St Clare’s Weekly News Flash

Week of March 15th

Lenten Prayer

Lord God, you who established a lasting covenant with me, help me to be faithful to my promises to you. Help me to find my way back to you. Help me to work hard this Lent and to serve others as your son Jesus did. 

Amen

What’s happening at our school this week?

Please ensure that you complete a self-assessment using the Public Health School screening tool before you send your child to school each day.

*Litterless Lunches - A reminder to parents: Due to Covid restrictions, students are asked to continue to bring home all containers and recycle in their own home rather than at school.

LOOKING AHEAD
April 1 - Holy Thursday - Stations of the Cross
April 2 - Good Friday - no school
April 5 - Easter Monday - no school                                                                                                     April 12-16- Spring break

Lenten Project ***Now accepting donations link

Dear parents/Guardians. We will be supporting the Cumberland Resource Center Food Bank.  Donations will be accepted through Cumberland Resource Centre Starting tomorrow March 16th until Good Thursday April 1st.    We will not be collecting cans, packaged food etc.

Provincial and OPH Guideline:

The province has changed its screening tool to go back to one symptom so that if a student has only one symptom, the child needs to stay at home. The OPH screening tools have been updated. If your child has even 1 new or worsening symptom, then they must isolate for 10 days or until they receive confirmation of a negative test or alternate medical diagnosis.  This single-symptom criteria applies provincially.  And now all household members of that person who has a symptom and is isolating and being tested, must also stay home until the symptomatic person receives a negative test result or an alternate medical diagnosis. 

Remember to be COVIDWise:

• W – Wear a mask or face covering where required, or when you cannot maintain a physical distance of two metres (six feet)

.• I – Isolate yourself from others when you are sick (and get tested promptly if you have COVID-like symptoms).

• S – Stay two metres (six feet) apart from those outside your household.

• E – Exercise proper hand hygiene; wash your hands regularly or use sanitizer

         especially before touching your face.

St. Clare Spirit Week

March 15 – 19, 2021

St Clare’s News Flash

Week of February 22nd

Please ensure that you complete a self-assessment using the Public Health School screening tool before you send your child to school each day.

*Litterless Lunches - A reminder to parents: Due to Covid restrictions, students are asked to continue to bring home all containers and recycle in their own home rather than at school.

LOOKING AHEAD

March 15-19 - Spirit Week - details to follow

**NEW** Provincial and OPH Guideline:

The province has changed its screening tool to go back to one symptom so that if a student has only one symptom, the child needs to stay at home. The OPH screening tools have been updated. If your child has even 1 new or worsening symptom, then they must isolate for 10 days or until they receive confirmation of a negative test or alternate medical diagnosis.  This single-symptom criteria applies provincially.  And now all household members of that person who has a symptom and is isolating and being tested, must also stay home until the symptomatic person receives a negative test result or an alternate medical diagnosis. 

Lenten Project

We will be supporting the Cumberland Resource Center Food Bank.  Donations will be accepted through Cumberland Resource Centre.  More information to come. We will not be collecting cans, packaged food etc.

Reminder: FSL Pathways for Grades 3 and 6 Students

Important information regarding your child’s French Pathway was sent via School messenger February 18th.  It is due on February 26th.  Please check your email.

A Parent Guide

🤔"But I don't speak French."

This guide contains practical suggestions for parents to enhance their child’s learning in French.  It reaffirms the message that parents/guardians don’t need special skills to help their child learn French.

Supporting Your Child’s Success in French Immersion and Extended French (Elementary Schools) - A Parent Guide  

OCSB Virtual School for 2021/2022

New OCSB Virtual Academy for next year

It is hard to believe that we are already talking about the next school year. Last Friday, the school board sent a message to all parents regarding the establishment of permanent virtual schools (Feb 12th Message). Parents have been asked to identify whether they wish to register their child(ren) in the virtual option described.  It is important to note that choosing this option is a year-long commitment. 

We know that, understandably, there may be some apprehension about making a commitment at this point in the school year.  You know your child(ren) best and know if they would thrive in the virtual learning classroom.  Each family’s circumstances are unique.  We do want to ensure, however, that you are aware of a few key pieces of information.  

Some things to consider:

• The Board’s virtual academy is being established as a permanent option.  It is here to stay, and will remain an option even after the COVID-related changes are phased out.  

• If you choose virtual learning your child will become a student at that school. Your child would not be a St. Clare student for the 2021-22 school year. Of course, next year at this time you could opt to re-register for the 2022-23 school year at your home school.

• If you select the virtual option for 2021-22 now, but change your mind at a later point (prior to or during the 2021-22 school year), you can request to come back to your home school. However, the request will be treated as a cross-boundary transfer request and could only be approved if space was available.  There is a strong likelihood that space would not be available. 

• The virtual learning model for next year will be synchronous, as was the case this year. 

• There are no system or inclusion classes being offered at the virtual academy.

• There will be Resource support available through the virtual academy.  The virtual academy will have its own dedicated Resource teachers but no educational assistants will be assigned to the virtual academy.

If you do not fill out the form provided by the Board, it will be automatically assumed that you are returning to face-to-face learning at your home school next year.

The deadline for completion of the virtual academy form is firm. It is February 25th. You only fill in the form if you are committing to the Virtual school for the whole year next year.

Remember to be COVIDWise:

• W – Wear a mask or face covering where required, or when you cannot maintain a physical distance of two metres (six feet)

.• I – Isolate yourself from others when you are sick (and get tested promptly if you have COVID-like symptoms).

• S – Stay two metres (six feet) apart from those outside your household.

• E – Exercise proper hand hygiene; wash your hands regularly or use sanitizer

         especially before touching your face.

St Clare’s News Flash

Week of February 8th

What’s happening at our school this week?

Please ensure that you complete a self-assessment using the Public Health School screening tool before you send your child to school each day.

LOOKING AHEAD

February 12 - Lunar New Year/ Pink red and white day
February 14 - Valentine’s day
February 15th - Family Day (no school)
February 18th - Reports available on Parent Portal
February 24th- Pink Shirt or Anti-Bullying Day
March 15-19 - March break Postponed until April 12th

St. Valentine Day   
A reminder that we are not having students bring things from home to hand out to other students including treats and Valentine’s cards, but we invite all to wear pink/red/white. 

A Valentine’s Day Prayer

I said a Valentine prayer for you and asked the Lord above to fill your heart and bless your soul

With the precious gift of love.
I asked Him for sincere love. The kind that's meant to stay Just like the generous love You give to those you touch each day.
I prayed for love from family and from every cherished friend. Then I asked the Lord to give you

His love that knows no end. Amen                                                                                                 Jen Norton, Artist

FSL Pathways for Grades 3 and 6 Students

In February comes the time for parents of Grades 3 and 6 students to select the FSL pathway that they feel would best meet their child’s needs for Grade 4 and Grade 7.  Usually, the information is sent in the first term Report Card envelope.  Since it is now distributed via the Parent Portal, the FSL Pathways package will be shared digitally.  Next week, you will receive additional information via School Messenger on the same day Report Cards will be distributed.  

A Parent Guide

🤔"But I don't speak French."

This guide contains practical suggestions for parents to enhance their child’s learning in French.  It reaffirms the message that parents/guardians don’t need special skills to help their child learn French.

Supporting Your Child’s Success in French Immersion and Extended French (Elementary Schools) - A Parent Guide  

Masks

The Ministry of Education has announced that masks are now mandatory for all students in Grades 1 - 12. They continue to strongly encourage our Kindergarten students to wear masks as well.  Students are also required to wear masks on buses or special transportation vans. Masks will also be required to be worn inside and outside if a distance of 2 metres can not be maintained. We find that with the colder weather students need to change their masks more often. Sending a few extra masks is recommended.

Additional precautionary measures

As an added measure of safety we would ask that all parents refrain from bringing fast food or restaurant food for their child at lunchtime.

Remember to be COVIDWise

• W – Wear a mask or face covering where required, or when you cannot maintain a physical distance of two metres (six feet)

.• I – Isolate yourself from others when you are sick (and get tested promptly if you have COVID-like symptoms).

• S – Stay two metres (six feet) apart from those outside your household.

• E – Exercise proper hand hygiene; wash your hands regularly or use sanitizer

         especially before touching your face.

Chromebook Returns                                

If your family borrowed Chromebooks we will need them returned as soon as possible. We need these devices in the hands of our students in our building.  Please ensure that your child brings the Chromebook to school with him or her by Tuesday February 16th.  

Announcement from School Council 

The CSPA Representative position is currently available on our 2020/2021 Parent Council!

CSPA (Ottawa Catholic School Parents Association) is a volunteer parent organization that represents parents and elected school council members of the OCSB.  For more information on CSPA, visit: http://www.ottawacspa.ca/cspa/  

The CSPA Representative is responsible for reporting and consulting with Council on issues referred by the Board and/or Parent Association. They also represent the opinions of parents in their school community and the majority view of Council at CSPA’s monthly meetings which are currently held virtually on the 4th Wednesday evening of each month).

If interested, connect with us at School Council at st.clarecouncil94@gmail.com and join our Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/347547895985026/  

The live vote for the open position will happen at our next virtual Council meeting on April 7th at 1830h (link will be made available closer to the meeting date).

Important

Safe Dismissal Rules and Parking Restrictions

Feb 3, 2021

Dear Parents,

The winter season is here.  After being away for 6 weeks I would like at this time to review the rules for the safe dismissal of our students. With the increased number of parents dropping off and picking up their children this year, the stopping area in front of our school has become limited. In order to maintain a safe dismissal for our students, we are asking that you park away from the school on the side streets, and “walk-a-block” when picking up your child.  This would go a long way in reducing the congestion in the front of the school.

• After unloading your child, please ensure that they cross at the crosswalk, or at the cones where an adult will be monitoring

• Stopping is permitted only on the north side of the street (the side with sidewalk) between the “No Parking” signs as indicated above with the green arrow 

• The crosswalk is not a stopping or drop-off area.  See red arrow 

• A stopped vehicle in the crosswalk zone creates an obstruction hazard as other drivers will often try to overpass the stopped vehicle.  This presents a dangerous situation for the students and parents who are crossing. 

• Please DO NOT make a U-turn in front of the school

• Also, be a good neighbour, and do not use the driveways of neighbours to drop off or pick up your child

  Working Together To Keep Our School Community Safe!