All Saints Blog Week of May 24th, 2016

All Saints students and staff return from Italy

A big welcome back to our All Saints group who have been enjoying an exhaustive but exhilarating time touring Italy.  I understand the trip was a huge success, and the weather cooperated most of the time!  A special thank you to our staff supervisors who accompanied our students.

All Saints Walk and Talk morning a Success!

Our Mental Health Student Ambassador group ran a very successful “Walk and Talk” morning last Friday.  All students at All Saints participated in the activity, with a purpose to raise awareness and discussion about mental wellness.  Students walked a short course through our community and were challenged with discussion questions along the way.  When the students returned to the school, there were kiosks set up by a number of community agencies promoting mental wellness.  Students shared written feedback and we’ve kept the comments to review in the coming weeks.  Thank you to all of our students and staff for making our first annual “Walk and Talk” a success.  You can check out our school Twitter feed for additional information (@AllSaintsCHS)

Get a head start on the Literacy test for Next Year

Students who are writing the grade 10 EQAO Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test in 2016-2017 will be completing the test online.   Students can get a head start and try it out now!  

Step 1: Access the sample tests at https://goo.gl/N6xOqh

Step 2: Complete English, Session 1 and English, Session 2. Try them as often as you would like.

Step 3: If you need text to speech, this is available in the online sample tests. Choose appropriately.

Note: There are video tutorials on using the online test. They can be found here: http://goo.gl/jFtTzl

Clothing Drive at All Saints

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Ottawa are holding a clothing drive on May 28th from 8:00 to 2:00 in the parking lot at All Saints.  Proceeds will go to help initiatives run by the group.  Please find additional information at the following link:

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Clothing Drive

Sessions for Parents:

There are a number of updates at the Catholic School Parents’ Association’s (CSPA) website.  Please visit here.

Communications

Check out our blog – allsaintschs.blogspot.ca and our twitter @AllSaintsCHS as well as our website ash.ocsb.ca for all that is happening at All Saints!

All Saints Blog Week of May 16th, 2016

Transportation Policy for Families

The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority’s Policy and Procedures for Students in a Joint Custody Arrangement with Two Homes is available on their website (link below).  There are deadlines parents must meet in order to ensure transportation arrangements are made to two homes for the first school day in September.

1. NEW applications and schedules for transportation to two homes must be signed by BOTH parents (or individual and identical applications and schedules may be signed by each parent) and submitted to OSTA no later than June 1, 2016, if a student has not yet received transportation to two homes.
2. Parents of students who have already been receiving transportation to two homes on a previously approved application and schedule must RENEW their schedules with OSTA before June 30, 2016. Approval from both parents is not necessary, providing the access schedule or pickup/drop­off addresses have not changed from the current year.
3. If there are any changes to schedule or pickup/drop­off addresses from current year, a NEW application and schedule must be signed by BOTH parents and submitted to OSTA no later than June 1, 2016.

All documents are posted online at:http://ottawaschoolbus.ca/policies/transportation­services.

Study Skills Session for High School Students

Our school Psychologist Dr. Richard Bolduc will be offering a Study Skills Session for our high school students to help them better prepare for exams.  Dr. Bolduc will lead this session on Wednesday, May 18 during high school lunch in room L210.  Please encourage your son/daughter to take advantage of this session - teachers will be offering additional information regarding the opportunity.

Students Win Bronze at Ontario Skills Competition

Creativity and animation skills were on display at All Saints Catholic High School, as students took home the Bronze medal at the Ontario Skills Competition.  After having won their respective qualifying competitions in Kingston on April 16, ASH students Aidan Long, Jean-Luc Sabourin, Brynn Rhude and Kristen Twolan travelled to RIM Park in Waterloo from May 2-4, to showcase their myriad skillsets at the Provincial level.

Aidan and Jean-Luc, competing in the 2D Animation category, had to use the lessons they learned in Mr. Brook's Communications Technology class - as well as their creative genius - to construct an 8 second animation that related to an audio clip that was provided to them.

Kristen and Brynn were competing in the TV & Video Production category to create a 1 minute to 1 minute 30 second comedy video.  The students decided to use a 'Home Alone' theme to showcase the different events that were happening around the Skills venue.  Using the techniques they had learned from Mr. Brooks as well as their staff mentor Mr. Jewitt, the students produced a very artistic and imaginative video.

Everyone involved had a tremendous experience at the event and are looking forward to building off of their success.  Go Avalanche!

Ottawa Catholic School Board Priorities and Spiritual Theme

The OCSB has released its priorities and spiritual theme for next year.  The Board continues to focus on Success for Students, Staff and Stewardship of Resources, while we will be focusing on the theme of “Sent to be the Good News” in our schools.  

Clothing Drive at All Saints

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Ottawa are holding a clothing drive on May 28th from 8:00 to 2:00 in the parking lot at All Saints.  Proceeds will go to help initiatives run by the group.  Please find additional information at the following link:

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Clothing Drive

Sessions for Parents:

There are a number of updates at the Catholic School Parents’ Association’s (CSPA) website.  Please visit here.

Communications

Check out our blog – allsaintschs.blogspot.ca and our twitter @AllSaintsCHS as well as our website ash.ocsb.ca for all that is happening at All Saints!

All Saints Blog Week of May 9th, 2016

School Council Meeting

The All Saints School Council will be meeting this Monday, May 9th at 7:00 at the school.  All parents are welcome to attend.  We meet in our learning commons on the second floor.

French Immersion Video Contest

We would like to congratulate 3 grade 11 students from All Saints who received a third place spot in a nationwide French Immersion video Competition about social media. They each merit a bursary of  $4000 (1000$ /year for 4 years) at either l’Université d’Ottawa, l’Université St-Anne (NÉ), à l’Université St-Paul (ON) or l’Université de Sudbury (ON).  Congratulations to our team!

Transportation Policy for Families

The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority’s Policy and Procedures for Students in a Joint Custody Arrangement with Two Homes is available on their website (link below).  There are deadlines parents must meet in order to ensure transportation arrangements are made to two homes for the first school day in September.

1. NEW applications and schedules for transportation to two homes must be signed by BOTH parents (or individual and identical applications and schedules may be signed by each parent) and submitted to OSTA no later than June 1, 2016, if a student has not yet received transportation to two homes.
2. Parents of students who have already been receiving transportation to two homes on a previously approved application and schedule must RENEW their schedules with OSTA before June 30, 2016. Approval from both parents is not necessary, providing the access schedule or pickup/drop­off addresses have not changed from the current year.
3. If there are any changes to schedule or pickup/drop­off addresses from current year, a NEW application and schedule must be signed by BOTH parents and submitted to OSTA no later than June 1, 2016.

All documents are posted online at:http://ottawaschoolbus.ca/policies/transportation­services.

Study Skills Session for High School Students

Our school Psychologist Dr. Richard Bolduc will be offering a Study Skills Session for our high school students to help them better prepare for exams.  Dr. Bolduc will lead this session on Wednesday, May 18 during high school lunch in room L210.  Please encourage your son/daughter to take advantage of this session - teachers will be offering additional information regarding the opportunity.

Career Fair Presentations

Our Cooperative Education students participating in work experience opportunities presented their career highlights this past week in our atrium.  Students were able to speak to their experiences through pictures and descriptions of the tasks in which they are involved.  Thank you to all those who shared their experiences.

Sessions for Parents:

There are a number of updates at the Catholic School Parents’ Association’s (CSPA) website.  Please visit here.

Communications

Check out our blog – allsaintschs.blogspot.ca and our twitter @AllSaintsCHS as well as our website ash.ocsb.ca for all that is happening at All Saints!

All Saints Blog Week of May 2nd, 2016

Education Week

From May 2nd to 6th this week, schools across the province celebrate Education Week.  Ontario Catholic schools have linked their celebration to the theme: “Opening Doors of Mercy”.  There are many activities planned at All Saints, as well as the rest of the schools in the board.  Our Board wide Education Week mass is on Tuesday, May 3rd at 7:30 at Notre Dame Basilica where our own Creative Arts teacher Graham Mastersmith will be honoured with the Director of Education Commendation Award. For additional information, please find links to school and board activities below:

• All Saints Catholic Education Week Activities
• Ottawa Catholic School Board Education week publication

Parliament Visit for grade 10 students

A group of our grade 10 students had the opportunity to visit the Parliament Buildings this past week where they got a tour and were able to see some of the important workings of our federal government.  Karen McCrimmon, Member of Parliament for Kanata-Carleton and a Canadian Forces veteran, followed up with our students by visiting All Saints the next day and continuing the dialogue.  

Elementary School Visits

All Saints welcomed the elementary schools within our family of schools this week for introductory visits.  Students from St Michael Corkery, St. Isidore, St Gabriel and Georges Vanier visited this week and were able to spend time in 7&8 classrooms, get information about the timetable and daily routines, visit our specialty areas, and attend demonstrations from a number of student groups.  We let students know that this is part of the detailed process, including meetings with elementary teachers and parents, that we spend on ensuring a successful transition to grade 7.  We look forward to further discussions with our elementary students.

All Saints Student picked as Ottawa Catholic Student Trustee

We would like to congratulate one of our grade 11 students, Sebastian Chavez Cabrera.  Sebastian applied to our Ottawa Catholic school board as a student trustee this spring.  Each School Board in Ontario elects two student trustees who help bring the students’ perspective to the elected trustee Board table.  Each of our 15 high schools had an opportunity to send one candidate to be considered for the position.  Sebastian presented a speech to current student senate members and was elected as one of the board’s student trustees for next year.  Great work Sebastian, we are very proud of you.

Grade 12 Student Survey

The Ottawa Catholic School Board is inviting Grade 12 students to complete an on-line survey about their opinions and experiences regarding their school experience and their plans after high school. The Grade 12 survey is mandated by the Ministry of Education as part of the policy requirements for Creating Pathways to Success (2013). The student exit surveys are voluntary and anonymous. The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.  The results of the survey will be used to help improve secondary education programs.  Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ms. McGilchrist at the school or Donna Mailloux, Research Officer at 613-224-4455.

Sessions for Parents:

There are a number of updates at the Catholic School Parents’ Association’s (CSPA) website.  Please visit here.

• Earl of March Secondary School Council presents “Limiting Excess Screen Time in Students”  May 5 – 7:00 – 9:00pm.  The Earl of March School Council is hosting an information session on the topic of limiting excess screen time in students.  Whether in the form of cellphones, TVs, video games, or the Internet, screens are everywhere.  Spending too much time on screens can reduce time spent on schoolwork or with family.  Our speaker, Dr. Darcy Santor, will discuss excessive screen time use and strategies to address this issue.  Dr. Santor is a professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Ottawa and a clinical psychologist.  This information session will take place on Thursday, May 5, from 7-9 pm in the school auditorium.    No registration is required and refreshments will be provided.  For more information, please check https://earlcouncil.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/screentime.pdf.

Communications

Check out our blog – allsaintschs.blogspot.ca and our twitter @AllSaintsCHS as well as our website ash.ocsb.ca for all that is happening at All Saints!