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
The holidays are a wonderful time of year, but sometimes there are families that are in need of assistance to help them through this time of year. Please help out some Greater Gatineau families by donating some food items or by requesting an angel tag from our angel tree to buy a gift for a child. We still have 1 angel tag left, and more food items are needed. We are missing the name of the person who has tag “#30” and tag “TT”. Please contact Amanda if you have these tags.
We will be delivering food baskets and gifts to 17 families from our school. We are working with St. Aloysius Church on this holiday project.
Reminder that the last day of school before the holiday is Friday, December 20th. We return to school on Tuesday, January 7th after the winter break.
I’d like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!
PROPER DRESS
With the weather turning colder, we want to remind you that children must be dressed appropriately for the weather. Hats, mittens/gloves, warm coats, snow pants and boots are needed so they can play outside comfortably.
Events at School
SPAGHETTI LUNCH
- Tuesday December 3rd – Grade 3 and 4
- Thursday December 5th – Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 6
- Friday December 6th – Grade 2 and Grade 5
SCHOOL MUSICAL
The Drama Club is excited to present the musical Giants in the Sky. Students have been memorizing their lines and rehearsing in the gym since September. The dedicated group of students can’t wait until December 6th when they will present the show at 10:30am and 12:35pm. Parents, family members and friends are welcome to come and see the show!
ROCKS & RINGS
December 16th, 18th, and 20th Greater Gatineau welcomes Rock & Rings. In partnership with Curling Canada, the Egg Farmers Rocks & Rings program is designed to introduce the Olympic sport of curling to elementary school children by bringing curling equipment for interactive physical education games right in the school gym. Rocks & Rings brings the curling rink to the school using unique indoor floor curling equipment to provide a true curling experience without requiring ice! Each class will have a turn to try out their curling skills.
MUSEUM OF HISTORY TRIP
On December 18th the Grade 1 students will be going to the Museum of History. They will be visiting the Children’s museum and going to see a 3D film at the Ciné+ called “Backyard Wilderness”
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Some special activities will take place during the last week before the holiday. Teachers may also have other activities planned in their classrooms.
- Holiday Music during entry in the morning
- Holiday Jokes
- Estimation Jar
- Light Up the School with Kindness Bulletin Board
RED/WHITE/GREEN DAY – Monday, December 16
Put on something red, white or green to show-off your spirit for the holiday of your choice.
HOLIDAY SOCKS DAY – Tuesday, December 17
Wear you favourite holiday or seasonal socks.
FESTIVE HAT DAY -Wednesday, December 18
Break out the Santa hat or reindeer antlers or create your own special hat for festive hat day.
HOLIDAY SWEATER DAY -Thursday, December 19
Don your holiday or winter sweater or make your own outfit.
HOLIDAY SING-ALONG – Thursday, December 19
The Holiday Sing-Along will take place on December 19th in the gym. Students will sing various holiday songs. Unfortunately, due to space limitations parents are not able to attend.
PAJAMA DAY – Friday, December 20
As the second part of our Peace Bucket reward, please wear your favourite pajamas and bring your favourite stuffie to celebrate the last day of school for 2024.
MAZZOLA HOT LUNCH
We offer hot meals on Mondays and Fridays here at Greater Gatineau. The company we use is Mazzola.
Place your orders online at order.mazzola.ca
SUBWAY LUNCH
Our Subway lunch program runs right until Wednesday, December 18, 2024. A new form will be sent out for the next program starting in the new year.
MONTHLY ASSEMBLY
Our next assembly will be on Tuesday, December 17th, where we will celebrate the students who have shown the chosen virtue throughout the month.
Please remember to wear your GG shirt (and your holiday socks) for the monthly assembly day. This creates a sense of community at school.
- Kindergarten, Grade 1+2 at 8:55
- Grade 5+6 at 10:05
- Grade 3+4 at 10:55
December is COOPERATION month. We hope to see students making an effort to work together as a team.
PEACE LEARNING CIRCLES AT HOME
Here is a quick and fun energizer you can do at home with your whole family.
It’s called “Do After Me” Sit in a large circle. One person begins by entering the circle and making a gesture, sound, or movement (the more ridiculous, the more fun), and then points to someone else in the circle to succeed them. This person makes the same gesture, sound, or movement as the proceeding person made, and then adds their own performance. They then choose the next person, and this person need only repeat the preceding action and add one before choosing someone new.
The game is over when everyone has had a chance in the circle.
Home & School
The maple products will be arriving soon. For parents who ordered, pick up will be Wednesday, December 4, 3:00pm – 6:30pm. Please enter through the back door of the gym off of Rue Guillemette. This will be your only opportunity to pick up your items.
New to Yule is back! On December 12th, all Greater Gatineau students will have an opportunity to choose a gift for a family member or friend from gently used items that were generously donated by Greater Gatineau families. A Home and School volunteer will wrap the item and send it home with the students for the holiday season.
If you would like to join us, please contact us via email or through our Facebook Page.
We post our communications on our Facebook page, if you haven’t done so already, please follow us to stay up to date on upcoming events.
The next Home & School Meeting will be on Monday, December 9th at 6:00pm. We hold our meetings virtually, please reach out to us via email if you would like to attend.
Daycare
Our daycare is divided into movie themed groups this year. You may know already, but you can ask your child if they are part of the “Inside Out” group, “Beauty and the Beast” group, “Toy Story” group, “Aristocats” group, “Lilo & Stitch” group, or the “Incredibles” group. We have added Films on Friday to our monthly schedule to feature each of the movies which represent our groups.
Daycare Remind messages are sent to @ggdaycare and @ggdaycare2 regarding PD days and other daycare updates. New families please sign up for @ggdaycare2 on the Remind App.
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 ext. 3 or e-mail jplaxton@wqsb.qc.ca
Next PD day is January 6th and will have a deadline of December 13th for registration.
Special Notes
OUTDOOR EDUCATION AT GREATER GATINEAU
Our mission is to facilitate outdoor learning experiences for all grades. Each class from Kindergarten to Grade 6 receives multiple outdoor experiences facilitated by one of our school’s outdoor specialists. It is our hope that this program will foster a love of learning and promote more experiential learning opportunities for our students. See our Outdoor Education Handbook for more details.
FOOD DRIVE FOR CHRISTMAS
We will be collecting canned food, pickles, pasta, rice, toothpaste, laundry detergent, and any other non-perishable items until Wednesday, December 11th, 2023.
Please give generously so we will have enough items to help out some families in our school.
Please make sure that you check the expiration dates on the items.
ANGEL TREE
This program helps our less fortunate families make the Christmas season a little brighter.
If you have Angel Tag “#30” or “TT”, you can email Amanda at awells@wqsb.qc.ca to let her know.
Please make sure that all gifts are returned to school no later than Wednesday, December 11th, so they can be organized for distribution.
Christmas is for children and we hope you can help us put as many smiles as we can on the faces of Greater Gatineau students.
Anti-Racism Committee (ARC)
Cultural Traditions/Observances/Holidays
International Day of Persons with Disabilities – December 3
Created by the United Nations in 1992, this day promotes understanding of disability issues and supports the dignity, rights, and well-being of people with disabilities.
International Volunteer Day – December 5
This day celebrates the vital contributions of volunteers around the world who work to improve their communities.
Bodhi Day – December 8
Bodhi Day celebrates the Buddha’s enlightenment, marking the day he found a path to overcome suffering and reach inner peace.
Human Rights Day – December 10
Human Rights Day marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, promoting equality and the right to education for all.
Las Posadas – December 16 to 24
A traditional Mexican and Latin American celebration that reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter in Bethlehem. It features nightly processions, prayers, songs, and festive gatherings with food, piñatas, and music, emphasizing faith, community, and preparation for Christmas.
International Migrants Day – December 18
This day raises awareness about migrants’ rights and contributions, and the challenges they face worldwide.
Winter Solstice – December 21
The winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year, marking the start of winter.
Hanukkah – December 25, 2024 – January 2, 2025
Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil.
Christmas – December 25
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus in Christianity and is also a cultural holiday featuring Santa Claus and festive traditions.
Kwanzaa – December 26, 2024 – January 1, 2025
Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday inspired by African harvest festivals, celebrating seven principles like unity, self-determination, and creativity.