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Our Lady of Mount Carmel School
Crusader Connection
March 2013 |
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A common way to enter into the season of Lent is to pray the Stations of the Cross. In previous years the students went to the church during the week as individual classes to pray the Stations. This year, the pk-5th grade classes will pray together on Fridays in Lent beginning at 2:15. Middle school classes which are unable to participate on Friday afternoon, will pray as individual classes during the week. Families are welcome to attend the Stations with the school or are encouraged to attend the Soup Suppers and Stations as a family on Friday evenings at the parish.
Lenten Fasting and Abstinence
February 13 - March 30th
During the season of Lent the Church requires particular fasting and abstinence for those who are physically able, and of age, to participate. Many families practice these fasts each year so many of our students participate in these fasts even from a young age. While mortification and fasting is an important part of the Christian life, we do emphasize that children need to eat enough food for their growing bodies. The Church Fasts are as follows:
1. Abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent. This includes the use of meat, but does not exclude eggs or milk products. This includes persons aged 14 and older.
2. Fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday - the only required fast days in the entire year. The "Church Fast" consists in limiting oneself to one full meal and two lighter meals, the sum of the two not quite equal to the full meal. Eating between meals is not permitted - this can be a difficulty for the American lifestyle, but there is something deeper going on here than a challenge. This includes persons who are 18-59 years old.
3. All are obliged to do some penance during the entire season of Lent. In addition to the fasts, this can take on the practice of prayer, good works, almsgiving, self-denial, or other acts of charity.
End of Second Trimester
March 1
With the beginning of March this year, we turn the corner into the third trimester. Report cards for all grades K-8 will come home a week later on March 8. It is a good time to encourage the children to finish strong and let the hard work of the year, and the hours spent learning and reviewing to really culminate at the end of May. Any concerns a teacher has with regard to sufficient preparedness for the rising grade will be communicated in writing and will require a conference.
FACTS Deadline
March 1
New and returning families who apply for financial aid have a deadline of March 1st. All applications, along with required supporting documents, must be completed online at FACTS Grant and Aid. For more information and/or guidance please contact Joyce Kiser in the Business Office. We are unable to grant extensions to this deadline as financial aid is allocated and distributed in view of all families applying for aid.
Home and School Chili & Cake Cook-Off
March 2
On the first Saturday of March the Home and School hosts a chili and cake cook off in the school cafeteria. It is conveniently scheduled to begin at 6:00, following the 5:00 vigil Mass at the parish. Crock pots and cakes can be dropped off prior to Mass. All who have secret family recipes or just like to cook are invited to bring a crock or container of chili for many to sample and vote. A cake contest takes place simultaneously. Board games are typically set out on cafeteria tables for children and families. There is no supervision for children other than their parents so we ask that they not go into the gym or outside without a designated parent supervisor who will remain with the children at all times. All are invited to make or taste chili, bake or sample cakes! A cake raffle allows the lucky winner to take home winning cakes.
Foreign Language Week
March 4 - 8
During this week of awareness for languages other than English, students are invited to accompany morning announcements with a prayer or special announcement in another tongue. Additionally, the teachers of foreign languages decorate the school and build lessons to enrich the awareness and appreciation for various languages and cultures. Be on the lookout for an out of uniform opportunity this week.
Hi Ho Silver
March 10
Plan to shop Hi Ho Silver on the evening of March 10th and support OLMC School! Shop at HI HO Silver for Mother's Day gifts, Easter gifts, birthday gifts, or for yourself! A percentage of proceeds from this evening will benefit OLMC School Auction. More details coming in Wednesday folders.
Emergency Response Drills
March 12
Each year in March the state of Virginia enacts a tornado drill in schools and invites private schools to participate. These are generally unannounced to teachers and students so that we have authentic information on how quickly we respond to the alert and how prepared we are to react in an emergency situation. Additionally the school performs required monthly fire drills as well as regular lock down drills. In February, the faculty and staff participated in a presentation on safety in the school, led by a professional who analyzed the school's features. The faculty and staff are up to date on best practices. It is helpful that the Newport News Police frequent our street to catch those speeding on Harpersville Road. The police have also worked to increase their awareness of our school, its layout, and our emergency responses.
Norfolk St. Patrick's Day Parade
March 16
Students and families wishing to march with OLMC in the parade are encouraged to respond via permission slips when they come out. OLMC began attending the parade again last year, passed out school information and marched along the parade route, or rode on the school bus which was our parade float, with other clubs and schools. It was a wonderful morning! Mrs. Thames has been working on our float apparatus since last year.
Spring Performance
March 19 and 21
Our younger students in grades 1-3 will be performing a spring program with the theme "Stories". The school assembly will be on March 19th at 2:00 pm. The evening performance for parents and friends will be on March 21st at 6:00 pm. Please note the time change - the original calendar had it scheduled at 6:30pm.
Middle School Open House
March 21
The Middle School is hosting an Open House from 6:30-8:00 in the Middle School building. We encourage students in grades 4/5 to attend to have a general orientation to the middle school schedule, activities and responsibilities. We also invite families from others schools who want to learn more about OLMC Middle School offerings.
ACRE Assessment
March 20
The ACRE Assessment is the standardized test, published by the NCEA and administered in Catholic Schools, grades 5 and 8 at the elementary level. Typically our students perform very well on these tests. It is a 60 minute test for which no prior preparation is required, other than a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast.
The Catholic Bee
March 27
The Catholic Bee is run as a typical Bee Competition like spelling and geography. The Catholic Bee is a formal program hosted by the Knights of Columbus in the state of Virginia. Finalists from each classroom from grades 4-8 compete in the school-wide Catholic Bee at 1:45 in the gym. Questions include common Catholic knowledge such as feast days, the liturgical year, the catechism, devotions and Catholic practices. All are welcome to attend. Finalists will be named in an OLW about a week prior to the Bee.
The Easter Triduum and Easter Break
March 28 - 31
The Paschal Triduum: Holy Thursday beginning in the evening, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday, is the holiest time of the year, and one for which we prepare during the six weeks of Lent. While I grew up in a Catholic family, and we did attend Mass each Sunday, there weren't many additional devotions or practices that formed our childhood years. But I do remember, from the earliest years, attending the Passion Liturgy on Good Friday, and when I was older, the evening Mass on Holy Thursday. After this Mass, the main altar and side altars were stripped and the church suddenly became stark and bare, reflective of the time of suffering and loneliness our Savior entered on that night. We also stayed for some minutes for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in thanksgiving for the genius of God who uses this simple way to stay close to and united with His children. I hope that prior to entering into the delights and joys of a week of Easter vacation, you will begin to build, or continue to build, these strong Catholic traditions in your family. Your children's faith will be the rock and bulwark which will be with them all their days. This is the central event of the life of the Church and one through which Jesus wants to bless your family this year.
With prayers for your families,
Sister Dominic
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