Dear families,
We have had a good few weeks back after March Break. We have been practicing math games with our buddies this week in anticipation of a math event that will take place during Catholic Education Week in May.
Outdoor play is changing as the snow melts. We still have lots of little rocks on the ground from the grit that is spread over ice during winter. Students need to be especially careful when running as this grit can cause falls and cuts.
We anticipate lots of snow and ice this weekend, so please stay safe and monitor your emails for any updates regarding transportation or school closures. We do not anticipate any school closures - but you never know!
We wish all our friends and family who have been observing Ramadan "Eid Mubarak" as they break their fast this weekend or next week.
Mrs. Shaver - Principal & Ms. Wawryn - Vice Principal
Will your child be starting Grade 7 at St. Patrick's High School in Septemeber? Please see this link for some important information.
Please click this link to register your kindergarten child for next year!
Through the OCSB we also recommend the Supported School Readiness Program which helps students prepare for school in the fall.
We are experiencing a huge demand for forks and spoons at lunch time. Please send your child with the appropriate cutlery to eat their lunch. We do not want to keep handing out plastic forks and spoons. It is not good for the environment and it is an expense that can be eliminated if cutlery is provided from home. Thank you so much!
April 4: PD Day, no school.
April 11: Arab Heritage Month Assembly. Parents are welcome to attend.
April 18 and April 21: Easter weekend, no school.
April: Arab Heritage Month!
By your side: Parent/caregiver resources to support mental health learning and well-being for every family. Click here.
Key topics in the Parent/Caregiver Learning Hub include:
· understanding mental health
· promoting mental health at home
· supporting mental health at school
· stress and anxiety management
· substance use prevention
· navigating digital technology use
· reaching out for help
Prince of Peace has been given access to the Dare to Care program to support an anti-bullying message.
Parents can have access to this programming as well. Click this link and then click the Parent Enrollment button to make a profile. Reinforcing these messages at home helps us create a safe environment for everyone at school!
Please sign up!
Prince of Peace School has partnered with Kids Up Front Ottawa to provide kids (and their families) with free tickets to Ottawa based sporting events, concerts, theater, arts and more!
Interested? Complete this form: Tickets: Kids Up Front 24/25
This is a new form for the 24/25 School Year. Even if you had access last year, please sign up again!
Volunteer with us!
Click here to submit your vulnerable sector check and become a volunteer at the school!
Prince of Peace School Council
School Council meets on the second Thursday of every month. We are looking for new members/parents to help us plan and organize fun events, support fundraising efforts and make decisions on behalf of the school community. For more information or to sign up to get involved, click here. Our next meeting is April 10th at 4:30.
Drop Off and Pick Up by Car
The safety of our community is paramount to the school. To assist in getting all of our students safely dropped off and picked up, we would ask that ALL parents follow these procedures.
No children should be dropped off before 9:00 am. The school does not open until this time. No child should be left outside unsupervised.
Please do not park in the bus lane and do not enter the parking lot at the beginning or end of the day. This is for the safety of all of our staff and students.
Please yield to ALL buses as they have priority to drop off students and continue with their routes.
End-of-Day Pick-Up
Parents must sign out their child at the end of the day by coming into the office and signing out in the binder provided.
Please note that our parking lot is closed and reserved for our vans and special needs families.
Do not park in the bus lane. That is reserved for special transportation vans and buses only.
Knowing Your Child's Plans is Key
To maximize safety and efficiency, we kindly ask that you notify the school by 3:15 PM if your child's dismissal plans differ from their usual routine. After such time we cannot guarantee that messages will be received. This includes:
Being picked up by a parent or another guardian
Going to after-school care instead of a bus
If more than one pickup is occurring during the week, a daily email will be needed
By letting us know your child's plan in advance, our staff can prepare dismissal lists and ensure a seamless transition from the classroom to their designated pickup point.
Benefits of Early Notification
Knowing your child's dismissal plan allows us to:
Reduce confusion and anxiety for students during dismissal.
Expedite the dismissal process, minimizing wait times for everyone.
Ensure the safety of all students by verifying authorized pickups.
How to Communicate Your Child's Plans
There are a few easy ways to let us know about your child's dismissal plans:
Email the school at: prince.peace@ocsb.ca
Call the school office before 3:15 PM.
Dismissal Procedure:
The window for end-of-day pick-up is strictly between 3:40 and 3:45 pm. This is to minimize interruptions to the classroom and allow staff to safely prepare for the end of the day.
Please note that students will not be released before 3:40 pm unless there is a pre-arranged need for an earlier departure (e.g., sports practice, dental appointments, etc.).
If students are being picked up for a special appointment or a sports practice, we ask that you email the school that morning at prince.peace@ocsb.ca. For safety, we ask that you choose a pick-up time of 3:40 pm or before 3:20 pm. Students will not be called out of class between 3:20 pm and 3:40 pm.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and efficient dismissal process.