Parent Newsletter

Translate This Page

7/8 Student Announcements

HS Student Announcements

Indigenous Cultural Celebration

On May 21, our school community will take part in a special Indigenous Cultural Celebration Day. Students will have the opportunity to learn through storytelling, dance, music, and shared experiences led by Indigenous presenters and community members.

We are honoured to welcome Josh Lewis, Kyrstin Dumont, Brad Lafortune, and Lisa Charet alongside Tristan Dreaver. We are also pleased to welcome members of the OCSB Indigenous Education Team and Senior Executive Team as part of this meaningful day of learning and celebration.

St. FX Arts Night

The St. FX Creative Arts Department proudly presents our annual Arts Night to show that the arts are alive and well at St. FX. Staff, students, family members and friends are invited to come to St. FX on Tuesday, May 26 from 6:00-8:30pm, to enjoy Grade 7-12 Dance, Drama, and Music performances, as well as an Art Gallery put on by Grade 7-12 Visual Art and Photography students and teachers. Entry will be by donation (via SchoolCashOnline or at the door), with all proceeds going back into the Creative Arts at St. FX. Baked goods will also be available via donation. If you have any questions, please contact Tamara Capyk (Grade 9-12 Department Head) at tamara.capyk@ocsb.ca, or Tom Shea (Grade ⅞ Curriculum Leader) at thomas.shea@ocsb.ca. Hope to see you there!

Student Travel Opportunity: Spain & Portugal – Spring 2027

Great News! The 2027 Europe Trip to Spain and Portugal has been approved by the school board. There will be a parent information meeting via Google Meet on Tuesday, May 19th at 4:30 pm. This meeting will go over important information and how to register your interested traveller.

meet.google.com/qju-hqpx-ojx

Silver Springs Studio Excursion

Our students had the opportunity to visit Silver Springs Studio as part of an experiential learning opportunity focused on creativity, collaboration, and future pathways. During the visit, students participated in a hands-on soap-making workshop and created beautiful gift baskets to share with loved ones.

The experience was both rewarding and engaging, giving students the chance to learn new skills, connect with the community, and explore a unique creative environment. We are grateful for the opportunity and proud of the enthusiasm and creativity our students demonstrated throughout the day.

Criminal Mock Trials

Law students enjoyed a wonderful month of hands-on learning, with tours and presentations at the Ottawa courthouse, and on-site lawyers working with students as they developed valuable transferable skills. Students executed mock trial scenarios and showcased their ability to craft on-the-spot arguments in a criminal trial setting. Eight students moved forward to represent StFX at the city-wide trials at the courthouse on May 5th. The OBA/OJEN Competitive Mock Trials (OOCMT) is a partnership between the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) and the Ontario Justice Education Network (OJEN), and the OBA Foundation. Thank you to our guest lawyers and to the Crown Attorney's office for their support of this year's moots.

Congratulations to our Ontario Skills Competition Winners.

These grade 7 students won Bronze earlier this year in a province-wide competition by building a Hydraulic Crane! This achievement is a reflection of their hard work and dedication. We are so proud of them!

OCSB Choirs

The OCSB Choirs program is accepting applications for new members for the 2026-2027 school year! Should your child wish to audition for the program, please submit the sign-up form below by Monday, May 25, 2026.

Who Are We?

The OCSB Choirs program is a multi-level co-ed program made up of five different groups:

Chamber Choir (Performance Level; Grades 8 -12)

Children's Choir (Performance Level; Grades 4-8)

Young Voices Choir (Intermediate Level; Grades 4-8)

Training Choir (Introductory Level; Grades 4-6)

If your child has a successful audition, the choir directors will decide which choir your child will be placed in.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals for the Children’s and Chamber choirs occur on Monday evenings, with once-monthly Saturday morning rehearsals for the Children’s Choir. Rehearsals for the Young Voices and Training choirs occur on Tuesday evenings.

How to Join the Choirs

Choir members are selected by audition. They will be asked to sing "O Canada" in groups of 3 (the chamber choir auditions will be in pairs) and to perform other common impromptu exercises, such as echo singing and clapping. The audition takes place in a very relaxed, supportive environment, and children audition alongside other children.

Once admitted to a choir, you will be informed of which group (and which rehearsal night) your child has been assigned to, and you will be asked to pay an annual membership fee of $200.00.

Where do auditions take place?

Auditions will occur at St. Basil Church, at the Queensway and Maitland exit.

Audition Sign-Up

If your child wishes to audition for our choir program, please choose a date from the following and fill out the corresponding Google sign-up form by Monday, May 25. Audition spots typically fill up quickly, so don't wait too long!

CHAMBER CHOIR (Gr. 8 - 12 ONLY - in September 2026)

AUDITIONS - sign-up link:

MONDAY, JUNE 1 - https://forms.gle/k5Dcq7ZGnegtb3pu9

CHILDREN'S/YOUNG VOICES/TRAINING CHOIR (Gr. 4 - 8 ONLY - in September 2026)

AUDITIONS - sign-up links:

MONDAY, JUNE 8- https://forms.gle/PEjA8Sc9NYH1NpRM9

MONDAY, JUNE 15 - https://forms.gle/fsAD5jUm8QMZsMtC8

THURSDAY, JUNE 18 - https://forms.gle/BbiMssXuLpQCVgvA8

Questions?

If you have further questions, please email the Directors at carla.macgregor@ocsb.ca or patricia.kaiser@ocsb.ca.

Yellow Bus Transportation

Ottawa Student Transportation (OSTA) is launching its annual opt-out process to enhance bus routing and transportation planning for the 2026-2027 school year. If your child(ren) will not require school bus transportation next school year, please complete the electronic opt-out form to inform OSTA that a seat is not needed. This will help optimize services and minimize disruptions. Requests for reinstated service can be made anytime through OSTA’s Transportation Issues Form, and are subject to availability and eligibility. The opt-out form is now available on OSTA’s website. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2026.

Ice Cream Fundraiser

The St. Francis Xavier Music Program is holding an ice cream fundraiser in partnership with Merry Dairy Ice Cream! They have tons of different flavours along with vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free options available. You can order your pints until Sunday, May 31st and top up your order with a donation to make an even bigger difference - 100% of your donation supports our music program. You can order online and pick-up anytime at 102 Fairmont Ave, or get free home delivery with a minimum order of $50. Consider teaming up with friends, family, or neighbours to make a bigger order or to coordinate pickup. Scan the QR code or click here to get started. Enjoy your ice cream!

2026-2027 School Calendar

The proposed school year calendar that was submitted by the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) in January has now been approved by the Ministry of Education. The first day of school is September 1, 2026. Further details are available at this link: Approved 2026-2027 School Year Calendar.

Final Assessments – Exams and RSTs

Grade 9 - 12 students’ examinations and Rich Summative Tasks (RSTs) WILL NOT be rescheduled for holiday or travel convenience, 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.

Students and Parents/Guardians can refer to the OCSB website for the Grade 9 - 12 calendar. These calendars identify the first and last day of school, PD days, Statutory Holidays, Board Holidays, and High School exams. As a general rule, it is prudent to avoid any planned student absences during the months of January and June, as this is when RSTs and exams are scheduled.

St. Francis Xavier Class of 2026

We are excited to celebrate our graduates and share important dates for the weeks ahead.

Important Dates and Grad Timeline
March 31 – Community Service Hours Due
April 30 – Grad Fee Due (SchoolCashOnline)
May 14 – Grad Mass
May 31 – Graduation Ceremony RSVP and ticket request deadline
June 2 – Grad Retreat (rain date June 4)
June 24 – Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal and gown pick-up
June 25 – Graduation Ceremony

Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.
Location: St. Francis Xavier High School
All graduates are required to attend. Caps, gowns, and guest tickets will be distributed at this time.

Graduation Ceremony
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026
Graduates arrive at 8:00 a.m.
Ceremony begins at 9:00 a.m.
Location: TD Place
Main Entrance: Gate 2
Wheelchair Access: Gate 1 (seating in Section 17)

Families are encouraged to check the Grad Website regularly for updates. We look forward to celebrating this important milestone with our graduates and their families.

Graduation Ceremony Information

Graduation is one of the most important moments of the school year. It is a chance to celebrate our students, recognize everything they have accomplished, and share that pride with their families and our staff. As schools prepare for their ceremonies, the focus should stay on our graduates. This is their moment. Creating a welcoming and respectful atmosphere helps ensure that every student and every guest feels comfortable and can fully enjoy the celebration. The Ministry of Education has been clear that graduation ceremonies are meant to honour student achievement and are not intended to be a place for political expression or for promoting personal or institutional viewpoints, especially where they may be divisive. Keeping the focus on students helps ensure that graduation remains what it should be, a positive and memorable experience for everyone.

France Exchange Opportunity for Grade 10 & 11 Students

Students enrolled in Core French or French Immersion in 2026–2027 are invited to take part in an exciting international exchange with France! This immersive experience includes four weeks living with a host family in France, followed by hosting a French student in Ottawa—bringing language learning to life while building lasting global connections.

OCSB Summer School - Registration Open

When: July 2 – July 23rd, 2026
Who Can Attend: Any student from any school board can join us. You do not need to be an OCSB student to participate.
Registration Deadline: June 19, 2026, at 3:00 pm
Visit the Summer School Website for a complete list of courses and more details about our programs.

- May 18 - Victoria Day (no school)
- May 21 Indigenous Cultural Celebration
- May 26 - Arts Night
- May 27 - Relay for Life
- June 5 - PD Day
- June 15 - Last Day of Gr. 12 Classes
- June 16 - Gr. 12 Period 3 Exams
- June 17 - Gr. 12 Period 4 Exams
- June 17 - Last day of Gr. 9 - 11 Classes
- June 18 - Gr. 10 - 12 Period 1 Exams, Gr. 9 Per. 1 RSTs
- June 19 - Gr. 10 - 12 Period 2 Exams, Gr. 9 Per. 2 RSTs
- June 22 - Gr. 10 - 11 Period 3 Exams, Gr. 9 Per. 3 RSTs
- June 23 - Gr. 10 - 11 Period 4 Exams, Gr. 9 Per. 4 RSTs
- June 25 - Gr. 12 Graduation Day

OCSB Calendar and Dates for 2025-2026

Updates from the Ottawa Public Library

Manotick Branch

GB Newsletter April 2026.pdf

Parish Updates

Our Lady of Visitation Bulletin

Page updated

Report abuse