Our Lady of Grace Catholic School
eLion's Tales - March 7, 2018
A Message from Mrs. Anderson
Dear Families, 

It was awesome to see so many OLG families at 9:30 Mass on Sunday. Fr. Kevin gave us some inspirational words to say this week and I wish to pass th em on. Say every day, “Here I am God. I thank you.” These two short sentences tie in beautifully with the gorgeous song we sang with the Folk Group as Mass ended---”Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true, with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for You.” I encourage you to join us at 9:30 liturgy each Sunday as there is Liturgy of the Word for Children and such joyous music during Mass. Hope to see even more families there next Sunday. Looking ahead, we are working on getting one Mass a month facilitated by the children and the more who come now, the greater the number we can invite to participate more fully.

Core Value of the Week: Truth - We set goals for ourselves and are genuine in our evaluation of our efforts.

WCEA/WASC Visit Soon: I wanted to inform you of our upcoming visit by the visiting team for WCEA/WASC. This is the team of educators who will look at our school for accreditation. As a reminder, WCEA stands for Western Catholic Educational Association and is connected to WASC which is the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. This organization is responsible for accreditation of both elementary and high schools. We at OLG have been preparing a Self Study of our school called Improving Student Learning (ISL) and have spent the last year and a half writing our document. The visiting team, of which there are 5 members, will now come to see that what we stated in our Self Study is evident. The team will be here from Monday, March 19th through Wednesday, March 21st. On Monday evening they will meet with some of our stakeholders to talk about our school and get a sense from the community what Our Lady of Grace Catholic School means to them. This has been a long and thoughtful process for all of us and we so appreciate the time you took to take surveys we sent out. Once we learn the results of the team’s findings, we will share them with you. Please keep all of us on staff in your prayers as we continue to prepare for our visit.

Uniform Attire: Please review pages 23 - 26 of Parent/Student Handbook on uniform rules. This is on our OLG website. You may also click Here to view the handbook. At this point of the year many uniforms are looking shabby or too short. We will be checking more carefully so the students are appropriately dressed for school so please help us by checking at home before they come to school.

SCRIP Reminder: Families have until April 30th to meet this year's scrip requirement. 

Every Wednesday is Waste Free!   Please pack a lunch with containers you can take back home to eliminate as much waste as possible at OLG.

Volunteers Needed for the Auction on May 5th! If you are looking for parent hour opportunities please email the Auction coordinator Liz Huizar at [email protected].

Blue Cards!

Blue Card Winners:  Congratulations to Catharina P. in TK and Nyah G. in 6th grade for being the blue card winners this week! Thank you for showing Unity, Truth, and Love!
3rd Trimester Homework Club

Please turn in $25 to the school office if you would like your child to go to Homework Club after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the 3rd trimester.
Looking Ahead

March:

  • 7th, Wednesday - Minimum Day - Noon Dismissal - In-Service - Trimester 2 Report Cards Go Home
  • 9th, Friday - Stations of the Cross - Church - 2:00 p.m.
  • 11th, Sunday - 2nd Grade Donut Duty
  • 15th, Thursday - Spring Pictures - Free Dress!
  • 16th, Friday - No School - In-Service
  • 19th-21st - WCEA Visit
  • 22nd, Thursday - Free Dress for March Birthdays
  • 23rd, Friday - Stations of the Cross - Church - 2:00 p.m.
  • 29th, Thursday - Minimum Day - Noon Dismissal - Holy Thursday
  • 30th, Friday - No School - Good Friday
Fun Run T-Shirt!

Would you like your families name on the fun run t-shirt? You may also dedicate to a loved one or have your business or organization printed for all to see! Sponsorship is tax deductible!
Click Here for the Family Name sponsorship letter. $250 sponsorship
Click Here fro the Business/Organization sponsorship letter. $250 and $500 sponsorship
A Message from Fr. Tom

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.
New Toyology Session Begins April 10th!
Please click Here to print form and turn into Sarah's Science.
Please DO NOT turn forms into the school office
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] .

Promoting Waste Management
Waste management is a process by which our garbage is stored, treated, transported and disposed. Household waste is managed differently than industrial waste, however, the goals are the same. Waste must be stored to prevent releases before it is transported; waste must be treated to reduce its volume and hazards; waste must be transported safely and quickly to prevent hazardous releases and waste must be disposed in properly designed landfills.
Waste hazards can include those that have toxicity and flammability as well as chemical characteristics that render the waste harmful to the environment and/or humans if not management properly. Proper waste management improvements will ensure that garbage does not ruin our waterways, public drinking water systems, agricultural lands or residential areas.
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 March 17, and we plan to deliver food and supplies every two weeks
thereafter. 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.
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 where 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.

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


The Golden State Warriors Youth Basketball Camps
The Golden State Warriors will be conducting Youth Basketball Camps in the area over Easter break. The general camps are for boys and girls, ages 7-15, of all skill levels and abilities.
Please click Here for the flyer and more information.
Bandworks Summer Camp
Please click Here for the 2018 Bandworks Rock and Roll Summer Camp Flyer
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.
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