National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Wednesday, September 30

Wednesday, September 30, marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day. It is a day to honour the children who never returned home from residential schools, as well as Survivors, their families, and their communities.

In addition to the learning taking place in classrooms, St Francis Xavier will recognize the day in the following ways:

• All homerooms will participate in a school-wide visual display. Students will create orange shirt templates featuring their own reflections, which will be displayed throughout the school.

• All students are encouraged to wear orange in recognition of the message that Every Child Matters.

• No assessments will take place on September 30, providing students and families with the opportunity to participate in events and activities marking this important day.

We invite families to continue these conversations at home as we work together to deepen our understanding of the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools and our shared responsibility for truth and reconciliation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: EUROPE TRIP- PORTUGAL AND SPAIN SPRING 2027

If you have paid the $150 deposit to the school for the Europe Trip taking place in Spring 2027 and would like your child to participate, please be aware that the deadline to register and guarantee the quoted price is Wednesday, September 30.

At this time, families should complete the booking directly with the tour company using the link and tour code provided below.

For anyone with last-minute questions, we will host a brief Google Meet on Tuesday, September 29 at 5:00 p.m. You are welcome to join if you need any clarification before completing your registration.

GOOGLE MEET LINK-TUESDAY SEPT 29 at 5 pm

TRAVEL COMPANY SITE: OUR REGISTRATION CODE IS: ECFWHJU

Coyote Canned Food Drive!

The Coyote Canned Food Drive brings our school community together to help local organizations provide for individuals and families in need. Through this initiative, our students are putting their faith into action by learning the importance of compassion, service, and generosity while responding to the needs in our community. We need your help to make this drive a success! This year we will be supporting the following local organizations: Bethany Hope Centre; Shepherds of Good Hope; Hope Cornerstone; St. Joe's Women's Centre; Odawa Native Friendship Centre; The Community Table; CHEO; Youville; BGC Ottawa. Every donation, big or small, can make a difference to nourish new beginnings! 

Help for Gr. 12 Students Planning Their Grad Year

The following information was shared with our Gr. 12 students this week:

College and University Applications

Applications for Ontario Universities will open on Sept. 17th, and for Ontario Colleges on September 26th. First and foremost, you do not need to feel stressed to apply at this moment. You have time; do not rush your decisions. The equal consideration deadline for Ontario universities is not until January 15th, and for colleges it is February 1st. The most important things you can do right now are to research your options, visit open houses and talk to representatives when they visit our school. The application process is very quick and user-friendly once you have made your program decisions.

These two slide decks will help answer some of your application questions:

How to Apply to University

How to Apply to College

There will also be some upcoming help sessions at lunch, starting the week of September 28th. Please check the announcements for the dates and times next week.

Grad Year Checklist

Do you want some help organizing yourself for your grad year? Use this handy checklist.

Grads Website

Your one-stop for many of the answers to your grad year questions is the StFX Grads Website: stfxgrads.com.

Getting Help

If you have questions or need help, make an appointment with your Guidance Counsellor through my.studentinfo.ca. 

St. Francis Xavier Catholic School Council

We invite parents and guardians to get involved with our School Council for 2026–2027. School Council is a great opportunity to connect with other families, share ideas, and help support our students and school community.

All parents and guardians are welcome to attend and participate in School Council meetings, whether or not they serve in an elected position.

Our first meeting will be held virtually on September 28, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Please join us by using the following link: Catholic School Council Meeting.

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.

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