Principal Weekly Message - Sept 5th, 2025
September 5, 2025.
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We’ve had a terrific first week of school. Special thanks to all of our staff for their hard work in preparing for the new year and our students for doing a wonderful job with returning to learning. Special thanks also to all of you for making sure your children are going to bed at a reasonable hour so that they are ready to learn.
New Staff
We have a number of wonderful new and returning staff that have joined us this year. They bring with them a wealth of experience and we are happy to have them on the GMS team!
Mr. Cole - Grade ⅞ Class
Mr. Beach - Grade 8 Class
Mrs. Montiel - Arts/Physed
Mrs. Helmer - Grade 6
Meet-the-Staff-Night
Our Meet-the-Staff Session will be held on Thursday, September 25th from 4:30-6:30 pm. We encourage you to come meet your child’s educators on this date. This will give us the opportunity to meet your child(ren)'s teacher and learn about what to expect for the year. It also gives us the opportunity to learn more about your child(ren). If you have information about your child(ren) that you want to share, we ask that you provide the teacher a note or an email so that we can maintain your child's privacy during the event.
Drop off & Pickup
At GMS we are working hard to keep everyone safe. If you are dropping off your child in the morning or picking them up at the end of the day, please wait for busses and vans to clear and for a staff member to direct you to come into the school property once it is safe to do so.
Please note that as the speed limit on Huntley Road. Students can not be dropped off or picked up from Huntley Road. Thank you in advance for helping us keep our students safe.
Electronic Forms that Need to Be Completed
Please complete the following electronic forms to assist us with a smooth startup:
Media/School Website Permission Form
Appropriate Use of Technology Form
Student Medical Concerns
The OCDSB Plan of Care form is used to share information with the school regarding a variety of life-threatening medical conditions such as anaphylactic allergies, diabetes, seizures, asthma, and other conditions. This information is collected annually. If your child has any medical condition, we ask that you please complete the electronic form attached below at your earliest convenience, so that we may provide appropriate care at school.
Reporting a student’s absence
Safe Arrival is OCDSB's student absence management system. This SchoolMessenger system allows parents/guardians to use a mobile app, a website, or an interactive toll-free phone line to report a student’s absence in advance. It enhances student safety, verifies absences in a timely manner, and improves notification time with parents and caregivers.
Instructions on using the Safe Arrival system can be found here
OPH Immunization Clinic
Ottawa Public Health will be holding their first immunization clinic at GMS on Tuesday, October 7th, 2025.
For more information, please click here. If you have any questions regarding the immunizations, you can visit www.ParentingInOttawa.ca/
Upcoming Events:
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Tuesday, September 16th @ 6:30 pm
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September 17th (6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.): OCDSB Speaker Series – Executive Function Skills: Why They Matter for Mental Wellness, and How to Support Them with Dr. Michael Cheng
Resources:
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2025-2026 Elementary School Year Calendars
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Mental Health in Action: Tip sheets, videos, community and crisis resources, and more.
A Message from our Goulbourn Middle School Parent Council.
Dear Goulbourn Middle School Families,
On behalf of the Goulbourn Middle School Parent Council, we would like to warmly welcome you to a new school year!
Lunch program ordering starts September 15th on school cash online. Please see attached infographics for specific information such as dates and costs associated with the program. Thank you in advance for supporting school council!
School Council is a great way to get involved in our school community, connect with other families and support the learning and well-being of our students. Whether you are new to GMS or returning for another year, we invite you to consider joining us in shaping and supporting the wonderful experiences that make our school thrive.
First School Council Meeting
Date: Tuesday, September 16th, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: GMS Library (with a virtual option available for those who can't attend in person)
Everyone is welcome - whether you’d like to take an active role on council or simply attend to learn more. Your ideas, voice and support make a difference in our little school. We will also be holding elections on this evening.
We look forward to seeing you there and working together to make this a great year for our students!
- Megan Townsend & Victoria Marton co-chairs Goulbourn Middle School Parent Council