Dear Parents and Guardians,

Here is our weekly rundown of happenings at Our Lady’s Catholic Academy!

Today’s Special Dress Down

Our deepest gratitude to those of you who participated in today’s special dress down. 100% of the money raised will help the family of former teacher Ms. Jordan Kerridge. Her father passed away this summer, and they have set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs. If you are interested in making an additional donation, please visit: www.gofundme.com/2k5abpw .

VIRTUS Training

Tuesday, October 4, 7:00 PM (RB Campus)

Just another reminder that our annual free VIRTUS training is coming up soon. You can register online at virtus.org, or at the door the evening of the event. Parents and guardians must attend this training once to volunteer at school events and attend school trips. If you haven’t attended in the past, please sign up now for this important training session.

Pastor Appreciation Day

Thursday, October 6 – 10:00 AM (St. Teresa Church)

At our monthly liturgy on October 6, we will honor our pastor, Reverend Richard Conlon. All parents are welcome to attend this liturgy. Because of the significance of this event, we are requiring all students to wear their full uniform that day. There will be Health class in place of Gym classes that day. Please join us in honoring our spiritual leader and OLCA’s most enthusiastic supporter!

Catholic High School Fair

Tuesday, October 11, 6:00 PM (RB Campus)

Once again, students in Grades 5-8 are invited to attend our annual Catholic High School Fair, where representatives from Catholic High Schools in Brooklyn & Queens will be here to answer your questions about their programs and activities. Students must wear their full uniform to this evening event.

Sincerely in Christ,

Kevin John Coyne & Debra Eisenbraun

Principal & Assistant Principal

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Thank you for a successful Back to School Night at the 128^th Street Campus. I am sure we will have another great night at Rockaway Boulevard tomorrow evening. Please note the following upcoming events:

Eighth Grade High School & Graduation Information Night

Tuesday, September 27, 6:30 PM (128^th Street Campus)

We will be meeting with the parents and students of both eighth grade classes at the 128^th Street Campus to discuss the high school application process and begin planning graduation events. Public high school directories will be distributed at this meeting. We hope to see all of you there.

VIRTUS Training

Tuesday, October 4, 7:00 PM (RB Campus)

Our annual free VIRTUS training is coming up soon. You can register online at virtus.org, or at the door the evening of the event. Parents and guardians must attend this training once to volunteer at school events and attend school trips. If you haven’t attended in the past, please sign up now for this important training session.

Catholic High School Fair

Tuesday, October 11, 7:00 PM (RB Campus)

Students in Grades 5-8 are invited to attend our annual Catholic High School Fair, where representatives from Catholic High Schools in Brooklyn & Queens will be here to answer your questions about their programs and activities. Students must wear their full uniform to this evening event.

Saint Clement Pope Track Team

Registration is open for the Saint Clement Pope Track Team! Please sign up by calling Coach Morgan at (718) 481-6401, or Coach Pasqual at (718) 347-3740. We hope to see even more OLCA students on the team this year!

Sincerely in Christ,

Kevin John Coyne Debra Eisenbraun

Principal Assistant Principal

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This morning, we had our first school liturgy, and I am proud to say that your children showed deep reverence as we gathered together in communion for the first time this year. What a wonderful beginning to what I am certain will be a wonderful year!

I have some additional updates that I would like to share with you.

Saint Teresa /OLCA Harvest Fest

Saturday, September 17: 11 AM – 8PM

We have made a change to the Harvest Fest schedule, due to a scheduling conflict with our rides vendor, and will now have the Harvest Fest on Saturday only. Please join us for delicious food, fun games, and rides for children – and adults – of all ages! We are also looking for volunteers, so if you would like to help, just call your campus office and we will put you on the volunteer schedule!

New Extended Day Program

Our new Extended Day program is structured differently than in previous years. This year, students in Grades 1-8 complete their homework in the school library immediately after dismissal. An hour of homework time is followed by snack, and then games and activities, including basketball, soccer, and dance. We hope you will consider signing your children up for this new and improved program!

Homework & Agenda Books (Grades 2-8)

Daily homework has begun, and we have a new agenda book policy. This year, students in grades 2-8 will copy their homework into their Good News Planners. Parents are to sign the planner every evening, and the classroom teacher will sign every morning. We hope this additional method of communication will be beneficial to all.

This is my eighth year as principal, and I want to close by thanking the parents, students, and especially my faculty and staff – including my Assistant Principal, Mrs. Eisenbraun - for making this the best start to a school year in all of my time at OLCA. I am so grateful for the privilege to serve this school community, and I look forward to another year full of God’s blessings.

Sincerely in Christ,

Kevin John Coyne

Principal

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As the first week of instruction comes to a close, we are excited to share with you some important information about the new school year!

Physical Education Schedule

This year, we have arranged the Physical Education schedule so that the same grades at both campuses have Physical Education on the same day. On days with Physical Education, please send your child in the complete gym uniform. Gym begins this Monday, September 12!

Mondays: Grade 4

Tuesdays: Grades 7 & 8

Wednesdays: Grades 5 & 6

Thursdays: Grades 1 & 2

Fridays: Grades K & 3

Additional Special Subjects

In addition to all students receiving Spanish, Art, and Music this year, I am happy to announce that for the first time, students at both campuses will have Library once a week! I thank our librarian, Mrs. Sheila Simmons, for answering the call to expand her ministry to include the Rockaway Boulevard Campus.

New Lunch Program

We are excited for our students to experience the new lunch menu this year. We have partnered with a local restaurant, El Castillo del Pollo, and are now able to offer a greater variety of options for our students!

Saint Teresa of Avila/OLCA Harvest Fest

Friday, September 16: 3 PM – 8 PM

Saturday, September 17: 12 PM – 8PM

Please join us at the 128^th Street campus next week for our First Annual Harvest Fest, a new tradition that is a collaboration between the OLCA Home Academy Association and the Saint Teresa of Avila Parish. There will be rides, games, and delicious food and drinks!

Back to School Nights

Tuesday, September 20 @ 6:30 PM - 128^th Street Campus

Thursday, September 22 @ 6:30 PM – Rockaway Boulevard Campus

This year, our Back to School night will begin with two presentations in the auditorium. The first will be a presentation from the Principal about the Bullying/Harassment Non-Violence Policy, and the second will be a presentation from the leadership committee of our new Home Academy Association. Following these two presentations, parents will then be invited to visit the classrooms of their children’s teachers. The teachers will prepare fifteen minute sessions that will be given three times, so parents with more than one child enrolled can visit all teachers. Per tradition, our seventh and eighth grade presentations will be together and in the auditorium.

Parent Communication

Beginning Monday, September 12, all teachers will be updating their pages on the school website and their gradebooks on Option C. If you need a login or a password reset for Option C, please contact your campus office and we will be happy to assist you!

We want to personally thank the faculty, staff, and most importantly, the students and parents, for such a wonderful beginning to our new school year. It is a pleasure and a privilege to serve in such a warm and welcoming school community. We look forward to another great year at Our Lady’s Catholic Academy!

Sincerely in Christ,

Kevin John Coyne Debra Eisenbraun

Principal Assistant Principal