Principal's Message
Our secretary, Julie Caron, will be on a leave until June. We are very pleased to announce that Amanda Wells will be our new secretary in charge of reception, absences, early pick-up, etc. Please be sure to email Amanda for any of the reasons listed at awells@wqsb.qc.ca .
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 .
Reminder if you haven’t paid your school fees, you must do so right away. The statements can be viewed on the parent portal, and payment can be made with your online banking. If you need assistance, please contact our finance secretary, Naomie at nceraqui@wqsb.qc.ca .
There will be a change to the programming for next year at Greater Gatineau in grades 1 and 2. Students in our Enriched French program will have Drama taught in French next year, and Ethics ill be taught in English. The change was approved at our recent Governing Board meeting.
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 our replacement registration secretary 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 12th for our Kindergarten Open House.
Events at School
P IS FOR PRIVILEGE WORKSHOP
On April 3rd the grade 5 and 6 students will participate in a virtual Anti-Discrimination presentation for Elementary School students that encourages students to recognize and understand their own privilege. By defining what privilege, unconscious bias, racism, and intersectionality means, students will better understand the challenges that marginalized groups face. Using style that combines video, slam poetry, and audience participation & interaction, students will learn how to be allies and feel empowered to speak out against injustices.
OUTDOOR EDUCATION AT GREATER GATINEAU
Grade 2 students will be doing some Outdoor Education activities with a focus on migration and hibernation. Mr. Everson will be joining the homeroom teachers in leading a role-playing activity involving bears waking from hibernation looking for food to survive.
- Given -March 31st
- MD – April 14th
- Geisterfer – April 21st
- Golding – April 28th
MUSEUM OF HISTORY TRIP
Kindergarten students will be going to the Museum of History on April 14th. The cost of the trip will be covered by a culture grant from the Ministry.
OUTDOOR EDUCATION TRIP
The grade six students will be visiting the Outdoor Education Center with Alan Earwaker. They will participate in nature and survival games, forest hike, wildlife ID, canoeing/kayaking/swimming (weather dependant), building survival shelters with sticks and leaves, a campfire and singing songs, a cookout with hotdogs or marshmallows, team building activities, etc.
- April 13th – Fama
- April 17th – Dooling
- April 20th – Birch
SPIRIT WEEK AT GREATER GATINEAU
We will have Spirit Week from April 17th to 21st.
- April 17th – Jersey Day
- April 18th – Backwards Day
- April 19th – Crazy Hair Day
- April 20th – Future Self Day
- April 21st – Grizzly Day
MAZZOLA HOT MEAL PROGRAM
We will continue to offer our hot meal program on Mondays and Fridays. New menu for April and May. Click the Mazzola link to order.
SUBWAY LUNCH PROGRAM
The current Subway Lunch Program is running from March 22nd to May 10th.
MONTHLY ASSEMBLY
Our next assembly will be on Friday, April 28th, where we will celebrate the students who have shown the chosen virtue throughout the month.
Please remember to wear your GG Grizzlies shirt for all of our monthly assemblies. This creates a sense of community at school.
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
Fundraisers and Events
- Our Plantables fundraiser is up and running, get a head start on your gardens and place your order. Plantables ships seedlings to addresses in Ontario and Quebec. Use promo code GGHOMEANDSCHOOL at checkout. Share with all your family and friends. We get 10% of all sales.
- Home Alone Safety Course (May 1st-4th) – Virtual Course for kids, a flyer will be sent home with details.
- Red Cross Babysitting (May 15th-18th) – Virtual Course for kids, a flyer will be sent home with details.
- Greater Gatineau Greatest Auction is back! – Auction will open on April 24th and close May 6th at 11:00pm, more details to follow.
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held May 15th at 6:00pm. During the AGM, the President and Treasurer will present a report highlighting the events of the year. Everyone is welcome to attend, if you would like to attend please send us an email. We will also be holding elections, all positions are open, President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. A new executive will be created for the 2023-2024 school year.
SPOTLIGHT on GGHS positions
VICE- PRESIDENT
Duties of the Vice-President include:
- Acts as aide to the President.
Presides at meetings in the absence of the President.
Assumes responsibility for the administrative details delegated by the President.
Represents the Association upon request of the President or of the Executive Committee as the QFHSA liaison.
Assumes the duties of the President, in case of resignation or until the position is filled, in accordance with the by-laws.
Performs other specific duties that may be provided for in the by-laws, or are assigned by the President.
Notifies members not present at the meeting of duties assigned to them.
Reminds members of their appointment to committees.
TREASURER
The Treasurer is responsible for overseeing the finances and maintaining the financial records of Greater Gatineau Home and School Association which includes the following duties:
- Delivers a financial report at each executive and regular meeting
- After the close of each financial year shall compile and submit to the Executive and membership a report for the financial year and arrange for the financial review every 5 years as stipulated in the Constitution
- After the close of the financial year shall submit a report to the QFHSA.
- Shall ensure the safe keeping of all financial records for a period of seven years.
- Is the liaison between the Home and School and the bank
SECRETARY
The Secretary is responsible for:
- The minutes of Greater Gatineau Home and School Association meetings, and the minutes of Executive meetings, and any other books and records related to Greater Gatineau Home and School Association meetings
- Sending out the draft minutes to the members
- Sending out the meeting notice and agenda to members 3 days in advance
If you would like to join us, please send us an email at gghomeandschool@gmail.com. We meet monthly for 1.5 hours. Time commitment varies depending on the events and fundraisers we run. You can decide how much time your schedule allows you to commit.
We will continue to post on our Facebook page, if you haven’t done so already, please follow us to stay up to date on upcoming events facebook.com/GreaterGatineau.
The next Home & School meeting will be on Monday, April 17th at 6:30pm. We hold our meetings virtually through Teams, please reach out to us via email if you would like to attend.
Daycare
We have no PD days this month. There are two coming up in May. 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 2023-2024 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 fill out a Daycare Registration Form and return it to school.
Special Notes
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK -April 16th to 22nd
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 26th
We extend a huge thank-you to Julie 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, supports staff by placing orders and paying the bills, and makes sure everyone gets paid. Special mention also goes to Melissa who works a few hours a week in the office and covers the office duties when others are away, and Amanda who has stepped in to replace Julie during her absence. We are so happy to have her in this new role!
Thank-you for your dedication to our school community!
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.
Western Quebec School Board Earth Month Resources
AUTISM AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE DAY
World Autism Awareness and Acceptance Day is April 2nd. Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique awareness and acceptance raising events. How will you celebrate? Students are invited to wear RED clothing on Monday, April 3rd. #REDinstead
BANK OF CANADA MUSEUM – SENSORY SUNDAYS
For Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, the Bank of Canada Museum will provide a sensory-friendly experience every Sunday morning. This will occur on April 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd.
The Museum will open at 9:00 for visitors looking to avoid crowds and will offer hands-on sensory activities until noon.
What can you expect?
- Reduced ambient sounds
- Noise-cancelling headphones available to borrow at the front desk
- A designated quiet area
- Hands-on sensory activities
Admission to the Museum is always free. Visit our event web page to download our social story and for more information on how to prepare for your visit.
Anti-Racism Committee (ARC)
Land acknowledgement
The land on which we gather is traditional unceded Omamiwininiwag (Algonquin) and Anishinabewaki territory .
Featured version of O’Canada for the month of April
April Fools Day – April 1st
April Fools’ Day or All Fools’ Day is an annual custom on April 1st consisting of practical jokes and hoaxes. Jokesters often expose their actions by shouting “April Fools!” at the recipient.
International Children’s Book Day – April 2nd
International Children’s Book Day is celebrated to inspire a love of reading.
Passover – April 5th to 13th
The Jewish holiday of Passover (in Hebrew, Pesach) commemorates the exodus from slavery in Egypt.
Lent Ends – April 6th
The Christian tradition of Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that began on February 22nd this year and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday.
Good Friday – April 7th
Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus.
Easter Sunday – April 9th
Easter is a Christian festival and cultural holiday.
National Siblings Day – April 10th
This is a day to celebrate brothers and sisters and family relations.
Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) – April 17th and 18th
This Jewish Holiday begins at sundown on the 17th and ends at nightfall on the 18th. It is a day to remember the Holocaust.
Ramadan Ends – April 20th
The holy month of Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic lunar calendar. It is a month of fasting, worship, service, communal gathering, and spiritual development.
Eid al-Fitr – April 20th to 21st
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwāl, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar.