Dear Parents,
A reminder that school begins Thursday January 3, 2013.

Wishing you many blessings this year.











Thursday - January 3rd
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
School Reopens after Christmas break.

Friday - January 4th
Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Today is Trivia Day

Sunday - January 6th
Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord
Confirmation Class 12:00 noon
Mass for all students 1:00 PM

Announcements Week of December 17, 2012

Gaudete Week
Our week begins with “Gaudete Sunday.” Gaudete means “rejoice” in Latin. It comes from the first word of the Entrance antiphon on Sunday. The spirit of joy that begins this week comes from the words of Paul, “The Lord is near.” This joyful spirit is marked by the third candle of our Advent wreath, which is rose colored, and the rose colored vestments often used at the Eucharist.

The second part of Advent begins on December 17th each year - this year, in 2012, it is Monday of the Third Week of Advent. For the last eight days before Christmas, the plan of the readings changes. The first readings are still from the prophesies, but now the gospels are from the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke. We read the stories of faithful women and men who prepared the way for our salvation. We enter into the story of how Jesus' life began. These stories are filled with hints of what his life will mean for us. Faith and generosity overcome impossibility. Poverty and persecution reveal glory.

Emergency/Crisis Plan

Some parents have expressed concern regarding the latest school attack in Newtown, Connecticut. As per Archdiocesean policy there is a crisis plan drawn up each year and shared with the faculty along with an evacuation procedure. One of the many problems with all this set up is the amount of telephone numbers that are incorrect on emergency cards and on the SIS system. If your telephone number has changed please update the number with Alba.
There are also 24 survelliance cameras in the school and another 24 in the rectory.

Probably the most important thing for a parent to do is to e-mail all their elected officials and insist that gun control be brought before Congress. Today, not tomorrow go to the League of Women Voters website at http://www.lwvnyc.org/TRY_find.html and find ALL your elected officials and e-mail or call them and express your concern about gun control and your child's safety.That includes e-mailing Mr. Obama and expressing your concern.


After School Program
On January 3, 2012 when we return from Christmas break the after school program will see some changes. To address the new Mathematics Common Core State Standards Mr. Placido will return to the classroom as a Mathematics tutor for all the classes in the After School Program.
Ms. Silvia Cabreja, from Mother Cabrini High School, will coordinate the program for Mr. Woods for the remainder of the school year. Mr. Placido and Mr. Woods will transition the parents and students this last week of school as to the changes that will occur.
Parents should remember that the After School Program is an extension of the school program and therefore any concerns should be brought to Mr. Woods' attention. It is Mr. Woods intention to assist every student in becoming proficient in Mathematics. No longer is it acceptable that students say or feel that they don't like Mathematics. It is essential that all students become Mathematically proficient.

Regionalization of Catholic Schools
Recently you may have heard that 27 schools are at risk of closing at the end of June, 2013.
While we are not on that list of at risk schools a new goverance pattern for the remaining schools will take place in September, 2013. This plan is explained by Dr. McNiff, the Superintendent of School at www.adnyschools.org under the title of Pathways to Excellence.
So what this mean to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs?
Beginning in September of 2013 the school will no longer be a parish school but a regional school governed by a board of directors. Mr. Woods will continue as principal and the board of directors will assist Mr. Woods in coordinating academic programs, financial decisions, classroom observations and the everyday running of the school. Fr. Antonio will be be one of the board of directors in terms of the continued Catholicity of the school along with its spiritual development.
Parents with educational experience may be requested to join the board to assist it in making decisions.
These decisions are being made to make all remaining Catholic Schools financially stable and academically strong. More information will follow and parents should remember these are new developing trends and there may be some rocky roads ahead but it is for the good of our Catholic School system. As more information becomes available Mr. Woods will post the information here.

Archdiocesean Bullying Curriculum
Recently, the Archdiocese of New York developed a Bullying Curriculum that will be taught to your children beginning in January, 2013. ADAPP (Archdiocesean Drug Abuse Prevention Program) developed the program to meet the mandates of New York State regarding bullying in schools, on line on social media networks and other areas where children may be exposed to bullying.
Part of these curriculum topics also come under the guidelines of the Archdiocese in the Parents Handbook under Harassement. As the curiculum is reviewed by the faculty and Mr. Woods there will be posting here about signs that parents should be aware of regarding bullying.
One of the main things is that parents should remember that not every instance of a child to child conflict is bullying but many time horsing around or rough game playing that gets out of hand.
Another thing that parents should be aware of is that------ all the adults (parents, teachers, counselors) must settle the matter with the children involved through talking, counseling and maybe at time psychological guidance.
Probably the biggest factor where bullying occurs is on Facebook. Again, Mr. Woods reminds parents that it is not cute or creating maturity for your child to have a Facebook acount UNLESS YOU THE PARENT are watching it DAILY. When a Facebook issue breaks out, and we have had one already this year, the direction is that the offending child and parent are recommended to file an order of protection at the Police Department. Avoid the issue by continually monitoring your child's access time on the computer.

Unit II Week V

Monday, December 16th - Feast of St. Olimpias
Map a Month Due
This week's morning and evening prayer led by the Confirmation Class will be in memory of the children and staff of Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Tuesday, December 17th - Feast of St. Rufus
Morning Prayer 7:30 AM, Evening prayer 2:30 PM

Wednesday, December 18th - Feast of St. Nemesius
Morning Prayer 7:30 AM, Evening prayer 2:30 PM
Shopping bags are needed to pack all books in closets for Christmas cleaning.

Thursday, December 20th- Feast of St. Dominic of Silos
Jesse Tree Contest will be judged by Fr. Antonio.

Friday, December 21st- Feast of St. Peter Canisus
Lessons and Carols 10:00 AM in Church Parents welcome to attend.
Classroom parties in afternoon.
Students may wear dress up clothes for Church - reds and greens would be appropriate.
No Jeans, no sneakers.

Sunday December 23rd - Fourth Sunday of Advent
Students are to attend Mass with their parents.
School office will be closed today.

Christmas Recess begins at dismissal.
School resumes --- Thursday January 3, 2013

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Week of December 9, 2012 Announcements

Socks and Glove Collection for Homeless
Gloves and socks will be collected for distribution to the Homeless on Saturday, December 15th at the parish Christmas Party for the Homeless.
They will be collected by 6th grade students this week.

Raffle for Auditorium Air Conditioner
The parish is sponsoring a raffle to have air conditioning installed
in the school auditorium.
Tickets are available in the tuition office. They are $20.00 each.
The raffle will be held on Sunday, February 10th.

Keyboarding - Learn to Type
Another strategy that will be important for your child to learn is keyboarding or learning to type with all ten fingers. In 2014 all New York State tests will be administered by a computer. Students will be typing in their responses to answers --including essays. As all standardized tests are timed it is important that children learn to type in an accurate, timely manner so that they are not struggling with the technology during the tests. Mr. Marcial has been doing this in the computer room weekly and it is easy enough for a child to practice at home these test taking techniques. Should you have any questions feel free to see Mr. Marcial.

School Website Updated
There is a link at the top of this page that will take you to the updated web site for OLQM. Should you have any suggestions please see Mr. Woods or Mr. Abreu in the school library.

After School Program Announcement
There will be NO After School Program on Friday December 14th.
Dismissal on December 14th will be at 12:00 noon.

Monday,December 10th
Confirmation Class Morning Prayer 7:30 AM and Evening Prayer at 2:30 PM
Advent Confessions today for students in grades 4-8 at 9:00 AM.

Tuesday,December 11th
Confirmation Class Morning Prayer 7:30 AM and Evening Prayer at 2:30 PM
Reading Coach today grades 4, 6 & 8

Wednesday,December 12th
Confirmation Class Morning Prayer 7:30 AM and Evening Prayer at 2:30 PM
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Mass at 9:00 AM led by the students of the 4th grade.

Thursday,December 13th
Feast of St. Lucy
Confirmation Class Morning Prayer 7:30 AM and Evening Prayer at 2:30 PM

Friday,December 14th --EARLY DISMISSAL DAY
Feast of St. John of the Cross
12:00 noon - staff Christmas party
NO AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM TODAY.

Sunday - Third Sunday in Advent
Communion Class 12:00 noon
Mass for all students 1:00 PM

Announcements Week of December 2, 2012




ITBS - Iowa Tests of Basic Skills
The ITBS scores were sent home on Thursday and in some cases Friday with your child.
The tests this year as you may remember from my October posting was based on the new Common Core State Standards.
In reviewing the total scores across the grades the Reading/ELA tests were good. Math on the other hand needs some extra work. The Mathematics tests are much more complicated with the Common Core Standards. The Mathematics component has multiple step word problems that were not part of the old curriculum. During this initial incorporation of the new standards, methodologies will be explored to assist your child in understanding these new strategies in solving word problems.
As many of you may remember the ITBS tests are diagnostic tools that we use as a school system early in the year to see weaknesses that may be corrected before the onset of New York State tests in the Spring.
Parents that may have questions may see Mr. Woods regarding their child's test scores.
Again, a reminder that all parents from PreK through 8 grade should look at the EngageNY website (www.engageny.org) and look at resources to assist you.

Keyboarding - Learn to Type
Another strategy that will be important for your child to learn is keyboarding or learning to type with all ten fingers. In 2014 all New York State tests will be administered by a computer. Students will be typing in their responses to answers --including essays. As all standardized tests are timed it is important that children learn to type in an accurate, timely manner so that they are not struggling with the technology during the tests. Mr. Marcial has been doing this in the computer room weekly and it is easy enough for a child to practice at home these test taking techniques. Should you have any questions feel free to see Mr. Marcial.

School Website Updated
There is a link at the top of this page that will take you to the updated web site for OLQM. Should you have any suggestions please see Mr. Woods or Mr. Abreu in the school library.

After School Program Announcement
There will be NO After School Program on Friday December 14th.
Dismissal on December 14th will be at 12:00 noon


Monday, December 3rd
Feast of St. Francis Xavier
Calendars for December will be sent home with your child today.
Picture money envelopes due to tuition office.
Confirmation Class will be leading morning prayer at 7:30 AM and evening prayer at 2:30 PM. Parents are welcome to join.

Tuesday, December 4th
Feast of John of Damascus
Reading coach will be working with students in grades 4, 6 & 8.
Picture money envelopes due to tuition office.
Confirmation Class will be leading morning prayer at 7:30 AM and evening prayer at 2:30 PM. Parents are welcome to join.

Wednesday, December 5th
Math Coach will be working with students in grades 4, 6 & 8
LAST DAY FOR PICTURE MONEY ---tuition office
Confirmation Class will be leading morning prayer at 7:30 AM and evening prayer at 2:30 PM. Parents are welcome to join.

Thursday, December 6th
Feast of St. Nicholas
Individual picture day-students may wear dress up clothes for pictures.
Confirmation Class will be leading morning prayer at 7:30 AM and evening prayer at 2:30 PM. Parents are welcome to join.

Friday - December 7th
SCHOOL CLOSED - Archdiocesan Data Day

Saturday - December 8th
Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Sunday - December 9th
12:00 noon - Confirmation Class
1:00 PM - Mass for all students in sacramental program

Dear Parent or Guardian:

You recently received a letter from our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Timothy McNiff, with another progress report on the regionalization plan being implemented across the archdiocese. As that letter indicated, local ad hoc Reconfiguration Committees in the non-pilot regions, made up of lay members and clergy from the area, have been evaluating each regionalized school in their respective communities, including ours. The purpose of that review is to analyze the current status of each school, as well as its long-term viability, with the goal of ensuring that a Catholic education is available to any child who wishes one throughout the archdiocese.

As you may recall, the emphasis placed on this local decision-making process was outlined in Pathways to Excellence, the strategic plan for Catholic schools published in October 2010 and developed to assure a vibrant future for Catholic education. Under that plan, most parish elementary schools will align into geographic regions governed by Boards. The analysis that has been undertaken by these local decision-making ad hoc Reconfiguration Committees includes examining all relevant data, including enrollment, financial, academic and local demographics, and ensures their decisions will result in financially healthy schools. The long-term goal of regionalization is to maintain sustainable, excellent, local school options for families wishing a Catholic education. At this time, based on their careful review, the ad hoc Reconfiguration Committees have identified several schools in the archdiocese that are at-risk of closure. Fortunately, your child’s school is not among them. We are sending this letter to you, however, to keep you informed of these developments.

In the next step of this process, pastors and principals of at-risk schools will be invited to meet with members of their Reconfiguration Committee discuss the combination of factors that led their school to be included on the list and share any insights and information that may be helpful in this process. The final decisions by the local Reconfiguration Committees will be announced in January 2013, following consultation with the archdiocese.

As a result of this process, our school may be welcoming new students affected by these changes. We know that you and our school community will do all we can to make these children and families feel at home.

Whatever the outcome, it is the goal of local ad hoc Reconfiguration Committees and the Archdiocese of New York to ensure that every child who wants a Catholic education will continue to have access to one. This regionalization initiative reflects the great progress we have made in the multi-year implementation of Pathways to Excellence, and aims to both stabilize and grow the number of Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of New York, with the ultimate goal of eliminating the need for future school closures.

I ask that you, as part of our community of faith, join us in prayer and contemplation during the coming days, as we continue to focus on strengthening our school system and elevating the spirits of the children in our care. Our doors are always open to answer any questions you may have and additional information can be found on www.adnyeducation.org.

Sincerely,

Rev. Antonio Alomte, pastor

Andrew G. Woods, principal


Estimado padre, madre o tutor:

Hace poco usted recibió una carta de nuestro Superintendente de Escuelas, el Dr. Timothy McNiff, con un nuevo informe sobre el progreso del plan de regionalización que se está implementado en toda la arquidiócesis. Tal como surge de la carta, las comisiones de Reconfiguración ad hoc a nivel local de las regiones no piloto, conformadas por laicos y sacerdotes del área, han estado evaluando cada escuela regionalizada de sus respectivas comunidades, incluida la nuestra. El propósito de esa revisión es analizar el estado actual de cada escuela, así como su viabilidad a largo plazo, con el objetivo de garantizar que todo niño de la arquidiócesis que desee recibir una educación católica pueda acceder a ella.

Como recordará, el énfasis puesto en este proceso de toma de decisiones a nivel local fue delineado en Caminos hacia la Excelencia, el plan estratégico para escuelas católicas publicado en octubre de 2010 y diseñado con el fin de garantizar un futuro brillante para la educación católica. Conforme a ese plan, la mayoría de las escuelas parroquiales de educación primaria se agruparán en regiones geográficas bajo la dirección de juntas. El análisis que realizan estas comisiones de Reconfiguración ad hoc, encargadas de tomar decisiones a nivel local, incluye el examen de todos los datos relevantes, entre otros los de tipo financiero, académico, demográfico y los relacionados con la inscripción, y garantiza que las decisiones que se tomen den lugar a escuelas financieramente sólidas. Nuestro objetivo a largo plazo es mantener opciones de escuelas locales sostenibles y de excelencia académica para todas aquellas familias que deseen una educación católica para sus hijos. En este momento, las comisiones de Reconfiguración ad hoc, después de realizar una minuciosa revisión, han identificado varias escuelas de la arquidiócesis que están en riesgo de ser cerradas. Afortunadamente, la escuela de su hijo no está entre ellas y el propósito de estas líneas es, simplemente, mantenerlo informado sobre estos avances.

El próximo paso en este proceso será invitar a los párrocos y los directores de las escuelas en riesgo a reunirse con los miembros de la Comisión de Reconfiguración que corresponda para tratar la combinación de factores que condujeron a sus respectivas escuelas a formar parte de la lista y compartir opiniones y toda información que pueda ser útil en este esfuerzo. Las comisiones de Reconfiguración a nivel local tomarán las decisiones finales que luego serán anunciadas en enero de 2013, después de consultar con la arquidiócesis.

Como resultado de este proceso, nuestra escuela podría estar recibiendo nuevos alumnos, concretamente, aquellos afectados por estos cambios. Sabemos que tanto usted como nuestra comunidad escolar harán todo lo posible para que estos niños y sus familias se sientan como en su casa.

Cualquiera sea el resultado, las comisiones especiales de Reconfiguración locales y la Arquidiócesis de Nueva York tienen como objetivo garantizar que todo niño que desee una educación católica pueda continuar recibiéndola. Esta iniciativa de regionalización refleja el gran progreso que hemos logrado en la implementación de Caminos hacia la Excelencia y pretende estabilizar y aumentar el número de escuelas católicas en toda la Arquidiócesis de Nueva York, con el objetivo final de eliminar la necesidad de cierre de escuelas en el futuro

Le pido que, como parte de nuestra comunidad de fe, se una a nosotros en oración y contemplación durante los días venideros mientras nos concentramos en fortalecer nuestro sistema escolar y elevar el espíritu de los niños confiados a nuestro cuidado. Nuestras puertas están siempre abiertas para cualquier consulta que desee realizar y en caso de necesitar información adicional puede visitar la página www.adnyeducation.org.

Cordialmente.

Rev. Antonio Almonte, pastor

Andrew G. Woods, principal

Week of November 25, 2012 Announcements

Thank you.
It is hoped that everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving.
Students in grades 5-8 distributed 200 turkeys and thousands of cans of food to the poor of the parish last Wednesday after Mass.
All students and parents are thanked for their assistance in this yearly mission to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

Christmas Vacation Dates
Many parents have called requesting the dates for Christmas vacation. I have not issued a yearly calendar this year because of proposed Common Core Workshops for the teachers which were moved a number of times. I apologize for this inconvenience but as it turned out I was correct in not publishing a yearly calendar because it would have been changed a number of times already and it is only November.
Christmas Vacation will begin at dismissal on December 21, 2012. Students will return to school on Thursday January 3, 2013.
There are some parents who take extended Christmas vacations - as a reminder any tests that are administered whether weekly quizzes, unit tests etc. will not be made up if the child is absent.

Christmas Plays
In order to make up for academic time lost due to Hurricane Sandy there will be no Christmas Plays this year. There will be Spring Plays held in May.

Common Core State Standards
EngageNY has a whole new look with a Parent link for resources to help your children.
Parents should keep abreast of the New York State Education changes that are occuring by becoming a member of EngageNY. Just google EngageNY.

Season of Advent
The Season of Advent begins Sunday December 2nd. Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and as such should be a time of reflection and prayer just as important as Lent.
Students in the Confirmation Class will be coming together each morning during Advent at 7:30 AM for Morning Prayer and each afternoon before dismissal for Evening Prayer. Parents wishing to join the class may meet with them in Church.

Alumni Reunion
If you as a parent graduated from OLQM and did not receive a newsletter in the last two weeks please let Alba in the office know or e-mail Mr. Woods at olqm1@aol.com. There will be an 80th anniversary celebration wherein alumni of OLQM come together. If you also know other gradates who would like to receive school newsletters pass on the information to them for us.

Communion Program
Mr. Woods apologizes to parents regarding the mix up of class dates.
If your child was absent it will not be counted against their 3 absences.

Monday November 26th-

Tuesday November 27th-
Feast of Saints Barlaam & Josaphat
Reading Coach will be working with the children in grades 4, 6 & 8

Wednesday November 28th-
Mathematics coach will be working with the children of grades 4, 6 & 8

Thursday November 29th-

Friday November 30th- EARLY DISMISSAL DAY 12:00 noon
Feast of St. Andrew
Faculty Meeting

Sunday December 2nd - First Sunday of Advent
Sacrament of Reconciliation Classes 12:00 noon
Mass at 1:00 PM for all students

Week of November 19, 2012 Announcements

Please read letter from Dr. McNiff, the superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of New York that is posted below. You may need to click the link on the right column that says Superintendent of Schools.

Monday - November 19th
Map a Month Due
Canned Foods for distribution to the poor of the parish.

Tuesday - November 20th
Religion Fair 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Parents invited to attend.
Fr. Antonio will be be the judge.

Reading Coach will be in grades one, four, six
and eight today to assist in the implementation of
the Common Core Curriculum for those grades.
Canned Foods for distribution to the poor of the parish.

Wednesday - November 21st
Mass at 9:00 led by the students of the 7th grade.
Mass of Thanksgiving.

Distribution of Turkeys and canned foods to the
poor of the parish by the Confirmation Class after Mass.

Thursday - Thanksgiving

Friday - School Closed

Sunday - November 25th
Feast of Christ the King
No Classes
Mass for all students at 1:00 PM

OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK

1011 First Avenue,
NewYork, NewYork 10022
Phone: (212) 371-1000 Fax: (212) 758-3018

November 16, 2012

Dear Parents,
I hope this letter finds you and your family well and recovering from the effects of Hurricane Sandy. I apologize for the late notice of this communication which was delayed due to the storm. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
I would like to take this opportunity to update you on developments in the implementation of our regionalization plan. The Boards of the new
pilot regions for the schools of the Archdiocese of New York, located in Rockland, Staten Island and the Northwest and South Bronx, are now fully operational. These Boards were created as part of the multi-year regionalization process which will align most parish elementary schools into geographic regions. As one of their most important tasks, the pilot boards, composed of both clergy and laity, have begun their comprehensive review of the current status and long term viability of the schools in their respective regions.
This review will include all relevant data, including enrollment, financial, academic and local demographics, allowing the Boards to make fully
informed and necessary decisions that will result in financially healthy schools. The Boards will also consider the best allocation of resources, with the goal of maintaining sustainable, local school options for every family who wishes a Catholic education.
In the non-pilot regions of the archdiocese, ad hoc "Reconfiguration Committees," composed of local clergy and members of the laity, have been appointed to mirror the evaluation process being done by the pilot Boards. The pastors serving as Chairman of the non-pilot Reconfiguration Committees are:

• Orange/Ulster/Sullivan -Rev. Thomas Byrnes, Sacred Heart in Monroe
• Northern Westchester/Putnam- Rev. Msgr. George Thompson, Saint Patrick in Bedford
• Central Westchester- Rev. Msgr. Dennis Keane, Annunciation in Crestwood
• Northeast/East Bronx- Rev. Stephen Norton, Saint Benedict
• Manhattan - Rev. Msgr. Lawrence Connaughton, Saint John the Martyr, Saint John Nepomucene
• Dutchess- Rev. Msgr. Francis Bellew, Saint Mary in Wappingers Falls

Their work on a Reconfiguration Committee is separate and distinct from application and approval for the non-pilot region Boards of Trustees. Candidates for all non-pilot Boards of Trustees will be vetted and approved in a separate process during the winter and spring of 2013.
Pilot region Boards and Reconfiguration Committees have respectively begun to analyze each school region and will continue their review through mid-November. Following the timeline of previous reconfiguration process for the schools of the archdiocese, any school identified as "at­ risk" for possible closure, after careful review by respective pilot region boards or Reconfiguration Committees, will be informed of their status in late November.
In addition, given the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Sandy on Staten Island, the Board of Trustees and the Office of the Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of New York are engaging local pastors, principals, administrators and elected officials in continuing, in-depth discussions regarding how to best serve the needs of Catholic school families and students on Staten Island as we evaluate the original late November timeline for "at-risk" notification. The results of these ongoing local discussions will be announced shortly.
I remain deeply grateful to our parent community, which has demonstrated patience and a strong commitment to Catholic education during this rigorous and sometimes painful process. Your support, and that of our dedicated pastors, principals and teachers, is of the utmost importance to me and I am confident that regionalization will help to ensure that a Catholic education is available to any child that wishes one throughout the archdiocese.
I will, of course, keep you informed as the process unfolds, and invite you to visit the Superintendent of Schools websi.te: www.adnyeducation.org for up-to-date information.


Timothy J. McNiff, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

TWO HALF DAYS THIS WEEK - Please read carefully.


Report Card Day- Tuesday November 13th
Early Dismissal Day 12:00 NOON

Report Cards and Honors will be distributed by Fr. Antonio
at the following assemblies:

Grades 5-8 at 9:00 AM
Grades 1-4 at 9:30 AM

Kindergarten will be distributed in the classroom at
10:00 AM for parents wishing to attend.

Parent Teacher Conferences
2:00 PM - 7:00 PM - you are asked to please limit
your time talking to your child's teacher to approximately 10 minutes.
If there is a need to talk longer to your child's teacher ---- please
speak to the teacher about setting up a mutually agreeable time
to meet.
Grades 1-8 will meet in the school auditorium.
PreK and Kindergarten teachers will meet in their classrooms.
Mr. Woods will be in the school auditorium if there are
any questions.

Superintendent's Common Core State Standards Meeting -
November 15, 2012
Dismisissal at 11:00 AM
The meeting that was cancelled last week has been rescheduled
for Thursday November 15th.
Dismissal on Thursday will be at 11:00 AM to allow
time for the teacher's to travel to the training site.
After School Program will be in session that day and parents
who may need the After School Program for the day should see
Mrs. Resto in the tuition office.

Canned Food Drive
During November canned foods are being collected for
distribution by the Confirmation Class to the poor of the
parish.
Please try to send your donation in this week so that
they may be packed over the weekend as distribution will
be next week.


Tuesday - November 13th - Feast of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
Dismissal at 12:00 noon
Report Card Day

Wednesday- Canned Foods

Thursday- Feast of St. Albert the Great
Dismissal at 11:00 AM
Superintendent's Conference on Common Core State Standards

Friday- Feast of St. Margaret of Scotland

Sunday- 12:00 noon Confirmation Class
1:00 PM - Mass for all students.

Class Picture Day - Tuesday
November 6, 2012
All students should be in full dress uniform for picture day.
Students may bring their gym uniform in a bag to change.







Tuition Suspension Day - Cancelled
Due to hurricane Sandy tuition suspension day is cancelled.
A reminder, though, that Report Cards are being
distributed on November 13th. No report card will be
distributed if there is an outstanding balance on the
tuition account from Smart tuition. Please check your
balance with Smart Tuition.

Early Dismissal Day Thursday November 8th ----------11:00 AM
This Thursday there is a Common Core Workshop scheduled for the teachers.
Dismissal on Thursday will be at 11:00 AM to give ample time for the
teachers to travel to the Workshop.
Parents in need of child care in the After School Program
should see Mrs. Resto in the tuition office or Mr. Placido, the
director of the After School Program.

Yearly Calendar Update
Mr. Woods is waiting for direction regarding the days that school
was closed by Mayor Bloomberg and the NYS Department of Education.
As soon as information is obtained and dates set it will be posted
here for parents.

Monday November 5, 2012
First Quarter ends today

Tuesday November 6, 2012 - Election Day
Group Picture Day - all students in full dress uniform.
Look as clean and polished as you did on the first
day of school.

Wednesday November 7, 2012
If you need the After School Program for Thursday please
see Mrs. Resto or Mr. Placido by today or call the office
at 212-567-3190

Thursday November 8, 2012 ----EARLY DISMISSAL DAY 11:00 AM

Friday November 9, 2012
TACHS exam for 8th grade students.

Saturday November 10, 2012
Mr. Woods will meet with parents regarding tuition from
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM.

Sunday November 11, 2012
No Classes today.
Mass at 1:00 PM for all students in sacramental program.
Parent Meetings regarding tuition 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Monday November 12, 2012 Veteran's Day
School Closed

SCHOOL CLOSINGS - Maybe - Maybe Not
In light of the storm this week parents and students are to be aware that
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School will
only close when the New York City Public
schools close. There will be an IRIS alert sent immediately upon the announcement.
Parents are reminded to have their telephone numbers updated should they
change telephone numbers. Please call or see Alana on Sundays from
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM should you want your IRIS account changed.
Parents are to be aware that should school close the day must be
made up at a later time so that the school meets New York
State Education requirements of 176+4=180 school days.

Tuition Suspension Day---Monday ----November 5th
As mentioned on your tuition card that you received
in the mail during the summer there will be a
tuition suspension day on Monday November 5th.
All tuition should be up to date before that
date for your child to be permitted in class.
Mr. Woods will meet with parents who need an extension for tuition on
Saturday November 3rd from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
and Sunday November 4th from 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM.
Parents are reminded to call SMART tuition before November 1st
or should see Mrs. Resto.
Letters will be sent home with your child on
Thursday November 1st if there is an outstanding tuition balance.
As a reminder to parents in the After School Program - payments
for the program are also due to SMART tuition for the program.

Class Picture Day
Class picture Day is Tuesday November 6th
All students should be in regular school uniform.
No gym clothes etc. so the class pictures are all the same.

Monday - October 28th
School Closed - Hurricane Sandy hits NYC

Tuesday - October 29th
School Closed - Hurricane Sandy hits NYC

Wednesday - Halloween October 31st
School Closed - Clean up after Hurricane Sandy

Thursday - November 1st
Feast of All Saints - Holyday of Obligation
Mass at 9:00 AM led by the students of the
7th grade. Students are to be in uniform.
Tuition Suspension letters will be sent home.
Calendars for November will be sent home.

Friday - November 2nd---Feast of All Souls

Saturday- November 3rd--Feast of St. Martin de Porres
Tuition meetings with Mr. Woods 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Sunday --November 4th
12:00 noon- Reconciliation Class
1:00 PM - Mass for all students in sacramental program.
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Tuition meetings with Mr. Woods

This week is National Chemistry Week
parents seeking activties
to do with their child this week may log on to
www.acs.org.
Under the tab Education you can find
Activities for Kids.

Catholic School Value Survey
A Catholic School Values template has
been developed by St. John's University
to assist Catholic Schools in understanding
their role in education today. If you would
like to be able to voice your choices on the
values you see and experience here at
OLQM please send an e-mail to Mr. Woods at
olqm1@aol.com. Mr. Woods will forward you the
questionnaire that you should return either
by e-mail or in hard copy to Alba in the
school office. At the end of the month Mr. Woods
will publish the results here on the blog.

Safe Environment Curriculum
Dear Parents,
Our Catholic tradition has always affirmed the
dignity of the human person as created in the image
and likeness of God. Every person with whom we come
in contact deserves to be seen by us with th eyes of
God. We know that ministry with children and youth,
in particular, is a sacred trust. We, at Our Lady
Queen of Martyrs School are committed to preserve,
at all times and in all places, this sacred trust
which is rooted in our faith in Jesus Christ.
In 2002, the United States Bishops approved
The Charter for the Protection of Children and
Young People in an effort to protect children
and youth from sexual abuse at ;all levels of
church life and to restore trust in a Church
scarred by the scandal of clergy and sexual
abuse. Article 12 of the charter directs all
dioceses to create programs and processes
to teach children and youth about sexual abuse
and prevention. In the Archdiocese of New York,
this training will be integrated this week.
October 22nd-October 26th into the religious
education program in our school.
We thank you for your support and interest
as we partner to give our children the safest
possible environment to grow in faith, in
our parish, school and in our homes.


Progress Reports
Progress Reports were sent home with
your child on Friday October 19th.
All children received a Progress Report.
It was printed on yellow paper.
Look for it in your child's book bag.

Halloween 2012
The annual PreK and Kindergarten Halloween parade
will take place on Halloween October 31st.
Parents are invited to join in the celebration.
Parents are requested to check with their child's
teacher regarding classroom Halloween celebrations.

Unit I Exams Grades K-8
Unit I exams will be administered to students
in grades K-8 this week.
Wednesday October 24th - Reading & Mathematics
Thursday October 25th - Social Studies and ELA
Friday October 26th - Science and Religion.
Exams are based on the weekly quizzes along with
essays that require application of knowledge
learned during the past 6 weeks.

Sacrament of Baptism
There are presently four students enrolled
to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.
This is a final reminder that parents wishing to
have their child Baptized should see either
Fr. Antonio or Mr. Woods.

Monday - October 22nd
Have you requested a Catholic Schools
Value Survey from Mr. Woods at
olqm1@aol.com

Tuesday- October 23rd
Feast of St. John Capistrano
World Astronomy Day

Wednesday- October 25th
Feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret
United Nations Day
Unit Exams Reading and Mathematics

Thursday- October 26th
Unit Exams - Social Studies and ELA

Friday- October 27th
Unit Exams- Science and Religion
Rowland Reading Coach (Superkids)
will be in PreK, Kindergarten,
First and Second grade classrooms today.

Earth Science Week and Science Fair
Earth Science Week takes on an important
theme this year as the focus of the school
and district Science Fairs this year is
Earth Science. Parents wishing to assist
their child in the development of a Science Fair
project may visit the web sit at the bottom
of the logo to the left.

Progress Reports
Progress Reports will be sent home on
Friday with every child in the school.
Parents should address any academic area
where there is mark below 60.
Appointments may be made with Alba in the
office or by calling 212-567-3190.
Parents wishing to receive the login in and
password for their child's gradebook on the
student information system (SIS) should see
Alana on Sundays from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

School Value Survey
A Catholic School Values template has
been developed by St. John's University
to assist Catholic Schools in understanding
their role in education today. If you would
like to be able to voice your choices on the
values you see and experience here at
OLQM please send an e-mail to Mr. Woods at
olqm1@aol.com. Mr. Woods will forward you the
questionnaire that you should return either
by e-mail or in hard copy to Alba in the
school office. At the end of the month Mr. Woods
will publish the results here on the blog.

IRIS Testing
The IRIS alert system will be tested on
October 29th during the day. The main office
of the Archdiocese will test the system and
you will receive the alert sometime during the
day.

Unit One Exams
Unit One exams will be administered
Monday October 22nd- Science and Religion
Tuesday October 23rd - Social Studies and ELA
Wednesday October 24th - Reading and Mathematics
The exams will cover the material from the
weekly quizzes along with analysis, word problem
along with complex reasoning questions as recommended
by the Common Core State Standards.

New York City Department of Health Screening
To say the least it was amazing to see the results
of the screening for vision by the Department of Health.
Over 1/2 of students in grades Kindergarten, Grades 1
and Grade 2 are in need of glasses.
School success in all subject areas can only
be accomplished if the student can see what is
on the Smartboard, what is in their textbooks,
what the teacher is pointing to on a chart.
It is utterly unacceptable that a parent would
just think to remark --"... move my child to the
front of the classroom or closer to the teacher.;.."
will enable them to see.
Please address the letters sent home with an
ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

Monday October 15th- Feast of St. Teresa of Avila
Unit I Week VI
ITBS labels etc put on test answer sheets.
Grade 5 - CoGat Testing

Tuesday October 16th -
ITBS-- READING

Wednesday October 15th
Feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch
8th grade parent meeting regarding
High School Application Process
7:00 PM - Mr. Placido's room.
ITBS - Listening and Written Expression

Thursday- October 16th
Feast of St. Luke
ITBS Grades 1 and 2 Language

Friday - October 19th
Early Dismissal Day 12:00 noon
Faculty meeting
Progress Reports will be distributed
to all students by Fr. Antonio.

Sunday - October 21st
Parish Flea Market in auditorium
12:00 - Communion Class
1:00 PM - Mass for all students.

October 11th is the
50th anniversary of Vatican Council II
and the beginning of Pope Benedict's call
for us to begin a Year of Faith to explore,
examine and study our faith more deeply.
Students will explore different topics in
religion classes to have them understand the
Holy Father's call to discover their faith
more fully.


ITBS Testing Grades 1-8

ITBS testing begins this week. Students
should go to bed early each night and
have a full breakfast each morning during
the testing period. Since the test this year
is new and based on the Common Core Curriculum
students may struggle with some of the
new components of the test. The ITBS is a
diagnostic tool that the schools of the
Archdiocese use to improve education. It is
NOT an IQ test but a tool to assist educators
on needs of students individually and as a
class group.
Parents are requested NOT to stress their children
over these tests but remind them to do the best they
can and to concentrate during the test.
Parents can assist in grades 3-8 by having their child
review the multiplication tables if they are still
struggling with them, read non-fiction books like
they do in class and ask them questions about their
reading.

Smart Tuition
Mrs. Resto will now handle all Smart Tuition
inquiries. Mrs. Resto is in her office from
7:30 AM - 3:00 PM.
The school office will no longer be open on
Saturdays as the parent response for assistance
does not warrant staffing the office. All
inquiries should be done on
Sundays from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

Candy Bars for Fund Raising
Candy bars are available in the tuition
office to assist parents in their
fund raising. Please check with Mrs. Resto.

IRIS Testing
This month the IRIS system will be tested
during the day. This is a test to see if
you would receive a message from the school
in the event of a school emergency.
Further information will be made available as
to the date etc.
Parents are requested to notify the office
if emergency numbers change.


Monday - October 8th
SCHOOL CLOSED

Tuesday - October 9th
ITBS grids filled in etc.
Students will need at least
three number 2 pencils.
No testing today just paperwork
completed.

Wednesday - October 10th
Fireman Bill will be here to talk
to students about Fire Safety as part of
Fire Prevention Week.

ITBS Testing Grades 1-8
Mathematics Parts I & II
Grade 5 ONLY - Mathematics Computation


Thursday - October 11th
NO ITBS testing today
Year of Faith begins

Friday-October 12th
Feast of St. Wilfred
Map a Month due
Vision and Hearing Screening by
the New York Health Department
ITBS testing Grades 1-8
Vocabulary, Spelling, Capitalization, Punctuation
Mathematics Computation.
Grade 5 ONLY - CoGat testing

Sunday October 14th
Confirmation Class 12:00 noon

Mass for all students in sacramental
program 1:00 PM

SIS passwords etc. will be distributed
from 10:00AM - 4:00PM by Alana in office.

“May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.”

― Thérèse de Lisieux

October,2012
During this month of the Holy Rosary
we should reflect on the importance of
Mary in our lives.

This month the teachers will focus
their lessons on the value of poverty and
simplicity as reflected in the Beatitudes.

ITBS/Cogat Schedule
The Iowa Test of Basic Skills along with the CoGat
tests will be administered October 10th-19th.
These tests are NEW and will reflect the new
Common Core State Standards that are being
implemented nationally.
Students should go to be early the night before
a test. SHOULD NOT BE STRESSED by their parent(s) and
eat a good breakfast by coming to school early.
The mad early rush should be avoided by having
morning things prepared before going to bed.
The results of the tests will not be available
until December, 2012.

Sacramental Program
The sacramental program began Sunday September 30th.
Calendars were distributed to all students that were
present.
Parents may register their child for the
sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation,
First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
All students are REQUIRED to attend the 1:00 PM
Mass together as a group.
Parents who have questions should see Mr. Woods.

October Calendar
The October calendar will not be ready until
Thursday or Friday of this week. The office
xerox machine is broken and we are waiting
for the arrival of a part for the machine.

Vision and Hearing Screening
Students in Kindergarten and First Grade will be
screened by the New York City Department of Health
on Friday, October 12th. Reports of their screening
will be sent home with your child.

Monday October 1st-
Feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus (de Lisieux)
UNIT I Week IV

Tuesday October 2nd
Feast of Guardian Angels

Wednesday October 3rd
Candy bars are available in the
tuition office to assist you in your
fund raising.

Thursday October 4th
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
Mass at 9:00 AM led by the 5th grade
and parents are welcome.
Students may bring animals to Mass for
a special blessing.
Dogs and cats must return home after Mass.

Friday - October 5th
Feast of St.Faustina Kowalska

Saturday - October 6th
Feast of St. Bruno

Sunday- October 7th
Students in sacramental program are
to attend Mass with their parents.
Fr. Antonio will collect attendance cards
after the 1:00 PM Mass.
The school office will be closed today
as Mr. Woods' family is gathering for a
memorial for his mother who died last year.

Do not be afraid of undertaking too much
of what you can do without coming and going;
but fear only the thought of doing more
than you are doing and more than
God is giving you the means to do.

St. Vincent dePaul

Common Core State Standards
Parents are reminded to review materials
at
http://www.pta.org/common_core_state_standards.asp
or
http://www.corestandards.org/

to view materials regarding the new curriculum
shift in education.
Materials are being updated regularly at these
websites. Parents may also view a PowerPoint
presentation by the New York State Education Department at:

http://engageny.org/resource/shifts-for-students-and-parents/

Vision and Values
A number of parents will be invited to join
a number of faculty members in outlining the
vision and values important as a school community
here at OLQM. The meeting will be held here
on Sunday September 30th at 2:15 PM after the
1:00 PM Mass. The results of that meting will be
posted on this blog.

Mon. September 24th
National Punctuation Day

Tues. September 25th
Reminder candy bars are available in the
tuition office.

Weds. September 26th
Feast of Sts. Cosmos and Damien
SCHOOL IS OPEN

Thurs. Sept. 27th
Feast of St. Vincent de Paul

Friday September 28th
SCHOOL CLOSED
Common Core Conference Day for
teachers.

Saturday- September 29th
Feast of the Archangels Michael,
Gabriel, and Raphael
Harvest Moon

Sunday - September 30th
Last Day for registration for sacramental
program 10:00 AM - 12:00 noon.
1:00 PM - Mass for all students in sacramental program
2:15 PM - Vision and Values meeting

September, 2012

Dear Catholic School Parents,

As we prepare for the start of a new school year, I want to take the opportunity to share with you several dynamic changes underway in our Catholic schools and how they will positively impact your family.

As you may know, we are in the midst of implementing Pathways to Excellence, our multi-year strategic plan to strengthen schools in the Archdiocese of New York and ensure they remain available, accessible and affordable for every family desiring a Catholic education for their child(ren).

Currently, we are in a phase called "Regionalization." As its name implies, Regionalization involves the coming together of parish elementary schools into geographic "regions." This way, every parish will be responsible for, contribute to and have a voice in Catholic education in the archdiocese.

As Cardinal Dolan stated recently, "Simply put, Regionalization is about everybody doing their part, sharing responsibilities and working together to ensure a vibrant future for our schools."

This September, three pilot regions have become operational: Staten Island, Rockland and Northwest South Bronx. Each of these new regions will be governed by a Board, made up of outstanding and talented individuals committed to the mission of Catholic education- both laity and clergy. For schools, this means that they will now be able to benefit from this new wealth of knowledge and expertise, to include finance, marketing and, of course, education. The remaining seven regions in the archdiocese will follow the same process and become operational in September 2013. During this process, however, we recognize that some difficult decisions will have to be made, including the very real possibility of additional school closings at the end of the current school year. For the vast majority of schools, the end result will be a revitalized and stronger system.

What does regionalization mean for you and your child(ren)? On the surface, you probably won't notice much of a change in the day-to-day operations at your school. However, by adopting a regional approach in which individual schools, true to their Catholic mission, cooperate as members of a larger faith community and share resources, regionalization is expected to result in:

• Sustainable, fiscally sound schools providing an excellent Catholic education
• An infusion of additional talent through the increased role of the laity in school governance
• Community-based decision-making that more fully addresses the goals and needs of schools on the local level
• More funds available for academic enhancements, scholarships and parish religious education programs

All of this translates into better schools and brighter futures for those who matter most: our children.

For regular updates on Regionalization, please visit the Superintendent of Schools' website: www.adnyeducation.org. My prayers and best wishes for a successful school year ahead!
Sincerely,


Timothy J. McNiff, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

Week of September 17th - September 23rd

There is the Music of Heaven in all things
and we have forgotten how to hear it until we sing.

St. Hildegard of Bingen

Common Core
Parents are reminded that they should
keep up with the changes in education known as the
Common Core. Besides Common Core Standards.org parents
should also join www.pta.org. Any questions may be
directed to Mr. Woods regarding these changes
and the implementation of the Common Core here at
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs.

Thank You
Thanks to the parents of Briana Bonilla,
Ayana Horsford and Joel & Jailyn Castillo
for attending the meeting last Wednesday with
Dr. McNiff, the Superintendent of Schools.
Parents requesting to know information
regarding that meeting should speak to those
parents.

Book Fair
There will be a Book Fair this week on the
second floor of the school to assist the
PreK classes. As a reminder students should
be reading more non-fiction books that are based
on real life experiences.

Candy Bars
Candy Bars have arrived in the tuition office to
assist you in your fund-raising requirements.
Letters will go home this week.
Parents are reminded that fund raising monies
must be paid in the tuition office.

Smart Tuition
A reminder that all tuition, after school program,
general fees etc. are due to Smart Tuition.
Parents that have questions may call the
company 24hours a day 7 days a week. Alana
is in the school office on Saturdays and
Sundays to assist parents with any concerns.

Monday September 17th
Unit I Week II
Book Fair

Tuesday September 18th
Book Fair

Wednesday September 19th
Feast of St. Janarius
Book Fair

Thursday September 20th
Book Fair

Friday September 21st
Feast of St. Matthew, the evangelist

Saturday September 22nd
Office open 10AM - 4PM
Autumn begins

Sunday September 23rd
Registration for the Sacramental Program
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Week of September 9-16, 2012

“Happiness can only be achieved by looking
inward & learning to enjoy whatever life has
and this requires transforming greed into gratitude.”
― St. John Chrysostom

Common Core State Standards

This week each parent should view
www.corestandards.org
there are a number of videos and resources to
assist parents in the changes that are
occurring in education.

Meeting with Superintendent of Schools
Mr. Woods is looking for 4 to 6 parents
to attend a meeting with Dr. McNiff, the
Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese.
The meeting is Wednesday September 12th at 6:30 PM.
If you are able to attend please see Mr. Woods.
The meeting will be held on the upper East Side.

Monday September 10th
Regular Class schedule
Dismissal at 3:00 PM
Basketball team begins for students
in grades 5-8 with Mr. Guzman.

Tuesday September 11th Patriot Day
Mass at 9:00 AM led by the students of
the 8th grade. Parents Welcome.

Wednesday September 12th
Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary
Parent meeting with Dr. McNiff - see note above.
Bible Classes begin in Spanish 8:00 PM -10:00 PM
please see Fr. Antonio if you are interested.

Thursday September 13th
Feast of St. John Chrysostom

Friday September 14th
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
EARLY DISMISSAL DAY 12:00 noon
Faculty Meeting
Parents in need of after school care
should see Mrs. Resto in the tuition office.

Saturday September 15th
Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
New Moon
Hispanic Heritage Month begins
SIS passwords and Smart Tuition issues
can be addressed to Alana in school office
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Sunday September 16th
Parish Feast 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Book Fair on 2nd floor of school
Plant Sale

1 August 2012

Dear Parents,

I hope that this letter finds you and your family well and that you are enjoying your summer.
I am writing regarding the 80th opening day of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School on Wednesday September 5, 2012.
As is our custom there will be a parent orientation meeting on Tuesday September 4th , in the school auditorium at the following times:
PreK 3 and 4 year olds ----------5:00 PM

Kindergarten, First, Second, Third and Fourth grades 6:00 PM

Grades five, six, seven and eight ----------7:00PM

Enclosed with this letter you have received your Fund Raising card along with information regarding the After School Program. By today you should have received information from Smart Tuition regarding your September payment. If you have questions or have not received a letter from Smart Tuition please contact me before September 1st.
The teachers will post the supply list for their classrooms on or after August 15th on the school blog of www.olqmnyc.blogspot.com. Please remember if your child is in a departmental class you will need to also click on the other teachers. For your convenience I have listed below the teacher’s name and classes:

PreK -1 Mrs. Fundora
PreK-2 Ms. Rodriguez
Kingergarten – Ms. Ocasio
First Grade – Ms. Wong
Grades 2, 3 & 4 Departmental
Grade 2 – Mrs. Bagley Social Studies & Reading
Grade 3 – Ms. Saville English Language Arts & Religion
Grade 4- Mr. Badia Science & Mathematics
Grades 5, 6, 7 & 8 - Departmental
Grade 5 – Mrs. Larios Reading and Social Studies (Grades 7 & 8)
Grade 6- Mrs. Ramsey Science and Social Studies (Grades 5 & 6)
Grade 7 – Ms. Serewko English Language Arts and Religion (Grades 5 & 6)
Grade 8 – Mr. Placido Mathematics and Religion (Grades 7& 8)


Finally, since September 4th is a Parent-Teacher Meeting please make arrangements for your child to remain home so that there will be adult to adult conversation without distraction.

Enjoy the remaining days of summer.

Sincerely,
Andrew G. Woods

Week of June 18, 2012 Announcements

Education is what remains
after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.
Albert Einstein

Monday June 18, 2012
Students should bring in shopping bags
to clean out their desks this week.
Dismissal 3:00 PM

Tuesday June 19, 2012
Kindergarten Graduation 11:00 AM
Dismissal for students in grades
1-8 is at 3:00 PM

Wednesday June 20, 2012
Last day of After School Program
Dismissal 3:00 PM

Thursday June 21, 2012
End of Year Mass 11:00 AM
All students are to be dressed
in full uniform.
Graduation exercises will follow
the Mass in Church.
Dismissal 3:00 PM

Friday June 22, 2012
End of Year Assembly 11:00 AM
Fr. Antonio will distribute report cards
and awards.
Parents are invited.
Students may leave after the awards
ceremony with their parents.

Sunday June 23, 2012
Office will NOT be open.

PreK Summer Program with Mrs. Fundora
begins Monday June 25th 7:30 AM

Summer School Registration Grades 1-8
Monday June 25th -8:00 AM -2:00 PM
Tuesday June 26th - 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Schedules will be given at time of registration.

Summer School Begins
Wednesday June 27th.

Week of June 11, 2012 Announcements

Prayer for Fathers

For those who have fathered us into birth,
for those we call "father" who have shown us the face
of our Father in heaven,
for expectant fathers and those whose arms ache to
cradle their own,
for fathers who have borne the pain of losing a child,
for fathers who have laid down their life for their children:
May the one who is Father and Lord of all be their
guide and their peace.

For all fathers, living or dead,
those nearby or those distanced by miles,
disease or division:
May they all be embraced and strengthened
by the loving arms of God, the Father
of us all.
Amen

SMART Tuition Company-NEW for September 2012
Next year, September 2012, a new tuition company
will be employed for collecting tuition, fees etc.
This company will be collecting tuition from all
Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese. A letter
is on the front page of the April Calendar explaining
this change and more information will be coming
in the next few months. Please pick up a form
from either Mrs. Resto or Alba in the school office.
The form should be returned to the school office.

Monday- June 11th
End of Year Exam in ELA Grades 1-8

Tuesday- June 12th
End of Year Exam in Social Studies Grades 1-8
RING DAY - Grade 8 at 11:00 AM in Church
Parents Welcome to attend.

Wednesday - June 13th Feast of St. Anthony of Padua
PreK-1 Graduation at 11:00 AM
End of Year Exam in Mathematics Grades 1-8

Thursday- June 14th Flag Day
PreK-2 Graduation at 11:00 AM
End of Year Exam in Reading Grades 1-8
NO AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM TODAY

Friday - SCHOOL CLOSED

Sunday - Father's Day

Week of June 4, 2012

Reflection on Feast of Corpus Christii
Sunday June 10th

Jesus,
you call us today:

CEO’s
and migrant workers,
Irish, Nicaraguans and Japanese,
those who stand back and those who don’t.

“Come to me,
This is my body;
take it,”

and we all become your body.

Christ,
Make us what we eat.
Let your love course through our lives
and turn us into
one body.

SMART Tuition Company-NEW for September 2012
Next year, September 2012, a new tuition company
will be employed for collecting tuition, fees etc.
This company will be collecting tuition from all
Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese. A letter
is on the front page of the April Calendar explaining
this change and more information will be coming
in the next few months. Please pick up a form
from either Mrs. Resto or Alba in the school office.
The form should be returned to the school office.


Change in Monthly Calendar
Reading Exam for all students
in Grades 1-8 has been moved to
Thursday June 14th.

Mathematics Exam for all students
in Grades 1-8 has been moved to
Wednesday June 13th

Monday June 4th
End of Year Exam in Science Grades 1-8.
New York State Science Exam Grades 4 and 8

Tuesday June 5th
End of Year Religion Exam Grades 1-8
Archdiocesan Religion Exam Grades 3-8

Wednesday June 6th

Thursday June 7th
Scoring of New York State Science Exam
Grades 4 & 8
8th grade trip

Friday June 8th
Early Dismissal Day 12:00 noon
Scoring of Archdiocesan Religion Exam

Sunday June 10th
Mass for all students in sacramental program.
Fr. Antonio will hand out certificates
for Reconciliation, First Holy Communion
and Confirmation after Mass.

Week of May 28, 2012 Announcements

Thursday, May 31, 2010 is the Feast of the Visitation.

The Visitation is the day on which the Blessed Virgin Mary,
having been told at the Annunciation by the angel Gabriel
that she had been chosen to bear the Son of God, went to visit her cousin Elizabeth,
who herself was pregnant with John the Baptist. It is the 2nd of the Joyful Mysteries.

The scene is beautiful:
As Mary greets her cousin,
the baby leaps in Elizabeth's womb,
and Elizabeth cries out in the words that make up the second sentence of the Hail Mary (from Luke 1:42):
"Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!"
Mary, overflowing with joy herself,
responds with the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55),
a wondrous canticle extolling the greatness of God and thanking Him for the favor He has shown her.

The Magnificat became part of the official evening prayer of the Catholic Church.
What better way to remind ourselves on this feast
-- and every day -- of the joy of the Blessed Virgin in bearing our Savior.


SMART Tuition Company-NEW for September 2012
Next year, September 2012, a new tuition company
will be employed for collecting tuition, fees etc.
This company will be collecting tuition from all
Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese. A letter
is on the front page of the April Calendar explaining
this change and more information will be coming
in the next few months. Please pick up a form
from either Mrs. Resto or Alba in the school office.
The form should be returned to the school office.

Tuition Suspension Day - June 4th
The final Tuition Suspension Day will be Monday June 4th.
Students will not be able to sit for exams should
tuition be outstanding.
Parents may see Mr. Woods on
Saturday June 2nd - 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
or Sunday June 3rd from 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM.
A reminder that no student will be able to
participate in graduation exercises unless
all tuition is paid for the 2011-2012 school year.

End of Year Exams
The schedule for the End of Year Exams are as follows:
Monday June 4th - Science
Tuesday June 5th - Religion
Wednesday June 6th - Mathematics
Thursday June 7th - Reading
Monday June 11th- ELA (English Language Arts)
Tuesday June 12th - Social Studies
Study Guides will be posted on the teacher's blog
by Thursday May 31st.

Tuesday- May 29th-
Students should have rosary beads ready for
Thursday's May Procession

Wednesday-May 30th
Tuition Suspension letters will be sent home

Thursday-May 31st Feast of the Visitation
May Procession at 10:00 AM
Students who received First Holy Communion and
Confirmation.
should wear their Communion/Confirmation outfits.
They will lead the school for the May Procession.
June calendars will be sent home.

Friday - June 1st
Early Dismissal Day- 12:00 noon
Faculty Meeting

Sunday - June 3rd
Mass at 1:00 PM for students in sacramental program.

Week of May 21, 2012 Announcements

SMART Tuition Company-NEW for September 2012
Next year, September 2012, a new tuition company
will be employed for collecting tuition, fees etc.
This company will be collecting tuition from all
Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese. A letter
is on the front page of the April Calendar explaining
this change and more information will be coming
in the next few months. Please pick up a form
from either Mrs. Resto or Alba in the school office.
The form should be returned to the school office.

Summer School PreK Program
There are approximately 3 seats left in the
Summer School PreK Program.
Please see Mrs. Resto this week.

Monday May 21st
Tuition Suspension Day
Spring Play Tickets on Sale in Tuition office.

Tuesday May 22nd
Spring Play PreK-1 Mrs.Fundora's class 5:00 PM

Wednesday May 23rd
New York State Science Performance Test
Grades 4 and 8 at 9:00 AM

Thursday May 24th
Early Dismissal Day 12:00 noon
Scoring of NYSESLAT Test by teachers

Friday May 25th
SCHOOL CLOSED

Sunday - May 27th
Holiday Weekend - students in sacramental
program are to attend Mass with parents.
A reminder that Sacrament Certificates
will be distributed by Fr. Antonio on
June 10th after the 1:00 PM Mass

Week of May 14, 2012 Announcements

SMART Tuition Company-NEW for September 2012
Next year, September 2012, a new tuition company
will be employed for collecting tuition, fees etc.
This company will be collecting tuition from all
Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese. A letter
is on the front page of the April Calendar explaining
this change and more information will be coming
in the next few months. Please pick up a form
from either Mrs. Resto or Alba in the school office.
The form should be returned to the school office.

Summer School PreK Program
There are approximately 5 seats left in the
Summer School PreK Program.
Please see Mrs. Resto this week.

Tuition Suspension Day.
The final Tuition Suspension Day will be
Monday May 21st.
Students will not be able to return to class
until all monies for the 2011-2012 school year have been paid.
Parents may see Mr. Woods on
Saturday May 19th from 6:00 PM -8:00 PM
Sunday May 20th from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Parents must have 1/2 of their balance paid
before meeting with Mr. Woods.
Letters will be sent home on Tuesday regarding
outstanding balances.
No student will be able to participate in
PreK, Kindergarten or 8th grade graduation
ceremonies until the full balance is paid.

Monday- May 14th Feast of St. Mathias

Tuesday- May 15th - Feast of St. Dymphna
Sacrament of Reconciliation 11:00 AM

Wednesday- May 16th Feast of St. Simon Stock
NYSESLAT Writing
Sustaining Excellence Program classroom visitations.

Thursday - May 17th Ascension Thursday
Mass at 9:00 AM led by the Kindergarten class.
North Manhattan Catholic Schools Science Fair
here at OLQM 4:00 PM

Friday - May 18th
Early Dismissal Day 12:00 noon
Faculty Meeting.

Saturday - May 19th
Tuition Suspension Meetings 6:00 PM -8:00 PM

Sunday - May 20th
Sacrament of First Holy Communion 1:00 PM Mass
Tuition Suspension Meetings 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Prayer for Mothers Everywhere

In Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe...
We give thanks for mothers everywhere.

When times are hard, in situations of suffering...
We give thanks for the sacrifices they make each
day for their children.

For their examples of love, caring, and hope...
We gibe thanks for their generosity, their compassion
and their hope for the future.

In the Congo, Iraq, Uganda, Palestine, Columbia...
We remember mothers in global community who care
for their children as guns of war are heard.

In Zimbabwe, India, Guyana, Belize, Botswana...
We remember mothers as sicknesses such as AIDS and
malaria ravage their lands.

In Haiti, Burundi,Eritrea, Cambodia, Guatemala...
We remember mothers whose access to food and
water is scarce.

In Sudan, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Afghanistan...
We remember mothers who bundled up their children,
fled their homes, and became refugees.

Mary, Mother of God, embrace all mothers, give them
strength and courage to heal the wounds of their
children and of the world. We give thanks for
mothers everywhere. Amen

SMART Tuition Company-NEW for September 2012
Next year, September 2012, a new tuition company
will be employed for collecting tuition, fees etc.
This company will be collecting tuition from all
Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese. A letter
is on the front page of the April Calendar explaining
this change and more information will be coming
in the next few months. Please pick up a form
from either Mrs. Resto or Alba in the school office.

Summer School PreK Program
Parents interested in enrolling their
child in the summer PreK Program should let
Mrs. Resto know before May 1st.
Flyers will be sent home this week.

Scholarships
Scholarships for available for new students from
public schools who want to attend Catholic School.
They are available only for students in grades
Kindergarten through grade 7.
The income guidelines are:
2 family household - $39,717.00
3 family household - $50,031.00
4 family household - $ 60,345.00

If you know someone who would be eligible for
the scholarship please have them call Alba in the
school office. At present we have only 5 scholarships
and the child must be registered before the
scholarship will be offered.

Monday - May 7th
Uniform Company will be here at 1:00 PM in science room
on the third floor.

Tuesday - May 8th
National Teacher's Day

Wednesday - May 9th Feast of St. Pachomius
NYSESLAT Listening will be administered
to students in K-8

Thursday May 10th - Feast of St. Damien of Molokai
NYSESLAT Reading will be administered to students
in grades K-8.

Friday - May 11th
Progress Reports will be sent home

Sunday - May 13th Mother's Day
Mother's Day plant sale to raise money for the school greenhouse.
Mass at 1:00 PM for all students
No Classes.

May is the Month in Honor of Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

"In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary.
Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart.
And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps.
With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her,
you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind,
you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall;
under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you,
you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal."
-Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Father and Doctor of the Church

Sacrament of Confirmation Saturday May 5, 2012 4:00 PM
All students in sacramental program are required
to be present for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Parents are welcome to attend the ceremony as the
Sacrament of Confirmation is a parish celebration.
Students will be brought to lunchroom after ceremony
to meet with Bishop Walsh and they can be picked up
at 6:00PM.
Students will not be required to attend Mass on
Sunday as their presence at Mass on Saturday will
fulfill their Sunday obligation of attending Mass.

Monday - April 30th -
Tuition Suspension Day
Happy Birthday Noralyn Franco

Tuesday - May 1st
Calendars for May will be sent home today.
Happy Birthday LEEEEann Pichardo

Wednesday - May 2nd
Parent Meeting regarding
First Holy Communion
with Fr. Antonio in Library at 7:00 PM
Happy Birthday Annjeannette Duran

Thursday - May 3rd
Happy Birthday Taina Carbuccia
Happy Birthday Keanu Clase

Friday May 4th -
Happy Birthday Aaliyah Henriquez

Saturday May 5th
Sacrament of Confirmation 4:00 PM
Bishop Gerald T. Walsh, main celebrant
all students in Sacramental Program
required to attend ceremony.

Sunday May 6th
Mr. Woods will be in office 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Happy Birthday Charles Rosario

Week of April 23, 2012 Announcements

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are written by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
~Joyce Kilmer, "Trees," 1914


New York State Tests Grades 4, 6 and 8
Students in grades 4, 6 and 8 will
be administered the NYS Mathematics
test on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this
week.
Results of the tests will not be available
until the summer.
Please make sure that your child has 2 or 3
#2 pencils. Also, your child should go to
bed early the night before the test and
they should have breakfast each morning.

SMART Tuition Company-NEW for September 2012
Next year, September 2012, a new tuition company
will be employed for collecting tuition, fees etc.
This company will be collecting tuition from all
Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese. A letter
is on the front page of the April Calendar explaining
this change and more information will be coming
in the next few months. Please pick up a form
from either Mrs. Resto or Alba in the school office.

Summer School PreK Program
Parents interested in enrolling their
child in the summer PreK Program should let
Mrs. Resto know before May 1st.
Flyers will be sent home this week.

Tuition Suspension Day - April 30th
Notices regarding tuition due will be sent
home this week with your child.
As we come to the end of the year all tuition
must be paid and up to date otherwise your
child will be excluded from class.
Parents of students in PreK, Kindergarten
and 8th grade are reminded that tuition must
be paid in full by May 15th before the child may
participate in graduation ceremonies.


Monday - April 23rd
Feast of St. George
NYSESLAT Speaking Test begins
this week.

Tuesday - April 24th
Feast of St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen

Wednesday - April 25th
Feast of St. Mark
Secretaries Day

Thursday - April 26th
Feast of St. Cletus
Map A Month Due
Sustaining Excellence Program
Rigor and Relevance Classroom Visits

Friday - April 27th
Feast of St. Zita
Arbor Day

Saturday April 28th
Parent Meetings regarding tuition
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Sunday - April 29th
Parish Flea Market
Confirmation Class 12:00 noon
Mass at 1:00 PM for all students,
Parent meetings regarding tuition
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Week of April 16, 2012 Announcements

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead. ~ 1 Peter 1:3

Welcome Back

New York State Tests Grades 4, 6 and 8
Students in grades 4, 6 and 8 will
be administered the NYS ELA (English Language Arts)
test on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this
week.
Results of the tests will not be available
until the summer.
Next week the NYS Mathematics test will be
administered to the same students.
Please make sure that your child has 2 or 3
#2 pencils. Also, your child should go to
bed early the night before the test and
they should have breakfast each morning.

SMART Tuition Company-NEW for September 2012
Next year, September 2012, a new tuition company
will be employed for collecting tuition, fees etc.
This company will be collecting tuition from all
Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese. A letter
is on the front page of the April Calendar explaining
this change and more information will be coming
in the next few months. Please pick up a form
from either Mrs. Resto or Alba in the school office.

Summer School PreK Program
Parents interested in enrolling their
child in the summer PreK Program should let
Mrs. Resto know before May 1st.
Flyers will be sent home during the week
of April 23rd.

Monday April 16th
Feast of St. Bernadette
Calendars for April will be sent home today.

Tuesday April 17th
Feast of Anicetus
NYS ELA Test Grades 4, 6 & 8
Part I

Wednesday April 18th
Feast of St. Apollonius the Apologist
NYS ELA Test Grades 4, 6 & 8
Part II
Meeting for parents of students receiving
Confirmation this year 7:00 PM in
library with Fr. Antonio.

Thursday April 19th
Feast of St. Alphege
NYS ELA Test Grades 4, 6 & 8
Part III

Friday April 20th
Feast of St. Marian

Sunday April 22nd
Confirmation Class 12:00 noon
Mass at 1:00 PM for all students.

Announcements Week of March 26, 2012

The great gift of Easter is hope –
Christian hope which makes us have that confidence in God,
in his ultimate triumph, and in his goodness and love,
which nothing can shake. -
Basil C. Hume


Report Card Day & Tuition
A reminder that Report Card Day will be
Thursday March 29th.
Tuition must be paid up to date for your child
to receive their report card.
Parent Teacher Conferences will be from
2:00 PM - 7:00 PM please remember that your
conference should be limited to 15minutes. If
you need more time then please schedule an
appointment with the teacher during the conference.
In this way every parent will have time
to meet with their child's teacher.
As a reminder there are candy bars in the school office
to assist you in your fund-raising requirements.
Fund raising monies are due by April 15th.

Calendar Information
A reminder that Easter Recess begins
after dismissal on Friday March 30th.
School resumes on Monday April 16th.
For those who like to take extended vacations
you are reminded that New York State Exams
begin April 17th. There are no makeup exams except
for sickness for a New York State exam.
Therefore, ALL students should return
on APRIL 16th!

Monday - March 26th -
Happy Birthday Brandon Acevedo
Shopping Bags are needed this week to assist
teachers in packing up their classrooms for
Easter Recess cleaning of classrooms.
Students in grades
2,3,4,6,7 and 8 will have gym today.

Tuesday March 27th -
Shopping Bags are needed this week to assist
teachers in packing up their classrooms for
Easter Recess cleaning of classrooms.
Regular Gym Classes today.

Wednesday March 28th -
Happy Birthday Jessica DeLuna

Thursday March 29th -
Happy Birthday
Jeremy Rodriguez
Victor Cruz
No gym classes today.
Early Dismissal Day 12:00 noon
Parent Teacher Conferences 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Reminder that tuition must be up to date
for child to receive their report card.

Friday March 30th
Happy Birthday Travis Martinez
All students are to be in dress up clothes.
No jeans, no sneakers.
No Gym classes today.
Stations of the cross at 8:30 AM followed by Benediction.
Honors Assembly in Church following Benediction.

Saturday March 31st -
Happy Birthday Natanial Burgos


Sunday - Palm Sunday
Mass at 1:00 PM for all students
No Classes