OLG celebrates our Feast Day

8th grade performs

the "Mary Dance" at Mass

Tis’ the season for so many things. This week was filled with the light of the season. Though only in week 2 of Advent, at school we celebrated the weeks that we will miss on break, together as a community. We have listened and waited in hope (last week), peace (this week) and joy (this coming Sunday), and tomorrow we will light the fourth candle as a school, symbolizing love. Spend a few minutes at OLG, in the halls and in the building, and you will feel all of these things at a palpable level, especially this week.

This week, we celebrated our Feast Day with beautiful music from our middle school band and 4th/5th grade chorus, with wonderful liturgy shared by our Student Council, and a performance of the story of Our Lady and Juan Diego. The next day, we celebrated more joy with Santa visiting (thank you “Danta Claus" aka Santa's jolly assistant, Coach Dan Campbell), our November Bulldog of the Month and annual sing-a-long, with more music by our talented performers and the middle school choir, led by Miss McKamey (band) and Ms. Sager. Today, our 7th graders told the story of “The Grouch” to the Preschool- Kindergarten, reminding us all of the value of the Christmas season, and our 4th graders shared a farewell of Ms. Fuchs, celebrating their time together.

So much of the last 24 hours has been on par with what Advent itself is all about-- being light for others, and sharing in it all, together.

As we head into our last day before break, let us be mindful of the light, and celebrate all the goodness that surrounds us. We give thanks for so many things, especially our students who fill the halls with laughter, in addition to learning. For the teachers and staff who support growth in all facets, not just academically, but as whole people. For our families, for donors, for all who give of their time, talents and treasure to make OLG continue to grow, we are grateful. For those who are actively participating in the St. Vincent de Paul drive, doing things for others, we are grateful! 

Tomorrow for students, it is a big day! Christmas parties, fun times and FREE DRESS for all! For our 4th graders, it’ll be their first day with a new teacher, and for everyone, it’s the excited anticipation for Christmas break beginning for the whole community at noon (no aftercare for EDC or ELC). We are here for it, and excited about what the day has in store!

Parents, lastly, please be aware that report cards will be sent home via email through Alma, and if you are applying for 2024-25 Financial Aid, tomorrow by noon is the last opportunity to ask questions from the office. The firm deadline for all aid and tuition assistance is December 31st, 2023. No late or incomplete applications will be accepted. 

Wishing you a restful night. We look forward to the joy, the light, the peace and the love that tomorrow will be filled with, especially the joy!

Dec 15 - NOON Dismissal + Free Dress (policy page 48)

• Auction Item Donation Drop off 8:00-10:00 am at school north entrance
• NO PM EDC / ELC Aftercare

Dec 18 to Jan 1 - Christmas Break

Merry Christmas!

Dec 22 - Christmas Story Rehearsal 6:30 pm - See Parish News

Dec 31 - Tuition Assistance Application CLOSES. FIRM DEADLINE: Late or incomplete applications will NOT be considered for aid. FACTS Grant Aid support: 1-866-315-9262

Jan 2 - Back to School! See you Tuesday

Jan 3 - Wednesday 2:15 Early Dismissal (K-8)

• After School Tutoring 2:15-3:00 pm

Jan 5 - OLG Spirit Wear Day 

Jan 9 - Parent Org Meeting 6:30 pm Gym stage

Stay up-to-date with calendar events

Coming Up

Catholic Schools Week: Jan 28 to Feb 2

• Encourage new families to attend Open House Jan 28 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Special Persons Day is Thursday, Feb 1st

SVdP Drive Status

Thank you for all your generous donations!

Top 3 current standings:

• 6th gr 741 items
• 2nd gr 439 items
• 5th gr 288 items

Semi-annual & Monthly Tuition Payment due Jan 5

Reminder: If you selected a semi-annual or monthly payment plan, the next tuition payment will be due by January 5, 2024. Log in to check your balance.

Name Change

SchoolAdmin has changed its name to FINALSITE ENROLLMENT. Database features remain the same. All admissions, enrollment and tuition billing is now processed via Finalsite Enrollment.

Application for Incoming Siblings

Have a younger sibling of your current OLG student to enroll next school year? Make sure you login to Finalsite (formerly SchoolAdmin) and "Add a new student" to apply ASAP. PS, PK, and Kindergarten classes particularly fill up quickly!

Be sure to Drop It Like It’s Hot - your donation that is! Donation drop-off will be available in front of the main entrance to the school on Friday, December 15th, 8-10am. 

People Forgot About Dre in 2001, so we understand if you forgot about your donation requirement. All families who fail to enter in their contribution by December WILL be charged the $200 fee. So Get Down On It!

We realize You Can’t Always Get What You Want, but we could really use some volunteers to help throw the biggest party of the year! Be on the lookout for a Sign-Up Genius in early January for roles you and some friends might be interested in Taking On The Run!

Volleyball and 3rd Grade Basketball Registration Open

Online registration for volleyball (grades 4-8) and 3rd grade basketball (boys or girls) are now open.

Register Here 

Gym Monitors Needed!

This is a fun way to earn volunteer hours while watching some hoops. Have a high school student looking for hours? This is a great opportunity for them too! Please contact Dan Womac

Go Bulldogs!

Happy Holiday Season OLG Families!

In case you missed it, I sent an email to all parents this week with links to a couple of free, recorded webinars I watched recently. My key take-aways from these webinars were regarding the importance of structure, routine, and relationship building for all youth, but especially those with ADD or ADHD. With a two-week break from school just around the corner, many of those structures and routines we practice on a daily basis are non-existent. On top of that, the potential for increased time online can cause additional stress and emotional dysregulation. Having concrete routines, structured screen time, and time for bonding off-line can help everyone re-regulate and enjoy the holiday break. Watching adults practice emotional regulation strategies can also help youth remember to use them when needed (breathing exercises, going for a walk, listening to music, etc). Links to the recorded webinars and a short summary are below. 

Hope your holidays are wonderful and have a Happy New Year. 



Kim Brunskill, School Counselor

Help Kids Focus: Practical Parenting Skills to Reduce Inattention and Hyperactivity

Experts provide concrete tips for guardians of children with ADD or ADHD. Topics include routine and structure, nutrition, screen time, relationship building, signs of ADD, and when to seek treatment. Of interest, I learned in this webinar that 80% of kids with ADD/ADHD have inherited it from their parents. Additionally, on average, guardians take 8 years to have their child assessed and/or treated for ADD, which can lead to decades of “catching up” socially, emotionally, and/or academically required by that child. You can glance through my other take-aways and summary note here: ADD Webinar Note

Tools Over Rules: How To Be on Social Media Without Feeling Sad?

I love this webinar because it not only includes not only “experts” as defined by people with graduate-level degrees and letter(s) in front of their names, but also Emma Lambke who founded The Log Off Movement while still in high school. Her ability to articulate the detrimental effects of social media, as well as ways to combat social media addiction and become an “active agent of change in the digital ecosystem,” is worth listening to. Additionally, below the recording are links to several resources mentioned in the webinar. 

Let Go and Move On

This four minute NPR recording was shared with me by a parent. It contains some important advice from some Massachusetts middle schoolers, including:

• "Nobody is defined by one action"
• "Holding a grudge is like holding hot coals and expecting the other person to be burned"

2023-2024 Annual School Fund Drive Thermometer

Our first milestone!

WE MADE IT TO $20K!

Thanks to all of you, we reached and surpassed our first Annual School Fund milestone of the year!

While the Annual School Fund Drive runs the entire school year, by submitting your donation by December 31st you can take advantage of 2023 tax deductions!



Donate to the OLG Annual School Fund

Q: What Will Change at Parishes when Partners is Implemented?

Several things will change immediately, and many more will evolve over time with input from the community. Immediate changes include:

• One pastor and one or more parochial vicars will be assigned – many or all of whom will be “new” to that parish community (but not “new” to ministry)
• Mass times will change at some locations
• It will be impossible for the pastor to attend numerous finance council meetings or school commission meetings that are on the same night so schedules will likely need to be adjusted

Further explanation:

The new parish family will have more collective resources (people and finances) to carry out the mission of the Church. What this looks like for each parish family will be determined by the creativity of the particular parish community. While each parish family will be assigned a pastor and one or more parochial vicars, all the other decisions are intended to be made by the local community to ensure what emerges reflects the gifts and needs of their specific communities. Working with their liaison, each parish family will have resources and tools to help them implement changes - keeping in mind that these changes are taking place to help achieve the larger goal of renewing parish life to help others encounter Jesus.

Calling all shepherds and angels!  

Join us in the Christmas Pageant at the Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Family Mass. Be a part of the Gospel as we enact the reading of the birth of Jesus. Rehearsal Wednesday, Dec 22, 6:30-7:15 pm. Contact Molly Berger for details. 

December issue of the Family Times Newsletter

This month includes family reflections on Advent, activities, and information.

Keeping children engaged at Mass can be challenging. Here are three ways to help:

• The Family Center in the vestibule of the church has activity bags for young children, books, and copies of a children’s bulletin for both 4-7 and 7-12 year olds.
• Download a copy of Reflecting on the Word as a Family (scroll to the bottom of the page) each week. Use it to prepare for Mass and give the children (and adults) a focus before Mass. Have them listen for key words in the readings and the homily.
• Our Families Sharing Ideas page has books and other ideas to support you. You may add ideas to this page as well!
• At the 11:00 Mass on the 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Sundays of the month, children may join the Children’s Liturgy of the Word. They are dismissed by Fr. Kevin and go with the leaders to the Juan Diego room to reenact the Gospel reading of the day and discuss its meaning.

Join Us in Celebrating Simbang Gabi

Saturday, 5:30 pm Mass is followed by a traditional Filipino dinner. Simbáng Gabi (literally, Night Mass) is a devotional nine-day novena of Masses (December 16-24), practiced by Roman Catholics in the Philippines in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary in anticipation of the birth of her Son, Jesus. Our parish is honored to host one of the evenings for Mass and a special traditional salu-salo (Filipino reception) at The Walmesley Center.

Join Us in Sending Christmas Cheer to Fr. Jack

As many of you know, Fr. Jack has had a challenging year. We want to let him know that we are thinking of him and surrounding him with our prayers by sending him Christmas greetings from OLG. You can drop off your Christmas card in the baskets in the church vestibule and in the office. We will then have a special elf deliver them to him.

Advent Communal Reconciliations Services

Saturday, Dec 16, 10:00 am

The celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is an important part of the Advent season. It has long been a tradition in the church to confess one’s sins and be reconciled before celebrating the great feast of Christmas. A communal celebration of the Sacrament will be offered followed by the opportunity for individual confession.

Thank You for Everyone Who Participated in our Feast Day Celebrations!

Special thanks to the OLG School Student Council for their portrayal of the Guadalupe story, the Knights of Columbus, Multicultural Ministry and the CCS Santa Teresita Community for the delicious fiesta. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

Volunteers Needed to Help Decorate the Church for Christmas!

This year it is a bit challenging for us to transition our church from Advent to Christmas because the 4^th Sunday of Advent is on Christmas Eve morning! Volunteers are needed after the 10:00 am Mass that morning to help finish setting up for Christmas. The more helpers we have, the quicker the task!

Looking for volunteer hours?

Our parish needs a few more camera operators for our Masses and other events. You can volunteer once a month or more often. The system is easy to operate (especially if you like playing video games!) Contact Helen 206-935-0358.

And always more to see on the OLG Parish Website