Our Lady of Mount Carmel School

Our Lady's Word

Noteworthy Dates:

May 23

Golf Tournament

Faith Day - no lunch served; please pack lunch and snack

May 27th

Vice Principals for the Day offered an

Out of Uniform Day today - a freebee!

May 28th

Field Day Pre-K and K

June 2nd

6:30 Graduation Mass

Reception following at St. Michael Hall

June 4th

Field Day for 1-4th graders

June 5th

Field Day of 5th-7th graders

Noon Dismissal

June 5th & 6th

Final Snow Make up Days

Last day of School June 6

11:00 Dismissal

June 16-17

Report Cards handed out at Front Office

June 16th 9:00 am-2:00 pm

June 17th 9:00 am-noon

2014-2015 Calendar

Please take a peek at the 2014-2015 school calendar on Edline. Dates are tentative until finalized.

http://www.olmc-school.com/pages/OurLadyofMountCarmelSchool

Graduation RSVPs

Please RSVP by May 21 if attending the graduation Mass and reception on June 2nd. Thank you.

Field Day

Volunteers are needed to help monitor the games for field day. Please consider volunteering some of your time to help make our field day a success! Hours can be used for this school year or for the 2014-2015 school year. All events will be held in the morning. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Ms. Toland at ktoland@olmc-school.com by May 23rd.

Field Day attire--Students may wear either the Faith Day t-shirt or Field Day t-shirt from previous years. Students may wear shorts as long as they follow the guidelines in the handbook for length.

PK-K Field Day- Wednesday, May 28th

1st-4th Field Day- Wednesday, June 4th

5th-7th *Field Day- Thursday, June 5th

*5th-7th Field Day is sponsored by Newport News Parks and Recreation. Please send in $5.00 by Friday, May 30th to participate. Please mark the envelope "Field day" with your student's name and homeroom teacher.

Clinic Reminder: Parents of Current 5th Graders

Please make sure they have their DPT booster shot prior to starting school in August. State law requires that we send your child home, if we do not have on file this on the first day of school!

This shot is generally given when a child turns 11 years old. If your child has a physical scheduled this spring or summer, please talk with your doctor regarding any immunizations he may need.

Forms can be turned into the clinic as soon as your child gets the booster shot. (Make sure you keep a copy for your own records)

IF YOUR CHILD NEEDS AN INHALER, EPI-PEN, MOTRIN, OR ANY OTHER MEDICATION AT SCHOOL, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE DOCTOR COMPLETE A MEDICATION FORM ALSO.

*State required immunizations may be available for free at your local health department. Call them for more information. Peninsula Health Dept. 594-7410, Hampton Health Dept. 727-1140, Suffolk Health Dept. 686-4900.

If you have any questions, please call the school nurse.

Will your child need Medicine at School Next Year?

Please remember that ALL medicine that must be administered during school hours requires a doctor's order. This includes Tylenol, Ibuprofen and other over the counter medicines.

Medicine orders must be renewed each school year.

So, if your child needs to have an EPI-PEN, an Albuterol Inhaler, medication for headaches, braces, etc. - Please plan ahead and have your doctor fill out a medication form.

Forms are available on the school website or from the clinic.

Students in grades 5 - 8 are encouraged to carry their own inhalers, but must still have written orders and permission from both their doctor and parent to carry the inhaler in school.

Bingo Schedule

Monday 5/26

BINGO Reminders:

Kitchen works arrive between 5:30 and 5:45.
Floor workers arrive by 6:30.
All - leave when dismissed
Only people 18 years old and over can substitute for a parent volunteer
Children 15 and over can work in the kitchen
Thanks for all you do !

Floor Duty:

Houlihan

Kus

Ozman

Pizzano-Higdon

Roux

Small

Triska

Walski

Wiebke

Kitchen Duty:

Barnes

Hernandez

Ryan

Floor Captains:

Houlihan

In the event that a substitute is needed for your night, please contact Chad Spiller at 757-897-7601. Substitutes are generally CNU or other college students, or families who sign up to be substitutes, and are paid directly a $50 stipend.

2014-2015 Bingo Information

As we near the end of the school year, it is, once again, time to consider our options with Bingo.

Let me begin by stating that the school community, and myself in particular, are most grateful for all of your support over the last year. Bingo has been fruitful for the school with proceeds from the last 12 months through April 2014 expected to exceed $25,000. With this in mind, I am writing this letter to introduce the Bingo program for the upcoming 2014-2015 school year.

As a parish school in the Catholic tradition, we continue to strive to keep tuition as low as possible, so that a Catholic education is available to all who wish it for their families. As you know, we thrive on the support of the students, parents and the wider community. As before, this upcoming school year's Bingo program reflects an ongoing evolution of our approach, based on continued feedback. While I do listen to all comments and strive to accommodate as many of them as practical, once the decision has been made to support and commit to a year of service to the Knights of Columbus, we must remain true to our commitment.

For the 2014-2015 school year, I am willing to continue to offer additional options for those who truly cannot accommodate working Bingo. In addition to the existing options of the buyout and paying substitutes:

I am willing to offer a limited number of alternative volunteer opportunities within the school. In return, I am hoping that those of you who enjoy, or at least are willing to tolerate Bingo to help the school and be willing to offer to work three or four shifts vs. a minimum of two.
The minimum standard of two shifts will still be required for the 2014-2015 school year, but with added flexibility from those willing to help a bit more, we can better accommodate those few who truly cannot help.
The out-of-uniform incentive will continue, as well as others yet to be announced.

Families utilizing the school bus will receive a reduced fee if you sign up for an additional 13 Bingo shifts.

I ask you to pray and reflect on your role within the OLMC School community and consider if this is a way that you can give back to the school. In order to fully staff Bingo, we need a total of 9 floor and 3 kitchen workers per week, or 468 floor person shifts and 156 kitchen person shifts. Please review your calendar and select the two dates that you would like to help OLMC School by working Bingo. Then, send an email to our Bingo schedule coordinator, Neil O'Connor, at bingo.olmcschool@cavtel.net.

You will receive a reply within a week or two indicating if your selected dates were available. If you do not receive a confirmation within two weeks, please send a second email and ensure the newer email address has been used. All email reservations will be confirmed via email reply prior to June 30, 2014.

OLMC Yearbooks

As the end of the academic year begins to enter the home stretch please place your order for your yearbook while there is still time!

Here is the link. What a great way to remember the excitement and accomplishments of this school year.

http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A08897410

Do you have an Old iPod?

If you have an old iPod that is not being utilized, OLMC School can advance their technology offering by having read-along stories and more technology in the literacy centers. Please bring used iPods to the school anytime before next school year. Thank you so much!

Reading Skills and Speed Reading Programs for Children and Adults

Classes offered this summer in Hampton and Williamsburg by Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies

Want to develop a love of reading, phonics, comprehension, vocabulary, speed reading, and study skills?

Call for more information 800.978.9596

Calls begin for children at age four and continue for adults.

Drum Roll Please.....

Introducing New OLMC School Logo for 2014 and Beyond!

The new seal, or shield, for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School has arrived! So far, it has had instant and universal appeal among the faculty and staff, and parent leadership groups. The symbols within the seal both capture what has long been familiar to friends of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and newly represents the fullness of the mission being accomplished on a daily basis at the school. Following is a description and explanation of the artistic depiction.

Traditionally in religious art, the circular shape reflects the truth of eternity, without beginning or end, the goal for which we are created and toward which we freely and willingly direct our lives in cooperation with God's will for each of us. The goal of a Catholic education is to develop to the full the capacities of intellect and will, in order to fulfill the mission entrusted to each of us in this world, through the use of all of our God-given talents and gifts, and finally, to be saints in the world that is to come.

Each of the four symbols within the circle represents one of the four pillars of human and spiritual development, derived from the time-tested teaching of the spiritual masters, and specifically in accord with the charism of the Dominican Order, which guides the life of our school. The four pillars are Prayer, Study, Community, and Service, in that order.

Prayer is represented by the crown, and calls to mind our relationship to God through Mary, which is the primary spirituality of this school. Mary is our Mother, our patron, our protector, our queen and our model of how to live out the Christian life and the personal call of God. Since "all good things come from God", prayer, faith, and our relationship to Him are the foundation and root of all the good that we will do in the world, in our own lives, and in service to the world around us.

Second, the open book with the word "veritas" (truth) scripted across it stands for the pillar of study. The Catholic intellectual tradition is paved with the work of scholars who have gone before us, openly seeking truth wherever it may be found, and directing all toward Christ who is the Way the Truth and the Life. Catholic scholarship has led to the university systems which grew out of the middle ages, and has long supported the arts in expressing the beauties pondered in the human heart, as well as the applied sciences for the advancement of human life on earth. The long intellectual tradition insists that since Jesus Christ is the Truth, there can be no real conflict between what is revealed in faith, and what is discovered in applied science or in reason, as God is the God of both and cannot contradict Himself. Being rooted in study of all kinds develops the intellectual capacities and strengthens the will in perseverance and sacrifice, helping to fulfill the mission of Catholic education.

The third pillar of spiritual wisdom and human formation is community, represented by the interlocking links in the bottom left quarter of the shield. What a distinct joy that at OLMC we have the fruits of a strong community, a shared delight in pursuing Catholic education for our children in this academic community. Beyond the intellectual development, the parish, parents, teachers, and students (the four interlocking links) seek together the good life for themselves and for their community, sharing in the warmth of friendship and love that radiates when we walk together in pursuit of what is good and true and beautiful. We are not only a community with a common foundation and a common mission, but we delight in that with one another, adding vigor, strength, and encouragement as Christian communities ought to do.

The fourth pillar is apostolic service in the world according to our gifts and our call. The flaming torch represents a vigorous zeal for going out with the light of Christ to a world in need of His transforming love. Saint Catherine of Siena, lay Dominican, doctor of the Church, and favorite spiritual daughter of Saint Dominic taught "If you are what you should be you will set the world ablaze." To light one's soul on fire with zeal and to go into the world as leaders of transformation for Christ is the pinnacle and fulfillment of a fully Catholic education. This element of service - putting our whole lives, gifts, talents, and education, at the service of the greater good of all peoples - defines who we are as a people: "they will know you are My disciples by the love that you have for one another."

Let us continue to partner together in the education of our children, using these four pillars as lenses for the total formation of each child entrusted to our care.

With prayers for your families,

Sister Dominic

Principal

Yearbooks are in and will be distributed beginning May 27th! Going for $30. Either cash, or a check written to the school can be accepted. Purchases can be made through the order form sent home in folders, which can also be found online, or can be purchased through the front office.

The children continue to pray for the success of the campaign. Recent prayers written by KA and prayed by the fifth grade during morning prayers: God our Father, help us to save all the money we need for the capital campaign. We will use it to buy a new sports field and a new roof. Help us to be generous givers. Amen.

Faith Day: We are still in need of peanut butter, jelly,and bread, and travel size toiletry items to complete our service project plans. Thanks to Maureen Coon who is also helping to supply us for this good work.

Dress Down Day May 27th "Troop Tuesday":

A Dress Down Day, "Troop Tuesday" will be held on Tuesday, May 27th for all faculty, staff, and students. All participating are asked to show their patriotic spirit dressing in red, white, and blue, or something that honors the brave men and women serving in the military. Take this opportunity to thank a service member if you see them for their dedication and bravery.

Yearbooks will arrive in the next several days and will be handed out the week of Memorial Day. Yearbooks prior to May 27th are $30. Order today by sending in a check to the front office for the yearbook, or complete an order form online, found in the News Section of the website.

May 23rd: Annual Spring Golf Tournament Contact Chi Nguyen or Mike Oppelt to sign up now! A great course. Great company. Great prizes! And a great cause!

May 23rd: Faith Day Theme : "I have Chosen You" from the Gospel of John. If you were here last year, please pull out your child's faith day t-shirt, which reads Duc in Altum. We will use the same shirts as last year. For students who are new, we will purchase shirts for their inaugural Faith Day. Parents are asked to make a suggested donation of $5-$7 per t-shirt to defray this expense. Volunteer help is needed for Faith Day for adults to serve as assistant catechists in the classrooms. Please email Mrs. Tucker at ctucker@olmc-school.com if you are available on May 23rd to volunteer by assisting in a classroom, or by spending time in adoration in the gym.

June 6th: End of Year Raffle Drawing for ONE YEAR'S FREE TUITION AND FEES!!!! New this year, Our Lady of Mount Carmel School is raffling off one year's free tuition for the 2014-2015 school year, including general fees. A limited number of tickets will be printed, not to exceed 275 tickets, making your chances 1 in 275 or BETTER if you purchase more than one ticket! There are just over 200 families in the school currently. Tickets are $100 each and will be available beginning Friday, May 2, 2014 and can be purchased through the front office. Good luck!

UNIFORM CHANGES - before purchasing the polo for next year's uniform wear, please be aware that there will be a change in the logo and a new option in the color. The uniform companies (Land's End, Rose/Flynn O'Harra, and Printing Wright) already have this information and are creating the new setting. When you order, please specify that you would like the new logo. Current year shirts and logos will be grandfathered in to save on expenses to the family. Additionally, we will add an option of color for the polo. The middle school students may wear the white or may now purchase a dark blue polo. The lower school may continue to wear white, or may purchase a light blue polo. Parents have long expressed that, for some very active children, the white becomes dingy quickly, and that a darker color would be more modest for our middle school students. This is a very exciting change, and there will be more information forthcoming, but it is important for you to know to expect a new logo on orders.

A letter with regard to Bingo for next year will be forthcoming. You will have the opportunity, as in years past, to select the dates best for your family to serve. There will also be some hardship alternatives available.

Jump Rope for Heart/Hoops for Heart:

Thank you to all who participated and helped to make these events a success. The fundraisers were held in March for a worthy cause. OLMC School raised $3000.00 for the American Heart Association...WAY TO GO!

Do you enjoy running?

OLMC School is in need of both a boys and girls Cross Country Coach the fall of 2014. Please contact the Athletic Director, Ryan Gregory if you are interested, athletic.director@olmc-school.com. Thank you.

From the Business Office:

If you have not yet done so, please turn in your financial contract for the 2014-2015 school year. No child will be able to return to school in the fall without the proper paperwork in place.

Crusader Soccer Fall 2014:

Thank you for your interest in the 2014 Fall Soccer Season at OLMC School. The team is open to students who are in good academic standing in 6th-8th grades. Below is some information that may be helpful.

Coaches: Kristen Gla�ner and Celesta Kus

Contact information: Kristen.glauner@boshgs.com or 757.532.0499-feel free to call or text.

Conditioning week will take place prior to the beginning of the school year. Any OLMC student in 6th-8th grades may come to conditioning. Conditioning week is encouraged for students wishing to tryout for the team. Attendance and soccer skills observed during conditioning week will have no bearing on tryout evaluations. However, behavior exhibited during conditioning may be impactful to making the team.

Conditioning Week: will be held 11-15 August from 8:30 am-10:30 am. location to be determined.

Tryouts: will take place on August 20-22 from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, location to be determined.

*Please bring all soccer gear to both conditioning and tryouts to include: ball, shin guards, goalie gloves if needed for position, and plenty of water. It is recommended that players apply sunscreen and pull hair back if long. Cleats are not required unless players earn a spot on the team.

**In case of rain please call or text to see if practice will still be held. The team does play in the rain as long as there is no lightening.

Thank you again for your interest and we are looking forward to another great season!

Is your Child Starting Kindergarten Next Year?

State Law requires that they have a NEW School Physical Form completed by their doctor.

State Law requires that all children have a new physical done prior to the start of kindergarten. (Physicals done for Pre-K are not acceptable for kindergarten.)
Forms can be submitted to school as soon as they are completed.
Doctor's offices tend to be very busy at the end of the summer. Please plan ahead.

The State of Virginia School Entrance Physical Form is available on the Edline, or from the school office or clinic.

IF YOUR CHILD NEEDS AN INHALER, EPI-PEN, OR ANY OTHER MEDICATION AT SCHOOL, PLEASE HAVE YOUR DOCTOR COMPLETE A MEDICATION FORM ALSO. Forms are available on Edline or from the clinic.

If you have any questions, please contact Judy Gounley, RN in the school clinic.

Summer Enrichment Program at the College of William and Mary:

For more information, or to be placed on the mailing list, contact:

Natalie Dudnytska 757.221.2166 nataliedn@gmail.com or Laura Curtis at 757.221.2362 lcurtis@wm.edu.

OLMC School is Seeking New Home and School Association Members for the 2014-2015 Academic Year:

The Home & School Association has openings for four new members. The term is a two-year commitment and involves meetings one night per month and hosting occasional events throughout the school year.

The Association is comprised of all volunteers and supports the school through outreach to the parents and teachers. Events that the Home & School assists with include (but are not limited to) Coordination of Homeroom Parents, Open Houses, Back-to-School events, Craft Fair, and Grandparent's Day. Working with this organization is a rewarding way to support the school and earn volunteer hours.

Please consider joining this organization. If you know someone who would be great for the Home & School Association, please nominate them on the form be-low. If you are interested in joining yourself then please write your name below and submit this information to the front office. Or, you may send an email to Julie Nguyen at j.t.nguyen@charter.net to submit names or to ask any questions.

Thank you for your support and consideration,

Julie Nguyen

757-876-7209

Summer Specialty Camps:

As plans for the summer months are being made remember OLMC offers exciting and educational Specialty Camps through Newport News Parks and Recreation!

June 16-20: Art of Expression find your creative side and delve into the performing arts

June 23-27: World of Motion discover the balance of movement and a healthy lifestyle

June 30-July 3: Game Show Mania a week of trivia, strategy, & skill

July 14-18: Imaginarium dive into the literary world of fun and creativity

July 21-25: What a Wonderful World "travel" to fun destinations and find your love of geography, culture, music, & language

July 28-Aug 1: Mystery Science Theater experience the world around you through experimentation and observation

Parenting Classes:

Mary Immaculate is offering some wonderful free classes!

Girls Matter-A six part webinar series addressing adolescent girls behavioral health. This webinar series provides research, best practice, and critical thinking on the topics that professionals working with girls and young women need to know. Key areas are address each session including challenges, opportunities, and strategies for supporting and raising successful young ladies.

Dates:

June 10th-Behavioral health issues

July 24th-Principles of development

For more details and times contact delores_price@bshsi.org

Summer Athletic Camps at Peninsula Catholic:

Peninsula Catholic is offering some athlic camps this summer, registration forms are on the PC website under athletics, PC website. The schedule of camps is below, prices vary from $125 to $175 per camp. All camps are open to boys and girls.

Volleyball Camp-July 7-11 from 9:00 am-4:00 pm

Soccer Camp-July 14-18 from 9:00 am-4:00 pm

Wrestling Camp-July 14-18 from 5:00 pm-9:00 pm

Basketball Camp-July 21-25 from 9:00 am-4:00 pm

More Parenting Classes:

Mary Immaculate is offering some wonderful free classes!

Active Parenting 1-2-3-4 PARENT!

For parents of children 1-4 years old

Thursdays May 22-June 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Newport News

Active Parenting Now

For parents of children 5-12

Fridays May 30-June 27 from 6:30-8:30 pm

Newport News

Understanding the Angry Child: Parents of children 6-11

Thursday, June 19 6:30-8:30 pm

Newport News

Helping Young Children Manage Emotions

Thursday, May 29th 6:30-8:30 pm

Newport News

Our Lady of Mount Carmel School unites with family and community to provide a

Christ-centered and educationally stimulating environment, where students recognize their

God-given gifts and achieve their highest potential.

Crusaders Cash-$$

Current families can earn Crusader Cash to be used for the cafeteria, Manna, and the Spirit Shop just by helping to attract new families to Our Lady of Mount Carmel School. Crusader Cash cannot be used for tuition or fees, additional details available in the Business Office.