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.
🌟 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 new members to our faculty :
Mrs. Iris Aguilar - TK
Mr. Andrew Petracca - Music Teacher
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 22 in Ordinary Time
Today’s Readings – Hold Fast to What Matters
Matthew 23:23–26
Today’s readings invite us to think about what it truly means to “hold fast” to our faith and traditions. St. Paul encourages us to remain steadfast in what we have been taught, while Jesus reminds us that faith is about much more than simply following rules or customs.
In the Gospel, Jesus calls us back to what is at the heart of our faith: justice, mercy, and fidelity. Traditions are important because they connect us to those who came before us, but Jesus reminds us that our traditions must always lead us toward loving God and caring for one another.
This message is especially meaningful for us as a Catholic school. We cherish the traditions of our faith while helping our students understand the deeper values behind them. We want them not simply to know their faith, but to live it through kindness, honesty, compassion, service, and love.
🌿 Saints of the Day
St. Louis IX, King of France, used his position of leadership to serve others. He was especially concerned for the poor and worked to govern with fairness and justice. His life reminds us that true leadership is not about power—it is about using our gifts to serve God and others.
St. Joseph Calasanz had a special love for children and believed that every child deserved the opportunity to receive an education. He founded schools for children who otherwise would not have had access to learning and dedicated his life to forming young people in both faith and knowledge. As a Catholic school community, his example has particular meaning for us.
Today, may we “hold fast” to the things that matter most—our faith, our commitment to truth, our compassion for others, and our call to serve. These are traditions worth carrying forward and sharing with the world.
Lord, help us remain faithful to You. Teach us to seek justice, show mercy, and live our faith with courage and love. Amen.
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.
APA BOARD CORNER
🎉 Welcome Back, OLA!
We are looking forward to another great year full of fun family events and fundraisers! The APA Board meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm and we’d love to have you join and share your ideas on how to make this another great year! Parent hours are earned for attendance. The APA Board plans the Spring Raffle, Halloween BOO-Gie Event, Holiday fundraisers, Faculty Appreciation Week, Grandparent & Special Friends Day, Family Dances, Karma Day, Spring Fundraiser and much more! We cannot do it without your help!
We are looking for the following help on the Board this year:
2nd Vice President: attend monthly meetings in person or virtually and help plan events and activities
Co- Treasurer: support the Treasurer in duties and attend monthly meetings in person or virtually
Restaurant fundraiser contact: flexible role that can be done entirely from home and would involve communicating with restaurants and helping organize fundraiser details
Communications: assist with updating and creating flyers and emails for APA events and activities
Please reach out to apaboard@olaventura.org or text APA President Susan Cazares at 925-963-1697
✨ Thank you for helping us kick off the year with joy and community spirit—we’re looking forward to a fantastic school year together!
Volunteers Needed! If you are interested in lending your time as a Room Parent for the 2026-2027 school year please contact Jill Capra. This is a great way to be involved and knock out those volunteer hours!
Jill Capra
805-256-5455
Calendar Highlights
August 24th - August 28th | Grades TK, K & 1 only-Noon Dismissal (7:55 am-12:00 pm) Grades 2 thru 8 Regular School Day |
August 27th | New Parent Meeting 6pm |
August 31st-- September 4th | Grades TK, K & 1 only-Noon Dismissal (7:55 am-12:00 pm) Grades 2 thru 8 Regular School Day |
September 7th | No School-Labor Day |
September 8th | APA Board Meeting-6pm OLA School |
September 8th - September 11th | Scholastic Book Fair-Mulcahy |
September 11th | Noon Dismissal-Grandparents and Special Friends Day |
September 11th | All School Mass-10:30 am-Student Council Induction Mass |
September 16th | Art Trek Training 8:15 am-10:45am-Mulcahy |
September 17th | Back to School Night 6pm-7:30-pm |
September 20th | Donut Sunday-OLA School Hosting |
September 22nd | School Picture Day |
September 24th | Skating Plus Fundraiser 6pm-8:30pm |
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.
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
Virtue of the Month August & September
✨ Virtue of the Month: Charity
Our school participates in a Deanery-wide virtue program that helps our students grow in faith and character by focusing on a particular virtue each month and learning about saints who modeled that virtue in their lives.
Our Theme for the Year: Community
This year, our theme is Community. Throughout the year, we will help our students understand that God calls us to live in relationship with one another. A strong Christian community is built when we care for one another, recognize the dignity of every person, share our gifts, and work together for the good of all.
Our school community gives us countless opportunities to practice this—from welcoming someone who feels left out, to helping a classmate, serving those in need, praying for one another, and treating everyone we encounter with kindness and respect.
❤️ August/September Virtue: Charity
Our virtue this month is Charity:
“Loving God with all your heart, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.”
Charity is more than simply being nice or generous. It is the love that comes from God and teaches us to love Him above all things and to love others because they, too, are children of God.
Charity can be lived through very simple actions: including someone, offering encouragement, sharing what we have, forgiving, helping without being asked, praying for someone, or noticing when another person needs a friend.
As we begin a new school year centered on Community, charity is a wonderful place to start. When we choose to love and serve one another, we strengthen the community God has entrusted to us.
🌸 Preschool: St. Gertrude
Our preschool students will learn about St. Gertrude, who had a beautiful love for Jesus and loved spending time with Him in prayer.
For our youngest students, St. Gertrude reminds us that we can show charity by loving Jesus and being loving toward others. We can share, use kind words, help a friend, and remember to pray for the people we love.
Even the smallest acts of kindness can show someone the love of Jesus.
🤲 Grades 3–5: St. Vincent de Paul
Students in grades 3–5 will walk with St. Vincent de Paul, who dedicated his life to serving people who were poor, sick, lonely, or in need. He did not simply talk about loving others—he put his faith into action.
St. Vincent teaches our students to notice the needs of people around them and then do something to help. Charity might mean including someone who is alone, giving generously, helping without expecting anything in return, or standing beside someone who is struggling.
His example reminds us that when we serve another person with love, we are serving Christ.
💕 Grades 6–8: Venerable Laura Vicuña
Our middle school students will learn about Venerable Laura Vicuña, a young person whose deep faith and love for her family shaped the way she lived her life. Despite facing difficult circumstances, Laura remained devoted to God and showed remarkable compassion, courage, and concern for others.
Laura's story is especially meaningful for young people because she demonstrates that you do not have to be an adult to live a life of great faith and charity. Our middle school students are challenged to think beyond themselves—to consider how their words, choices, friendships, and actions affect others.
Her example reminds us that charity sometimes requires sacrifice, courage, forgiveness, and choosing what is good even when it is difficult.
🏫 Building Our Community Through Charity
Throughout the month, we encourage our students and families to ask:
How can I show God's love to someone today?
If each of us answers that question through our actions, our classrooms, homes, parish, and school will become stronger communities rooted in Christ.
May this month help all of us grow in charity as we continue to live our school mission—Anchored in Faith, We Learn, Serve, and Shine.
📚 OLA Scholastic Book Fair is Coming! 📚
Mark your calendars! The OLA Scholastic Book Fair will take place September 8th through September11th. 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
🍎 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
School Uniforms by Tommy Hilfiger, our school's uniform provider, is running a Buy More, Save More sale from August 26 through August 31. The more you order, the more you save:
Spend $50 to $149.99, save 10%
Spend $150 to $249.99, save 15%
Spend $250 or more, save 20%
Use promo code AG26V2BMEM at checkout. Please note the code will ONLY work during these days of the promotion: August 26 through August 31. Orders ship in 3 days or less on average, so it is a great time to stock up for the year.
Sports at OLA
🏃♀️ Cross Country is Off and Running! 🏃♂️
Cross Country season officially began this week, with the first practice on Monday . 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:
Stephen Isbell — 805-822-9341,
Let’s make this Cross Country season a great one—Go Dolphins! 🐬
🏈🏈
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.
**Our Flag Football team is off to a great start! There is still time to join. Practices will be held Monday's and Wednesday's from 3-4:30. Come ready to play with PE clothes, cleats, mouthpiece and water.
⚠️ We are in need of a Head Coach for Girls Volleyball this fall! Please contact the school office if you are interested!
💙 Thank you for supporting OLA Athletics—and as always…
GOOOOO DOLPHINS! 🐬
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
📋 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!
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 2026:
Protecting God’s Children: 3 hours. Please arrive on time.
Initial Certification Requirement
If you have never taken a Virtus class, you must attend a
3-hour in-person session
. Below are available classes in the area:
St. Raphael Catholic Church (Santa Barbara) – Saturday, August 22nd at 11:30 AM
Email: office@srs805.org
St. Raphael Catholic Church (Santa Barbara) – Saturday, September 5th at 11:30 AM
Email:
Our Lady of the Assumption Church (Ventura) – Saturday, September 19th at 9:00 AM in the Santa Cruz Room Call: 805-642-7966
Our Lady of the Assumption Church (Ventura) – Saturday, October 3rd at 9:00 AM in the Santa Cruz Room Call: 805-642-7966
St. Raphael Catholic Church (Santa Barbara) – Saturday, October 17th at 11:30 AM
Email: office@srs805.org
Keeping the Promise Alive: 1 hour 30 minutes. Please arrive on time.
St. Raphael Catholic School (Santa Barbara) – Saturday, August 22nd at 9:00 AM
Email:
Our Lady of the Assumption Church (Ventura) – Saturday, August 29th at 9:00 AM in the Santa Cruz Room Call: 805-642-7966
St. Raphael Catholic School (Santa Barbara) – Saturday, September 5th at 9:00 AM
Email:
Our Lady of the Assumption Church (Ventura) – Thursday, October 8th at 6:30pm in the Santa Cruz Room Call: 805-642-7966
St. Raphael Catholic School (Santa Barbara) – Saturday, October 17th at 9:00 AM
Email: office@srs805.org
There is an online option. If interested, please email olasafeguard@ola-vta.org.
Finger Printing
Fingerprinting Requirement
All volunteers must be fingerprinted through the Archdiocese. Below is a list of locations to have fingerprints completed:
St. Anthony Church (Oxnard) – Friday, August 7th
Call: 805-486-7301
St. Rose of Lima Church (Simi Valley) – Saturday, August 8th
Call: 818-935-7979
St. Peter Claver Church (Simi Valley) – Monday, August 10th
Call: 805-526-0680
St. Raphael School (Santa Barbara) – Saturday, August 29
Call: 626-960-1805
Holy Cross Church (Moorpark) – Saturday, September 5th
Call: 805-529-1397
St. Anthony Church (Oxnard) – Saturday, September 12th
Call: 805-486-7301
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