Weekly Update

● Elementary Reflection: When we do something kind or stand up for a friend, we are like a bright light that everyone can see. We can be witnesses of our faith in our words and in our actions. When we use kind words, play together, and support one another we are being light for the world.

Monday October 26

PA DAY - no school for students

Municipal Elections

Tuesday October 27 - DAY 4

Toonie Tuesday

Wednesday October 28 - DAY 5

Waste-free lunch Wednesday

SOLI Sisters

Thursday October 29 - DAY 1

Pizza Lunch day for those that ordered

Friday October 30 - DAY 2

Halloween - OUT OF DRESS CODE (costumes)

Parents/Guardians,

Earlier this week we celebrated our ECE, Mrs. Ali, for ECE appreciation day. Thank you for your dedication to our kindergarten students!

A reminder that Monday, October 26th is a PA DAY (Municipal Elections) - no school for students. We will see the students back on Tuesday. When we get back on Tuesday, students can wear purple shirts, with regular dress code, to acknowledge FACS: keeping kids safe and supported. If students do not have purple, it will be regular dress code.

Enjoy your weekend!

Mr. Tolomeo

Principal

Friday October 30th is Out of Dress Code - students can wear Halloween costumes.

We will have a Costume Parade at 9:30AM in the main hallway of our school, starting in the Kindergarten hallway. Classes will walk through the halls and show off their costumes. Families are welcome into the school to gather along the hallway walls and watch the parade.

Students will also be participating in a Halloween Dance, scheduled and led by our Student Council members. Each grade will have a scheduled timeslot to bust-a-move in the gym.

Due to allergies, families are asked to not send in food items for classroom celebrations.

Thank you.

Families, please go to School Cash Online to sign the Student Participation for Athletics Form. This signed form is needed for student participation in all athletics throughout the school year.

Thank you.

Help us raise some dough for St. James!

In November, families will have an opportunity to participate in our school's first FUNDRAISER. All proceeds and funds raised go to St. James families in need, student technology, and student recess and sports equipment.

Please support this great fundraiser coming up soon!!

Keep an eye on School Cash Online in the near future.

Flags at all Ontario government buildings and establishments across the province are being flown at half-mast to mark the tragedy that occurred at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, Alberta, on October 17, 2026.

Niagara Catholic will participate in this observance by lowering flags at all schools, Board sites, and the Catholic Education Centre until further notice.

Please remember to report your child's absence using the SAFEARRIVAL portal.

You can also put in an EARLY DEPARTURE. Doing this helps greatly, as the office can be aware and plan for the student coming up to the front upon departure.

Thank you.

Toonie Tuesday - Popcorn and ice-cream will be sold.

Our intermediate students will be coming around to classrooms during Nutrition Breaks to sell items.

• PHOTO DAYS:

Retake Day – Tuesday, November 17, 2026

GRAD photo day - Thurs. March 04, 2027

Dear Parents/Guardians,

A limited number of spaces remain available in our International Languages Elementary (ILE) classes for students currently enrolled in Grades JK to 8.

The following classes currently have openings:

• Tamil – St. Ann Adult Learning Centre, Niagara Falls
  Mondays, 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

• Italian –St. Ann Adult Learning Centre, Niagara Falls
  Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

• Spanish – St. Ann Adult Learning Centre, Niagara Falls
  Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

• Hindi – St. Ann Adult Learning Centre, Niagara Falls
  Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

• Japanese – St. Ann Adult Learning Centre, Niagara Falls
  Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

• Spanish – Our Lady of Fatima, Grimsby
  Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

To register, please complete the online registration form by clicking here.

Please note that classes will only be offered once sufficient enrollment has been reached. Families will be contacted by the instructor once the class reaches the minimum enrollment of 23 students.

Spaces are limited, and interested families are encouraged to register as soon as possible.

CELL PHONE USE IN SCHOOLS

To minimize distractions, students who bring their cell phones to school must have the phone stored out of view and turned off or onto silent mode during the instructional day. They may only use it if their teacher permits it for learning, for health or medical purposes, or to support special education needs. Outside of these times, students are expected to keep their phones turned off or on silent and have them stored away.

Social media platforms on school networks and board devices will be disabled. This is intended to limit the number of interruptions in class and to benefit the mental health and well-being of students.

As part of our Eco-schools initiatives, every Wednesday, families are encouraged to reduce waste and use re-usable containers as much as possible.

Thank you.

Please remember that St. James is a Nut-Free environment. Please refrain from sending any products to school that contain peanuts or tree nuts. Also, we ask that you refrain from sending in any food items that are to be shared with other students.

All classrooms at St. James are peanut, tree nut, sesame, seafood, coconut pineapple, avocado and egg safe classrooms. No peanuts, peanut products, tree nuts or raw/cooked eggs are allowed at any time. We have many students with life threatening allergies to peanuts, peanut products and/or eggs. Please ensure that your child has thoroughly washed their hands after eating peanuts, peanut products or eggs for breakfast/lunch at home.

We remind you that it is important to keep the office updated with regards to any new information or changes to the information we have on file for your child. This may include new phone numbers, change of address, medical information, custody orders etc.

All students are reminded to arrive at school dressed in full Dress Code. Information is noted in the pdf. below.

In Keeping with the Niagara Catholic District School Board Dress Code Policy, we ask that all parents please review the flyer attached within this weekly update. The Board policy is also attached below this message. The Flyer is linked down below for you to review. Students are required to abide by the Dress Code policy and select items of clothing that meet the standard requirements.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Families are reminded to please update your child/children's immunization records with Niagara Region Public Health. You may do so by clicking this link. For more information please go to NRPH website if you have vaccine/record review questions or please call your health care provider. Families may also contact Public Health at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7425 and ask to speak with a public health vaccine nurse.