When your child joins an Ottawa Catholic school, your family joins our extended OCSB family. There are a number of ways you can support and get involved in your child’s education. Thank you for choosing a Catholic education for your family!
Navigating the school system
When you run into an issue related to your child’s education, it can sometimes be confusing to know who to talk to first. We’ve made it easy for you! Find out who is responsible for what when it comes to school and board-related education issues.
OCSB Calendar
School year calendars are distributed to all students at the beginning of each school year. The school year calendar lists school holidays and other important dates.
School Messenger
Our schools use SchoolMessenger to communicate important information to families through automated phone calls and emails to parents. Learn more about updating your contact information, setting your communication preferences or setting up your account.
Parent Portal
Our Parent Portal is where you can view and print your child’s report cards, make sure your child’s school has your correct contact information, see your child’s class schedule, track high school credits and more!
Student Portals
If your child attends an Ottawa Catholic school, you might want to check out our two Student Portals. It’s a one-stop-shop for learning resources that you and your child can explore together!
Get involved in your child’s education
There are a number of ways you can participate in your child’s education. Research shows this is a great way parents can contribute to their child’s academic success. Through your School Council, the Catholic School Parents’ Association (CSPA), Parent Involvement Committee (PIC), or volunteer opportunities, there are many ways you can get involved.
How to direct your support for Catholic Education
1) Check your property tax bill to ensure that your support is directed to the English Catholic Board. These property tax assessments are mailed out to all residents between April and August. The assessment section of your tax bill should have “ES” written in the Tax Class field. By default, everyone’s school support is automatically directed to the “English Public” school, so if you’ve recently moved you will want to make sure you direct your support to “English Separate” to vote for an OCSB Trustee in the next municipal election.
You need to be a Roman Catholic homeowner, tenant/renter to direct your support to Catholic schools. If one partner in the house is non-Catholic, you can still support English Separate schools by completing the Separate School Assessment Lease Form.
You cannot divide your school support between the public and Catholic sectors. If you do not have children registered at an OCSB school, you can still choose to support Catholic education.
2) Complete the Application for the Direction of School Support form and scan and email it to Admissions@ocsb.ca or mail it to:
OCSB Admissions
570 West Hunt Club Road
Nepean, ON K2G 3R4
How to vote for an OCSB Trustee in municipal elections
If you direct support for the “English Separate” school board on your taxes, you can cast your ballot for your local OCSB Trustee in municipal elections. Trustees oversee recommendations for educational programs, budgets, and policies that govern the Board’s operation. Your Trustee provides an important link between your community and the school board, bringing your issues and concerns forward to board discussions and decision making.