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 would like to thank all those who donated food for our Food Drive, and who purchased gifts for our “Angel Tree”. This event was coordinated with St. Aloysius church, and we are thankful to them as well for gathering food items and for organizing the pick-up of the items.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff members at Greater Gatineau for all of their support towards student learning, student engagement; and for making school such a fun place to be. The number of clubs and activities we have at the school is amazing; and they are only made possible through the efforts of our staff. The dedication and devotion of our staff team is commendable; and Mr. Fleming and I are proud to work with such a great team. Thanks to the parents for all their support.
We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to a fantastic January and beyond. We will see you all on Tuesday, January 6th for the first day of 2026.
As the colder weather sets in, please remember to send your child to school with warm clothing.
Events at School
CONSTRUCTION AT GREATER GATINEAU
Work continues on our expansion project and it is still on track to be complete in the coming months. It is really starting to take shape with most of the brick work complete on the outside.
We are excited at the possibility of welcoming new K-4 classes in August 2026!
SKI AT SCHOOL
During the winter months we have the chance to offer cross country skiing to our students. There will be an instructional video from Ski at School/Ski à l’école to teach our children how to cross country ski. Everyone from grade 1 to 6 will get a chance to learn this fun activity. Unfortunately the program is not available for Kindergarten. The equipment is provided and the cost is free!
TEACHERS VS GRADE SIX SPORTS
As part of our ongoing teachers vs grade six sports events, the grade six student will play ball hockey with the teachers at lunch on Friday, January 16th.
Sometimes they mix it up and play with teachers and grade sixes on the same teams. Go, Grizzlies, go!
MAZZOLA HOT LUNCH
We offer hot meals on Mondays and Fridays here at Greater Gatineau.
Place your orders online at mazzola.skoolfood.com
SUBWAY LUNCH PROGRAM
Our Subway Lunch Program will continue to be offered on Wednesdays. New program starts on January 7th.
SPECIAL STUDENT LUNCH – Provided thanks to our “President’s Choice” grant
This month our special meal for students will be Spaghetti and Meat Balls provided free to all students. Meal is Halal.
- Tuesday, January 13th: Kindergarten, Grade 3 and 5
- Thursday, January 15th: Grade 1 + 1/2, and Grade 6
- Friday, January 16th: Grade 2 and Grade 4
MONTHLY ASSEMBLY
Our next assembly will be on Friday, January 30th, where we will celebrate the students who have shown the chosen virtue throughout the month.
Please remember to wear your GG shirt to all of our monthly assemblies. This creates a sense of community at school. We are working on being able to provide new GG shirts to students in the new year.
Kindergarten, Grade 1 + 2 at 10:05
Grade 3 + 4 at 10:55
Grade 5 + 6 at 12:35
January is PERSEVERANCE month. We hope to see students who are always working hard and not giving up.
PEACE LEARNING CIRCLES AT HOME
A great strategy to ensure that everyone is able to participate in dinner conversations is to use a “Talking Stick”.
Use any object to pass around the table, and only the person holding the object is allowed to speak.
This will help to ensure that everyone gets a chance to speak about their day.
Home & School
Thank you to everyone who attended our Movie Night! We appreciate you coming out!
Our New to Yule was a great success! The students were excited to pick out a Christmas gift for a friend or family member. We appreciate all your generous donations that helped make this special event possible. We are thankful to our volunteers who spent the day wrapping gifts the students chose.
Thank you to everyone that supported the Maple Fundraiser!
Our next event will be our Sweetheart Dance on February 13, mark your calendars! More details about the dance will be shared in the new year.
For our next fundraiser we will be partnering with Mitchell Soup Company. Stay tuned for more details about this fundraiser in January.
We are always looking for new members to join us, please contact us via email or through our Facebook page.
We are now on Instagram! Please follow us to get up to date info on our fundraisers and events.
What type of events or fundraisers would you like to see this year? If you have any ideas, please send us an email.
The January Home & School meeting will be held on Monday, January 12th at 6:00pm. We hold our meetings virtually, please reach out to us via email if you would like to attend future meetings.
The Home & School would like to wish all Greater Gatineau families a safe and Happy Holiday Break.
Daycare
We start the new year with a PD day on Monday, January 5th. The registration deadline was December 12th; did you miss it? Please sign up for @ggdaycare2 on the Remind app to get the notifications regarding PD days. The next PD day is January 23rd. The deadline will be January 16th.
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
Happy New Year from the Daycare Team!
Special Notes
FROM THE BREAKFAST CLUB OF CANADA
Using leftovers helps to avoid wasting food, saves money and makes meal planning easier. Here are some of our tips to help you rethink your leftovers and get creative in the kitchen!
INCLEMENT WEATHER
In the event of inclement weather emails or text messages will be sent out by the School Board to advise parents and guardians of bus delays, cancellations, or school closures.
Normally the School Board will send messages between 6:15 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., prior to busses starting their routes, but unfortunately sometimes the messages come late from the bus company.
Depending on weather conditions (snowfall, freezing rain) the School Board will assess the road conditions with the assistance of various bus transporters, several municipalities (public works) and French School Boards.
Thereafter, a decision is made whether or not to cancel transportation.
School buses may also be delayed as a result of road and weather conditions.
Parents are responsible for their children prior to boarding and after departing the school bus.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Save the Date!
The Kindergarten registration will be held at our school this year. Registration will be in person on February 9th and 10th at the school between 8am and 12pm and 1pm and 3pm. Link to WQSB
Your child must be turning 5 years old before September 30, 2026 to register and attend Kindergarten.
To register you will require
- Certificate of eligibility of the child, parent or sibling declared eligible
- Child’s long form birth certificate with the names of both parents
- Canadian Citizenship for parent who will render the child eligible
- Quebec drivers licence, lease/deed and utility bill
- Child’s last report card if applicable
If you have a child who will be attending kindergarten next year, or know someone who has a child who will attend, you can prepare yourself in advance.
K4 AT GREATER GATINEAU NEXT SCHOOL YEAR
Our new K4 program hopes to commence next autumn for the 2026-2027 school year! The registration process is similar to the kindergarten registration process. Your child must turn 4 before September 30, 2026. You will need all the same documents to complete the process.
Space is limited so the selection process will be via lottery. All eligible children are welcome to complete the registration process, but only children selected in the lottery will be awarded a spot for the 2026-2027 school year.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Cultural Traditions/Observances/Holidays
New Year’s Day – January 1
New Year’s Day marks the beginning of the new calendar year. It is a global holiday often observed with celebrations, resolutions, and reflections on the past year.
World Braille Day – January 4
World Braille Day celebrates the invention of braille and raises awareness about its importance in empowering blind and visually impaired individuals. It promotes accessibility and inclusion for those with visual disabilities.
Lohri – January 13
Lohri is a traditional Punjabi festival celebrated on January 13. It marks the end of winter and the harvest of rabi crops. The festival is observed with bonfires, dancing, singing, and sharing traditional foods to celebrate abundance and prosperity.
World Religion Day – January 18
World Religion Day, observed on the third Sunday of January, promotes interfaith understanding and harmony. It encourages people to learn about and respect different religions.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 19
Observed on the third Monday of January in the United States, Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leader of the Civil Rights Movement. It promotes equality, nonviolence, and justice, encouraging service and reflection.
Lincoln Alexander Day – January 21
This day serves to honour the legacy of the Canadian trailblazer, Lincoln Alexander. Lincoln was Canada’s first black MP in the House of Commons, the first black federal cabinet minister, and Ontario’s first black Lieutenant Governor.
International Day of Education – January 24
International Day of Education highlights the importance of education in fostering peace and development. It advocates for inclusive and equitable education for all, emphasizing learning as a key to building a better future.
The World Day for African and Afro descendant Culture – January 24
This day highlights the rich heritage of African cultures and their global influence. It promotes cultural diversity, social justice, and recognition of African and Afro descendant contributions to the world.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day – January 27
International Holocaust Remembrance Day honors the memory of six million Jews and millions of other victims murdered during the Holocaust. It also promotes education about the Holocaust to prevent future acts of genocide and hate.
Family Literacy Day (Canada) – January 27
Family Literacy Day is celebrated in Canada to promote the importance of reading and learning together as a family. It encourages activities that improve literacy skills and strengthen family bonds.
National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia – January 29
This day commemorates the victims of the 2017 mosque attack in Quebec City. It promotes awareness, remembrance, and action against Islamophobia to build a more inclusive society.