You can view current and past newsletters below:
Centennial Message for Families #1
Dear Centennial families,
Welcome back, families! We hope you had a wonderful summer and that your children are rested and ready for an exciting year of learning at Centennial P.S.
I'm excited to welcome our returning students and meet all the new students.
I am looking forward to our work together this year and beyond. Please be sure to say hello and/or to introduce yourself to me if you see me in the school or community.
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Welcome Back:
The entire Centennial P.S. staff are looking forward to welcoming our students back to school on Tuesday September 2nd.
Centennial Public School is a scent-safe environment. To protect staff and students with severe scent allergies, we kindly ask all visitors to refrain from wearing scented products, such as perfumes, colognes, and strongly scented lotions. Your cooperation helps us ensure a safe and healthy space for everyone. Thank you for your understanding.
You are receiving this email if you have a child registered at Centennial P.S for the 2025-2026 school year. As today is our first day our office is open, our system will not yet reflect messages sent over the summer. If your child will no longer be returning to Centennial, please notify the office as soon as possible at centennialps@ocdsb.ca or by calling the school at 613-239-2277.
In this “Family update” (see below), we are providing you with some key information for new families and to help make your child’s first day of school successful. Please take some time to review this message and the links included below. There is a lot of information for families and students.
- Office Hours are 8:00-4:00.
- Class Placements
- How to prepare for the school year
- School Supplies
- Learning Support
- Transportation
- Medical Forms
- Safe Arrival
We will be sending a message about the first day of school tomorrow!
We know the transition back to school, while exciting, can be difficult as everyone adjusts to new routines. Please give your child some time to settle into their new class and schedule.
If you continue to have concerns about how your child is adjusting, please reach out to their educator or the school administration to discuss how we can work together to support them. A great deal of time in September is dedicated to building strong relationships and getting to know our students so we can support them academically, socially, and emotionally. The staff at Centennial looks forward to working in partnership with you to ensure every student thrives.
Looking forward to an amazing school year together!
Your Administration Team,
Julie Derbyshire (in blue) Ingrid Bauer (in grey)
Principal Acting Vice-Principal
2025-2026 OCDSB Elementary School Year Calendar (Click here)
Inclement weather is not welcome on the first day!
We hope for no rain! We do ask that all families have their children dress for the weather as we will maintain first day routines outside.
How to Prepare for the School Year:
- Adjust Bedtime Routines: In the week before school starts, gradually shift your family's bedtime and wake-up times to align with the school schedule. This will help your children feel well-rested and ready to learn.
- Limit Screen Time: Reducing device and TV time now can help ease the adjustment to a more structured school routine.
- Keep it Positive: Your attitude has a big impact! Talk to your children about all the great things to look forward to, like reconnecting with friends and making new ones.
- Prepare for New Classes: It's likely that your child will be in a different class from their friends. Emphasize that this is a great opportunity to meet new students and get to know new educators.
- Visit the School: If your child seems anxious, consider bringing them to play on the school playground. This can help them feel more comfortable in the school environment before the first day.
What to bring to school:
The Most Important Things for Students to Bring to School Each Day are:
*Backpack
*Lunch (morning nutrition break is 10:55-11:15 and second nutrition break is 1:40-2:00)
*Refillable water bottle- LABELED
*Shoes for daily physical activity and physical education
School supplies are voluntary. The school will have supplies available for students.
Please see the proposed list: https://www.ocdsb.ca/elementary/classroom/school_supplies
During the winter months your child should have a second pair of shoes in their bag to avoid tracking dirt and snow into the classroom.
All lunch garbage will be sent home in your student bags each day (we do not have a communal recycle/garbage bin). You may wish to send your child to school with a bag for their garbage.
The Education Foundation has also provided us with a small supply of backpacks/lunch bags for any family who might need one. If you need one please reach out to our Vice-Principal at Ingrid.bauer@ocdsb.ca
or contact the main office.
Our Learning Support Team:
If you have any questions related to your child’s IEP or learning needs, our support team is here to help.
Learning Support Teacher: maria.michalopulos@ocdsb.ca
English as a Second Language: kelly.mahovlich@ocdsb.ca
Transportation (Bus and specialized van)
The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority is responsible for all student transportation to school. If your child is eligible for transportation, you can find your child’s bus stop on the Parent Portal. Please sign up with OSTA for email alerts and cancellation notices. Visit https://www.ottawaschoolbus.ca/ for more information.
There will be no onsite parking for parents. Our north parking lot is for staff arrival and departure and parking. Please plan on parking on side streets in the neighborhood or walk from home.
Medical Forms: This process is now electronic-click here!
Please complete the new OCDSB - PLAN OF CARE FOR STUDENTS if your child has any medical conditions. This one new document covers all previous medical forms required for students at our school and OSTA (bussing- if consent is provided).
This electronic form does not require a doctor's signature. Please remember to "SAVE" at the end of the form once completed. Once the form is saved, a copy of the form will be sent to the school for our records, no paper copy is required.
If we have any questions or concerns in regards to your submission, we will contact you directly.
Safe Arrival/Attendance Reporting Procedures:
Please report your student's late arrival, early pick-up or absence by either calling 613-239-2277 or emailing entennialps@ocdsb.ca
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions that were not answered in the documentation provided, or to discuss a difficult situation related to your child’s education. We will aim to respond as soon as possible. We are here to help!
Centennial Message for Families #2
Class Placements:
An email to families of students in Kindergarten to grade 6 will be sent by 5:00 pm on Friday, August 29th with your child’s homeroom teacher's name. If you do not receive an email, please check your JUNK folder.
A great deal of great care and consideration has gone into the class placement. Decisions have been made based on a number of variables such as: balancing male/female ratio, special programming needs - academic and behavioral considerations, resource support, enrollment, and parent and teacher input, etc. Please note that due to the complex nature of class placements and class size restrictions, we are unable to accommodate request changes to class placements.
First Day of School: Tuesday, September 2nd!
Kindergarten will be dropped off in the kinder yard.
Students in Grades 1-6 will meet their teachers on the main schoolyard (beside the parking area). Staff will be there holding up signs that clearly indicate their class homerooms (please share with your child the teacher's name and the grade they are going into so we can quickly help find their homeroom line).
If you cannot recall which class your child is in there will be staff with clipboards before the entrance to the yard to assist. There will be many staff available to guide your child to their class lineup!
We ask that parents please do not go into the yard with your child(ren). This will add to the confusion as there are already many individuals trying to navigate their way to their new teachers.
Please do not drop your children off more than 15 minutes early as duty teachers will not be on the yards until 8:40 am.
The morning drop-off may take time during the first week, and that is okay! Thank you for your patience.
Take good care.
Your Centennial Admin Team
Julie Derbyshire, Principal (julie.derbyshire@ocdsb.ca)
Ingrid Bauer, Vice-Principal (ingrid.bauer@ocdsb.ca)
Centennial Message to Families #3
Dear Centennial families,
We have had such a wonderful start to our school year today and we are very proud of our students!
It is a true privilege to see our students so quickly settle into Centennial School Routines.
On Thursday, we will have welcome back assemblies for our students in grades 1-6 to introduce our staff and teams and review school information and expectations. We will talk about all the great things that happen in our school! We will include spirit days, clubs and sports teams. Students are encouraged to listen to announcements and staff will also provide reminders to students as opportunities are presented this fall.
We will also include information for specific events on our Centennial P.S. Website.
We will have our first Fire Drill on Monday, September 8th. This first fire drill is always completed mindfully with a focus on routines and safe exit of the building.
We will also be practicing our Centennial Safe Schools Procedures in the coming weeks. In the next 10 days, we will be meeting with students to discuss lockdown procedures. We will let students and staff know when we will have our first lockdown practice.
Homework for Parents and Caregivers:
We need your help! Please visit the OCDSB’s Electronic Forms page and complete the following forms as needed:
- Media/School Website Permission (required for all students)
- Appropriate use of Technology Agreement (required for all students)
- Plan of Care for Students with Life-Threatening Medical Conditions (required only for students with life-threatening medical conditions)
Medical Forms:
Please complete the new OCDSB 963 - PLAN OF CARE FOR STUDENTS if your child has any medical conditions.
This process is now electronic- click here!
This one new document covers all previous medical forms required for students at our school and OSTA (bussing- if consent is provided).
This electronic form does not require a doctor's signature. Please remember to "SAVE" at the end of the form once completed. Once the form is saved, a copy of the form will be sent to the school for our records; no paper copy is required.
If we have any questions or concerns in regards to your submission, we will contact you directly.
Schoolyard Update:
During the school day, the yard is reserved for the school and is off limits to the public. Please remind friends, family, and neighbors, thank you!
In order to ensure a safe environment and optimal supervision, we respectfully ask that community members drop off and not use the playstructure, pavement area and field between 8:40-3:40 on school days. This will help us establish consistency in our school routines.
Parents are not permitted in the school yard after 8:40 AM and until 3:40.
This is for the safety of all students.
*For parent pick-up, please wait on the pathway and outside the gates.
* Please make sure your child is aware of where to find you.
*A reminder to not park in our parking lot. We have lots of students who walk home with their families and cars crowding the streets can create dangerous conditions for them.
Busing and vans this week:
Our bus operators are learning their new routes and it is normal to have late buses at the beginning of the year. Please be patient and check the OSTA website for updates.
School Photos:
October 16, 2025
More details to come about the schedule for classes and students.
Wish you all a wonderful first week of school!
We love working with your children!
Your Centennial Admin Team,
Julie Derbyshire, Principal (julie.derbyshire@ocdsb.ca)
Ingrid Bauer, Acting Vice-Principal (Ingrid.Bauer@ocdsb.ca)
Important Forms for Centennial Families
Dear Parents/Guardians,
At the start of the school year and throughout the year, there will be important forms that the school will ask parents/guardians to sign and hand in.
The following is a list of forms you can access as needed:
Appropriate Use of Technology Agreement
Change of Student's Address and Supporting Documentation (Existing Students Only)
Community Involvement Hours Log Sheet (Student sign-in is required)
Concussion Code of Conduct for Inter-School Sports Parent/Guardian
Cross Boundary Transfer Application (Elementary) (to apply to another OCDSB school that is not their designated school)(must also complete online registration to home school)
Cross Boundary Transfer Application (Secondary) (to apply to another OCDSB school that is not their designated school)(must also complete online registration to home school)
Exemption from Instruction in Human Development and Sexual Health
External Referral Form for Specialized Program Classes (Closed for Submissions for this school year)
Former Employee Change of Personal Information
Handling of Prescribed Medication for Students (Non-Life-Threatening)
Media/School Website Permission Form
Online Learning Graduation Requirement - Opt-Out
Plan of Care for Students with Life-Threatening Medical Conditions