HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL

Holy Father,

As we embark on this new school year,

We seek Your guidance and wisdom.

Bless our students with courage to embrace

New challenges and the strength to overcome obstacles.

May their hearts be filled with curiosity

And their minds with knowledge.

Surround them with supportive friends and teachers,

And let this journey be a time of growth and discovery. Amen.

There is something special about the beginning of a new school year: freshly organized classrooms, new school supplies, familiar faces returning, new friendships beginning, and a whole lot of excitement about the year ahead. After a busy summer, we are very excited to welcome our students back to Holy Family!

On a personal note, I am incredibly happy to be returning to Holy Family as Principal this year. While the summer brought a few unexpected twists and turns, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue the work we have begun together and to spend another year with this wonderful school community.

We are also delighted to welcome several new staff members to our Holy Family team, including our new Vice-Principal, Samantha Harrington. I know our students and families will help our newest staff members quickly feel at home.

This year, our Board’s spiritual theme invites us to “Nourish New Beginnings.” It is a particularly fitting message as we begin a new school year. Every September offers our children a fresh start: new opportunities to learn, to grow, to build friendships, to make mistakes, to try again, and to discover something new about themselves and the world around them.

As always, our goal at Holy Family is to create a school where every child knows that they belong, where they are challenged and supported in their learning, and where they are encouraged to share their gifts with others. As a Catholic school community, we will continue to remind our students that they are called to be the light of the world through their words, their choices, and the way they care for one another.

Thank you, families, for the trust you place in us each day. Schools are at their best when families and staff work together, and I am looking forward to another year of learning, laughter, celebrations, challenges, and all of the wonderfully busy moments that make Holy Family such a special place.

Here’s to a joyful new beginning and a wonderful year ahead!

Jennifer Grant

The first day of school is always an exciting one, and we look forward to welcoming back our returning students and meeting the many new students joining our Holy Family community! To help ease the transition into a new school year, parents and caregivers are welcome on the school yard on the first morning. This will also help our staff quickly identify students and guide families to the correct location.

Grades 1–3

Students in Grades 1–3 will be directed to the lower end of the school yard. Class lists will be posted, and staff members will be outside to help students find their teachers and classmates.

Grades 4–6

Due to ongoing construction near our two portables, we have made a small adjustment to our usual first-day routine for Junior students. Please gather in the following locations:

Grade 4: Outside Room 3

Grade 5: Outside Room 2

Grade 6: Outside Room 1

Teachers will meet students at these locations and organize them into their classes.

Not sure where to go? No worries! There will be plenty of Holy Family staff outside to point you in the right direction and help everyone get the year off to a great start.

The organization of our school is based on student enrolment. We have received a number of new registrations throughout the summer, and our school organization may continue to be affected by additional registrations or by students moving to other areas.

At this time, class assignments are finalized, and we will not be accepting requests for changes. Careful consideration has gone into creating balanced classes that best meet the learning, social, and emotional needs of all students.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we begin the new school year. We look forward to a wonderful year of learning, growth, and new beginnings for all of our students.

It is important that all parents and caregivers sign up for the following applications so that you can stay connected and receive important information from the school, your child’s teachers, and the OCSB.

SchoolMessenger

Please sign up for SchoolMessenger to ensure that you receive communication from the school, your child’s teachers, and the School Board. This is important! To receive all school emails, your preference must be set to YES for General Messages. To receive emails directly from your child’s teachers, your preference must also be set to YES for Teacher-to-Parent Messaging.

FYI: This newsletter was sent using the EMERGENCY setting so that it would reach all families before the start of school. This feature is normally reserved for emergency communication. Future newsletters and regular school communications will NOT be sent this way. If you have not opted in to General Messages, you risk missing important information from the school.

Please make sure your SchoolMessenger preferences are updated as soon as possible.

School Cash Online

School Cash Online is used to pay for school activities, events, field trips, hot lunches, and other items throughout the year. We do not accept cash or cheques at the school.

Parent Portal

The Parent Portal provides access to your child’s report cards and, for some students, their Individual Education Plans (IEPs). Printed report cards are no longer sent home. Parents and caregivers can also use the Parent Portal to update their contact information.

Need Help?

Signing up is easy! Simply follow the links provided above for each application. If you need assistance getting set up, please call the school next week, and Mrs. Rogers will be happy to help you.

Please take a few minutes to make sure you are connected. We don’t want you to miss anything!