Newsletter – 2023 October 17

We are now halfway through the month of October, and the weather is definitely showing us that fall has arrived! Please see below for some updates:

Digital Citizenship Week!
Next week, our school will be celebrating Digital Citizenship Week, in honour of the second annual Digital Citizenship Day happening on October 25th! Each day, students will be introduced to a new digital citizenship concept through a guiding question, (i.e. How can I balance screen time?), and a short corresponding video. Look out for more exciting news on digital citizenship and digital literacy at OLM coming in November!

Uniforms:
Thank you for making the transition from summer uniforms to regular school attire a smooth one! We have noticed that some of our students, especially in the primary grades, have been wearing white t-shirts/golf shirts that do not have the OLM logo. Please ensure that your child comes to school each day wearing their OLM white golf shirt, as it is the only one that is an acceptable part of school uniform. Please also ensure that your child’s shoes are predominantly black, (white or grey accents are okay), and suitable for all school activities. Boots are a great idea for inclement weather, but should be exchanged for black school shoes once inside the classroom. 

OLM Invitational Volleyball Tournament:
OLM is hosting a volleyball invitational tournament at St. Thomas More this coming Saturday, October 21st. All are welcome to attend and cheer on our Grade 5 team (9:00am-12:30pm), and 7 team (1:00pm-5:00pm) Please click on the poster here for more details, as well as the link to preorder yummy food from the concession! 

Devices at School:
We understand that many students now carry electronic devices such as phones, and smart watches with them to school on a daily basis for safety reasons. Students are expected to turn off all-non school related devices and store them in their backpacks as soon as they enter school grounds. This includes smart watches with data/wifi. Devices may be turned on again once students have been dismissed. If you need to contact your child during the school day, please phone or e-mail the office, and we will be happy to connect you or pass along a message. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. 

Playground:
Please be reminded that for safety reasons there is no playground access before school. It can be very difficult for staff on supervision to recognize which children are being actively supervised by an adult or older sibling, and which are not. Therefore, we kindly ask that all students wait by their classroom doors until the bell rings. 

Halloween:
Halloween is fast approaching, and with it comes preparations for costumes!

Students are welcome to come to school in costume on October 31st. 

Please be aware of the following guidelines:

• Masks of any kind are not allowed. Face paint may be worn as long as it is not depicting blood and/or gore
• Accessories of any kind such as swords, shields, and wands are not allowed
• Students must be able to sit comfortably in their desks/perform regular school activities, (i.e. no inflatable costumes, please)