Our Lady of Grace Catholic School
eLion's Tales - February 7, 2018
A Message from Mrs. Anderson
Dear Families, 
Catholic Schools’ Week has ended for another year but what a wonderful week of celebration we had! Every day we celebrated members of our entire community of Our Lady of Grace---parishioners, families, students, staff, volunteers. What a joy filled week it was ending with the talents of so many of our students as they performed on Friday. The saying is--”God is good...All the time.” May we remember this as we go about our daily routines.

Core Value:Unity - We work actively toward identifying ways to understand, evaluate, and synthesize information to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.

S pecial Thanks: Special thanks to all who made Grandparents’/Special Friends’ Day so fantastic. Behind the scenes work was done by Chris Blum and Ivania Edens and a crew of wonderful, hard-working volunteers. We are so glad so many friends and grandparents could attend. We hope you can come next year again! We are especially thankful to all who gave a donation to the school. That money we did not anticipate and it will be used to enhance our curriculum for students. God bless you all!

Mrs. Courtney: It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Mrs. Courtney has decided to retire. She has been recovering slowly from back surgery she had in June. Should you wish to write a note to her please address it to school and we will see that she gets it. We wish her blessings as she continues to heal.

Scrip Agreements : Your scrip agreement status report was sent home on Friday with the eldest child. Please check with your child.
We are accepting applications for Grades TK- 7 for the
2018-2019 school year!

T his application is for new students only and siblings of existing students for the 2018-2019 year. Returning students will receive instructions for annual re-registration/re-enrollment.
  • To enter Kindergarten, a student must be 5 years of age by September 1st. (Date of birth must be on or before September 1st 2013). To enter Transitional Kindergarten, a student must have their birthdate fall between September 2nd 2018 and March 2nd 2019. (Date of birth September 2nd 2013 - March 2nd 2014)
 
  • Please click below to sign in to your Infosnap Account. Applications are also available on the school website. Please note there is no application fee. The $50 fee is a testing fee per student due on the testing date.


Financial Assistance

Financial assistance information for the 2018-2019 school year is available on our website.
Filing date: Scholarships are awarded on a first come, first served basis starting in January until the deadline of March 10, 2018. Financial Aid will be allocated in May 2018. Completed applications received after March 10, 2018 will be placed on a wait-list, and will be awarded periodically through the summer of 2018 as funds become available.
Please click Here here for detailed information. Applications are processed through FACTS for financial assistance including FACE. Please click Here to apply.
Applications for financial assistance through the BASIC Fund are available now. Go to www.basicfund.org to complete the application process or call (415) 986-5650.  If you are applying for financial assistance through the BASIC Fund, please notify Mrs. Russell in the school office.
Last year there was a lot of confusion between FACTS and FACE. FACTS is the third party vendor used to process and analyze all applications. If you are having trouble uploading documents or made a mistake on an application, those inquiries need to be directed to FACTS either through their customer service line  866-412-4637  or email  [email protected] . If you have a question about being eligible for a grant, or the grant amount, or our granting policies, please contact the FACE office  510-628-2169  or email [email protected] .

Blue Cards!

Blue Card Winners:  Congratulations to Julius C. in Kindergarten and David C. in 7th grade for being the blue card winners this week! Thank you for showing Unity, Truth, and Love!
A Message from Fr. Tom

Please join us on Wednesday, February 14th for Ash Wednesday Mass with the children at 8:15 a.m. During this lent we are going to have a reflection class for parents on Fridays at 9:00 a.m. in the OLG Room through Lent using material from disciples on the journey.
This is a reflection preparing for the Sunday scriptures.
Looking Ahead

February:

  • 7th, Wednesday - Minimum Day - Noon Dismissal - In-Service
  • 11th, Sunday - 3rd Grade Donut Duty - OLG School Spirit Skate Night - 6:30 p.m. at The Golden Skate - M.U.S.E. 31st Annual East Bay Winter Band Concert at Bishop O'Dowd - Beginning Band Concert 1:00 p.m. and Intermediate Band Concert 2:30 p.m.
  • 12th, Monday - Valentine's Day Class Parties
  • 13th, Tuesday - Heritage Day/Fat Tuesday - WCEA team arrives to tour the school
  • 14th, Wednesday - Ash Wednesday - Valentine's Day
  • 16th, Friday - Stations of the Cross - Church - 2:00 p.m.
  • 19th, Monday - Holiday, President's Day - No School.
  • 22nd, Thursday - Free Dress for February Birthdays
  • 23rd, Friday - Stations of the Cross - Church - 2:00 p.m. - End of 2nd Trimester

Heritage Food Day Food and Volunteers Needed!

Tuesday, February 13th is Heritage Food Day.

Each of us has an ethnic background to be proud of, and one worthy of sharing. The purpose of this event is to celebrate the various nationalities of the students at OLG, and to share finger-type foods with one another. We encourage everyone to participate and share a piece of their culture. Students are also welcome to dress in the clothing of their heritage that day. Please use this Sign-Up Genius link to be a part of this awesome event. Parent hours will be given.
  • Drinks are not provided. Your child needs to bring a drink.
  • Please deliver your ethnic food to Stack Center on Tuesday morning on February 13th, between 7:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
  • Please have your food item on a disposable plate. If this is not possible, please have your family name and child's grade clearly labeled on your plate.
  • Please have your food cut into appropriate pieces so that they are ready to serve.
  • If a warmer or chaffing dish is necessary for your food, you must provide your own.
  • There are electrical outlets in the hall and we have a limited number of extension cords available. If possible, please provide and label your extension cord.
  • Please pick up plates/leftovers after school on Tuesday in Stack Center.
  • Please fill out the form below and bring it with you when you come on Tuesday. This form will be placed in front of your item on the serving tables. It is very important that this form accompany your dish since there are children with food allergies.
  • If you have any questions, please contact the school office at 510-581-3155.

 P lease print Heritage Food Day Form Here

  Click Here to get your OLG Spirt Gear!
Castro Valley Homeless Outreach

A very special thank you to all who supported Homeless Outreach over the last year. As you know, your donations go directly to help people in our community. Your kindness and generosity was truly a blessing and was greatly appreciated by those who received your help. This year we want to redouble our efforts to reach those in need. In particular, we will try to prioritize specific needs and provide specific dates whenever possible. Currently, the following items are a high priority.
Food*
• Peanut butter
• Jam or jelly
• Canned meat - chicken, tuna
• Instant Oatmeal
• Dry cereal
• Ramen/cup of noodles
• Single serving fruit cups
Fresh foods:
• Casseroles, anything that can be reheated using a camp stove
• Rotisserie chicken
• Cold cuts - ham, turkey, baloney
• Cheese
• Milk
Other items
• Batteries (AA, AAA, C and D) *
• Can openers
• 1lb propane canisters*
• Jackets, gloves, socks*
• Tarps
• Sleeping bags, blankets
• Propane lanterns*
• Handy wipes/diaper wipes, hand sanitizer
• Gas or grocery cards
Our next drop off date is February 17 . We will gladly pick up your donation and deliver directly to the people who need it. Alternatively, you may drop your donation at the Parish Office. For additional information, please contact Ken White at [email protected] or 510-909-5774 or Sean Nalty at [email protected] or 415-369-3552.
Girl Scout Cookies!

The OLG 2nd Grade Girl Scout Troop #30501 will be selling Girl Scout cookies every Friday in February after school to raise money for their community outreach projects. 

Get your OLG Spirt Items!

Limited items for sale in the school office. Show your school spirit and promote our school. Makes great gifts!
Hat - $12
Tote Bag - $15
Coffee Cup - $10
Bumper Stickers - $3


Muse Winter Band Concert!

Sunday, Feb. 11 @Bishop O'Dowd High Oakland
"M.U.S.E. 31st annual east bay Winter Band Concert"  
Beginning Band Concert 1:00pm
Intermediate Band Concert 2:30pm

2017-2018 School Calendar
Please click   here to view.  
Free Dress Pass Information
To honor our monthly birthday students, please use your Free Dress passes other than Wednesday Mass day but not on birthday Fridays, the last Fridays of the month.
Parking Lot, Pick Up, Morning Drop Off and Assembly
Driving through the parking lot at drop off and pick up: Please limit your speed to 5 mph in the parking lot when children are around. This is a very important safety issue. The Somerset and San Miguel gates are entrances for morning drop off. You may exit Somerset and Anita after morning drop off. The San Miguel Gate is NOT an exit ever. The Anita gates are NOT an entrance ever. At pick up the only entrance is through the San Miguel Gate. Somerset and Anita is for exit only for pick up.
At dismissal, if you have a child in grades 4-8, drive in along the parking lot by the church unless they have a sibling in primary grades.   Please do not park in the shady area by the trees as that is the drive through area for cars picking up on the side for the younger children.  Older siblings always are to wait with the younger wear morning line up takes place. All students in grades TK-3 will be escorted to cars by their teacher or aide at dismissal. Wednesday dismissal is always 2:30 as we have faculty meetings that day.
Please be sure your child is on time at the first bell as at the second bell each student has to be in his/her class line to avoid a Tardy slip.
Parents, please stand at the back of the class lines during morning assembly so the class lines are paying full attention to the Student Council prayer time and pledge. Please do not walk your child to the gate to enter school.
Please Click Here to print Toyology Registration Form
Absences and Doctor's Appointments
When your child is absent or has a doctor's appointment and will be arriving late or leaving early, please email your child's teacher and the school secretary at  [email protected] . Please turn in a doctor's excuse to the school office.
Please make sure your child has not vomited and is fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. 
Support OLG by shopping on Amazon Smile!
Click  here  and choose Our Lady of Grace Church & School.
Box Tops for Education Logo
1. Buy your favorite Box Tops products
2. Clip out the Box Top from each product. 
3. Send your Box Tops to the school office.

Ask your friends, neighbors, and family to save Box Tops. Each one is worth 10¢. Together we can raise $ for our school.
Important Notice from the Office
Please be sure to fill out the  Request for Medication to be Taken During School Hours  form for ANY medication including cough drops and lotion like cortisone cream. There are forms in the school office and  here .
Deadline for Lion's Tales
  Please note the deadline for submission to Lion's Tales is the Monday prior to publication. All flyers and articles must be submitted in PDF or JPG file format. 
Thank you! 
OLG Mission & Philosophy
Mission Statement 
Our Lady of Grace Catholic School serves a diverse community, models Christ through unity, truth, and love to create a balance of spiritual, academic, and social growth.
 
Philosophy
Dedicated to living Christ's message, Our Lady of Grace is a Catholic school made up of students, faculty, staff and families working together with love and respect. While recognizing parents as the primary educators of their children, our community works together to develop individuals who are prepared to think critically, imbued with a strong sense of self-worth, and filled with a Christ-like approach to others.
Office:510.581.3155 | Fax: 510.581.1059| l http://www.olgschool.org