From the Desk of the Principal…September 8, 2026
Dear OLA Families,
🌟 A Short but Busy Week at OLA!
Dear OLA Families,
We have a short but busy week ahead, filled with wonderful opportunities to celebrate learning, faith, and community!
📚 Scholastic Book Fair
Our Scholastic Book Fair will be set up in Mulcahy Hall this week. The Book Fair is always an exciting time for our students and a wonderful way to encourage a love of reading. We look forward to seeing our students discover new books and stories to enjoy!
❤️ Grandparents & Special Friends Day
On Friday, we will celebrate one of our favorite OLA traditions—Grandparents & Special Friends Day. We are excited to welcome these very special guests to our campus and give them an opportunity to spend time with their students, visit classrooms, and experience the wonderful community that makes OLA so special.
✝️ Student Council Induction Mass
We will also celebrate our Student Council Induction Mass , recognizing our newly elected student leaders as they begin their year of leadership and service. We pray that they will lead by example, demonstrating faith, kindness, responsibility, and a heart for serving others.
Our theme this year is Community, and this week provides such a beautiful example of what that means—students, families, grandparents, special friends, faculty, and staff coming together to celebrate the many blessings of our OLA family.
We are grateful for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to a joyful week together as we remain Anchored in Faith, We Learn, Serve, and Shine!
Week 23 in Ordinary Time
🌹 Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Romans 8:28–30
Psalm 12 (13): “With delight I rejoice in the Lord.”
Matthew 1:1–16, 18–23
Cooperating in the Love of God
Today we joyfully celebrate the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus and a beautiful example of faith, humility, and trust in God.
In today’s Gospel, Matthew traces the family history of Jesus through many generations. It reminds us that God chose to enter into a real human family—a family made up of imperfect people with joys, struggles, successes, and failures. Through it all, God remained faithful to His promise.
Mary had a very special role in God’s plan. Through her courageous “yes,” she welcomed Jesus and brought God's love into the world. Joseph also cooperated with God through his gentle acceptance of Mary and his willingness to love, protect, and care for Jesus.
Their example reminds us that God also asks each of us to cooperate with His love. Most often, this happens through the ordinary choices we make each day—welcoming someone, showing patience, forgiving, helping a person in need, or simply being present for one another.
As we continue our school year with our theme of Community and our virtue of Charity, Mary offers us a wonderful example. Strong communities are built when we say “yes” to God and allow His love to work through us.
A thought for today:
How can I bring Jesus and His love to someone in my community today?
🌹 Happy Birthday, Blessed Mother! Help us to follow your example, say “yes” to God, and bring the love of Jesus to everyone we meet. Amen.
Grandparents & Special Friends Day on Friday, September 11th! We are excited to welcome these very special members of our extended OLA family to campus and celebrate the important role they play in the lives of our students.
We will also celebrate our Student Council Induction Mass, recognizing our student leaders as they begin their year of service to our school community. We pray that they will lead with kindness, responsibility, faith, and a true spirit of service.
Grandparents & Special Friends Day Schedule:
8:30-9:00 Breakfast for guests in Marian (school) Plaza
9:00-9:30 Guests visit classrooms
9:30 All school recess
10:00 Guests return to classrooms to walk with students to the church
10:30 Grandparents & Special Friends Day/Student Council Induction Mass
After mass, students must return to the classrooms. Each class will have a sign-out sheet if Grandparents & Special Guests are signing out your student.
We need your help to make this day special! Please sign up to donate and volunteer for the hosted breakfast.
Grandparents and Special Friends Day Volunteer Link
APA BOARD CORNER
Save the Date: OLA’s Annual Halloween BOO-Gie Bash will be on Friday, October 30th. If you’re interested in assisting with planning, please contact the APA Board.
We are also in need of parent volunteers to help with the following positions/tasks:
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!
Calendar Highlights
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.
Grandparents Day Flyer
Virtue of the Month 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.
❤️ 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 Here! 📚
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.
Students had a sneak peek today and will be bringing home a wish list. If you would like to send money in with your student to purchase from their wish list please remember to include tax.
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
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.
Girls Volleyball starts today! The girls will practice today 9/8 from 3:00-4:30 and again Tuesday 9/15 from 3:00-4:30. Anyone interested in playing can come to practice with PE clothes, tennis shoes and water.
⚠️ We are in need of a Head Coach for Girls Volleyball this fall! Please contact the school office if you are interested!
Game schedules for both Flag Football and Girls Volleyball will be out soon.
💙 Thank you for supporting OLA Athletics—and as always…
GOOOOO DOLPHINS! 🐬
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You can download the app for free on Google Play or Apple App Store.
Download for Android https://bit.ly/3HRxTwQ
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📋 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:
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.
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) – 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