School News for June 26, 2026

Dear Holy Redeemer Families,

Well, the end of the school year is here, and what a year it has been! Sincere thanks to ALL OF YOU for your ongoing involvement and support. 

Below are a final few updates for you as we head into the summer break.

May you have a restful and joyful summer. To those moving on, we send our warmest wishes for success and happiness wherever your journey takes you.

Paul Gautreau and the Holy Redeemer Team

MOVING AND OTHER CHANGES:  Please keep the school informed about address changes, phone or email changes, emergency contact changes, and childcare changes.   Having accurate information helps with everything from being able to access report cards to busing.  Just send an email to Holy.Redeemer@ocsb.ca to let us know.

SUMMER REGISTRATIONS: Next year we will be welcoming many new Junior Kindergarten students, as well as students from all grade levels.  If you know of someone who is interested in having their children attend Holy Redeemer, please have them visit the OCSB Registration webpage.  Online registration is available all summer long.

PARENT COUNCIL:  Every month, the Holy Redeemer Parent Council gets together to plan fundraisers, special events and ways to support our school.  This year, among other things, the group organized our lunch program, a Halloween Dance and the wonderful Year End Fun Fair.  Many thanks to Megan, Allison, Erin, Virginia, Emily, Jess, Kelly, Jacinta, Deirdre, Nicole, Stephanie, and Andrew.  Thanks also to all the staff members who were a part of the Council this year.

FIRST RIDER PROGRAM: Ottawa Student Transportation invites families to attend the First Rider Event on Sunday, August 23, 2026. This free 45-minute session helps elementary students learn safe school bus and pedestrian practices through hands-on, interactive activities, giving them a confident start to the school year.

TRANSPORTATION UPDATES: Throughout the summer months, OSTA will keep its website and Facebook page updated with important information, dates and announcements. Bus information can also be found on the OSTA Parent Portal.

KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION AND SCREENING:  We will be staggering the start of our Junior and Senior Kindergarten students in the fall in order to give teachers and early childhood educators the opportunity to do some literacy screening before the start of the school year. Emails will be sent out at the end of August with the date and time of your child’s orientation and screening visit, as well as the date of their first day of school for JK and SK students. In the meantime, key dates are listed in the ‘On the Horizon’ section of this email.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: What supplies will your child need for school in September?  The easy answer is that we provide most of what students will need. Please click the links below to see lists of additional supplies that students might like to have for the school year ahead.

• Kindergarten Suggested School Supply List 

• Grades 1 Suggested School Supply List 

• Grades 2 to 3 Suggested School Supply List 

• Grades 4 to 6 Suggested School Supply List 

KEEP LEARNING THIS SUMMER:

•  BUILD MATH SKILLS: Using Numbots or Times Tables Rock Stars is one way for students to build their fluency with math facts. This is the same software that most students have been using all year long.

• ENCOURAGE SUMMER READING: A few minutes of reading a day can really help with fluency and comprehension.  So, grab a book off the shelf at home, bookstore or library and start reading. It’s definitely worth it!

INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR:  Curious about next year?  We’re still getting things organized, but please know, a few days before the start of school, we will be sending you emails with information about new classes, first day logistics, Kindergarten orientation and screening visit schedules, and bus route information for eligible students. 

ON THE HORIZON:

• August 24 ~ School Office re-opens

• August 31 ~ PD Day

• September 1 ~ First day of school for Grade 1-6 students

• September 1 ~ Senior Kindergarten Orientation and Screening Visits

• September 2 ~ First day of school for Senior Kindergarten students

• September 2 ~ Group 1 Junior Kindergarten Orientation Visits 

• September 3 ~ First day of school for Group 1 Junior Kindergarten students 

• September 3 ~ Group 2 Junior Kindergarten Orientation Visits

• September 4 ~ First day of school for Group 2 Junior Kindergarten students

• September 7 ~ Labour Day (School Closed)

Children who will be four by December 31, 2026 may be REGISTERED ONLINE NOW.  For more information, check out Kindergarten at Holy Redeemer and Kindergarten in the Ottawa Catholic School Board.