Grade 7/8 Excursion - Ottawa 67s

Our Grade 7/8  67s Game Day activity is on October 28th! Please ensure your child brings a packed lunch or cash/card to purchase food at TD Place Arena. We look forward to an amazing day cheering on our local team and making great memories with friends! 

Upcoming Civics Exam Notice (CHV2O / CHV2OF)

Students currently enrolled in Grade 10 Civics and Citizenship (CHV2O) or Civisme et citoyenneté (CHV2OF) will be writing their course exam in November. To allow ample time and a comfortable testing environment, the exam will take place during regular class time over two days: Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3.

Student attendance on both exam days is crucial for accurate evaluation. Please help your child arrive on time and ready to succeed. For questions regarding class-specific review materials or expectations, please contact their Civics teacher. 

Coffee House

Does your child love to perform? Students in Grades 9–12 are invited to audition for this year’s Coffee House! This is a wonderful opportunity for students to share their talents, whether it’s singing, playing in a band, performing on an instrument, dancing, acrobatics, spoken word, comedy, drama, magic, or something else entirely.

Auditions will take place at lunch in the Music Room on Monday, November 2, Tuesday, November 3, and Wednesday, November 4.

We look forward to seeing the many talents of our students shine at this year’s Coffee House!

Grad Photos

Attention graduates. Edge Imaging will be here from Nov 23rd to Nov 27th to take graduation photos! Don’t miss out on your opportunity to be featured in the class composite and leave your legacy in the hallways of the school for years to come. 

To book an appointment go to bookmygrad.ca, select “Book graduation photos at your school”, and use the school code FXH.  

• Even if you don't want to purchase grad photos, you should book a FREE appointment for a yearbook-only photo.

• Students should dress semi-formally, and if they are wearing a button-down shirt, white is suggested.

• Book early as appointment time slots fill up quickly! 

Not sure what to expect from your grad sitting? Check out this video!

Getting Started With Scholarships, Bursaries, Awards and Financial Aid: Helpful Tips for Grads and Their Parents/Guardians

Are you exploring how to finance your post-secondary education? Navigating the vast landscape of scholarships, bursaries, and awards can feel overwhelming, and understanding how student loans work is just as critical.

To help with this process check out this handy guide: Getting Started With Scholarships, Bursaries, Awards and Financial Aid. It breaks down the basics of what you need to know about these topics and provides some helpful tips for success.

Catholic School Council

Our October meeting for Catholic School Council will take place on Monday, October 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM.  Please use this Google Meet Link to join the meeting. All parents/guardians are welcome.

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) will take place this fall. Please note the following important dates for students who are writing the test:

Grade 10 students: Students currently enrolled in an English class in Semester 1 will write the OSSLT on one of the days between November 9–12, 2026.

Grade 11 & 12 students: Students who have not yet successfully completed the OSSLT will write on Friday, November 13, 2026.

Additional information and OSSLT preparation resources are available HERE.

October’s Monthly CSPA meeting 

• will take place on Wed, Oct 28th at the OCSB Board Office beginning at 7PM. Learn about the practitioner services offered by the Special Education and Student Services Department and discuss effective use of School Council agenda templates and a month-by-month to-do list. Register HERE.

• Careers Beyond the Screen: The Apprenticeship Pathway in an AI World - A Parent Evening, with award-winning employment researcher Dr. Jon Callegher, is taking place on Wed, Nov 4th, at St Pius X High School beginning at 6:30PM. Register HERE.

Student Fees & Yearbook 2026–2027

Student fees support student programming and include the cost of the yearbook.

• 1 student: $65 (includes 1 yearbook)

• 2 students: $115 (includes 2 yearbooks)

• 3 students: $155 (includes 3 yearbooks)

Please pay via School Cash Online . Yearbooks are included in the student fee and won’t be sold separately later.

A Thoughtful Approach to Halloween Costumes

With Halloween just around the corner, many families are beginning the search for the perfect costume. While it can be tempting to let children dress up as anything they wish, it’s important to take a moment to consider whether a costume is culturally sensitive and appropriate.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, cultural appropriation is “the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect the culture.”

Halloween is meant to be a fun and creative celebration. With a little guidance, parents can help their child(ren) choose a costume that shows imagination while also respecting all cultures and communities. Taking a proactive and thoughtful approach ensures that everyone feels comfortable, valued, and included so that Halloween remains a fun and positive event for all of our students.

Communicating Absences

St. Francis Xavier now uses SafeArrival, an attendance management system that makes it faster and easier for parents/guardians to report student absences or late arrivals. Instead of contacting the school, you can now report absences securely in one of three ways:

• SM Home App – Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play

• Online – Visit home.schoolmessenger.ca - link now embedded on the school website

• Phone – Call 1-844-478-2598

Parish Updates