The Future of Churchill Alternative School

Churchill Alternative School is undergoing big changes in September and the parents are asking residents in Champlain Park for their support.

The Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) is phasing out the Alternative program and will not be accepting any JK students this fall at Churchill. The board also states that dual track programs like French Immersion and English With Core French will not be offered.
The school council asked the board to reconsider and offer French Immersion.

Parents are also concerned that given all the changes, Churchill school could close in the future.

There are of course broader concerns about the impact all this could have on neighbouring schools in this area – especially those that are at capacity.

Enclosed are letters from both the OCDSB and the Churchill school council explaining each’s position.
Alternative Letter to Parents December 2025.pdf
Churchill Request for Support Letter 202601.pdf

Here is the link to sign the school council’s petition: https://savechurchill.com/

If you want to offer help to the council, contact Amanda at: churchillschoolnews@gmail.com

Rosemount Library READ Meeting – May 17

via Lynne via Jeff Leiper…

Do you love your local library – Rosemount? Have ideas on how it can be even better?

READ is looking for you! We’re having a brainstorming and next steps meeting the evening of Wednesday May 17th. We would love to have more Rosemount library users join us in the discussion and also consider joining the READ working group. RSVP here if you want to attend OR learn more. Bring your ideas and enthusiasm for our local branch!
Continue reading “Rosemount Library READ Meeting – May 17” →

Crossing Guards Needed

Subject: Urgent Need for Crossing Guards in Champlain Park
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2022 18:00:41 +0000
From: stephanie dotto <stephanie.dotto@ottawasafetycouncil.ca>

Good Afternoon,

I am with the Ottawa Safety Council, the local non-profit that runs the Crossing Guard program and I need your support. We are currently experiencing a guard shortage and reaching out to the community for help in keeping our kids safe. This directly impacts your residents as we risk not having crossing guards to keep children and other members of your community safe during the hectic time before and after school. We think your members would make great Crossing Guards and it’s a fantastic way to give back to the community while supplementing ones income.
Continue reading “Crossing Guards Needed” →

Forest Artists with Don Monet

Are you a struggling student artist? Work with a pro and help your neighbourhood too by documenting the amazing green transformation going on right here in Champlain Park.

If you have been down to the river you will have seen the pollinator garden at the end of Carleton, and the “Tiny Forest” that has popped up along Pontiac.

There are other delights in the woods too that are the fruit of local volunteers with the Champlain Park Community Association.

We would like your help (photographers, painters, sculptors, etc.) to showcase the plant biodiversity and volunteer spirit we are bringing into the neighbourhood.

Don Monet, painter and owner of Ottawa’s CUBE Gallery, lives here too and would be happy to mentor or otherwise support you in a local art project focused on the green transformation. If interested, contact Daniel Buckles (daniel.buckles@gmail.com) for a virtual introduction to Don.

Calling all High School Students! – Reminder

Looking for a fun place to volunteer?

The Champlain Park Community needs your help caring for plants and tiny forests (watering, weeding and maintenance).

“It is really nice to spend some time outside in the forest, and you get volunteer hours too! If you love to be outdoors and help out your community, this is the place for you!”

says student volunteer Natasha L.

You can expand your knowledge about plants and trees and species of bugs, and meet new people, all while getting volunteer hours. It is all outdoors, so there is plenty of space to social distance and stay safe!

If you are interested, please contact Daniel Buckles (daniel.buckles@gmail.com)

Calling all High School Students!

Do you need to log “volunteer hours” in order to graduate?

Would you like those hours to be spent outdoors, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air?

If so, then the Champlain Park Community Association is the partner for you. We need volunteers to help with greening of our neighbourhood (care for plants, digging gardens, maintenance in the Champlain Woods, etc.).

If interested, contact Daniel Buckles (daniel.buckles@gmail.com).

Rosemount Library Update

A message from the new librarian to our neighbourhood (was addressed to the CPCA board, but the general parts are worth repeating here). By the way, I was there yesterday dropping off a book. They now have a desk just inside the front door, with a plexiglass shield, where they will take your returned books or give you books you’ve ordered online.

– Alex

Subject: Update from the Rosemount branch of the OPL
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2021 20:58:14 +0000
From: Sirett, Kelly <kelly.sirett@biblioottawalibrary.ca>

Hello,

My name is Kelly Sirett and I’m the new Supervising Librarian at the Rosemount branch of the Ottawa Public Library. […]

I’m writing to introduce myself, provide an update on the Rosemount branch, and to connect with your organization. To tell you a bit about myself, I have been working at the OPL since 2014, most recently as the Coordinator of the Sunnyside branch in Old Ottawa South. I live in Hintonburg, love this neighbourhood and am excited to be working in this community.

As you may know, the Rosemount branch temporarily closed its permanent location (at 18 Rosemount) in Spring 2019 for major renovations. During the renovations, the branch operated out of a temporary location on Wellington Street. Like for everyone else, COVID has caused to major changes in Library services. Since July, Rosemount has been offering holds pick up and returns in a variety of ways, depending on provincial regulations. We moved back into our permanent location at 18 Rosemount in early December. While we are operating only on the first floor of the building & with limited services (currently curbside holds pick up and returns), staff are very happy to be back “home”! For more information on current services and hours, please visit our website: https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en
Continue reading “Rosemount Library Update” →

Rosemount Library Reopening – December 3

In case you aren’t on the library mailing list, the Ottawa Public Library has just announced that the Rosemount branch renovations have been finished enough to allow opening of the first floor for just returns and picking up books on hold. Other services will come later. The Rosemount Temporary Location will close on Saturday, November 21.

https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/blogs/updates-new-branch-reopening-dates

They also say in a recent newsletter:
Continue reading “Rosemount Library Reopening – December 3” →

Rosemount Library Curbside Service – July 27

In case you didn’t get this as part of your library membership, the temporary location for Rosemount (near the bowling alley) is opening on July 27th, though appointments are needed to pick up the books you put on hold…

Rosemount Temporary Location – Returns Drive and Curbside Service

Rosemount (temporary location), will be offering a curbside returns and holds pickup service starting Monday, July 27, following these hours of operation:

Monday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday: 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday: 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday: CLOSED

SATURDAY, JULY 25 – With limited space at the temporary location and the high volume of materials that circulate from this branch, we will be holding a one-day RETURN drive, accepting curbside returns of library materials. We invite you to come out on Saturday, July 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the north corner of Parkdale Park (corner of Hamilton and Armstrong) to return your library items.

See https://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/contactless-returns-and-holds-pickup-service for details about the curbside service at Rosemount (temporary location).

Kindergarten Classes at St. George School

Hello! My name is Roisin Philippe and I am the principal of St George School. This is a very strange spring for registration at our school given the current Health situation in our Province and City. Normally, at this time, we would be hosting a Welcome to Kindergarten evening. At this point, it will be most unlikely that this will happen before the end of the school year given the current health situation in our Province.

Having been a kindergarten teacher for many years, I can tell you that it is a very special time in your child’s life where they get to explore many new and exciting things alongside similar age peers who encourage out of the box thinking. Their formal education starts in kindergarten. They will deepen their creative side through a variety of activities, learn to be critical thinkers and problem solvers – becoming more resilient individuals and independent learners, learn the importance of collaboration with adults and children, expand their communication skills to express themselves, share their voice, learn the importance of good character skills through manners and being respectful of others, and seeing their role as a citizen of their class, their school and their community. The best part of all of this is that it is all done through play! The educators provide many provocations but take their lead from the children, seeking out their interests and building on their skills. I truly hope that your child will be able to engage in these wonderful opportunities with us at St George.

For more information about what our Kindergarten program can offer you and your child with the Ottawa Catholic School Board, please click on the following link OCSB – Kindergarten What’s it all about?

How to register

Specific questions regarding registration can be directed to admissions@ocsb.ca.

If you have any questions about St George school, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at roisin.philippe@ocsb.ca We are currently working on a Virtual Welcome to Kindergarten which we will share with all who are registered shortly!!

Roisin Philippe
Principal, St George Catholic School,
OCSB