2025-08-27 

Dear Parents / Guardians,

Our entire staff would like to take this opportunity to wish a warm welcome to all new and returning families.  

Special thanks to our custodial staff who have worked diligently to rejuvenate the school, our office staff for handling summer registrations, database entries, and school orders that have come in over the summer, and the rest of our educators for the work they are doing to prepare their classrooms for the new school year.  We are all looking forward to meeting your children for another great year of learning and working with you, our parents.

When arriving at school, students should go to the back of the school.  Staff will be present to help students join their new class and meet their new classmates and teachers.  Our school day is from 7:55 am - 2:25 pm.  

Cellphones and other mobile devices can cause major distractions in the classroom and disrupt student learning. As we are a Grade 6,7,8 school, personal mobile devices are not allowed to be used during the school instructional day. This includes during recess and nutrition breaks.  

Thankfully, at present, we have no school buses on the long term cancellation list.  OSTA’s Parent Portal is now open. Parents/guardians can login and review their child(ren)’s 2025- 2026 transportation information. Parents/guardians are reminded to check the Parent Portal regularly to confirm the route’s status, keeping in mind that OSTA continues to make route adjustments for efficiency and coverage. For help using the Parent Portal, please direct families to OSTA’s Parent Portal guide. Those who create an account in the Parent Portal are automatically subscribed to OSTA’s email list. This is a great way to stay up-to-date on what’s happening with student transportation.

We have been notified by Ottawa Public Health that The grade 7 vaccination clinic will be arriving at GMS very quickly.  OPH will hold their clinic here at GMS on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.  

For more information, please click here.  If you have any questions regarding the immunizations, you can visit www.ParentingInOttawa.ca/immunization. For additional questions, you can call Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 to speak to a nurse.

At GMS, we strive to create a safe and healthy environment for all students. We have a growing number of students who have life threatening allergies to different foods. For some students, severe and potentially fatal allergic reactions can be triggered by their touch and smell of peanut based products. We make every attempt to minimize allergic reactions. Nut allergies are more prevalent in our school, so we request that parents refrain from sending peanuts and nut products to school. Teachers will communicate with families if there are additional life threatening allergies in the classroom. We rely on and greatly appreciate the cooperation and support of our families in keeping our classrooms and school safe and healthy environments. If your child has a life threatening allergy, diabetes, seizures, asthma or other medical condition please complete the Plan of Care  medical form in advance of sending in any inhalers / epipens.

If your child will be late or absent, please complete Safe Arrival Program form - To report an absence or a late arrival (e.g., Doctor’s appointment)

In order to assist us with a smooth startup, we also ask that families complete the following forms.   

Media/School Website Permission Form 

Appropriate Use of Technology Form

We are excited about another great year at GMS and look forward to seeing your children Tuesday, September 2nd.  

Sincerely,

Hanif Jamal, Principal, Goulbourn Middle School

Upcoming Important Dates:

First Day of School: Tuesday, September 2, 2025

School photos - September 22nd

Meet the Staff - Thursday, September 25th 

PD Day: Monday, September 29, 2024 (No School for Students)

Grade 7 Vaccination Clinic: Tuesday, October 7, 2025.