OLC Newsletter 12/04/25

December 4, 2025

Dear Parents,

School calendar change! We are NOT having an early dismissal day on Wednesday, December 17; the early dismissal day has been moved to Thursday, December 18 instead. Students will be dismissed 30 minutes before the usual time on Dec. 18. Please make a note of this change.

Uniform reminders: The blue hooded sweatshirts may only be worn on gym days; black jeans are not allowed; boots must be exchanged for school shoes in the classroom. 

Parking lot reminders: Please be courteous of fellow parents while driving in the lot. If you want to watch your child enter the building, please park your car in one of the spaces; don’t block the cars behind you waiting for your student to enter. The speed limit in the lot is 5 mph when children are present.

Don’t forget Breakfast with Santa this Saturday at 10:00 here at OLC.

This coming Sun., Dec. 7, we will have an all school Mass at noon sponsored by the 4th grade. All students and their families should attend if at all possible. We’ll have refreshments after Mass in Halpin Hall. 

We need volunteers for our home basketball games. Get your volunteer hours completed and support our students. No Virtus training is needed. Here are the dates: https://forms.gle/4zCKP5pAqEYiZH6K8

Santa’s Secret Shop opens next week. This is an opportunity for children to experience the joy of choosing their own special holiday gifts for family and friends. The shop is here at school and is supervised by parent volunteers. Please contact the school office this week if you can assist. Proceeds benefit the Class of 2026. 

Roller Skating began yesterday. The skating unit is a lot of fun for students. Be sure to ask your child about it. If you would like to volunteer and help out, call the school office at (708) 652-0262 ext. 201.

Next Friday, Dec. 12 is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We will have a reenactment of the apparition of the Virgin to St. Juan Diego as performed by our 3rd graders. This will take place at the 9:00 Mass and will include traditional songs sung by the 4th graders. This is also Grandparents Day at OLC for all students in grades PK-8. Students may invite up to two grandparents (or VIPs) to Mass. After the service, there will be tamales and beverages for the grandparents in the classrooms (grades K-5); middle schoolers will gather with their grandparents in the lunchroom. The gatherings will end at 10:30 so that we can prepare for the lunch periods.

Our Ol’ St. Nick’s Auction is open, and we’re offering front row seats at the Christmas concert as well as a handcrafted olive wood crucifix from Bethlehem. The auction closes on Dec. 12 at 8pm. If you’re interested in bidding, follow this link: 

https://olcps.betterworld.org/auctions/ol-saint-nicks-auction

Our Piano Recital is at 5:00pm on Tues, Dec. 16, in Halpin Hall.

The last day of school before Christmas vacation is Fri., Dec. 19. There is no Chess Club meeting that day. OLC will be closed for Christmas break from Dec. 20-Jan. 4. School resumes on Mon., Jan. 5.

Though we are in the midst of basketball season, we are already looking ahead to springtime when we hope to have a second OLC soccer season. With the help of one of our dads, we are planning to join a local Catholic school league based in Forest Park. 

Our Christmas Concert is on Wed., Dec. 17, at 6:30pm in OLC church. All students in grades PK-8 will perform. Students please arrive by 6:15 so they’re ready to begin on time! Students should wear their Sunday best, preferably Christmas colors such as green or red; white and black are also acceptable. Please be mindful of the additional relatives you invite. Grandparents and some extended family members are welcome. While we have a large church we want to ensure that all families are seated comfortably. 

The Christmas car raffle drawing is scheduled for Christmas Day at 2:00pm at St. Mary of Czestochowa’s Makuch Hall.

Wishing you and your family a blessed and joyful Christmas season, filled with peace, hope, and the light of Christ. I hope to see you at the concert on the 17th.

Yours truly, 

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

Principal(708) 652-0262 

fzarate@olc-school.org