December 2015 Newsletter

For a printable version, please click here.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The Christmas season is upon us.  Council would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year! 

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SKT School Council Fundraiser

The SKT School Council chose Lamontagne for our fundraiser to raise funds for the school this year and it was a great success.  First off we would like to thank the ladies who were the leads in organizing and executing the fundraiser this year.  Their hard work with making sure the boxes of chocolate went out to each student and collecting and counting the money raised was no small venture –thank you ladies!!

We would also like to thank all the families that supported this fundraiser!  Your support helps the school in many positive ways as this funding enriches your child’s experience at school.  This is the only fundraiser for School Council this year. 

The fundraiser this year raised just over $ 6,500.00.  This money provides those “extras” such as subsidising house t-shirts, digital cameras (for teachers to document what goes on at school), IPad protectors to protect the school’s investment, teacher’s supplies, playground and outdoor toy upgrades, and so many other items that all the students can enjoy.

If you are curious to see how council spends the money, please feel free to contact us, or go to the school council website for more information.

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Mabel’s Labels

If you want to ensure that your child’s belongings will always be returned to you, why not invest in some Mabel’s Labels to label all items that go to school.  Please visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and search for "St. Kateri Tekakwitha" to place your order.

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Community News

There are many activities happening around Ottawa and Orleans every month.

To keep up with all upcoming events in the area and even local restaurant deals, check out:
Website: ShopStJoseph       Twitter: ShopStJoseph      Facebook: ShopStJoseph

Good Shepherd Parish

Mass Schedule:

Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.

Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

December 12th and 13^th: there will be Christmas Cakes on sale after each mass with funds going towards Pro-life.

Please check the Good Shepherd Parish site for the Christmas mass schedule.

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Upcoming Social Event

Council will be hosting a Family Fun Skating Party on January 29^th from 6-7:30pm.   Stay tuned for more details to come.

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How YOU Can Support Council!

We understand that all families are quite busy and may not be able to commit to coming out to all of the council meetings, but there are other opportunities to get involved such as volunteering for specific events or providing feedback on any of our initiatives. 

Our council meetings and all of our committees: social/volunteer, play structure, fundraising, communications and fun fair are open to any parent/guardian that is interested in helping out.

Please contact us if you have any questions or want to learn more about how you can get involved!

Help in any form is always welcomed!!

Cheers from Your School Council

Christmas Vacation 2016-17

Parent & Guardian Survey: Christmas Vacation 2016-17

The OCSB Calendar Committee will meet in the new year to begin planning the school year calendar for 2016-17.  The Calendar Committee includes representatives from senior administration and a variety of partners including the various employee groups (teachers, principals, educational assistants, caretakers, ECE's, just to name a few).   Parents are represented by Sean Jackson, Chair of the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) and Cathy Philpott, Chair of the Catholic School Parent's Association (CSPA).   There are many factors to consider in this process.  The Ministry of Education provides guidelines regarding the overall make up of the school year calendar including start and end dates, number of professional development days, suggested school breaks, etc.  Suggestions and feedback from all partners are reviewed when making decisions regarding the final OCSB school calendar. As your parent representatives, we are particularly seeking your recommendations regarding the options for Christmas holidays for next year.  We will provide this feedback to the committee. The choices being considered are: Option 1: Last day of school Friday, December 16, 2016. Christmas vacation beginning on Saturday, December 17, 2016 and ending on Sunday, January 1, 2017. Students return to school on Monday, January 2, 2017. or Option 2: Last day of school Friday, December 23, 2016.  Christmas vacation beginning on Saturday, December 24, 2016 and ending on Sunday, January 8, 2017.  Students return to school on Monday, January 9, 2017. What would you prefer?  Please take a moment to share your opinion now. Click on the Survey button below.  Feel free to share this survey with school council members and friends with children at Ottawa Catholic.    2016-17 Christmas Vacation Survey Thanks!  We appreciate your input.   Sean Jackson                Cathy Philpott      PIC Chair                        CSPA Chair

October 2015 School Council Newsletter

For a printable version of the newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz030T0XB6ZBUHRlR3JjQm82bzZMX0ZxN3V0NDNHaHFRcTBz/view?usp=sharing

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Happy Thanksgiving!  Hope all of you had a wonderful long weekend.  The SKT school council is thankful for all of the parents and staff who have joined council this year to help make SKT a wonderful school for your child(ren) to attend.

We understand that all families are quite busy and may not be able to commit to coming out to all of the council meetings, but there are other opportunities to get involved such as volunteering for specific events, like our upcoming Monster Mash, or providing feedback on any of our initiatives.  

Our council meetings and all of our committees: social/volunteer, play structure, fundraising, communications and fun fair  are open to any parent/guardian that is interested in helping out.  Please contact us if you have any questions.

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SKT School Council Fundraiser

The SKT School Council has chosen Lamontagne for our fundraiser to raise funds for the school.

Your support helps the school in many positive ways as this funding enriches your child’s experience at school.  This is the only fundraiser for School Council this year.  The SKT school council provides those extras such as subsidising house t-shirts, digital cameras so that teacher’s can document what goes on at school, ipad protectors to protect the school’s investment, teachers’ supplies and many other items.  If you are curious to see how council spends the money, please feel free to contact us, or go to the school council website for more information.

Please note that all money and unsold chocolate must be returned to the school by October 22nd. 
We have sent out 200 boxes to date!!!!

Remember: in order for your child to enter into the draw they must sell the complete box of chocolate.  Value of $60/box.

We will also be having one last push to sell any left over chocolate that we may have on October 24^th from 10am to 3pm at Food Basics on Innes.  For details or if you and your child would like to volunteer to help man the table contact Angela Doyle(see information below).

For more information contact Angela Doyle at 613-830-0237
 or angela@goyetchecounsulting.com.

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Mabel’s Labels:

If you want to ensure that your child’s belongings will always be returned to you, why not invest in some Mabel’s Labels to label all items that go to school.  Please visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and search for "St. Kateri Tekakwitha" to place your order.

~~~~

Community News:

There are many activities happening around Ottawa and Orleans every month.

To keep up with what all upcoming events in the area and even local restaurant deals, check out:
Website: ShopStJoseph       Twitter: ShopStJoseph      Facebook: ShopStJoseph

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Good Shepherd Parish

Archbishop’s Charity Dinner- Oct 21^st at 7pm at the Ottawa Conference and Even Centre.  Tickets still available.  Proceeds are going to several charities.

E-waste drop off on Oct 24^th from 9am-3pm in the Good Shepherd parking lot.  Collecting old T.V’s, electronics and computers.

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Monster Mash

All students (JK – Gr. 6) of SKT and their families are invited to

MONSTER MASH

Friday, October 30th  from 6:00-8:00pm

Admission is $2/child. 
Please note that no child will be admitted without being accompanied by an adult.

Pizza, popcorn, baked goods and drinks will be sold.  There will be prizes for best costume and an auction for Jack O’Lanterns decorated by each class.

All children will receive a loot bag!

A flyer will be distributed shortly with more information.

Lamontagne Chocolate Campaign

Hello SKT Families,

Thank you for your support of our Lamontagne Chocolate Bar Campaign.  We hope that you have had some success thus far.  Just a reminder that all collected money and unsold chocolate must be returned to the school by Thursday, October 22nd, but if you have sold all of your chocolate before that time, you may send it in earlier.

October 6th Community Update

 Until October 31st: Haunting Season at Saunders Farm: $20.00; saundersfarm.com

 Until October 31st: Skreamers: $20.00; saundersfarm.com

 Until October 31st: Pumpkinferno: $14.00; uppercanadavillage.com 

 Until October 31st: Spooky Wagon Ride at Cannamore Orchard: $20.00; spookywagonride.com 

 Until October 31st: Haunted Walk's Halloween Season: $19.75; hauntedwalk.com 

 October 16th-17th: Ottawa Poutine Fest: Sparks Street; sparkslive.com 

 October 16th: Ottawa International Film Festival: oiff.ca 

 October 17*18th: Antique and Vintage Market: free admission; ottawaantiquevintagemarket.ca 

 October 17th: Halloween Fun at Muséoparc: ottawamuseumnetwork.com 

 October 19th: Elections Day 2015: Details on how to register, ways to vote and first time voters: elections.ca

 October 24th: Imagination Movers: centrepointetheatre.ca - $35.00

 October 24th: Ottawa Ski, Snowboard and Travel Show: EY Centre; free admission;ottawaskishow.com  

 October 24th-25th: National Women's Show: EY Centre; $10.00; nationalwomenshow.com 

 October 24th-25th: The Ultimate Man Show: EY Centre; $20.00; theultimatemanshow.com

 October 27th-Nov 1: Newsies The Musical: $60.00+; nac-can.ca

 October 31st-Nov 1: Bubble Guppies Live!: $33.25; centrepointetheatre.ca

 November 4th-8th: Samko and Miko Toy Warehouse Sale: EY Centre; samkoandmikowarehouse.com

 November 5th: Peter Pan on Ice: $29.75+; tdplace.ca

 November 7th: Privé 2015 Contemporary Night Market: Shaw Centre; $10; facebook.com/privemedia.ca

 October 10th-11th: Harvest Festival at Watson's Mill (Manotick): watsonsmill.com

 October 30th: Nature Nocturne: Canadian Museum of Nature; nature.ca/en/plan-your-visit/nature-nocturne; $25.00 

 October 30th-November1st: Ottawa Wine and Food Festival: Shaw Centre; $25.00; ottawawineandfoodfestival.com 

 October 31: Halloween at Rideau Hall: gg.ca/document.aspx?id=6&lan=eng

 November 7th: Children's Storytelling Festival: Nepean Centrepointe Library; ottawastorytellers.ca

 November 7th-8th: Maker Faire: family friendly festival of invention and creativity; Aberdeen Pavilion (Lansdowne); makerfaireottawa.com

October 2015 School Council Agenda

For a printable version, you can download it here: http://bit.ly/sktcscOct2015Agenda

1. Introduction
     a. Call to Order
     b. Prayer – New Beginnings
2. Approvals
     a. Review and Approval of Agenda
     b. Review and Approval of September 22, 2015 ROD
3. Reports
     a. Principal (Sean)
     b. Teacher (Cindy)
     c. Treasurer (Tiffany)
     d. CSPA (Josée)
     e. Community (Silvia)
     f. Parish (Angela)
     g. Co-Chair (Karen)
          i. Correspondence to be reviewed by co-chairs (newsletters, posters, etc.)
          ii. Roles and Responsibilities Templates (for jobs, committees, events, etc.)
          iii. Feedback from parents: surveys following events?
4. Sub Committees
     a. Fundraising
          i. Chocolate Bar Fundraiser Update
     b. Communications
     c. Social
          i. Halloween Dance (aka Monster Mash) Update
     d. Playground
     e. Policy & Procedures
          i. Constitution
     f. PRO Grant
5. Unfinished Business
     a. Plan to replace tree for Jennifer Ashworth Memorial and acquire plaque
6. New Business
     a. New Boston Pizza Rep
     b. School Lunches
     c. Brainstorm: Movie Night or other activity for Nov / Dec
     d. The Gift of Reading
7. Round Table
8. Adjournment

Next Meeting: Monday, November 2, 2015

9. Fun Fair Meeting
     a. Identify lead and note taker

2015 School Council Fundraiser

Dear SKT Parents,

The Saint Kateri Tekakwitha School Council is excited to launch our annual fundraiser for the 2015-2016 school year.  Money raised through our fundraiser helps fund various school initiatives throughout the school year, such as school dances, movie nights, the Fun Fair.  Funds also help provide classroom supplies, in the past we’ve purchased  Smart Board speakers, iPad cover and outdoor toys.  This year the council has selected to participate in a chocolate bar selling campaign.  On October 5th, students will be given a box of peanut and nut-free Lamontagne chocolates to sell to family and friends.  Each box contains 30 chocolate bars at a cost of $2.00 per bar.  The campaign will run from October 5th until October 22nd.

For this fundraiser to be a success, we’ve set a goal that every child sell one box of chocolates.  For every box of chocolate that a student sells, their name will be entered into a draw to win some great prizes. 

This year’s prizes include:

1.  An iPad Mini (value of $439)

2.  Two Ottawa Senators tickets with parking pass

3.  Bluetooth Speakers

In addition, there will be pizza lunches provided for the three classes who generate the most sales.

As with fundraising campaign, we realize that not every family is able to participate, so please indicate your preference of participation on the form (click link to download and print form.

If you have any questions, please contact us via email: skt.council.ocsb@gmail.com

We look forward to a very successful campaign!

Thank you,

SKT School Council

2015-16 SKT School Council

Here is the SKT School Council for the 2015-16 School Year:

Co-Chairs:  Karen Crookshank and Luigina Potter
Treasurer: Tiffany Golding

Secretary: Julie Seaborn

Principal: Sean McGuire

Teacher Representatives: Cindy Langlois

Non-Teaching Staff Representative: Cindy Germain

Parish Rep: Angela Doyle

CSPA Rep: Josee Formoso

Community Rep: Silvia Baptista

Parent Members: Kate Anderson, Allison Haché, Cara Ingimundarson, Mary Lou Nadeau, Christina Simard, Crystal Soames and Kasia White

Sub-Committees:

Social/Volunteer: Allison and Christina 

Playground: Josee, Lu, Crystal, Julie

Fundraising: Silvia, Josee, Angela, Kasia, Mary Lou

Communications: Cara, Kate, Julie

September 2015 Council Meeting

Our September Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 22nd at 7pm in the Learning Commons.  This is also our election night.  All parents/guardians are welcome to attend.

Here is the Agenda for the meeting (for a printable copy: http://bit.ly/sktcscSept2015Agenda)

1. Introduction
a. Call to Order
b. Prayer – School Council Prayer

2. Elections

3. Approvals
a. Review and Approval of Agenda

4. Reports
a. Principal
b. Teacher
c. Treasurer
d. CSPA
e. Community
f. Parish

5. Set Council Meetings for the Remainder of the School Year

6. Sub Committees
a. Fundraising
i. Major Fundraiser for 2015/16
b. Communications
c. Social
i. Halloween Dance (aka Monster Mash)
d. Playground
e. Policy & Procedures
f. PRO Grant
g. Fun Fair

7. Unfinished Business
a. Plaque and replace tree for Jennifer Ashworth Memorial

8. New Business

9. Round Table

10. Adjournment

Mabel's Labels Fundraiser

We are fundraising with Mabel's Labels again this year!

Please visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and search for "St. Kateri Tekakwitha" to place your order and support our fundraiser.

Please note that the website is currently down, but you can still place an order and credit our school council.  Place your order online as usual, and then you just have to call or email their orders into the Customer Service team (1-866-306-2235 or info@mabelslabels.com), to ensure that their orders are credited to the proper campaign; they should indicate order # and campaign name

September 2015 Newsletter

For a printable version of the newsletter, please go to: http://bit.ly/sktcsc201509newsletter

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome back to another school year!  We hope you had a wonderful summer and we look forward to another year of fun activities for the students and their families.

School Council will be hosting the Meet the Teacher Night Pizza Social which will be held on Thursday, September 17^th at 6:00pm in the school gym right before Meet the Teacher Night which starts at 6:30pm.  This social is an opportunity for parents to meet other parents at the school in an informal setting.  We will have some pizza and drinks available.

SKT and School Council is always in need of volunteers.  The learning commons is in particular need of volunteers.  If you are able to volunteer for the school and/or school council, please fill out the Parent/Guardian Interest Form and return it to the school before Friday, September 18^th.  You can also complete the form online at: http://bit.ly/sktcscSept2015InterestForm

Our first School Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 22^nd at 7pm in the Learning Commons at the school.  All parents/guardians are encouraged to attend this meeting!  School Council is always looking for new members to help us create a more positive school environment for our children.  For a description of the roles and responsibilities of SKT Council, please see below.

For more information about the SKT School Council, you can look at what we accomplished last year on our School Council website.  In addition if you have any questions, you can contact us via email or by leaving a note at the school (addressed to School Council).

As we are a green friendly school, this will be the last paper newsletter that we will be sending out to all families.  If you are interested in continuing to receive paper copies of the school and School Council newsletter, please fill out the Paper Newsletter Form and return it to the school before Friday, September 18^th.

We look forward to meeting you at the Pizza Social or at our first council meeting!

SKT School Council

Email: skt.council.ocsb@gmail.com

Web:    sktcatholicschoolcouncil.blogspot.ca

Twitter: SKTCouncilOCSB


School Council Roles and Responsibilities

Parent Members*

·         Attends and participates in CSC meetings and on ad hoc committees.

·         Votes on issues as required.

·         Participates in information and training programs.

·         Acts as a communication link with school community.

Chair (or 2 Co-Chairs if applicable)*

·         Communicates on an on-going basis with the School Principal

·         sets the dates and times of meetings

·         establishes the meeting agenda

·         Chairs school council meetings.

·         Ensures a record of meetings are recorded and maintained.

·         Ensures that the school community is kept informed on CSC proceedings and activities.

·         Represents the council at special functions.

·         Acts as a spokesperson for the CSC.

·         Consults with senior board staff and trustees, as required.

·         Participates in information and training sessions.

·         Ensures follow-up on items raised by council members.

·         Ensures council members are familiar with the local constitution/by-laws.

Vice-Chair (if applicable)

·         Assumes acting role in the absence of the Chair.

·         Assumes any other duties as assigned by the Chair.

Secretary*

·         Records, distributes and maintains records of CSC meetings and correspondence related to CSC meetings.

·         Ensures the record of decision is distributed no less than one (1) week after each meeting.

·         Ensures access to SKT CSC records by the school community.

·         Ensures that a copy of the record is provided to the school for the school community.

Treasurer*

·         Develops a budget at least one year out, at the direction of the Chair and the CSC.

·         Maintains a record of SKT CSC funds and financial activities as required by Board policy and in keeping with common accounting practices.

·         Co-signs cheques for payment of goods and services.

·         Prepares an annual, written financial statement for review and approval of the CSC.

·         Ensures access to CSC financial records by the school community.

·         Ensures that a copy of the financial record is provided to the school for access by the school community.

School Council Parent Association Representative (appointed position)

·         Reports and consults with the CSC on issues referred by the Board and/or the Parent Association.

·         Represents the opinions of parents in their school community.

·         Represents and expresses the majority view of the CSC.

·         Attends the Ottawa Catholic School Council Parent Association meetings.

Parish Representative (appointed position)

·         Brings the concerns of the parish regarding Catholic education to the CSC.

·         Serves to disseminate the suggestions, orientations, activities and concerns of the CSC to the wider parish communities.

·         Assists in promoting, aligning and co-ordinating the liturgical celebrations and other activities of the parishes, school and community as required.

·         Assists in maintaining the Catholic dimension in the total school community.

Community Representative (appointed position)

·         Reflects the views of the local community and brings forth concerns to the CSC.

·         Provides a link between the CSC and the community.