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7/8 Student Announcements

HS Student Announcements

As we begin High School Semester 2, we are excited to welcome students back into new courses, fresh learning opportunities, and a renewed sense of momentum for the second half of the school year.

February is also Black History Month, a time to recognize and honour the histories, contributions, and ongoing impact of Black individuals and communities, and to celebrate Black culture and accomplishments within Canada and beyond.

In addition, our Grade 7/8 students will take part in Winter Activity Day on February 5, enjoying a well-earned break and the opportunity to connect with peers through their choice of skiing, bowling, or a movie outing.

Course Change Requests for Semester 2

Course changes must be requested by the end of the first week of school (Feb. 6th) in Semester 2 and must be pathway related. Students in Gr. 9 may not make course changes and students in Gr. 10 may not change electives. Students may request a timetable change through the my.studentinfo.ca application. Students must follow their current timetable and attend all classes until a notification of a change is received from Student Services.

Course Selection for 2026-27 Opens Soon!

Course selection for the 2026-27 school year will open on February 9th and is due on March 1st for students in Gr. 8-11. Students will select courses through their myBlueprint accounts as in previous years. Please see these documents for information on the course selection process as well for some helpful links to the different programs that our school offers:

Course Selection Information for Current Gr. 8s at St. Francis Xavier HS for 2026-27

Course Selection Information for Current Gr. 9-11s at St. Francis Xavier HS for 2026-27

Grad Awards

Graduating Students are invited to apply to the graduation awards offered by our school, school board and local community organizations at this time. Applications are due by March 22nd. Please see this link on the stfxgrads.com webpage for the award descriptions and application links.

Parent Information Night is February 11th

Parents and students are invited to our Parent Information Night on Wednesday, January 11th. School tours will be available as well as an opportunity to learn about programming in Gr. 7 and Gr. 9-12.

Parent Information Night Schedule

5:15-6:00 PM - Ongoing tours for new families entering into Gr. 7 in September, 2026

6:00 PM - Parent presentation for new families entering into Gr. 7 in September, 2026

6:00 PM - Parent presentation for parents of multilingual learners entering into Gr. 9-12

6:15-7:00 PM - Ongoing tours for new families entering into Gr. 9-12 in September, 2026

7:00 PM - Gr. 8-12 Course Selection Information Presentation

Grad Photo Retakes:

Grad photo retakes will take place from February 3rd - 4th by appointment only in the Learning Commons. To book an appointment go to bookmygrad.ca, select “Book graduation photos at your school”, and use the school code FXH.

You can book an initial appointment.
You can book a retake.
You can book a FREE appointment just for the yearbook (not needed if you have another appointment type!)

Book early as appointment time slots fill up quickly!

Students should dress semi-formally, and if they are wearing a button-down shirt, white is suggested. Not sure what to expect - check out this VIDEO

Yearbooks

Don’t Miss Out on your 2025-2026 Yearbook Orders! The deadline to guarantee your student a copy of this year’s memories is April 15th.

Not sure if you’ve already purchased one? Students can quickly check their status by visiting my.studentinfo.ca.

If you haven’t yet paid, please head over to School Cash Online and look for the “Student Fee/Yearbook Payment” option to secure your copy today!

Picture Consent

Parents, if you DO NOT want your child’s picture in the yearbook, please ensure you fill out the form on the parent portal (called Consent for Use and Disclosure) and select the No-Consent option. The form is located under the menu on the left-hand side under "Forms".

Your Ticket, Their Tomorrow: the CEFO 50/50 Raffle is back!

The Catholic Education Foundation of Ottawa (CEFO) is an independent charitable arm of the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Since 1999, CEFO has supported OCSB students and their families during times of personal tragedy and financial hardship.

Again this year, OCSB has partnered with BUMP to host the CEFO 50/50 raffle. Every ticket you purchase will help support a child in need in our schools. You can purchase 50/50 tickets online at the CEFO 50/50 raffle website from 8:00 am on February 2 until noon on Friday, February 27. The winner will receive 50% of the total money raised through ticket sales, with the other 50% going to CEFO.

Every ticket purchased helps provide urgent support to OCSB students and families facing financial hardship. Get yours before February 27 and make a difference in our community! Buy a Ticket

Building Pathways to High School Success

Our Grade 8 students took part in an interactive Skills Ontario presentation focused on Skilled Trades and Technologies. The session provided students with a hands-on introduction to various career pathways, the skills required for success, and the opportunities available in these fields. As students begin preparing for the transition to high school and Grade 9 course selection, the presentation encouraged them to explore their interests and strengths while making connections between their learning and future possibilities.

Coming soon: OCSB’s 2nd Student Census will take place Feb 24th - March 13th

Each student in grades 4 through 12 will complete the census at school. Parents will be sent a link to the census for each child in grades Kindergarten through 3. Answers are voluntary and confidential.

The information collected will help us:

Plan programs and services that support student success.
Understand language, cultural, and identity needs in our schools.
Improve resources for students with diverse backgrounds.
Guide equity and inclusion work.
Identify areas where additional support is needed; and
Create schools where every student feels safe, welcome, and included.

Want to learn more?

Attend a Parent Engagement Session:

Virtually: Thurs, Jan 29th at Noon or 7:00 PM

Translation will be provided automatically through closed captioning.

In-Person:

Wed, Feb 4th at St. Paul High School (6:30 PM) OR

Thurs, Feb 5th Lester B Pearson High School (7:30 PM)

On-site child minding will be provided.

Need more info? Consult: Board Census Webpage and FAQ

Note: If you prefer that your child not participate, an opt-out form will be available from Feb 2nd - 13th on our website and a link will be sent directly to your email in February.

Summer School Preview 2026

Dates: July 2 – July 23, 2026

Registration: Registration will officially open on Friday, March 13th, 2026.
Hours: Summer school hours: 8:30 am – 12:30 pm.

In-Person Reach Ahead Locations: St. Pius X Catholic High School (Central) and St. Matthew Catholic High School (East).

Credit Recovery: St. Pius X, St. Mother Teresa, St. Patrick, St. Matthew, and Holy Trinity.

Skills Builder Courses: English Numeracy & Literacy Support or Core French Literacy Support will be offered at St. Pius X and St. Matthew.

Indigenous Education: This will be offered at St. Pius X.

Conversational English & Literacy Development: Offered at St. Pius X, this is a 55-hour non-credit course for students entering Grades 9-12 who are beginner multilingual learners (ELD and ESL AO/BO) and have not yet earned a mainstream English credit.

Course Requirements: All courses are dependent on enrolment. Students are required to bring their own laptop.

St. Francis Xavier Catholic School Council

Our next School Council meeting will take place virtually on February 23 at 5:00 p.m.

1. - February 2 - First Day of Semester 2 (Gr. 9 - 12)
  - February 5 - Gr. 7/8 Winter Activity Day
  - February 11 - Program Night/Parent Information Night
  - February 11 - Gr. 7/8 Term 1 Report Cards posted to Parent Portal
  - February 13 - Gr. 9-12 Semester 1 Final Report Cards posted to Parent Portal
  - February 16 - Family Day Holiday (no school)
  - February 17 - Shrove Tuesday
  - February 18 - Ash Wednesday
  - February 19 - Gr. 7/8 Parent/Guardian-Teacher Interviews
  - March 13 - Last Day of Class before March Break
  - March 16 - 20 - March Break
  - March 23 - First Day of Class after March Break

Updates from the Ottawa Public Library

Manotick Branch

Greenboro Branch

Parish Updates

Our Lady of Visitation Bulletin

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