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…September 30, 2025
Dear OLA Families,
We are excited to celebrate our next All-School Mass with our 4th grade class, as we honor St. Francis of Assisi. You are warmly invited to join us for Mass on Friday at 9:30 a.m.
Thank you also for your dedication in getting out there and selling Raffle Tickets! Your efforts directly support the programs that enrich our students’ experiences and help ensure the continued vitality of our school. Just as St. Francis reminds us to live generously and with joy, your support of this fundraiser is a beautiful reflection of that same spirit in our school community.
Week 26th in Ordinary Time
🛐St Jerome
Zechariah 8:20-23. God is with us – Ps 86(87). Luke 9:51-56.
Willing to go the distance
When reflecting on the life of Pope Leo XIV during a youth group session, it was mentioned that he had spent time as a missionary in Peru. A student recently asked, ‘What is a missionary?’ I compared two options a Christian could be given: to stay in one’s home town and preach the Gospel, speaking their mother tongue and surrounded by family; or, to leave for a new country, spreading the Gospel in a new language and creating a new-found family. Which option would be easier? The answer is obvious to many. But what does Pope Leo living the more ‘narrow’ path represent? Perhaps that the depth of love he had for God outweighed the sacrifice of his comforts. In the reading today from Zechariah, there is clarity that the Lord is faithful to those who are seeking an encounter from God. Are we open and willing to go the distance?
🗓️Calendar Highlights
October 3rd
All School Mass-Feast of St. Francis 9:30am
October 4th
Love Ventura Day of Giving - October 4th
October 5th
Friendship Sunday Hosted by ALMS after all the morning Masses.
October 8th
Art Trek Training 8:15 am-10:45am-Mulcahy
October 13th
No School-Indigenous People's Day
October 14th
APA Board Meeting-6pm
October 24th
Halloween Event
October 31st
Halloween-Noon Dismissal
November 3rd
ALL School Mass-All Saints Day 9:30am
November 4th
Make Up Picture Day
November 11th
No School-Veterans Day
November 13th
Art Trek Training 8:15 am-10:45am-Mulcahy
November 14th
Works of Mercy-Local Adopted Family-$1 Non Uniform Dress
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.
Halloween “BOO”-GIE Event RSVP flyer
Halloween “BOO”-GIE Event Table/Sponsorship Flyer
Reminder-Please turn in your Emergency cards and packets of paperwork from the beginning of school if you have not already. These documents contain important information for the school office.
Virtue of the Month: Studiousness
Seeking knowledge to grow closer to truth
Each of us has a natural desire for knowledge. Study is the keen application of the mind to truth. It is the way we feed our God-given hunger for understanding. Because this desire is placed within us by God, study is not only valuable—it is part of our lifelong search for happiness.
Unless we apply our minds to truth, we will never be truly happy. The goal of study is contemplation, a holy practice in which we yearn for and participate in the happiness that is God Himself. Even our earthly contemplation is a step toward eternal union with Him.
This month, our classrooms will walk with saints who modeled studiousness:
St. Albert the Great (TK–2): A brilliant teacher who loved both science and theology, reminding us that all knowledge points back to God.
St. Thomas Aquinas (Grades 3–5): One of the Church’s greatest thinkers, who showed that faith and reason work together to lead us to truth.
St. Edith Stein (Grades 6–8): A philosopher who sought truth all her life, ultimately finding it in Christ and giving her life for Him.
As we learn from these saints, may we also grow in the virtue of studiousness—seeking truth with open hearts and minds.
Prayer:
Lord, You are the source of all truth. Bless our studies this month so that, like the saints, we may use our minds and hearts to draw closer to You. May our love of learning lead us always to a deeper love of You. Amen.
🎟️🎃 It’s Raffle Time! 🎉
Raffle Ticket Sales Updates
Top Student Sellers (Week 1):
Huge congratulations to Braidyn, Kayson and Kamdyn Kirn, Jaxon Ybarra, Dyllon Bothwell, and Oliver and Rhett Meyers for leading the way in ticket sales! Keep up the awesome work—we’re so proud of you!
Toot Toot! Here comes the Pumpkin Trolley!
A big shout-out to Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th grade classes—each has sold over 200 tickets and earned a visit from the Pumpkin Trolley next Friday, October 10th! 🎃🚋
still time to join the fun! Classes have until Thursday, October 2nd to sell 200+ tickets and secure their own Pumpkin Trolley celebration. Remember—this is our only raffle of the school year!
Let’s all work together to hit our school-wide goal of $45,000!
👻 OLA Halloween Event: Let’s BOO-gie! 🎶
RSVP today to secure your family’s spot (scan the QR code on the flyer & pay admission in the school office).
Explore exciting sponsorship opportunities!
Host a trick-or-treat table and earn 7 parent hours!
This event promises to be magical—with music, games, treats, and fun for the whole family!
✨ Thank you for supporting our school—your efforts make all the difference in keeping OLA vibrant and thriving! ✨
✝️ALMS
ALMS is OLA school’s “do good” ministry 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 FAQ or volunteer now.
Upcoming ALMS Events:
Love Ventura Day of Giving - October 4th
Please join us Saturday (10/4) for a special day of giving back to our beloved Ventura! Our group has been tasked with early morning set-up for the kick-off event. Check out our sign-up genius here. Givers of all ages are welcome to come and help! Following set-up, a special rally for all givers starts at 8:00 a.m.and offers free food, drinks, entertainment, and kids activities including free face painting, emergency vehicle tours and even Ventura's mobile library! If early mornings are not your thing, there are other volunteer opportunities. Check them out.
OLA Friendship Sunday - Host - Adults and Students
OLA Friendship Sundays are post mass hosted events immediately following 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11:00 a.m. masses. The purpose of OLA Friendship Sunday is to connect with other parish members in a casual setting, while fostering a stronger sense of community. Attendees can grab a cup of coffee, a sweet treat and chat with other attendees. ALMS will be hosting Friendship Sunday on Sunday, Oct. 5th, and we need volunteers. Sign Up for Friendship Sunday.
📝Room Parents Needed for All Classes!
We are looking for enthusiastic parents to step into the role of Room Parent for their child’s class. Room Parents help organize classroom holiday parties, teacher birthdays, communicate with other parents, and support the APA Board with one Live Auction project.
If you’re interested in becoming a Room Parent and contributing to your child’s classroom experience, please sign up. It’s a wonderful way to get involved, and we provide training to help you succeed! Being a Room Parent fulfills your entire parent hour obligation for the school year!
To volunteer or for more information, contact Jill Capra-Room Parent Coordinator at jillysdsu@hotmail.com.
🎵🎤Parent hour opportunity-Choir Practice Supervision-We are looking for parent volunteers to help supervise specific grades during group choir practice. Each parent will be assigned a grade to supervise. All volunteers must have current Virtus certification and fingerprinting on file with the school office. Please review the available slots below and click on the link below to sign up. Thank you!
🚗 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!
Choice Lunch
🍎 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
Sports at OLA
🏃♀️🏃 Cross Country Update 🏃♂️🏃
Elementary League Meet – Thursday, 9/25 at Anacapa Middle School
Our Dolphins had a fantastic showing in their one-mile race!
Top Girls:
🥈 Leona Hipskind (Grade 4) – 2nd place out of 121 runners (6:45)
🖐️ Evie Bart (Grade 4) – 5th place overall (6:58)
⭐ Caroline Barnard (Grade 4) – 11th place overall (7:15)
Top Boys:
👏 Calvin Ford (Grade 3) – 4th place out of 122 runners (6:34)
💪 Andrew Navarro (Grade 3) – 19th place overall (7:04)
🔥 Kaden Busch (Grade 5) – 33rd place overall (7:20)
All of our runners did an amazing job!
📊 Full results: Elementary Results (Girls – A, Boys – A).
📅 Next Elementary Meet: Wednesday, October 1 at Monte Vista Middle School, Camarillo.
Middle School League Meet – Friday, 9/26 at Arroyo Verde Park
Our middle school runners took on a 2.89 km (1.8 mile) course and delivered outstanding performances!
Top Girls:
🌟 Sophia Owens (Grade 8) – 18th out of 200 runners (13:25)
🌟 Naomi Isbell (Grade 7) – 21st overall (13:34)
🌟 Dresden Pound (Grade 7) – 74th overall (15:58)
Top Boys:
🥈 Evan Abbott (Grade 8) – 2nd place out of 229 runners (10:51)
🥉 Caleb Isbell (Grade 8) – 3rd place overall (10:56)
👏 Jameson Dolan (Grade 6) – 44th overall (13:10)
Way to go Dolphins—you represented OLA with strength and spirit!
📊 Full results: Youth XC League Results | RaceFox Results | CA
📅 Next Middle School Meet: Friday, October 3 at Mission Oaks Park, Camarillo.
💙 Thank you to all the family and friends who came out to cheer on our runners—your support means the world!
Go Dolphins! 🐬
Come out and support the runners!
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
🏈FLAG FOOTBALL!🏈
Their next game is scheduled for Wednesday, October 1st at OLA vs. St. Augustine.
Come out and support the players and Gooo Dolphins! 🐬
🏐 Girls Volleyball Update 🏐
Last Week’s Games:
6th/7th Grade
Tuesday, 9/23 – Away vs. OLG
Thursday, 9/25 – Home vs. VCC
8th Grade
Tuesday, 9/23 – Home vs. St. Anthony 1
Thursday, 9/25 – Away vs. SMM
This Week’s Games:
6th/7th Grade
Tuesday, 9/30 – Away vs. St. Augustine
Thursday, 10/2 – Home vs. Sacred Heart
8th Grade
Tuesday, 9/30 – Home vs. VCC
Thursday, 10/2 – Away vs. SMM 3
⏰ All games start at 3:30 p.m.
Come out to cheer on our girls and show your Dolphin pride! GOO Dolphins! 🐬
💙 Thank you for supporting OLA Athletics—and as always…GOOOOO DOLPHINS! 🐬
🐬OLA App
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/3JwS
📋 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
💌 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!
🥳Happy Birthday
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
To best serve you, please note the times when the office is available for school business:
Morning Hours: 8:30 am – 12:00 pm
Afternoon Hours: 12:50 pm – 2:30 pm
After Dismissal: 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
⏸️ Closed for Lunch: 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm
For safety and efficiency, we kindly ask that you do not come into the office during dismissal (2:30–3:00 pm), as staff are focused on student pick-up.
If your child needs to leave early, please arrange pick-up before 12:00 pm or after 12:50 pm to avoid the office lunch closure.
Thank you for helping us keep the school day running smoothly!
Safeguard Training
Protecting God’s Children
Keeping the Promise Alive (Recertification)
OLA Dates:
Friday October 17th from 9 - 12 in Santa Cruz.
Call the church to register 805-642-7966
Local Locations for August/September/October 2025:
Protecting God’s Children: 3 hours. Please arrive on time.
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.
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.