St. Patrick's Intermediate School

Saturday, 23 April 2016

St. Patrick's Intermediate April 25-29

School Easter Mass
Father Greg paid us a visit on Wednesday to celebrate Easter mass. His message of having faith in the resurrection of Jesus was well-received by all of the students and their behaviour during mass was excellent. It was a very spiritual moment.

Workplace Safety Week
Next week is Workplace Safety Week. We will kick off this important week with a presentation at our Monday Morning Assembly. As many students end up taking co-op in high school, the importance of workplace safety cannot be emphasized enough.

Earth Day
Earth Day was celebrated on Friday but at St. Pat's we had a whole week of activities. The photos below show an Earth Day quiz that took place during lunch as well as a tie-dye workshop which happened after-school. Special thanks go out to Ms. Rupert and members of the Eco-Team for organizing these events.

Boys' Basketball Champions

Congratulations to our boys' basketball team who won a decisive game against rivals St. Joe's in order to claim the championship. Way to go guys and coaches! We are all very proud of you.

Leveraging Digital

One of our major goals this year has been to appropriately use digital devices in the classroom. In this photo, grade 7 students are using a Google-hangout to converse and work with students they are partnered up with at St. Matt's High School in Orleans. In this digital age and knowledge environment, it is always enjoyable to witness the proper use of technology.

The Marvellous Wondrettes

A benefit production of 'The Marvelous Wonderettes' will be playing at The Gladstone Theatre from May 11 to May 14 (7:30 evening performances with the addition of matinee at 2:30 on the 14th). This off-Broadway musical comedy features classics of the 1950's and 60's. Tickets are: Adults $39, Seniors (65 +) $35 and Students (18 & under) $25 and Groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount. Tickets can be purchased online at thegladstone.ca or by phone at 613-233-4523. This would make a GREAT MOTHER'S DAY GIFT!

All profits from the show will be donated to The Catholic Education Foundation of Ottawa (CEFO), a registered charity whose objective is to counter the effects of poverty on students within the Ottawa Catholic School Board. Visit catholiceducationfoundationottawa.ca for more information.

Sunday, 17 April 2016

St. Patrick's Intermediate April 18-22

MakerMobile Workshop
On Thursday, uOttawa came to our school to do MakerMobile Workshops with our grade 8 students. Essentially, students learn how to manipulate 3-D objects using computer programming technology. They then are able to make replicas of their objects using
3-D printers (seen in the photo below). We are grateful to uOttawa for providing this as it is always a hit with our students.

Feeder School Concerts

Our school band went to all of the feeder schools this week to perform for students there. This provided us with an excellent opportunity to promote our music program at our school. Feedback from the schools was nothing but positive. A big thank you to our music teacher, Ms. Reilly, for putting this endeavour together.

Let's Talk Science
uOttawa students were at our school this week promoting science. Our students had a number of opportunities to explore various scientific aspects of the curriculum and had a chance to ask questions and develop inquiries. Thank you to uOttawa for providing us with this opportunity.

Waterloo Gauss Workshop
A number of our students will be demonstrating their math knowledge by writing the Waterloo Gauss Math Competition. What you are seeing in the photo below is a practice session that was held earlier in the week. We wish all of our students participating in this contest much success.

Visit to Algonquin College
Some of our students went to Algonquin College to explore the many options offered. In this photo they are looking at the living wall in the amazing building that teaches construction. We are grateful to Algonquin for allowing our students to visit

Wellness Gaming Activity
In our Learning Commons this week, students had the opportunity to improve wellness and mental well-being by getting involved in a number of games offered. This allowed students to relax and socialize in a positive environment. By all accounts, a good time was had by all.

Easter Mass
This Wednesday we will be celebrating our Easter mass in the cafeteria. We are very happy we could set this date with Father Greg as he is always an inspiration to our students.

Important Contact Information
Our School Council chair is Cees Artz and can be reached at
chair@StPatsInt-council.ca
Our Trustee is Mark Mullan and can be reached at mark.mullan@ocsb.ca

Have a great week.

Don Murphy
Principal

Coming Up
Monday, April 18: St. Mark School Council presents The Effects of Nutrition and Sleep on Teenagers, 7-8 p.m., St. Mark High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information).

Wednesday, April 20: CSPA presents Math for Parents, 7-8:45 p.m., All Saints Catholic High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).

Thursday, April 21: CSPA presents Youth Substance Use...Supporting Youth and Families, 7-8:45 p.m., Sacred Heart High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).

Saturday, April 23: CSPA presents Responsibility Matters...Raising Responsible Students/Children, 9:45-11:30 a.m., Saint Clare Catholic School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).

Tuesday, April 26: St. Patrick's Intermediate School Council meeting, 7-9 p.m., Learning Commons Building 1.

Saturday, 9 April 2016

St. Patrick's Intermediate April 11-15

Grade 7's Team Up with St. Matthew's

On Tuesday, a group of our grade 7's teamed up with a group of grade 7's from St. Matthew High School. Both groups are studying the novel The Outsiders and they participated in various activities. In the photo below is what is known as a Four Corners activity, whereby students choose an area of the room to stand which represents their opinion on a topic. They then explain their choice to the entire group. St. Matt's students will soon travel to our school in order to engage in various other activities that have to do with the study of this important novel.

PD Day this Friday

Don't forget that this Friday, April 15, is a PD Day, meaning that there is no school for students. Teachers on this day will be focussing on health and safety and on our School Improvement Plan.

Arabic Orientation Session

This Wednesday morning we are having an Arabic orientation session for our new Syrian students. So far, we have roughly 10 students from Syria who have joined our community. Veronica Sanchez, our MLO co-ordinator, staff from Citizenship and Immigration Canada, our Student Services Head, and our ESL co-ordinator will facilitate this, in order to help these students integrate into our community and our school. It is very exciting to welcome newcomers to St. Patrick's Intermediate.

Important Contact Information
Our School Council chair is Cees Artz and can be reached at
chair@StPatsInt-council.ca

Our Trustee is Mark Mullan and can be reached at mark.mullan@ocsb.ca

Have a great week.

Don Murphy
Principal

Coming Up
Saturday, April 16: CSPA presents How to Help Your Child Succeed in School, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Holy Trinity Catholic High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).

Monday, April 18: St. Mark School Council presents The Effects of Nutrition and Sleep on Teenagers, 7-8 p.m., St. Mark High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information).

Wednesday, April 20: CSPA presents Math for Parents, 7-8:45 p.m., All Saints Catholic High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).

Thursday, April 21: CSPA presents Youth Substance Use...Supporting Youth and Families, 7-8:45 p.m., Sacred Heart High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).

Saturday, April 23: CSPA presents Responsibility Matters...Raising Responsible Students/Children, 9:45-11:30 a.m., Saint Clare Catholic School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).

Tuesday, April 26: St. Patrick's Intermediate School Council meeting, 7-9 p.m., Learning Commons Building 1.

Saturday, 2 April 2016

St. Patrick's Intermediate April 4 - April 8

Grade 8 Science Students Engaged in Learning
I spent some time this week in a few of our grade 8 Science classes. It became obvious to me that teachers were meeting specific goals from our School Improvement Plan, namely those of collaborative learning and critical thinking. Near the end of the month, a team of us from the school will be working on our 2016-17 School Improvement Plan which will be formalized at the end of May when all schools in the Board meet.

Shamrock Classic Basketball Tournament
This weekend (April 2nd and 3rd) our own version of "March Madness" takes place as the annual Shamrock Classic Basketball Tournament occurs here at St. Pat's Intermediate. Eight schools from across the Board will be participating in this exciting event. Good luck to all!

Sunday, 27 March 2016

St. Patrick's Intermediate Blog March 28 to April 1

Jesus is Risen
The image of the empty tomb is a strong symbol for Jesus' commitment to His mission here on earth. It became a symbol of shame for those who had persecuted Jesus, for they were left with the undeniable truth of His consistent message. Jesus' followers, who all seemed to be at various points of belief, were rewarded by the discovery of His empty tomb on Easter morning. The stories and prophecies He had preached had all come true.

As we journey through the season of Easter, may our abilities, talents, and relationships be strengthened by the example of Jesus.

Stations of the Cross
On Wednesday, our Youth Group, under the direction of our chaplain, Mr. Paul Kozak, presented the Stations of the Cross in dramatic tableau. The school was so attentive and respectful of this moving event one would be able to hear a pin drop in the cafeteria.

Important Contact Information
Our School Council chair is Cees Artz and can be reached at
chair@StPatsInt-council.ca

Our Trustee is Mark Mullan and can be reached at mark.mullan@ocsb.ca

Have a great week.

Don Murphy
Principal

Coming Up

Wednesday, April 6: CSPA presents Advocating for Your Child with Special Needs, 7-8:30 p.m., St. Patrick's High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).

Saturday, April 16: CSPA presents How to Help Your Child Succeed in School, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Holy Trinity Catholic High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).

Monday, April 18: St. Mark School Council presents The Effects of Nutrition and Sleep on Teenagers, 7-8 p.m., St. Mark High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information).

Wednesday, April 20: CSPA presents Math for Parents, 7-8:45 p.m., All Saints Catholic High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).

Thursday, April 21: CSPA presents Youth Substance Use...Supporting Youth and Families, 7-8:45 p.m., Sacred Heart High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).

Saturday, April 23: CSPA presents Responsibility Matters...Raising Responsible Students/Children, 9:45-11:30 a.m., Saint Clare Catholic School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).

Friday, 18 March 2016

St. Patrick's Intermediate Blog March 21-25

Guys Read Club

On Tuesday, the week before March Break, the Guys Read Club (aimed at promoting reading among males) went to Chapters in South Keys to receive a book and then had a complimentary lunch at Kelsey's. The Guys Read Club generally meets once a week at lunchtime and has been a huge success. This initiative helps to foster positive attitudes toward literacy overall.

This week marks Holy Week in the Roman Catholic Liturgical Calendar. Following weeks of personal reflection through Lent, we are asked to consider the importance of Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice to free us from the bonds of sin. While this is a Christian belief, we have spent much time these last 40 days drawing parallels to the inner reflection encouraged by multiple faiths. Reviewing our spiritual direction and setting personal goals for ourselves relates directly to what we are working on academically as well. The steps to strengthening our faith are similar to those that clarify our academic direction. To be able to draw connections between our spiritual and personal development and our academic growth is one of the gifts of an education in the Catholic system. I wish all of our families peace as you journey through this solemn period.

Stations of the Cross

On Wednesday, all classes will gather in order to observe the Stations of the Cross. This is another example of how we come together as a community to recognize one of the most important weeks in the Catholic calendar.

Important Contact Information
Our school council chair is Cees Artz and can be reached at chair@StPatsInt-council.ca
Our trustee is Mark Mullan and can be reached at mark.mullan@ocsb.ca

Have a nice week and a very happy Easter.

Don Murphy
Principal

Coming Up

Tues. March 22: St. Patrick's Intermediate School Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Learning Commons Building 1.

Wed. April 20: CSPA Presents Math for Parents, 7-8:45 p.m., All Saints Catholic High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).

Saturday, 5 March 2016

St. Patrick's Intermediate Blog March 7-11

Teachers Build Robots

On Tuesday many teachers, and our vice-principal, attended a robotics workshop where they learned all about robot technology. From all accounts, this workshop was an extreme success in leading to the next step of helping our students involve themselves in this worthwhile endeavour.

ThinkFast
On Friday, our St. Pat's Youth Group participated in ThinkFast. ThinkFast is an initiative that was started by Development and Peace. It seeks to educate youth about the complex issues of development, social justice, and poverty.

The day began at 8 a.m. with a meeting of the participants. A prayer was then said and students went to their classes. At lunch, students gathered for soup and fellowship. After school, another gathering took place in the chapel for a prayer service, refreshments, a presentation on social justice, and then supper, consisting of vegetable soup. After supper, students headed to the gym to play games and then, eventually, watched the film Living on a Dollar a Day. The fast was broken at 8 p.m. with a light meal and a sharing session on what was learned during the day. Mr. Kozak, our chaplain, put this extremely worthwhile endeavour together and we look forward to doing it again next year.

Grade 6 Parent Information Session
On Tuesday we will be holding our Parent Information evening for students currently in grade 6, at 6:30 p.m. in our cafeteria. Families are encouraged to join us for a presentation regarding programming in grade 7, supports available, and school activities being offered. Our School Council will also be present to describe their important role in the school and to answer any questions.

Grade 6 Visits to Our School
This week we welcome our feeder school grade 6 students as they have the opportunity to visit our school in order to witness all the great things going on. Tours of the school will be given compliments of our Ambassadors. In addition, students will begin pathway planning via My BluePrint and also complete an art, drama, or music activity. This is one of the many transition steps we take with our grade 6 students throughout the year. As we move forward toward September, we encourage any new parents to the school to contact us regarding any questions or the need for additional information.

March Break
Next week is March Break. I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all in our community, whether travelling or staying here to enjoy all that Ottawa offers, a very restful and restorative break.

Important Contact Information
Our school council chair is Cees Artz and can be reached at chair@StPatsInt-council.ca
Our trustee is Mark Mullan and can be reached at mark.mullan@ocsb.ca

Have a nice week.

Don Murphy
Principal

Coming Up

Wed. April 20: CSPA Presents Math for Parents, 7-8:45 p.m., All Saints Catholic High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).