Land acknowledgement
The land on which we gather is traditional unceded Omamiwininiwag (Algonquin) and Anishinabewaki territory, a place which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst nations. Today, this place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to gather on this land.
Principal's Message
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the parents/grandparents who take time out of their busy lives to volunteer at the school. It is truly appreciated by students and staff alike and we are very grateful. Also many thanks go out to our amazing office staff who work so hard every day. Their contribution to our school community is so valuable.
Our staff attended a wonderful PD session last Friday entitled “Beyond Racism”. It was a valuable workshop and has helped us on our journey of ensuring that we are celebrating diversity, equality, and inclusion at school.
Field trips will be taking place in these last few months of school. If you are interested in volunteering, you will need a Security Background Check (SBC), which can take time to process. The SBC is paid by the School Board. If you would like an application, please email Amanda at awells@wqsb.qc.ca .
We are eagerly awaiting the warm temperatures of Spring as we move forward in our final term of the school year.
Wishing everyone a wonderful spring season!
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
If you have not registered for kindergarten next year, or if you know anyone who has a child turning five before September 30th please make arrangements to register by emailing Amanda at awells@wqsb.qc.ca or calling (819)663-4842 extension 1.
KINDERGARTEN OPEN HOUSE
We will welcome our new Kindergarten students to our school on May 14th for our Kindergarten Open House.
Events at School
DENTAL HYGIENIST
The dental hygienist will be at school to do screenings for grade 2 students on April 2nd.
PROULX FARM TRIP
Our kindergarten and grade three students will attend this trip together on April 8th.
MUSEUM TRIP
Get Ready, Grade 2! On April 10th, we’re off to the Museum of Civilization for an action-packed adventure! Students will explore incredible exhibits, dive into hands-on fun at the Children’s Museum, and top it all off with a stunning CINE+ 3D film, Tiny Giants!
It’s going to be a fun day full of discovery, imagination and BIG excitement for our explorers!
VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT
On April 10th Greater Gatineau will be sending two teams to compete in the WQSB volleyball tournament at Chelsea Elementary School. Students have been working hard on their bumps, sets and serves. We look forward to a fun day of volleyball!
Go Grizzlies, Go!
BAND FROM HADLEY/PHILEMON
The Hadley/Philemon Band are on tour again! They will come to our school on April 14th to perform for us. Unfortunately, parents are unable to attend due to limited space.
PD DAY FROM APRIL 17th
Reminder that the PD Day that was scheduled for April 17th has become a regular school day.
I LOVE TO READ WEEK
“I Love to Read Week” takes place from April 20th – 24th this year.
Greater Gatineau will have a focus on the love of reading during this week. Classes will have a chance to participate in a “Love of Reading Bingo Challenge”, host a “Mystery Guest Reader” in their class, and join in our “I Love to Read Spirit Week”. Each day there is a special theme to celebrate.
Monday, April 20th: Read a Shirt Day! – Wear a T-shirt with words.
Tuesday, April 21st: We’re WILD About Reading! – Wear animal print or clothing with an animal picture.
Wednesday, April 22nd: Bring Your Favourite Book Day
Thursday, April 23rd: Reading Is a Bright Idea! – Wear sunglasses and a hat.
Friday, April 24th: Reading Rainbow! – Each grade will wear an assigned color:
Kindergarten – Red ♥ Grade 1 – Purple ♥ Grade 2 – Blue ♥ Grade 3 – Pink ♥ Grade 4 – Orange ♥ Grade 5 – Yellow ♥ Grade 6 – Green
AUTHOR VISIT
As part of our Reading Week activities Quebec author, Catherine Austen, will be visiting us from April 20th-May 1st. Every grade will have a chance to welcome her into their class to discuss storytelling, writing, and what it takes to be an author.
PERFORMING ARTS SHOW AUDITIONS
From April 27th to May 1st we will hold auditions for our Performing Arts Show. Prepare a short performance (no longer than 1 minute) to showcase your talent such as singing, dancing, acting, telling a joke, or playing an instrument. Be sure to practice so you feel confident. We can’t wait to see you perform! Performing Arts Show Auditions
USED BOOK FAIR
As we celebrate, I Love to Read Week and Earth Day, we are excited to host our annual Used Book Fair! This event encourages a love of reading while giving books a second life.
We invite students to donate a gently used book that they no longer read. To ensure every child has the chance to take home a book, we kindly ask families to consider donating additional gently used books as well. These extra donations will help support students who may not be able to bring a book of their own.
Book Donation Guidelines:
📚 Books should be in good condition and suitable for ages 5-12.
📅 Please send in donations by Wednesday, April 22nd.
On Friday, April 24th, students will visit the book fair and select a gently used book to bring home and enjoy!
Thank you for your generosity in helping us make this event a success. Your support fosters a love of reading and a sense of community among our young readers!
MAZZOLA HOT MEAL PROGRAM
We will continue to offer our hot meal program on Mondays and Fridays. Click the Mazzola link to order.
SUBWAY LUNCH PROGRAM
The current Subway Lunch Program is running every Wednesday until April 29th.
SPECIAL STUDENT LUNCH
Thanks to our “President’s Choice” grant, we are able to once again offer lunch to all students one day this month.
Our meal of the month is : BBQ Pulled Chicken and buns.
- April 21 – kindergarten, grade 3+5
- April 23 – grade 1, 1/2,+ 6
- April 24 – grade 2+4
LITTERLESS LUNCHES
Greater Gatineau will be continuing “Litterless Lunches”. We are asking children to bring their lunches in reusable containers as much as possible. Any wrappers or containers that they would normally throw away will be sent home with them. This is to encourage us all to be mindful of our impact on the environment.
The garbage resulting from one school lunch might not seem like much. Multiply it daily for an entire school population and that’s a lot! Litterless lunches that produce zero waste are now the goal of many educational institutions. Teaching children to value sustainability can go a long way to creating more eco-conscious adults. Minor switches, like using an insulated lunch bag vs. paper bag, or opting for reusable straws can help set us up for sustainable success. Eliminating excess waste also reduces the strain on our custodial staff and helps to keep the playground and school environment cleaner.
MONTHLY ASSEMBLY
Our next assembly where we will celebrate the students who have shown the chosen virtue throughout the month will take place on Wednesday, April 29th.
Please remember to wear your GG shirt for all of our monthly assemblies. This creates a sense of community at school.
- Grade 5+6 at 8:55
- Kindergarten, grade 1+2 at 10:05
- Grade 3+4 at 10:55
April is RESPECT month. We hope to see students demonstrating respect throughout the month. You can show this by using the Peace Agreements each day. They are; mutual respect, attentive listening, appreciations, and participation.
PEACE LEARNING CIRCLES AT HOME
CHAIN REACTION
This activity can be done with as few as two people and as many as you want.
Sit in a circle, the first person asks the second person a question. The second person answers that question and then asks the next person a different question. You continue until everyone has had a chance to ask and answer a question, or until you run out of questions.
This can be used to study for a test by asking specific questions about the subject. It can also be used as a “get to know you” activity with new friends and family. It also works as a good dinner time conversation starter and so that everyone at the table gets a turn to talk.
You can be as creative as you like with the questions. Have fun!
Home & School
Candy Fundraiser – Do your kids have a sweet tooth? Our next fundraiser involves candy, who doesn’t love candy?
We are fundraising to make the end of year Carnival a huge success. Candy bags will be available for purchase – We will have three candy rounds Sales. An order form for Round 1 has already been sent home. If you have any questions about ingredients, please email H&S directly.
Spring Dance – Come out and show off your best dance moves at our next event “Dance Into Spring” on Friday April 17th from 6:30pm – 8pm. This will be our last dance of the year, let’s make it a memorable one! We will be sending details home with students about this event soon.
Home Alone and Babysitting Course – We have two special courses for the older students at Greater Gatineau in partnership with Safety Tree and the Red Cross. The Home Alone course is available for students who are between 9-12 years old. A babysitting course is also being offered, this course is available for students 11-14 years old. Students must be available for all sessions.
Select the link to register your child for the Home Alone course. Select the link to register your child for the Babysitting course
AGM – Our Annual General Meeting will be held on May 11 at 6:00pm, at this meeting we will be voting a new executive council, all positions are open for election. If you would like to join us, please contact us via email.
Positions Open: President – Vice President – Treasurer – Secretary – Communications Prime
We will continue to post on our Facebook page and on Instagram, if you haven’t done so already, please follow us to stay up to date on upcoming events.
We are always looking for new members to join us or ideas for upcoming events, please contact us via email or through our Facebook page.
We hold monthly meetings; our next Home and School meeting will be Monday, April 13th at 6pm please reach out to us via email if you would like to attend.
Daycare
The PD day from April 17th has reverted to a regular school day. We do not have any PD days this month. Please sign up for @ggdaycare2 on the Remind app to get the notifications regarding PD days.
Should you have any questions about our program or to register for the PD days please do not hesitate to contact Jennifer by phone at (819) 663-4842 x3 or e-mail jplaxton@wqsb.qc.ca
DAYCARE FOR 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR
All current daycare students, both regular and sporadic, will have the same reservation made for next year. If you are registered for 5 days this year, then you will be registered for 5 days next year. If you would like to make changes to your daycare service or remove your child from daycare please advise Jennifer by email.
If you would like to add your child to the daycare next year please complete the Daycare Registration 2026-2027 and return it to school.
Special Notes
FROM THE BREAKFAST CLUB OF CANADA
Recipe Shared by: W.P. Bate Community School, Saskatoon, SK
Thanks to W.P. Bate Community School’s Nutrition Worker, Candace Gabriel, for this recipe! With more than 15 years of preparing and delivering breakfast, lunch, and snacks for students, Candace created this recipe as a nutritious, protein-rich way to make the most of donated lentils.
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK -April 19th to 25th
We would like to say thank-you to all the people who take the time to volunteer at and for our school. Whether in the classroom, supporting students, helping with our food programs, attending trips and other school activities, serving on the Governing Board or working with Home & School, it wouldn’t be the same without you. Your commitment is much appreciated!
We have more opportunities to volunteer in the future with upcoming trips and other activities. Please ensure you contact Amanda at awells@wqsb.qc.ca to complete a Security Background Check in order to be eligible to volunteer.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY – April 22nd
We extend a huge thank-you to Amanda for all her hard work in the office. She keeps things moving smoothly in the school, makes sure all the students are accounted for each day, supports the principal, vice principal, teachers and other staff, takes care of sick and injured children, communicates with parents, and makes sure all the students get where they need to be at the end of the day; just to name a few of her daily tasks. Thanks also to Naomie, our financial secretary at the school. She helps parents with school fees and supports staff by placing orders and paying the bills. She is also responsible for the report cards and information associated with the Mosaïk Portal. Special mention also goes to Melissa and Autumn who both work a few hours a week in the office doing various duties and cover the office when others are away.
Thank-you for your dedication to our school community!
TOGETHER FOR AUTISM
Trait d’Union Outaouais, the Western Québec School Board, as well as Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School and Eardley Elementary School, members of the organizing committee, invite you to save the date. April 25th, from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
This April, The Autism Gathering will mark the closing of Autism Awareness Month with a welcoming and inclusive community event.
An event for everyone!
The general public is warmly invited to join us for a meaningful opportunity to connect, learn, and raise awareness. Admission is free!
Register now to confirm your attendance and help us plan the event accordingly.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Cultural Traditions/Observances/Holidays
April – Sikh Heritage Month
Sikh Heritage Month, celebrated throughout April, honors and celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of the Sikh community, while promoting a deeper understanding and awareness of Sikh values and traditions.
AUTISM ACCEPTANCE AND APPRECIATION DAY
World Autism Acceptance and Appreciation Day is April 2nd. Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique acceptance and appreciation events. How will you celebrate? Students are invited to wear RED clothing to show their support.
See ASD Vocabulary Shift for more information.
EARTH DAY
Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22nd. It is one of the largest events in the world. We would encourage parents to do something with their children to show them how to respect and protect our environment. It could be something as simple as going outside and picking up garbage on your sidewalks or in your yard.
April 1–9 – Passover
Passover is a Jewish holiday commemorating the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. It is observed with a Seder meal, symbolic foods, and the retelling of the Exodus story.
April 2– Lent Ends
Lent, a Christian season of repentance, fasting, and reflection, lasts for 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter, symbolizing Jesus’ time of fasting in the wilderness.
April 3 – Good Friday
Good Friday, observed on the Friday before Easter, commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.
April 5 – Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, symbolizing hope, renewal, and new life.
April 1 – April Fools’ Day
Observed on April 1st, April Fools’ Day is a lighthearted occasion when people play practical jokes and spread hoaxes for fun.
April 2 – International Children’s Book Day
International Children’s Book Day promotes a love of reading and children’s literature worldwide, inspiring young readers and highlighting the crucial role books play in childhood development.
April 8 – International Day of Pink
Held on the second Wednesday of April, International Day of Pink raises awareness about LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity, focusing on the importance of combating homophobia, transphobia, and bullying. Please wear pink to show support.
April 10 – National Siblings Day
National Siblings Day honors the special bond between siblings, recognizing their importance in our lives with appreciation and gratitude.
April 12 – Orthodox Easter
Also known as Pascha, is the most significant feast in the Orthodox Christian calendar, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is marked by strict fasting, late-night, joyous liturgies, and gathering with families
April 13–14 – Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day)
Yom HaShoah is a Jewish observance dedicated to remembering and honoring the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust, ensuring the atrocities are never forgotten while educating future generations.