St. Patrick's Intermediate November 21 to November 25

Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week

This is Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week in our Board. While we are constantly engaged in practices that promote well-being among our students, this week provides us with an opportunity to emphasize the importance of being good to one another.  Our activities include prayers around the topic, anti-bullying information at our Monday Morning Assembly, and daily challenges centred around the theme of compassion. Students are regularly reminded that it is our expectation that they are happy and comfortable at St. Patrick’s and if, for some reason, this is not the case, they need to seek out a staff member or use OCSB Connect, an anonymous app to report bullying behaviours.

OCSB Annual Christmas Concert

The OCSB Children's, Boys' and Chamber Choirs and guests will present their annual Christmas Concert, "Behold the Star" on Monday, December 19, 2016 at 7 PM.  The concert will be held at St. Basil's Church, 940 Rex Ave. Parking is free and may be accessed off Maitland Ave., just north of the 417 at the Maitland exit.  All are welcome.  Tickets are $15 at the door.

Parent-Teacher Interviews

I would like to thank everyone who came out to attend our parent-teacher interviews, which were held on Thursday. The turnout was excellent and it was great to see parents, teachers, and students working together. A special thank you to our School Council for providing coffee.

Remember, though, that you do not have to wait for formal parent-teacher interview evenings to take place if you have a concern. Teachers can always be contacted directly by phone through the school and will be more than happy to answer any questions parents/guardians may have.

School Council Meeting Wed. Nov. 30

Our monthly School Council meeting will take place on Wed. Nov. 30th and will start at 6:30 p.m. in Learning Commons, Building 1. The reason for the early start is due to the fact that members from the Board will update the community on the site plan for the addition onto St. Pat's High School, which will be in effect Sept., 2018.

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

Upcoming Events

Thursday, Nov. 24 OR Thursday, Dec. 1:  Opening Doors:  Learning and Earning in the 21st Century (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information, locations, and to register) 

Monday, Nov. 28:  Sensory Processing Disorders and Behaviour, 7-9 p.m., Notre Dame High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more informatin and to register)

Wednesday, Nov. 30:  St. Patrick Intermediate School Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Learning Commons Building 1

St. Patrick's Intermediate November 14 - 18

Remembrance Day

We have a great deal to be proud of following our Remembrance Day observation on Friday.  We took the time to pray as a school while we honoured those who fought for our freedom.  We thank Lt. Col. Mansfield for joining us and for speaking to students about his experiences.

Visit to SPH

Some of our grade 8's visited St. Pat's High School (SPH) this past week to engage themselves in various experiential learning opportunities. It's always nice to visit St. Pat's as we have such a great relationship with them. Here is a photo of some experiential learning happening in a music class:

Immunizations

Immunizations took place this past week. The Ottawa Catholic School Board would like to remind parents of the following:

Ottawa Public Health is currently mailing notices to families if a student in the household has incomplete immunization records.  If you receive such a notice, in order to prevent a future suspension from school for non-compliance with the Immunization of School Pupils Act, please note that it is a parent/guardian responsibility to ensure that Ottawa Public Health receives the required immunization information.  You may contact them at:  Website: Update your child's records online   Telephone: 613-580-6744   Toll free number: 1-866-426-8885   E-mail: immunization@ottawa.ca

Grade 7 Mental Wellness Session

As was done with the grade 8's a few weeks ago, the grade 7's will have a mental health session during period 2 this coming Wednesday. There will be a variety of interesting activities offered that students can choose from. Our mental wellness sessions are always a success here at SPI.

Parent-Teacher Interviews

Parent-Teacher Interviews are this Thursday from 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Interviews occur by appointment only and they are made on the sheet brought home by your son/daughter. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to call the school.

Also, please be reminded that due to Parent-Teacher Interviews, we dismiss at 1:10 p.m. on Thursday.

PD Day on Friday, November 18

There is no school for students this Friday as it is a Professional Development day for the entire Ottawa Catholic School Board. The focus for this day will be the Ministry's Renewed Math Strategies.

School Council Meeting Wed. Nov. 30

Our monthly School Council meeting will take place on Wed. Nov. 30th and will start at 6:30 p.m. in Learning Commons, Building 1. The reason for the early start is due to the fact that members from the Board will update the community on the site plan for the addition onto St. Pat's High School, which will be in effect Sept., 2018.

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

Upcoming Events

Thursday, Nov. 24 OR Thursday, Dec. 1:  Opening Doors:  Learning and Earning in the 21st Century (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information, locations, and to register) 

Tuesday, Nov. 15:  Connection is Key: A Presentation by Dr. Jean Clinton, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Frank Ryan Senior Elementary School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register)

Monday, Nov. 28:  Sensory Processing Disorders and Behaviour, 7-9 p.m., Notre Dame High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more informatin and to register)

Wednesday, Nov. 30:  St. Patrick Intermediate School Council Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Learning Commons Building 1

St. Patrick's Intermediate Nov. 7 to 11

Clubs at SPI
We have so many clubs at St. Pat's Intermediate...essentially, something for everyone.  I always encourage students to get involved with something during their short time here.  Below are photos courtesy of our Maker Club which is run by Ms. Sweeney.  The motto of this club is "If you can imagine it, you can make it."

Immunizations

Immunizations take place on November 9th and 10th. Please complete the immunization forms which students will bring home on Monday. Once the form is carefully completed, students are to return the form on Wednesday.

Remembrance Day

On Friday we will have our Remembrance Day assembly. It will begin at 9:30 a.m. and last approximately 1.5 hours. All are welcome to attend this important tribute acknowledging those who have done so much for us.

Parent-Teacher Interviews
Parent-Teacher Interviews take place on Thursday, November 17 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and then from 5 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Interview request sheets went home on Friday. Use of the sheet is the appropriate format permitted to request an interview with a teacher. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

WE Day 2016

On Wednesday, a group of students and teachers will be heading to the Canadian Tire Centre to celebrate WE Day 2016.  Essentially, this is a day where young people come together to celebrate as well as hear talks on transforming communities and lives.  More information on this important day can be found by accessing the following link:

http://www.weday.com/we-day-events/ottawa/

E-Waste Day Sat. Nov. 19 at SPH
St. Patrick's High School at 2525 Alta Vista Drive is holding an E-Waste Day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. as a fundraising event for the school's ECO Team. 

This event will allow you to drop off all your unwanted electronic devices for recycling.  Items do not have to be in working order.  We will accept televisions, stereos, telephones, computers, printers, and more. 

Thank you for your support!

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

Upcoming Events

Monday, Nov. 7:  CSPA presents Boot Camp for School Councils, 7-8:45 p.m., Thomas Darcy McGee Catholic School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register)

Tuesday, Nov. 15:  Connection is Key: A Presentation by Dr. Jean Clinton, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Frank Ryan Senior Elementary School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register)

Monday, Nov. 28:  Sensory Processing Disorders and Behaviour, 7-9 p.m., Notre Dame High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more informatin and to register

St. Patrick's Intermediate October 31 to November 4

Experiential Learning at St. Pat's High School
On Tuesday, various grade 8 classes went over to St. Pat's High School to involve themselves in hands-on experiential learning activities.  Experiential learning is an important component of our school improvement plan; hence, we are grateful to the staff of St. Pat's High School for letting us take part in these important activities.  Here are a few photos from our day there:

Career Week
Next week is Career Week. To highlight this, various careers will be presented each morning over the PA during announcements and a video will be shown during the lunch break. Helping students learn about various careers is fundamental to all that we do at St. Pat's Intermediate.

Progress Report Cards
Student progress reports will go home this Thursday, November 5th.  These report cards provide an indication of how students are progressing in each of their subject areas.  In most cases, there is an indication that students are progressing well, or very well.  In cases where students are progressing with difficulty, teachers have indicated a next-step for success.  At the school, we meet as an administrative and student services team to review any students that are having some difficulty.

After-School Academic Support

As part of our Student Success plan at St. Patrick’s, we are offering a number of options for after-school support.  These programs range from informal homework assistance to numeracy/literacy incentives.  Parents/guardians may have already been contacted about their son/daughter participating in an after-school course.  If you have any questions, please contact the school.  

Halloween
Monday is Halloween. Students may dress in an appropriate, imaginative costume if they wish. We do not allow masks that cover the face (make-up is ok) nor are we permitting clown costumes this year. It's always fun to see students dress-up each year.

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

Thursday, Nov. 3:  CSPA presents Intro to Self-Regulation - Stress Behaviour vs. Misbehaviour with Dr. Stuart Shanker, 7-8:45 p.m., St. Paul Catholic High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register)

Monday, Nov. 7:  CSPA presents Boot Camp for School Councils, 7-8:45 p.m., Thomas Darcy McGee Catholic School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register)

Tuesday, Nov. 15:  Connection is Key: A Presentation by Dr. Jean Clinton, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Frank Ryan Senior Elementary School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register)

St. Pat's Intermediate Oct. 24-28

Halloween Activities

Students will have the opportunity to dress up in an appropriate costume on Monday, October 31st. We ask that no masks cover the face (make-up is ok) and no replica weapons be utilized. Also, this year, we are banning clown costumes given what has happened in various parts of North America.

Photo Retake Day
Picture retakes for students who missed their first opportunity or who would like a second sitting will occur this Friday, October 28. There is no additional work for parents who would like a retake except to remind their son/daughter to listen for the PA announcement on Friday. The photography team will make a point to review the original and the re-take image with students to ensure that they are getting the exact portrait they want.

Mental Wellness Sessions

In our commitment to the mental well-being of all our students, on Wednesday, October 19, we held some sessions for our grade 8 population (the grade 7's will partake in this opportunity at a later date). Students were able to choose from a variety of life-balancing sessions including running, walking, yoga, baking, hacky sack, visual arts, and dance. This was very successful last year and this year was no different. Here are some photos from some of the morning's activities:

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, Oct. 26: School Council meeting at 7 p.m. in Learning Commons 1.

Thursday, Nov. 3:  CSPA presents Intro to Self-Regulation - Stress Behaviour vs. Misbehaviour with Dr. Stuart Shanker, 7-8:45 p.m., St. Paul Catholic High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register)

Monday, Nov. 7:  CSPA presents Boot Camp for School Councils, 7-8:45 p.m., Thomas Darcy McGee Catholic School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register)

Tuesday, Nov. 15:  Connection is Key: A Presentation by Dr. Jean Clinton, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Frank Ryan Senior Elementary School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register)

St. Pat's Intermediate October 17 to 21

Mental Wellness Sessions

In our commitment to the mental well-being of all our students, on Wednesday, October 19, we will hold some sessions for our grade 8 population (the grade 7's will partake in this opportunity at a later date). Students will be able to choose from a variety of life-balancing sessions including running, walking, yoga, baking, hacky sack, visual arts, and dance. This was very successful last year and we are looking forward to continued success this year as well.

Individual Education Plan (IEP)

On Tuesday, IEP's will be sent home. If your son or daughter has an IEP, please have a look at this very important "live" document. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Resource Department and they will be able to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have.

Homework Club

Our Homework Club is now up and running. For those not familiar with this, on most Tuesdays and Thursdays after-school, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., students can go to Learning Commons 1 to work on homework and to receive help on anything they are struggling with academically. This is a great way to meet new friends and to get work done at the same time.

Dress-Down Day and Dance

This Friday, October 21 will be a dress-down day as there is also a dance that afternoon, after lunch. This means that there will be NO dress-down day on Friday, October 28. I will be making verbal announcements all week so students are aware of this change.

EQAO Grade 10 Literacy Test

On Thursday, October 20, grade 10's in the province (and 11's and 12's who have not yet written) will write a new, completely online version of the Literacy Test. In order to not overtax the wifi system at St. Pat's High School, some of their students will come over to us to write. A schedule has been devised so as not to disrupt nor mix with our students. We are happy to be able to help out the high school in this endeavour.

Don't Forget to Check Our Website

Just a reminder to remember to check our website (spe.ocsb.ca) often, especially on the HomePage under School News and Announcements. In this area, I place notices for important upcoming events that may be of interest to parents, such as topics on drug awareness, concussions, test-taking strategies, etc. I try to post events as quickly as I receive them so please check back often.

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, Oct. 26: School Council meeting at 7 p.m. in Learning Commons 1.

Thursday, Nov. 3:  CSPA presents Intro to Self-Regulation - Stress Behaviour vs. Misbehaviour with Dr. Stuart Shanker, 7-8:45 p.m., St. Paul Catholic High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register)

Monday, Nov. 7:  CSPA presents Boot Camp for School Councils, 7-8:45 p.m., Thomas Darcy McGee Catholic School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register)

St. Pat's Intermediate October 10-14

Dr. Eva Olsson
On Tuesday we listened to Holocaust survivor Dr. Eva Olsson.  You could hear a pin drop in the cafeteria as the students were so tuned-in to her riveting talk. Her message of hope and to avoid being by-standers in the world touched us all.

Terry Fox Run

Our community did another fantastic job fundraising for the Terry Fox Foundation as we exceeded our goal of $6000 by collecting almost $7000.  Students and staff raised money to help support the Foundation as they continue their work to support cancer research. Our run/walk culminated with a high energy assembly that saw each of our homebases decked out in their Catholic Values T-shirts.  Our top-fundraising students took turns throwing sponges at our staff members. Thanks to all those who helped organize and support this very important event. Here is a courtyard photo of students preparing to run:

Christian Community Day
On Friday staff gathered at the Shaw Centre for Christian Community Day. This year we listened to our Director of Education, Denise Andre, set direction by reviewing our Board's deep learning strategies as well as heard Steve Pemberton, author of A Chance in the World, and then celebrated mass with our most Reverend Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J.  As in years' past, it was a very fulfilling day and experience.
Clubs and Sports 
Our many clubs and sports are up and running at St. Pat's Intermediate, thanks to the time and dedication of staff.  I always tell students at our Monday Morning Assembly to get involved with extra-curricular activities as academics are important but so, too, are clubs and sports as not all learning happens solely inside of the classroom.  As an example, here is a photo of our after-school Computer Coding Club:  

Happy Thanksgiving
As we enter October, I do not know where September went. Things really do move quickly in this wonderful St. Pat's Intermediate family of ours. That said, I wish everyone in our community a very joyous and happy Thanksgiving.  We live in one of the best countries in the world and have much to be thankful for. 

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

Don Murphy

Principal

Coming Up

Thursday, Nov. 3:  CSPA presents Intro to Self-Regulation - Stress Behaviour vs. Misbehaviour with Dr. Stuart Shanker, 7-8:45 p.m., St. Paul Catholic High School (see spe.ocsb.ca for more information and to register).