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…August 26, 2025

🌟 Welcome Back, OLA Families! 🌟

What a joyful and successful start to our school year! It was wonderful to see our students and families back on campus—greeting one another, taking pictures, and reconnecting after a fun-filled summer break. A special thank you to our returning families for extending such a warm welcome to our new families. Together, we truly make OLA a place where everyone feels at home.

This year we are blessed to welcome about 44 new students (TK–8) as well as new members to our faculty and staff:

• Ms. Flores – 5th Grade Teacher
  
  

• Mrs. Plowman – 7th Grade Teacher
  
  

• Ms. Castro – 3rd Grade Instructional Aide
  

We are excited for the many opportunities this year will bring for growth, learning, and community.

📘 Check Out Our Updated Handbook!
Our Parent/Student Handbook has had a little “face lift”! The updated layout makes it easier to read and access important information. Please take a moment to view it online and familiarize yourself with the helpful resources inside.

Here’s to a blessed and successful school year together!

Week 21 in Ordinary Time

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8. 

You have searched me and you know me, Lord – Ps 138(139):1-3, 4-6. Matthew 23:23-26.
How do we serve God?

True service to God is not about appearances but about sincerity, humility, and love.

 In 1 Thessalonians, Paul reminds us that he preached the Gospel not for recognition or personal gain, but with the care of a loving parent. This challenges us to reflect: Do we serve God out of love or for approval?

Psalm 139 reassures us that God knows us completely. He knows our thoughts, struggles and intentions. There is no need for pretense; he sees beyond our actions to the truth of our hearts.

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for focusing on minor laws while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness. His words remind us that true discipleship starts within.

To be servants of God, we must live with integrity and love, ensuring our hearts and actions align. May we strive to reflect God’s justice and mercy, serving him and others with sincerity.

Calendar Highlights  

         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. 

• Emergency Card

• Chrome book/IPad agreement

• Acceptable use policy

• School Reach Emergency Form

• Parent/Guardian Release for Student or Minor

• Parent/Student Policies Agreement Form

• Parent Hour Log

• Altar Server Training (grades 4-7)

Virtue of the Month

Our school participates in a Deanery-wide program that highlights a particular virtue of the month along with special Saints for each grade level.

This year, we are especially blessed to welcome a new saint into our focus — Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized on September 7, 2025. Carlo, often called the “first millennial saint,” is regarded as a model for young believers. He loved the Eucharist, created a website to catalog Eucharistic miracles, and offered his suffering to God with faith and courage.

✨ The Virtue for this year is Hope
✨ The Theme for this year is Study

During this year, we want to grow in hope.

Hope is a gift from God by which we trust in Jesus Christ—that He will keep His promises and help us through the difficulties of our journey to Heaven.

Hope responds to the deep desire for happiness which God has placed in every human heart. It is not just optimism, but something much greater. As Scripture reminds us: “Hope does not disappoint.” (Romans 5:5)

What is Hope?

• Hope is a theological virtue, which means it is a gift from God that leads us back to Him.
  

• We first receive this gift in Baptism.
  

• Hope allows us to trust in God even when something seems difficult—or impossible.
  

• Through hope, we desire the Kingdom of Heaven as our true happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying on the grace of the Holy Spirit.
  
  

As we begin this school year, let us follow the example of the saints and of Blessed (soon to be Saint!) Carlo Acutis, growing together in the gift of hope and in the joy of study.

📚 OLA Scholastic Book Fair is Coming! 📚

Mark your calendars! The OLA Scholastic Book Fair will take place September 2nd through September 5th. This is a wonderful opportunity for students and families to find great books and support our school at the same time.

Be sure to check the flyer enclosed in next week’s brown envelope for more details, including times and special events.

Volunteers Needed! Parents, we would love your help with the Book Fair. It’s a fun way to be part of the excitement and earn parent hours. Please contact the school office if you are available to volunteer.

We look forward to seeing you at the fair!

🚗 Afternoon Dismissal Reminders 🚗

Thank you for helping our dismissal process flow smoothly in the afternoons!

• Please have your name sign in your window during dismissal. If you need one, contact the school office.
  

• Be mindful to leave openings for our neighbors’ driveways when waiting to move down Dunning Street—this is both for safety and to be courteous.
  

• If your child is going home with another family, please email the office directly by 11:00 am at olaoffice@olaventura.org.
  

• Parents walking up to pick up students: Please find a school staff member and give them your family name. This helps us ensure we call your students quickly and safely.
  
  Thank you for your cooperation!

What's for lunch? ~  Choice Lunch

Click Here to Order 

🍎 A Few Things to Know When Ordering with Choicelunch

• ⏰ Ordering Deadline: Full menu orders must be placed by 9:00 a.m. the day before lunch is served.
  

• 🥗 Late Orders: After the deadline, you can still order an entrée-only lunch until 9:00 a.m. on the day of service (or until lunches sell out).
  

• ❌ Cancellations: Lunches may be canceled up to 9:00 a.m. the day before for 100% credit. After that time, the lunch will be delivered to school and no credit is given.
  

• 💻 Questions? Visit the FAQ here: Choicelunch Help Center
  

🎶 CHOIR CALL! 🎶

When: This Thursday

Time: 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Where: Mulcahy Hall 

Who: Led by Mrs. Furst, Music Teacher

✨ Come share your voice, your spirit, and your love of music! 

All are welcome—let’s make a joyful noise together!

Our parish is offering Altar Server Training for all Masses, and we invite you to prayerfully consider becoming part of this very special ministry.

Being an Altar Server is one of the most important roles in the celebration of the Mass. Servers assist the priest and deacon, helping the liturgy flow smoothly, and in doing so they draw closer to Christ in a unique and rewarding way. It is truly a blessing to be so close to the altar and to take an active role in the sacred celebration.

This invitation is open to both youth and adults. Students must have received the Sacrament of First Communion, and for our school, the minimum grade level is Fourth Grade. Adults are warmly encouraged to join as well!

📅 Training Dates

• Tuesday, September 2nd
  

• Monday, September 8th
  

• Friday, September 12th
  

🕕 Time: 6:00 pm
📍 Location: OLA Church

👉 Please RSVP online at www.olaventura.com

Come be part of something meaningful—help us celebrate the beauty of the Mass and serve our parish community!

Sports at OLA

🏃‍♀️ Cross Country is Off and Running! 🏃‍♂️

Cross Country season officially began this week, with the first practice on Monday at Arroyo Verde Park. It was wonderful to see our student athletes lace up their shoes and hit the trails with energy and excitement. A couple of emails have already gone out with details on how to sign up, along with practice and meet information.

We are super excited to get running again and can’t wait to see the hard work and dedication of our amazing athletes throughout the season. 🌟

📌 Reminders:

• Please turn in the $65 registration fee per runner to the school office.
  

• Be sure to submit the Sports Permission Form as well (blank copies are available in the school office).
  

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our wonderful coaches:

• Jim Montgomery | 805-368-6999 | jim@sureteq.com
  

• Dominka Montgomery | 805-490-2957 | dominka@sureteq.com
  

Let’s make this Cross Country season a great one—Go Dolphins! 🐬

🏈 WE NEED A HEAD COACH FOR FLAG FOOTBALL! 🏈

This school year OLA is once again proud to be part of the CYO Sports Program!
CYO brings together Catholic schools in our area for fun, teamwork, and healthy competition.

🍂 Fall Sports

• Boys Flag Football
  

• Girls Volleyball
  

🌸 Spring Sports

• Boys & Girls Basketball
  

👉 Sports are open to grades 6, 7, and 8.
👉 Practices are held after school at OLA.

 👉 Games are played both here at OLA and at other local Catholic schools such as Sacred Heart, Saint Mary Magdalen, and St. Anthony.

⚠️ We are especially in need of a Head Coach for Flag Football this fall! Assistant coaches are also welcome.

Please complete the Sports Interest Form below if your child would like to participate in a sport this year.

💙 Thank you for supporting OLA Athletics—and as always…
GOOOOO DOLPHINS! 🐬

Sports Interest Form

Stay up-to-date with access to events, documents, news from administrators, student stories, and even emergency notifications.

OLA School App Video

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

📋 Absent Reporting Reminder

If your child will be absent from school, please complete the Absent Reporting Form.

You can find the form:

• On our OLA School App (tap the menu button)
  

• On our school website under Quick Links

Submitting this form ensures that a daily report is generated and shared with teachers so they are aware of your child’s absence.

✅ Thank you for helping us keep our records accurate and our communication smooth!

APA BOARD CORNER

🎉 Welcome Back, OLA!

We hope you had a joyful summer and are ready to jump into all the exciting events planned for this fall. It was wonderful seeing our campus full of smiling faces again, and we can’t wait to share the many opportunities for our families to gather and celebrate our community.

🌟 September Events & Fundraisers

• Grandparents & Special Friends Day – Friday, September 5th
  

• Skating Plus Night – Thursday, September 25th
  

👵💛 Grandparents & Special Friends Day
This special day is dedicated to honoring the important people in our students’ lives. To make the event successful and welcoming, we need your support! You can help by:

• Assisting with setup and guiding guests
  

• Donating refreshments or snacks
  

• Volunteering during the event
  

Please use this  SignUp Genius link to volunteer or contribute refreshments. Your time and generosity will help create a memorable experience for our students and their loved ones.

💌 Want to Get More Involved?
If you’d like to learn more about how you can support our school and be part of the Assumption Parent Association Board (APA), please reach out to us at apaboard@olaventura.org. We’d love to hear from you!

✨ Thank you for helping us kick off the year with joy and community spirit—we’re looking forward to a fantastic school year together!

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. 

 Safeguard Training

Protecting God’s Children

Keeping the Promise Alive (Recertification)

Local Locations for August/September/October 2025:

Protecting God’s Children: 3 hours.     Please arrive on time.

Mary Star of the Sea Church (Oxnard), Wednesday August 27, 2025, 10 am. Please register online at www.martstaroxnard.com/virtus to reserve your space.

St. Raphael Catholic School (Santa Barbara). Saturday, September 6, 2025, 11:30 am. Email: office@srs805.org with last name, first name, address, city, zip phone #, email address and the date you would like to attend.

St. Raphael Catholic School (Santa Barbara). Saturday, October 4, 2025, 11:30 am. Email: office@srs805.org with last name, first name, address, city, zip phone #, email address and the date you would like to attend.

Keeping the Promise Alive:  1 hour 30 minutes. Please arrive on time.

Mary Star of the Sea Church (Oxnard), Wednesday September 3, 2025, 10 am. Please register online at www.martstaroxnard.com/virtus to reserve your space.

St. Raphael Catholic School (Santa Barbara). Saturday, September 6, 2025, 9 am. Email: office@srs805.org with last name, first name, address, city, zip phone #, email address and the date you would like to attend.

St. Raphael Catholic School (Santa Barbara). Saturday, October 4, 2025, 9 am. Email: office@srs805.org with last name, first name, address, city, zip phone #, email address and the date you would like to attend.

There is an online option. If interested, please email olasafeguard@ola-vta.org.

Finger Printing

October 14, 2025  St. Maximilian Kolbe Church Westlake Village 5801 Kanan Rd. (Room 1) 

 Please call for an appointment 818.991.3915 x100.

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