Our Lady of Charity

October 21, 2022

Dear Parents,

Halloween: We are hosting a Halloween dance for students in grades 6, 7, and 8, from 6:30 - 9:00 PM on Fri., Oct. 28. On Mon., Oct. 31, students may wear costumes (grades PK - 5; no masks; nothing too scary) or come to school dressed in Halloween or fall colors (grades 6, 7, and 8).

This year we have adopted a new student management program entitled Caring School Community. This is a social and emotional learning and discipline program designed to help students become caring and responsible members of OLC. The goal of the CSC program is for students to become self-disciplined. Topics include bullying, defiance, disengagement, inappropriate language, social isolation, stealing, and vandalism.

One component of the program is called “cross-age buddies,” and we begin it this month. Cross-age buddies helps students develop positive relationships by pairing older students from one grade with younger students from another grade. The older students experience themselves as competent and valued, while the younger students develop trust for others and experience themselves as worthy of special attention and kindness. Here are the cross-age buddies assigned this year:

Kindergarten - 4th grade

1st grade - 5th

2nd - 6th

3rd - 7th Preschool - 8th

Be sure to ask your child about it in the coming weeks.

Roller skating in P.E. class runs for two weeks starting Nov. 28. This will be fun, and roller skating is a lifetime sport. Your child’s grade level teacher will need to collect shoe sizes! The cost is $13 per student (grades K - 8). If you can help supervise during your child’s gym class, email your child’s teacher: https://www.olc-school.org/ staff-bios

Thank you to all the parents who came to our 2nd grade Sunday Mass at noon last week. Our next schoolwide Sunday Mass will be with the 3rd graders at noon on Nov. 6. All families should attend with their children. We will have refreshments afterward in Halpin Hall.

Complete your VIRTUS training online in 1 hour:

https://www.olc-school.org/general-info

Important dates:

Monday, October 31: Halloween (see above)

Wednesday, November 9: Van Gogh school photo retakes

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.

Yours in Christ,

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

Principal

(708) 652-0262

fzarate@olc-school.org

Our Lady of Charity

October 14, 2022

Dear Parents, This coming Sunday is the second grade student Mass at OLC. It will be at noon. Would you please attend with your family? We will have refreshments in the lunchroom after the service.

As I mentioned in a text message sent to you last Friday, all students will have free lunch beginning on Monday. A new Household and Income Form will be sent home with your child today. Please return it on Monday. If you paid for October, you will automatically receive a refund from the Food Service Professionals office; please allow 6 to 8 weeks for processing. Students in grades K - 2 will have free breakfast in their classrooms. Older students who would like a free breakfast should report to the lunchroom at 7:25. They cannot arrive before then, and they must eat.

Springfield was Splendid! Our 8th graders enjoyed beautiful weather when they visited last week. For many of them, the best part of their experience was the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (see the photo below in front of the Lincoln Home).

Are you planning to have your 3rd - 8th grade child make his or her 1st holy Communion this school year? If so, email me or call Mr. Infante in the office no later than Monday.

Moving forward, the sacrament of confirmation will be conferred in 8th grade at OLC. If you would like your 8th grader to receive this sacrament this year, please let Mr. Infante or me know by Monday.

Do your VIRTUS training online in about an hour: https://www.olc-school.org/general-info

Important dates:

Monday, October 17: free lunch/breakfast begins for all students

Wednesday, October 19: Early release for students (30 minutes early)

Wednesday, November 9: Van Gogh school photo retakes 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.

Yours in Christ,

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

(708) 652-0262

fzarate@olc-school.org

Our Lady of Charity

October 7, 2022

Dear Parents,

Thank you to the many parents who came to parent-teacher conferences last week. 85% of our students had a parent here. If you were unable to make it, you can always email the teacher to get a progress update or to make an individual appointment for a meeting. Email addresses are listed on our website: https://www.olc-school.org/staff-bios

OLC had a terrific Cross Country season this year. Our Runner of the Week at the championship meet last Saturday at Lewis University in Romeoville was 8th grader Aaron Verdin. It was great to see how all the runners improved each week.

Congratulations to all of them:

5th grade boys:

Marcos Macias

Michael Rodriguez

5th grade girls:

Isabella Alvarez

Cynthia Gomez

Amaya Muñoz

Victoria Pineda

Penelope Sandoval

Marianna Sastoque

6th grade boys:

Abdiel Preciado

Angeldavid Zambrano

6th grade girls:

Karina Alvarez

Aina Camacho

Yatzil Garcia

Ariana Godinez

Joselyn Gonzalez

Isabella Mata

Sara Meza

Isabella Tovar

7th grade boys:

Marlon Martinez

Zadkiel Preciado

Jose Robles

7th grade girls:

Emely Avalos

Camila Garcia

Zoe Garcia

Jolee Lopez

8th grade boys:

Dean Cundari

Christian Navarro

Jesus Santos

Ignacio Serrano

Aaron Verdin

Last Monday our 2nd and 3rd graders enjoyed beautiful fall weather on a field trip to Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center in Hinsdale. They explored Salt Creek and old Graue Mill, and saw chipmunks, frogs, and a red cardinal — the state bird of Illinois!

Our Fall Raffle began this week: Each OLC family is responsible for selling 10 raffle tickets for $25 each. The drawing is on Nov. 21. The prize is $500 cash or a full month's tuition.

Are you planning to have your 3rd - 8th grade child make his or her 1st holy Communion this school year? If so, email me or call Mr. Infante in the office no later than Mon., Oct. 17.

Moving forward, the sacrament of confirmation will be conferred in 8th grade at OLC. If you would like your 8th grader to receive this sacrament this year, please let Mr. Infante or me know by Oct. 17. You can complete VIRTUS training online in about an hour:

https://www.olc-school.org/general-info

Important dates:

Monday, October 10: No school

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.

Yours in Christ,

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

(708) 652-0262

fzarate@olc-school.org