Newsletter from St. Mother Teresa

Catholic Education Week / Mental Health Week

Thank you for your support and participation during Catholic Education Week, where we truly embodied the OCSB Theme of Pilgrims of Hope. Highlights for parents included the vibrant Arts and Culture Showcase and the valuable Aubrey Noronha presentation. For our students, the week was filled with impactful initiatives such as the Thrift Shop, the recognition of Red Dress Day, and important Mental Health Activities with a focus on stress management. Your engagement helps foster a rich and supportive school community.

Yearbook Sales

The image above is a distorted corner of this year's cover - we can't wait to reveal the whole thing!

Thank you to everyone who has purchased their 2025-2026 yearbook. Pre-order sales are now CLOSED. A limited number of yearbooks may be available for purchase at the school at the end of the year, while supplies last. We kindly ask that you do not contact the school regarding additional yearbook purchases.

If you have already purchased a yearbook, please disregard this message. To confirm your purchase, you can review your purchase history for past transactions.

Grades 7/8 Track and Field Activity Day - Thursday, May 14th

On Thursday, May 14th we will be holding our annual 7/8 Track and Field Activity day. This will be a chance for students to challenge themselves in various track and field events. We will also be having homeroom versus homeroom challenges, along with a BBQ at lunch. The lunch will consist of 2 hotdogs, a bag of chips, and a Gatorade (optional, paid through School CashOnline). Food purchase will not be available on the day of the event, unless there are some leftovers.

Students will sign up for events at school, in Phys Ed class. They can sign up for any 3 events. The top 2 qualifiers in each event will compete at the 7/8 Track and Field Meet at Terry Fox Complex at the end of May.

Relay for Life 2026!

We are so excited to announce that our Relay for Life event is happening on May 15, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM! It’s going to be an incredible day of music, games, and community spirit as we raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. Students who register will enjoy a provided lunch, a commemorative t-shirt, and access to all the day's activities—from the dunk tank to the slip-and-slide.

Quick Guide for Parents:

How to Register: Visit Relayforlife.ca/smt by May 8th. You can pay via the website or through School Cash Online (please note: students using School Cash Online must still register on the Relay website to participate!).
Fundraising: Our goal is $100 per participant. Donations can be collected online via the student’s dashboard or through physical fundraising envelopes.
What to Pack: Since we’ll be outside all day, please ensure your child brings sunscreen, water, snacks, and a rain jacket.
Weather Note: We run rain or shine! In the event of thunderstorms, we will move the festivities to our rain date: May 22nd.

Graduation - Wednesday, June 24th - 1pm at The Met

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. 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.

Grad Day & Graduation Ceremony Information Letter

Costa Rica Adventure

It's not too late to register your child (currently in Grades 8-11) for our Costa Rica adventure scheduled for February 2027.

On behalf of the students, staff, and community of Monsignor Paul Baxter, you are invited to celebrate their 25th Anniversary on June 17, 2026.

For a quarter of a century, MPB has served as a cornerstone of learning and community growth.

Event Schedule:

4:30 PM – Anniversary Ceremony: A formal program held in the school gymnasium featuring guest speakers and presentation of School memorabilia and time capsule.
5:00 PM – Refreshments: Please join us for cake and light refreshments immediately following the ceremony.
Ongoing – Summer Send-off: Following the formal proceedings, you are invited to join our community-led "Summer Send-off" taking place in the school yard. Food & treats are available for purchase.

Event Details

When: Wednesday, June 17th, 2026
Where: 333 Beatrice Drive, Gym / School Yard
Time: Formal program begins at 4:30 PM

Your support of MPB over the years has been deeply appreciated. We hope you can join us for this milestone occasion to celebrate the achievements of our past and present students.

RSVP by June 3rd

OSTA Opt-out Process

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 is subject to availability and eligibility.

This Electronic opt-out form can also be found on OSTA’s website. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2026. This form confirms that a seat will not be needed. For more information, visit our Opt-Out page. If you still have questions, email your zone or call OSTA at 613-224-8800.

OCSB Continuing & Community Education is excited to share that registration is now open for OCSB Summer Camps 2026!

Our summer camps provide children and youth with opportunities to stay active, explore new interests, build confidence, and make new friends in a safe and welcoming environment. With programs ranging from arts and sports to STEM, themed adventure, and specialty camps, there is something for every camper.

Camps will run June 29 – August 14, 2026, at OCSB locations across Ottawa, with weekly full-day programs and extended hours available at select sites.

We would appreciate your help in sharing this opportunity with families in your school communities.

LEARN MORE: https://conted.ocsb.ca/summer-programs/summer-camps/

9-12 Semester 2 Exam/RST Schedule

The OCSB has released the Semester 2 Final Exam schedule. Attendance on exam/RST days is mandatory - vacation and summer work arrangements are expected to be made around these dates. **Exams not written in June will be written in September.

NOTE: Grade 12 students have their own exam schedule to get marks entered for the graduation on June 25th.

describes the sports by season for students in grades 7 and 8

Sports: A Year at a Glance

Grades 7-8

describes sports by season for high school students

Sports: A Year at a Glance

Grades 9-12

Summer School Preview: July 2 – July 23, 2026

Registration is now open!
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.

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.

GUEST SPEAKER: Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer, Sebastien Laurendeau (Staff Sergeant)

Topic: Obtaining a Career in the Policing Field with certain degrees and degree specialties.

When: Thursday May 14, 2026

Period 1 classes (Mr. Gillespie & Mrs. McDivitt): 9:00 am until 10:00 am in the Learning Commons, St. Mother Teresa High School

Period 2 class (Mrs. Laneve) in class

Period 3 classes (Mr. Gillespie, rm 309): 10:15 am until 11:15 am in class

Period 4 classes (Mr. Frost, rm 132): 1:30 to 2:30pm in class