“It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope.”
– Pope Benedict XVI
Mission Statement: Our Lady of the Assumption School Commits itself to provide an education based on catholic values and academic excellence in a caring and safe atmosphere in partnership with the family and parish community.
From the Desk of the Principal…December 12th, 2023
Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Isaiah 40:1–11. The Lord our God comes in strength – Psalm 95(96):1–3, 10–13. Matthew 18:12–14.
You are loved
You are loved and important. Today’s reading tells you all you need to know about how loved you are. Jesus offers the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd will leave the 99 to seek and save the one lost. There are layers of first century agrarian nuance but that is for a deeper exegesis. Today, embrace the reading and savor every word. It was written for you. Whatever your ‘lost’ is, know that God is seeking you, will never give up on you and will save you. You are his and you are loved.
Virtue for the Month of December is Purity~ Keeping your soul free of sin. The theme for the year is Community.
Purity Is Whole–Heartedness
Often we understand purity as cleanliness, for example spiritual cleanliness. But biblical purity is better described as spiritual single-mindedness, whole-heartedness. Purity is so powerful because it is focused on single-mindedness. In a sense, it’s a contraction of multitasking. This whole-heartedness will inevitably lead away from instability and doubt, right to rest and stability when its object is God.
Calendar Highlights
December 12th | APA Board Meeting 6pm at the school |
December 15th | Christmas Program 6:30 in the Church |
December 20th | Noon Dismissal |
December 21st-January 3rd | Christmas Break |
January 4th | School Resumes-Noon Dismissal |
Extended Day Care registration packets are available in the school office.
Contents of Weekly Brown Envelope
Please remove contents, complete and return any forms in the signed Brown Envelope every Wednesday.
Hot Lunch Helpers-Looking for a way to earn parent hours?
We are always in need of parents to help sort and deliver hot lunches on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
Please arrive between 11:30 and 11:40. Lunch sorting is done by 12:10. Helpers will receive 1 parent hour for helping. Remember if you stay for lunch duty until 12:40 you receive 2 parent hours. That sounds like a win-win!! Lunch volunteers must be Virtus certified and fingerprinted through the Archdiocese.
Lunch cancellation due to absence-Reminder-If you placed an order for hot lunch and your child will be absent please notify the caterer at 805-754-6220 before 9:00 am to cancel and receive a refund. Thank you!
Lost and Found
Please check the lost and found located outside the school office. With the weather changing students are going to need their sweatshirts and jackets. The basket is very full and growing daily! We also have a jar of small items found in the parking lot and around the school. If you are missing an earring, necklace, etc. please stop in and take a look.
New OLA Long Sleeve PE Shirts-
We have added a long sleeve dri-fit PE shirt to our uniform options for PE days. Shirts are available in the school office all year long along with our standard PE t shirt, shorts and crew neck sweatshirts. The new long sleeve shirts are $16.00. Contact the school office to purchase or with questions.
Dolphin Nation
Get Ready for Basketball season, where OLA will go for their third straight championship starting with tryouts in December. Contact Ron Bamieh for more information. rbamieh@bamiehdesmeth.com
Go Dolphins.
Volleyball News:
Congratulations to the girls volleyball team! They won the championship game yesterday. We are so proud of these girls for playing an undefeated season. Thank you Coach Mollie and Coach Joseph and to all the parent helpers for making this a great season!
Goooo Dolphins!!
APA BOARD CORNER
The digital marquee birthday flier is available in the office. Enjoy announcing your child's next birthday on the OLA marquee! Announcement cost is $15
The APA Board would like to thank all the wonderful families of OLA for volunteering and participating in the many fundraising efforts this year. If you are interested in joining for the 2023-2024 school year please contact Jennifer Bamieh jenniferbamieh@yahoo.com
Reporting an absence:
If your child will be absent from school, please complete the Absent Reporting form. This form can be found on our app, tap the menu button or on our website under quick links. This will generate a report that is given to teachers daily. Thank you!
Stay up-to-date with access to events, documents, news from administrators, student stories, and even emergency notifications.
You can download the app for free on Google Play or Apple App Store.
Download for Android https://bit.ly/3HRxTwQ
Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3JwStCO
School Office Hours
The best times to conduct school business in the office are:
Mornings
8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Afternoon
12:50 pm - 2:30 pm
Closed for Lunch(12:00-12:50)
After Dismissal hours:
3:00pm-3:30pm
Please do not come in during dismissal. On regular dismissal days the time is from 2:35-3:05 and noon dismissal days the time is from 11:50-12:15. We are calling students for pick-up and are unable to give you uninterrupted attention.
The office is closed for lunch from 12:00pm-12:50pm, if your child needs to leave early from school Please pick them up before 12:00 pm or after 12:50pm.
At Home Rapid Covid Test kits:
Test kits are available in the office. Please contact Jennifer Colitti at jennifer@olaventura.org. You are also welcome to come into the office and pick up tests for your family.
Office of Safeguard the Children
Zoom Protecting God’s Children and
Keeping the Promise Alive
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles mandates all clergy, staff, whether paid or volunteer, and all volunteers who work in any capacity with or around children, the elderly, or people with special needs to complete the initial three-hour VIRTUS® Protecting God’s Children for Adults™ program. The program helps clergy, staff, volunteers, and parents to understand the facts and myths about child sexual abuse, how perpetrators groom children and young people, and how they, as caring adults, can learn and implement the important “Five Step Plan” to Protect God’s Children in helping to prevent child sexual abuse.
More than 150,000 clergy, staff and volunteers have participated in these training sessions throughout the five Pastoral Regions of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Please know you are welcome to attend a training at any parish in our diocese. To learn where the training is taking place visit lacatholics.org and under the pull down menu titled PROTECT/REPORT move your cursor to Safe SafeGuard the Children then to Education and Training. In that section you will be able to navigate to all the training sessions. Our region is the Santa Barbara Region.
Training at OLA:
Protecting God’s Children (Initial Course). To register please call Dea Boheme for more information at 805- 390-1260.
Keeping the Promise Alive (Re-Certification Course): To register please call Dea Boheme for more information at 805- 390-1260
Upcoming Santa Barbara Region Fingerprinting Sessions
December 20th - St. Joseph Parish, Carpinteria
January 26th - Sacred Heart Parish, Ventura
February 4th - St. Sebastian Parish, Santa Paula
February 16th - Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Ventura
February 24th - Padre Serra Parish, Camarillo
Student Learning Expectations (SLE’S)
OLA Students aim for the S.T.A.R.S when they:
SHOW AND LIVE THEIR FAITH
THINK CRITICALLY AND WORK COOPERATIVELY
ACTIVELY MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
RESPECT OURSELVES AND OTHERS
STUDY AND LEARN