Dear Parents, Guardians, and Friends of OLMC,

Thank you to so many who joined us for the Hall of Saints on November 1st as we ushered in the new month with a celebration of the great variety of saints that God has given to His Church. During this month of All Saints and All Souls, we are continually reminded of the call to holiness and the magnificent gifts of God that make this possible. Each day we are reminded that God created us to be saints in His heavenly kingdom, and that this is achieved when we keep our eyes on the teaching, the living, the dying, and the rising of Jesus Christ.

I would also like to thank the Scouts of the parish/community who so frequently share their gifts with the school. One project undertaken by Jacob Nguyen, graduate of OLMC, for his Eagle Scout badge is the clearing of overgrowth and brush along the fenceline of the playground. This was accomplished last weekend, thanks to the commitment of many young men and dads! In the near future, Jacob will complete his project by building and redesigning the fenced in play area for the preschool students. We hope that these projects will contribute to the aesthetics of the playground as well as serve a useful purpose for our youngest students.

It was a joy to have so many student guests with us on November 6th for Bring a Friend to School Day. We had about 20 additional students with us spread across the grades. I was very proud of our students for their warm Mount Carmel spirits in welcoming our guests and making them feel part of the class throughout the day. I hope to see many of these guests back at the school in a school uniform one day!

This month our Created for Greatness Faith Families Assembly will take place on Monday, November 12th. Due to the size of the project we are completing, this month (and December also) will be dedicated to the design and completion of the "Door of Faith" on each classroom door. Each hallway will have a theme displayed on their doors which will help to recall several important facts of the Year of Faith. The Early Childhood Hallway will have "Doors of Faith" that teach about the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary of publication this year. The main hallway doors will display the theme of the Second Vatican Council which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The 3-5 hallway doors will display symbols and teachings of the Nicene Creed which is the official prayer for the Year of Faith and which we at OLMC are praying daily with morning prayers. Finally the MS hallway will be decorated with themes from the New Evangelization which is universal effort to evangelize Christian nations with new vigor, methods, and expressions. This requires tremendous creativity, prayer, and an understanding of culture, and we hope our MS leaders are up to the task!

Thank you for your participation in the Poor Clare food drive this week. The Poor Clare Sisters have promised prayers for all of their benefactors and for the children at the school.

With prayers for your families,

Sister Dominic

Runners and walkers are offered 8K and 3K options that traverse the scenic area of the Mariners' Museum, the majestic Lion's Bridge, and the beautiful Riverside neighborhood. All participants receive goody bags, tech t-shirts, and a post-race award ceremony with family fun attractions.  

Everyone is invited! Runners, walkers, adults and children of all ages and abilities are welcome in both events.  

Event Proceeds benefit the students of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School to promote health and well being...mind, body and spirit.   

For more information and a registration form, please visit:  

OLMC Making a Difference Race 

 

OLMC School is currently undergoing its five year self-study for SACS re-accreditation. Recognized by the United States Department of Education, SACS is a prestigious regional accreditation organization responsible for accrediting schools and colleges in all of the southern states. OLMC is once again working toward earning an accreditation that meets the superior criteria and quality standards mandated by SACS.

During a recent after school meeting, the faculty and staff of OLMC gathered to discuss ideas and principles related to the standards for quality schools, as they relate to the criteria required by SACS. On October 31st, the committee for standard five gave a presentation that encompassed their standard which reads, "The school implements a comprehensive assessment system that generates a range of data about student learning and school effectiveness and use the results to guide continuous improvement." It was determined that OLMC is very strong in this area as we offer numerous student assessments to ensure educational excellence. The committee for standard five determined that there is a considerable amount of reports, benchmark tests, learning plans and placement exams to ensure that students are ready for success at the next level. Professional educators, administrators and staff members are constantly collecting and analyzing data in order to ensure that students are learning properly. The Standard Five Committee has done an outstanding job of recognizing our greatest efforts for student learning and school effectiveness. In the coming weeks, the faculty and staff will continue to work toward addressing the remaining standards for excellence.