May 2016 Newsletter

For a printable version: http://bit.ly/sktcscMay2016newsletter

Dear Parents/Guardians,

There are so many exciting things happening this month in the school; please read below to find out what council has been working on for May.

Fun Fair- June 9^th  530-830pm  Volunteers Needed!!

This is coming up soon and the entire school is excited for this yearly event.   If you  are able to come and volunteer that evening please let us know as there is always so much to do-and the more help the better.

You can visit http://vols.pt/XuHQs8 or email Josee Formoso at josee.formoso@gmail.com or Silvia Baptista at silviabaptista26@gmail.com

BBQ pre-orders were due this month on the 25^th and items for the raffle baskets are due on the 27^th of this month as well.  Still time to send in your Tamboulie Jars which the kids love to get-these are due no later than June 9^th.

Any help and support is greatly appreciated.

Boston Pizza Night Recap-Another Successful Event

This was a great night had by all families that attended!!  That evening alone raised $318.46 to be used towards the school to support activities and programs in the school.

Here is a list of the winners from that evening and what they won:

Ethan Mcphail, Kindergarten - Toys R Us gift card
Roman Barra, Grade 1 - Indigo gift card
Abby Niman, Grade 1 – Menchies gift card
Charlotte Goyetche, Grade 2 – Cineplex gift card

The Lunch Lady

Looking for a lunch idea?  Try some hot/cold lunch options through The Lunch Lady! If you have not ordered lunch through them and wish to please visit their website at www.thelunchlady.ca .  There is a wide variety of lunches to choose from and you can pay on-line which makes the process very easy.  Check out The Lunch Lady’s website for answers to questions and to set up a profile to start ordering for your child(ren) today.

Good Shepherd Parish

Mass Schedule:

·         Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.

·         Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

Please check the Good Shepherd Parish site for more parish information:

http://www.thegoodshepherdparish.com/

Click the link below for the most recent bulletin:

http://www.thegoodshepherdparish.com/bulletin%20-5th%20Sunday%20in%20Ordinary%20time.pdf

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 all upcoming events in the area and even local restaurant deals, check out:

Website: ShopStJoseph       Twitter: ShopStJoseph      Facebook: ShopStJoseph

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 you School Council

Fun Fair 2016 Update

The end of the school year is fast approaching and you know what that means…Fun Fair 2016!!! The SKT School Council is excited to host students and their families at this year's Fun Fair.

Here are some important reminders:

• BBQ pre-orders are due no later than May 25th
• Tambouli jars will be accepted up until June 9th
• Items for raffle baskets are due no later than May 27th 

For complete details, please review your Fun Fair package. If you have any questions or haven’t received your package, please contact Josee Formoso (josee.formoso@gmail.com) or Silvia Baptista (silviabaptista26@gmail.com).

 Lastly, we’re still looking for volunteers for the Fun Fair. If you are available to volunteer 30 minutes (or more) of your time, please sign-up online - http://vols.pt/XuHQs8 – or email Josee/Silvia.
We can’t wait to see you there!

2016 Fun Fair

It is that time of year again!  Fun Fair is just around the corner.  All students should have received their Fun Fair Package.

The Fun Fair Package can be accessed online: here  If you cannot access dropbox, please send an email to skt.council.ocsb (@) gmail.com and we will send you a copy.

The pre-order form is due back to the school by May 25th.  All families should also consider donating a Tambouli jar (see the description in the Fun Fair Package).  You can send in your Tambouli jars up until June 9th.

The Raffle Basket items are due back on May 27th.  Please see below for the Fun Fair Raffle Basket Theme for your class.  Each student is encouraged to bring in an item according to the theme and these baskets will be raffled off at the Fun Fair.

Boston Pizza Door Prize Winners

Thanks to all who came out to Boston Pizza!  It was a great success.

Congratulations to the four winners who won the door prizes:

Ethan M. - Kindergarten - Toys R Us gift card
Roman B. - Grade 1 - Indigo gift card
Abby N. - Grade 1 - Menchies gift card
Charlotte G. - Grade 2 - Cineplex gift card

Thank you for celebrating St. Kateri's Feast Day with us, and remember whenever you go to Boston Pizza be sure to write SKT on the back so that we will get back a portion of your receipt.

Annual SKT Boston Pizza Night

SKT School Council invites you, your family and friends to our annual Boston Pizza Night to celebrate the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Feast Day.

Please RSVP by April 15th to karencrookshank (@) rogers (dot) com to allow Boston Pizza to staff appropriately.

QSP Magazine Fundraiser

If you are planning on purchasing (or renewing) a subscription to a magazine, why not do it and support the school.   37% of each order will come back to school council.  Visit http://www.qsp.ca and shop with the Group #: 3650819

Speed Bumps on Visneau

The City of Ottawa mailed out an update on the traffic calming measures for Viseneau couple weeks ago.  In the mailing there is website link for a survey included in it.  The survey has (2) questions and an additional comment section you can find it here; it take one (1) minute to complete the Survey and have your opinion count.  The deadline for survey submissions is Monday February 22nd, 2016.

• Link To Survey on This Page - Study Update 2016 
• Larger Initiative Study Here - Ottawa.ca/viseneauATM

For over two years families have been working with the City to ensure traffic safety for Viseneau and Barrington. With the councillor's support we are now at the final approval stage. This past year we have seen much more speeding traffic, accidents, and more commercial vehicles on Viseneau and Barrington because the thru traffic has been avoiding Belcourt and Page as those streets have speed humps. 

An example is the numerous speeding snow dump trucks using Viseneau and Barrington to go to and come from the snow dump site behind the Landmark theatres. According to posted signs and the bylaw, thru truck traffic should not be on these roads. Nevertheless, all kinds of commercial vehicles have increased on Viseneau and Barrington. 

All north / south streets off of Innes from the intersections of Orleans Blvd to Jean d'Arc/Mer Blue ( 2.5 Km ) have either speed humps or are closed ( Boyer ). That explains why most traffic has been taking Viseneau and Barrington. As an effective solution, similar traffic calming measures as currently on Belcourt and Page are very much needed on Viseneau and Barrington.

Gradual Speed Humps will provide the following:

1) Lower traffic speed to 30 - 40 Km/hr and ensure that accidents and driving off the roadway will not occur. Safety will be evident for everyone who uses this road, pedestrians, drivers, and residents.

2) Traffic will decrease as Viseneau / Barrington traffic calming measures will be the same as our neighboring streets so traffic will be shared more equitably. 

3) Commercial traffic will decrease significantly as large vehicles will take the larger roads when proceeding as thru traffic.

4) Traffic noise will decrease as vehicles will not be going at the high speeds ( 60 to 80 km/hr ) as confirmed by Ottawa Police during their enforcement blitz.

5) You will be able to safely exit your driveway.

In order to more accommodate the buses the City is proposing the Flat-top speed humps as opposed to the speed humps on Belcourt and Barrington. The Flat-top humps are more gradual, less abrupt, and smoother to drive over. It is of the belief that they should still be very effective as a traffic calming measure and also more convenient for all residents of the area.

Please send the City your comments supporting the speed humps for both the east and west segments of Viseneau and for Barrington.  You can send an email to the Traffic Coordinator Brian Tweedie at brian.tweedie@ottawa.ca  or complete the short form at the website  Ottawa.ca/viseneauATM  (or do both). 

There is a strong opinion that other traffic measures except the gradual or Flat-top speed humps will not address the traffic safety for Viseneau and Barrington.  We need the support from as many residents as possible.

February 2016 Newsletter

For a printable version: http://bit.ly/1R8aSt0

Dear Parents/Guardians,

There are so many exciting things happening this month in the school; please read below to find out what council has been working on for February.

~~~~

The Lunch Lady

A new hot/cold lunch initiative started on the 1^st of this month with many kids enjoying their lunches provided by The Lunch Lady.  If you have not ordered lunch through them and wish to please visit their website at www.thelunchlady.ca .  There is a wide variety of lunches to choose from and you can pay on-line which makes the process very easy.  Check out The Lunch Lady’s website for answers to questions and to set up a profile to start ordering for your child(ren) today.

~~~~

Book Fair

The school library will be holding their book fair again this year on February 25^th and 26^th from 8am until 7pm on those two days. 

Preview days and wish list making for the children in the school will be on February 24^th.  This is a day when the kids will have the chance to go to the library and see the books that are for sale and create their wish lists to bring home to mom and dad!

Help is always needed on those days, so if you are able to help out anytime from February 24^th to the 26^th please get in contact with Mrs. Germain at cindy.germain@ocsb.ca.   

~~~~

Parent Resources through the SKT Library!

Did you know that you can borrow Parent Resources from the SKT library?  There is a trolley in the Learning Commons where Parent Resource Books and Magazines are kept.

Here is how you can learn more and access these amazing resources:

1.      Drop into the library and check out the books and/or magazines.  If Mrs. Germain is not available to sign out an item on the cart, then you can fill in your information in the “SIGN-OUT” book that is on the cart.

2.      Send an email to Mrs. Germain at cindy.germain@ocsb.ca  and ask for the material to be signed out and sent home with your child.

3.      Send a note in your child’s agenda to be delivered to Mrs. Germain.

If you have questions regarding the Parent Resources feel free to email Mrs. Germain for more details.

~~~~

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 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.

Sponsoring a Family:

The Parish is sponsoring a refugee family that consists of two parents and three kids.  The children are 4 months old (boy), 4 years old (boy) and 6 years old (girl).  The Parish was looking to raise $25,000 and to date have raised over $35,000!  If you are interested in donating please contact the church.  They are still looking for clothes, furniture, toys, etc.

Good Shepherd Parish Bible Study:

The Spring Session of the bible study will begin on March 28^th and will study the prophet Isaiah.  The course is offered twice a week – Monday evening or Wednesday morning.  If interested, please apply at the church by February 12^th.

Lent begins on February 10^th.

Please check the Good Shepherd Parish site for more parish information:

http://www.thegoodshepherdparish.com/

Click the link below for the most recent bulletin:

http://www.thegoodshepherdparish.com/bulletin%20-5th%20Sunday%20in%20Ordinary%20time.pdf

~~~~

CSPA

Learning French at OCSB

When: Thursday, February 18 – 6:45pm to 8:45pm

Where: St. Paul High School – 2675 Draper Ave. Ottawa

Description:

French programs are for all students.  Which pathway is best for your child?  Learn more about the OCSB approach to learning French.  Make informed decisions regarding French for your child.

Register Now: http://bit.ly/1PLNsFD

~~~~

Upcoming Social Event

Save the date for our Boston Pizza Night - April 20^th at the Innes road location.  Further details of the event will be sent out in the next several weeks so keep your eyes out for the communication.

~~~~

Family Skating Party was a Success!!

Thank you to all those families that braved that cold winter evening on January 29^th to come out and enjoy skating with your family and friends.  Although the weather was maybe a little chillier than the parents would have liked, our kids all seemed to have an amazing time.  Between hockey on the big rink and skating in circles on the smaller pond, smiles and red cheeks were out in full force!

~~~~

SKT School Information Binder

By now you should have received a school information binder.  If you still do not have one, please send a note in with your child for their teacher and council will ensure that your family receives one.  Again, we always look for feedback, so if there is anything that you would like to see in the binder, please let us know. 

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

Lunch Lady Program

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The Lunch Lady will begin weekly service to your school on FEBRUARY 1st delivering meals that have been ordered online. Your Lunch Lady day is every Monday.

The Lunch Lady is an all-Canadian success story which began in 1993 with one MOM and one lunch order for one school. Today the Lunch Lady Family delivers thousands of lunches every day to children in over 1200 schools across Canada.

Every lunch:

• meets or exceeds current provincial nutritional standards 
• is prepared daily with care in a nut free, school safe commercial kitchen
• can be modified for students with allergies or special food needs
• includes all applicable taxes 
• gives busy parents a welcome break! 

Order by using our Online Ordering Platform. Once you have set up an account on our system, you will receive order confirmations, menus, updates and reminders from us by email. If you have any questions, allergy concerns or need assistance to place your order, please feel free to call us at 613.680.7001 or emailshawn.shannon@thelunchlady.ca

Sincerely,

Shannon & Shawn
Facebook


To get started you will need to REGISTER an account

Go to www.thelunchlady.ca >ORDER NOW and click through to the login screen.

Select “REGISTER NOW!” and fill in the required Account Holder Information and Submit. [You will receive a Welcome email indicating your set up was successful]

Go to “My Students” and select “Add a Student” function

You are now ready to go to “Schedule My Meals” and order. Pay by MasterCard, Visa, Visa Debit or Interac via a secure 3rd party partner. No credit card information is stored on our site.

Order as little or as often as you like each time. You will receive a transaction report each time you are on our site outlining any activity.

There are cut off times [3 school days’ notice is required] so please get your order in by Midnight Wednesday of the week prior.

A few tips

• If you know what you wish to order, “Type and Tab” your way through the order grid – no need to scroll thru the drop downs each time 
• If you have more than one child, Enter and Save after each child and pay once at the end 
• To avoid the SESSION TIME OUT [20 minutes] and lose your order, SAVE every now and then if you feel you will be visiting longer. 
• Revisit the site anytime to review your order, your order history or make changes by selecting new codes or delete lunches by clicking on the red – [minus] icon beside the lunch date. 
• If your child has allergies, please call me to arrange a modified meal. 
• If your child is absent, contact your kitchen prior 8 AM BY PHONE to have the lunch credited to your account [sorry no refunds- credits only] 

You can also forward any questions or concerns to shawn.shannon@thelunchlady.ca

January 29, 2016: Family Skate

January 2016 Newsletter

For a printable version of the newsletter: http://bit.ly/sktcscJan2016newsletter

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The snow has finally arrived and everyone is back to their routines after being off for the holidays.  Council has had their first meeting of the New Year.  Please review the topics that were discussed below.

~~~~

The Gift of Reading

The gift of reading program was a huge success again this year and a huge thank you from Cindy Germain :

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!  The SKT Learning Commons received almost $600 as gifts to teachers from parents and students!  I am so grateful and I look forward to purchasing new books for the Learning Commons this term!"

~~~~

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 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.

Sponsoring a Family:

The Parish is sponsoring a refugee family (2 parents and 3 kids-infant, 4 and 6).  They are looking to raise $25,000-if you are interested in donating please contact the church.

Good Shepherd Parish Bible Study:

The Spring Session of the bible study will begin on March 28^th and will study the prophet Isaiah. The course is offered twice a week – Monday evening or Wednesday morning. If interested, please apply at the church by February 12^th.

Lent begins on February 10^th.

Please check the Good Shepherd Parish site for more parish information:

http://www.thegoodshepherdparish.com/

~~~~

CSPA

Kindergarten info night-on Wednesday, Jan 13^th from 6-9pm at the Nepean Sportsplex.

Staying connected- on Wednesday Jan 13^th from 6:45-7:45pm at Mother Teresa School.  Learn about changing teen’s body and mind.

Fostering positive Self-esteem-Jan 23rd at Frank Ryan Intermediate School 9:45-11:30am. What is self-esteem -> positive tips

IPAD Workshop for Parents/Guardians of children/youth with an Autism Spectrum Disorder on Jan 26th at the RA Centre 8:30-16:00. Register at Coordinated Access with Cathy Lonergan cathy@coordinatedaccess.ca or Claire Cantin claire@coordinatedaccess.ca

Strong not tough: Feb 8 at St. Matthew HS from 7-9pm. Healthy family plan to manage anxiety and prevent depression.

~~~~

Hot/Cold Lunch Options

We think it is fair to say that the kids and the parents enjoy a change in the everyday lunch that Mom and Dad make by getting something different at school for lunch time.  From our pizza program to our milk program parents and kids both get a little break from eating and making the same lunch.

We are pleased to offer The Lunch Lady service to parents and students as an optional lunch choice.  We are hoping to start this program in February.  A menu and sign up information will be sent home in the next coming week. 

~~~~

Upcoming Social Event

Council will be hosting a Family Fun Skating Party on January 29^th from 6-7:30pm at the outdoor rink by the school.  This is an outdoor event so ensure that you dress properly to be playing in the snow and/or skating on the rink.  Safety is always top of mind so we strongly recommend helmets to be worn for skaters.   Posters with more details will be coming home with your child(ren) in the next week-keep your eyes out.

~~~~

SKT School Information Binder

 You will be receiving in the coming week a binder containing some information about the school, school council and our parish community.  This binder is fairly empty now to allow you to store any information that comes home from the school (class newsletters, pizza flyers, etc.) and keep it all in once place.  We hope that this is a helpful resource.   Through the year we will be adding more general information to this binder as necessary (i.e. / Learning Commons resources that are available to parents/students).  We always look for feedback, so if there is anything that you would like to see in the binder, please let us know. 

~~~~

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