Sunday, March 2, 2014



Re-Registration Past Due
A reminder that re-registration for the 2014-2015 school year was due Friday, February 28th.
Mrs. Resto will begin calling parents this week regarding Re-Registration.

Registration for New Students 2014-2015
Registration for NEW Students will be:
Saturday, March 29th from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sunday, March 30th from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM.

Tuition Rates 2014-2015
The new tuition rates for 2014-2015 will be decided by the regional board of directors on Friday, March 14th.
Once the rates are decided Mr. Woods will post them here on the blog.

Unit IV Exams - Week Of March 10th
Due to the inclement weather Mr. Woods has moved the Unit IV exams to the week of March 10th. This will give teachers and students time to cover all the material outlined by the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Unit IV.

Progress Reports
Progress Reports will be distributed Friday March 7th by the classroom teacher and should be signed and returned as indicated on the signature line on the report. This will ensure that parents are reviewing their child's progress to date. As a reminder the next report card distribution will be April 10, 2014.
Alan will be in the library March 10th and March 11th from 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM to assist parents who are still experiencing difficulty with their Cornerstone passwords.
This will be the last time until April 10th.

Season of Lent- Ash Wednesday March 5, 2014
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.

Why we receive the ashes
Our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. We remember this when we are told
"Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return."

Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice.

The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they were to wear during the forty days of penance, and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year. Then, while the faithful recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the church because of their sins -- just as Adam, the first man, was turned out of Paradise because of his disobedience. The penitents did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after having won reconciliation by the toil of forty days' penance and sacramental absolution. Later, all Christians, whether public or secret penitents, came to receive ashes out of devotion. In earlier times, the distribution of ashes was followed by a penitential procession.

The Ashes
The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance.

Lenten Morning and Evening Prayer
The students of the Confirmation Class will come together at 7:30 AM and at 2:30 PM during Lent to recite morning and evening prayer. Parents are welcome to join them.

GYM CLASSES this week
Monday - Kindergarten, Grade 3, 6, 7 and 8
Tuesday - No gym classes Mardi Gras - Hippie Dress Up Day Contest
Wednesday - no gym classes - Ash Wednesday
Thursday - PreK- 2 (Ms. Rodriguez's class; Grades 2, 4 and 6 and 7.
Friday - Regular Schedule - Grade 4 and PreK-1




Monday, March 3, 2014 - Feast of St. Katherine Drexel
March calendars will be sent home with students.
Map A Month will be sent home with students in grades 4-8



Lip Sync Returns
The Lip Sync Contest has returned to OLQM thanks to the tireless work of Ms. Urena. Lip Sync 2014 will be held in the school lunchroom on Tuesday, March 4th at 5:00 PM as part of Mardi Gras celebrations before the Season of Lent begins on Wednesday. Tickets are $5.00 at the school office and $8.00 at the door.
Mr. Rick Mangini who coordinated the Lip Sync for many years here at OLQM will be returning as one of the judges.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014 Feast of St. Casimir
Mardi Gras - Hippie Day
Hippie Day Contest at 10:00 AM in lunchroom - parents welcome.

Wednesday March 5, 2014 - Ash Wednesday
Mass at 11:00 AM led by the first grade - parents welcome.
Yes, it says 11:00 AM!
Ash Wednesday is a day of Fast and Abstinence which means that children should not be eating MEAT today.

Thursday - March 6, 2014
Reading Coach will be working with students in grades 2, 3 & 4 today.
Gilder Lehrman workshop for teachers in grades 5 & 7.

Friday- March 7, 2014 - Feast of Saints Perpetua and Felicity
Stations of the Cross at 11:30 AM led by the 6th grade. Parents Welcome
Progress Reports will be sent home today.

Sunday - March 9, 2014 - First Sunday of Lent
Mass at 1:00 PM for all students
No Classes
Museum of the City of New York History Day Fair
Daylight Savings Time Begins - Turn clocks AHEAD ONE hour on Saturday night before going to bed.