March Newsletter

St. Daniel Weekly Update

March 9 - March 13, 2026

Prayer

O Glorious St. Joseph, faithful guardian of Jesus and beloved spouse of Mary, we turn to you in this month dedicated to your honor. You, who so lovingly cared for the Holy Family, we entrust our families and our daily lives to your protection.

In this season of Lent, as we strive for greater holiness, guide us in your example of quiet strength, humble obedience, and unwavering faith. Help us to imitate your virtues, to be just and compassionate in our dealings with others, and to find grace in our labours.

We ask for your intercession for all workers, that they may find dignity and purpose in their work. Protect those who are vulnerable, provide for those who are in need, and bring comfort to those who are suffering.

St. Joseph, patron of the universal Church, pray for us. May we, like you, always be faithful to God's will and worthy of His blessings. 

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Week of School

The beginning of this week was certainly brightened by the collective joy of our Ottawa Senators fans! A distinct sense of pride and celebration filled the hallways this Monday morning, a feeling enthusiastically championed by Mrs. Anlar and Mrs. Boyle. Meanwhile, for those of us who follow the Toronto Maple Leafs (and you know who you are!), the less said, the better. Frankly, I'm at a complete loss for words—this team is truly testing the limits of my loyalty and breaking my heart with their latest performance. I'm genuinely not sure how much more a dedicated fan can endure!

Our dedicated Lions have had to tap into their inner Penguins during the often-treacherous early hours of the morning commute. We've officially entered that challenging period of the year where the constant, frustrating cycle of thawing and freezing transforms our school walkways and parking lot into makeshift skating rinks. Safety remains our paramount concern, and we owe a massive debt of gratitude to the ever-diligent Mr. Gentle for his tireless work. He's been out, diligently spreading rock salt and grit to minimize the hazard. A huge shout-out is also due to all our students for their quick adoption of the “Penguin Walk” technique—short, shuffling steps—a simple but effective way to maintain balance and stay safe!

Thursday, March 5th, proved to be an exceptionally busy and exciting day for many of our Lions. The morning was dedicated to capturing memories with our annual group photos, a lively affair that involved a lot of coordinating and smiles! Furthermore, our oldest students marked a significant milestone with their official Grade 6 graduation pictures. That is always an emotional and exciting time, a tangible sign that their elementary journey is nearing its conclusion.

In the afternoon, Ms. Hebert held a focused and productive practice session for the Grade 5 and Grade 6 students who will be participating in the deeply meaningful dramatization of the Stations of the Cross. This solemn and moving presentation is scheduled to take place during Holy Thursday, and the students are already showing great commitment.

We were thrilled to host our two Principals of the Day on Thursday. They had a jam-packed schedule and embraced their executive duties with enthusiasm. Their day included the monthly, detailed inspection of the school grounds and facilities. Mr. Gentle, always the stickler for order, was profoundly impressed with both their keen attention to detail and their comprehensive notes.

However, the consensus best part of being Principal of the Day is, without a doubt, lunchtime. The irresistible scent of fresh pizza and McDonald's French fries was gloriously present in the main office for the rest of the day, creating an atmosphere of pure indulgence. Mrs. Boyle and Mr. Oliver, caught up in the delicious aromas, were truly in heaven!!!!

We also continued our commitment to French language immersion this week. We had the wonderful opportunity to listen to the school announcements delivered entirely in French by two of our articulate junior students. This fantastic initiative is set to continue throughout the entire month of March, fostering linguistic confidence and celebrating our bilingual heritage.

Finally, the beloved Friday Funnies segment has seemingly taken on a hilarious, albeit predictable, new beginning. For the past few weeks, it appears that there is an increasingly specific and pointed joke theme: the perennial struggles of the Toronto Maple Leafs. This running gag, while painful for a select few, absolutely makes the day for both Mrs. Anlar and Mrs. Boyle, who clearly enjoy their Sens-fueled moment of superiority!

Parking

We ask that Parents do not use the Parking lot behind the school to drop off or pick up students.  That Parking lot is for staff only.  Please use the lot in front of the school.  If that is full. Please walk-a-block.

Lenten Project

Please see the poster with information regarding our 2026 Lenten Project.

Reconciliation and First Communion

Dear parents/guardians of Grade 2 students,

The sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion will take place at St. Basil's Parish this spring.  The Parish has created a link for parents to register their Grade 2 or older child for sacramental preparation as well as the sacraments. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSejNA4QvPuKiMMmmP67CssNfOWBgCCI5sK1kZda5gqMfFVgoQ/viewform

The first session will be March 1st after the 10am Mass in the basement of St. Basil.

The First Communion Mass is scheduled for May 24th. 

Thank you.

St. Basil Church 

Census

Every child deserves to feel supported, included, and able to succeed at school. The OCSB Student Census helps us better understand who our students are so we can plan programs, resources, and supports that truly meet their needs.

The survey opens February 24, 2026.

Parent Engagement Sessions

We know you may have questions. We invite you to join one of our Parent Engagement Sessions to learn more and ask questions.

• Thursday, January 29, 2026, Virtual Session, Sign Up (Noon or 7:00 pm Sessions).

• Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 6:30 pm, In-Person Session (West), St. Paul High School.

• Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 7:30 pm, In-Person Session (East), Lester B. Pearson High School.

For the in-person sessions, Multicultural Liaison Officers will be on-site to provide interpretation in Arabic, Spanish, French, Mandarin, and Tigrinya, helping ensure all families feel welcome and supported. Child-minding will also be available for children who can use the washroom independently.

Key Dates

• Opt-out period: February 2 to February 13, 2026. The opt out form will be emailed to parents of K-12 on Monday February 2, 2026.

• Survey open: February 24 to March 13, 2026.

Who Completes the Census

• Kindergarten to Grade 3: Parents and guardians will receive a survey link by email and complete the census for their child.

• Grades 4 to 12: Students will complete the census themselves during class time, with support if needed.

Four Things to know

• It is short: The survey takes less than 10 minutes.

• It is voluntary: You may skip any question, and you may choose to opt out during the opt-out period.

• It is confidential: The census is not anonymous, but individual responses are not shared with teachers or schools.

• It helps us plan: Your answers help OCSB understand student needs and improve programs and supports.

Questions

If you still have questions, please join a Parent Engagement Session, visit our Student Census webpage, or email research@ocsb.ca.

On March 10, 2026, our students in grades 4 through 6 will be completing the 2026 OCSB Student Census at school. Answers are voluntary and confidential. 

For children in grades kindergarten through 3, a link to the Census will be sent to all parents via email.

The information collected will help us:

• Plan programs and services that support student success.

• Understand language, cultural, and identity needs in our schools.

• Improve resources for students with diverse backgrounds.

• Guide equity and inclusion work.

• Identify areas where additional support is needed; and

• Create schools where every student feels safe, welcome, and included. 

FSL Pathways Grade 3 and Grade 6 Information

As was done last year, your grade three and six families will choose their French Pathway using Google forms.

Grade three and six parents received a link via School Messenger on February 11, 2026. Parents are asked to complete this important form by March 6, 2026. 

Snow Days

In the event that extreme weather results in the cancellation of school buses, parents are required to submit their child’s absence to the safe arrival if they take a school bus.  The school will remain open.  Should you choose to send your child to school, parents are responsible for transportation to and from school that day.  School hours are from 9:15 to 3:45 p.m.  If you wish to have someone other than a family member pick your child up, a written request with your signature must be delivered to the office.

KG Transportation Information for 2026 -2027

Please see information from OSTA.

St. Daniel Catholic School Council  

Next Meeting:  April 9, 2026   6:30 PM Learning Commons 

REMINDERS

Arrival / Dismissal Drop off / Pick up

Please be aware of the procedures that are in place for dismissal and pick up.  To promote the safety of our students at St Daniel Catholic School, we have developed and implemented a plan to ensure the safe arrival and dismissal of our children. Parents and school staff have a vital role in this process. 

ARRIVAL: Children enter the gate which is located at the east end of the school . They do so between 9:00 - 9:15 a.m. Students will then proceed to the schoolyard. No adults are allowed on the school yard before, during or after school. Educators will be in these designated areas.  At 9:15 when the bell rings, students will line up with classes, and then they will proceed into the school through their designated door, and be escorted with their teacher to their classroom.  In the case of inclement weather, students will enter the school from designated doors, and be directed by staff to their classrooms. We ask for your full cooperation as the safety and security of our children is a whole school approach.  

Dismissal:  Everyone will be dismissed from their classrooms between 3:38 - 3:45pm.  When the buses arrive, kinders will start boarding buses at 3:40, followed by Grades 1-6 students.  EDP students will leave at 3:44 to walk directly to EDP.  Walkers will leave at 3:44 to leave school for home.  

Drop Off /Pick UP If you are driving your child to school in the morning or picking them up at dismissal time, we ask you to park your car away from the school and WALK-A-BLOCK. We ask that you do not enter the Bus drop off zone, these are off limits to all cars between 9:00 AM - 9:30 PM and  3:30 PM - 4:00 PM .

Breakfast Program

All students are invited to attend the breakfast program.  If you do not want your child to participate in the breakfast program, kindly contact your teacher with this request.

School Messenger

 Please sign up for School messenger to make sure you will be receiving all communication from our school. If this is not completed you may miss out on receiving some important announcements from our school. School Messenger

Parent Portal: 

Please visit Login - enCompass to access your students information and in future their report cards.  Please review the contact information listed.  If any changes need to be made please email Daniel@ocsb.ca with the new updates.  

Office Administrator 

Please take note that oftentimes you will not be able to speak to our Office Administrators 30 minutes before the end of school bell at 3:45 PM. This is a very busy time.  Requests to have students be removed from the bus or ready for you to pick them up early should be done in the morning,  by communication in the agenda or a voicemail message before 12:00 PM.  Please understand that these types of requests may not be addressed if you are calling late. We would kindly ask that if you are requesting a pick up at 3:30, please wait until 3:45.

Thank you 

Important Dates

Student Census    March 10, 2026

Grade 6 visit to Frank Ryan  March 11, 2026