Newsletter from St. Mother Teresa

CEFO 2025 - #OCSBBuildsBridges

Every year, school communities across the OCSB come together to help our students and families in need by supporting the annual OCSB Charitable Campaign. Our funds go directly to the Catholic Education Foundation of Ottawa (CEFO). Families within the St. Mother Teresa High School community also benefit from CEFO.

Our staff is excited to participate in several activities to help raise funds for this year’s CEFO Campaign. Inspired by the theme #OCSBBuildsBridges, we’re also inviting our students and families in meaningful ways to support our community.

This year, we’re thrilled to announce a Cake Auction taking place on Friday, November 21st. All homerooms will be joining in on this fun and delicious event!

If you would like to contribute to our CEFO Campaign, we would be most grateful. Funds raised will be used to purchase cakes for the auction or grocery gift cards that will be distributed to families in need.

Donations can be made conveniently through SchoolCash Online under “CEFO Campaign.”

Thank you for your generosity and for helping us build bridges of kindness and support within our community!

Grade 9 Take Our Kids to Work Day - Wednesday, November 5th

Take Our Kids to Work Day is the most recognized career exploration event in Canada.

This year, Take Our Kids to Work Day will take place on Wednesday, November 5th.

What is the program about?

Take Our Kids to Work Day is an experiential learning opportunity for Grade 9 students across Canada. Students spend the day at the workplace of a parent, relative, friend, or volunteer host. Through Take Our Kids to Work Day, students are able to witness the world of work firsthand, prompting early career planning, and enabling students to make informed decisions pertaining to their future goals and endeavors.

The Take Our Kids to Work Day initiative has three main objectives:

• To offer students a view of the work world and to foster an understanding of its demands and opportunities.

• To allow students to see their parents or other adult volunteer hosts in different roles and to understand what they do to support a family.

• To emphasize that education goes far beyond the classroom walls and that the preparation of younger generations for the future is a community responsibility.

What if it is not possible to go to work with a parent?

There are other ways for your child to participate:

• Ask a relative, neighbour or family friend to take your child to work.

• Ask a parent who is taking their child to work if your child can join them for the day.

• Contact local businesses and ask if they are participating in Take Our Kids to Work day.

It will be up to students and families together to plan for this day. Grade 9 students will not be in attendance at school on this day; their day will consist entirely of being at a work site. Attendance for all grade 9 students will be marked as "School Activity."

Parents should not contact the school to indicate their absence from school on this day.

Thank you for your support.

Student Attendance

Each day in the classroom is an opportunity for students to explore new ideas, collaborate with peers, and develop skills that will serve them well throughout their school years and beyond. Regular attendance is essential to students’ academic and social-emotional success, as well as overall well-being.

On Monday, the monthly attendance letter will be emailed which provides a summary of attendance for the months of October and September. This letter is and will continue to be shared monthly to ensure transparency around cumulative attendance, and awareness around the impact of missing school.

We understand that some students may experience specific challenges that affect their attendance. Our dedicated team of educators and support staff are here to help provide assistance, resources, and understanding to help address these concerns. Feel free to reach out to your student’s teacher, guidance counsellor or vice-principal should you feel additional support may benefit your student with their attendance at school. Together, we can explore strategies to better support your student's individual needs.

OCSB Resources for Parents:

How School Attendance Impacts Student Success

Attendance Impacts Student Grades

While students are able to complete some school from home, these 'products' make up only a third of how our educators come up with a final grade for each course.

In Ontario, teachers assess learning using three types of evidence: what students produce (e.g. tests, projects), what teachers observe in class (e.g. participation, class work, collaboration), and what students discuss (e.g. explanations, group work, discussions). So even if students complete written work, teachers also need to see/hear how they think.

Student presence in class lets teachers collect evidence that shows student understanding and growth. If they're away, teachers lose these valuable chances to notice progress and have important learning conversations, which means they have less evidence to support student achievement.

Additionally, sometimes a student's written work doesn't reflect everything they know (e.g. maybe the student isn't a great test-taker). Teacher observations of their independent class work, group work, and individual conversations give students more opportunities to show them that they understand the material in a deeper way.

In conclusion, students who are often absent reduces their opportunities to give teachers more evidence.

Grad Photos - Week of November 17th

Students need to book an appointment for grad photos. Additional appointments will become available if slots fill up.

SMT SKI CLUB

Package Options and Prices:

a) 4 x Lift tickets + bus = $213

b) Camp Fortune season pass holder + bus = $112

c) Tickets + ski/snowboard rental (includes helmet) + bus = $299

d) Tickets + ski/snowboard rental (with helmet rental) + lessons + bus = $357

e) Tickets + lessons (no rentals) + bus = $270

Registration and Payment:

All permission forms will be completed electronically via SchoolCash Online.
Securing Your Spot: Ski Club spots are first come, first served. Completing your payment on SchoolCash Online is what secures your spot.
SchoolCash Online will be available starting Monday, November 3rd. You can use this link to easily access the payment page. Please note the link will not be active until November 3rd.

Mme Renaud

Titan Character Awards

This year, the Titan Character Awards will take on a new format inspired by the OCSB spiritual theme, “Building Bridges.”

All staff members are invited to nominate students who exemplify the monthly character themes. Since we are a little behind, we will be recognizing students for both September and October themes: Belonging and Understanding.

Your child may come home with some exciting news in the upcoming days!

Parent Spectators at Sports Games

Our new wood floor gym is finally ready and we couldn't be more excited! Our new bleachers will be installed at the end of January. Until then, student spectators are not permitted to watch after school sports games as there is limited space. Parents ARE permitted to watch but unfortunately, you will have to either stand or sit on the floor as we are not permitted to have chairs on the new gym floor. Thanks for your support and understanding.

Parent Subscription to FatDog

Parents of high school athletes can make a free account on FatDog where they can get all the scoop on any sport. Just subscribe, select our school, and then click on the sport you want to follow!

Picking Up 7/8 Students at Lunch

If at all possible, please avoid picking up your child during the Grade 7/8 lunch hour, between 12:25-1:05 pm. With approximately 600 students in various locations around the building (e.g. cafeteria, outside, learning commons, classrooms, etc.) it is difficult to locate specific students. Thank you for your cooperation.

9-12 Semester 1 Exam Schedule

The OCSB has released the Semester 1 Final Exam schedule. Attendance on exam days is mandatory - vacation and work arrangements are expected to be made around these dates:

Thurs, Jan 22 - Grade 10-12 Period 1 exam and Grade 9 Period 1 RST
Fri, Jan 23 - Grade 10-12 Period 2 exam and Grade 9 Period 2 RST
Mon, Jan 26 - Grade 10-12 Period 3 exam and Grade 9 Period 3 RST
Tues, Jan 27 - Grade 10-12 Period 4 exam and Grade 9 Period 4 RST
Wed, Jan 28 - Exam Buffer day in case of inclement weather
Thurs, Jan 29 - Credit Intervention Day (students will be invited to attend, if required)
Fri, Jan 30 - PD Day
Mon, Feb 2 - Semester 2 begins

Guest Speakers at SMT

There is an OCSB policy which requires principals to inform parents/guardians in advance of any guest speaker presenting to more than one class. This section will be included in each biweekly newsletter. Feel free to connect with the teacher organizing the guest speaker (the contact name would be indicated in the information letter linked) if you have any questions.

Nathaneal Larochette - Spoken Word Poetry

Grade 9 English classes

November 17-21, 2025

English Classrooms

Daron Faulkner - Ottawa Mission Program

Grade 7, 8 and 10 classes

December 3, 2025

Caf Gym

Katie Weatherston - Canadian Olympian

Grade 10-12 Health and Physical Education classes

December 3, 2025

Learning Commons