The Den Newsletter
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Catholic Elementary School
Embedded Files
"Leading with Kindness: Seen, Loved and Sent to Change the World."
"Leading with Kindness: Seen, Loved and Sent to Change the World."
Dear Tiger Families,
Our school community thrives because of dedicated individuals who give generously of their time, and we want to take a moment to shine a spotlight on our incredible School Council volunteers.
Among many other responsibilities, our council volunteers organize and coordinate the student lunch programs our children enjoy each week. Coordinating with external food vendors, sorting orders, and delivering meals across the school is a massive undertaking.
Occasionally, vendors make errors or delivery mix-ups happen. When issues arise, our parent volunteers work quickly and tirelessly to rectify them so every child is taken care of. However, we ask everyone to remember that our volunteers are parents just like you, offering their personal time to enrich our school.
Before reaching out in frustration when an order isn't perfect, please take a breath and lead with patience. A little kindness goes a long way. Our volunteers are essential—without their commitment, many valued school programs, including special lunches, simply could not happen. To ensure our volunteers feel valued and willing to continue supporting our school, positive and respectful communication is vital.
Our daily school reminder applies to all of us, adults included: Be Kind, Tigers.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership, understanding, and grace.
Warmly,
Tania Santo (Principal)
Steps to Success, What is This?
Steps to Success, What is This?
Dear St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Families,
At our most recent Character Assembly, we introduced an exciting initiative to support a safe, positive, and inclusive environment for all students: the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Steps to Success!
Rooted in our motto to "Be Kind Tigers," this framework encourages students to build strong character by practicing five daily actions:
Be Kind: Kindness and respect help everyone have fun!
Be Safe: Make safe choices to keep yourself and others safe.
Be a Friend: Follow the Golden Rule, use kind words, treat others with kindness, and help one another.
Be a Problem Solver: Work together, listen to understand, and find positive solutions to challenges.
Be a Leader: Be responsible, act as a role model, and be someone others can look up to.
When staff catch students putting these steps into practice, they will be recognized with a special Tiger Den card. We encourage your child to collect these cards, bring them home, and share their achievements with you! Later this school year, students will also have the opportunity to celebrate each other by handing out Tiger Den cards when they see their classmates following the Steps to Success.
Thank you for partnering with us to reinforce these values at home as we help our Tigers learn, lead, and grow together!
Warm regards,
The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Team
Volunteers for Reading with Students
Volunteers for Reading with Students
If you are looking for a way to support St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and its students, please consider volunteering to read with our students. If you are interested please email the school at elizabethann.seton@ocsb.ca and let us know!
Important Reminders
Important Reminders
The staff parking lot will be closed every morning and afternoon to allow for the safe arrival of students.
For student and staff safety please DO NOT:
Park in the staff parking lot for drop off/pick up
Park in the bus lane for drop off/pick up
School Start Time is 9:10am
If your child(ren) is going to be absent or late be sure to use Safe Arrival to report the absence before 9:10 am.
All late students must be signed in by an adult
In-person sign-in using the sign-in book at the front desk
School End Time is 3:40pm
Please be sure to be prompt if you are picking up your child in the school yard
Please be sure to park a block away and walk your child to school.
Attendance Reminders
Attendance Reminders
Quick Fact: If your child(ren) is/are absent, just 2 days per month it is considered chronic absenteeism!
Every day in elementary school builds the foundation for your child's future learning, social skills, and self-confidence. Missing school—even just a day or two every few weeks—can quietly add up and disrupt a child's reading development, classroom routines, and peer relationships.
Canadian education research shows that frequent absences in kindergarten and early primary grades directly correlate with lower Grade 3 reading proficiency—a benchmark strongly linked to long-term academic success.
Consistent attendance instills strong habits, protects children from falling behind, and ensures they stay connected to their peers. While keeping a sick child home is essential, making regular attendance a daily family priority gives your child the best environment to thrive.
In addition, managing last-minute pick-ups near the end of the school day presents considerable challenges for our front office staff. We wish to remind parents/caregivers that early pick-ups are not permitted between 3:10 PM and 3:40 PM.
Should an early pick-up be necessary, it must occur prior to 3:10 PM. Please ensure that teachers and/or the office are notified of such arrangements in advance via email or other appropriate communication.
If you arrive at the school for a pick-up after 3:10 PM, without notice, you will be asked to wait until 3:40 PM.
Please sign up for School Cash Online: School Cash Online Link
Please sign up for School Messenger: School Messenger – The Ottawa Catholic School Board Stay connected with St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Please sign up for Parent Portal with the OCSB. This is where you will access report cards and many other forms of information that can support your child with their education. Parent Portal – The Ottawa Catholic School Board
Every year many items end up in the lost and found, and end up unclaimed. We suggest making sure that EVERYTHING (shoes, backpack, lunch kit and containers, water bottle, pencil case, boots, jackets, hats, mitts, hoodies, etc…) your child brings to school is labelled so that everything makes it home at the end of the day/week/year!
Important Dates
November 9, 2026 - Pizza Day
November 11, 2026 - Remembrance Day
November 11, 2026 - Edo Japan
November 12, 2026 - Progress Reports Posted to Parent Portal & paper copies sent home!
November 13, 2026 - Baker Lunch
November 13, 2026 - Popcorn Day - don't forget your $3.00 if you didn't pre-order!
November 13, 2026 - Movie Night
November 16, 2026 - Pizza Day
November 17, 2026 - Photo Retake Day & Class Photo Day!
November 18, 2026 - Subway Lunch
November 19, 2026 - Parent Teacher Interviews
November 19, 2026 - Baker Lunch
November 19, 2026 - Popcorn Day - don't forget your $3.00 if you didn't pre-order!
November 20 , 2026 - PD Day - NO SCHOOL!!
Mark your calendars!
Our School Council Meeting happening tomorrow, Monday, November 9 at 6:30pm. Join us in person in the Learning Commons or online via Google Meet.
SEAS Movie Nights are back! First one of the School year is this Friday, November 13 and then we have two more to look forward to in the New Year - Thursday, January 28 (next day is a PD Day!) and Friday, April 30!
The Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade is happening on Sunday, November 29. Keep your eyes open for the SEAS float! More information further below.
Christmas Shopping Day is on Wednesday, December 9. Start setting aside gently used items for donation now, especially for Teens and Adult Males as we always run low for those categories. More details to come, including volunteer opportunities!
Thank yous and call for Volunteers
Thank you to our volunteers for helping with the Fall Clean Up Days! The School yard has been well maintained and prepped for winter.
Did you know that all of the School Council led events are organized and run by volunteers? We are grateful to the School Teachers and Staff as they help facilitate, but the majority are run by SEAS Community volunteers, many of whom have very busy lives. We cannot put on events without our SEAS Community, which means fundraising for the new play structure could be at risk. Please consider volunteering for an upcoming event here.
SEAS Movie Night: this Friday!
SEAS Movie Night: this Friday!
We are excited to have our first Movie Night of the current School Year on Friday, November 13 where we will be watching Minions & Monsters!
Doors open at 6pm and we will start the movie at 6:30pm. Join us in the Gym or if you prefer a quieter viewing, please join us in the Learning Commons for a sensory friendly viewing experience.
Tickets are $3 per person. Our concession stand will be open with all your usual favourites! Please note that this is a cash-only event, including concessions.
We hope to see you there!
Calling All Who's… We Need Your Help!
Calling All Who's… We Need Your Help!
We're excited to once again have SEAS represented in the Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade on Sunday, November 29th! This year, we're bringing a little Dr. Seuss magic to the parade, and we need our SEAS community to help make it happen!
WE HAVE TWO BIG NEEDS! We're looking for:
A truck and driver to tow our float in the parade.
A generator to provide power for our float.
We'll be using the same trailer as last year, so if you have access to a truck or generator, or know someone who might, please reach out! These are essential to making our float happen.
We're also looking for parent and caregiver volunteers to join the planning committee, help with crafting and decorations, build the float on parade day, and assist with teardown afterward. Grade 6 students participation will be coordinated through the Gr. 6 staff shortly.
Want to get involved?
Sign up for crafting, float building or teardown by visiting our Group SignUp
Have a truck, generator, or interested in joining the committee? Email seas.councilinfo@gmail.com.
And even if you can't volunteer, we'd love to see you along the parade route cheering on our SEAS community! Whether you're helping create the magic or enjoying it from the sidelines, there's a place for everyone!
Spiritwear
Spiritwear
Our SEAS Spiritwear Store is open year-round! Whether you're looking to add to your collection, grab something for the kids, or show off your Tiger Pride, there's something for everyone!
Although our school bulk order has now closed, you can still shop the full collection throughout the school year directly from our online store. Orders can be picked up directly from the store or delivered right to your home for an additional delivery fee.
There are lots of great options for students, families and staff, so be sure to check out the full collection!
Visit the SEAS Spiritwear Store
Keep showing off your SEAS Tiger Pride!
One school. One team. Tiger Pride all year long!
Volunteer SignUp
Throughout the school year, there are many opportunities to volunteer with School Council–led fundraisers, events and initiatives. We simply cannot put on these activities without the support of our amazing volunteers — whether it’s lending a hand at an event or helping to lead an initiative.
We’re currently looking for volunteers for some of our upcoming events and initiatives! Check out our SignUp to see what volunteer opportunities are currently available and find something that works for you. Be sure to check back often, as we’ll be adding new opportunities throughout the year!
On School Council we are looking for a Parish Representative, which would be a great opportunity for someone who attends St. Andrew Parish.
Interested in or have questions about getting involved? We’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to us at seas.councilinfo@gmail.com.
A reminder that to volunteer at the school, you will need to complete a Vulnerable Sector Check.
Thank you for helping us make these events and initiatives possible for our students and school community!
Get Involved with the OCSB!
Get Involved with the OCSB!
Being involved in your child’s education doesn’t stop at the school level! The Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) offers a variety of ways for parents and caregivers to get involved, share their voice, and help support students and families across our Catholic school community.
Whether you’re interested in volunteering at the school, connecting with other families through the Ottawa Catholic School Parents’ Association (CSPA) - Parent Involvement Committee (PIC), or learning more about the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), there are opportunities to contribute at a level that works for you.
You don’t have to take on a major commitment to make a difference. Your ideas, experiences, time, and voice matter!
Interested in learning more about the opportunities available to OCSB parents and caregivers?
👉 Visit the OCSB Get Involved page:
ocsb.ca/parents/get-involved
Find a way to get involved that works for you - and help make our OCSB community even stronger!
*Reminder that to volunteer in the school, you must complete the school board's volunteer process, which includes a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC). Make sure to check your VSC status and update it if necessary.
Ottawa CSPA-PIC: Events, Resources & Connection for OCSB Families
Ottawa CSPA-PIC: Events, Resources & Connection for OCSB Families
Looking for opportunities to connect with other parents and caregivers, learn something new, or stay informed about what’s happening across the Ottawa Catholic School Board?
The Catholic School Parents’ Association (CSPA) - Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) offer a variety of free events, meetings, resources, and learning opportunities throughout the school year - and they’re open to all OCSB parents and caregivers!
From informative sessions and guest speakers to opportunities to connect with other families and learn more about education in Ottawa and Ontario, there’s lots to discover.
📅 Want to attend an upcoming meeting or event?
Check out the Ottawa CSPA-PIC Eventbrite page to see what’s coming up and register.
📬 Stay in the loop!
Ottawa CSPA-PIC also shares a monthly newsletter featuring upcoming events, education updates, helpful resources, and information for OCSB families. Signing up is an easy way to stay connected and make sure you don’t miss opportunities that may be of interest to you or your family.
👉 Sign up for the CSPA newsletter: Bit.ly/CSPAnews
You can also follow Ottawa CSPA-PIC on social media at @OttawaCSPA.
A great way to stay informed, get connected, and be part of the wider OCSB community!
Stay connected with the School Council!
Stay connected with the School Council!
Parish Information
Parish Information
St. Andrew Parish
St. Andrew Parish
For information regarding our school parish please visit: St. Andrew Parish.
Quick Links
Quick Links
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