Parents

New to Good Shepherd?

Here are some things to do to ensure a successful transition to school for your child(ren):

IMPORTANT: Please note that Year 2 (SK) students will NOT begin school on September 1st due to Ministry requirements for reading screening. September 1st is reserved for reading screening appointments for Year 2 students. Year 2 students' first full day of school is September 2nd. Information about your child's screening appointment time on September 1st will be emailed to you by the end of August. If you have not heard from us with a date/time for your child's screening appointment by August 27th, please reach out to us at good.shepherd@ocsb.ca.

Year 1 (JK) students will follow a staggered entry schedule starting on September 2nd and 3rd. Information about your child's orientation appointment time/date will be emailed to you by the end of August. If you have not heard from us with a date/time for your child's orientation appointment by August 27th, please reach out to us at good.shepherd@ocsb.ca. Year 1 students' first full day is the day following their orientation visit. 

✅ Create Your Parent Portal Accounts with OCSB and OSTA

If you haven't done so yet, please create your Parent Portal account and fill out the forms you will find there. Go to Parent Portal – The Ottawa Catholic School Board and follow the instructions for registering for an account. You must also sign up for the OSTA Parent Portal to find your child’s bus route number and pickup time/location. We strongly encourage you to consider using the bus if your child is eligible for bussing. 

✅ Create your SchoolMessenger / SafeArrival Account for Communications and to Report Absences

We recognize the importance of keeping connected with your child’s school. All of our OCSB schools use the SchoolMessenger communication platform to send automated phone calls and emails to parents.I f your child is registered at an OCSB school, you’ll automatically receive emergency and attendance messages. To receive additional information like school updates, newsletters, and Board-wide events, sign up for SchoolMessenger, download the App and customize your notification preferences. 

Go to ocsb.ca/SchoolMessenger to learn how to create your account. Create your account using the email address you provided when you registered your child for school. To receive all communications and email messages to your email inbox, you must opt in when prompted. To receive any emails sent by the school, your preference must be set to “yes” for General Messages. To receive any emails that may be sent by your child's teacher, your preference must be set to “yes” for Teacher-to-Parent Messaging. 

Have questions? If you are having difficulty creating your parent account, please email the OCSB at School.Messenger@ocsb.ca 

✅ Download the SchoolMessenger App

Parents should use the SchoolMessenger and SafeArrival App to report student absences/lates. You can quickly and securely report your child’s absence in one of three ways:

• Using the SM Home App: Download and install the SM Home app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

• Online: Visit home.schoolmessenger.ca.

• Phone: Call the toll-free number 1-844-478-2598 and follow the prompts.

Further detailed instructions are available on the OCSB website.

✅ Sign up for School Cash Online

Please register for School Cash Online which is used for purchases or partake in any fundraising events like Pizza Lunches

✅ School supplies

• Every child is expected to have one pair of indoor shoes (with non-marking soles suitable for Physical Education that stay at the school - velcro shoes are recommended for Kindergarten students & students who cannot tie shoelaces).

• Reusable water bottle,

• A lunch bag with a PEANUT-FREE lunch and two nutritious snacks. Please note that we practice boomerang lunches - empty food containers and waste will be sent back home to be recycled or disposed of.

• Please label all personal items with your child’s name.

We recognize that parents often want to purchase supplies for their child(ren) over the summer months, especially when the items are on sale. The following is a list of suggested supplies that parents/guardians may wish to purchase for their child(ren). Good Shepherd provides all of the essential school supplies for our students. 

• Bottle of personal hand sanitizer.

• Headphones or earbuds (labeled, in a container or Ziploc bag).

• Pencil Case

• Pencil Crayons

Your child's educator will send you additional information after your child begins school for any additional suggested school supplies. 

There is no obligation to purchase any of these suggested supplies. 

✅ Forms to Report Student Medical Conditions

• All students with life-threatening medical concerns must have a completed OCSB Life Threatening Medical Condition Verification form and the appropriate Plan of Care on file at the school. Please find the Plan of Care related to your child's specific medical condition and complete it. Understanding that your child’s health and medical needs may change over time, it’s important to review your plan of care with your school every year. If no changes are required, submit a Plan of Care Annual Review Sheet. If you need to make a change to your plan of care, submit a new plan of care form.

• Please note that if your child requires medication to be administered during school hours related to their medical condition, you must also complete a Request and Consent for Administration of Medication form. 

August Update