TD 23/24 School Handbook

School Handbook

2023-2024

School Information

Principal: Tracey Jemmeson
Office Administrator: Andrea Mailhot

Superintendent: Nicola Benton
School Trustee: Joanne McEwan

Thomas D'Arcy McGee Catholic School

635 LaVerendrye Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1J 7C2

Email: thomasdarcy.mcgee@ocsb.ca

Phone: 613-749-2251

School Hours: 9:15 am - 3:45 pm

Office Hours: 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Table of contents

Principal's Message

Covid-19 School Guidelines

General Information

* Arrival and Dismissal * Lunches and snacks
* Attendance * Parking
* Busses * School Supplies
* Dress Code
* Electronics devices, Toys and Sports Equipment

Code of Conduct

Principal's Message

Welcome to Thomas D’Arcy McGee Catholic School. As Catholic educators, our mission is to build a truly Christian school community through our example and our commitment to the Gospel values. Our school promotes self-confidence, self-esteem, school spirit, recognition and respect for individual differences, and freedom for all to develop to their full potential through their own efforts and with the help of God. The school atmosphere is one of respect, responsibility, courtesy, and pride that fosters academic excellence, and emotional and spiritual growth. We foster a strong sense of community and promote service for the common good.

The Ottawa Catholic School Board Strategic Commitments of Be Well, Be Community and Be Innovative help guide our school decisions and the learning opportunities provided to students.

This year, we continue with our spiritual theme: “Gratitude, Rooted in Joy, Fills us with Hope”. In year 3, we will focus on Hope. Hope is a powerful and positive virtue that sustains us through challenging times. Hope provides the foundation of optimism, a mindset and an outlook focusing on the best possibilities. Everyone has the seeds of enduring Hope in our hearts. This is rooted in God’s love, and Hope has the power to transform our lives and the lives of those around us. Hope does not disappoint!

We look forward to continuing to work with you during this school year!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Jemmeson
Principal

Table of Contents

Covid-19 Guidelines

Daily Self-Assessment

Please be sure to complete the daily school screening assessment to determine if your child should attend school.

Masks

Masks are currently optional for all students in Kindergartn - Grade 6.

Important key messages to review with your child:

Stay at home when you are sick, even when symptoms are mild. Staying home helps prevent spreading your illness to others.

Ensure that personal belongings and food are not shared with students and staff.

Practice ‘no touch’ greetings with your friends and teachers at school. Let’s share a wave and not our germs.

Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper arm, not your hands! Throw the tissue away, and wash your hands right away.

If you don’t feel well, tell someone.

Avoid touching your face. We can easily spread germs from our hands to our mask or face.

Bring your own water bottle from home to stay hydrated throughout the day.

When not wearing a mask, physical distancing is especially important to keep you and the friends around you healthy.

Does your child have a cold, the flu, or ANY symptoms related to COVID-19?

If your child is ill, you must keep your child home from school and notify the school.

Staff and students with symptoms compatible with COVID-19 (as listed in the screening tool) should get tested and isolate while test results are pending, unless there is a known alternative diagnosis provided by a health care provider.

Please visit Ottawa Public Health: Supporting Schools for current information on self-isolation guidelines and details on when your child can return to school after an illness.

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Symptoms of Covid-19

* Fever and/or chills (a temperature of 37.8 degrees or higher);
* Cough
* Shortness of breath (unable to breathe deeply or feeling unable to catch one’s breath);
* Decrease or loss of taste and smell
* Sore throat
* Runny or stuffy/congested nose
* Muscle aches/joint pain
* Headache
* Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (not related to other known causes or conditions);
* Extreme tiredness

Table of Contents

What if my child becomes ill while at school?

During the school day, if your child becomes ill with any of the symptoms listed, they will be separated from other students and supervised by a staff member.

Parents/ guardians are contacted and asked to bring their child home. The Covid Screening Tool can be helpful in determining when your child is able to return to school.