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Holy Trinity High School Parent Newsletter | August 28 2026
Message From the Principal
Good afternoon, Holy Trinity Families;
I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer. We are excited to welcome everyone back to Holy Trinity for the upcoming school year and would like to extend a special welcome to our incoming grade 7 students and any other students who are new to the school. We have all been working very hard to ensure that everything is ready for next Tuesday! Please be reminded that there is a PD Day for staff on Monday, Aug. 31, so the first day for students is Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Our Board's Spiritual Theme this year centers around Nourishing New Beginnings. Every September, and indeed every day is a new beginning for us all. We always have a new opportunity to be the best version of ourselves! We aim to make school a place of nourishment. Yes, we do eat lunch here together, but we are also providing educational opportunities in order to nourish each other's minds and souls. What a gift! We look forward to unpacking this spiritual theme together as a school community throughout the year.
Below you will find some very important information about the school startup, so please read/review each item with your child(ren) carefully. It is a lot of information, but every item is important.
I will prepare a newsletter each week on Friday (with the exception that on weeks where Friday is a PD day or a holiday, there will be no newsletter that week). Today's newsletter is being sent out to all parents/guardians. After this week, this newsletter will only be sent as a general message - which means that only those parents who have indicated that they would like to receive such messages will receive them. Going forward, if you wish to receive this newsletter, please ensure your settings in School Messenger allow for general messages.
Thanks, and have a great weekend!
Cori Pinault
Principal
What to Expect on the First Day of School - Tuesday, September 1st
High school students (Gr. 9 - 12) should report directly to their Period 1 class as indicated on their timetable. If your child is unable to view their schedule online, please direct them to Student Services upon arrival at school on the first day.
Grade 7/8 students - on Monday, Aug. 31, Grade 7 and 8 students will receive an email that will include their homeroom assignment.
Grade 8 Students should report directly to their Period 1 class/homeroom on Tuesday.
Grade 7 students should report to the cafeteria, where they will meet their homeroom teacher, who will bring them to their homeroom class.
From Parent Council
HT Parent Council Meeting and Nominations
Our first Council meeting will be Tuesday, September 15th from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Learning Commons at Holy Trinity. The first part of the meeting will be dedicated to electing the Holy Trinity School Council for 2026-2027. If you would like to be considered for a position on this year’s School Council, please use the following link to complete the form by Sunday, September 13 at 8pm. HT School Council Nominations 2026-2027. All parents and guardians are welcome to attend.
Communication for Parents
Please make sure that you are registered for School Messenger in order to receive ongoing information from the school. Here is the link for Messenger as well as several other important links:
Holy Trinity Catholic High School Website
Safe Arrivals - attendance reporting
Please note that all of the above links are available on the school website.
How to Report Absences with SafeArrival
Transportation
School Board Bus Pass Pickup
Please refer to the OSTA Parent Portal to confirm whether your child qualifies for a bus pass or to find out their yellow bus information. Students who qualify will be able to pick up their Bus Pass during designated times throughout the first week. Times will be announced during the morning announcements. If you have any questions regarding assigned busing or passes, please see THIS LINK for contact information and FAQ’s. Make sure to sign up for the OSTA parent portal for more information.
Student Drop-off / Pick-up
As a reminder, it is important to drop off/pick up students away from the school to minimize traffic congestion in our parking lots. We are asking for students to walk-a-block in the mornings for drop-off and in the afternoons for pick-up. New: Due to the increase in the number of yellow buses servicing Holy Trinity, the side parking lot (where yellow buses line up) will NOT be available for parents picking up students after school between 1:45 and 2:30 pm. Again, we strongly encourage students to “walk a block”. Continuing from last year, the front laneway of the school will be unavailable for parent vehicles from 7:45 am - 8:05 am and from 1:45 - 2:30 pm in order to ensure safety for all.
Student Fees
Every year, we ask families to pay a student fee. This fee helps subsidize financial costs associated with school activities. This year’s student fee is $35.00. A student fee for families with one student is $35.00 . The student fee for families with two students is $70.00. For each additional student in the family, the fee will increase by $15.00. For example, the fee for three students will be $85.00. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Life Threatening Medical Conditions
We require the collection of medical documentation from some families. Information on this can be found by clicking HERE. Please note: If your child/children has a serious medical condition (asthma, life-threatening allergy, diabetes, epilepsy/seizures, concussion/head injury) you will need to inform the school using the Life-Threatening Medical Condition Verification Form AS WELL AS the appropriate condition-specific Plan of Care form.
IMPORTANT: If the Plan of Care form has been previously submitted and there are no changes, please complete the Plan of Care Annual Review Sheet.
Lastly, please ensure all forms have been signed and dated. All forms can be returned to: holytrinity.high@ocsb.ca
Technology
Student Use of Technology - Chromebooks
Holy Trinity is a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) school. Parents are encouraged to purchase their child a Chromebook or laptop to support their child’s learning. For students who are unable to bring their own device, Holy Trinity has a Chromebook Sign-Out Program. Grade 7-12 students may sign out a Chromebook and charger for the school year by completing a request form, which can be obtained at the Learning Commons (LC). The form must be signed by a parent/guardian before a Chromebook will be issued. Students are expected to take excellent care of any loaned devices. Please note: If a Chromebook is lost or damaged, a replacement cost will be charged.
Student Use of Technology - Cell Phones
Students in Grades 7-10 are NOT permitted to have cell phones with them during class time. Cell phones should be secured in student lockers. Grade 11 and 12 students may have cell phones with them in class as long as they are “out of sight”. Students will follow teacher direction in the classroom regarding use of personal cell phones on occasion for educational purposes.
Lockers
All students must use a locker, as backpacks and outerwear are not permitted in the classrooms for safety reasons. Locker assignments will be available through my.studentinfo.ca at the end of the day on Monday, August 31st. Please verify if your locker number starts with the letter A Example: A123 your locker is in the new wing. my.studentInfo.ca will have a detailed description of your locker location. Students are expected to have a combination lock and save their combination on
my.studentinfo on the first day of school. Locks are available to purchase in the main office for $8, if needed.
Student Services Updates
Student Timetable Change Requests
We are still working on student timetables as we continue to register new students and hire staff. At this time, student timetables are still in flux and are not finalized. Changes can and will occur up until the morning of the first day of school (Tuesday, September 1). As in previous years, students should view their schedule in my.studentinfo.ca on the morning of September 1st for their final timetable.
Course Change Requests
All course change requests must be done through my.studentinfo.ca. Please do not email course change requests. Priority will be given to grade 11 and 12 students, especially those who have missed a prerequisite, need a change based on summer school, or need a level or pathway change. The deadline to request any course changes is Monday, September 14th, 2026. Please note that due to schedule constraints, students in grades 9 and 10 are not able to make elective changes, as was indicated at course selection time.
All change requests are subject to availability. Many courses are already full and some even have waitlists. Change requests may not be possible. Please ensure students indicate which course they would like to drop and which they would like to add. A digital parent signature is required. All changes will be reflected in my.studentinfo.ca.
Please remember that students must attend the classes on their schedule until an official course change has been made and a new timetable has been provided by a guidance counsellor.
This year’s Guidance Team will be assigned to students as follows:
Guidance Counsellors:
Pamela Ford - Last name starting with A - C
Sean Smyth - Last name starting with D - J
Michael McSheffrey - Last name starting with K - M
Emily Sauve - Last name starting with N - Q
Stephanie Goodwin - Last name starting with R - Z
France & Belgium Commemorative Vimy Trip
For current Gr. 10 - 12 students*
It is not too late to register for the 2027 Commemorative Trip to France & Belgium. In April 2027, Holy Trinity staff and students will be travelling to France and Belgium, where they will participate in the 110th Vimy Ridge Commemoration Ceremony, visiting Paris, Normandy and Belgium. This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip! Spaces are limited. Please see THIS POSTER, which contains information and the application form (QR CODE) or pick up an application in person (N213 or N205).
7/8 Phys Ed Dept Updates
The 7/8 Phys Ed dept is offering many sports, Athletics, and Intramural Activities this school year. Please invite your 7/8 student to check out and save THIS PAGE to see what is upcoming at Trinity!
E-Scooter Safety Reminders from Ottawa Police
We anticipate seeing more students using e-scooters. Ottawa Police Services hav issued a few timely reminders:
Age and Helmets: Riders must be at least 16 years old. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet.
Stay Off Sidewalks: E-scooters belong in bike lanes or on the shoulder of the road. Riding on the sidewalk carries a $150 fine.
No Passengers: E-scooters are designed for a single rider only.
Required Equipment: Scooters must be equipped with a bell or horn, as well as a white front light and a red rear light.
Full Attention: The same rules for distracted and impaired driving apply to e-scooters.
For our driving parents: Remember to slow down, provide a 1-metre distance when passing e-scooters, and be extra watchful in our busy school zones.
For more information, you can visit the City of Ottawa e-scooters web page.
Volunteer Opportunities for Students
Volunteer Ottawa aims to guide youth through the volunteering process with these free resources. As a high school student, it is important to understand where to look for an opportunity and the proper steps to take. Browse these resources to get started!
IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships: The IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships are coming to Ottawa in September and a lot of volunteers are needed to make this event a success.
Earth Rangers Teens: The ER Teens program is open to youth ages 13-18 and offers flexible, real-world ways to take environmental action. Participants complete hands-on projects at home, at school, or within their community, building leadership skills while making a positive local impact. Access more information
Important Dates
Aug. 31 - PD Day (No School)
Sept. 1 - 1st Day of the new school year (Tuesday)
Sept. 7 - Labour Day (No School)
Sept. 9 - School Photo Day (Grades 7, 8, High School Last names A - F)
Sept. 10 - School Photo Day (High School G - Z)
Sept. 15 - Parent Council Meeting (7 pm- 8:30 pm)
Sept. 17 - Meet the Teacher Event (4:00pm - 5:30 pm)
Sept. 30 - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day)
Oct. 2 - PD Day (No School)
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