Dear Families,
We have reached the midpoint of our first trimester, and I find myself thinking about community. What does it mean to be a community? By definition, it is simply a group of people living in the same place, or having a similar characteristic in common. To me, to be a community is so much more than any definition that’s out there. It’s about the way that we lift one another up through a common mission. It’s about the way we support each other for the betterment of all, and seek ways to grow, forgive, and thrive. It is about the love and the life that is shared in the simple day to day. It is a feeling. A hope. A belief. A prayer. Community is about unity and faith; threads and pieces intertwined together that when bonded, form a beautiful quilt or tapestry. Community is a treasure that lasts long after so many other things have faded away.
At OLG, community is our foundation. It is the relationship that feeds all that we do, and defines who we are. Individually, we are beautiful threads, but when we come together, we form something remarkable. I am reminded of the power of our community on a daily basis. Today, it was in one of my favorite ways, All School Mass. Our 5th graders led us in prayer so beautifully, our 8th graders led family groups with grace, and together we honored the life of a young man, Devin, who spent his childhood as a student at OLG, and passed away recently. Surrounded by the love of our community, his family and so many who knew him, were reminded of the lasting love, and the immense power of community, even when you’ve grown and moved on. The OLG community at present, wrapped his family in love, without even knowing it, as the beautiful quilt that we are, simply being present and praying for him. How special small acts are.
This week we had many opportunities to learn about community and experience it as a living tapestry. We supported one another at CYO over the weekend, and through the celebration of Unity Day on Wednesday, promoting anti-bullying and the power of kindness. We recognized our Bulldogs of the Month, students who showed our SLEs coming to life within their classrooms and within the school. We worked together as Family Groups, and saw the ways in which our oldest students led and guided their families for the first time outside of a classroom, attending Mass together today. The list goes on and on.
Next week, the ability to grow as a community continues through mandatory student Conferences. These provide students, teachers and parents/ guardians an opportunity to come together and focus on ways to support our children in their learning, growth, and development spiritually, mentally and physically, and help them to grow. We recognize that taking time out of the work day can be a challenge, and we appreciate your ability and willingness to be present. Please click on the sign up button below to mark a spot for you and your family to attend.
As we reflect on covenants and community, I wanted to personally thank the 70% of our families who have reviewed the Family Handbook with your children, and signed the Handbook Agreement. It is its own covenant of sorts, and helps us to support your children, and helps us to be on the same page at school and at home. If you haven’t had a chance to do this, please log in to your SchoolAdmin account to complete the task.
Finally, seeking ways to build community further? The OLG School Directory 2023-2024 is here! Requests for a printed copy may be made at the school office.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. Thank you for being such an integral part of our OLG tapestry.
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