Our Lady of Charity Weekly Newsletter

December 1, 2022

Dear Parents, Dress up day on Mon., Dec. 12: To celebrate the feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, students are encouraged to come to school dressed as the Virgin of Guadalupe or as St. Juan Diego. The class with the highest percentage of students participating wins a pizza party. Ideas may be found on Google; any close approximations will suffice.

Advent began last Sunday. The word advent comes from the Latin “adventus,” which means “coming.” It is a joyful time for us to prepare for the Lord's coming. I’ve included some Advent activities for you to do as a family.

OLC Christmas Food Drive: We are conducting a canned food drive for needy Cicero residents as a Christmas service project. Have your children give donations to their teachers no later than Mon., Dec. 19.

Santa’s Secret Shop returns to OLC Dec. 7 - 9. This program makes it possible for students to experience the joy of choosing their own holiday gifts for family and friends while teaching them to budget their money and make their own decisions.

This year all boys’ basketball players and all the cheerleaders will need to have a sports physical to play. Our 6th graders already have a current physical on file, so they are exempted. Basketball and cheerleading permission forms were sent home this week; they are due by Jan 9.

We will have a school Christmas Posada at 6:30 PM in church on Wed., Dec. 21. Students in grades PK - 8 will take part in the performance, and there will be refreshments and piñatas afterward in Halpin Hall.

Important dates:

Thursday, December 8: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; all-school Mass at 1:00. Parents are invited. There is no school Mass on Dec. 9.

Sunday, December 11: 8th-grade class Mass at noon. All families are invited. Donuts, pan dulce, and beverages after Mass.

Monday, December 12: Feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. We will have an all-school Mass at 1:00, with a reenactment of the apparition of the Virgin to St. Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill, as performed by our fourth graders, with songs provided by the third graders. This will take place during the Homily. Parents (and younger siblings) are invited to attend.

Yours in Christ,

Frank S. Zarate, Jr., Ed.D. Principal (708) 652-0262 fzarate@olc-school.org

Our Lady Of Charity School

November 16, 2022 Dear Parents, Donate a Christmas tree ornament to the school for the Our Lady of Charity School tree in Cicero Community Park. Have your children give it to their teacher no later than Monday. Old ornaments are fine, so clean out the closet!

Report cards go home tomorrow.

Santa’s Secret Shop returns to OLC Dec. 7 - 9. This program makes it possible for students to experience the joy of choosing their own holiday gifts for family and friends, while teaching them to budget their money and make their own decisions.

Thank you to the three USMC veterans who came to our school on Veterans Day to speak to our 7th and 8th graders: Mr. Adolfo Bolaños, Mr. Aaron Jimenez, and Mr. Nick Salamone. Also taking part in the assembly were students Miya Ramirez, Zadkiel Preciado, Ignacio Serrano, and Dean Cundari.

This year all boys’ basketball players and all the cheerleaders will need to have a sports physical to play. Our 6th graders already have a current physical on file, so they are exempted. The sports physical is a State of IL requirement for schools.

Art classes taught by teaching artists from the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago began this week in grades 4 - 8. We will have an exhibit of student work before Christmas.

We will have a school Christmas Posada at 6:30 PM in church on Wed., Dec. 21. Students in grades PK - 8 will take part in the performance, and there will be refreshments and piñatas afterward in Halpin Hall. Important dates:

Friday, November 18: no school; staff development day

Wednesday, November 23 - Friday, November 25: Thanksgiving break Monday, November 28: VanGogh school photo retakes

Sunday, December 11: 8th grade class Mass at noon. All families are invited. Donuts, pan dulce, and beverages after Mass.

Yours in Christ, Frank S. Zarate, Jr., Ed.D. Principal (708) 652-0262 fzarate@olc-school.org

OUR LADY OF CHARITY SCHOOL WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

November 8, 2022

Dear Parents, Friday is the end of the 1st trimester; report cards will go home on Nov. 17.

Veterans Day assembly for 7th and 8th grade: this coming Friday at 10:00 in church. We have three Marine guests coming to visit us and speak to students. Parents are welcome to attend.

We will have a school Christmas Posada at 6:30 PM in church on Wed., Dec. 21. Students in grades PK - 8 will take part in the performance, and there will be refreshments and piñatas afterward in Halpin Hall. All students should wear black bottoms (pants or skirts), black shoes, and the following color tops: PK/kindergarten: red 1st/2nd grade: green 3rd/4th grade: white 5th grade: red 6th grade: green 7th/8th grade: white

Roller skating starts Nov. 28. If you can help supervise during your child’s gym class, email your child’s teacher or me: https://www.olc-school.org/staff-bios

Cross-age buddies help older students come to understand what it means to have younger students look up to them. Younger students acquire a sense of belonging and security. Our cross age buddies program is now in all grades PK - 8. Ask your child about it (see photo at left).

The Pizza and Bowling Night planned for tomorrow has been canceled.

Complete your VIRTUS training: https://www.olc- school.org/general-info

Important dates:

Thursday, November 10: High School Fair at OLC, 6:00 - 7:30 pm. All the Catholic high schools in the area will have representatives here to talk to parents.

Sunday, November 13: 3rd grade Mass at noon. All OLC families please try to attend. Donuts and coffee after Mass in Halpin Hall.

Wednesday, November 16: Early release (30 minutes before the regular time)

Wednesday, November 23 - Friday, November 25: Thanksgiving break

Yours in Christ, Frank S. Zarate, Jr., Ed.D. Principal (708) 652-0262 fzarate@olc-school.org