Dear Fallingbrook families,

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! The staff at Fallingbrook hope that you and your family enjoyed the summer holidays, and we look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday!

There has been a lot of construction over the past month, and we’re very pleased with the progress. The new asphalt is done, our air conditioned portables are ready to go, and the construction on the structural beams of the main building will begin very soon. If everything progresses the way it is supposed to, all classes should be back in the building in a few months. There are construction fences that were built today at both ends of the school to ensure everyone’s safety. There is another fenced off area near the hockey rink where machinery will be kept, and students will not have access to this area of the school. 

We would like to thank our educators who are working very hard getting their classrooms ready for the first day of school. Our custodial staff is to be commended for their work with the changes; as well as our office staff, Ms. Tammy and Ms. Stavroula, for getting everything ready for our opening.

Last year’s motto was ‘Falcons never give up!’ and we showed amazing resilience and persistence. This year our motto is ‘Stay Positive and Good Things Will Happen’. We know that staying positive can lead to better mental and physical health, improved coping skills, increased productivity, and even a more fulfilling life! While positive thinking alone doesn't guarantee specific outcomes, it can influence how you approach challenges and opportunities, leading to more positive experiences. 

Our staff is here to provide support for every family in our school community. Please reach out if we can help in any way. You can give us a call (613-830-8817) or email jeremy.nowiski@ocdsb.ca and/or michelle.minogue@ocdsb.ca. 

We thank you in advance for your ongoing support, and look forward to working with you to make this an amazing year for your child(ren).

Sincerely,

Jeremy Nowiski (Principal)

Michelle Minogue (Vice-Principal)

Important Information and Updates:

First Day of School: 

• Supervision begins daily on the yard at 9:00AM. 
• The school day starts at 9:15 AM and ends at 3:45 PM. 
• Kindergarten students will go directly to the Kindergarten yard at the front of the school by the flagpole and main entrance to the building. 
• Grade 1-3 students will go to the primary yard with the play structure adjacent to Princess Louise Drive. 
• Grade 4-8 students will head to the back of the school. 
• Primary and Junior students will be dismissed from the primary yard

Medical Conditions: If your child has any medical concerns which the school needs to be aware of, we’re asking you to fill out the Plan of care for medical conditions form as soon as possible.

Classroom Locations and Entrance to Building:

• Grade 1-3 French Immersion classes are in portables closest to Princess Louise Drive and will use the entrance in the primary yard to go to the washroom and/or fill up their water bottles.
• The primary English class is in the building.
• Grade 4-6 portables are at the back of the school and will use the library door at the back of the building to enter the school.
• Intermediate classes are in the building.
• Kindergarten classes are in the building

Transportation and Vehicle Traffic: 

• If you are dropping off your child by car, there is a loop at the front of the school. The ‘Kiss and Ride’ is where the pylons are and it’s an opportunity for you to quickly drop off your child. We remind you to drive and or park carefully, respecting the cones and flow of traffic. 
• The bus will drop off and pick-up at the front of the school. 
• Students riding bikes must wear a helmet and lock up their bike at one of the bike racks located by the rink. 
• We always encourage parents to talk about walking safely to and from school, and that they walk with an adult or friends.  

Absences: Please report your child's absence by either calling 1-833-202-1417, using the School Messenger App or going to the website go.schoolmessenger.ca. Please use this document to assist you with this new system. School Messenger & New Safe Arrival System-Reporting An Absence

Student Fee: We will be requesting a $20 student fee (paid online at ocdsb.schoolcashonline.com) to offset costs associated with extracurricular activities, special events, field trips, transportation and resources.

Back to School Routines: This week is a good time to consider gradually shifting bedtimes and wake up times, reducing screen time, and ensuring mealtimes are happening at predictable times. All these things can help build important routines to prepare for back to school. 

Boomerang Lunches: This year, all schools in Ottawa will be doing "Boomerang Lunches," which means all lunch waste will be sent back home. You might want to consider sending a small reusable container for any leftover food or wrappers.

Cell Phones and Electronic Devices: Students should keep all personal mobile devices (cell phones / smart watches) at home so that they do not get lost, broken or possibly stolen.

School Supplies: The OCDSB’s voluntary list of school supplies can be found HERE. Please ensure that your child has a regular sized backpack, a pair of indoor and outdoor running shoes, a reusable water bottle, and a lunch bag. Please label all your child’s belongings.

Nut Free: For the safety of many students, we are a nut free school.

Meet the Staff: September 24th from 6-7 PM

Picture Day: October 17

Mandatory Online Forms:

Appropriate Use of Technology

Media/School Website Permission Form

Outdoor Education- use of adjacent property at Fallingbrook Community Elementary School