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Have a wonderful January St. Daniel Lions!!!!!!
Please see the January Newsletter.
Weekly Update January 19 - January 23, 2026
St. Daniel Weekly Update
January 19 - January 23, 2026
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for our friends and family. Help us to be kind and caring to everyone we meet. Teach us to build bridges of love and understanding, so we can grow closer together in solidarity and kinship. May our hearts always be open to share and help those in need.
Amen
Eighteenth Week of School
Weather dictates our daily plans, and last week’s swing from -20°C to +7°C gave our Lions much to discuss. Monday’s fresh snow was a hit with the Kindergarteners, while our junior soccer players had to get creative. Even though trekking through the snow to kick a ball is a workout, the challenge made the game even more memorable and fun.
The Boys Handball team had their first practice on Monday during the lunch hour. European Handball is a game that is faced paced, and keeps the students moving across the court. It is a mix of soccer (football) played with hands, basketball (dribbling, passing), and hockey. It is enjoyed immensely by our Lions.
Breaking news from the Badminton team. Mr. Hynes is teaching the teams the skill of backhanding. This is a very advanced technique. Our competition better be prepared for the Lions!!!!!!
Wednesday morning’s Grade 1 class was full of energy after a much-needed "sensational" Sens win. By Thursday, we were celebrating our first "Snow Day" of the season. Please remember that when the Board and OSTA cancel bus and van transportation, they announce it early in the morning. I will also follow up with a School Messenger alert. Typically, we can expect about three to five snow days per year here in Ottawa.
The recent above-average snowfall has restored our yard to a winter wonderland. Please note that Friday brought an extremely cold temperature. We wish to remind you that outdoor recess is cancelled when temperatures reach -25 degrees Celsius or lower.
Grade 6 Transitions - Frank Ryan / Notre Dame/ St. Paul Parent Info Evening
It is time to begin planning for the exciting transition to intermediate and secondary school. To support our Grade 6 students planning to attend Frank Ryan, Notre Dame, or St. Paul in September 2026, each school will be hosting an Information Evening for parents and guardians.
Frank Ryan will host their session on Thursday, January 29, at 6:30 PM, followed by Notre Dame on Wednesday, February 4, at 5:45 PM, and St. Paul on Tuesday, February 10, at 6:00 PM.
These evenings provide a wonderful opportunity to hear from staff and students about academic programming, extracurriculars, and leadership roles. A comprehensive subject overview will be provided, and staff will be available throughout the event to address any questions as you prepare for the 2026-2027 school year.
Workshop Supporting Children in Developing a Healthy Relationship with Technology
On January 28th, 2026, OCSB Mental Health Worker, Gavin Simmons-Feigel, will be facilitating a workshop on supporting children in developing a healthy relationship with technology. His talk will cover the harmful impact of technology overuse on Ottawa area youth, offer insights into the addictive nature of social media and gaming, and provide practical tips for how our school community can support students through this rapidly changing landscape.
The workshop should last about 30 minutes and is intended to spark constructive conversation and strategy sharing among participants. It will take place in the Gym. The talk will begin at 6:00 PM, followed by the Parent council meeting.
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 the information provided by OSTA.
PGL Screening
We are in the process of identifying candidates (Grade 3-6) who may qualify for the Program for Gifted Learners (PGL), an off-site resource withdrawal program for gifted learners in grades four, five and six. Screening involves cognitive, affective and academic assessment of potentially gifted learners. If you would like to speak further about this opportunity, please reach out to your child’s teacher to discuss this further. Thank you!
St. Daniel Catholic School Council
Next Meeting: January 28, 2026 6:00 PM GYM
This is a very special Council meeting. OCSB Mental Health Worker, Gavin Simmons-Feigel, will be facilitating a workshop on supporting children in developing a healthy relationship with technology. His talk will include information on the harmful impact tech over use is having on Ottawa area youth, give insights into the addictive nature of social media and gaming, and provide practical tips for how we as a school community can support students through a rapidly changing tech landscape. The workshop should last about 40 minutes and will hopefully spark constructive conversation amongst participants around strategy sharing.
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 .
Snowsuit Fund
The Snowsuit Fund provides new snowsuits to children aged 0-15 who are Ottawa residents and considered low-income. Eligibility criteria include proof of the child's age, household income, and address. Families can apply for the program by appointment only through the Snowsuit Fund website. There is a nominal $10 fee to help cover administrative costs.
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
January 20 St. Paul to Visit the Grade 6 students
Future Dates
January 28 Parent Council Meeting Mental Health Presentation
January 29 Grade 6 Parent Night Frank Ryan
January 30 PD DAY
February 4 Grade 6 Parent Night Notre Dame
February 10 Grade 6 Parent Night St. Paul
February 13 Canada vs Switzerland
February 15 Canada vs France
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