OLC Newsletter 10/29/25

October 29, 2025

Dear Parents,

Don’t forget that this coming Friday we will have our Trunk or Treat activity (sponsored by the PTO) after school in the parking lot. All students will be dismissed to the lot at 2:40. There is no parking allowed in the lot that day. 

The PTO is hosting a delightful event called “Breakfast with Santa” on Saturday, December 6, from 10a-12p. All the proceeds will go towards our school deficit and fund other exciting events for our students. The Breakfast with Santa Committee will be selling tickets outside in the parking lot on Thursday, October 30, in the afternoon during pick up. Please note that tickets WILL NOT BE SOLD AT THE DOOR the day of the event. We would also like to inform you that the Santa Bundle tickets are limited and only a few are left. Once sold out, we will not be offering any more. 

TICKET PRICES:

Adults (13 and above): $15

Kids (ages 3-12): $10

Children 2 and under: FREE

SANTA BUNDLE: 2 Adults and up to 3 kids (ages 3-12): $40

Veterans Day is on November 11. This year we have a veteran visiting our school to speak to our middle schoolers on Nov. 4. Mr. Tom Brown is a First Division Vietnam veteran who conducts many school programs. He focuses on his individual story, and tells the students about getting drafted, basic training, arriving in Vietnam, his equipment, and the mission. Mr. Brown was injured in the war and was medically evacuated. He wraps up by discussing his medical care, returning home, and his family and volunteering experience. Mr. Brown is a volunteer at the First Division Museum at Cantigny Park in Wheaton. We are honored to have him visit our school.

VanGogh Retake Picture Day is coming up on Wednesday, November 5. If you would like to prepay for retake pictures, please visit the VanGogh website. This is only for those ordering the retake photo:

https://orders.vangoghphoto.com/prepay/

School Code- 20068602

If students are retaking their original picture, they must bring the photo package to school to return to the photographer. They will take a new photo and a new package will be printed.

No school on Friday, November 7: professional development day for teachers

The next PTO meeting will be on Tues., Nov. 11, at 7:45 in the Extended Care room.

Join us for Lotería Night here at OLC on Fri., Nov. 14. It’s fun and proceeds benefit the school! Doors open at 6PM; the first game is at 6:30.

We will have an all school Mass sponsored by the 8th grade class at noon on Sun., Nov. 16. Our 8th grade confirmation candidates will be presented to the congregation, so your 8th graders should definitely be there, and all school families are welcome to join us. There will be refreshments afterward in Halpin Hall.

Our girls’ basketball season has begun for girls in grades 4-8. The OLC Panthers have a JV and a Varsity team. Thank you to our coaches: Juliana and Isabella Morini, and Angelica and Olivia de los Reyes!

Yours in Christ, 

Frank S. Zarate, Jr., Ed.D.

Principal(708) 652-0262 

fzarate@olc-school.org 

OLC Newsletter 10/21/25

October 21, 2025

Dear Parents,

Our Panthers JV and Varsity soccer teams had a winning season, and I would like to acknowledge our parent volunteer coaches, without whom we would be unable to have our soccer program: Mr. Tony Gutierrez, Mr. Jesus Ramirez, and Mr. Irving Soto. When you see them, please thank them for all they did for our athletes. I hope to join another local league for a spring soccer season this year, too.

On the topic of sports, in my last newsletter I was remiss in not mentioning Cross Country Coach Nolberto Villegas. Thank you, Mr. Villegas, for being here every morning at the crack of dawn to train our runners. We appreciate all three of our CC coaches, including Mr. Villegas as well as Ms. Gabby Loya and Ms. Alyssa Gomez de la Casa. 

I would also like to take a moment to recognize and thank the members of our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) for their commitment to supporting our school. The PTO plays an important role in strengthening the partnership between home and school, organizing events, and providing valuable fundraising that enriches the educational experience for all our students.We are grateful for the time, energy, and care that each member gives so generously. Our PTO members this year are:

Liliana Cardoso, Juan Delgado, Maria Galvez, Karina Garcia, Carmen Hernandez, Fr. Waldemar Latkowski, Gabby Loya, Rosamar Mallari, Stephanie Martinez, Sylvia Martínez, Juliana Morini, Gabriela Orozco, Estefania Palafox, Tania Reyna, Guadalupe Rodriguez, Phoebe Unzueta, Ximena Velazquez, Erika Zambrano, (and yours truly). We appreciate their time and dedication to making our school a vibrant place for students to learn and grow.

Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball starts next month!

Movie Night is this coming Friday, October 24: The Wild Robot! Doors open at 6:30. Students may bring a guest from outside the school. 

Friday, October 31, is Halloween. Students in grades PK-2 may wear costumes in lieu of their uniforms; students in grades 3-8 may not wear costumes; they may wear either the formal uniform or fall colors instead. We will have a parade (grades PK-2) around the block at around 2:15, and a Trunk or Treat activity (sponsored by the PTO) after school in the parking lot that day. All students will be dismissed to the parking lot at 2:40. There is no parking allowed in the lot that day. 

No school on Friday, November 7: professional development day for teachers

Parent Service Hours: As a reminder, parents’ mandatory service hours must be completed in a specific way – 

• 5 hours in parish events

• 15 hours school fundraising events

• 10 hours in other school activities

Yours in Christ, 

Frank S. Zarate, Jr., Ed.D.

Principal(708) 652-0262 

fzarate@olc-school.org 

10/6/25 Newsletter

OLC NEWSLETTER 

October 6, 2025

Dear Parents,

Book Fair is here! Stop in after school this week. All proceeds benefit our school.

Parent-Teacher Conferences are this coming Thursday from 1:00-7:00 and Friday from 12:30-3:00. Please make every effort to schedule an appointment. You can make an appointment here:  https://pickatime.com/OurLadyofCharity

We have a new reading teacher at our school this year: Ms. Nicole Latino. Ms. Latino comes to us from Cicero School District 99 to work with readers who need some extra support on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and every other Friday. 

OLC is also fortunate to have two school social workers this year, Ms. Lydia Kelly and Ms. Alexis Jezierski. School social workers are here to help children grow both academically and emotionally, offering support with friendships, problem-solving, and confidence, while working with teachers and families, to ensure every student feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.

There is no school on Mon., Oct. 13.

Our OLC fundraiser at Raising Cane’s is from 4:00-9:00 PM on Thurs., Oct. 16. This will be at the Riverside location (2514 Harlem Ave.). Mention the fundraiser at the restaurant or apply code RCFUND96 to online or app orders at checkout and Cane’s will donate 15% of net sales to our school!

The Student Council is hosting an ice cream social in Halpin Hall at 6:00 PM on Fri., Oct 17. $5 per person.

There is a mandatory retreat for all students who will be receiving the sacrament of confirmation on Sat., Oct 18, from 8:00-2:00 PM, at the St. Mary of Czestochowa Social Center, 5000 W. 31st St.

Our next all school Mass is on Sun., Oct 19, at noon. This Mass will be sponsored by the 2nd grade, and all students who are planning to receive their 1st holy Communion on May 2 will be presented to the congregation. 

Our OLC Movie Night is on Fri., Oct 24, at 7:00 PM; doors open at 6:30. We will be showing the film The Wild Robot. $2 to attend (free under three), and everyone is welcome. 

Congratulations to our OLC Cross Country season for a fantastic season. We are very proud of each and every one of our runners – you did a wonderful job of representing our school. A special thank you to our two coaches: Ms. Gabby Loya and Ms. Alyssa Gomez de la Casa. We could not have done this without your time and effort – practices at 6:30 in the morning!

Yours in Christ, 

Frank S. Zarate, Jr., Ed.D.

Principal(708) 652-0262 

fzarate@olc-school.org