Weekly Newsletter

January 11, 2024

Dear Parents,

OLC is having a Father Daughter Dance for Valentine’s Day on Fri., Feb. 2, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM in Halpin

Hall. All OLC girls and their dads/uncles/big brothers/family friends are invited. We will have flowers, photos,

pizza, cake, and a craft to do together. The cost is $5 per person. A flier was distributed this week, or see Pedro

for more info.

Don’t forget that there is no school on Monday, January 15, in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

All school Mass on Sunday, Jan. 21, at noon. The 4th grade class will serve refreshments after Mass in Halpin

Hall. All OLC families are encouraged to join us for this liturgy. Any student who is present will receive a one

day dress down pass for the following week.

We will be completing “iReady” standardized testing of all students in grades K - 8 in math and reading from

Jan. 22 - Feb. 2. You are welcome to contact your child’s teacher after testing is completed to see your child’s

test results. Compared to other standardized tests, iReady results are quite easy to understand.

We are having a free parent workshop at 6:30 PM on Thurs., Apr. 11, so mark your calendar. Mr. Ferney

Ramirez, who has presented at numerous west suburban schools, will speak to parents on the importance of

parents in their child’s success, how to build children's self-esteem, motivation, and values. You will like

Ferney! Invite your friends and neighbors, too. The presentation will be in Spanish, with English translation

available.

Have you seen our renovated school library? Stop by and check it out any day after school. We have purchased

hundreds of new, high interest books over the past two school years. According to the Illinois Heartland.

Library System, when you have a school library…

• Students read for fun;

• Students have greater academic success;

• Students master writing and English Language Arts standards;

• Students read more;

• Children from low-income families read more;

• Students achieve higher advanced reading scores;

• 67% of children ages 6 - 17 find books to read for fun from libraries;

• Kids who read for pleasure have more academic success.

Yours in Christ,

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

Principal

(708) 652-0262

fzarate@olc-school.org

OLC NEWSLETTER

December 21, 2023

Dear Parents,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and to your family. Thank you for your continued support of OLC. Please contact me if ever you have a question or a concern about anything pertaining to school.

Our Christmas Concert last week was a hit! I hope you enjoyed it. We plan to have a spring concert for the lower grades later on this school year.

Chess Club members enjoyed a pizza party this week. Chess Club meets every Tuesday from 3:00 - 4:00 with the club sponsor, Ms. Jennifer Gerwing. All students are welcome to come to the library to learn and to play chess.

Our annual Bus Evacuation Drill took place this week for all students. Thank you to Cicero School District 99 for providing us with two buses for our drill.

The FACTS (financial assistance) Grant and Aid Application will open on Monday, January 1, and not in February as was recently announced. Current TCS recipient families are encouraged to apply early for 2024-25 financial aid, as soon as FACTS opens in January.

Early bird registration for the 2024-2025 school year will be from February 12 until March 15, 2024. The early bird registration fee is $220. After March 15, the rate will be $440.

Tuition 2024 - 2025 School Year

1 child $6567

2 children $10,146

3 children $13,334

4 children $15,672

Yours in Christ,

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

Principal

(708) 652-0262

fzarate@olc-school.org

OLC NEWSLETTER

December 7, 2023

Dear Parents,

We are blessed to have received funds from the State this year that allowed us to purchase new student desks, tables, and chairs for all classrooms, preschool to 8th grade. The new desks and chairs for grades 1 - 8 are now assembled and in place, thanks to the help of several dads. Grandparents and VIPs will have a chance to see the new furniture on Tuesday. We also have new lunch tables and library furnishings. Do stop by after school when you can to check out our ultra-modern look!

Santa’s Secret Shop returns to OLC next week on Tues, Wed, and Thurs.. The shop is a great learning experience for young people: planning gift items, budgeting, counting money, making change, etc. The shop hours will be sent to you next week.

Early bird registration for the 2024-2025 school year will be from February 12 until March 15, 2024. The early bird registration fee is $220. After March 15, the rate will be $440. The FACTS (financial assistance) Grant and Aid Application will open February 12.

Tuition 2024 - 2025 School Year

1 child $6,567

2 children $10,146

3 children $13,334

4 children $15,672

All school Mass this coming Sunday, Dec. 10, at noon. The 5th grade class will serve refreshments after Mass in Halpin Hall. All OLC families are encouraged to join their classmates for this liturgy. Students who are present will receive a one day dress down pass for Monday.

Join us for noon Mass followed by a special event for grandparents or any other VIPs on Tues., Dec. 12, at noon. This is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We will have a reenactment of the apparition of the Virgin to St. Juan Diego at Tepeyac Hill, as performed by our 3rd and 4th graders during Mass. Each student in grades K - 8 should invite one grandparent or other VIP to school for Mass, as well as for an interview, photos, refreshments, and for a look at our new school furnishings. VIPs may include an aunt, uncle, older sibling, adult family friend, etc.

All school Christmas Concert: Wed., Dec. 13, 6:30 PM in church.

Our Christmas party that was planned for Dec. 15 has been canceled.

Preschoolers enjoyed their trip to the Field Museum this week. Every child loves a dinosaur!

Yours in Christ,

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

Principal

(708) 652-0262

fzarate@olc-school.org