Back to School Update
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Dear SCCS Families,
As summer draws to a close, excitement is building for another wonderful year at St. Charles Catholic School. I hope your family has enjoyed a safe, relaxing, and memorable summer filled with opportunities to rest, recharge, and spend time together.
As Principal of SCCS, it is both a privilege and an honour to serve this incredible community. Having spent more than twenty years at SCCS as a teacher, vice principal, and now entering my third year as principal, I remain deeply committed to ensuring every student experiences a year filled with faith, learning, growth, and belonging. I look forward to welcoming our returning families back and extending a very special welcome to those joining our school community for the first time.
My goal is to ensure this school year is filled with meaningful learning, faith development, personal growth, and memorable experiences for every student. Together, we will continue to build a strong, caring, and vibrant school community.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Students in Grades 1-8 will begin the school year on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, with a full day of classes. Please use your assigned doors on the first day. The morning bell will ring at 8:35 a.m., and students will be dismissed at 3:25 p.m. Parents entering the school during the school year must use the main entrance and check in at the office.
Kindergarten students and their parents have scheduled meetings with their teacher, and appointment times have already been communicated to kindergarten families.
Students are encouraged to bring their school supplies on the first day. Musical instruments should remain at home until further notice. Parents are welcome to accompany their child into the school on September 9 to assist with dropping off school supplies. Beginning September 10, we ask that all parents and caregivers drop off and pick up their children outside at their assigned doors.
ASSIGNED ENTRANCE AND EXIT DOORS
Each grade has been assigned a specific entrance and exit door. This helps alleviate congestion and supports a safe, efficient flow of students during arrival and dismissal. Between 8:15 a.m. and 8:35 a.m., students may be dropped off at their assigned door for outdoor recess. Staff members will supervise students until the morning bell rings. Students arriving after 8:35 a.m. must enter through the main entrance, as all exterior doors will be locked by 8:40 a.m. At 3:25 p.m., students will be dismissed through their assigned doors. Any students not picked up by 3:40 p.m. will be sent to BASC.
| Assigned Doors:Main Front Doors near flagpole: Office and BASCBack Doors near the play structure: Kindergareten, Grade 1, 1-2, 2Side Doors near garbage bins and mulch: Grade 5, 5-6, 6Side Doors near Transit Bus Shelter: Grade 3, 3-4 and 4Stairwell Doors near Retreat Centre: Grade 7, 8A and 8B |
SCHOOL OFFICE
The school office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Phone messages are checked regularly throughout the day. For attendance reporting or general inquiries, please contact Reception at reception@stccs.ca. For specific concerns or questions, please contact the appropriate staff directly via email. Please note that all exterior doors remain locked during school hours. Visitors must buzz in at the main entrance and check in at the office. Parents picking up children from BASC between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. may access the building using a FOB. Forms to obtain a FOB are available from the office.
MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL
As we begin the school year, please ensure that any required medications, including EpiPens, asthma puffers, and other prescribed medications identified on your child’s medical form, are provided to the school as soon as possible. For student safety, EpiPens must be carried by the student at all times, and asthma puffers should either be carried by the student or kept in the Front Office. We also encourage families to provide a backup EpiPen or puffer to be stored at school. Any medications that need to be administered during the school day must be brought to the Front Office by a parent or guardian. Thank you for helping us keep all students safe and healthy throughout the school year.
VOLUNTEERS
At the beginning of the school year, Child Abuse Registry Check forms will be sent home for parents to complete. Please return completed forms to the office as soon as possible. There is no cost associated with this process. Without a cleared Child Abuse Registry Check on file, parents are not permitted to volunteer. This requirement is mandated by the Archdiocese of Winnipeg and applies to all Catholic schools. There will be many opportunities to volunteer throughout the year. Submitting your forms early will ensure that you are approved to volunteer in classrooms, participate in school activities, and accompany students on field trips.
UNIFORM PICK-UP DAY
September 3, 2026 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. School Gym
All exchanges, returns, and new orders placed before August 14 will be available for pick-up at the school.
Families who placed new orders after August 14 will receive a shipping notice if their order is ready for collection on September 3. If a shipping notice is not received, the order will be delivered with the next school shipment on September 15. Questions regarding uniforms may be directed to: uniforms@promosave.com
WEBSITE ACCESS
Please visit our website at www.stccs.ca for important school information. All parents have access to Parent Zone, where you will find school forms, the 2026-2027 calendar, policies, and much more. Returning families should be able to use their existing login credentials. New families have received an email with registration instructions. If you require assistance accessing Parent Zone, please contact lsenderewich@stccs.ca.
POWERSCHOOL ACCESS
PowerSchool is our student information system and provides parents with access to the Parent Portal.
Through the Parent Portal, parents can stay informed about student classes, assignments, and academic progress. We encourage families to check the Parent Portal regularly.
If you do not currently have access, the Parent Portal Waiver Form is available through Parent Zone on our website.
STUDENT FEES
Student fees will be managed through Permission Click. Links to Permission Click can be found on our website and will be shared throughout the school year. Lunch orders, field trip payments, and many other school-related transactions will be managed through Permission Click.
PARKING AT SCCS
Student safety remains our highest priority. We continue to improve traffic procedures and safety measures to ensure a safe and efficient arrival and dismissal process for everyone in our school community.
Loading Zone
When using the loading zone, please pull forward as far as possible, remain in your vehicle, and allow your child to exit safely. Once your child has exited, please proceed promptly to allow other vehicles access to the loading area. Please note there is no parking in the loading zone during morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up.
Church Parking Lot
Families wishing to walk their children onto school property should park in the church parking lot and use the south crosswalk, where staff and patrols will be present.
Retreat Centre
The Retreat Centre is private property and is not available for parking or student drop-off.
Transit Bus Loop
Please do not park or stop in the transit bus loop located in front of the church.
Augier Street Drop-Off
Families with children in Grades 3-8 are encouraged to use Augier Street for drop-off. Students should cross at the north crosswalk and proceed to their assigned entrances. There is no stopping or parking within the golf course area.
Parking Lot Traffic Flow
Please follow all posted signs and directions regarding traffic flow, entry points, exits, and parking procedures.
Volunteers Needed
We require volunteers each school day from 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. to assist with traffic management and loading zone supervision. Please sign up using the link below:VOLUNTEERS NEEDED | 2026-2027 PARKING LOT/LOADING ZONE PATROL
BASC (BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE)
BASC forms and calendars are available through Parent Zone on the school website. Schedules and payments are due at the beginning of each month and before your child attends the program. Completed forms may be left in the school mailbox or submitted to the office. Teachers receive daily attendance information regarding BASC participation. BASC operates from 7:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. each morning. At 8:15 a.m., students are dismissed outside to join recess supervision. For morning drop-off, please buzz at the front entrance. Students will be welcomed into the building independently. Parents picking up children before 4:00 p.m. should buzz at the front entrance. Families picking up after 4:00 p.m. will require FOB access. Any student not picked up by 3:40 p.m. following dismissal will be sent to BASC and corresponding BASC fees will apply. On early dismissal days, students will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m. Students not picked up by 2:40 p.m. will be sent to BASC.
BUILDING & GROUNDS UPDATE
We are pleased to share several exciting improvements completed over the summer months:
- Foundation work on the historic 1906 building has been completed, and repairs were made to eavestroughs and downspouts. The building waterproofing project has been finalized, helping preserve this important structure for many years to come.
- The kindergarten area underwent washroom renovations and now includes three new individual student washrooms.
- New vinyl flooring was installed in Grade 1, Grade 1-2, and Grade 2 classrooms.
- The staff room was updated to include a comfortable lounge area.
- Two commercial-grade inclusive swings were installed in the playground area.
- A new fence and skirting were added along the golf course boundary.
- Fresh playground mulch was added as well as a border.
- An outdoor classroom featuring six picnic tables and a pergola was created for student learning and community gatherings.
It was a busy and productive summer, and we are thrilled to welcome students and staff back to an even better SCCS.
WELCOME BACK BBQ
Friday, September 11, 2026 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
The Staff and Board of Directors are excited to welcome families back for another wonderful school year and invite you to join us at our annual Welcome Back BBQ. This event provides a wonderful opportunity for families to reconnect, meet new members of our community, and celebrate the start of another school year. As with all community events, volunteers are greatly appreciated. Please see the Sign-Up Genius link below: HELP NEEDED | WELCOME BACK BBQ Friday, September 11, 2026
Thank you for taking the time to read this important back-to-school update. Strong communication between home and school is essential to student success, and I greatly value our partnership as we begin another exciting year together. Our staff has been working hard throughout the summer to prepare for a successful school year, and we are eager to welcome students back on September 9. Throughout the year, families can expect regular communication through my weekly Friday Principal Updates.
On behalf of the entire SCCS staff, thank you for your continued trust, support, and commitment to our school community.
Enjoy the final days of summer. We look forward to welcoming everyone back and making the 2026-2027 school year our best year yet!
Sincerely,
Aneta Prettie PRINCIPAL
St. Charles Catholic School
Phone: 204-837-1520 ext. 222
Link to .pdf version of Back to School Update