Miss Trish's Weekly MESSAGES are here!
Thursday, April 17th, 2025
As we head into the long weekend, we hope everyone has some time to rest and recharge! Hopefully spring decides to arrive permanently soon!
Students are busy working on their art projects to show case at our Annual Art Show. May 7th families are invited to come and see all of the amazing art students have been creating throughout the year! The Art Show will run from 4:30-6:00. We look forward to seeing everyone there!
Imagine a Canada- Hockey Equipment Drive: Don’t forget that we have our first collection week next week for used hockey gear that will be donated to Indigenous Communities throughout Canada. The student team has set up collection boxes in the rotunda, so please start bringing in any gear you may have sitting at home that is no longer being used!
We have set our dates for EQAO this year for students in Grades 3 and 6. Our Grade 6 students will be writing from May 20-23, 2025 and Grade 3 students will be writing from May 26-30. Attached are 2 documents to help parents support students writing EQAO.
Council will be looking for volunteers to help out with the gardens once the weather becomes a little more consistent. More information will be coming on that soon!
April’s resources have been added to the BUILDING THE BRIDGE. These resources support learning at home in all subject areas.
CELEBRATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY
SIKH HERITAGE MONTH: April marks the beginning of Sikh Heritage Month. April was specifically chosen to honour this month due to its importance for Sikhs. In April, Sikhs around the the world celebrate Vaisakhi, which marks the formalization of the Khalsa and the Sikh articles of faith. The core root values of Khalsa are Kindness, Justice, Courage, Determination, and Strength.
Sikh Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate our students about the rich culture, traditions and contributions of Sikh Canadians past and present.
AUTISM AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE MONTH: Autism Acceptance Month celebrates and honors the experiences and identities of Autistic individuals. It emphasizes understanding, inclusion, and support, moving beyond awareness towards meaningful acceptance.
PASSOVER: Passover begins at sundown on April 12, and ends at sundown on April 20. Known as Pesach in Hebrew, it is celebrated by Jews every year and commemorates the anniversary of the miraculous Exodus from slavery in Egypt, as told in the Torah. On the first two nights of Passover, Jewish families hold a Seder meal, which centers around telling the story of the Exodus and includes many important traditions like drinking four cups of wine, dipping veggies into saltwater, asking the Four Questions (Mah Nishtanah), eating matzah (a cracker-like unleavened flatbread), and singing songs.
EASTER: Easter also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus, preceded by Lent (or Great Lent), a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance. Easter celebrations also include the arrival of the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny (also called the Easter Rabbit or Easter Hare) is a folkloric figure and symbol of Easter, depicted as a rabbit—sometimes dressed with clothes—bringing Easter eggs. Originating among German Lutherans, the "Easter Hare" originally played the role of a judge, evaluating whether children were good or disobedient in behavior at the start of the season of Eastertide, similar to the "naughty or nice" list made by Santa Claus. As part of the legend, the creature carries colored eggs in its basket, as well as candy, and sometimes toys, to the homes of children.
CLUBS
Announcements are made each morning reminding students of meeting times and locations for clubs and sports. Please encourage your child to listen to the announcements. Most staff also post reminders in their classrooms about the days events that are relevant for their students.
- Coding
- Dance Club- Primary Club
- Grade 6 Leadership Team
- Creative Colourists- for students in Grades 1-3
- Jr. Girls and Boys Basketball
- Marathon Club
My apologies for the second message this evening.
Jump Rope For Heart 2025
Our school is excited to participate once again in Jump Rope for Heart this year! Students will discover fun ways to get active, practice healthy habits and learn about helping others while raising money to beat heart disease and stroke. Next week, we will have a JRFH Kick Off Event for students in JK-grade 6 to let them know all about this upcoming event!
ALC has participated in Jump Rope For Heart for ove
Please join our school community in helping Heart & Stroke save lives by jump-starting your fundraising.
Here’s how:
- Visit jumpropeforheart.ca and click “Register”.
- Search for our school’s name or copy and paste the school link below to register right from our school page!
- https://jumpropeforheart.crowd
change.ca/87451 - Help your child set up their own fundraising page online and let your friends and family members know they can also donate online by sharing the above link.
Our JRFH Event at ALC will take place on Friday, May 16th for JK-grade 6 students. Let's see what we can do to make a difference in the lives of others!
APRIL 9- FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT
APRIL 16- SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 18- GOOD FRIDAY (no school for students)
APRIL 21- EASTER MONDAY (no school for students)
APRIL 22- MONDAY SCHEDULE
MAY 7-ART SHOW
MAY 19- STATUTORY HOLIDAY- (no school for students)
JUNE 6- PD DAY (no school for students)
JUNE 24- GRADE 6 LEAVING CEREMONY
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
APRIL 11th, 2025
You may have heard about the excitement at school on Wednesday as the winning song from Manie Musicale was revealed! Minimum Ca! Was the big winner! It was so amazing to see all the students getting excited about Francophone culture and music! https://www.
Thank you to all the families who joined us for our first Family Literacy Night! We would love to hear your feedback on the evening so we can make our next event even better!
Grade 6 parents: Please mark your calendars! Mrs. Heard and Ms. Vaillancourt from Maplewood S.S. will be holding 2 very important instrument testing nights on Wednesday May 14th and Thursday May 15th in the Maplewood Gym from 5:30-7:00. This opportunity will allow your child to test out 4 different instruments in order to help them prepare for instrumental music next year at Maplewood. We look forward to seeing everyone on either of the nights.
CELEBRATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY
SIKH HERITAGE MONTH: April marks the beginning of Sikh Heritage Month. April was specifically chosen to honour this month due to its importance for Sikhs. In April, Sikhs around the the world celebrate Vaisakhi, which marks the formalization of the Khalsa and the Sikh articles of faith. The core root values of Khalsa are Kindness, Justice, Courage, Determination, and Strength. Sikh Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate our students about the rich culture, traditions and contributions of Sikh Canadians past and present.
AUTISM AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE MONTH: Autism Acceptance Month celebrates and honors the experiences and identities of Autistic individuals. It emphasizes understanding, inclusion, and support, moving beyond awareness towards meaningful acceptance.
PASSOVER: Passover begins at sundown on April 12, and ends at sundown on April 20. Known as Pesach in Hebrew, it is celebrated by Jews every year and commemorates the anniversary of the miraculous Exodus from slavery in Egypt, as told in the Torah. On the first two nights of Passover, Jewish families hold a Seder meal, which centers around telling the story of the Exodus and includes many important traditions like drinking four cups of wine, dipping veggies into saltwater, asking the Four Questions (Mah Nishtanah), eating matzah (a cracker-like unleavened flatbread), and singing songs.
Announcements are made each morning reminding students of meeting times and locations for clubs and sports. Please encourage your child to listen to the announcements. Most staff also post reminders in their classrooms about the days events that are relevant for their students.
-
Coding
-
Dance Club- Primary Club
-
Grade 6 Leadership Team
-
Creative Colourists- for students in Grades 1-3
-
Jr. Girls and Boys Basketball
-
Marathon Club
APRIL 9- FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT
APRIL 16- SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 18- GOOD FRIDAY (no school for students)
APRIL 21- EASTER MONDAY (no school for students)
APRIL 22- MONDAY SCHEDULE
MAY 7- ART SHOW 4:30pm-6:00pm
MAY 19- STATUTORY HOLIDAY- (no school for students)
JUNE 6- PD DAY (no school for students)
JUNE 24- GRADE 6 LEAVING CEREMONY @ 10am
APRIL 4, 2025
We wanted to thank Mr. Lynch for supporting our school community while Ms. Trish was away. Trish is back at work (and is so happy to be back with students), but will sometimes need to be away from the school. As usual, she is always available by email if needed!
As we head into Spring, we often find coats, mitts, hats etc… outside. Is is always much easier to get them to their owners if they are labelled. Please take a moment to label your child’s belongings to ensure they get home!
FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT: Thank you to all of our families who have signed up for the Family Literacy Night! We are excited to be able to move forward with the event, however we are going to adjust the timing slightly due to the lower numbers. We will be running the event from 5:30-6:30. Ideally families will arrive at 5:30 and move through all of the stations, but we understand if you need to come later and join in!
CARLETON HEIGHTS RAINBOOT DRIVE: Just a reminder we are still collecting rain boots for students at Carleton Heights until next Friday.
FALL PHOTOS: We have received proofs for all fall photos. I you would like a copy of the proofs for your child’s rally photos (if you missed the fall order), please have them come to the office to pick them up.
ELEMENTARY PROGRAM REVIEW: This week the District shared a revised proposal for the Elementary Program Review. The District is asking for feedback on the revised proposal from families. You can find the details here.
CELEBRATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY
SIKH HERITAGE MONTH: April marks the beginning of Sikh Heritage Month. April was specifically chosen to honour this month due to its importance for Sikhs. In April, Sikhs around the the world celebrate Vaisakhi, which marks the formalization of the Khalsa and the Sikh articles of faith. The core root values of Khalsa are Kindness, Justice, Courage, Determination, and Strength.
Sikh Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate our students about the rich culture, traditions and contributions of Sikh Canadians past and present.
AUTISM AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE MONTH: Autism Acceptance Month celebrates and honors the experiences and identities of Autistic individuals. It emphasizes understanding, inclusion, and support, moving beyond awareness towards meaningful acceptance.
PASSOVER: Passover begins at sundown on April 12, and ends at sundown on April 20. Known as Pesach in Hebrew, it is celebrated by Jews every year and commemorates the anniversary of the miraculous Exodus from slavery in Egypt, as told in the Torah. On the first two nights of Passover, Jewish families hold a Seder meal, which centers around telling the story of the Exodus and includes many important traditions like drinking four cups of wine, dipping veggies into saltwater, asking the Four Questions (Mah Nishtanah), eating matzah (a cracker-like unleavened flatbread), and singing songs.
CLUBS: Announcements are made each morning reminding students of meeting times and locations for clubs and sports. Please encourage your child to listen to the announcements. Most staff also post reminders in their classrooms about the days events that are relevant for their students.
- Coding
- Dance Club- Primary Club
- Grade 6 Leadership Team
- Creative Colourists- for students in Grades 1-3
- Jr. Girls and Boys Basketball
- Marathon Club
IMPORTANT DATES A.Lorne Cassidy Calendar
APRIL 9- FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT
APRIL 16- SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 18- GOOD FRIDAY (school closed)
APRIL 21- EASTER MONDAY (school closed)
APRIL 22- MONDAY SCHEDULE
MAY 7- ART SHOW 4:30pm-6:00pm
MAY 19- STATUTORY HOLIDAY- (school closed)
JUNE 6- PD DAY (no school for students)
JUNE 24- GRADE 6 LEAVING CEREMONY @10AM
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
MARCH 27, 2025
Don’t forget tomorrow is a PD Day, so there is no school for students. There is also limited access to the school, as all staff are participating in various learning opportunities being offered at different sites across the District.
Recently, several of our students have undertaken some really great entrepreneurial endeavours, and selling them at school. While we do not want to discourage their creativity and industry, selling items at school presents several challenges. To support them, we will come up with a plan to give them an opportunity to sell their creations at a school event this spring where parents can be present and be aware of what children are purchasing. We thank you for your understanding.
Grade 6 Hoodie/T-shirt orders: In case you missed the email sent to Grade 6 families earlier today, Grade 6 Hoodie and T-shrt information was sent directly to families of Grade 6 students. If you did not receive the message, please let Trish know and she will send you the details directly.
PURDY’S FUNDRAISER: Want to know the most DELICIOUS way to support us? Order Purdys chocolates from our School Council Fundraiser!
From now until April 1, (pick up will be April 16 and 17 at the school),
you can order Purdys treats from our fundraiser by joining our campaign and browsing the tastiest selection of chocolates online. What you’ll need to order:
- Go to our fundraising website: https://fundraising.purdys.com/1497310-128719
- Enter your email address and Click “Join Campaign”
- Click “Shop Online” Click “Use Marketplace” to see what’s available! Place your order, pay online (make sure your payment has gone through) and we will let you know when it’s ready to be picked up from the school at the end of March. It will be in time for Easter.
Any questions please email sc-alornecassidyes@ocdsb.ca
Happy chocolating and thank you for your ongoing support!
Hockey Equipment Drive: Mme Devine along with some grade 5 and 6 students, have recently received a grant from The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. This grant will allow this group to collect used hockey equipment and send them to Indigenous communities in other parts of the country.
If your child has outgrown any of their hockey equipment, please drop it off in the foyer from 9am-4pm during the following weeks:
April 28 - May2
June 16 - June 20
August 25 - August 29
A special thanks to Addison Mason and Lily Dubois, who contributed to the grant application by sharing what reconciliation means to them. Bravo et Merci!
CLASS PLACEMENTS: It is hard to believe, but very soon we will be looking at creating our classes for next year. Each Spring, our teachers work hard to place students in their classes for the upcoming school year. There are several factors that must be considered. If you have thoughts on class placements, please complete this Google Form by April 1, 2025. Specific teacher requests or grade structure of classes (straight grade vs. combined grades) will not be considered, but if there is information that you feel teachers should consider (friends, strengths, needs) when placing students, please include it in the form.. All information will be considered, but we are not able to make any guarantees. Please note that information coming in after April 1st may not be able to be included in the decision making process, as once classes are made, making changes becomes very difficult.
ALC FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT: We are going to be holding our Family Literacy Night on April 9th, 2025 from 5:30-7:30. This drop in event will give families the opportunity to engage in a variety of Literacy Activities that focus on developing fundamental literacy skills in a fun and engaging way! If you think you might be joining us, please take a moment to complete this Google Form so we know how many families we might be expecting! We hope to see you there!
Human Development and Sexual Health Units: You can choose to have your child(ren) exempted from instruction related to Human Development and Sexual Health expectations by completing and returning an exemption form (electronic form or PDF form) for each child. Requests for exemption made by phone, or exemption forms or written requests that do not have a parental name and email will not be accepted.
The exemption form must be returned before the first day of instruction shared by the teacher for your child to be excluded from instruction related to the Human Development and Sexual Health expectations in strand D of
You will receive an acknowledgement by email immediately upon submitting your request. Your principal's email address will be included in the email. Do not hesitate to contact Ms. Trish (tricia.eddy@ocdsb.ca) if you have any questions or concerns.
CLUBS
Announcements are made each morning reminding students of meeting times and locations for clubs and sports. Please encourage your child to listen to the announcements. Most staff also post reminders in their classrooms about the days events that are relevant for their students.
- Coding
- Dance Club- Primary Club starting after March Break
- Grade 6 Leadership Team
- Creative Colourists- for students in Grades 1-3
- Jr. Girls and Boys Basketball coming soon!
IMPORTANT DATES
MARCH 27- GMS OPEN HOUSE
MARCH 28- PD DAY (no school for students)
APRIL 9- FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT
APRIL 16- SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 18- GOOD FRIDAY (no school for students)
APRIL 21- EASTER MONDAY (no school for students)
APRIL 22- MONDAY SCHEDULE
MAY 19- STATUTORY HOLIDAY- (no school for students)
JUNE 6- PD DAY (no school for students)
JUNE 24- GRADE 6 LEAVING CEREMONY
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
MARCH 21
Hopefully the first week back after the break has been a good one for everyone. Currently, Trish is away from the school on a medical leave, so Andrew Lynch is covering in her place. If you have urgent concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to him for assistance (andrew.lynch@ocdsb.ca). Trish is still able to access emails and respond to questions, but responses might be delayed.
Maplewood SS Grade 7 Information Night - Wednesday, April 2, 2025: All Grade 6 students and their families are welcome to attend a Grade 7 Information Night at Maplewood Secondary School on Wednesday, April 2, from 6:30-8:00 pm.
Please join us for a brief presentation in the Gym at 6:30 pm, followed by a tour of key locations in the school.
Everyone is welcome to join us and learn all about the Intermediate Program at Maplewood. See you there!
CLASS PLACEMENTS: It is hard to believe, but very soon we will be looking at creating our classes for next year. Each Spring, our teachers work hard to place students in their classes for the upcoming school year. There are several factors that must be considered. If you have thoughts on class placements, please complete this Google Form by April 1, 2025. Specific teacher requests or grade structure of classes (straight grade vs. combined grades) will not be considered, but if there is information that you feel teachers should consider (friends, strengths, needs) when placing students, please include it in the form.. All information will be considered, but we are not able to make any guarantees. Please note that information coming in after April 1st may not be able to be included in the decision making process, as once classes are made, making changes becomes very difficult.
HOT LUNCHES SPRING ORDER: Just a reminder that lunch ordering is now open for Spring orders! Please log in and order your lunches before the deadline of March 23rd (Sunday) at midnight. alc.hotlunches.net is the site to place orders. Please do your order on a full screen and not on your phone as it is difficult to see all the options.
ALC FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT: We are going to be holding our Family Literacy Night on April 9th, 2025 from 5:30-7:30. This drop in event will give families the opportunity to engage in a variety of Literacy Activities that focus on developing fundamental literacy skills in a fun and engaging way! If you think you might be joining us, please take a moment to complete this Google Form so we know how many families we might be expecting! We hope to see you there!
CLUBS
- Coding
- Dance Club- Primary Club starting after March Break
- Grade 6 Leadership Team
- Doodle Time- for students in Grades 4-6
- Creative Colourists- for students in Grades 1-3
- Jr. Girls and Boys Basketball coming after March Break
OCDSB Speaker SeriesThe OCDSB hosts free virtual Speaker Series sessions where parents and caregivers can hear from experts and discover strategies to support their children’s learning and well-being. Check out our next two sessions:
Navigating the Challenges of School Refusal and AvoidanceWhen children struggle with school attendance, the impact can be felt across the whole family. We’re hosting a webinar with the non-profit organization Pleo, alongside OCDSB social workers who also serve as attendance counsellors. Together, they will share strategies and insights to help you navigate these challenges while maintaining a healthy relationship with your child. The session will explore ways to address anxiety, build partnerships with your child’s school and foster a supportive home environment.Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.Format: Zoom Webinar. Register nowDecolonizing Autism: A Nehiyaw (Plains Cree) PerspectiveWe are welcoming Dr. Grant Bruno for a virtual session exploring how to better support Indigenous families with Autistic children by incorporating Indigenous perspectives and knowledge. This session will explore the significance of Indigenous culture and connection in building healthy environments. Attendees will learn practical strategies for integrating holistic models into Western education, informed by Dr. Bruno’s research.Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025Time: 7:00 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.Format: Zoom Webinar. Register now.
IMPORTANT DATES
MARCH 27- GMS OPEN HOUSE
MARCH 28- PD DAY (no school for students)
APRIL 9- FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT
APRIL 16- SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 18- GOOD FRIDAY (no school for students)
APRIL 21- EASTER MONDAY (no school for students)
APRIL 22- MONDAY SCHEDULE
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
MARCH 7, 2025
February and March always seem like long months in the school year, and the break next week is a welcome sight! It also means that when we come back, Spring is literally around the corner. We hope everyone is able to rest and enjoy the break!
Today was a busy one! Principal Raeya had her hands full helping everyone get ready for the break! She was baking, giving a tour and baking brownies! Another educator in the making!
Our Grade 6 students put on a fantastic performance this morning showcasing their hard work this week with the performers from Blues in the Schools. This program is such a wonderful opportunity for students to engage in music in ways they may not have ever done before- opening up possibilities for new interests and hobbies.
SCHOOL COUNCIL CLOTHING DRIVE: Hello everyone! Carleton Heights Elementary School serves a community with significant needs. We try to support them on a regular basis, and their appreciation is always overwhelming. Coming up to spring, from March 3 to 31, we will be holding a Rubber Boot Drive to help keep their students’ warm and dry as the snow begins to melt! Please bring gently-used rubber boots of all childrens’ sizes. We will also be collecting cash donations and Walmart gift cards so they can provide new socks and underwear and other essentials for their Clothing Bank. An email will be sent separately for donations through School Cash Online, and rubber boot donations will be collected daily in the rotunda. Council will collect and drop off all donations to Carleton Heights. We thank you in advance for your generosity. If you could kindly spread the word, it might help us bring them in even more support!
ALC FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT: We are going to be holding our Family Literacy Night on April 9th, 2025 from 5:30-7:30. This drop in event will give families the opportunity to engage in a variety of Literacy Activities that focus on developing fundamental literacy skills in a fun and engaging way! If you think you might be joining us, please take a moment to complete this Google Form so we know how many families we might be expecting! We hope to see you there!
CLUBS
- Coding
- Dance Club- Primary Club starting after March Break
- Grade 6 Leadership Team
- Doodle Time- for students in Grades 4-6
- Creative Colourists- for students in Grades 1-3
- Jr. Girls and Boys Basketball coming after March Break
Celebrations in Our Community
March 17 St. Patricks Day- St. Patrick's Day observes of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green.
March 29/20: Eid Al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan with a special prayer and celebrations over 3 days.
IMPORTANT DATES
MARCH 10-14- MARCH BREAK
MARCH 21- PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY WINNER #3
MARCH 27- GMS OPEN HOUSE
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
FEBRUARY 28, 2025
What a week of music in the school!! Each day this week all students were able to attend a session with the artists from Blues in the School. In those sessions, they collaborated with the artists to write lyrics and move to the music! Next week our Grade 6 students will work with the artists to write their own songs and then perform them for the school on Friday!
We had another successful Toonie Tuesday Fundraising event. While we didn’t quite meet our goal to beat last year's total, we did raise $1250.00! Way to go Ducks!!
Principal Riley had a busy afternoon today! She baked treats for her staff, celebrated student work with several students, supported some students in working through some challenges and spent some time touring her school and seeing all of the learning happening in the school!
GRADE 6 LEAVING CEREMONY: We will be holding our Grade 6 Leaving Ceremony on June 24th at 10:00. We are looking at numbers, but will confirm how many tickets students will receive very soon.
SCHOOL COUNCIL CLOTHING DRIVE: Hello everyone! Carleton Heights Elementary School serves a community with significant needs. We try to support them on a regular basis, and their appreciation is always overwhelming. Coming up to spring, from March 3 to 31, we will be holding a Rubber Boot Drive to help keep their students’ warm and dry as the snow begins to melt! Please bring gently-used rubber boots of all childrens’ sizes. We will also be collecting cash donations and Walmart gift cards so they can provide new socks and underwear and other essentials for their Clothing Bank. An email will be sent separately for donations through School Cash Online, and rubber boot donations will be collected daily in the rotunda. Council will collect and drop off all donations to Carleton Heights. We thank you in advance for your generosity. If you could kindly spread the word, it might help us bring them in even more support!
ALC FAMILY LITERACY NIGHT: We are going to be holding our Family Literact Night on April 9th, 2025 from 5:30-7:30. This drop in event will give families the opportunity to engage in a variety of Literacy Activities that focus on developing fundamental literacy skills in a fun and engaging way! If you think you might be joining us, please take a moment to complete this Google Form so we know how many families we might be expecting! We hope to see you there!
SLEEP: Sleep can be a struggle for us all, and we know that students are often having trouble sleeping too much, too little, or with their sleep schedule. If you would like to understand more about sleep, Anxiety Canada has published a new resource on Sleep Biology.
Celebrations in Our Community
Black History Month: In February, we celebrate Black History Month. It is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black people in the past and present, and challenge and examine issues of racism and discrimination.
By engaging classrooms in education surrounding Black history and excellence, we are able to empower our students to disrupt hate and centre joy and excellence in who they already are. In doing so, we are able to move beyond what is assumed about our students, and move towards what is possible.
Ramadan: This year, the evening of February 28th marks the first day of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is a period of fasting, prayer, charity-giving and self-accountability for Muslims all over the world. It is the Holiest month for Muslims as it is the month during which Quran started to be revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Peace Be Upon Him). Eid Al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan with a special prayer and celebrations over 3 days. Eid Al-Fitr may fall on March 29 or 30 of 2025.
CLUBS
- Coding
- Dance Club- Primary Club starting after March Break
- Grade 6 Leadership Team
- Doodle Time- for students in Grades 4-6
- Creative Colourists- for students in Grades 1-3
IMPORTANT DATES
MARCH 3-7 BLUES IN THE SCHOOL CONTINUES
MARCH 7- SECOND PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY WINNER
MARCH 10-14- MARCH BREAK
MARCH 21- PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY WINNER #3
MARCH 27- GMS OPEN HOUSE
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
FEBRUARY 21, 2025
Just a reminder that the bus loop is ONLY for bus drop off and pick up. When parents are parking and dropping off students in that area, it increases the safety risk significantly, which is why we ask families to respect our request not to use the loop to drop their children off.
Last call for Toonie Tuesday!! We will be drawing the winning names on Tuesday for the Principal of the Day winners. Tickets can be purchased up until Tuesday morning at school, but School Cash Online donations need to be completed by Monday to ensure those names get entered in the draws as well.
ELECTION DAY: ALC will be used as a polling station for the provincial election February 27th. There will be several election staff onsite along with a security guard to ensure that voters only access the gym for voting purposes.
Goulbourn Middle School Open House: for any Grade 6 students who will be heading to GMS in September, GMS will be hosting an Open House on March 27th from 6-7 PM. Students and families will have a chance to tour the school and meet the staff.
SWIM TO SURVIVE- is back! For the first time since the pandemic, our students will be participating in the Swim to Survive program! Starting in March through June, all of our students in Grades 3 will be participating in the Swim to Survive program.
What's the Swim to Survive Schools Program? The Society defines the minimum skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. These are expressed in a skill sequence in the Canadian Swim to Survive standard:
- ROLL into deep water
- TREAD water for one minute
- SWIM 50 metres
The Lifesaving Society aims to have every Grade 3 student in Ontario achieve the Swim to Survive Standard. More information can be found on the Lifesaving Society website.
Class specific information will be coming home as the dates get closer.
Celebrations in Our Community
Black History Month: In February, we celebrate Black History Month. It is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black people in the past and present, and challenge and examine issues of racism and discrimination.
By engaging classrooms in education surrounding Black history and excellence, we are able to empower our students to disrupt hate and centre joy and excellence in who they already are. In doing so, we are able to move beyond what is assumed about our students, and move towards what is possible.
Ramadan: This year, the evening of February 28th marks the first day of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is a period of fasting, prayer, charity-giving and self-accountability for Muslims all over the world. It is the Holiest month for Muslims as it is the month during which Quran started to be revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Peace Be Upon Him). Eid Al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan with a special prayer and celebrations over 3 days. Eid Al-Fitr may fall on March 29 or 30 of 2025.
CLUBS
- Coding
- Dance Club- Primary Club starting after March Break
- Grade 6 Leadership Team
- Doodle Time- for students in Grades 4-6
- Creative Colourists- for students in Grades 1-3
IMPORTANT DATES
FEBRUARY 24-28- BLUES IN THE SCHOOL
FEBRUARY 25- TOONIE TUESDAY
FEBRUARY 25- DUCK FAMILIES
FEBRUARY 26- PINK SHIRT DAY
FEBRUARY 27- ELECTION DAY
FEBRUARY 28- FIRST PRINCIPAL FOR THE DAY WINNER
FEBRUARY 28- LAST DAY TO ORDER YEARBOOKS
MARCH 7- SECOND PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY WINNER
MARCH 10-14- MARCH BREAK
MARCH 21- PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY WINNER #3
MARCH 27- GMS OPEN HOUSE
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
FEBRUARY 13, 2025
Just a reminder there is no school tomorrow or Monday! We hope everyone is able to enjoy the long weekend!
Every year, Pink Shirt Day falls on the last Wednesday of February. It serves as a reminder to renew our pledge to create a more kind, inclusive world by raising awareness and continuing the work to prevent all forms of bullying, hate, discrimination, homophobia, transphobia, and transmisogyny.
This year's theme centres on cultivating a community of kindness. When we centre kindness in our everyday actions, we become part of the creation of affirming and inclusive schools in the OCDSB and in society. Wearing a pink shirt on this day is a reminder to others to practice kindness and compassion, and stand up against bullying and hate in all its forms.
YEARBOOKS: We are now able to order 2024-2025 yearbooks online until February 28th! Click on the link here to order. Yearbooks are $30.43 plus tax and shipping which comes out to $33.95. Note Jostens’ web site charges an additional $2.99 handling fee.
The yearbooks are softcover and have 48 pages plus 8 blank pages for signatures.
TOONIE TUESDAY: Just a reminder we have started our fundraising for Toonie Tuesday! Students can be entered into a draw to be Principal for a Half Day, For every dollar donated, they will receive one ticket to enter into the draw. You can donate by using our School Cash Online system. We are trying to beat our $1463.92 raised from last year, so please help us to reach our goal.
SCHOOL COUNCIL: Our next School Council Meeting is on Wednesday February 19, 2025 at 7:00 in the Library at ALC. Everyone is welcome!
Celebrations in Our Community
Black History Month: In February, we celebrate Black History Month. It is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black people in the past and present, and challenge and examine issues of racism and discrimination.
By engaging classrooms in education surrounding Black history and excellence, we are able to empower our students to disrupt hate and centre joy and excellence in who they already are. In doing so, we are able to move beyond what is assumed about our students, and move towards what is possible.
Ramadan: This year, the evening of February 28th marks the first day of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is a period of fasting, prayer, charity-giving and self-accountability for Muslims all over the world. It is the Holiest month for Muslims as it is the month during which Quran started to be revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Peace Be Upon Him). Eid Al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan with a special prayer and celebrations over 3 days. Eid Al-Fitr may fall on March 29 or 30 of 2025.
CLUBS
- Coding
- Dance Club- Primary Club starting after March Break
- Grade 6 Leadership Team
- Doodle Time: coming soon for students in Grades 4-6
- Creative Colourists- starting soon for students in Grades 1-3
FEBRUARY 14- PD DAY- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
FEBRUARY 17- FAMILY DAY- NO SCHOOL
FEBRUARY 24-28- BLUES IN THE SCHOOL
FEBRUARY 25- TOONIE TUESDAY
FEBRUARY 26- PINK SHIRT DAY
FEBRUARY 28- FIRST PRINCIPAL FOR THE DAY WINNER
FEBRUARY 28- LAST DAY TO ORDER YEARBOOKS
MARCH 7- SECOND PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY WINNER
MARCH 10-14- MARCH BREAK
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
FEBRUARY 7, 2025
Happy Friday!!
SAFETY PRACTICES: Each year, schools have a number of different safety protocols we need to practice with students. Through the year, we need to do 6 Fire Drills and 2 Lock Down Drills. We do 3 Fire Drills in the Fall, and 3 in the Spring. On Monday we will be having our first Lock Down Drill. On Monday morning, teachers will be reviewing the procedures we follow during a lockdown. Then at 3:00 we will run the drill. Students will be told it is a drill, but we still need them to follow the procedures as if it were an actual lockdown. While it is unfortunate that we need to practice lockdowns, it is important that we do. We do not expect that the whole process will take no more than 15-20 minutes.
Term 1 Report cards will be coming home via secure email next Wednesday. You will need your child’s OEN to access the report card.
ADDRESSING SCHOOLYARD ISSUES: For some time we have been seeing an increase in unkindness and physical altercations on the school yard. We have been trying a wide variety of strategies to support students in making expected choices on the yard, but for some change is slower to happen. Starting next week we will start using a Reflection Room for students who repeatedly struggle with regulating themselves on the yard. While removing recess time is not something we want to do, we also need to address repeated unexpected choices students might be making. In the Reflection Room we will be reviewing the 4 Square Problem Solving, making expected choices and the impact of unexpected choices on the relationships we have with others at school. Our goal is to support students in making more expected and positive choices so that everyone can enjoy their time outside at recess.
YEARBOOKS: We are now able to order 2024-2025 yearbooks online until February 28th! Click on the link here to order. Yearbooks are $30.43 plus tax and shipping which comes out to $33.95. Note Jostens’ web site charges an additional $2.99 handling fee.
The yearbooks are softcover and have 48 pages plus 8 blank pages for signatures.
TOONIE TUESDAY: Just a reminder we have started our fundraising for Toonie Tuesday! Students can be entered into a draw to be Principal for a Half Day, For every dollar donated, they will receive one ticket to enter into the draw. You can donate by using our School Cash Online system. We are trying to beat our $1463.92 raised from last year, so please help us to reach our goal.
SCHOOL COUNCIL: Our next School Council Meeting is on Wednesday February 19, 2025 at 7:00 in the Library at ALC. Everyone is welcome!
Just a reminder that next Friday is a PD Day and Monday is Family Day. There is no school for students on both days.
Celebrations in Our Community
Black History Month: In February, we celebrate Black History Month. It is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black people in the past and present, and challenge and examine issues of racism and discrimination.
By engaging classrooms in education surrounding Black history and excellence, we are able to empower our students to disrupt hate and centre joy and excellence in who they already are. In doing so, we are able to move beyond what is assumed about our students, and move towards what is possible.
Ramadan: This year, the evening of February 28th marks the first day of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is a period of fasting, prayer, charity-giving and self-accountability for Muslims all over the world. It is the Holiest month for Muslims as it is the month during which Quran started to be revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Peace Be Upon Him). Eid Al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan with a special prayer and celebrations over 3 days. Eid Al-Fitr may fall on March 29 or 30 of 2025.
CLUBS
- Coding
- Dance Club- Primary Club starting after March Break
- Grade 6 Leadership Team
- Doodle Time: coming soon for students in Grades 4-6
- Creative Colourists- starting soon for students in Grades 1-3
FEBRUARY 12- TERM 1 REPORT CARDS GO HOME
FEBRUARY 13- FRIDAY SCHEDULE
FEBRUARY 14- PD DAY- NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
FEBRUARY 17- FAMILY DAY- NO SCHOOL
FEBRUARY 24-28- BLUES IN THE SCHOOL
FEBRUARY 25- TOONIE TUESDAY
FEBRUARY 26- PINK SHIRT DAY
MARCH 10-14- MARCH BREAK
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
JANUARY 31, 2025
Apologies for the late message.
The OCDSB has a new updated website platform. At ALC, we are working on moving information from our old site to the new one. If you have suggestions on how we can make this new site more user friendly, please let us know. We appreciate your patience as we make the move!
YEARBOOKS: We are now able to order 2024-2025 yearbooks online until February 28th!
Click on the link here to order. Yearbooks are $30.43 plus tax and shipping which comes out to $33.95. Note Jostens’ web site charges an additional $2.99 handling fee.
The yearbooks are softcover and have 48 pages plus 8 blank pages for signatures. FAQs
Q: Why are the yearbooks softcover this year? Can I order a hardcover version?
A: A hard cover would increase the final yearbook price to $45 each. Yearbooks are printed as a batch and cannot be a combination of hard and soft cover.
Q: Why can’t I order a yearbook with personalization (my child’s name printed on the cover)?
A: Unfortunately, Jostens is not offering this option through their website.
Q: If I miss the deadline of Feb 28th to order a yearbook, can I still order one?
A: No, Jostens will not accept any more orders after Feb 28th.
Blues in the School- Blues in the Schools offers the opportunity for students of all ages to engage in multidisciplinary, whole-language learning using the study of music, math, language arts, history, anthropology, and sociology in a hands-on approach celebrating creative self-expression. By bringing the blues genre into the classroom, students are exposed to these traditional subjects, while breaking down racial barriers and opening dialogue about cultural diversity. We will be having the Blues in the Schools Program at ALC from February 24-28 working with all of our students from JK-Grade 6. The week after that, our Grade 6 students will be doing supplementary workshops with them further building on the skills they are introduced to in the first week.
MASC YOUNG READERS: The MASC Young Authors and Illustrators Festival returns to the Canada Museum of Science and Technology on April 8 and April 9, 2025. Students in grades 4-8 may sign up for one or two days of inspiring literary and drawing activities, including master classes, author readings, book signings and more. Registration closes on February 7th.
Visit the MASC web site for more details and to register for an unforgettable day! https://www.masconline.ca/event/masc-young-authors-illustrators-festival/
MASC can offer a limited number of fully subsidized spots to students in need of financial support. For subsidies, registrations are arranged through the school directly. To request a subsidized space for your student(s) or for other inquiries, please contact Valerie Fenske at: mascyoungauthors@gmail.com.