Dear GUA Parents and Guardians, 

As you may know, the Ministry of Education has indicated that schools will not reopen on April 6th and although we do not have a firm opening date at this time, please know that the Ministry of Education, Public Health and the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) are communicating with each other.  When the specifics are known, they will be shared with families by the OCSB and posted on the Board and school websites.  

Although our building is currently closed, the Guardian Angels school community is still ready to help. This past week educators have been using various means to contact our families and the children they teach.  Our focus has been to connect with and check in on our community, their wellness and provide ideas/opportunities to explore learning at home.  Please note that the learning ideas that have been provided are not mandatory at this time, but rather, can be used to support students to help mitigate any learning lost during the school closure.  As the weeks continue to progress, and as we get more direction from the Ministry of Education, our teachers will continue to be in contact in terms of distance learning. In the meantime, for those families able and wanting learning activities during this second week, please continue to refer to the following links which do get updated;

Ministry of Education link learning ideas

Ottawa Catholic School Board link learning ideas

Learning at Home Ideas GUA

During this time, families are encouraged to prioritize their own health and wellbeing. Some of you are frontline workers and are considered essential services in this fight. Please accept our gratitude for all that you do. We know that many others are caring for family members, while continuing to work from home. It is not easy; it is important for you to know that your school community understands that some of you are currently going through exceptional challenges and that we are here for you.

Know that many of us are parents with school-aged children or teenagers of our own. We understand both the need to have work and structure for our kids and the fear that we cannot replicate the learning they typically engage in at school. We also understand the strong push back our own kids can give when they do not want to do the work we have for them. Be kind to yourselves.

You do not have to set up a homeschool in your living room. You do not have to recreate the classroom experience for your kids. We are in the midst of a global health and economic crisis. These are not normal times. Our children are likely just beginning to come to terms with the fact that they will not see their friends for a long while, that their normal activities have all ceased, and that things are very strange.  Spend and enjoy time with your children.  

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact your child’s educator and we will do our best to find answers for you.  We are still in a state of emergency; therefore, the school is closed to everyone at this time. We are not able to access anything that was left behind. If this changes, we will let you know via School Messenger.

For those who may require, please refer to these links for some helpful Community Resources;

Ottawa Public Health - updates about the current situation in Ottawa.

Community resources - community resources that may be helpful for families in need. 

Federal Income Supplement  and Provincial Emergency Response - families that may require financial support can access it through these links.

Ottawa Food Bank - this will help you locate the nearest agency that serves your area.

Gator Aid - GUA families that may require financial support.

Rest assured, we are on this new journey together and together we will get through this challenging time. As we learn more from the province, we will communicate that information with you. Our staff members want nothing more than to be back at school with your children. Being away from school is hard on all of us and we miss our students.  

We will always do our best to support you and your children.

In the meantime, stay healthy and stay safe. 

Take care and stay safe, 

GUA Staff