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…April 8, 2025
Numbers 21:4-9. O Lord hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you – Ps 101(102):2-3, 16-21. John 8:21-30.
Faith lets us see and understand
It’s strange. One of the fundamental considerations in media and communication is knowing and connecting with your audience, but Jesus often seemed indifferent to whether people actually understood him. Here, he speaks in riddles, hinting at his death in terms the crowd can’t grasp. And unlike some parables, Jesus wasn’t aiming to meet people where they were by diluting his message into something easy. Instead, he called them to rise and see things through a completely different lens. It’s a reminder that faith isn’t about perfect comprehension or clarity, but about trust. Trust in the one who sometimes speaks in riddles, who invites us into a mystery that stretches beyond understanding, in the hope that what seems obscure now might eventually illuminate everything. Some didn’t get it then. But some of them – maybe many – would eventually see, just as we’re called to see, not with the eyes of the world, but with the vision that only faith can give.
Virtue of the Month: Justice
At OLA, we introduce a new virtue each month to help guide our students in their faith journey. Each virtue is paired with a Saint whose life reflects that virtue, offering inspiration and encouragement to live out our Catholic values.
As part of our Year of Faith, our school-wide theme is Service, reminding us to put our faith into action through kindness, compassion, and love for others.
For the month of April, we are focusing on the virtue of Justice — being fair and giving each person their due.
Let us all strive to practice justice in our words and actions, and give thanks to God for His many blessings!
Saints for the Month of April
PK - Grade 2: St. Anthony of Padua
Feast: June 13
St. Anthony joined the brothers who followed the example of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Franciscans. He became very famous for his preaching. After his death, St. Anthony became well-known for his justice, because when a book of his was lost, he prayed that he would find it. The truth was, it had been stolen - and when Saint Anthony prayed, the thief brought it back!
Grades 3 - 5: St. Katharine Drexel
Feast: March 3
Even though Saint Katharine was born into a very wealthy family, she was always taught to love and help the poor. When she grew up, she inherited a large portion of her family’s fortune. Moved by her deep faith in God and the injustice suffered by many people in this country, she started the Sisters of Blessed Sacrament to help teach the Native Americans, and African American, where they were denied a good education because of their race. She helped start many schools for Native Americans and African American in 13 different states, including Xavier University in New Orleans.
Feast: June 22
Scholar. Lawyer. Writer. Lord Chancellor of England. Husband. Father. Martyr. As one who laid down his life rather than support an unjust law that would have him deny his faith, Saint Thomas More exemplified the words of Psalm 19, “ The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart…the statutes of the Lord are true, all of them just.”
Calendar Highlights
April 9 | Spring Pictures-Non Uniform Dress Day |
April 10 | Skating Plus Fundraiser |
April 11 | All School Mass 9:30 am Hosted by 6th Grade |
April 14 | RescheduledAPA Board Meeting 6pm OLA School |
April 16 | Noon Dismissal-Start of Easter Break |
April 17-April 27 | Easter Break |
April 28 | School Resumes |
May 2 | All School Mass 9:30 am May Crowning Hosted by Grade 8 |
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.
OLA Parish Shred Event
ALMS (pronounced /ä(l)mz/) is always looking for parent and student volunteers to help us build a stronger presence at community and Parish events. ALMS is OLA school’s “do good” committee dedicated to getting our school involved in community programs that teach your kids the value of service to others. For more information, check out our FAQor volunteer now.
Parent Volunteer Opportunity: Lead ALMS “Wait Until 8th” Program
Are you passionate about helping children navigate technology safely? Assumption Life Mission Stewards (ALMS) is looking for a dedicated parent volunteer to lead our “Wait Until 8th” program!
What is “Wait Until 8th”?
This initiative encourages families to delay giving their children smartphones until after 8th grade, providing a supportive network of like-minded families. Parents who are interested sign the Wait Until 8th Pledge, and once 10 families from a grade level have pledged, the commitment becomes active.
Role of the Parent Lead:
The parent lead volunteer will:
✅Promote Awareness: Share information about the program through regular updates in the weekly OLA newsletter, including interviews, articles, and tips from other Catholic parents on managing smartphone and social media use.
✅Engage and Inspire: Brainstorm creative ways to introduce classroom incentives for families who take the pledge.
✅Recruit and Organize: Encourage other parents to participate and help oversee the success of the program.
Why Volunteer?
Earn Parent Hours! Hours are based on the actual time spent on the project.
Make a Lasting Impact! Help guide our students toward safer, healthier technology habits.
Interested?
If you’re ready to make a difference and lead this impactful program, please email us at ALMS@olaventura.org.
Thank you for your support in keeping our children safe!
ALMS Quick Links
Spring Picture Day is coming up on Wednesday, April 9th! Order forms are being sent home today with your child.
How to Order:
✅ Online: Pre-order by scanning the QR code on the order form.
✅ In Person: Return the completed order form with your student on Picture Day.
Sibling Photos:
Spring pictures are a great opportunity for siblings to be photographed together! To arrange this, you MUST notify the school office by Tuesday, April 8th at olaoffice@olaventura.org and complete a separate picture order form for each child. Additional forms are available in the school office.
If you have any questions, feel free to call the school office.
📷 We look forward to capturing these special moments!
Your child's custom catalog for the Square 1 Art fundraiser catalog was sent home last week - featuring their own name and art on the cover, WITH FREE STICKERS OF THEIR ART!
Start ordering keepsakes and gifts featuring your child's art online NOW! Simply search for your child's art using Art Search, and enter state, school name, and your student's name. Your student's art and code will appear, and you may order! NEW - Ship to Home FREE. (Customer pays a small processing fee at checkout and orders ships to home.)
Order by: 4/16/2025
Upload additional art if you like, using Art Upload!
If you have questions, or need anything at all, contact customer care online .
Thank you for supporting our school!
Amazon Wish List Links
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.
Sports at OLA!
OLA Sports Update 🏀
Our Boys and Girls Basketball seasons have concluded.
We want to say a big THANK YOU to the boys coaches-Mr. Mechanick, Mrs. Schoenmann-Burns & Mr. Kaiser and the girls coaches-Mr. Shura & Mrs. Padilla.
Also thank you to all the parents who provided drinks, kept the scorebooks and ran the clocks. Sports at OLA would not happen without our parent volunteers!!!
GOOOO Dolphins! 🐬💙🏀
A few things to keep in mind when ordering with Choicelunch -
Our regular ordering deadline to order from the full menu is 9 am the day before lunch will be served. After 9 am the day before lunch has passed, you will be given the option to order an entree-only lunch, up until 9 am the day lunch will be served or until lunches sell out.
Lunch can be canceled as late as 9 am the day before it will be served for 100% credit. After this point in time, the lunch will be sent to the school and there is no credit given.
You can also find our FAQ here - https://help.choicelunch.com/hc/en-us
OLA Parish Events
🌿 Join Us for SoulCore at OLA! 🌿
April 24th at 8:45 in Mulcahy. Come to nourish, mind, body, and soul! For more information visit www.soulcore.com .
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
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!
APA BOARD
Have questions or are interested in joining us? The APA meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6pm. We’d love to see you! Email us at: APAboard@olaventura.org.
The Assumptions Parent Association (APA) Board is dedicated to supporting our school through event planning and fundraising efforts throughout the year. We invite you to join in on the fun by becoming a part of one of our committees:
Hospitality: Assist in organizing events and showing appreciation to our teachers and staff.
Communications: Help keep our school community informed about upcoming events.
Volunteer: Coordinate parent volunteers for various school activities and events.
Fundraising: Plan and support our fundraising efforts.
If you’re interested in joining a committee or learning more about what we do, please reach out to us at Apaboard@olaventura.org. We look forward to working together to make this year a great one for our students and school!
If you’d like to learn more about how you can support our school and get involved with the Assumptions Parent Association Board, please reach out to us at Apaboard@olaventura.org. We look forward to working together to make this year a great one for our kids!
The digital marquee birthday flier is available in the school office. Announce your child's next birthday on the OLA marquee! Announcement cost is $15
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. 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
Keeping the Promise Alive
Trainings at OLA:
Protecting God’s Children (Initial Course)
May 28 from 6 pm - 9 pm Santa Cruz Room
May 31 from 9 am - 12 pm Mulcahy Hall
July 12 from 9 am - 12 pm Santa Cruz Room
To register please call the OLA Church Office for more information at 805- 642-7966.
Keeping the Promise Alive (Re-Certification Course): To register please call the OLA Church office for more information at 805- 642-7796.
Fingerprinting: April 26 from 10am - 4:30 pm. Please call the OLA Church office for more information at 805-642-7966
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