The Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) submitted its proposed 2026-2027 school year calendar to the Ministry of Education for approval. The calendar includes important dates for the upcoming school year to help families with their planning. At this point, the dates are tentative. Once we receive Ministry approval, we will post the official calendar on the OCSB Calendar page.
Key Dates in the Proposed 2026-2027 School Year Calendar
These are the key dates in the proposed calendar. When the calendar is approved, we will update the OCSB Calendar page.
● School■ Statutory Holidays
■ PD Days
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| ■ Monday, August 31, 2026 | PD Day – All Grades |
| ● Tuesday, September 1, 2026 | First Day of School for Students |
| ■ Monday, September 7, 2026 | Labour Day |
| ■ Friday, October 2, 2026 | PD Day – All Grades |
| ■ Monday, October 12, 2026 | Thanksgiving Day |
| ■ Friday, November 20, 2026 | PD Day – All Grades |
| ■ Dec 21, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027 | Christmas Break |
| ● Monday, January 4, 2027 | First Day of School after Christmas Break |
| ● January 21, 22, 25, 26 & 27, 2027 | First Semester Examinations (Secondary) |
| ■ Friday, January 29, 2027 | PD Day – All Grades |
| ● Monday, February 1, 2027 | First Day of Semester 2 (Secondary) |
| ■ Monday, February 15, 2027 | Family Day |
| ■ March 15-19, 2027 | March Break |
| ● Monday, March 22, 2027 | First Day of School after March Break |
| ■ Friday, March 26, 2027 | Good Friday |
| ■ Monday, March 29, 2027 | Easter Monday |
| ■ Friday, April 23, 2027 | PD Day – All Grades |
| ■ Monday, May 24, 2027 | Victoria Day |
| ■ Friday, June 4, 2027 | PD Day – All Grades |
| ● June 17, 18, 21, 22 & 23, 2027 | Second Semester Examinations (Secondary) |
| ● Thursday, June 24, 2027 | Last Day of School |
| ■ Friday, June 25, 2027 | PD Day - All Grades |
Creating the School Year Calendar: A Collaborative Process
Developing the school year calendar is a thoughtful and collaborative process designed to meet the needs of our diverse school community. An Executive Committee oversees this work, ensuring alignment with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s calendar whenever possible. Input is gathered from a variety of stakeholders, including:
This inclusive approach ensures that perspectives from parents, educators, and students are considered, creating a calendar that works for everyone.
Ministry of Education Requirements
The school year calendar must follow specific guidelines the Ministry of Education sets. These include:
These requirements strike a balance between maximizing instructional time for students and providing professional development opportunities for educators, all aimed at fostering student success.
This year, Labour Day falls on Monday, September 7. If the school year were to begin after the September long weekend, there would not be enough days remaining before June 30, 2027, to meet the Ministry’s required 194 days. When this happens, boards must look at starting the school year before Labour Day. This has occurred in the past, including in the 2009–2010, 2015–2016, and 2020–2021 school years. The calendar being presented has a scheduled Professional Activity Day on August 31, 2026, with the proposed first day of school on September 1, 2026.
