Newsletter 

Message From The Principal

We have had a wonderful start to the new school year here at St. Paul! Enrollment is up, our halls are full once again, and our classrooms are already filling with the joyful sounds of learning.

As we settle into our daily routines, we ask for your help in reinforcing a few key expectations that support our students as they grow and mature:

• Be Kind and Respectful: Treat peers, staff, and our school environment with care.

• Be On Time and Prepared: Arrive ready to learn and fully engaged in class activities.

• Get Involved: There are so many opportunities to be part of our school community!  

• Focus on Personal Growth: Work hard to reach your own individual potential and goals.

• Ask for Support: Most importantly, never hesitate to reach out when help is needed. We are always here for you!

Upcoming Events & Mark Your Calendars

Meet the Teacher Night — Tuesday, September 15th at 4:30 PM We are excited to welcome all parents and guardians into our building! This is a fantastic opportunity to meet our staff, explore the classrooms, and show your support for your child’s educational journey.

School Council Meeting — Thursday, September 24th at 6:00 PM We are always looking for new members to join our School Council and collaborate with us. Whether you are a returning parent or new to our community, we would love to see you there!

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to seeing you all next week!

Alanna Vandewint 

Chaplain's Message

Hello everyone, my name is Richmond Guillermo and I am the new chaplaincy leader at St. Paul’s High School.  Since beginning my work here several weeks ago, I have enjoyed meeting a number of students and staff.  In 2001, I began working as a chaplaincy leader in 5 different high schools, then I had to take a medical leave for 2 and a half years.  I hope to facilitate a ⅞ Rosary prayer group on Thursdays during ⅞ lunch time, starting September 17th.  I look forward to my journey here with all of you in this school community.  

God bless you all,

Richmond Guillermo

Meet The Teacher Night

We are excited to welcome all families to our annual Meet the Teacher Night on Tuesday, September 15, from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity to drop by, explore the school, and connect with your child's teachers as we kick off the new school year together. The evening will begin with everyone gathered together in the Auditorium for a Principal's address. 

• Parents of Grade 7 & 8 Students: Please remember to bring a paper copy or screenshot of your child's timetable. You will be following their daily schedule to visit each class, so having their timetable handy will ensure you know right where to go!

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

High School Athletics

The start of a new school year means High School Athletics is officially underway! Our coaches are excited to be back in the swing of things and ready to get our teams competing, building connections, and representing St. Paul with pride.

We have a great lineup of fall sports getting started, including Boys Flag Football, Golf, Tennis, Ultimate Frisbee, Boys Volleyball, and Girls Basketball.

Good luck to all of our athletes and coaches this season! Go Bears!

Intermediate Athletics

The Intermediate Athletics season has begun. We are currently hosting tryouts for Golf, Ultimate Frisbee, Cross Country and Soccer (Girls and Boys). Updates will be posted on the sports board and morning announcements. Stay tuned! 

Meet our new Multicultural Liaison Officer

Hello! I am Wejdan Osman and I am excited to join the St. Paul High School community as your MLO and Settlement Worker in Schools. My role is to support students, families and staff in making our school a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone. I work with newcomer students to help them adjust socially, emotionally, and academically through mentoring, conflict resolution and leadership opportunities. I also support families by helping them navigate school systems, access community resources, and build strong connections with our school. For teachers and staff, I provide cultural insights and interpretation support to help us better understand and support all our learners. Whether it is connecting students to mental health services, running workshops on cultural understanding, or mediating challenges, I am here to bridge gaps and ensure every member of our school community feels supported and valued.

Thank you so much and let me know if you need anything else from me.

With Gratitude,

ESTA  Automotive Technician Parent Information Session

In addition to our Meet the Teacher evening, we would like to remind the families of students in our Elite Skilled Trades Academy Automotive Technician Program about an information session and a chance to meet and greet potential employers in the industry. Dinner will be provided. Please check your email for the sign-up sheet. Please join us Tuesday, September 15, at 6 pm, in the Learning Commons. 

Terry Fox Foundation

At just 18 years old, Terry Fox was diagnosed with bone cancer, leading to the amputation of his right leg. Driven to give hope to others facing similar battles, he embarked on his iconic cross-Canada Marathon of Hope on April 12, 1980, to raise funds for cancer research. Though he was unable to finish his run, his inspiring legacy lives on.

This year, our school community will honor Terry's legacy by hosting our annual Terry Fox Run on September 28th on the school field, complete with fun activities and food.

With an estimated 1 in 4 Canadians expected to die from cancer, the work of the Terry Fox Foundation is as vital as ever. Every contribution directly supports groundbreaking cancer research and diagnosis to help save lives.

Last year, thanks to your generosity, our school raised $5,275 for the foundation. With your support this year, we hope to exceed that total! We invite everyone to participate by running, volunteering, and donating.

To make a contribution, please visit our school's fundraising page here.

Daily Student Attendance

Parents are asked to use SafeArrival to report their child’s absence (full day) or lateness. You can also email or call the office when their child is absent or approved late at 613-820-9705. 

How to sign a student out early:

• Provide a written note to your child indicating what time they are being signed out that day. The student will show this to their teacher to dismiss them from class

OR

• Call 613-820-9705 in the morning. The sign-out will be input into our system for the classroom teacher to see. 

Please note that the office will only interrupt a class in the event of an emergency to call a student down to sign out. Please remember that lunch time is unstructured time and students cannot be located during the lunch period. Phys Ed classes are often outside or participating in activities that make it hard to track down students. Please ensure that plans are discussed with your student prior to coming to school so they are prepared to sign out at the requested time.

IMPORTANT: All students must report to the Main Office prior to leaving the school.

School Breakfast Program

Student Transportation

Morning Traffic Flow:

Please remember you are encouraged   to “walk a block” by OSTA  in the mornings!  There is a lot of congestion in front of the school.  If you do need to drop off your child please use the lane furthest from the school which is the car lane.  The lane closest to the school is for BUSSES ONLY!  Pylons will clearly mark the two lanes in front of the school.  Please do not drop off your child in the staff/student parking lot areas.  

Presto Passes for Eligible Students: 

Most eligible students have now collected their Presto passes from the main office. If you have verified that your child is eligible but hasn't received a pass yet, please remind them to visit the main office during lunch. Please note: These passes remain with the student until graduation and will not be reissued each year. Students are responsible for keeping their passes safe and undamaged. 

Yellow Bus Safety & Behavior (Grades 7 & 8): 

We have reminded our Grade 7 and 8 yellow-bus riders that taking the school bus is a privilege. To keep all students safe, respectful behavior is required at all times, and unsafe or disruptive actions will not be tolerated. We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of bus drivers at St. Paul, and we appreciate your support in talking with your children about riding safely! 

Please refer directly to https://www.ottawaschoolbus.ca/ for transportation-related questions. 

High School Resource

A warm welcome back to our high school students with an IEP (Individual Education Plan).  We look forward to supporting you in your learning this school year.  Parents should have received a welcome email from your child’s Resource Teacher this week.  If you did not receive an email, please reach out.  Your high school Resource Team is:

A-F Katherine Dodsworth (katherine.dodsworth@ocsb.ca)

G-N Bonnie Rossiter (bonnie.rossiter@ocsb.ca) 

O-Z Jennifer Klatt (jennifer.klatt@ocsb.ca)

*There are a few exceptions to this and the Resource Teacher will reach out directly to those families. 

Next week in the Resource room, we are pleased to host:

• Parent Meet & Greet: Tuesday, Sept. 15 | 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM (Room 164)
  Parents of high school students with an IEP are invited to drop by during Meet the Teacher night to connect with our team and to ask questions about the St. Paul resource support model. Students are welcome to join! 

• Kami Lunch & Learn: Thursday, Sept. 17 | 11:00AM - 11:25AM (Room 164)
  Students with an IEP can drop in to learn how to use Kami, a new software which has replaced Google Read & Write.

Updates from Student Services 

Welcome Back from Student Services!

We hope your child’s school year is off to a wonderful start! Our department has been hard at work meeting with students and finalizing course schedules.

Grades 7–12 Guidance Alpha

As we transition to a Grades 7–12 model this year, students are assigned to a Guidance Counsellor based on their last name. Our office continues to be anchored by our wonderful Student Services Administrator, Meaghan Kassner, and you can reach our department directly at 613-820-7401. 

• Surnames A – F: Noel Cantin (noel.cantin@ocsb.ca)

• Surnames G – N: Diana Valentini (diana.valentini@ocsb.ca)

• Surnames O – Z: Ashley Baine (ashley.baine@ocsb.ca)

We look forward to working together with you and your family for a wonderful school year! We hope to see you at Meet the Teacher night next Tuesday, so please drop by, introduce yourself, and say hello. 

Grade 12 Information & Events

• Grade 12 Grad Meeting: On Thursday, October 1, we will meet with our Grade 12 students to review graduation requirements, post-secondary pathways, and college and university application procedures. Students will receive further updates via school announcements and their student email. Please note that we will also be updating our Grad website for this school year shortly with further information and resources.
  
  

• Ontario Universities' Fair (OUF): For planning purposes, families exploring university options may want to note that the annual fair takes place on September 26–27 in Toronto. This is an excellent, all-in-one opportunity to connect directly with university representatives. More info can be found on the OUF Website.

Information from the OCSB

• Save the date! You are invited to the Family Expo on Saturday, September 26th at St Paul’s High School. Explore workshops, find support and connect at our community resource cafe. Everyone is welcome!  Event details and registration will be posted HERE soon! 

• The Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) is pleased to invite nominations for representatives to serve on our Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) for the upcoming term. The deadline is September 30th. SEAC plays a vital role in ensuring that the voices of parents, associations, and community members who advocate for students with exceptionalities are reflected in the Board's special education programs and services. More information here.

Chromebooks

If you have not already done so, please complete the Chromebook Device Loan Agreement.

Photo Day

Photo day is scheduled for Thursday September 24, 2026 and retakes are on October 20, 2026 

Catholic School Council - First meeting and elections

The Catholic School Council will meet on September 24 at 6:00pm in person at the St Paul Learning Commons. Our council is a great way to help support your child’s school!  We are always looking for new members.  Our council meets quarterly.  If you are interested in joining the meeting please email the Principal (alanna.vandewint@ocsb.ca).

Important Dates