May 1 Breakfast Tour Open House
9:00 am - 11:00 am
For some of our new families, this was the introduction to Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. On May 1st we provide a school-day open house during which we invite prospective parents to visit the school and the classrooms on a guided tour.
Early Dismissals
OLMC School will dismiss at noon on Friday May 3rd. The only 11:00 am dismissal is on Grandparents Day, which this year falls on Friday May 10th.
May 10th Grandparents Day and May Crowning
This day is set aside to celebrate our grandparents and special friends in our lives. Grandparents join us for Mass and sit with children when possible. Seating is filled quickly so it helps to arrive early. Grandparents are then invited to join us for refreshments, a brief presentation of student performances, and a visit to their grandchild's classrooms.
This day also doubles as May Crowning - the first of many 8th grade events leading up to graduation which is the culmination of their years at OLMC. Eighth grade students have elected one girl to crown Our Lady who will be escorted by one of the boys in the grade. Those elected have demonstrated to their peers a living faith which has helped the entire class to keep their eyes fixed on Christ throughout the year. The eighth grade students are invited to dress up for this occasion. The second grade class serves as the honor guard reminding us that they will receive, or have received, Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for the first time this month.
For the May Crowning, each student is invited to bring a simple potted plant with which they will process into Church and place it around Mary's statue. After dismissal our National Junior Honor Society students will beautify the grounds making the entire school grounds Mary's May garden.
May 18th Barnes and Noble Book Fair
At the OLMC Barnes and Noble Book Fair parents are invited to visit and shop for books on the summer reading list. The Book Fair is a fundraiser for the school library, and a percentage of the night's revenue is given back to OLMC to help build the library collection. Additionally, students will perform poetic and musical selections and display artwork for your enjoyment.
Eighth Grade Events
The month of May winds down with a treasure chest of 8th grade events at OLMC. Following successful completion of final exams from May 20-23, the students and their families join together in an awards banquet pot-luck style. Students are recognized for the variety of achievements over the past year(s). The 8th grade participates in a graduation Mass in their honor on Tuesday evening following Memorial Day. The distribution of diplomas immediately follows Mass and is held in the Church. Afterward, all are invited to St. Michael Hall to congratulate the graduates and their families end enjoy refreshments. This is hosted and planned by the rising 8th grade class.
May 23-24
This year of self-study for re-accreditation has been a work of labor. It culminates when all of our evidence and narratives are in order, and a team appointed by SACS visits the school to corroborate all evidence, observe in classrooms, review files and records, and question stakeholders. This intensive two-day "exam" for the school will provide the evidence needed to confirm our status as a fully accredited school. This is a normal process for any school that seeks to be accredited, and is repeated every five years.
PreK and Kindergarten
Our Kindergarten students end the year about a week prior to the rest of the school. Therefore their schedule is slightly different towards the end of the month of May, as follows:
Tuesday, May 28: 2:00 pre-K/Kindergarten show
Wednesday, May 29: pre-K/Kindergarten field day
Thursday, May 30: pre-K/Kindergarten last day (half day) evening awards at 6:30 pm
June 3 Field Day for students in grades 1-4
June 4 Noon Dismissal
Field Day for students in grades 5-7
This year, to provide a field day more suited to middle school ability and interest, we have invited the Newport News Parks and Rec center to provide stations and activities for this field day. Field day will last the entire half day for our older students.
June 5 Last Day of School Noon Dismissal
8:15 Whole School Mass
9:00 Whole School Awards Assembly - School Gym
10:30 Individual Class Parties
11:30 Dismissal
Have a blessed and joyous summer! Keep reading!!
