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St.Joseph High School
St. Joseph High School Parent Newsletter | October 2026
October 26, 2026
Principal’s Update
With almost 2 months of school behind us, we are quickly approaching the end of the first quarter of the school year. This week, we will come together as a school during our fall liturgies -- a special time of reflection and gratitude for our St. Joseph School community. Please continue reading for some information about activities, events and notifications for the days and weeks ahead.
Arts Council Coffee House
Join us on Thursday, October 29 at 6PM for a Coffee House organized and run by the St. Joseph HS Arts Council. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Halloween
With Halloween just around the corner, many families are beginning the search for the perfect costume. While it can be tempting to dress up as anything one wishes, it’s important to take a moment to consider whether a costume is culturally sensitive and appropriate. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, cultural appropriation is “the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect the culture.” Halloween is meant to be a fun and creative celebration. Taking a proactive and thoughtful approach ensures that everyone feels comfortable, valued, and included so that Halloween remains a fun and positive event for all of our students. St. Joseph students are invited to wear costumes to school on October 30 as part of our spirit week.
Messages From School
Through SchoolMessenger, you’ll automatically receive emergency and attendance messages. To receive additional information like school updates, newsletters, and Board-wide events, sign up for SchoolMessenger, download the App and customize your notification preferences. Ensure your settings in the School Messenger app are set to receive General Emails from the school. Use this link for further information: https://www.ocsb.ca/parents/schoolmessenger/.
Catholic School Council
The next meeting of the Catholic School Council is scheduled for Monday, November 2 at 6:30PM in the Learning Commons. All are welcome to attend.
A Message from Student Services (Grade 9 only)
Take Our Kids to Work Day is the most recognized career exploration event in Canada. This year, Take Our Kids to Work Day will take place on Wednesday, November 4th. Take Our Kids to Work Day is an experiential learning opportunity for Grade 9 students across Canada. Students spend the day at the workplace of a parent, relative, friend, or volunteer host. Through Take Our Kids to Work Day, students are able to witness the world of work firsthand, prompting early career planning, and enabling students to make informed decisions pertaining to their future goals and endeavors. Parents/Guardians of Grade 9 students, please watch your email for messages from the student Service Department with more details about Take Our Kids to Work Day.
For Families of Grade 12 Students
You may be hearing about activities related to prom that are taking place after school hours. Please be aware that these activities are not affiliated with the school and are not school sanctioned. We caution participation in any of these events as any impact on the school community may result in school-based consequences.
"It's SOCKtober! Every OCtober our school's sock drive raises thousands of pairs of new socks for homeless shelters and other services around Ottawa. We need to help keep toes toasty warm! All month we'll be accepting NEW pairs of socks your student brings in, and the homeroom that raises the most will win a pizza party - and the joy of knowing they warmed many feet! Just like when Jesus washed his disciples feet, this humble gesture shows that we care about the whole person, lifts up human dignity, and builds deeper bonds. Help us to beat last year's 5700 pairs of socks!"
Progress Reports (7-8 and Midterm Report cards (9-12)
Progress Reports (7-8) will be published on November 13 and Midterm Report cards (9-12) will be published November 17 via the Parent Portal. Please review the following LINK to access documents related to Assessment and Evaluation standards.
Parent Teacher Interviews for our Grades 7 & 8 classes will be held on November 19. Booking details will be sent when Progress Reports are issued. Please note that November 19 will be an early dismissal day for all students, Grades 7-12. Our school day will end at 1:10PM.
Semester 1 Final Exams and RSTs (High School only)
Please note that almost all courses from Grade 9-12 will now have a final exam. Teachers will have communicated to students whether or not an exam will be written for their course. More information will be shared as we approach the end of the semester. Please be advised of the following:
The Semester 1 Final Exam period will take place from January 21-26, 2027.
Some courses (such as grade 9 mathematics, MTH1W) may have final assessments taking place outside this window. Grade 9 - 12 students’ examinations or Rich Summative Tasks (RSTs) WILL NOT be rescheduled for holiday or travel convenience, and all appointments should be scheduled so as not to conflict with exams and RSTs. If a medical problem arises, a Vice-Principal must be contacted prior to the exam or RST. Medical certificates will be required to permit alternate arrangements for final examinations.
E-Scooters
E-scooter use among youth is resulting in an alarming number of accidents and injuries. CHEO is reporting this as a serious concern. E-scooters can only be used by those 16 and over. Riders who are under 18 also have to be wearing a helmet.
Ottawa Police have shared the following resources about e-scooter use, in collaboration with the City of Ottawa.
Video: E-scooter safety in Ottawa - E-scooters | City of Ottawa
E-scooter rules and safety requirements - E-scooters | City of Ottawa
From our Parishes
Please click HERE to see the poster for preparation for the sacrament of Confirmation.
Important Dates
October 27-28 - Fall Liturgies
October 29 - Coffee House, 6PM
November 2 - Catholic School Council Meeting, 6:30PM
November 4 - Take Your Kid to Work Day; Semester mid-point
November 13 - Gr.⅞ Progress Reports posted to Parent Portal
November 16-19 - graduation photos, by appointment only
November 17 - HS Midterm Reports Posted to Parent Portal
November 19 - Early Dismissal Day; Gr. ⅞ Parent Teacher Interviews
November 20 - PD Day (no school)
Once a student turns 18, they are considered an adult under Ontario privacy legislation (MFIPPA). As a result, schools are not permitted to share personal student information, including graduation status, attendance, and event details, with parents or guardians without the student’s written consent.
To ensure you continue to receive important year-end updates (including graduation information), consent must be provided through the Over 18+ Parent Portal Consent Access form.
Students who are 18 or older can complete this form by logging into their Compass Student Portal using their OCSB credentials, navigating to the Forms section, and submitting the required consent.
Once submitted, parent/guardian access to applicable information will be updated by the next school day.
Parish Bulletins
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