A. Lorne Cassidy ES

Miss Trish's FRIDAY MESSAGES Read Here!

Posted on 11/01/2022

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Thursday, December 22, 2022

Well, here we are heading into our Winter Break a little earlier than expected. Please note that ALL OCDSB schools and administrative buildings will be closed tomorrow in light of the pending storm! Be safe, Ducks!

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our ALC families a restful holiday break. We look forward to seeing all of the smiling faces back at school on January 9th!

CELEBRATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY

CHRISTMAS: Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, of course, waiting for Santa Claus to arrive.

KWANZA: The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili. Each family celebrates Kwanzaa in its own way, but celebrations often include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large traditional meal. On each of the seven nights, the family gathers and a child lights one of the candles on the Kinara (candleholder), then one of the seven principles is discussed. The principles, called the Nguzo Saba (seven principles in Swahili) are values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing community among African-Americans. Kwanzaa also has seven basic symbols which represent values and concepts reflective of African culture. 

 

JANUARY 9- FIRST DAY BACK

JANUARY 13- GRADE 8 PHOTOS 

JANUARY 19- FRIDAY SCHEDULE

JANUARY 20-PA DAY- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

FEBRUARY 1- KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION NIGHT

NOTE:  According to the OCDSB Policy Religious Holy Days, no major assessments or school events will be planned on these Holy Days.  DATES TO BE AVOIDED, DATES OF OBSERVATION

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Friday, December 16th, 2022

 

We are heading into the last stretch before the Winter Holidays! 

This week, many of our Grade 5 students had the opportunity to attend the premiere screening of Spirit Bear: Fishing for Knowledge, Catching Dreams. It was a fun field trip that inspired students to consider how they might be able to take action to effectively impact change for Indigenous Communities.

WIZARD OF OZ: As you may have heard The Wizard of Oz is coming to ALC with an April performance featuring students from grades 4-8. Over the past week we have held auditions for over 100 students here at ALC. Due to the number of students auditioning the audition process will continue into next week but we are hoping to be able to decide on our cast before the break. It is wonderful to see such enthusiasm for performing and so much ALC talent! We plan to include as many students in the play as we can by adding choruses to cast as many students as possible. The audition process is difficult- we know that many students are going to feel disappointed by either not getting the part they wanted or by not being able to be included in the play this year. There will be lots of opportunities to be involved with the production of The Wizard of Oz in other ways such as tech crew, set design, make up, backstage crew, lighting, music etc. We are feeling very proud of all of the students who came out and gave it their all this week. 

SPIRIT DAYS: We are planning a series of spirit days leading up to the break. 

Wednesday December: 21- Sparkle and Shine (rescheduled from Friday)

Thursday December 22: Sweater Day! Show us your ugly, festive, old, comfy or favorite sweater. Any and all sweaters!!. 

Friday December 23: Cozy Comfy Day Dress for comfort-PJs, loungewear. Please keep your stuffies at home. 

FOOD DRIVE: Thank you to all of our families who contributed to the Food Drive organized by EF6A. As a community, we collected close to 2000 items to give to the Stittsville Food Bank in support of families in our community. This was a completely student driven initiative, and the students in EF6A did a fantastic job of encouraging the spirit of giving in our students, which truly is the magic of this time of year.

UPCOMING CELEBRATIONS OF FAMILIES IN THE ALC COMMUNITY

YALDA NIGHT: DECEMBER 21: Shabe Yalda, or Yalda night is a Persian Celebration which is an evening of festivities and merriment that begins when the sun sets on the last day of fall (last day of Maah e Azar on Jalali Calendar) and continues until the dawn of the first day of winter, or first day of Maah e Dey. This night was called Yalda which meant rebirth (of the sun), and it was celebrated for the triumph of light over darkness. They built fires on sundown of the last day in fall and kept them burning until the first rays of sun the following day. During this night they gathered with family and friends, ate delicious food, drank, and sang happy songs all night and listened to stories about old times.

CHANUKAH- December 18-December 26. Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs instead of mitzvah observance and belief in G‑d. Against all odds, a small band people of the Jewish faith, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple. When they sought to light the Temple's Menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared.

DEC 20- GRADE 8 VISIT TO SOUTH CARLETON

DEC 23- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL BEFORE WINTER BREAK

JANUARY 9- FIRST DAY BACK

JANUARY 16- GRADE 8 PHOTOS 

JANUARY 19- FRIDAY SCHEDULE

JANUARY 20-PA DAY- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

FEBRUARY 1- KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION NIGHT

NOTE:  According to the OCDSB Policy Religious Holy Days, no major assessments or school events will be planned on these Holy Days.  DATES TO BE AVOIDED, DATES OF OBSERVATION

ALC  INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Attendance: if your child will be absent, please call the school at 613 831 3434 or email us at: alcabsence@ocdsb.ca

A. LORNE CASSIDY WEBSITE

STUDENT SUCCESS AT ALC

 ALC NEWS

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: @ALorneCassidy

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Friday, December 9th, 2022

The Spirit of Giving is pulsating at ALC! EF6 is organizing a Food Drive for the Stittsville Food Bank before the Holiday Season. They have decided to challenge each class to bring in as much food as they can to help stock the shelves. Bragging rights are on the line, so every item can help! So far, we have collected over 1100 food items! One week to go, and the competition between classes is fierce.

This week we have a couple of trips happening at school. Many of the Grade 5 students are going to see the premiere screening of Spirit Bear’s Fishing for Knowledge and Catching Dreams movie. Our Grade 8s are headed to South Carleton to watch the Dance Show. This is a great opportunity to see some of the experiences they might look forward to next year.

On behalf of the students, the Library wishes to thank families and staff for their support during the Book Fair. It was a wonderful success, and we look forward to all the new books ALC will be receiving in the new year! Thank you!

SPIRIT DAYS: We are planning a series of spirit days leading up to the break. 

Friday December 16: Sparkle and Shine Day Wear your fancy clothes!

Thursday December 22: Sweater Day! Show us your ugly, festive, old, comfy or favorite sweater. ALC sweater works too. 

Friday December 23: Cozy Comfy Day Dress for comfort-PJs, loungewear. Please keep your stuffies at home. 

FAMILY CELEBRATIONS: We are hoping you might take a moment to complete this short form for us to get a better sense of the celebrations and significant dates for our families. We are not collecting any information other than the name of the day/celebration and the dates connected to it.

We thank you for joining us in this learning journey.

If you are planning extended vacations over the winter break, could you kindly let the office know. Advance information really helps us with our attendance processes in the morning.

We would also like to request that if you are picking up your children at the end of the day, please either get them or contact the office prior to 3:15. Late notifications often make it very difficult for us to find the student before dismissal and before they get on their buses. We appreciate your help with this.

 

Please stay home if you are ill. We are seeing a significant rise in many different illnesses, and with the change in weather, OPH is predicting a challenging cold and flu season.

Thank you to everyone who is using the OPH screener every morning and keeping your children home when they are ill. 

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/

Ottawa Public Health notes that anyone who is experiencing COVID like symptoms or tests positive for COVID is to isolate until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea) and you do not have a fever. If you require a rapid test, we still have some available; please call Ms Walker in the office at 613-831 3434. 

COMMUNITY NEWS:

SAUNDERS Holiday Light Festival

OPEN Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights December 1-  23, 2022 530pm - 10

Join us for an amazing evening and discover a stunning walking trail adorned with tens of thousands of colourful lights that dance to music on our beautiful 180-year-old family farm. Walk at your own pace, stop at your favourite scenes like Candy Cane Lane or the Starry Night Path. After the Holiday Light Walk, visit our Town Square Christmas Market.  Grab a bite of a wood-fired pizza and sip on a hot apple cider in the CiderHouse or visit the Farmers Grill in the Town Square serving poutine, fries and sausages. Warm up around the site's bonfires, and indulge in seasonal treats like BeaverTails. Pick out your perfect Christmas tree from our pre-cut lot, as well as homemade fresh wreaths and unique gifts in the Saunders Farmshop.

Holiday Light Festival

DEC 16- GRADE 8 TO SOUTH CARLETON DANCE SHOW

DEC 20- GRADE 8 VISIT TO SOUTH CARLETON

DEC 23- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL BEFORE WINTER BREAK

JANUARY 9- FIRST DAY BACK

JANUARY 16- GRADE 8 PHOTOS 

JANUARY 19- FRIDAY SCHEDULE

JANUARY 20-PA DAY- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

  


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Friday, December 2nd, 2022

It certainly feels like December has snuck up on us! As we head into the last 3 weeks before the winter holiday break, the anticipation of the break is certainly being felt here at school. 

SPIRIT DAYS: We are planning a series of spirit days leading up to the break. 

Friday December 9: 'I'm plaid it’s Friday'! Wear plaid, flannel, stripes, and plaid PJs work too!

Friday December 16: Sparkle and Shine Day Wear your fancy clothes!

Thursday December 22: Sweater Day! Show us your ugly, festive, old, comfy or favorite sweater. ALC sweater works too. 

Friday December 23: Cozy Comfy Day Dress for comfort-PJs, loungewear. Please keep your stuffies at home. 

ALL ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL: The OCDSB will be hosting an All About High School Virtual Information Session on December 8, 2022 at 7:00. Details and information can be found here.

CELEBRATING ALL: We would like to do a better job of reflecting and celebrating all of the cultures in our wonderful community. We are hoping that parents might join us for a focus group on Wednesday December 7, 2022 to share ideas on how we can respectfully and authentically reflect the wide variety of celebrations throughout the school year to ensure that all families feel they are a valued part of our school community. If you are able to join us from 6-7 PM on Dec 7, please complete this Google Form

HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE: EF6 is organizing a Food Drive for the Stittsville Food Bank before the Holiday Season. They have decided to challenge each class to bring in as much food as they can to help stock the shelves. Bragging rights are on the line, so every item can help!

Boxes will be outside classrooms starting December 5, 2022.

PHOTO RETAKES: Proofs were sent home earlier this week. If you are purchasing photos from the retakes, Only cash orders are due in the office on Dec 6, 2022, Online orders to be done online by Dec 7th.

SECONDARY GIFTED PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSION: On Tuesday, December 6 at 6 pm, parents and guardians are welcome to attend a virtual information session about the OCDSB’s Secondary Gifted Program. Attendees will learn about the program and application process, and will have the opportunity to ask questions. While those with a student in grade 8 might find the session most helpful, all parents and caregivers are invited to attend. Save this link to join the session on Google Meet. 

NUNATSIAVUT DAY: December 1, was  Nunatsiavut Day. “Nunatsiavut” means "Our Beautiful Land" in Inuktitut. Nunatsiavut Day acknowledges the effective date of the Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement, which came into effect in 2005. 

The Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement recognized Inuit ownership of 15,800 square kilometres of land and the creation of the 9,600 square kilometre Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve.

The Inuit territory of Nunatsiavut was established within the boundaries of Newfoundland and Labrador on Dec. 1, 2005. Nunatsiavut is the first of the Inuit regions in Canada to achieve self-government.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES- Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The OCDSB joins communities and organizations around the world, to stand for persons with disabilities to be recognized for their humanity and abilities. 

DECEMBER IS CODING MONTH: December 5-11th is coding week and Hour of Code, with classrooms all around the world taking part! OCDSB staff have curated a number of resources to support learning through Coding, specifically for the Micro:bit, which are now in every OCDSB School. Check out the Micro:bit Primer Slide Deck, and learn more about Micro:bits at https://microbit.org/ and Hour of Code Activities for Micro:bit. Google Meet Drop in Sessions will also be offered throughout the week.

  It has been a very busy week here at ALC! This week we were able to host the Junior Borden Ball Tournaments for schools in our area. It was wonderful to see the excited faces of students on the teams as they participated in their first tournament in over 2 years!

CELEBRATING ALL: As mentioned in a previous Friday Message, we would like to do a better job of reflecting and celebrating all of the cultures in our wonderful community. We are hoping that parents might join us for a focus group on Wednesday December 7, 2022 to share ideas on how we can respectfully and authentically reflect the wide variety of celebrations throughout the school year to ensure that all families feel they are a valued part of our school community. If you are able to join us from 6-7 PM on Dec 7, please complete this Google Form

.Gift Card Collection for Carleton Heights: From November 14th to the 28th we will be collecting gift cards for Carleton Heights. They are seeing an increase in need from their students and we want to help. This year we are collecting directly at ALC. Students can bring in their gift cards and teachers will send them to the office. Council will then collect and drop off to CH. WalMart gift cards in the denomination of $25.00 are best. Alternatively, School Cash Online has been set up for monetary donations if you prefer. We thank you in advance for your generosity. 

 

Thank you for supporting the ALC Book Fair this week. It was a huge success. It is so wonderful to see students excited about reading and the books they have purchased! Just a reminder that the Book Fair is open this evening and tomorrow morning during Parent Teacher Interviews.

STITTSVILLE PARADE OF LIGHTS is looking for volunteers. If you are able to help out on Dec 3 from 5:30-8PM, please email sc-alornecassidyes@ocdsb.ca

An Important Message from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

CHEO is experiencing an unprecedented surge in viral illness among children and youth (RSV, flu, and COVID). In response, they are focussing staff, physicians, and physical space on ensuring urgent and emergent care are always available for kids and youth who may need it. The full details about the situation are available here.

CHEO is asking everyone in Ottawa to help control this viral surge by taking a few personal safety measures:  

• Wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces, including schools 

• Stay home when sick 

• Wash your hands, frequently 

• Cough into elbows 

• Get all vaccines you are eligible for, including COVID-19 and flu. 

Please stay home if you are ill. We are seeing a significant rise in many different illnesses, and with the change in weather, OPH is predicting a challenging cold and flu season.

Thank you to everyone who is using the OPH screener every morning and keeping your children home when they are ill. 

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/

Ottawa Public Health notes that anyone who is experiencing COVID like symptoms or tests positive for COVID is to isolate until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea) and you do not have a fever. If you require a rapid test, we still have some available; please call Ms Walker in the office at 613-831 3434. 

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Friday, November 18th, 2022

We knew it was inevitable, and it happened! The snow has arrived. Please remind your children to wear their warm clothing to keep cozy outside! For our younger students, an extra pair of mitts and socks might be a good idea. The temptation to play in the snow is very hard to resist, and wet hands and feet can make for a very long day!

RETIREMENT ANNOUNCEMENT: While we are going to feel the loss immensely, we are excited to share that as of Dec 31st, our Office Administrator, Wendy Norton will be retiring. Wendy has been a fixture at ALC for 15 years, and has had an enormous impact on our school community. We wish her nothing but the best in the next part of her journey!

EQAO Results: Today students who wrote EQAO last year will be bringing home their results via backpack express.

Gift Card Collection for Carleton Heights: From November 14th to the 28th we will be collecting gift cards for our sister school Carleton Heights. They are seeing an increase in need from their students and we want to help. This year we are collecting directly at ALC. Students can bring in their gift cards and teachers will send them to the office. Council will then collect and drop off to CH. WalMart gift cards in the denomination of $25.00 are best. Alternatively, School Cash Online has been set up for monetary donations if you prefer. We thank you in advance for your generosity. 

ALC's Scholastic Book Fair starts this coming week! Students will preview the books either on Monday or on Wednesday during school hours. Then students will have the opportunity to make purchases either on the Tuesday or Thursday during the day. 

Thursday evening (4:15 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and Friday morning (9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.), the Book Fair is open to families and the community.

Canterbury Arts Open House (In-person): Grade 8 students and their families are invited to attend an in-person Arts Open House on Wednesday, November 30th from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. to learn more about the OCDSB's specialized arts programming, and about application procedures for the 2023-24 school year. For the participation link and more details, visit this link. 

International Baccalaureate Virtual Open House Students and families who would like to learn more about the OCDSB’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme are invited to attend a virtual open house on Tuesday, November 22nd at 6:15 pm.  OPEN HOUSE FLYER 

Replacement Staff and Classroom Closures: School boards across Ontario, including the OCDSB, are struggling to find replacement staff for absent teachers. As we are heading into the cold and flu season, we anticipate additional stress on the system. We will make every effort to communicate needed classroom closures on the evening prior, however we do, at times, need to make the call on the morning of. 

If you receive a call/email that your child’s classroom is closed, they can check Google Classrooms for asynchronous activities posted. We understand the impact involved with closing classes and we do appreciate your understanding and flexibility when we are faced with no other options for staff coverage. 

Stittsville High School - Ready for Opening September 2024: Work is actively underway on the construction of the highly anticipated new high school in Stittsville.  Based on the current construction status and schedule for completion, the building phase of the new school should be completed in late spring 2024.  The new school will be ready to welcome students and staff in September 2024.   

The September 2024 opening date is one year later than what was anticipated at the start of construction.  The construction schedule was adversely impacted by a number of factors including supply chain challenges and recent labour disruptions in the construction industry.  

For the 2023-2024 school year, attendance boundaries for schools in and around the Stittsville community will remain status quo.  Additional information related to the school opening will continue to be shared with the community to ensure a successful transition and opening for September 2024.

A Message From Councillor Gower: We know the pandemic changed the way many students travel to and from school, and parents or guardians who chose to drive students have been encouraged to park away from schools and “walk-a-block". 

Unfortunately, many drivers continue to ignore parking by-laws. Since the start of the school year, bylaw officers have issued warnings or tickets for blocking driveways, parking in front of fire hydrants, parking too close to an intersection, and double parking.

We are asking that parents obey parking restrictions and to report when they see unsafe parking by calling 3-1-1.

  Unless otherwise indicated on a sign, the following rules apply:  

• No parking within 9 metres of an intersection; 

• No parking within 3 metres of a fire hydrant; 

• No parking within 1.5 metres of a driveway; 

• No parking in excess of three (3) hours, Monday to Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.; 

• No parking in excess of six (6) hours on weekends and statutory holidays, between 7:00 a.m. and 7 p.m. 

• No parking within 300 metres of previous parking space within one (1) hour; 

 These rules are in place to keep roads safe for everyone. I hope that we can work together to make our roads safer – especially our most vulnerable road users: the young students who use them each and every day. 

 

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/

Ottawa Public Health notes that anyone who is experiencing COVID like symptoms or tests positive for COVID is to isolate until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea) and you do not have a fever. If you require a rapid test, we still have some available; please call Mrs Walker in the office at 613-831 3434. 

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Friday, November 11th, 2022

Today students in EF4/5, MF5/6 and R7/8 hosted the ALC Remembrance Day Ceremony. It was a service honouring the sacrifices and reminding students and staff of the freedoms we hold because of those sacrifices. Thank you to Mme. Zaatar, Mme. Devine and Mrs. Benson for their hard work in supporting their students in this work. We are also grateful for the time and efforts of our Tech Crew and Mrs. Georganas.

With the inevitable changes in weather, we encourage families to double check the weather before students come to school. Students are outside for both recess, and outdoor PE and DPA, so proper attire is helpful in keeping them comfortable in colder conditions.

Parent Teacher Interviews will be held on the evening of Nov 24th and the morning of Nov 25th. Interview sign up will be sent out with report cards.

Tutors in the Classroom: The Ministry of Education has provided funds for Boards to develop in class learning tutor support. We are in the process of identifying students who might benefit from some additional support with Math and Literacy. We will send an email home to parents of selected students on Monday letting you know that the tutor will be working with your child. The tutors have been trained and will work in collaboration with the classroom teachers to target specific skills.

School Council Gift Card Collection for Carleton Heights: From November 14th to the 28th we will be collecting gift cards for our sister school Carleton Heights. They are seeing an increase in need from their students and we want to help. This year we are collecting directly at ALC. Students can bring in their gift cards and teachers will send them to the office. Council will then collect and drop off to CH. WalMart gift cards in the denomination of $25.00 are best. Alternatively, School Cash Online has been set up for monetary donations if you prefer. We thank you in advance for your generosity. ALC School Council. 

ALC BOOK FAIR: The Scholastic Book Fair is coming! Students will have an opportunity to make purchases on either Tuesday November 22 or Thursday November 24 during school hours. Then the Fair will be open to families during the Parent-Teacher Interviews from 4:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday November 24, and also on Friday November 25 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. All proceeds will go to our school library for brand new high interest books!

Thank you for supporting our literacy initiative.

SCHOOL COUNCIL will be meeting this coming Wednesday in the Library at 7:00. All are welcome!

November 15: National Child Day Event - #8MillionRising

Children First Canada is hosting a special National Child Day event on Wednesday, November 15th at 1:00 p.m. This event honours the power and resilience of the 8 million children currently living in Canada, sharing information about children’s rights and how we can all take action. Participants can join as individuals, or educators can register their class for the event. Learn more and register here. 

November 16: Louis Riel Day: In Ontario Louis Riel Day is recognized on November 16th, the anniversary of Louis Riel’s execution in 1885. While Louis Riel Day commemorates one of the great tragedies of Canadian history, it is also a day to celebrate Métis people and culture and the continuing progress in fulfilling Riel’s dream with the Métis people taking their rightful place within Confederation. Learn more and find virtual event information here.

An Important Message from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario: CHEO is experiencing an unprecedented surge in viral illness among children and youth (RSV, flu, and COVID). In response, they are focussing staff, physicians, and physical space on ensuring urgent and emergent care are always available for kids and youth who may need it. The full details about the situation are available here.

CHEO is asking everyone in Ottawa to help control this viral surge by taking a few personal safety measures:  

• Wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces, including schools 

• Stay home when sick 

• Wash your hands, frequently 

• Cough into elbows 

• Get all vaccines you are eligible for, including COVID-19 and flu. 

Please stay home if you are ill. We are seeing a significant rise in many different illnesses, and with the change in weather, OPH is predicting a challenging cold and flu season.

Thank you to everyone who is using the OPH screener every morning and keeping your children home when they are ill. 

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/

Ottawa Public Health notes that anyone who is experiencing COVID like symptoms or tests positive for COVID is to isolate until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea) and you do not have a fever. If you require a rapid test, we still have some available; please call Ms Walker in the office at 613-831 3434. 

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Friday, November 4th, 2022

While it certainly does not feel like November out there, we are well into it!

Just a reminder that tomorrow is a Professional Activity Day for all staff. There is no school, but EDP is open for those who have signed up for the day.

This week our Intermediate Girls and Boys represented our school with pride at their respective football tournaments. A huge thank you to Ms. Mackey and M. Bonin for their time and efforts coaching! An additional thank you to our parent volunteers who supported (and transported) our teams.

ALC BOOK FAIR: If you are able to help out on November 24 and/or November 25, please contact Jennifer.Voelker@ocdsb.ca

Thank you for your support!

Remembrance Day Ceremony: This year schools will once again be holding their own Remembrance Day Ceremonies. We are still working to limit the transmission of illness, so we will not be opening up the ceremony to parents this year. 

Celebrating Everyone: As we start to look at our data from the School Climate Survey from last year, we are hearing that while students feel their cultures and heritage are respected, many feel they are not being celebrated at school. We are looking to change that, but we need your help. We will be setting up a Parent Focus Group and a Student Focus Group to gather ideas on how families would like to see culture celebrated here at ALC. Dates and times will be coming soon!!

 International Inuit Day is celebrated each year on November 7. This is an opportunity to celebrate Inuit communities, learn more about their culture and history, and amplify their voices.

Holocaust Education Month: Recognized each year in November, Holocaust Education Month provides an important opportunity for students, staff, and families to learn more about the history and legacy of the Holocaust. We have an individual and collective duty to understand the Holocaust and to educate, prevent, challenge and address antisemitism in all its forms.  

November is Hindu Heritage Month, an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the important social, political, economic, and cultural contributions Hindu Canadians have made in Ontario, and to educate future generations about Hindu Canadians.

Please stay home if you are ill. We are seeing a significant rise in many different illnesses, and with the change in weather, OPH is predicting a challenging cold and flu season.

Thank you to everyone who is using the OPH screener every morning and keeping your children home when they are ill. 

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/

Ottawa Public Health notes that anyone who is experiencing COVID like symptoms or tests positive for COVID is to isolate until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea) and you do not have a fever. If you require a rapid test, we still have some available; please call Ms Walker in the office at 613-831 3434. 

NOTE:  According to the OCDSB Policy Religious Holy Days, no major assessments or school events will be planned on these Holy Days.  DATES TO BE AVOIDED, DATES OF OBSERVATION

ALC  INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Attendance: if your child will be absent, please call the school at 613 831 3434 or email us at: alcabsence@ocdsb.ca

A. LORNE CASSIDY WEBSITE

STUDENT SUCCESS AT ALC

 ALC NEWS

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

________________________________
Friday, October 28th, 2022

In this week’s message:

• Cake Parade

• Yearbook

• Food Drive

• Halloween Costumes

• Immunizations

• IB Program Open House

• Parent Conference

Our Cake Parade was a huge hit today! All students were given 10 tickets and had an opportunity to enter and win one of 370 cakes. This was the first year we have used this event in this manner, and it was a wonderful way to ensure all of our students have an equitable opportunity to participate! Thank you to Terri-Lyn Fraser for all of her work organizing the event, and to the many parent volunteers who came out to help today and all the families who donated cakes and treats. These events cannot happen without your support!

YEARBOOK: yearbook staff is looking for volunteers to assist in photography throughout the school year, for spirit days etc. They can contact yearbookalc@gmail.com for more information.

FOOD DRIVE: The ALC Fall Food Drive continues. Please bring in non perishable food items until November 3.

Halloween: While we want students to be able to celebrate and enjoy Halloween, we also need to remind everyone that costumes must also be respectful. We ask that families take time to consider the potential impact a costume might have on others. Costumes that are built on the cultural and spiritual traditions and regalia can perpetuate stereotypes and cause harm to others. This video gives a very good explanation of the difference between CULTURAL APPRECIATION VS APPROPRIATION.
 

Grade 7 and 8 Immunization Clinic at ALC: Every year Ottawa Public Health (OPH) organizes vaccine clinics at ALC. Again this year, OPH will offer an in-school clinic in the Fall and in the Spring. The first clinic of the school year is scheduled for Wednesday November 2 and Thursday November 3. Consent forms were sent home on Thursday. Students must have their consent forms to receive their vaccinations. There is no electronic copy of the consent form. Please see the attached document for more details.

GRADE 7 LETTER 

GRADE 8 LETTER 

International Baccalaureate Virtual Open House : Students and families who would like to learn more about the OCDSB”s International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme are invited to attend a virtual open house on Tuesday, November 22nd at 6:15 pm.  Please see the attached poster for details.

IB PROGRAM OPEN HOUSE 

2022 OCDSB Parent Conference 

Date: Saturday, November 5th 2022 

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

Location: Ridgemont High School, 2597 Alta Vista Drive 

Join us on Saturday, November 5th from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for our in-person OCDSB Parent Conference at Ridgemont High School. We are pleased to have Dr. Michael Cheng join us from CHEO, as he shares with parents how to build resiliency in our children and youth in a world of uncertainty. Following our keynote, we will host multiple workshops - please note most workshops will be offered in English with several offered in Arabic and Somali.  Click here to register now for the 2022 Parent Conference.

Please stay home if you are ill

Thank you to everyone who is using the OPH screener every morning and keeping your children home when they are ill. 

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/

Ottawa Public Health notes that anyone who is experiencing COVID like symptoms or tests positive for COVID is to isolate until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea) and you do not have a fever. If you require a rapid test, we still have some available; please call Ms Walker in the office at 613-831 3434. 

________________________

Friday, October 21st, 2022

The halls at ALC are buzzing these days! There are lots of extracurriculars up and running and students are eager to join. Please check the list below for sports and clubs that are currently available.

In this week’s message:

• Cross Country

• Cake Parade

• Yearbook Update

• Immunizations

• Halloween

• Extra Curriculars

• Elections

•  Virtual Information Session on Intercultural and International Learning Opportunities 

• OCDSB Parent Conference

• Virtual Tutoring

This week Mme. Evans, Mme. Devine and Mme. Zaatar took over 70 cross country runners from Grade 4-6 to the regional Cross Country Meet. Once again, our students represented ALC with pride and had a great day on the trails. A special thank you to staff and parent volunteers to made this happen for our students.

ALC'S SPOOKTACULAR CAKE PARADE IS BACK! Friday October 28th

ALC'S School Council is excited to bring back the much loved Cake Parade. This year the Council will not be selling tickets. Instead we will be providing each student with 10 tickets for a chance to win!! HOW IT WORKS:

-Donated cakes/cupcakes/cake pops etc. can be dropped off to the rotunda between 8:30 am and 9:00 am on the 28th. Students can also drop off to the gym once they arrive in school. 

-Students will visit the gym with their class throughout the day and put their tickets in for the cake they hope to win. Students can only win once. 

-Winners will be sent home with their winnings at the end of the day. 

REMINDERS

-The school is a nut/peanut free facility

-If possible please include the list of ingredients with your donation

-Please ensure your donations are packaged in a way that is easy for students to bring home. Many will be taking their winnings home on the bus.

-Package your donation in containers you do not want to keep. Containers will not be returned to you.

-If your donation is allergen free please mark clearly as we will put these at a seperate table for students with allergies to try and win.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Without enough volunteers this event will not run. Volunteers are needed all day, mainly between the hours of 12:00 to 3:30 pm. Please email sc-alornecassidyes@ocdsb.ca to volunteer.

If you do not wish for your child to bring home a cake, please email sc-alornecassidyes@ocdsb.ca with their name and homeroom and we will ensure a cake is not sent home with them. 

We thank you in advance for your donations!! Without them there would be no parade! 

2021-2022 YEARBOOKS: Yearbooks ordered last year are on their way. There was a production delay that set them back several months. They will hopefully arrive sometime in December. Information about yearbooks for this year will be coming in the near future.

Grade 7&8 Immunizations- OPH will be running the first round of immunizations for students in Grades 7 and 8 on November 2 and 3rd. More information and consent forms will be sent home with students closer to the date. For details on immunizations, please visit the OPH Website.

HALLOWEEN:  As we look ahead to Halloween, we wanted to ask families to begin thinking about costumes and how we can celebrate the day at ALC.

• Simple costumes, no accessories, no costume mask, 

• No change of clothes at school

• No distribution or exchange of treats, or sharing of food 

Alternatively, students are welcome to dress in orange and black. 

While we want students to be able to celebrate and enjoy Halloween, we also need to remind everyone that costumes must also be respectful. We ask that families take time to consider the potential impact a costume might have on others. Costumes that are built on the cultural and spiritual traditions and regalia can perpetuate stereotypes and cause harm to others. This video gives a very good explanation of the difference between CULTURAL APPRECIATION VS APPROPRIATION.

Classes will be taking some time to discuss respectful costumes and the importance of being mindful of the costumes we choose to wear. 

EXTRA CURRICULARS: Extracurriculars are now up and running. Currently we have:

Intermediate Girls Football

Grade 2 Games Club: Mondays at 2:20

Primary Cross Country Club: Tuesday and Thursday at 2:20

Basketball Intramurals

Boys Football

Robotics- Grades 7-8

Coding- Grade 3-6

Coming Soon:

Borden Ball- Grades 4-6

Forest of Reading

Municipal Election Day- Monday, October 24: This coming Monday October 24th is Municipal Election day and ALC will be a voting site for the election.  Voters will have access to the school gym only (the gym will be closed to students all day) and there will be Elections staff monitoring the voters while they are accessing the gym that day.  

October 26: Virtual Information Session on Intercultural and International Learning Opportunities: The OCDSB offers a number of exciting learning opportunities for students who want to become active global citizens. Grade 8-11 students and their parents and guardians are invited to a virtual information session to learn more about the International Certificate Program, international exchanges and studying abroad. The virtual information session will take place on October 26 from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. For event participation link and more information, visit: ocdsb.ca/icp.

2022 OCDSB Parent Conference 

Date: Saturday, November 5th 2022 

Time: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

Location: Ridgemont High School, 2597 Alta Vista Drive 

Join us on Saturday, November 5th from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for our in-person OCDSB Parent Conference at Ridgemont High School. We are pleased to have Dr. Michael Cheng join us from CHEO, as he shares with parents how to build resiliency in our children and youth in a world of uncertainty. Following our keynote, we will host multiple workshops - please note most workshops will be offered in English with several offered in Arabic and Somali.  Click here to register now for the 2022 Parent Conference.

FREE VIRTUAL AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING FOR GRADES 7 and UP

The OCDSB is offering free virtual after school tutoring program for grade 7- 12 students within our school board.  

Start date: October 4th 

Days and Times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Please consult the following links for more information:

FLYER: Virtual Tutoring Program

WEBSITE: 2022-2023 Virtual Tutoring Program website   

Please stay home if you are ill

Thank you to everyone who is using the OPH screener every morning and keeping your children home when they are ill. 

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/

Ottawa Public Health notes that anyone who is experiencing COVID like symptoms or tests positive for COVID is to isolate until symptoms have been improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea) and you do not have a fever. If you require a rapid test, we still have some available; please call Ms Walker in the office at 613-831-3434. 



OCT 24- MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

OCT 26- INTERMEDIATE GIRLS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

OCT 27- INTERMEDIATE BOYS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

OCT 28- CAKE PARADE

NOV 2 AND 3- GRADE 7 AND 8 IMMUNIZATIONS

NOV 4- PA DAY

NOV 6-12- TREATIES RECOGNITION WEEK

NOV 8- NATIONAL INDIGENOUS VETERANS DAY

NOV 11- REMEMBRANCE DAY

NOTE:  According to the OCDSB Policy Religious Holy Days, no major assessments or school events will be planned on these Holy Days.  DATES TO BE AVOIDED, DATES OF OBSERVATION

ALC  INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Attendance: if your child will be absent, please call the school at 613 831 3434 or email us at: alcabsence@ocdsb.ca

A. LORNE CASSIDY WEBSITE

STUDENT SUCCESS AT ALC

 ALC NEWS

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: @ALorneCassidy

________________________
Friday, October 14th, 2022

It has been a short, but busy week here at ALC! 

In this week’s message:

• Construction Reminder

• ALC NEWS

• Cross Country

• Elections

• Immunizations

• Right to DIsconnect

• Halloween

• School Council

• Islamic Heritage Month

• Extra Curriculars

• Virtual Tutoring

Construction Reminder: For families who have students walking through the construction areas, please take a moment to remind students to be very careful and to follow the path created and use the cross walks with the crossing guards. We have had a couple of near misses as students are crossing the street in other spots and oncoming vehicles cannot see the students as they come out from behind the construction.

ALC NEWS: R7/8 has put together an ALC Newsletter for everyone to see! They have worked very hard and have created a very polished site to keep everyone up to date on the goings on at school! Well Done! ALC NEWS

Our Intermediate Cross Country Team represented ALC with pride on Wednesday. They braved the rain, and all runners left their mark on the track. It was exciting to be able to send them off to show their stuff once again! Thanks to Ms. Mackey for taking them to the meet and to all the parent volunteers who came to help out. These events are only possible with your help!

Election Day- On October 24th, ALC will once again be a voting site for the Municipal Election. Similar to June, voters will have access to only 1 entrance and there will be Elections staff monitoring the voters while they are in the building that day.

Grade 7&8 Immunizations- OPH will be running the first round of immunizations for students in Grades 7 and 8 on November 2 and 3rd. More information and consent forms will be sent home with students closer to the date. For details on immunizations, please visit the OPH Website.

Right to Disconnect: In June of 2022, the Right to Disconnect Legislation came into effect in Ontario. Every organization was required to develop a policy for employees. In the OCDSB, we are mindful of the well-being of our employees, and we recognize that their jobs are often stressful. The time at home in the evening is imperative for them to disconnect and to focus on their own well-being and their families. The policy in the OCDSB indicates that employees are not required to respond to electronic communications between the hours of 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM, unless it is an urgent matter. 

All of our staff work very hard to support your children while they are at school, so we ask that families be mindful of their time at home with families. If there is an urgent matter that needs to be attended to, please send the message to tricia.eddy@ocdsb.ca. If an immediate response is required, Ms. Trish will respond. 

HALLOWEEN:  As we look ahead to Halloween, we wanted to ask families to begin thinking about costumes and how we can celebrate the day at ALC.

• Simple costumes, no accessories, no costume mask, 

• No change of clothes at school

• No distribution or exchange of treats, or sharing of food 

Alternatively, students are welcome to dress in orange and black. 

While we want students to be able to celebrate and enjoy Halloween, we also need to remind everyone that costumes must also be respectful. We ask that families take time to consider the potential impact a costume might have on others. Costumes that are built on the cultural and spiritual traditions and regalia can perpetuate stereotypes and cause harm to others. This video gives a very good explanation of the difference between CULTURAL APPRECIATION VS APPROPRIATION.

Classes will be taking some time to discuss respectful costumes and the importance of being mindful of the costumes we choose to wear. 

If you are interested in joining us for our October School Council Meeting, we will be meeting in the Library at 7:00 on Wednesday October 19th, 2022. 

We ask that those joining the meeting enter the building using the side doors. We also ask that doors not be propped open, as it presents a safety concern. 

If you have any questions, please contact: sc-alornecassidyes@ocdsb.ca

Every year in October, Islamic Heritage Month is recognized in Canada. This is a time to reflect and learn together about Islamic excellence and the rich, longstanding contributions Muslim people have made to literature, math, science, art and history both around the world and right here in Ontario. 

In Ottawa, Muslim students, families, staff and community members reflect a broad range of individual and collective experiences. They bring a vibrant range of talents and perspectives that significantly enrich the social, economic, political and cultural fabric of the OCDSB community. 

EXTRA CURRICULARS: Extracurriculars are now up and running. Currently we have:

Junior Cross Country- Thursday and Friday at 2:00

Intermediate Girls Football

Grade 2 Games Club: Mondays at 2:20

Primary Cross Country Club: Tuesday and Thursday at 2:20

Basketball Intramurals

Boys Football

Robotics

Coming Soon:

Borden Ball

Coding

Forest of Reading

FREE VIRTUAL AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING FOR GRADES 7 and UP: The OCDSB is offering free virtual after school tutoring program for grade 7- 12 students within our school board.  

Start date: October 4th 

Days and Times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Please consult the following links for more information:

FLYER: Virtual Tutoring Program

WEBSITE: 2022-2023 Virtual Tutoring Program website   



OCT 17- TERM 1 IEPS GO HOME FOR REVIEW

OCT 18- JUNIOR CROSS COUNTRY MEET

OCT 19- SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING 7:00

OCT 24- MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

OCT 26- INTERMEDIATE GIRLS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

OCT 27- INTERMEDIATE BOYS FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

NOV 2 AND 3- GRADE 7 AND 8 IMMUNIZATIONS

NOV 4- PA DAY

NOV 6-12- TREATIES RECOGNITION WEEK

NOV 8- NATIONAL INDIGENOUS VETERANS DAY

NOV 11- REMEMBRANCE DAY

NOTE:  According to the OCDSB Policy Religious Holy Days, no major assessments or school events will be planned on these Holy Days.  DATES TO BE AVOIDED, DATES OF OBSERVATION

ALC  INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Attendance: if your child will be absent, please call the school at 613 831 3434 or email us at: alcabsence@ocdsb.ca

A. LORNE CASSIDY WEBSITE

STUDENT SUCCESS AT ALC

 ALC NEWS

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: @ALorneCassidy

__________________________________________
OCTOBER 7th, 2022

 

As we head into our first long weekend of the school year, we are grateful for the privilege of being a part of this amazing school community. We hope everyone is able to spend some time with family and friends this weekend!

Just a reminder there is no school for students tomorrow. Educators will be engaging in professional development focusing on Literacy, Science and Conditions for Learning.

IN THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE:

• Construction update
• PLEO
• Carleton Heights Clothing Drive
• Extra Curriculars
• Free Virtual Tutoring
• Student Drop off and Pick up
• Illness

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: Construction on Renshaw is slated to start next week and go through until Nov. 4th.

PLEO: PLEO is an organization supporting parents of children who are struggling with Mental Health issues. Please visit their website for service information and contact details.

SCHOOL COUNCIL CLOTHING DRIVE: Carleton Heights is in need of the following items in good condition:

• Pants for boys & girls sizes 6 to 8
• Thin gloves
• Swimsuits suitably sized for kids (8 years old) in grade 3 Swim To Survive Program

Please ONLY send in the items listed above. This is all that is needed at this time. We will be collecting the items at ALC until October 13th. Thank you for your generosity! ALC School Council. 

EXTRA CURRICULARS: Extracurriculars are now up and running. Currently we have:

Intermediate Cross Country- Tues and Thursday morning at 8:30 and some lunch hour runs

Junior Cross Country- Thursday and Friday at 2:00

Intermediate Girls Football

Grade 2 Games Club: Mondays at 2:20

Primary Cross Country Club: Tuesday and Thursday at 2:20

Coming soon: 

Basketball Intramurals

Boys Football

FREE VIRTUAL AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING FOR GRADES 7 and UP: This fall, the OCDSB is offering free virtual after school tutoring program for grade 7- 12 students within our school board.  

Start date: October 4th 

Days and Times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Please consult the following links for more information:

FLYER: Virtual Tutoring Program 

WEBSITE: 2022-2023 Virtual Tutoring Program website   

STUDENT ABSENCES AND EARLY PICK UP: Parents are kindly asked to notify both the teacher and the office when their child will be absent.  The office may be reached by email (alcabsence@ocdsb.ca) or using the absent phone line at 613-831-3434. 

Also, we kindly request that students leaving early be picked up at recess/nutrition break whenever possible as it minimizes interruptions to instructional time.

PLEASE STAY HOME IF YOU ARE ILL: Thank you to everyone who is using the OPH screener every morning and keeping your children home when they are ill. 

Children are required to wear a mask up to the 10th day since illness has started or later if symptoms are still lingering.  Please be aware that when children come to school sick, this puts our staff and students at risk.

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/

Ottawa Public Health notes that anyone who is experiencing COVID like symptoms or tests positive for COVID is to isolate until symptoms have been improving for minimum 24 hours (or 48 hours if gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea) and you do not have a fever. If you require a rapid test, we still have some available; please call  the office at 613-831-3434. 

 

OCT 6- SCHOOL PHOTO DAY

OCT 7- PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY DAY NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

OCT 11- MONDAY SCHEDULE

OCT 12- INTERMEDIATE CROSS COUNTRY MEET

OCT 17- TERM 1 IEPS GO HOME FOR REVIEW

OCT 18- JUNIOR CROSS COUNTRY MEET

OCT 24- MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

NOVEMBER 2 AND 3- GRADE 7 AND 8 IMMUNIZATIONS

NOTE:  According to the OCDSB Policy Religious Holy Days, no major assessments or school events will be planned on these Holy Days.  DATES TO BE AVOIDED, DATES OF OBSERVATION

ALC  INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Attendance: if your child will be absent, please call the school at 613 831 3434 or email us at: alcabsence@ocdsb.ca

A. LORNE CASSIDY WEBSITE

STUDENT SUCCESS AT ALC

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: @ALorneCassidy

______________________________________________
SEPTEMEBER 30th, 2022

 

What a great way to end September, sun shining and students actively engaged in meaningful and important learning on the National Day for Truth and Recognition.

 Our ALC Team would like to thank everyone who came out to our Meet the Teacher event on Wednesday. It is always so nice to see everyone in person and have an opportunity to reconnect!

IN THIS WEEKS MESSAGE:

• Clothing Drive for Carleton Heights
• School Photos
• ExtraCurriculars
• Spirit Wear
• Construction Update
• OPH Mental Health Resources

SCHOOL COUNCIL CLOTHING DRIVE: Carleton Heights is in need of the following items in good condition:

• Pants for boys & girls sizes 6 to 8
• Thin gloves
• Swimsuits suitably sized for kids (8 years old) in grade 3 Swim To Survive Program

Please ONLY send in the items listed above. This is all that is needed at this time. We will be collecting the items at ALC until October 13th. Thank you for your generosity! ALC School Council. 

SCHOOL PHOTOS: Oct 6th is School Photo Day! Please visit the LifeTouch website for Picture Day Tips!

EXTRA CURRICULARS: Extracurriculars are now up and running. Currently we have:

• Intermediate Cross Country- Tues and Thursday morning at 8:30 and some lunch hour runs
• Junior Cross Country- Thursday and Friday at 2:00
• Intermediate Girls Football
• Grade 2 Games Club: Mondays at 2:20

Coming soon: 

• Basketball Intramurals
• Boys Football
• Primary Cross Country Club

ALC SPIRIT WEAR: ALC School Council is excited to present SCHOOL SPIRIT WEAR! Again this year we are using a local Ottawa company for ordering. Orders will be sent to the school and then sent home with your child. No shipping charges!! You pay directly online and the council gets a portion of sales. Please don’t forget to add your students name and teacher info onto the order so it can get to them easily. Adult sizes up to 2XL are also available. Let’s show our school spirit! DEADLINE TO ORDER IS OCTOBER 3rd  Visit www.tuckgear.ca  to order.

RENSHAW CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: The Contractor, has provided a finalized Traffic Control Plan (please see attached) for the sidewalk renewal. They plan to do the work in two phases. This will help maintain access to the Canada Post Mailbox and pathway.

• Phase 1: sidewalk renewal between Delamere Drive to the Canada Post mailbox.

• Phase 2: sidewalk renewal between Canada Post mailbox to Hobin Street.

On street parking will be temporarily removed on the south side of Renshaw Avenue. A lane will be provided using barrels for the pedestrians to use. Flag persons will be provided on both sides of the work zone to help guide pedestrians and traffic.

The anticipated work start date is Thursday October 6, 2022 and be finished by Friday October 28, 2022 (estimated total of 15 working days). This could slightly change due to weather, however, we will keep you updated if there are any changes to the schedule.

PHASE 1   PHASE 2 

OPH MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES: Recent local results from the Status of Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health in Ottawa During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Fall of 2021 showed that one in four Ottawa residents (24%) wanted to talk to someone about their mental health and did not know who to reach out to.  In addition, the 2021 Ontario Student Drug Use Health Survey (OSDUHS) showed 42% of students in Ottawa, in grades 7-12, reported wanting to talk to someone about a mental health or emotional problem but did not know where to turn.

The attached document, Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health Support for Families.pdf  provides information to families on crisis services, system navigation, free counselling services and support for newcomers. 

 

OCT 6- SCHOOL PHOTO DAY

OCT 7- PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY DAY NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

OCT 10- THANKSGIVING- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

OCT 11- MONDAY SCHEDULE

OCT 17- TERM 1 IEPS GO HOME FOR REVIEW

NOVEMBER 2 AND 3- GRADE 7 AND 8 IMMUNIZATIONS

NOTE:  According to the OCDSB Policy Religious Holy Days, no major assessments or school events will be planned on these Holy Days.  DATES TO BE AVOIDED, DATES OF OBSERVATION

ALC  INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Attendance: if your child will be absent, please call the school at 613 831 3434 or email us at: alcabsence@ocdsb.ca

A. LORNE CASSIDY WEBSITE

STUDENT SUCCESS AT ALC

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: @ALorneCassidy

______________________________________________

SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2022

Welcome to Fall! We have been on a bit of a weather whirlwind this week! So families are aware, we do try to get students outside as much as possible. If it is drizzling, we will still have students go out, so please send them with raincoats and rubber boots. A change of socks in their bags never hurts, either. As the weather gets colder, the threshold to remain indoors is -25 with the windchill. Otherwise, we are outside. There may be instances where our yard is compromised due to ice and sometimes excessive water. We will try to get everyone outside as often as possible, but safety of students is our #1 priority.

In this weeks message:

• National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

• Parking around the school

• Construction on Renshaw

• Hot Lunches

• Spirit Wear

• Meet The Educator

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - September 30, 2022

As a school community, we recognize the importance of engaging in learning activities to raise awareness and understanding of the devastating impact of Canada’s residential school system. This is a vital part of our commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action.

Since 2013, Orange Shirt Day has been observed on September 30th to honour the lives and experiences of Indigenous children who endured the residential school system in Canada. The federal government enacted legislation recognizing September 30th as a federal statutory holiday commemorating National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This action was in response to Truth and Reconciliation Commission's (TRC) Calls to Action #80.

September 30th is not a statutory holiday in Ontario and schools will be open, with learning activities taking place. However, some Indigenous families may decide to keep their children home on that day to engage in activities with family and community.

Indigenous self identification is a confidential process and should not be understood as a requirement for students to be away from school on this important day. There is no expectation that students who are away from school on this day participate in any school-related activities. Teachers have also been asked to not schedule tests or make assignments due on September 30th.

This meaningful day signals a year-long, ongoing commitment to learning that centres the truth of the harmful effects of colonialism, including the residential schools system that caused the loss of Indigenous lives, languages and traditions for generations. 

Age appropriate learning activities leading up to September 30th will focus on deepening our understanding of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and commemorating those whose lives were impacted by residential school experiences.On September 30, students will be asked to reflect on their learning and commit to action they can take to further the process of Reconciliation.  

We encourage famlies to review the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and Spirit Bear's Guide to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action (Youth friendly language outlines the 94 calls to action). 

Please visit the OCDSB National Truth and Reconciliation Day webpage to learn more about:

We recognize that this day may be very difficult and triggering for some of our community members, and we encourage you to reach out for support if needed.

Community and mental health resources

National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: This provides support for former students and those affected. Emotional and crisis referral services can be accessed by calling the 24-hour national crisis line at 1-866-925-4419.

Non-Insured Health Benefits: This is provided based on Status and N Number. Call General NIHB Inquiries at 1-800-640-0642 (toll free) and ask for the list of practitioners in Ottawa. This service includes 20+ sessions of government paid mental health counselling support per year.

Free mental health counselling for those who have attended residential school, or have a close family member who attended residential school: Regardless of status or N number, visit https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1581971225188/1581971250953.

Inuuqatigiit Center for Children, Youth and Families: http://inuuqatigiit.ca/.

Métis Nation of Ontario: Call 1-877-767-7572 for the 24/7 crisis and addictions line, or 613-217-3143 for children and youth looking for non-urgent support services.

Minwaashin Lodge Centre for Indigenous Women: https://www.minlodge.com/.

Hope for Wellness: Telephone counselling available, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 1-855-242-3310 (Services available in English, Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut)  https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/. 

Talk 4 Healing: This is a service for Indigenous women. Call 1-855-554-HEAL (Available in 14 languages) https://www.talk4healing.com/.

Odawa Native Friendship Centre: http://www.odawa.on.ca/home.html.

Wabano Centre: 613-748-0657 https://wabano.com/health-and-wellness/mental-wellness/.

PARKING AROUND THE SCHOOL As we look ahead to some of the construction around the school, along with bus delays, we would like to remind families who are driving their children to school that there are very limited amounts of parking in close vicinity to the school, and many of our side streets do have parking restrictions on them. To complicate matters, many side streets do not have sidewalks. We would ask that you ensure you are parking in an area that is designated for parking, and to continue to be mindful of our students who are walking through the neighbourhood to school.

CONSTRUCTION ON RENSHAW: We have been notified by the City of Ottawa that construction along Renshaw has been delayed until the first week of October. We will share more when we receive the Traffic Control Plan from the City.

HOT LUNCHES: ALC parent council is happy to bring back the school lunch program this year!  We will be offering lunches from Jojo's pizza, Subway and Boston pizza on Mondays starting Oct 17th, and Kernels popcorn every second Friday starting Oct 14th.  I am still in the process of updating the ordering website but hope to have it open and available on Monday.  To register go to alc.hotlunches.net.  Follow the registration instructions on the landing page to create an account.  I am also looking for volunteers!  It takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to distribute the lunches - so if you have some availability on Monday mornings and want to get involved in the school community please email me at alclunchcoordinator@gmail.com.  Watch your email and social media on Monday for more ordering details! - Lea Button - ALC lunch coordinator

ALC SPIRIT WEAR: ALC School Council is excited to present SCHOOL SPIRIT WEAR! Again this year we are using a local Ottawa company for ordering. Orders will be sent to the school and then sent home with your child. No shipping charges!! You pay directly online and the council gets a portion of sales. Please don’t forget to add your students name and teacher info onto the order so it can get to them easily. Adult sizes up to 2XL are also available. Let’s show our school spirit! DEADLINE TO ORDER IS OCTOBER 3rd  Visit www.tuckgear.ca  to order.

 

MEET THE EDUCATORS: On September 28th (From 5:00-7:00) we are excited to invite families into the school for your child to introduce you to their educators and to show you around their classroom! Teachers will be in their classrooms from 5:00-6:00. At 6:00, they will be heading outside to join you at the food trucks. This is a school event and not a Council fundraiser.

Please note that the event is an opportunity to meet the educators and see where your child is learning every day. At this point in the year, educators are still getting to know their learners and are not ready to offer you specific feedback about their academic progress.

Following the in school meetings, families are invited to join us on the yard where we will have various food trucks and ice cream! Bring a chair or blanket and have an early fall picnic with family and friends! If you would prefer not to buy food from the food truck, feel free to bring a picnic from home!

Meet the Teacher Food Trucks

The Merry Dairy Ice Cream Truck 

• Nut Free Facility and Truck, price is $4.50 for regular cup or cone

Big D’s Dog House and Poutine Emporium

• Hot Dog - Beef is $6.50 and Veg is $7.00

• Burger - Beef is $8.00 and Veg is $7.00 

• Hot Italian Sausage is $7.50

• Fries are $6.00

• Poutine is $12.00

• Pop or Water is $2.00

JoJo’s Pizza

• $5.00 per slice (cheese or pepperoni)

• Drinks are $2.00 each

 

SEPT 28- MEET THE EDUCATOR 5:00-7:00

SEPT 28- ROWAN’S LAW DAY

SEPT 30- NATIONAL DAY OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

OCT 6- SCHOOL PHOTO DAY

OCT 7- PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY DAY NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

OCT 11- MONDAY SCHEDULE

NOVEMBER 2 AND 3- GRADE 7 AND 8 IMMUNIZATIONS

NOTE:  According to the OCDSB Policy Religious Holy Days, no major assessments or school events will be planned on these Holy Days.  DATES TO BE AVOIDED, DATES OF OBSERVATION

ALC  INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Attendance: if your child will be absent, please call the school at 613 831 3434 or email us at: alcabsence@ocdsb.ca

A. LORNE CASSIDY WEBSITE

STUDENT SUCCESS AT ALC

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: @ALorneCassidy

____________________________________________________
FRIDAY September 16th, 2022

 

We have had another amazing week at ALC! We want to thank families for their cooperation with our requests about the yard during drop off and pick up. It was much easier for us to navigate buses with fewer people in the bus loop.

In this weeks message:

• Transportation concerns
• Terry Fox Run/Challenge
• Meet the Educator
• IEP Consultation Forms
• Construction on Renshaw
• ALC Spirit Wear
• School Council
• Forms
• OSTA information

TRANSPORTATION CONCERNS: We recognize that many families are impacted by the current bus delays. We also know that confusion at our end on Thursday caused even further undo stress. We do try to keep families well informed and we recognize we fell short on Thursday. 

We are working on a communication plan to be able to better keep families updated. As Ms. Trish and Ms. Doxsee are typically the ones supervising students from late buses, accessing the email system is problematic. What we will do is ensure that we post to the ALC Twitter account which buses are late each day and when they have departed the school. When possibly, we will send a more fulsome explanation. It is also important to check the OSTA website, as they do try to post late buses on there when they can. You can get the Twitter updates by following us on @ALorneCassidy and by going to the ALC website.

TERRY FOX: The Grade 3A students are organizing this year's Terry Fox School Run.  They are encouraging students to help continue the Marathon of Hope by collecting funds for cancer research.  Here is a link to the  ALC fundraising page:

https://schools.terryfox.ca/9499

Students are also invited to take the TRY like Terry Challenge and pick a goal to work towards over the coming week.  Some examples include: 50 push ups, running laps, learning 10 words in a new language, trying a new activity.  We are building a TRY Challenge board where students can post photos of their chosen goal.  If your child would like to share their TRY Challenge, please email a photo to: janet.evans@ocdsb.ca 

The Terry Fox School Run will take place on Friday, September 23. 

MEET THE EDUCATORS: On September 28th (From 5:00-7:00) we are excited to invite families into the school for your child to introduce you to their educators and to show you around their classroom! Teachers will be in their classrooms from 5:00-6:00. At 6:00, they will be heading outside to join you at the food trucks. This is a school event and not a Council fundraiser.

Please note that the event is an opportunity to meet the educators and see where your child is learning every day. At this point in the year, educators are still getting to know their learners and are not ready to offer you specific feedback about their academic progress.

Following the in school meetings, families are invited to join us on the yard where we will have various food trucks and ice cream! Bring a chair or blanket and have an early fall picnic with family and friends! If you would prefer not to buy food from the food truck, feel free to bring a picnic from home!

Meet the Teacher Food Trucks

The Merry Dairy Ice Cream Truck 

• Nut Free Facility and Truck, price is $4.50 for regular cup or cone

Big D’s Dog House and Poutine Emporium

• Hot Dog - Beef is $6.50 and Veg is $7.00

• Burger - Beef is $8.00 and Veg is $7.00 

• Hot Italian Sausage is $7.50

• Fries are $6.00

• Poutine is $12.00

• Pop or Water is $2.00

JoJo’s Pizza

• $5.00 per slice (cheese or pepperoni)

• Drinks are $2.00 each

IEP Consultation Forms: For all students on an IEP, parents will receive the consultation forms on MOnday via email. Please take some time to complete the forms and submit them, as they help us to create a fulsome plan of support for your child.

CONSTRUCTION ON RENSHAW: We have been notified by the City of Ottawa that construction will be starting on Sept. 26th. This is the message we received from the City outlining measures they will be taking to ensure students are able to safely walk to school.

We are finalizing the contractor’s Traffic Control Plan in coordination with qualified experienced City Traffic specialists to ensure the contractor adheres to all City traffic control and safety requirements.

The work is anticipated to start on 26th September 2022 and completion is scheduled for October  7th 2022.

A temporary walkway corridor with traffic control barrels will be set up on the south side of the street while the sidewalk work is being performed on the north side. Temporary No parking signs on the south side of the street will be installed for the duration of this sidewalk replacement work. The contractor is planning temporary single lane closure from 7h00 to 16h00 with traffic flags-people at each intersection managing the single lane 2 way traffic operation.

This sidewalk work will be controlled and managed respecting all City traffic requirements and monitored for compliance.

ALC SPIRIT WEAR: ALC School Council is excited to present SCHOOL SPIRIT WEAR! Again this year we are using a local Ottawa company for ordering. Orders will be sent to the school and then sent home with your child. No shipping charges!! You pay directly online and the council gets a portion of sales. Please don’t forget to add your students name and teacher info onto the order so it can get to them easily. Adult sizes up to 2XL are also available. Let’s show our school spirit! DEADLINE TO ORDER IS OCTOBER 3rd  Visit www.tuckgear.ca  to order. SPIRIT WEAR FLYER 

We are excited to be able to invite parents to our first School Council Meeting of 2022! We will be meeting in the Library at 7:00 on Wednesday September 21, 2022. If you have any questions, please contact: sc-alornecassidyes@ocdsb.ca

FORMS:

IMPORTANT PAPERWORK FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS TO COMPLETE 

Student Emergency Cards (formerly called Verification Forms)  were distributed to students earlier this week.  We ask that parents take a moment to  review the information on the Student Emergency Card, indicate any changes that apply, and return to your child’s homeroom teacher ASAP.

MEDICAL FORMS If your child has any life-threatening health issues and/or requires medication at school, such as an inhaler, ibuprofen, migraine medication, etc it is imperative that you fill out the appropriate forms asap.  If you have already completed the form this year, no need to do it again.

PLAN OF CARE FOR STUDENTS WITH LIFE THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITIONS

SELF ADMINISTRATION OF ORAL MEDICATION

EMERGENCY CLOSING: In the event that the school is required to close early, it is important for us to know how all students will be getting home. A form was sent home today with all children, but in the event it did not make it to you, you can find a copy here.

MEDIA RELEASE FORM gives the school permission to use your child’s first name and photo in various platforms (social media, yearbook, slide shows etc…) If this form is not completed, we will not post photos of you child in any capacity.  MEDIA RELEASE FORM  

OSTA BUSING INFORMATION 

Due to the ongoing driver shortage, please note that there may be daily cancellations of bus routes.  It is vital that parents and guardians regularly check the posted cancellations lists for OCDSB on the OSTA website to confirm the routes’ status. Please review your child’s information on OSTA’s Parent Portal (Bus Stop Finder) Login and then check the posted list below to confirm the route’s status. The list will be updated daily with any new cancellations reported the morning that service occurs. 

    

Friday, September 9th, 2022

180 DAYS OF JOY- This year we are focusing on finding the JOY and POSITIVITY in our days! Each day they will be posted on Twitter. If your child comes home sharing a moment of JOY with you, please consider sending that message on to Trish at tricia.eddy@ocdsb.ca with the child’s first name and grade.

 

PARENTS ON THE YARD: We kindly remind you that when parents are lingering on the yard, it makes it very difficult for us to receive and dismiss students. We ask that parents of students in Grades 1-8 drop off/meet their children at the assigned gates (MAP). Parents of Kinder students are asked to drop off/meet their child and then leave the Kinder area. With buses arriving/departing, it is very difficult to move lines of students through groups of adults. We appreciate your cooperation!

SCHOOL CASH ONLINE- When we are collecting money for school events, School Cash Online is the easiest way to send money to us. Details on how to set up an account can be found here: SCHOOL CASH ONLINE GUIDE 

MEDICAL FORMS If your child has any life-threatening health issues and/or requires medication at school, such as an inhaler, ibuprofen, migraine medication, etc it is imperative that you fill out the appropriate forms asap.  If you have already completed the form this year, no need to do it again.

PLAN OF CARE FOR STUDENTS WITH LIFE THREATENING MEDICAL CONDITIONS

SELF ADMINISTRATION OF ORAL MEDICATION

EMERGENCY CLOSING: In the event that the school is required to close early, it is important for us to know how all students will be getting home. A form was sent home today with all children, but in the event it did not make it to you, you can find a copy here.

MEDIA RELEASE FORM gives the school permission to use your child’s first name and photo in various platforms (social media, yearbook, slide shows etc…) If this form is not completed, we will not post photos of you child in any capacity.  MEDIA RELEASE FORM

ACCEPTABLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY: There have been recent changes to the Acceptable Use of Technology form. As of this year, students only need to complete the form when they register for the first time in an OCDSB school and/or Junior Kindergarten/Year 1, Grade 1, Grade 4 and Grade 7. We will be sending this form directly to the families this applies to today.

MEET THE EDUCATORS: Wait for it….. We are welcoming parents BACK INTO THE SCHOOL FOR MEET THE EDUCATOR! On September 28th, we are excited to invite families into the school for your child to introduce you to their educators and to show you around their classroom! Please note that the event is an opportunity to meet the educators and see where your child is learning every day. At this point in the year, educators are still getting to know their learners and are not ready to offer you specific feedback about their academic progress.

Following the in-school visits, families are invited to join us on the yard where we will have various food trucks and ice cream! Bring a chair or blanket and have a early fall picnic with family and friends!

 Many students at Carleton Heights have never owned a new pair of shoes, or only have one pair to last them a year or two. ALC School Council has started the New Shoes initiative to bring the feeling of having a new pair of shoes for the start of the school year to the students of CH! When you're back to school shopping, and you're able to, please consider picking up a pair of new shoes to be donated. Sizes most needed are the smaller and larger shoe sizes (they have sizes 3/4/5) for kids. Though no pair will go unused!

SHOE DRIVE: Many students at Carleton Heights have never owned a new pair of shoes, or only have one pair to last them a year or two. ALC School Council has started the New Shoes initiative to bring the feeling of having a new pair of shoes for the start of the school year to the students of CH! When you're back to school shopping, and you're able to, please consider picking up a pair of new shoes to be donated. Sizes most needed are the smaller and larger shoe sizes (they have sizes 3/4/5) for kids. Though no pair will go unused!

DROP OFF will be September 6TH- September 15th,  9am - 3 pm at A. Lorne Cassidyl. Box IS NOW  located between the front doors.

Any questions email sc-alornecassidyes@ocdsb.ca

 

 

 

 

SEPT 21- SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING

SEPT 28- MEET THE EDUCATOR

SEPT 29- ROWAN’S LAW DAY

SEPT 30- NATIONAL DAY OF TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION

NOTE:  According to the OCDSB Policy Religious Holy Days, no major assessments or school events will be planned on these Holy Days. You can find the list of Religious and Creed Based Holy Days here.

ALC  INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Attendance: if your child will be absent, please call the school at 613 831 3434 or email us at: alcabsence@ocdsb.ca

A. LORNE CASSIDY WEBSITE

STUDENT SUCCESS AT ALC

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter: @ALorneCassidy

_________________________________________________________
Friday, September 6th, 2022

 

Welcome back to school! We are excited to be having everyone back and can’t wait to see the faces of our students!

This message contains a lot of information to help prepare families for the first day of school. We will send another message with other important information early next week as well.

When students return, they will see a significant change in many of the protocols and ways we operate in the school. We are fortunate to be in a position to begin to return to many of the ways we used to function within schools. There are a few remaining things we are asking:

1. We continue to encourage families to screen each day, and when students show symptoms of illness that they remain at home. This is something that has always been encouraged, but with COVID, we learned the importance of working to minimize the transmission of illnesses.

2. Masks remain optional, and our expectation remains that the personal choices of individuals and families will be respected by our community.

Throughout the day tomorrow (Friday, Sept 2, 2022), teachers will be contacting the families and students in their classes. If you do not hear from your child’s teacher by 4:00 tomorrow, please email tricia.eddy@ocdsb.ca.

 

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL: One thing we found helpful in ensuring the safety of our students has been the arrival and dismissal processes we adopted during COVID. We are going to continue with those practices. Having fewer people on the yard has made it easier for staff to see students and ensure their safety. Kinders will still be met at the Kindergarten gate by parents starting at 3:35. Primary students will be dismissed at the gate along Hobin starting at 3:40 and students in Grades 4-8 will be dismissed at the bell. If your older child is picking up a younger sibling, they can meet the younger sibling at the gate. Teachers will wait with students until everyone is picked up. Please see this attached document for specific details on dismissal.

WHAT YOUR CHILD NEEDS: 

• We have 2 nutrition breaks, so your child needs lunch and snacks to get them through the day. Please keep in mind that over the next few days, they will likely be running and playing more with their friends, and they might find themselves a little hungrier than you might expect. Packing a couple extra snacks might be a good idea.

• Refillable water bottle

• Indoor shoes

• School supplies (voluntary, but helpful) please see the OCDSB website for the list of recommended supplies