Dear OLA Families,
What a wonderful way to end last week! Our Grandparents and Special Friends Day was a resounding success. We were blessed to welcome so many guests to campus—many commented that it seemed we had even more grandparents and special friends joining us this year! We received wonderful compliments about the organization of the day, the activities, and especially our dedicated teachers and staff.
A heartfelt thank you to our APA Board and parent volunteers for the tremendous amount of work that went into making the day so special. Their preparation, hospitality, and generous gift of time helped our guests feel truly welcomed and appreciated.
Our Mass was beautiful, and our students did a wonderful job participating and leading us in prayer. Thank you First Grade and Student Council. The processions were especially meaningful and added so much to our celebration.
Deacon Don’s homily beautifully brought together everything we were celebrating—the love and wisdom of our grandparents and special friends, the call to leadership and service of our newly inducted Student Council, and the significance of Patriot Day. His message reminded us of the many ways we are called to love, serve, remember, and care for one another.
We were also very proud to celebrate our Student Council Induction. We congratulate these students for stepping forward to serve their school and look forward to watching them grow as leaders throughout the year.
💙 Our Lady of Sorrows – Jesus Is Full of Compassion
1 Corinthians 12:12–14, 27–31
Psalm 99 (100): “We are his people: the sheep of his flock.”
Luke 7:11–17
Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, when we reflect on Mary’s deep love for Jesus and the suffering she experienced throughout His life and especially at the foot of the Cross. Mary reminds us that faith does not mean we will never experience sadness or difficulty. Rather, our faith assures us that God remains with us through it all.
That message is beautifully reflected in today’s Gospel. Jesus encounters a widow grieving the death of her only son. He sees her pain and is moved with compassion. Before she even asks for His help, Jesus notices her suffering, approaches her, and brings hope where there seemed to be none.
There is a wonderful lesson here for our children—and for all of us. Compassion begins by noticing. We notice when someone is hurting, lonely, worried, or needs a friend. Then, like Jesus, we respond with kindness and love.
St. Paul also reminds us today that we are one body in Christ. Each of us is different and has unique gifts, but we belong to one another. This connects beautifully with our school theme of Community and our virtue of Charity. A strong Christian community celebrates together in joyful moments and supports one another through difficult ones.
As parents and educators, we have the privilege of teaching our children that compassion is not simply something we feel—it is something we live.
A thought for our families today:
Who might God be asking us to notice, comfort, encourage, or care for today?
💙 Our Lady of Sorrows, help us to trust in Jesus during times of joy and sorrow. Teach us to notice the needs of others and to respond with compassionate and loving hearts. Amen.
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
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 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 |
September 25th | Works of Mercy-$1 Non Uniform Dress-Many Meals |
October 7th | Art Trek Training 8:15 am-10:45am-Mulcahy |
October 8th | All School Mass-9:30am/Feast of St. Francis Hosted by 4th Grade |
October 12th | No School-Indigenous People's Day |
October 13th | APA Board Meeting-6pm OLA School |
October 18th | Donut Sunday-OLA School Hosting |
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.
None
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.
🚗 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! 🏃♂️
Elementary Cross Country | |
|---|---|
September 17th | Camino Real Park |
September 24th | Monte Vista School-Camarillo |
October 1st | Arroyo Verde Park |
October 8th | AnacapaMiddle School |
October 15th | Camino Real Park-Championship |
Middle School Cross Country | |
|---|---|
September 18th | Kimball Park |
September 25 | Soule Park-Ojai |
October 2th | Arroyo Verde Park |
October 9th | Mission Oaks Park-Camarillo |
October 16th | Mt. Sac (Optional) |
October 23rd | Camino Real Park-Championship |
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 is underway! The girls will practice Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-4:30 . Anyone interested in playing can come to practice with PE clothes, tennis shoes and water.
Game schedules for both Flag Football and Girls Volleyball will be out soon.
💙 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:
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. Raphael School October 3rd , Call: 805-967-2115
St. Maximillian Kolbe Church, October 13th,
Call : 818-991-3915
St. Paschal Baylon Church October 20th , email: https://tinyurl.com/mvfepa98
St. Anthony Church (Oxnard) – Saturday, October 30th
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