Upcoming events: 

December 19th
Edge Christmas Party
If you are able, please bring a plate of Christmas cookies to share. We'll be discussing the Christmas story, and have some Small Group games to play.

December 27th
Bounce Night
Regional event-8th grade and older. This event is open to the first 110 people that sign up. It will be held at Rebounderz from 10pm-1am, and the cost is $30/person. Interested in going, please email Christina Reid.

January 12th
Father/Daughter &
Mother/Son Dance
Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. Dance the night away from 6-10pm in St. Michael Hall. Tickets are $5/person in advance and $7.50/person at the door. Dinner and entertainment are included! For ticket information, please contact Christina Reid.

 For a complete list of classes, or to register online
please visit: 

http://www.chkd.org/classes/ 

From the Principal's Desk

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Friends of OLMC School,

 

I know it is a busy time, and I am writing a rather lengthy letter this week. I ask that our school families please take time to read through this letter and the bulleted notes which follow, as it holds a lot of information that I want you to have.

 

During the month of December at OLMC School, the students, faculty, staff, and I are learning about and cultivating the virtue of purity in our hearts and in our lives.   This virtue, often disdained in popular media in regard to sensuality, gives us the strength to keep our souls free from all sin. Purity helps us to simplify our lives, and eliminate distraction, as we become who we are as children of God. The desire for purity is an area where we Christians need continual conversion to take on the mind of Christ, because the way Christ sees purity is different from the way the world sees those who are pure.   It is the nature of the Christian to strive to see the world as Jesus sees it, and not through the eyes of mainstream media. Purity, and its accompanying characteristic of innocence, is all too often disregarded as naiveté and a lack of sophistication. Purity is among those virtues, which, if pursued whole heartedly for love of God, will put us at odds with the world around us. As Christians embracing the New Evangelization, let us be bold in choosing those things which bring us closer to God, which accord with His teaching, even at the expense of our status in the world's eyes. Let's encourage this in our youth and children that they grow up feeling more at home in God's kingdom than anywhere on earth, where we are merely pilgrims passing through on a journey.

 

Study of the virtue of purity this month accords very nicely with the opportunity to go to confession which our students have had this week. Several priests from the surrounding area have so graciously given their time to hear confessions of students in grades 3-8, who are Catholic, and who have made their first reconciliation. (Our 2nd graders went to confession for the first time about a week ago and still have clean, shiny souls). As is expected, many students were nervous about going to confession - some had not been in several years. It is difficult to humble yourself before God, let alone, before His priestly representative on earth. But the joy and lightness which follows confessions is always tangibly expressed in faces and in conversations. Some of the students who went to confession yesterday had joyful responses, including, "I love having a fresh start with God" and "It's like God takes a weight off your shoulders and reminds you that He cared about you the whole time you were carrying it" and "It's like were all caterpillars and just got turned into beautiful butterflies" and "What a relief - I didn't know how big a relief it would be" and "It feels like I just finished a twenty year jail sentence and have a chance at a new life." Confession is the channel of receiving God's mercy, which we all desperately need. Despite the fact that the world, and often people within the Church, deny that we are sinners, and think that this kind of talk lowers our self-esteem, confession is the sacrament of freedom! Our sins are real, and when they become habits, they are like chains preventing us from being free children of God. The above students' comments express a renewed freedom, a joy, a purity that restores innocence. I encourage you make confession a regular practice of your family's life. Every child who came away from this sacrament was beaming with joy. Would your child feel comfortable asking you to take him/her to confession? Is there room for this in your family's life and schedule? If you aren't sure, this a great way to embrace the New Evangelization, a new way of living out the faith in your family, and ensuring that your family is connected to the sacramental graces so freely given in confession.

 

With prayers for your families this advent season,

• Please join the school community in praying for the DosSantos family. Mrs. Christine DosSantos has been fighting cancer of the lung for several months. They ask for prayers for Christine's healing, and for her family in general. Points of contact for this family are Sister Dominic (front office of the school), Julie Nguyen, and Christina Aungst. We will publish any needs the family has as they arise. Your prayers are much appreciated.
• Our pastor, Father John David is looking forward to putting a Christmas tree in the rectory and decorating it. He would like to decorate with student-made ornaments! If your child/family would like to make an ornament for Father John David, you could drop it in the front office any time. (There are many items coming through the front office at this time - please specify in writing that your ornament is for Father's tree.)
• The School's commitment to the Knights of Columbus to staff Monday night Bingo runs through July 2013. I would like to remind you that the schedule can be found on Edline under the parent tab and is again hyperlinked to this OLW. Please note you must sign in to your Edline account to see the schedule. Additionally, emails go out each week reminding families of their upcoming work night. Using the schedule online, please contact families directly if you need to switch work nights with someone. Also, students at CNU have worked Bingo for our families for a $50 stipend. This can be arranged through John Hopke (Campus Minister) or by contacting our front office (Julie Hill). Failure to show on your night does incur a fee for your family. www.edline.net 
• Carpool reminders were recently sent out in the OLW and are coming home in print this Wednesday. Following these general reminders, I expect that all will run smoothly at morning and afternoon carpool, and no further correspondence will be required.
• There is an out of uniform opportunity coming up on December 18th. The Student Council is raising money for the Red Cross and is asking for $1.00 for any faculty, staff or students who wish to participate. Students may dress out of uniform according to the handbook; however, the Student Council also wishes to encourage the theme of wearing a Christmas hat, socks, accessories, sweaters, or sweatshirts. (Any accessories, etc which cause a distraction in the classroom will be put aside until recess or the end of the day).
• Many items for the auction are coming into the front office. Thank you for labeling these for the auction, and with your name, so that we know who is to be awarded the service hour for early donations.
• This is the last opportunity to vote for our fabulous teachers through the Hampton Roads contest. Please go to the website and vote for one or more teachers who have helped your children or family during their years at OLMC.

 

 

Come Support a Dough Rai$er to benefit  

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School!  

 

UNO will donate up to 20%  

of your check to this fund!  

 

Dates:  

Saturday, 12/8-Friday, 12/14  

 

Location:  

UNO at Kiln Creek  

5007 Victory Boulevard  

 

Dine in or take out! Come out for an enjoyable meal to raise money for OLMC, reward your students, and have a delicious meal!    

 

Please note you must bring a voucher with you. Printable vouchers are available on our website under "News and Information"  

 

www.olmc-school.com 

 

 Thomas Small, an 8th grade student at OLMC, was recently honored by Johns Hopkins University for being one of the brightest middle school students in the world! There were close to 41,000 participants selected for the Center for Talented Youth Search, and Thomas was one of the students that placed in the top one half of one percent academically. Criteria for selection included exceptionally high scholastic scores and advanced academic abilities. During the National Medal Ceremony, Elaine Tuttle Hansen, Executive Director of CTY said, "We take this moment to look on with admiration and respect for these young people and their remarkable achievements being recognized today. It's a moment of great pride for the honored students, as well as for the educators and parents who have helped these promising young people come so far on a road that will lead them to do great things." Thomas attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel School since Kindergarten and was challenged academically and has excelled throughout his years. We are extremely pleased that The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth,
a global leader in exceptional education,
has honored a student from Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. We congratulate Thomas Small on this distinct honor.  

 

 

 

 

Come cheer on the Crusader Basketball
teams as they play this winter!

12/17 Monday @ Walsingham

 

1/8 Tuesday vs St. Mary

 

1/22 Tuesday @ St. Mary

 

1/24 Thursday vs Trinity

 

1/31 Thursday vs WCA *boys only*  

girls game cancelled

 

2/4 Monday vs Walsingham

 

2/12 Tuesday @ Trinity

 

2/14 Thursday vs Summit

 

 

*Girls games begin at 4:00  

*Boys games begin at 5:15