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 March 13th. We will be having parent-teacher interviews on March 26th, 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 8th at 2:00 a.m. So please remember to turn your clocks ahead one hour. |
Events at School
MARCH BREAK
This year our March break is from Monday, March 2nd to Friday, March 6th. School and Daycare are closed.
We hope everyone has a fabulous week.
MUSEUM OF HISTORY TRIP
On March 12th 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 “Sea Lions: Life by a Whisker”
HADLEY VISIT FOR GRADE 6 STUDENTS
Hadley is excited to welcome Grade 6 students for a visit to their school on March 13th. During the visit, students will tour the school, learn about their programs and daily operations, meet key staff, and experience what it’s like to be a high school student.
HIP-HOP WORKSHOP
On March 24th and 25th, 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. Thanks to Ms. D.V. for organizing!
REPORT CARDS & PARENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Report Cards are available on the parent portal. Parent/Teacher interviews will be held on Thursday, March 26th 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.
DESTINATION IMAGINATION
On March 27th Mr. Keck will be taking a team of grade 6 students to D’arcy McGee High School for Destination Imagination 2026. 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 Mazzola February and March 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 this month’s Special Student Lunch will be Macaroni and Cheese!
- Tuesday, March 17 – Grade 1, 1/2, and 6
- Thursday, March 19 – Grade 2 and 4
- Friday, March 20 – Kindergarten, Grade 3 and 5
SUBWAY LUNCH PROGRAM
Our Subway Lunch Program will continue to be offered on Wednesdays. New program starts on March 11th.
MONTHLY ASSEMBLY
Our next assembly will be on Monday, March 23rd, 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.
- Kindergarten, Grade 1+2 at 10:05
- Grade 3+4 at 10:55
- Grade 5+6 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 great turnout!
We appreciate all those who supported our Mitchell Soup Company fundraiser. We will be sending orders home with students once they arrive.
Thank you to everyone who showed their appreciation to the staff during the week of February 9th with special messages, treats, and surprises.
Reminder of our Annual General Meeting, it 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.
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.
The next Home & School meeting will be on Monday, March 16th 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 19th. Please let us know if you have any trouble accessing your slip.
We have one PD day this month on Friday, March 27th. The deadline for registration is March 20th.
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 2026-2027
HADLEY INFORMATION NIGHT
Hadley’s grade 7 information evening will be held on March 26th. 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 the Hadley website. To apply, students will need to complete an assessment at Hadley Junior High School. Parents will sign up through a form that will be available starting after the registration process is complete.
Please reach out to Mr. Jeremy Wouda, VP for Hadley Jr. High School at jwouda@wqsb.qc.ca with any questions.
BLACK HISTORY TIMELINE
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.
The deadline to be considered for a spot in the possible K4 program for next year is April 1st. The program only runs if the ministry grants us a program. Please contact Amanda Wells if you would like to register.
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 Sunday, 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
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 17 – March 18 – 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 – Zero Discrimination Day
Zero Discrimination Day highlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion, peace and, above all, a movement for change. This year’s theme is “We stand together”.
March 2-3 – Purim
Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman.
March 4 – 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 8 – International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
March 11 – National Day of Observance for COVID-19
This day commemorates the people who lost their lives to this disease, the significant impact it has on our communities.
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 16 – March 20 – 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 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 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 20 – Nowruz New Year
Persian New Year celebration celebrated by people in a variety of central Asian countries.
March 19 -22 – 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 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 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery
This is a day of reflection and education on the legacy of the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans in our world today.
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.