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
Report cards are available on the parent portal as of February 28th. We will be having parent-teacher interviews on March 11th, from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Teachers do not need to see all parents at this time, but they will reach out to you if an interview is requested. Alternatively, if you would like an interview you can contact your child’s homeroom or their French teacher to set up a time.
Please take the time to review our newsletter to see all of the wonderful events taking place this month. A big appreciation goes out to staff members and to Home and School parents for organizing events for our school. Have a wonderful month everyone!
TIME CHANGE Daylight Savings Time starts on Sunday, March 9th at 2:00 a.m. So please remember to turn your clocks ahead one hour. |
Please see our updated school calendar. Due to the school closure on February 13th our PD day that was scheduled for April 4th will now be a regular school day. Greater Gatineau School Calendar 2024-2025 Modified This calendar is also available on the Principal’s Message page on the calendar menu.
RE-REGISTRATION FOR 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR
Under the Education Act, school boards must ensure that all students currently enrolled in their schools are to be re-registered on an annual basis each year. Re-registration is completed online through your Mozaïk Parent Portal account. This process is easy to complete and will only take you a few minutes. Please note that the re-registration period is March 3rd to March 14th. It is important to complete the re-registration process before the end of the registration period. Please help our registration secretary Amanda streamline this process by ensuring that your portal access is up to date.
Here are full instructions in English Parent Portal Instructional Guide and in French Guide complet Portal Parent and the re-registration section begins on page 5 of the document.
See the letter from the WQSB regarding Re-Registration 2025-2026
Events at School
MARCH BREAK
This year our March break is from Monday, March 3rd to Friday, March 7th. School and Daycare are closed.
We hope everyone has a fabulous week.
HIP-HOP WORKSHOP
On March 11th and 12th, the Grade 4 students will participate in a workshop led by Bboyizm Dance Company – one of Canada’s top street dancing companies! They will learn about street dance culture and engage in an exploration of rhythm and movement as a form of self-expression. Funding for this event is provided by “ArtistsInspire” grant.
Report Cards are available on the parent portal. Parent/Teacher interviews will be held on Tuesday, March 11th from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Please note that teachers will contact parents if an interview is requested. If you are not contacted by the teacher, and you would like to have an interview; please contact the teacher you would like to meet.
DART PRESENTATION
The WQSB Drug and Alcohol Technician, Erica Tomkinson will be meeting with our Grade 5 and 6 students to give a presentation on drug and alcohol awareness and prevention. Erica works at Hadley and will be a resource for the students in the coming years.
- Grade 5 – March 11
- Grade 6 – March 18
HADLEY VISIT FOR GRADE 6 STUDENTS
Hadley is excited to welcome Grade 6 students for a visit to their school on March 12th. During the visit, students will tour the school, learn about our programs and daily operations, meet key staff, and experience what it’s like to be a high school student.
DENTAL HYGIENIST
The dental hygienist will be at school to do screenings for grade 2 students on March 20th.
CBC KIDS NEWS PRESENTATION
On March 20th the grade 6 students will participate in a CBC Kids News Presentation. A news journalist will tell us how a news story is produced in a virtual workshop.
DESTINATION IMAGINATION
On March 21st Mr. Birch will be taking five grade 6 students to D’arcy McGee High School for Destination Imagination 2025. The students have been preparing since November and will be presenting a short play related to science, as well as competing in team challenges that test their teamwork and creativity.
LUNCH MENU FOR MARCH
Please see the March Mazzola Menu If you would like to order for your child please create your account on their website.
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 : Chicken Fried Rice or Vegetable Fried Rice.
MONTHLY ASSEMBLY
Our next assembly will be on Tuesday, March 26th, where we will celebrate the students who have shown the chosen virtue throughout the month.
Please remember to wear your GG shirt for all of our monthly assemblies. This creates a sense of community at school.
- Grade 3+4 at 10:05
- Grade 5+6 at 10:55
- Kindergarten, Grade 1+2 at 12:35
March is TRUSTWORTHINESS Month. We hope to see students showing us how trustworthy they are. You can show this by doing what you say you are going to do, being responsible, and being reliable.
PEACE LEARNING CIRCLES AT HOME
TRUST WALK
This activity is done in pairs and you take turn being blindfolded and being a leader. One person volunteers to be led with their eyes closed or blindfolded. The other member of the pair leads the person for five minutes, taking very good care of the blind partner. After five minutes, switch roles.
TRUST CIRCLE
Make a circle with your family and friends. Have one person stand in the middle with their eyes closed and feet planted firmly. Have the rest of the people gently push on the shoulders of the person in the middle, making sure they do not fall. The group supports the person as they rotate.
Home & School
Thank you to everyone who attended the Sweetheart dance, it was a huge success.
Our next event will be a movie night featuring “Moana 2” on Friday March 28. Reminder that parents are REQUIRED to stay for all H&S hosted events. For safety reasons we do not have the ability to supervise your children, we have limited volunteers. At our events we have coffee and tea for sale at our snack bar for parents.
For our next fundraiser we are partnering with Mitchell Soup Company, this fundraiser will run from March 10 to March 30th. Details on the fundraiser and how to order will be sent home with students.
Reminder of our Annual General Meeting, it will be held on May 12 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.
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.
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.
The next Home & School meeting will be on Monday, March 17th at 6:00pm. We hold our meetings virtually, please reach out to us via email if you would like to attend.
Daycare
Tax slips are available on the parent portal. They were posted on February 18th. Please let us know if you have any trouble accessing your slip.
We have one PD day this month on Friday, March 21st. The deadline for registration is March 14th.
Please sign up for @ggdaycare2 on the Remind app to get the notifications regarding PD days as there are registration deadlines for each PD day.
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
Special Notes
Information for grade 6 students attending Hadley in 2025-2026
HADLEY INFORMATION NIGHT
Hadley’s grade 7 information evening will be held on April 3rd. They welcome parents of grade 6 students interested in the grade 7 Enriched French program at 5:30 and parents of grade 6 students in all other grade 7 programs at 6:00. It will be held in the auditorium at Hadley, 80 Rue Daniel-Johnson.
FRENCH ASSESSMENTS
French Enriched Program: For families interested in the French Enriched Program, we encourage them to read the program handbook available on our website. To apply, students will need to complete an assessment on May 2nd at Hadley Junior High School. Parents will sign up through a form that will be available starting on March 10th and closing on April 4th.
Please reach out to Mr. Jeremy Wouda, VP for Hadley Jr. High School at jwouda@wqsb.qc.ca with any questions.
Honouring Black History Month at Greater Gatineau By: Dirgha Paré
At Greater Gatineau, Black History Month was a time to celebrate, learn, and foster inclusivity. Through lessons, interactive activities, and cultural experiences, our school honored Black individuals’ contributions while promoting unity and understanding.
Learning About Black History
Students engaged in age-appropriate lessons on slavery, the Underground Railroad, and influential Black figures. These discussions also highlighted Canada’s role as a refuge for those seeking freedom, helping students appreciate the struggles and achievements of Black communities.
A Collaborative Effort: The Freedom Quilt
Following these important discussions, our students participated in a hands-on activity that reinforced the importance of collective effort and unity. As a school community, we created a collaborative Freedom Quilt, inspired by the symbols and patterns used as coded messages by freedom seekers during the Underground Railroad era. This artistic endeavor was more than just a craft project; it was a meaningful exercise in teamwork, understanding, and appreciation of history.
Celebrating Black Culture
Our celebration continued with a visit from African Canadian artist Luc Bambara, who introduced students to traditional dance and the culture of Burkina Faso. Additionally, Grade 3 to 6 students participated in Tracking Black Canada-Hidden Gems, a virtual workshop by Overture with the Arts, highlighting influential Black Canadians.
Inspiring an Inclusive Future
By embracing diverse voices and recognizing the impact of Black history, our school fosters knowledge and empathy. These activities not only honored the past but also inspired students to advocate for equality and celebrate diversity.
PHONE NUMBERS & HEALTH INFORMATION
We ask all parents to please make sure that they keep the office advised of any changes in their phone numbers.
It is extremely important that our files are kept up-to-date should an emergency arise.
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
It is very important to register right away in order for the school to plan for next year, as it takes a few weeks to obtain a certificate of eligibility from the Quebec government.
LOST AND FOUND
We have many items in our lost and found. Please label your child’s items with their name so they can be returned to the right child if they are ever misplaced.
We hope to reunite some children with their items.
EARTH HOUR
Please join millions of people around the world on Saturday, March 22nd, at 8:30 p.m. and turn off your lights for one hour in support of action on climate change.
NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH
March is National Nutrition Month and a great time to think about the importance of healthy eating.
Healthy eating means eating a variety of foods from 4 groups to feel good and maintain your health.
Follow these steps to help you eat healthy:
- Eat the right types of food by following Canada’s Food Guide.
- Choose a variety of foods from each of the 4 food groups.
- Eat the recommended amount of food for your age, gender, and activity level.
- Read food labels to compare and choose healthier foods when shopping. The Nutrition Facts table and the Percent Daily Value can help you make better choices.
- Limit foods and drinks that are high in calories, fat, sugar, and sodium.
For more useful information on food and nutrition, consult: Canada’s Food Guide
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
formerly Anti-Racism Committee (ARC)
Cultural Traditions/Observances/Holidays
March – Irish Heritage Month
Irish Heritage Month is a celebration held in March to honor the contributions, history, and culture of the Irish and Irish diaspora, coinciding with St. Patrick’s Day.
February 28 – March 29 – Ramadan
The holy month of Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic lunar calendar. It is a month of fasting, worship, service, and communal reflection.
March 1 – World Compliment Day
World Compliment Day is a global initiative celebrated every March 1 to spread joy through simple verbal affirmations of appreciation, creating the most positive day in the world.
March 8 – International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
March 13 – 14 – Purim
Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman.
March 14 – Holi
Holi is a popular Hindu festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Also known as the Festival of Colors, Festival of Spring, or Festival of Love, it is marked by people throwing colored powder or water at each other.
March 14 – Pi Day
March 14 marks Pi Day, an annual celebration of the mathematical sign pi. Founded in 1988 by physicist Larry Shaw, March 14 was selected because the numerical date (3.14) represents the first three digits of pi, and it also happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday.
March 15 – International Day to Combat Islamophobia
A United Nations-designated day aimed at raising awareness, addressing discrimination, and promoting tolerance and inclusion for Muslim communities worldwide.
March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day
Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17 in honor of Ireland’s patron saint.
March 17 – March 23 – Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an annual event that promotes understanding of neurological differences such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia while advocating for inclusion in schools and workplaces.
March 20 – Vernal Equinox (First Day of Spring)
In the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal equinox falls around March 20 or 21, marking the beginning of spring as the Sun crosses the celestial equator heading north.
March 20 – Francophonie Day
Francophonie Day is observed annually on March 20 by the International Organization of La Francophonie to celebrate the French language and Francophone culture.
March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day
World Down Syndrome Day is officially ratified by the United Nations. It allows communities around the world to recognize and celebrate contributions from people with Down syndrome. We want to encourage our students to celebrate WDSD on the days surrounding it.
Please wear mismatched socks on March 20th in support of World Down Syndrome Day.
March 22 – World Water Day
World Water Day, observed on March 22 every year since 1993, celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2 billion people worldwide who lack access to safe water.
March 30 – March 31 – Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr is an Islamic holiday marking the end of Ramadan, celebrated with communal prayers, feasts, charity, and gatherings to express gratitude and joy after a month of fasting.
March 31 – Transgender Day of Visibility
Transgender Day of Visibility, observed on March 31, is an annual event dedicated to celebrating transgender people, raising awareness of their contributions, and advocating for their rights while highlighting the challenges they face.
Please wear purple on Monday, March 31st to show your support.
March 31 – National Indigenous Languages Day
A day observed in Canada to celebrate, promote, and raise awareness of Indigenous languages, recognizing their cultural significance and the need for their preservation and revitalization.