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.
Bless Our Lady of the Assumption School and the many people who advance our mission. May our building be a home for those who seek to grow in faith, knowledge, and service of others. May our community always support one another and exhibit hospitality to newcomers. Fill our minds with knowledge and wisdom. Amen.
From the Desk of the Principal…January 30, 2024
Tuesday, Week 4 in Ordinary Time
2 Samuel 18:9–10, 14, 24–25, 30 – 19:3. Listen, Lord, and answer me – Psalm 85(86):1–6. Mark 5:21–43.
She told him the whole truth
What is the ‘whole truth’ about my life? Have I taken time to discover that for myself? To share it with others? To share it with God? In this Gospel, Jesus wants to know. He cares about the woman and the whole truth about her life. Although he was busy, although it was crowded, he took the time to listen to her. Perhaps she had never been asked before. There are two invitations today. First, it is to delve into the truth about our lives. It might be time to share that with ourselves, God or a trusted other. This could be a theme of our prayer. Second, we might have an opportunity to listen to someone else’s truth. Are we prepared to listen, even if busy, and open to receive the truth they have to share? What a gift we could offer.
The Virtue this month is Fortitude ~ Being brave and strong in the face of trials. Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens our resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in our moral life. The virtue of Fortitude enables us to conquer fears, even fear of death. And to face trials and persecution. In short, fortitude is the ability to choose what is right even when everything inside of us and outside of us is telling us to run away in fear. It is the ability to stand firm in pursuing good in the face of danger and potential suffering.
The Saints we are walking with this month in our classes are:
PK - 2: St. Bernadette
Gr. 3 - 5 : St. Joan of Arc
Gr. 6 - 8 : St. Paul Miki & Companions
Calendar Highlights
January 26th | All School Mass-9:30 am Hosted by Grade 5 & K |
January 28th-February 2nd | Catholic Schools Week |
February 1st | Open House 6pm |
February 7th | Art Trek Training 8:15-10:45 |
February 7th | Habit Fundraiser 4pm-10pm |
February 9th | OLA Works of Mercy-Non Uniform Dress $1 |
February 13th | APA Board Meeting 6pm |
February 14th | All School Mass-9:30 am Hosted by 6th grade |
February 16th | No School-Religious Education Congress |
February 19th | No School-Presidents Day |
February 23rd | No School-Deanery Meeting for staff |
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.
Habit Fundraiser Flyer
Becoming Eucharistic People Flyer
Middle School Only-Valentine’s Dance Dress Code
Spelling Bee Winners-Congratulations to our spelling bee winner Mason McPherson-Grade 7! Thank you to all our wonderful students who participated.
OLA Spring Dinner Auction
Fundraiser-Our APA Board has begun planning the annual OLA Spring Dinner Auction Fundraiser. The event will take place here at OLA on Friday April 19th. We will have a noon dismissal on 4/19 so our campus can be prepared for the evening event. We look forward to seeing all our school families at the event. If you have any questions or would like to be involved please contact Jennifer Bamieh, jenniferbamieh@yahoo.com
TK & Kindergarten Applications are now being accepted for the 2024-2025 school year. If you or someone you know is interested in our TK or Kindergarten program please have them complete an application on our website olaventura.org. Assessment will take place in March. Any questions please contact the school office 805-642-7198.
National Catholic Schools Week (CSW) is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Now entering its 50th anniversary year, CSW has traditionally been held the last week in January. From January 28 to February 3, 2024, we continue to host the traditional Celebrate Catholic Schools Week. Schools typically observe the week with Masses, assemblies and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members to celebrate what makes Catholic schools great. This year’s new theme is Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community and will be used through 2026.
The Student Council will lead the students in several activities during Catholic Schools Week.
Sunday January 28 we will Celebrate our Parish. Students are encouraged to attend Mass in full uniform. If they attend they will receive a non uniform dress pass to be used on Monday January 29.
Monday January 29 we will Celebrate our Community. The Student Council will host a “New Sock Drive” by collecting donations of new socks.
Tuesday January 30 we will Celebrate our Students by showing our school spirit. The day will include a non uniform dress day, dolphin drawing contest and more.
Wednesday January 31 we will Celebrate our Priests, Deacons and Sister Rebekah. Student Council has a special treat in store for them.
Thursday February 1 we will Celebrate our Nation with patriotic music, a special flag salute and a trivia contest.
Friday February 2 we will Celebrate our Faculty and Staff. The Student Council will provide a yummy lunch for the staff.
Amazon Wish Lists
Each class has created a list of items that would be helpful in their classrooms. Please click on the class below if you would like to donate an item. Remember every $15 spent earns 1 parent hour. If you choose to have the item shipped directly to the school,Please complete the gift receipt when completing your purchase so we can get the item to the correct classroom and give you a little shout out.
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
Girls and Boys Basketball have started practice. Game schedules will be out soon. Watch our app for games schedules.
Goooo Dolphins!!
APA BOARD CORNER
Our annual spring auction and raffle is our biggest fundraiser of the year. We raise much needed funds for school improvements that benefit all families and children at OLA. This year, some of the improvements that Ms. Fussell plans include building a restroom for the TK classroom, upgrading the existing Boys' and Girls' Restrooms, installing light fixtures in the hallway of the main school building, and installing solar panels so that the school can eventually add air conditioning and not overwork our dated electrical infrastructure.
The APA Board has planned the auction this year on April 19, 2024.
There are many aspects to making sure this event is successful and goes off smoothly. The APA Board members are a small and mighty group, but we would love to have as many school families as possible join us in making it an even more successful event. To this end, we have formed committees to spread the work among all Board members. Event Committees include: Promotion and Marketing, Raffle, Food and Drink, Procurement and Auction, Decoration, Sponsorship, Entertainment, Venue Planning, etc), If you are interested in helping out, you can contact me and I can put you in touch with the appropriate Board Committee chairs.
As always, you will earn parent hours for all hours you volunteer helping out with the Auction and Raffle.
If you are unable to volunteer to help but have a connection for any potential auction donors please reach out to me. We are looking for time at vacation homes, local experiences, gift cards to local businesses, tickets to sporting events.....If you have a connection, please reach out and let us know!
Thank you for taking your time to help make our school the best learning environment for our children!
Jennifer Bamieh
jenniferbamieh@yahoo.com
(805) 340-9168
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
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.
Location: Santa Cruz Room
Keeping the Promise Alive (Re-Certification Course): To register please call Dea Boheme for more information at 805- 390-1260.
Location: Santa Cruz Room
Upcoming Santa Barbara Region Fingerprinting Sessions
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