OLA School Motto: "Anchored in Faith, We Learn, Serve, and Shine."
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 16, 2025
As we enter the Third Week of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday, we are reminded to rejoice. The pink candle on our Advent wreath symbolizes joy and encourages us to pause amid the busyness of the season and recognize the nearness of Christ. Advent joy comes from knowing that God is with us and that the celebration of Jesus’ birth is very near.
Throughout this week, our students will reflect on ways to share joy with others—through kindness, gratitude, service, and prayer. Even small acts of love can bring great joy to those around us.
As a reminder, Christmas Break begins on Friday, December 19. We wish all of our families a restful, peaceful, and joy-filled break. May this time be filled with meaningful moments, treasured traditions, and the warmth of being together.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on January 6, refreshed and ready for the new year.
May the joy of Advent fill your hearts and homes as we continue to prepare for the birth of our Savior.
Prayer for the Third Week of Advent
Loving God,
As we light the candle of joy, we thank You for the gift of Your Son.
Fill our hearts with gladness and our homes with laughter and peace.
Help us to find joy not just in celebrations and gifts,
but in kindness, gratitude, and time spent together.
May we share Your joy with everyone we meet.
We rejoice in Your love and prepare our hearts to welcome Jesus.
Amen.
Family Advent Reflection Activity: Choosing Joy
This week, invite your family to gather around the Advent wreath or a candle and take turns answering this question:
“Where did I see or feel joy today?”
Encourage each family member to share one moment of joy—big or small—from their day. Close your time together with a short prayer of thanks for these joyful moments.
This simple practice helps children recognize that true joy comes from God’s presence in our daily lives.
Third Week of Advent Daily Prayer
Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13. The Lord hears the cry of the poor – Ps 33(34):2-3, 6-7, 16, 18-19, 23. Matthew 21:28-32.
Love makes demands on us
Today’s Gospel always makes me think of my brother (and 16 December 2025 is his birthday so even more so). Mum would ask him to do something and he would say, ‘Yeah, I’ll do it’, but didn’t. Mum used to say that what angered her the most about this was that he was dishonest with her. If he wasn’t going to do what she asked, why not be honest about it? He said that he was busy and didn’t want to be disturbed and would get to it when he got to it. He couldn’t understand why Mum was so frustrated with him. So, I guess my reflection on today’s Gospel is that God (and our mums) ask us to do things sometimes that get in the way of what we want, but if we truly love them we do it.
Calendar Highlights
December 16 | Christmas Program 6pm in the Church |
December 19 | Noon Dismissal-Christmas Break |
December 22-January 5 | No School-Christmas Break |
January 6 | School Resumes |
Extended Day Care registration packets are available in the school office
📨 Contents of Weekly Brown Envelope
Spirit Wear Flyer
Please remove contents, complete and return any forms in the Brown Envelope - sign and return on Wednesday.
Virtue of the Month: Patience
Patience – Waiting or enduring without complaint
As we journey through the peaceful season of Advent, our virtue for December is Patience. This virtue reminds us that God works in His perfect timing and that waiting—whether for answers, for growth, or for Christmas morning—can be a beautiful act of trust. Throughout the month, students will learn how patience helps us become more loving, thoughtful, and compassionate people. Each grade-level group will also explore the life of a saint who modeled extraordinary patience.
Saint Focus by Grade Level
St. Monica (TK–2):
Young students will learn about St. Monica, a loving mother who showed remarkable patience and faith. Even when things were difficult, she never gave up praying for her son, St. Augustine. Her gentle perseverance reminds us that God hears every prayer, even when the answers take time.
St. Isaac Jogues (Grades 3–5):
Students in grades 3–5 will discover the courage and patience of St. Isaac Jogues, a Jesuit missionary who traveled far from home to share God’s love. Despite hardships, he trusted God’s plan and continued his mission with a peaceful heart. His life teaches us that patience can give us strength even in challenging circumstances.
St. Rita of Cascia (Grades 6–8):
Middle school students will reflect on St. Rita of Cascia, known for her deep prayer life and steadfast patience through many trials. She endured difficulties with humility and forgiveness, always choosing peace over anger. St. Rita shows us that patience, rooted in faith, can transform even the hardest situations.
Remember, if you are a parent, faculty member, friend, or student of OLA, you are part of ALMS! This is our school’s ministry—our way of sharing faith through service and community. Giving back is fun, strengthens our parish, and helps our city… plus, you can earn parent hours along the way!
Exciting Announcement: Save the Date for OLA’s Annual Spring Gala & Auction- April 24, 2026 at Zachari Dunes!
The time has come to begin planning for our much-anticipated Spring Gala & Auction, happening on April 24, 2026. This wonderful event is built with the support of our entire community and is vital in raising funds to benefit our school family.
We invite anyone interested in helping make this event a success. Your contributions in the following areas would be greatly appreciated:
Event Planning
Decorations
Sponsorship Outreach
Auction Item Procurement
If you're interested in volunteering or would like to learn more, please contact us at apaboard@olaventura.org.
Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to our school community!
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 to they are aware of your child's absence.
✅Thank you for helping us keep our records accurate and our communication smooth!
OLA School Spirit Wear is Here!
Celebrate your OLA School pride with new spirit wear through Proforma. Adult and child t-shirts and sweatshirts are now available for non-uniform dress and pre-planned spirit days.
Spirit wear cannot be worn as regular school or PE uniform.
The first OLA School Spirit Day will be during Catholic Schools Week 1/25/26-1/31/26. Order your spirit wear by 1/9/26 to have your spirit wear before the big day!
The Assumption Parents Association (APA) Board is dedicated to supporting our school through event planning, fundraising, and fostering community throughout the year. We invite you to join in on the fun by attending one of our monthly meeting or by participating on a committee.
Have questions or want to get involved?
The APA meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm at the school.
We'd love to see you there!
To learn more about ways you can support OLA and get involved, please reach out to us at: apaboard@olaventura.org
Together, we can make a difference in our students' experiences and our school community!
🎂Happy Birthday!
The digital marquee birthday flier is available in the school offie. Announce your child's next birthday on the OLA marquee! Announcement cost is $15
🕣School Office Hours
To best serve you, please note the time 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 - 3:00pm), 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 up keep the school day running smoothly!
Safeguard Training
OLA Dates: January 17, 2026
A 3-hour Virtus training is scheduled for January 17th from 9:00 - 12:00 PM in the Santa Cruz Room.
Finger Printing
If you need to complete your fingerprinting through the Archdiocese, we have two upcoming opportunities available in Ventura:
Saturday, January 17th, 2026 at OLA School Hurley Hall. Appointments are required and can be made by calling the school office at 805-642-7198.
Please remember: All volunteers must be fingerprinted through the Archdiocese and have a current VIRTUS certificate on file with the school office.
