 14. This is to facilitate grade 7/8 parent-teacher interviews.

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Tuesday, November 19: Coffee House at 6:00 p.m.

Monday, December 2: School Council Meeting at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, December 11: Advent Liturgy

Friday, December 20: Last Day of School Prior to Christmas Break

Week of Nov. 4 to Nov. 8

Dental Screening

Nadia Al-Zubaidi, a registered dental hygienist with Ottawa Public Health, will provide a dental screening using a tongue depressor on November 13, 2019 for 3 classes of grade 7 and other children as necessary. If your child’s grade is not selected, but you wish for the dental hygienist to see him/her, please advise the school. All children screened will bring home a report. Follow-up school visits by the dental hygienist for individual children may be done. The screening helps identify children with oral problems, dental needs and pain. Free dental care may be possible, if eligible. THE SCREENING DOES NOT REPLACE REGULAR DENTAL VISITS WITH YOUR FAMILY DENTIST.

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Monday, November 4: School Council Meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Monday, November 11: Remembrance Day Assembly

Thursday, November 14: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews

Friday, November 15: PD Day (no school for students)

Tuesday, November 19: Coffee House at 6:00 p.m.

Week of Oct. 28 to Nov. 1

Dual Credit Program

If your son/daughter is currently in Grade 11 or 12 and thinking about going to College, University, starting an apprenticeship or just not sure what they want to do once they graduate high school then this is the opportunity for them. The Dual Credit Program is an amazing opportunity for students to take college courses while they are still attending High School. There are many different courses to choose from ranging from various trades, business, child development, law, culinary arts, etc. This program allows one to acquire a high school and college credit at no cost. Applications for the Algonquin Dual Credit program will be open from Mon. Oct 21 until Fri. Nov 8. If your son or daughter is interested in getting more information and has not already filled out an application please drop by Student Services. Students who are currently in a Dual Credit course can also apply for the second semester. If you have any questions please call the school and ask to speak with Ms Mastrogiacomo. Thank-you.

Here is the link to the courses offered for the Winter session. http://www.algonquincollege.com/ap/courses/#winter

Take Our Kids to Work Day

This is a message for parents/guardians of students in Grade 9.

Grade 9 students have the opportunity to participate in TAKE OUR KIDS TO WORK Day on Wednesday, November 6^th, 2019. This is an opportunity for students to spend the day at the workplace of a parent, guardian or family friend, in order to gain knowledge about the world of work and to raise awareness, understanding and respect for the value of work and its importance in daily family life. Grade 9 students from across Canada will participate in this initiative.

Students will receive information and permission forms shortly in order to have time to plan with family members. It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to help find their child a placement.

For more information please visit: https://www.thelearningpartnership.ca/events/take-our-kids-to-work-day/parents-and-guardians

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Friday, November 1: 7/8 Progress Reports Distributed

Monday, November 4: School Council Meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Monday, November 11: Remembrance Day Assembly

Thursday, November 14: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews

Friday, November 15: PD Day (no school for students)

Tuesday, November 19: Coffee House at 6:00 p.m.

Week of Oct. 21 to 25

Our Golf Team Competing in Windsor at OFSAA

Home Game Sports' Schedule (see below)

Away Game Sports' Schedule (see below)

Purchasing Options for Student Technology

As we continue the implementation of Deep Learning across the Board, and increasingly seek out opportunities to leverage digital to support learning, access to enough devices in each classroom is sometimes an issue. Our Board has been investing in technology for many years and will continue to do so, but the demand is rapidly increasing as students are starting to do more and more of their schoolwork online using the collaborative tools available.

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is a strategy that has been successfully implemented in many of our schools to help support student access to technology. Many families are seeking advice as they consider purchasing a device for their child to use both at home and at school over the next few years. As a result, we have been working with Staples Canada to provide OCSB families with access to an online portal where they can find information and pricing on a few models of Chromebooks that have been specifically recommended by our Learning Technologies Department. These recommended devices are the same durable machines we are using in classrooms, with full keyboards, cameras and touchscreens that also flip over to act as a tablet and were not previously available from Staples.

Information regarding Technology use from Our Board

At the Ottawa Catholic School Board, we believe that it is our shared responsibility as educators and parents/guardians to ensure that students are equipped to behave as responsible Digital Citizens in an increasingly complex digital world. It is likely that starting in their elementary years, many children have already gained access to the internet, perhaps even outside of the home or the classroom, in an unsupervised environment, such as through a friend’s phone.

Staff at OCSB work diligently with students each year to ensure that they are using digital tools in appropriate, productive and responsible ways to support their learning. Our Board has developed a series of age-appropriate lessons for each grade level from Kindergarten to Grade 12 through the Samaritans on the Digital Road program. This curriculum is designed to develop students’ understanding that their citizenship and efforts to live gospel values extends to their presence in the digital world.

Please take the time to visit the Samaritans on the Digital Road website at samaritans.ocsb.ca where you can find the curriculum as well as additional resources for parents/guardians to support their journey along the “Digital Road.” Look for an Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement to be sent home before the end of September. Please review it carefully with your son/daughter before signing it and returning it to school.

Not Accepting Cash for Payments

St. Joe's does not accept cash as a form of payment for everything from student fees to field trips. The only time we will accept cash is for small purchases like purchasing a slice of pizza after school, or paying for a bake sale. We have an excellent system in our Board called cash online that accepts credit cards, or e-cheque as payment methods, and we want our school community to take full advantage of this easy to use option. Having large amounts of cash in the classroom, in the office and when it is in transit is more susceptible to fraud and loss. If parents do not wish to use the cash online service, we accept a personal cheque as a form of payment.

Please Register for Online Payments

There are 3 easy steps to register for Cash Online:

Step 1: Go to the website https://ocsb.schoolcashonline.com

Step 2: Register by selecting the “Get Started Now” and follow the steps

Step 3: After you receive the confirmation email, please select the ‘click here’ option, sign in and add each of your children attending St. Joe's to your account.

Photo Re-Takes on Wednesday:

If you require a photo retake on Wednesday you MUST return your original photo package to the photographer in exchange for a retake photo and new photo package. Please note there are no retakes for student ID cards only. If you missed the original picture day and have not had your picture taken, you must do so for the yearbook and your student ID card at no charge. If you wish to purchase a photo package you may bring payment to the photographer on retake day or place an order online

Additional photo day advertising support tools can be found on our website at www.edgeimaging.ca/schooladmin

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Tuesday, October 22: High School Awards Assembly

Wednesday, October 23: Student Photo Re-take Day

Wednesday, October 30: Fright Night 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Thursday, October 31: 7/8 Progress Reports Distributed

Monday, October 28: Graduation Photos

Monday, November 4: School Council Meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Monday, November 11: Remembrance Day Assembly

Thursday, November 14: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews

Friday, November 15: PD Day (no school for students)

Tuesday, November 19: Coffee House at 6:00 p.m.

Week of Oct. 14 to 18

Early Dismissal on Thursday

Don't forget that this Thursday (Nov. 17) we dismiss one-hour early, at 1:10 p.m. This is to accommodate high school parent-teacher interviews, which run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Tuesday, October 15: IEP's Distributed

Thursday, October 17: High School Parent-Teacher Interviews

Tuesday, October 22: High School Awards Assembly

Wednesday, October 23: Student Photo Re-take Day

Thursday, October 31: 7/8 Progress Reports Distributed

Monday, October 28: Graduation Photos

Monday, November 11: Remembrance Day Assembly

Thursday, November 14: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews

Friday, November 15: PD Day (no school for students)

Week of Oct. 8 to 11

Possible Strike by CUPE Workers

As you likely know, should there be a CUPE strike, all Ottawa Catholic Schools will close. Negotiations are to begin at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and will continue throughout the weekend; hence, a decision on whether there is a strike or not could be very last-minute. Please continue to monitor our Board website (ocsb.ca) and media for the latest updates. For now, let us all pray that a fair and equitable negotiated settlement results for all involved.

Home Game Athletic Schedule

Away Game Athletic Schedule

Upcoming Information Sessions for Parents

The Catholic School Parents’ Association (CSPA) sponsors several free information sessions for parents throughout the year.

School Council Tip Night & Social

Get set for the best year your School Council has ever had! Come out and join us for a fun night of learning all about School Council. Hear from OCSB staff, mingle and share successes, concerns and tips with fellow School Councils, and so much more. Illuminate your School Council! Register today: http://bit.ly/CSPATIPNIGHTSOCIAL2019.

Thursday, October 17

7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

St. Mother Teresa High School

440 Longfields Drive, Nepean

Other upcoming sessions scheduled for November include:

- Special Education and Your Child: Workshops for parents of children with special needs - Wednesday, November 6, 2019

- Raising Children in a Digital World - Tuesday, November 19, 2019

For the most current list of upcoming parent events, click the Information Sessions for Parents button on the sidebar of any school website.

Christian Community Day

On Friday staff will gather at the Shaw Centre for Christian Community Day. We will listen to our Director of Education outline Board goals and we will celebrate mass with our most Reverend Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J. We will also hear stories of student success from the many schools that make up our OCSB family. If previous years are any indication, I anticipate this will be a fulfilling day and experience for all.

A reminder that this day, Friday, October 11, is a Professional Development Day; therefore, there is no school for students.

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Thursday, October 10: High School Letters of Early Intervention Distributed

Friday, October 11: PD Day

Tuesday, October 15: IEP's Distributed

Thursday, October 17: High School Parent-Teacher Interviews

Tuesday, October 22: High School Awards Assembly

Wednesday, October 23: Student Photo Re-take Day

Thursday, October 31: 7/8 Progress Reports Distributed

Monday, October 28: Graduation Photos

Monday, November 11: Remembrance Day Assembly

Thursday, November 14: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews

Friday, November 15: PD Day (no school for students)

Week of Sept. 30 to Oct. 4

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Wednesday, October 2: Opening Masses

Thursday, October 10: High School Letters of Early Intervention Distributed

Friday, October 11: PD Day

Tuesday, October 15: IEP's Distributed

Thursday, October 17: High School Parent-Teacher Interviews

Tuesday, October 22: High School Awards Assembly

Wednesday, October 23: Student Photo Re-take Day

Thursday, October 31: 7/8 Progress Reports Distributed

Monday, October 28: Graduation Photos

Thursday, November 14: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews

Week of Sept. 23 to 27

School Messenger App

We recently informed our school community that our school would soon begin using the SchoolMessenger communication platform. The advantage of SchoolMessenger over our current platform is that SchoolMessenger allows parents to select their contact preferences (contact by phone, email, or both) for each of the following different types of messages: Emergency messages, Attendance messages, General messages, Teacher to Parent messages, and School to Student messages.

There is also a free SchoolMessenger App available for both iOS and Android based phones which enables you to receive notifications of school messages as well as set your contact preferences for each kind of message.

What parents need to do:

Please click the following link and follow the instructions in the School Messenger Parent Account User Guide to create your parent account and choose your contact preferences (contact by phone, email, or both) for each message type. This link can also be accessed by copying and pasting the following URL into your browser: http://bit.ly/smParentGuide

The School Messenger Parent FAQ provides more information about School Messenger. This link can also be accessed by copying and pasting the following URL into your browser: http://bit.ly/smParentFAQ

EQAO Webcasts

EQAO Webcasts in Fall 2019: EQAO is providing a series of professional learning webcasts parents. Please distribute to your parent community.

Webcasts for Parents/ Guardians

EQAO & School Councils: Working Together to Support Students’ Learning Journey,

October 1, 2019 7:30 – 8:30 pm - Register here

October 2, 2019 7:30 – 8:30 pm - Register here

OCSB Connect

OCSBconnect is a service that allows Grade 7 to 12 students to submit anonymous tips on incidents of bullying, student safety, and crime to school staff by phone, text, or mobile app.

This service, which was requested by our students, strives to make our schools safer and more welcoming by providing students with a tool that allows them to report bullying incidents without putting their own safety at risk.

For help or to share anonymous tips on bullying and crime, text or call: 613-604-9766

(standard text messaging rates apply) Download the free OCSBconnect App from iTunes or the Android store.

For more information visit the OCSB website at: http://ocsb.ca/connect/

Rowan's Law Day this Wednesday

In March of 2018, the Ontario government passed a law known as Rowan’s Law. Designed to protect athletes and

to educate parents/guardians, coaches and officials about the dangers of head injuries, it is the first law of its kind

in Canada and will benefit both athletes and non-athletes.

Rowan’s Law is also about education. By increasing concussion awareness and knowledge, we can change

Ontario’s culture around sports, physical activity and injury. Rowan’s Law will make it easier for those who

experience concussions to SPEAK UP, get the help they need, and take the time necessary for recovery, with the

support of everyone around them. At St.Joe's, we have a full concussion protocol in place and will continue to build concussion awareness into our culture.

Spirit Week and Jag Jog

This is the week that our annual Jag Jog takes place as well as Spirit Week. We have some theme days coming up, and our Student Council has some activities planned for lunch hours. We encourage all of our students to participate in this awesome week!

Monday - PJ Day

Tuesday - Jersey Day

Wednesday - Denim Day

Thursday - Jag Jog

Friday - Preppy Friday

School Council Meeting

We had a great turnout at our School Council Meeting two Mondays ago. Congratulations to our newly-elected Executive: Charlene Knight, Chair; Suzanne Rogers, Vice-Chair; John Svab, Treasurer; Adrienne O'Reilly-Angus, Secretary; Traci Clarke, CSPA Rep.; and Jennifer Harris, Parish Rep.

Orange Shirt Day

We will be commemorating Orange Shirt Day on Monday, Sept. 30. Orange Shirt Day is an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools, and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come. Students are encouraged to wear something orange on this day. For more information, please access the following:

http://www.orangeshirtday.org/

Leadership Camp

Our student leaders spent Wednesday through Friday at our annual Leadership Camp, held at Red Pine Camp on Golden Lake. Students took part in many team-building events and leadership opportunities. Given all the ideas generated, it's going to be a very exciting year this year at St. Joe's.

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Wednesday, October 2: Opening Masses

Thursday, October 10: High School Letters of Early Intervention Distributed

Friday, October 11: PD Day

Tuesday, October 15: IEP's Distributed

Thursday, October 17: High School Parent-Teacher Interviews

Tuesday, October 22: High School Awards Assembly

Wednesday, October 23: Student Photo Re-take Day

Thursday, October 31: 7/8 Progress Reports Distributed

Monday, October 28: Graduation Photos

Thursday, November 14: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews

Week of Sept. 16 to 20

Meet the Staff Night

We had a large turnout for our Meet the Staff Night last Thursday. It was great to meet so many members of our community taking an interest in all that we do here. I was informed that things moved faster than last year, partially because our meeting night took place on the first week of school. We will continue this practice next year.

Jag Jog

Our annual Jag Jog fundraiser, with a percentage donated to the Canadian Cancer Society in honour of Terry Fox, is well under way. We had a great kick-off assembly on Wednesday and my office is full of great prizes that students can win. The Jag-Jog takes place on Thurs. Sept. 26. We are asking students to collect $20, which gets them a t-shirt and participation in a barbecue. The Jag Jog is always an awesome day at St. Joe's and this year will be no exception. Jog, Jags, Jog!!!

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

September 18-20: Leadership Camp

Thursday, September 26: Jag-Jog

Monday, September 30: Orange Shirt Day

Wednesday, October 2: Opening Masses

Thursday, October 10: High School Letters of Early Intervention Distributed

Friday, October 11: PD Day

Tuesday, October 15: IEP's Distributed

Thursday, October 17: High School Parent-Teacher Interviews

Tuesday, October 22: High School Awards Assembly

Wednesday, October 23: Student Photo Re-take Day

Thursday, October 31: 7/8 Progress Reports Distributed

Monday, October 28: Graduation Photos

Thursday, November 14: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews

Week of Sept. 9 to 13

Opening Week

We had a great opening week at St. Joe's. Our assemblies gave us an opportunity to speak to students about various things grade-related (eg. grade 9 and 10 EQAO), rules of the school to keep things running smoothly, and some self-regulation strategies and tips if students feel overwhelmed, stressed, or alone. We have a strong tradition at St. Joe's of demonstrating care and concern for each other. This doesn’t happen by accident - we need to continually review our approaches and make sure we are all content both in and outside the classroom.

School Council

Don't forget that our first general meeting of the St. Joe's School Council will take place on Monday, September 9th at 7:00pm in the school Learning Commons (library). We hope to see many new parents at our meeting. If you are interested in running for a position on the Council, you may review the information required in the following forms and send the information required in an email to St. Joseph High School (Joseph.High@ocsb.ca)

School Council Parent Nomination FormSchool Council Parent Self-Nomination Form

School Photo Day

Wednesday, September 11 is our school photo day. Information for ordering pictures will come home ahead of this date. Students are reminded that even if you aren’t ordering pictures, your photo is required for student identification as well as our yearbook. Edge Imaging provides a variety of photo options to capture your child's true personality, preserving all their school day memories.

40 hours of Community Service

Since 1999, the Ministry of Education has required all students to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities as part of the requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) (As stated in Ontario Secondary Schools, Grades 9 to 12: Program and Diploma Requirements, 1999).

The purpose of the community involvement requirement is to encourage students to develop awareness and understanding of civic responsibility and of the role they can play and the contributions they can make in supporting and strengthening their communities. The Ottawa Catholic School Board has always encouraged this community service to take place in the Parish, School, or wider community. There is a list on the back of the Community Service form that all students complete that highlights many of the eligible activities that students may complete to fulfill this graduation requirement.

When the expectation around community service was introduced by the Ministry of Education, they developed a list of activities that may not be chosen as community involvement activities and that are therefore ineligible activities. Included as part of that list of those expectations outlined by the Ministry is an activity “that would normally be performed for wages by a person in the workplace”. As your son/daughter works toward this graduation activity, we would encourage them to review the list of accepted activities to ensure they are meeting the proper requirements.

Student Class Organization

The student services departments as well as school administrations at both St. Joe's and our Elementary schools begin the discussion around student organizing in classes beginning in May of the previous school year. Many factors are taken into account, including French programming and blending classes, specific student needs, gender balance, etc. Considerable time and valued teacher input have been invested in developing grade 7 and 8 class lists for the 2019-2020 school year. We ask that you please respect this planning process.

Tech at St. Joe's: BYOD and School Chromebooks

• All students have Board-issued gmail accounts. Students should use this account for all school-related activities.
• Students are encouraged to bring technology to assist in learning.
• Phones are good for some activities, like photos or quick searches, but keyboarded devices are much better for essays, notes, etc.
• We love Chromebooks at St. Joe's because their batteries last all day!
• We do have Chromebooks available in the learning commons and in classrooms, but it's so much better if you don’t have to share! Think about this when making up Birthday and Christmas lists!

Jag Jog

Our annual Jag Jog fundraiser, with a percentage donated to the Canadian Cancer Society in honour of Terry Fox, takes place on Thurs. Sept. 26. We are asking students to collect $20, which gets them a t-shirt and participation in a barbecue. The Jag Jog is always an awesome day at St. Joe's and this year will be no exception. Please participate!

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Wednesday, September 11: Student Photo Day

September 18-20: Leadership Camp

Thursday, September 26: Jag-Jog

Monday, September 30: Orange Shirt Day

Wednesday, October 2: Opening Masses

Thursday, October 10: High School Letters of Early Intervention Distributed

Friday, October 11: PD Day

Tuesday, October 15: IEP's Distributed

Thursday, October 17: High School Parent-Teacher Interviews

Wednesday, October 23: Student Photo Re-take Day

Thursday, October 31: 7/8 Progress Reports Distributed

Monday, October 28: Graduation Photos

Thursday, November 14: 7/8 Parent-Teacher Interviews

Week of Sept. 3 to 6

Meet the Staff Evening

Our Meet the Staff Evening will take place Thursday, September 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Principal Don Murphy will speak to our community at 6:30 p.m. in the Cafetorium. Then, parents/guardians will have the opportunity to meet their son's/daughter's teachers. We hope you can join us!

Construction Update

The construction of our 30-room, three floor addition and gymnasium will soon be underway. We are so grateful to the Ministry of Eduction for funding this much needed addition. Essentially, to prepare for the additon construction, existing portables have been moved further back from where they once were and five others have been added due to our growing student population, bringing the total number of portables to 27. The movement of portables will not affect the use of our main sportsfield and track. Once the fire lane and bus loop have been reconfigured, "shovels in the ground" for the actual addition will begin in November, with construction of the gymnasium starting in the Spring. The entire project is to be complete and ready for occupancy in February, 2021. We are so excited to see this undertaking commence. I will continue to inform our community about construction updates via this Blog. Stay tuned for more information.

Link to Student Policies

To view our Student Policy document, please access:

docs.google.com/document/d/1OgNL0kikE59EFHhAoSJAZEjhm6_iWFVyb-cGhcKm7js/edit?usp=sharing

Grade Level Assemblies

Our opening assemblies will take place on Wednesday and Thursday. Here, our school administration team and student services personnel will review expectations and provide direction for support if students should find themselves in need of assistance. We will also hear from our student co-presidents, Sasha Rogers and Dan Nguyen. Ultimately, we are a community of faith at St. Joseph Catholic High School and want to ensure we are reaching out and helping those who are in need so no one finds themselves alone in our school.

Opening Day Procedures

1. Students are to report to the following:

Grade 7 - Cafeteria

Grade 8 - Alpha List located across from main entrance to Cafeteria

Grade 9-12 - Alpha List will be posted in atrium indicating homeroom location

2. This will be a regular DAY 1 with regular times for grades 9-12. Grade 7’s and 8’s will follow this timetable so they can have extra time to locate buses at the end of the day:

HR/P1 - 8:00 - 9:45

P2 - 9:50 - 10:30

P3 - 10:35 - 11:15

P4 - 11:20 - 12:00

Lunch - 12:00 - 12:45

P5 - 12:45 - 1:25

P6 - 1:30 - 2:00

3. TIMETABLES – Gr. 9-12 – Course changes will not be permitted during the first week as Student Services are dealing with new registrants, incomplete schedules, and students needing pre-requisite courses; hence, students are to be present in all courses scheduled on their timetable.

Technology use from the OCSB

At the Ottawa Catholic School Board, we believe that it is our shared responsibility as educators and parents/guardians to ensure that students are equipped to behave as responsible Digital Citizens in an increasingly complex digital world. It is likely that starting in their elementary years, many children have already gained access to the internet, perhaps even outside of the home or the classroom, in an unsupervised environment, such as through a friend’s phone.

Staff at OCSB work diligently with students each year to ensure that they are using digital tools in appropriate, productive and responsible ways to support their learning. Our Board has developed a series of age-appropriate lessons for each grade level from Kindergarten to Grade 12 through the Samaritans on the Digital Road program. This curriculum is designed to develop students’ understanding that their citizenship and efforts to live gospel values extends to their presence in the digital world.

Please take the time to visit the Samaritans on the Digital Road website at samaritans.ocsb.ca where you can find the curriculum as well as additional resources for parents/guardians to support their journey along the “Digital Road.” Look for an Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement to be sent home before the end of September. Please review it carefully with your son/daughter before signing it and returning it to school.

Volunteers in Schools

Beginning September 2018, the majority of volunteers working with students in the OCSB must complete a vulnerable sector check (VSC). Here is a link to the revised OCSB criminal record check policy for more information. Applying online is simple and, upon presentation of a receipt, free (the school will reimburse). Please speak with me if you need further information.

Student Fees

At St. Joseph High School, we collect a student fee ($30 or $50/family) to augment some of the program, club and activity costs that support student involvement outside of the classroom. The school uses fees for such things as:

• school clubs
• school teams
• academic and athletic awards
• leadership camp
• social justice initiatives
• guest speakers and school-wide presentations

Student Class Organization

The Student Services Departments as well as school administrations at both St. Joe's and our elementary schools begin the discussion around student organizing in classes beginning in May of the previous school year. Many factors are taken into account, including French programming and blending classes, specific student needs, gender balance, etc. Considerable time and valued teacher input have been invested in developing grade 7 and 8 class lists for the 2019-2020 school. We ask that you please respect this planning process. Student homerooms will not be changed to accommodate friend requests.

40 Hours of Community Service

Since 1999, the Ministry of Education has required all students to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities as part of the requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) (As stated in Ontario Secondary Schools, Grades 9 to 12: Program and Diploma Requirements, 1999).

The purpose of the community involvement requirement is to encourage students to develop awareness and understanding of civic responsibility and of the role they can play and the contributions they can make in supporting and strengthening their communities. The Ottawa Catholic School Board has always encouraged this community service to take place in the Parish, School, or wider community. There is a list on the back of the Community Service form that all students complete that highlights many of the eligible activities that students may complete to fulfill this graduation requirement.

When the expectation around community service was introduced by the Ministry of Education, they developed a list of activities that may not be chosen as community involvement activities and that are therefore ineligible activities. Included as part of that list of those expectations outlined by the Ministry is an activity “that would normally be performed for wages by a person in the workplace”. As your son/daughter works toward this graduation activity, we would encourage them to review the list of accepted activities to ensure they are meeting the proper requirements.

CANImmunize App

Keep kids in school with the CANImmunize App - CANImmunize is a digital tool for Canadians that securely stores your vaccination records and helps you get vaccinated on time. Avoid school suspensions with vaccination reporting to Ottawa Public Health. Visit https://www.canimmunize.ca/en/home for more information.

Partnership with STAPLES Canada for Chromebooks

Over the last ten years, the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) has made significant investments to ensure our students and staff have access to a variety current technologies. The use of technology to support learning remains a key priority to ensure that students are equipped with the skills to flourish in an increasingly digital world. Chromebooks have proven to be versatile, reliable, and affordable digital tools in the classroom.

As students have engaged more with the technology that is available in their classrooms, many families have expressed interest in purchasing a device for their child to use at school and at home. Many parents have reached out, seeking advice about which technology would best support their child’s learning, is reasonably priced, yet durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of daily use as it’s transported back and forth to school each day.

Three Chromebook Options for Students

We have been working with STAPLES Canada to provide three good Chromebook options that families can choose to purchase at a STAPLES store or online. These three models are the same devices that are currently used in schools. Each is a rugged commercial-grade Chromebook, with a full keyboard and touchscreen (and some that fold over to also act as a tablet with a pen). Each of these devices will support your child’s school work, including the use of their @ocsbstudent.ca Google account and all related educational applications they are already use at school.

Read more in the Joint News Release | OCSB partners with Staples Canada to help bring technology devices for learning to the home and school.

School Council

The first general meeting of the St. Joe's School Council will take place on Monday, September 9th at 7:00pm in the school Learning Commons (library). We hope to see many new parents at our meeting. If you are interested in running for a position on the Council, you may review the information required in the following forms and send the information required in an email to St. Joseph High School (Joseph.High@ocsb.ca)

School Council Parent Nomination FormSchool Council Parent Self-Nomination Form

Busing

Student transportation information is now available on the OSTA Parent Web Portal https://ostabusplanner.ottawaschoolbus.ca/StudentLogin.aspx Please re-verify transportation information the week prior to school start-up as stop timings may have changed.

If you are interested in a driving career with OSTA, or if you know someone who would be interested, please access the following link:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzELt9DUqpAUdGNLdlh2ZFNCdGp3U3hTTXRYQWY2ZjhBSGFZ

Transportation for Students in a Joint Custody Arrangement and Having Two Homes

OSTA has developed a new policy & procedure to deliver transportation services to students in a joint custody arrangement and having two homes. An application process and other requirements need to be met for parents to receive this service, and the homes in question must meet all other eligibility requirements. The deadline for new applications or changes to existing applications for September start up transportation was June 1. All other applications will be reviewed after September 15, and prior to October 1. More information can be found on the OSTA website:

http://www.ottawaschoolbus.ca/policies-procedures/variable-transportation-for-students-in-a-joint-custody-arrangement-and-having-two-homes-copy/

Applications for Seat Availability

Students who had been approved to access service under the Seat Availability provision for 2018-19 will need to re-apply for service for the 2019-20 school year. The “Application for Access to Empty Seats on School Bus Vehicles” form is available on the OSTA website at http://www.ottawaschoolbus.ca/policies-procedures/empty-seat-seat-availability-provision-2/ and should be sent to OSTA directly. All applications will be reviewed and seats assigned after October 1. We ask that parents and school staff NOT put students on the bus prior to assignment to a bus route, for the students’ own safety.

Contact Information

I can be reached personally at don.murphy@ocsb.ca. The school's general mailbox address is Joseph.High@ocsb.ca. Our OCSB Trustee is Spencer Warren who can be reached at spencer.warren@ocsb.ca

Have a great week!

Don Murphy, Principal

Upcoming Events (not mentioned above)

Thursday, September 26: Jag-Jog