News & Information

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DA cares about people outside of our community
In January DA Moodie students, staff and volunteers collected $918.43 for the people of Haiti.  This money was donated to the Red Cross as part of the Ottawa-Carleton District's group donation.  Thank you to Heather Swafford and her dynamic World Care students for the innovative ways they used to fundraise!  We also collected 150 pair of shoes for Haiti in a one day blitz through the Soft Moc donation program.  Thank you DA for demonstrating your empathy!

Ultra Play Program offered Mondays and Fridays after school
With spring weather comes more social time outdoors for our teens from our 2:20 p.m. final bell until they arrive home.  Do you know what your child is doing right after school?

Through our Active and Healthy Schools partnership with Ottawa Public Health, we are pleased to be offering the Ultra Play Program on Monday for boys and Friday for girls from 2:30 until 4:00 p.m.  Parents are responsible for transportation for their children at 4 p.m.  Sports such as handball, basketball, ultimate frisbee and soccer are offered from March 1 until April 9.  This program is run by the City of Ottawa with contributions from the Canadian Tire Jump Start Program.  We still have room for more students on both days.  Please send your child to the office for a permission form if you are interested in this very worthwhile activity.

Healthy Snack Program could still use more support
We continue to run our Healthy Snack Program during first recess every day for children who do not have a healthy snack.  Typically, over 200 of our 400 students drop in every day.  Thanks to our breakfast monitor, Susan Molson, volunteers Eleanor Smiley and Sabah Haibeh, our student volunteers, and our volunteer shopper-extraordinare, Catherine Fortin, we are known as running the best snack program in the city!  Regularly, school administrators ask to come and view this program when they planning to set one up in their own schools.

We have received a grant from the Breakfast for Learning Program, but we could still use more support to offset the costs.  If you are interested in making a donation to our Healthy Snack Program please send that in with your child at your earliest convenience.  Cheques should be made payable to D. Aubrey Moodie Intermediate School.  Donations of over $20 will receive a receipt from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board for income tax purposes.  

Students involved in character building activities
January has been a very busy month here at D. Aubrey Moodie.  The students and staff were engaged in numerous character building activities outside of the classrooms.  Clearly, character education has high priority in every room, and in all aspects of our school community.  The character attribute focus for January was Integrity.  We are encouraged and expected to stand up for what is right even when it is hard.  We honour our word.

OCDSB Adopts New Cross Boundary Transfer Policy
At a Special Meeting of the Board on 5 January 2010, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board adopted a new cross boundary transfer policy. This policy comes after months of policy review, public consultation and committee deliberation.

September, 2010 later start time would "improve student learning"
November 4, 2009—Principal Heather Graham announced today that D.A. Moodie's school hours could be from 9:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. starting September, 2010. In addition to a favourable response from 85% of D.A. staff and up to 71% of parents, Ms. Graham said that the benchmark  used for this decision is: "Will a later start time improve student learning and/or student safety? It is actually the benchmark that I use for all decision making in school," she added.
>EMC News—D. A. Moodie principal urges later start time

Ontario drops fall report cards in elementary schools
Ontario will stop issuing fall report cards to elementary school pupils starting next year. Teachers in Ontario have pushed for years to get rid of the report cards, which are usually issued in late October or early November, saying they come too soon after the start of the school year.

Our October Community of Character Recipients
Although our October character attribute focus was Cooperation, the teachers at D. Aubrey continue to embed all of the OCDSB Character Traits in our students on a daily basis and especially during those teachable moments. Rewards given out included Ottawa 67’s tickets and T-Shirts donated by EB Games. Thank you parents for your continued support as we partner to develop positive character attributes in our students.
Grade 6: Rhys W., 6C
Grade 7: Marika M., 7D, Siham T., Samantha A., Samantha M., Mustafa B. 7C
Grade 8: George G., 8B, Brigitte K., 8C, Mac C., 8A

characterA Community of Character
The following OCDSB attributes are displayed around our school, and can also be found on the back of our student agenda.  They are: Acceptance, Appreciation, Cooperation, Empathy, Fairness, Integrity, Optimism, Perseverance, Respect and Responsibility.
November's theme is ACCEPTANCE: I reach out to include others. I accept others for who they are. I am gentle with myself and others when mistakes are made.
>Read more


Homework Club
Homework Club will be starting again.  It will take place most days in the library.  Students from all grades are encouraged to attend if they are having difficulties, want to receive additional help or simply wish to do homework.

finish_line_waving_md_clrMoodie Cross Country
In windy, cold and driving rain, the Moodie Cross Country team gave an impressive showing at the Board finals on October 16.  Semir N. came 19th in a fast field of close to one hundred runners in the boys’ 13 year old category.  Excellent showings were also given by Skye VD, Alana D. in the girls’ races and Masqsud I. who came 24th in the 12 year old boys’ race.  Thanks to Mrs. Ross for her help this season and Mr. Derouin for his assistance at the races.  

Remembrance Day Ceremony
On Wednesday, November 11 at 9:00 am, D. Aubrey Moodie will be hosting a Remembrance Day Assembly to honour those who have and are currently serving our country.  Family and friends are invited to join us on this day to help remember and thank the soldiers for everything they have and are doing for us.

The Scholastic Book Fair
Book Fair Dates
December 1, 2  8:00 am to 2:30 pm
December 3  4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school December 1, 2 and 3rd.  All classes will have an opportunity to visit the fair during class time to purchase books.  We will also be hosting a family event during Parent/Teacher Interviews on the evening of Thursday, December 3 between 4:30 and 7:30 pm.  By purchasing books and supporting the book fair, you enable our school to obtain new resources for our school and classroom libraries.  Thank you for your support.
Christine Power, Library Technician


The Snowsuit Fund
Ottawa winters can be bitter.  Without proper winter clothing, the chill can be unforgiving.  If you know of a child aged 15 and younger that is in need of warm winter clothing, please contact the Snowsuit Fund directly at (613)746-5143, or on the web, www.snowsuitfund.com.  Our school contact is Heather Swafford if you would like further information.

Watch for our school fundraising events which will support this amazing community organization!  To date, we have raised $350.  

D. Aubrey Moodie Middle School has Spirit and Enthusiasm

DA-Moodie-Sept09
Students, staff, and the D. Aubrey Moodie Middle School community began the new school year with a week of team building challenges and activities. The themes of Respect, Relationships, and Organization were highlighted through literacy workshops, class banners, survival challenges, and activities. The school is filled with community spirit and enthusiasm, helping students transition to middle school, into leadership roles, and develop strong character values. Well done!
>See OCDSB website

Student Fees and Cheques
The cost of the student agenda is $5.00. The fee is not compulsory, however, your support in paying this amount will enable us to cover the cost of the agendas. Instrumental music students will have music books provided free of charge. Students will however, need to pay for damaged or lost books. Payments made by cheque should be made payable to D.A. Moodie Intermediate School. Please print your child’s name and homeroom on the back of the cheque. Thank you for your support.


Help Us Create Some Beautiful Gardens
Preparing your gardens for fall?  Are you planting flower bulbs for the spring?  Consider donating a couple flower blubs to D.A. Moodie so that we can perk up our gardens as well.  Students can begin to bring in their bulbs immediately and they will be planted before the first snowfall.  Any support would be appreciated.  A beautifully planted garden this fall will be a welcomed surprise in the spring.  Thank you.  Heather Swafford.


Drawstring Safety
We would like to remind parents that, drawstrings on jackets, sweatshirts and other clothing items pose a danger to your child.  Drawstrings can become snagged on school bus handrails or doors, on playground equipment, on escalators.  Incidents of snagged drawstrings or toggles have resulted in injuries and even deaths.  We do not want this to happen to any of our children.  We urge you to inspect all of your children's clothing and eliminate these hazards wherever possible.  The simplest solution is to remove all drawstrings from clothing. 

Parent Volunteers
D.A. Moodie is looking for volunteers.  If you have some spare time and would like to contribute to making D.A. Moodie a great place to be, give the school a call.  You can speak with our Vice Principal, Caretta Williams about a spot for you.

Math Tutoring and Homework Club
As in the past, D.A. Moodie will be offering Math tutoring and Math Homework Club.  This is open to all students who are experiencing any difficulty in Math.  Whether you are having trouble in your daily homework or preparing for a test, Math tutoring can help.  As the dates and times will vary weekly, an announcement will be made ahead of time in order that students may come prepared.

Moodie Milk Program 
We are pleased to once again be offering students the opportunity to participate in our Moodie Milk Program this year.  The program supplies students with either cold 2% white milk or cold 1% chocolate milk every day during lunch.  All cartons are 250mL. 

In order to minimize the administrative process required with the ordering of milk, the year will be divided into three terms with approximately three months in each term.  Orders will be collected at the beginning of each milk term, with the first term commencing on Monday October 5 and running until Friday December 18 inclusive.  The cost of milk includes 3 free cartons, therefore no refund will be made for days missed due to absences or field trips.

Orders for term one were due on October 1.  Second term orders will be sent home either in late December or early January. 

Library Donations
If you have any gently used books (fiction or non-fiction) you would like to donate to our school library, we would be happy to add them to our collection.  The books should be age-appropriate and published within the last ten years.  We are continually striving to improve the library collection for the students at D.A. Moodie.  If you have any questions, please contact the Library Technician, Christine Power

Multicultural Liaison Officer Program 
The Multicultural Liaison Officer Program is a program run by Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization (OCISO) in schools to provide support to newcomer parents and students.
>Read more


Medical Forms now available on our website
Various OCDSB official Medical Forms and the "Protocol for Creating Safe and Healthy Schools for Anaphylactic Students" are now available in two versions: either PDF (for completion by hand) or Microsoft Word (for completion on computer).

>View forms



Important information about the H1N1 Flu virus
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has been working closely with Ottawa Public Health and other provincial agencies since the onset of the H1N1 virus in North America, and more specifically, in Ottawa.  This collaboration has given the district the ability to provide the most up-to-date information for schools and their communities in terms of the local situation and also the latest advice for managing the potential infection risk in schools.
>Read more


Parking Lot courtesy
The student drop off zone is at the back of the lot.  Please use this drop off lane when you are bringing your child to school.  You are asked to drive your car around the corner of the drop off zone before your child gets out of the car.  Your child must exit and enter on the passenger side and get out/in on the sidewalk for reasons of safety.  We would appreciate your co-operation by respecting the following guidelines:

cars•Do not park in the drop off lane.
•Drive through the lot slowly 
•Students are not permitted to be in the parking lot unless accompanied by an adult.
•Please follow the direction arrows painted on the parking lot.
•DO NOT USE THE BUS BAY TO TURN AROUND.

Students who walk to school will be directed to follow the path along the north side of the lot and will not cross at the parking lot entrance.  Please take your time in the parking lot as our children’s safety depends on you.

Links to science resources now on our website 

Resources that support D.A. Moodie's science program have been included on our updated Resources page. Of particular interest to parents and students is the link to ScienceSource.ca  (Pearson Education website to support Investigating Science and Technology 7 and 8 textbooks used at D.A. Moodie). Be sure to check it out!


Check out our Archived News page for past stories

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