New OSAP information for Parents and Guardians

NEW OSAP REMOVING FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY
If your child is currently in Grade 12, you should know that applications are now open for college and university programs. The last date for university applications is January 11th. College applications for the fall term should be submitted before February 1st.  Your child may benefit from financial assistance for postsecondary education from the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). As part of the most significant reform of student assistance in North America, the government of Ontario is removing the financial barriers to attending college or university.
If your family income is under $50,000, your child’s tuition is covered. Even if you earn more, the new OSAP is still there to help with generous grants that will make sending your child to college or university more affordable.
The Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development has launched a new online calculator to help students and their families find out quickly and easily, whether they qualify for free tuition or other grants and supports from the province. We encourage you to find out more at ontario.ca/osap.
Please see the poster link here

All Saints Blog Week of December 19th, 2016

It is a fortunate year in that we are able to celebrate the full fourth week of Advent in our school this December.  We have been able to collectively anticipate the coming of Jesus’ birth, while making practical connections to our own lives.  Pope Francis spoke of this important time: “Indeed, the Birth of Jesus brings us the good news that we are loved immensely and uniquely by God, and he not only enables us to know this love, he also gives it to us, he communicates it to us!”.  While December is busy as school goes until the day before Christmas Eve, it is my hope that you have an opportunity to relax with family and friends and reflect on the important messages of this Advent and Christmas Season.  Merry Christmas and have a safe Holiday.  See you on January 9th!

Christmas Spirit Week

Tis the season for our Christmas Spirit Week!

MONDAY: Ugly Sweater Day

TUESDAY: Winter Getaway Day (Tropical/ Hawaiian)

WEDNESDAY: Toque Day

THURSDAY: Christmas Morning PJ Day

FRIDAY: Red and Green Day

All Saints Class of the Week Award

Congratulations to Ms. Connelly’s grade 11 Chemistry students who were recipients of the “All Saints Class of the Week” award.  I have encouraged teachers to recognize classes for their involvement with a new academic approach, enthusiasm around a fundraising initiative or engagement with a direction in the classroom.  Ms. Connelly nominated her class for their work in transforming the classroom environment with some beautiful chemistry-themed murals.  We will continue to recognize classes at All Saints for outstanding achievement.

Best Buy Technology Specials for All Saints Parents and Students

At our “Meet the Staff” afternoon earlier in the year, I explained that All Saints was developing a partnership with Best Buy to provide technological devices (chromebooks, laptops, and other devices) at a discount to our school community.  To be most effective in today’s learning environments, students benefit significantly from access to technology at school and home, as technology is a vital tool for their learning and productivity. The school board invests heavily to support access to technology for students and staff across our schools. Devices are made available to students in our school; however, we have received many requests from students and parents asking for advice on what device they should purchase if they wish to bring their own device to school.

We have established an optional purchase program with Best Buy for those who are interested in purchasing their own device.  Parents and students may purchase any brand of device from any company as all devices will work on school network. Some of these devices are exclusive to our Best Buy partnership and not available to others through Best Buy.

The technologies listed on the Best Buy portal are only recommendations. Best Buy is offering discounts on protection plans and other supplies and peripherals but parents may choose to purchase from any vendor.  As you will see on the Portal, we are recommending Chromebooks as a simple, safe, efficient and cost effective device. We also help equip these with Board purchased software through the student Google accounts and the use of the student portal.  You can access the letter home describing the program in greater detail here.

Please contact the school if you have any questions.

Parents Engaged in Education Newsletter

Check out the following link to the Parents Engaged in Education School Council Newsletter for December.

Communications:

Check out our blog – allsaintschs.blogspot.ca and our twitter @AllSaintsCHS (Mr. Kelly’s - @seankellyottawa) as well as our website ash.ocsb.ca for all that is happening at All Saints!

Coming Up:

January 16th: School Council Meeting

HOST program - currently supporting students at All Saints

HELP OUR STUDENTS PROGRAM CHRISTMAS LETTER

Dreams come true. When a friend and I started the Help Our Students Program in 2010, giving financial assistance to hard-working students living in difficult financial circumstances so they can graduate high school, we were able to help three students from two local high schools.  Our dream was that, one day, we could help one student in every Ottawa high school. This year, we are giving $1,000 awards - $100 per month from September through June – to 109 students - at least one boy and one girl - from 52 high schools. This achievement is due to the incredible support that we have received from individuals, organizations and businesses.  What has attracted them? Three reasons, I think. One, it’s a great cause. Graduating high school is not the final step but it opens the door to so many opportunities that aren’t there without a high school diploma. We know that we are helping many Ottawa students reach that goal. “I have used some of the money that I receive from the HOST Program for food at home which helped me a lot in my academics because I did not have to worry about what my siblings will have to take for lunch at school or eat at home. It also helped me to continue saving for my education after I graduate since I did not have to use the little that I get from my recent job to give it to my parents. Since I started receiving this money I have been able to carry a lunch pack for myself because I know that my young brothers and sisters at least have enough to eat.” Two, donors receive a report twice a year that contains letters from every recipient, describing how the award has impacted their lives.  Donations are going to local boys and girls who are often in dire straits.  Donors can read the moving and uplifting letters that tell them that they are making a real difference in someone’s life.  For many of us, $100 is not a lot of money but, for these students, it makes a big difference in their lives, gives them hope for a future and allows them to feel “normal”. “With the help of the Host Program, I was able to attend prom and enjoy a fun night with my friends. Normally these things are not an option for me. In the end, I was able to feel normal at my school among my peers.” Finally, every donation goes directly to a student.  Donations are not used for administration.  The volunteer Board of Directors pays those expenses.  So $100 to the Help Our Students Program is $100 to a student in need. “Things haven’t been going to great at home and I’ve been trying my best to get to school every day. I’ve used the money to buy food for lunches, clothes as needed, medicine; I’ve also helped with rent a couple times, and other little things here and there.” The recipients are selected by the high schools.  They know best who is working hard to get through high school and who needs help getting by.  Every school in Ottawa, regardless of its location, has students who live in difficult financial circumstances. “Before being chosen for the HOST, I was just about ready to give up in school. I was not in a good place, and felt as if nobody cared about what I did. Now, I feel like someone does care about me and my future. It makes me want to do the best I can in school to be successful and be able to give back, just like this program is doing for me. Some of the money being given to me by this program went into hot lunches and bus tickets.” Our web site contains all of the letters that we have received since 2010. You can easily make a donation either by sending a cheque or donating online by making a one-time or a monthly donation using your credit card or PayPal. We now have a new dream: to keep helping at least one boy and one girl in every Ottawa high school.  It’s a big dream. At this time of year, helping students in need is a wonderful way to celebrate the true spirit of giving. Please visit our web site at www.HelpOurStudentsProgram.com and donate today. You’ll be helping someone make their dreams come true.

All Saints Blog Week of December 12th, 2016

Christmas Hampers

Thank you to all of our staff and students for their support of our Christmas Hamper program to this point.  This is a great Christmas tradition that allows us to recognize the important theme of giving to our community during this Season.  We would encourage our students to do their last minute “shopping” this weekend to ensure that our hampers are complete on Monday.  Our All Saints generosity goes directly back to families in our community.

Ottawa Catholic School Board Christmas Card Contest

Congratulations to Emily Burdett and Madeleine LaPrairie, All Saints students who were chosen as finalists in the Board’s Christmas Card contest this month.  A message from our Director, Denise Andre: I wanted to express my sincere appreciation for your participation in the first ever Ottawa Catholic School Board Director’s Christmas Card contest. I was impressed with the student talent at each level and the variety of media used to express the Christmas message of hope. The amount of entries was overwhelming which made the final decisions quite difficult. Thank you to all of the students who took the time to create such beautiful works of art.  The student work will be showcased over the month of December in our student art gallery on the first floor of the board office, so that our staff and all the visitors can appreciate the gifts of our students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.  May God continue to bless you as we journey through Advent!

Denise Andre, Director of Education

Class of the Week Recognition

Congratulations Ms. Black’s period 1 Hockey Instruction course students who were recipients of the new “All Saints Class of the Week” award.  I have encouraged teachers to recognize classes for their involvement with a new academic approach, enthusiasm around a fundraising initiative or engagement with a direction in the classroom.  Ms. Black identified her class for their leadership with younger students and their charity work: “The hockey leadership class displays leadership in the community and the school by helping out various charities, coaching adults and younger ages the sport of hockey, work as role models that provide leadership to the grade 6 class at St.Gabes”.  We will continue to recognize classes at All Saints for outstanding achievement.

Best Buy Technology Specials for All Saints Parents and Students

At our “Meet the Staff” afternoon earlier in the year, I explained that All Saints was developing a partnership with Best Buy to provide technological devices (chromebooks, laptops, and other devices) at a discount to our school community.  To be most effective in today’s learning environments, students benefit significantly from access to technology at school and home, as technology is a vital tool for their learning and productivity. The school board invests heavily to support access to technology for students and staff across our schools. Devices are made available to students in our school; however, we have received many requests from students and parents asking for advice on what device they should purchase if they wish to bring their own device to school.

We have established an optional purchase program with Best Buy for those who are interested in purchasing their own device.  Parents and students may purchase any brand of device from any company as all devices will work on school network. Some of these devices are exclusive to our Best Buy partnership and not available to others through Best Buy.

The technologies listed on the Best Buy portal are only recommendations. Best Buy is offering discounts on protection plans and other supplies and peripherals but parents may choose to purchase from any vendor.  As you will see on the Portal, we are recommending Chromebooks as a simple, safe, efficient and cost effective device. We also help equip these with Board purchased software through the student Google accounts and the use of the student portal.  You can access the letter home describing the program in greater detail here.

Please contact the school if you have any questions.

from Notre Dame High School:

Communications:

Check out our blog – allsaintschs.blogspot.ca and our twitter @AllSaintsCHS (Mr. Kelly’s - @seankellyottawa) as well as our website ash.ocsb.ca for all that is happening at All Saints!

Coming Up:

December 12th: School Council Meeting

All Saints Blog Week of December 5th, 2016

While our commercial Christmas season speeds along, it is our intent at All Saints, to slow down our preparation for Christmas and find some meaning in our advent preparation.  We have provided advent wreaths to each of our classrooms, and provided suggested prayers that challenge the secular messages of the season.  We can easily find messages regarding the must have purchases for Christmas, and what other items will make us happy, however, we have to search a little deeper to find connections to the Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Love and Joy.  We challenge our school community to do just that; connect our Christmas hamper and United Way fundraising as well as our own personal reflection, to the preparation before Christmas.

United Way Campaign - All Saints Staff

A big thank you to our All Saints staff who raised over $17,600 for the United Way Campaign this year.  The large majority of the money raised was directly to the Catholic Education Foundation of Ottawa.  This is a charity that benefits from united way donations, and provides support directly back to the students and parents in our Catholic school community.  

More information about CEFO can be found at their website:

http://www.catholiceducationfoundationottawa.ca/

Best Buy Technology Specials for All Saints Parents and Students

At our “Meet the Staff” afternoon earlier in the year, I explained that All Saints was developing a partnership with Best Buy to provide technological devices (chromebooks, laptops, and other devices) at a discount to our school community.  To be most effective in today’s learning environments, students benefit significantly from access to technology at school and home, as technology is a vital tool for their learning and productivity. The school board invests heavily to support access to technology for students and staff across our schools. Devices are made available to students in our school; however, we have received many requests from students and parents asking for advice on what device they should purchase if they wish to bring their own device to school.

We have established an optional purchase program with Best Buy for those who are interested in purchasing their own device.  Parents and students may purchase any brand of device from any company as all devices will work on school network. Some of these devices are exclusive to our Best Buy partnership and not available to others through Best Buy.

The technologies listed on the Best Buy portal are only recommendations. Best Buy is offering discounts on protection plans and other supplies and peripherals but parents may choose to purchase from any vendor.  As you will see on the Portal, we are recommending Chromebooks as a simple, safe, efficient and cost effective device. We also help equip these with Board purchased software through the student Google accounts and the use of the student portal.  You can access the letter home describing the program in greater detail here.

You can access the information/instruction poster here.  Please contact the school if you have any questions.

Communications:

Check out our blog – allsaintschs.blogspot.ca and our twitter @AllSaintsCHS (Mr. Kelly’s - @seankellyottawa) as well as our website ash.ocsb.ca for all that is happening at All Saints!

Coming Up:

December 12th: School Council Meeting