SCHOOL UPDATES

A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO HALLOWEEN

With Halloween approaching, families are considering options for school celebrations. We invite all students to participate in ways that feel comfortable for them, including non-Halloween autumn activities offered throughout the day. For students choosing to wear a costume, we ask for your partnership in selecting options that are respectful and culturally sensitive. Costumes should avoid depicting specific cultures, ethnicities, religious attire, or sacred symbols. 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.' By choosing fun, creative, and non-stereotypical costumes, we ensure that Halloween celebrations are welcoming, safe, and inclusive for every student. 

CATHOLIC SCHOOL COUNCIL

Our second meeting will take place at 7:00 pm on Monday, October 26, in the Learning Commons of the school. All are welcome and we hope you can join us! For those who would like to join virtually, please complete this form.

CSPA ANNOUNCEMENTS

October’s Monthly CSPA meeting will take place on Wed, Oct 28th at the OCSB Board Office beginning at 7PM. Learn about the practitioner services offered by the Special Education and Student Services Department and discuss effective use of School Council agenda templates and a month-by-month to-do list. Register HERE.

Careers Beyond the Screen: The Apprenticeship Pathway in an AI World - A Parent Evening, with award-winning employment researcher Dr. Jon Callegher, is taking place on Wed, Nov 4th, at St Pius X High School beginning at 6:30PM. Register HERE.

FOR GRADE NINE STUDENTS

Take Our Kids to Work Day is Wednesday, November 4.  The information letter has been sent via email and permission form have been added to School Cash Online.  We strongly encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity.   

Since 1994 Take Our Kids to Work Day has been the most recognized career exploration event in Canada. It 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 endeavours. 

What if it is not possible to go to work with a parent? 

There are other ways for your child to participate: 

• Ask a relative, neighbour or family friend to take your child to work.

• Ask a parent who is taking his or her child to work if your child can join them for the day. 

• Contact local businesses and ask if they are participating in Take Our Kids to Work day. 

CAREER WEEK

We are celebrating OCSB Career Week and National Skilled Trade and Technology Week November 2–6.  This week provides an exceptional opportunity for our students across all grade levels to explore diverse career pathways, discover personal interests, and connect classroom learning with future opportunities. 

Careers Beyond the Screen: The Apprenticeship Pathway in an AI World

Wednesday, Nov. 4 @ 6:30 PM at St. Pius X  👉 Poster 👉  Register Here to Attend!

Details: ​Join the OCSB’s Pathways Team and the Catholic School Parents' Association (CSPA) and discover why more families are considering the Skilled Trades as a rewarding post-secondary pathway. Join Dr. Jon Callegher for an engaging presentation backed by the latest research and learn:

• What makes a "good job" according to Ontario parents. 

• How AI is shaping the future of careers. 

• What parents think about post-secondary pathways. 

• The many benefits of the Skilled Trades for students and their futures. 

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

A reminder that today, our Wood Floor Gym is being used for the Municipal Election. There may be increased traffic around the school, so please adjust your visits and pick-up/drop-off times accordingly. 

ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING PRESENTATION

On November 6, grade 7&8 students will assemble for a presentation. 

This 75-minute presentation will be presented by a person with lived experience in human trafficking. When the presenter shares their lived experience, they will provide the youth with very basic knowledge of their experience. An example of this would be using language like “I was forced to do things that I didn’t want to do”. The presenter will use age-appropriate language for the audience. The presenter will also use language matching with this age category. This will be an interactive presentation and the youth will be encouraged to engage in conversation to further their knowledge.

Presentation Topics:

What is Human Trafficking?

Lived experience story

Where does it happen?

Where are youth lured?

Online safety

Consent 

Healthy relationships

Healthy boundaries

Q&A session

HIGH SCHOOL CHESS

The All Saints Mock Chess Tournament will start on Thursday, November 5, 2026. This chess tournament is for high school students only and is open to beginner, intermediate, and advanced players. This tournament will be a fun, round-robin format. Players need to sign up no later than Friday, October 30, 2026.

Sign-Up Sheet: https://forms.gle/vBQFqFLsvW2cGwtF8

Please talk to Mr. Burchill in Room N108 if you have any questions, or email him at steven.burchill@ocsb.ca.

ALL SAINTS CRAFT FAIR

Join us at the annual All Saints Craft Fair on Saturday, November 7th from 10:00AM to 3:00PM! With over 135 vendors there is something for everyone! This important event helps raise funds for the Christmas Hampers, Usher 1F Collaborative, Grands and Friends (a group who support grandmothers in Africa who are left to raise their grandchildren) and several other initiatives.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

For our Remembrance Day ceremony this year, we would like to recognize the family members of students and staff who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces. If you would like your family member to be included, please send a photo of them in uniform with a file name that includes:

• the name of the student

• their relationship to the service member

• the name and rank of the service member

• Example: Mrs. Kirtz’s Great Uncle Private Clarence Lewis

Please send the photo to vanessa.kirtz@ocsb.ca by Tuesday, October 27.

The All Saints Remembrance Day ceremony will be taking place Wednesday, November 11th.  As per All Saints tradition, students are asked to wear a Black top and blue jeans.  A poppy will be provided the day of the ceremony to every student and Parents are encouraged to donate to the Poppy campaign through cash online and all donations will be sent to the Kanata Legion.

ON-LINE TO SUCCESS

Registration is now open for the Winter 2027 cohort of On-Line to Success (OLTS), offered by the Regional Assessment and Resource Centre (RARC). Please note that OLTS is now using a new email address: olts@queensu.ca. All program inquiries and application submissions should be directed to this address.

Program Overview

OLTS is a free program designed to support eligible students as they transition to college or university. Developed and delivered by trained educators in consultation with RARC psychologists, the course activities focus on:

• Understanding individual learning profiles, strengths, and challenges

• Time and stress management strategies

• Self-advocacy skills

• Navigating post-secondary Accessibility Offices

Student Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, students must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be enrolled in Grade 12 (or completing an additional year)

• Plan to attend a degree- or diploma-granting post-secondary program

• Have a diagnosis of a learning disability, ADHD, ASD, and/or a mental health disorder

• Experience academic functional impairment due to their diagnosis

Completion Incentive: Psychoeducational Assessment Offer

Students who complete all OLTS coursework by the end of June 2027 will qualify for a psychoeducational assessment through RARC for $1,000.

• Value: Most post-secondary institutions require updated documentation (typically within 5 years) to establish accommodations and support services.

• Location: While RARC is located in Kingston, a network of psychologists is available across the province for students living outside the local area.

• Note: It is unknown whether this incentive will be available for future cohorts.

Key Information & Links

• Registration Deadline: January 18, 2027

• Website & Forms: Access the registration package and flyer at the RARC OLTS Webpage