Students at Ottawa Catholic schools are heading into the Thanksgiving long weekend with pumpkins on their minds — and food donations in hand.
The seasonal gourd became the inspiration for a week of playful learning across the board's schools, according to the Ottawa Catholic School Board, which highlighted the activities in its weekly #ocsbFridayFeeling feature published Friday.
Pumpkins in the classroom
Teachers used pumpkins as the jumping-off point for phonics games, French storytelling and creative STEM challenges, the board said. Kindergarten classes even set up their own pumpkin patch.
Outside the classroom, young students collected acorns and pinecones, and climbed and balanced their way through new outdoor adventures, letting their imaginations lead, the board said.
The week also brought milestones for older students. Young writers celebrated their first journal entries, senior science students put their curiosity to the test, and school runners welcomed another season of friendship and fun.
A food drive for local families
Beyond the colourful leaves and pumpkin-filled classrooms, the board said the week was about gratitude, generosity and taking care of one another.
Students put those values into action through a food drive supporting local families — a reminder, the board said, that even a small contribution can make a meaningful difference.
The board described the effort as a reflection of the community and compassion at the heart of Catholic education, where caring for others is among the most important lessons students can learn.
Nourishing new beginnings
The Thanksgiving week activities tie into the board's theme for the year, "Nourish New Beginnings," which the board said encourages pausing to appreciate what's already growing: new friendships, growing confidence, supportive communities and everyday kindness.
The board said it hopes the long weekend brings families a little rest, plenty of gratitude and time with the people they love — whether that's gathering around a table, enjoying the autumn sunshine or simply being together.
The board also notes that its schools are located on the ancestral, traditional and unceded Indigenous territory of the Algonquin Peoples, on whose territory students pray, learn, play and work.
