Our Lady of Charity Newsletter

January 13, 2023

Dear Parents, Next week we have no school on Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Dr. King was first and foremost a minister, and at the foundation of his work was Christ’s message to “love one another.” In our work at OLC, we strive to help children learn Dr. King’s message to be fair with each other, and to live as “disciples of Christ and leaders in the community.”

According to the Parent and Student Handbook: Each student athlete (this includes each cheerleader) is expected to maintain a minimum grade of C in all classes. Failure to fulfill [this] expectation may result in suspension from the athletic program [until the grade is raised].

Please call us when your child is absent. Call no later than 9:00: 708-652-0262 ext. 201. Leave a message if no one picks up the phone. We need to know where the children are during the school day.

We had an art exhibit on Tuesday of the pieces created by students in their work with the teaching artists we had from the National Museum of Mexican Art. See the photo below for a few sample projects.

Important dates:

Monday, January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no school

Wednesday, January 18: Empower Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Reservation Night! Form opens at 6:30 pm; submission begins at 7 pm. This important step secures the family's time stamp and their position in first come, first served order.

Wednesday, January 25: Early release day; 30 minutes before the regular time

Sunday, January 29: New date for the 5th 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 Newsletter

December 22, 2022

Dear Parents,

Merry Christmas to you and to your family. Thank you for your continued support of our school. Please contact me at any time with comments, questions, or concerns. I am here for you!

Here is a Christmas prayer that your child may recite on Christmas Day, perhaps at dinnertime. Make sure he or she can practice it first:

Merry Christmas Dear Lord, We thank you for the blessings of family, for the gift of time to rest for the delight in the eyes of loved ones, for the food we eat, and the roof over our heads. We praise your name. Amen.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Christmas food drive to benefit a Cicero food pantry (see photo)!

Important dates:

Friday, December 23 - Sunday, January 8: Christmas vacation; classes resume on Mon., Jan. 9.

Wednesday, January 11: Early release day; 30 minutes before the regular time

Friday, January 13: 8th grade graduation photos. Boys should wear a shirt and tie. Sport coats, suits, or sweaters are optional and will not be visible under the gown. Girls should avoid up-dos, turtleneck sweaters, or high neck dresses. Keep in mind slacks and skirts may show in some posing. All students should avoid wearing shades of green as students will be photographed against a green screen. There is no retake date.

Sunday, January 15: 5th 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 Weekly Newsletter

December 15, 2022 Dear Parents, Family Movie Night tomorrow at 6:00: The Christmas Chronicles. $6 adults; $3 children (price includes snacks).

OLC Christmas Food Drive ends on Monday: 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.

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; refreshments and piñatas afterward in Halpin Hall.

Art classes conducted by teaching artists from the National Museum of Mexican Art are going great (for students in grades 4 - 8; see photo). We will have an exhibition after Christmas vacation.

Important dates:

Wednesday, December 21: Early release day (students are dismissed 30 minutes early); Christmas Posada in church at 6:30 followed by a party in Halpin Hall. All students will perform in the posada and must be in school by 6:15 PM!

Friday, December 23 - Sunday, January 8: Christmas vacation; classes resume on Mon., Jan. 9.

Friday, January 13: 8th grade graduation photos. Boys should wear a shirt and tie. Sport coats, suit or sweaters are optional and will not be visible under the gown. Girls should avoid up-dos, turtleneck sweaters, or high neck dresses. Keep in mind slacks and skirts may show in some posing. All students should avoid wearing shades of green as students will be photographed against a green screen. There is no retake date.

Sunday, January 15: 5th 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