Week of December 15, 2014 Announcements

Letter sent home to After School Parents on Friday
After School Program 2014-2015

Dear Parents,

In order to address a one door in and one door out policy I have decided that the After School Program dismissal will now take place through the main office of the school.You are asked to come to the main office for pick up and sign out of your child and either Mr. Marcial or Eric will assist you in having your child ready for pickup.

This is being done for a number of issues regarding safety and supervision. While it may be cumbersome the first few weeks I ask that you are patient as we make the transition beginning Monday December 15, 2014.

Ample chairs etc. will be in the hallway of the first floor and you will be able to be entertained by Big Bird and Sonny while you are waiting.

Please note that the wooden doors near Mrs. Fundora's room will be locked until fire safety mechanisms are set up to avoid the doors being opened above the Church or the school auditorium.

Should you have any questions please see me.

Have a good weekend.

Sincerely,
AGW

Mid Year Exams
As a reminder there will be Mid Year exams for all students in grades K-8 during the week of January 21, 2015. The mark on the exam will be recorded on your child's report card and will count as 15% of your child's grade as specified by the Archdiocese of New York. If your child is not doing well academically Christmas break would be the perfect time for them to "catch up" on material. Please remember to have them bring their books home by Thursday as the building will be cleaned during the break and there will be no access to the classrooms.


Monday December 15, 2014
Advent Confessions will be held this week.
New Dismissal Policy - After School Program

Tuesday December 16, 2014
Map a Month Due
Shopping bags should be brought to school to pack books in closets.

Wednesday December 17, 2014
Guess who is coming to visit.



Thursday December 18, 2014
6th grade and 8th grade trip to see movie Exodus
Classrooms will b packed up today.

Friday December 19, 2014
Lessons and Carols 8:30 AM
Parents Welcome
Classroom parties begin after Lessons and Carols
Dismissal at 3:00 PM - Christmas Recess
Classes Resume on Monday January 5, 2014

Week of December 7, 2014 Announcements

School Evaluation - postponed
The scheduled school evaluation by the Catholic School Regional Office has been postponed and will be re-scheduled after the beginning of the new year.

Dental Screening
A reminder that FREE dental screening will take place Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Your child must have a signed permission slip to be screened. The children who will be screened will also be given a class in proper oral health and brushing techniques.

Christmas Recess
A reminder that Christmas recess begins on Friday December 19th at 3:00 PM. Students who are absent for vacations, trips etc. are marked as illegally absent.
School resumes on Monday January 5, 2015.
The school office will be open only on certain days during the recess. Please call beforehand to make sure the office is open that day.
If you want to contact Mr. Woods the best way would be through e-mail at olqm1@aol.com as there are a number of projects that he will be working on throughout the building.

Monday December 8th - Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Holyday of Obligation
Mass at 9:00 AM led by the third grade - parents welcome.

Tuesday - December 9th - Feast of St. Juan Diego
Dental Screening - permission slips must be in the office

Wednesday - December 10th -
Dental screening will continue today.

Thursday - December 11th
New York City Department of Health will be screening students in Kindergarten and Grade 1 for Hearing and Vision.
Please make sure that your child has a completed physical in their file. Call Alba if you are uncertain.

Friday - December 12th Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Early Dismissal Day 12:00 noon Faculty Meeting
After School Program will be in session.

Saturday- Feast of St. Lucy

Sunday- Third Sunday of Advent
12:00 Noon Reconciliation Class today
1:00 PM - Mass for all students
3:00 PM - Biology Class

Week of December 1, 2014

An Article from the American Academy of Pediatrics
Media and Children

Media is everywhere. TV, Internet, computer and video games all vie for our children's attention. The AAP has recommendations for parents and pediatricians.

Today's children are spending an average of seven hours a day on entertainment media, including televisions, computers, phones and other electronic devices. To help kids make wise media choices, parents should monitor their media diet. Parents can make use of established ratings systems for shows, movies and games to avoid inappropriate content, such as violence, explicit sexual content or glorified tobacco and alcohol use.

Studies have shown that excessive media use can lead to attention problems, school difficulties, sleep and eating disorders, and obesity. In addition, the Internet and cell phones can provide platforms for illicit and risky behaviors.

By limiting screen time and offering educational media and non-electronic formats such as books, newspapers and board games, and watching television with their children, parents can help guide their children's media experience. Putting questionable content into context and teaching kids about advertising contributes to their media literacy.

The AAP recommends that parents establish "screen-free" zones at home by making sure there are no televisions, computers or video games in children's bedrooms, and by turning off the TV during dinner. Children and teens should engage with entertainment media for no more than one or two hours per day, and that should be high-quality content. It is important for kids to spend time on outdoor play, reading, hobbies, and using their imaginations in free play.

Television and other entertainment media should be avoided for infants and children under age 2. A child's brain develops rapidly during these first years, and young children learn best by interacting with people, not screens.
- See more at: http://www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/Pages/Media-and-Children.aspx#sthash.GE9NEtd0.dpuf



Advent like Lent is a time of preparation.
Why not think of preparing for Christmas like you do for Lent by giving up something? Look at the article above and think about turning off some form of media daily for a period of time. Just think how much better your life would be if you turned off the phone for one hour, maybe two hours a day or definitely turning it off when going to bed so that you don't hear the bings of text messages, e-mails etc. all night.
Think how much calmer you will be when Christmas comes having avoiding some of the nonsense that bombards us daily.

Sunday November 30, 2014 - First Sunday of Advent

Monday December 1, 2014 - World AIDS Awareness Day
Calendars for December will be sent home today.

Tuesday December 2, 2014

Wednesday December 3, 2014 Feast of St. Francis Xavier
Reading Coach will work with students today.

Thursday December 4, 2014

Friday December 5, 2014

St. Nicholas Day at OLQM

Saturday December 6, 2014
150th Anniversary Celebration in honor of the Franciscan Sisters of Peekskill- 8th grade will attend
The Franciscan Sisters worked at OLQM from 1932-1980.

Sunday December 7th - Second Sunday of Advent
Reconciliation Class 12:00 noon
1:00 PM Mass for all students
No Biology Class

Announcements Week of November 23, 2014

New York City Department of Health Inspection Tuesday November 25th
The New York City Department of Health will be here to inspect The PreK and Kindergarten classrooms along with children's records.
A number of children do not have a current medical form on file in the office. The Department of Health may request that the child not return to school if the form is not in the file. This has happened in the past with students in the upper grades and immunizations. An IRIS alert was sent Sunday morning alerting those parents that forms were missing.

Income Survey for Free/Reduced Lunch
The school has only received 184 out of 277 Income forms that were distributed in September. The tally for the forms is due to the Superintendent's Office also on Tuesday. If the forms is not returned you may be charged for lunch. If you have a form please return it as soon as possible. If you need a new form please see the office staff. Please do not complain later if you are notified that the form was not handed it and you are now being charged for lunch. Mr. Woods had spoken about the need for the lunch forms to be handed in at the opening meetings in September.
The breakdown is:
PreK-1 - only 17 forms out of 31 students
PreK-2 - 30 forms out 31 students - good job!
Kindergarten -20 forms out of 33
Grade 1 - 20 forms handed in out of 31
Grade 2 - 14 forms handed in out of 30
Grade 3 - 10 forms out of 22 students
Grade 4 - 5 forms out of 17 students
Grade 5 - 25 forms --PERFECT
Grade 6 - 8 out of 11
Grade 7 - 12 forms out of 23
Grade 8 - 23 forms - PERFECT

Dental Screening - December 9, 2014
Forms are being sent home today for FREE dental screening. This is FREE and each child will receive a new toothbrush and toothpaste.
They give a short class to the students and speak to them about oral care.
They may only see students who have parent permission so please return the forms as soon as possible.
We have used this agency for a number of years and they have been instrumental in helping students understand how to brush their teeth correctly.

Turkey and Canned Food Drive
As of today we have raised enough money to purchase 26 turkeys through dress down Fridays. If any parent wishes to contribute more please see your child's teacher or the office staff.
The turkeys and canned foods will be delivered, by the 7th and 8th grade students, to St. Patrick's Home in the Bronx for their outreach Thanksgiving program to the poor.

Death of Mr. Frank Lacuna
Mr. Frank Lacuna, the husband of Mrs. Lacuna a long time teacher here at Our Lady Queen Martyrs died this past Saturday.
Mrs. Lacuna taught many students over her 15 plus years here at OLQM including many parents of present students.
The wake will be on Monday from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Luchese Funeral Home
726 Morris Park Avenue
Bronx, New York 10462
718-828-1800

Monday - November 24, 2014
Reading Coach will work with students today.
Dental screening forms will be sent home. If you signed one on report card night there is no need to sign another form.

Tuesday- November 25th
Department of Health Inspection - PreK and Kindergarten

Wednesday- November 26th
Thanksgiving Mass at 9:00 AM led by the 7th and 8th grade students
Honors Assembly following Mass - parents welcome
Dismissal at 3:00 PM
After School Program in session.

Thursday - Thanksgiving 2014 School Closed

Friday - School Closed

Sunday - November 30th - First Sunday of Advent
12:00 noon - Reconciliation Class
1:00 PM - Mass for all students
3:00 PM - Biology Class

Report Card Day Friday November 21st
A reminder that report cards will be distributed by Fr.Antonio on Friday November 21st.
Any student who does not receive their report card did not do well academically and their parents are required to meet with their teacher(s).
Dismissal on Friday will be at 12:00 noon.
After School Program will be in session and there will be parent teacher conferences from 1:00 PM until 7:00 PM.
Alan will be available in the library to assist parents with Cornerstone Student Information System (SIS).
Ms.Levine will also be available to meet with parents as will the Tite I teachers until 3:00 PM.
Please remember that you should keep your conversatio with the teachers to 5 minutes so that all parents may see the teachers. The teachers will make appointments with you at the Parent Teacher Confence if you need to meet for a longer time to discuss your child's academic progress.
A reminder that Tuitiion must be paid for your child to receive did report card.

Yankee Candle Fund Raising Due
Yankee Candle fund raising money is due to the tuition office by Monday November 17th.
Anyone in need of an extension should speak to Mrs. Resto or Alba.

Canned Food Drive
The annual canned food drive for the poor will continue until Wednesday November 26th.
Students I. Grades 7 and 8 will distribute the canned food to the poor at St. Patrick's Home located in the Bronx.
the class that brings in the greatest Amon t of cans will receive a pizza party. please remember that dress down days on Fridays are assisting us I. Raise g money to buy turkeys to go with the canned foods.


Monday November 17, 2014
Mr. Woods in Albany meeting at Non-public school principal conference with the Stats Education Department.
Yankee Candle Money Due
AIS - A anemic Intervention Forms due back to teachers. Parents will receive a copy with their child's report card. Signed copy must be on file as per NYS education regulations and CCSS - Common Core State Standards.

Tuesday November 18th
Mr. Woods in Albany.
AntiBullying Curriculum will be covered today.

Wednesday November 19th
Class Picture Day all students should be in full uniform.

Thursday November 20th
Mr. Woods mets with the Regional Board concerning the Catholic Identiy of the School.

Friday November 21st
Report card day dismissal at 12 noon
After school program in session
Parent teacher conferences 1:00 PM until 7:00 PM
Alan available in library to assist parents with the Student Information System- Cornerstone

Sunday November 23rd
Communion Class 12:00 noon
Mass at 1:00 PM
Biology Class 3:00 PM

Week of November 3, 2014 Announcements

November ---Canned Food Month
Canned Foods will be collected during the month of November. The canned food along with 24 turkeys last year were delivered to St. Patrick's Home in the Bronx the Wednesday before Thanksgiving by the students of the 7th and 8th grade.

First Quarter Exams
First Quarter Exams will be administered this week to students in grades K-8
The exams will cover material from September until October 31st.
Please check below for the schedule.

PWC - Price WaterHouse Cooper
Representatives from PWC will be here on Wednesday to work with students in grades 3-8.
They were well received by the students last year and we are happy to have them return.

ELA Coach Grades 1, 3, 5 and 7
We welcome Mrs.Maggie Strauss as an ELA coach who will work with students and teachers on The Common Core ELA standards.

Yankee Candle Fund Raising
Yankee Candle envelopes were sent home last week. The selling of candles enables parents who have not sold candy bars to have an alternative fund raising venue. The money is due to the tuition office on November 17th.

Monday - November 3, 2014- Feast of St. Martin de Porres
End of First Quarter
Calendars for November will be sent home

Tuesday- November 4, 2014 Feast of St. Charles Borromeo
Election Day ---School is OPEN
Quarterly Exams - Science & Reading

Wednesday - November 5, 2014
PWC will work with students in grades 3-8
ELA Coach will be working with teachers and students today
Quarterly Exams - ELA and Social Studies

Thursday - November 6, 2014
Quarterly Exams - Mathematics and Religion

Friday - November 7, 2014
EARLY DISMISSAL DAY 11:30 AM
SuperKids Workshop for Teachers
TACHS test for 8th grade students

Sunday - November 9th
SCHOOL OFFICE CLOSED
No Classes
Students in sacramental program are to attend Mass with their parents at whatever time the parent wants.

Monday - November 10th - SCHOOL CLOSED
Tuesday- November 11th - Veteran's Day SCHOOL CLOSED

Asbestos Inspection Letter to Parents 2014-2015
An Asbestos Inspection was performed on Wednesday October 22, 2014. There is one piece of asbestos in the boiler room of the school above the boiler. It poses no threat to the health of any child or school worker. The following letter is required to inform parents and custodial staff of its presence. For those of you who are graduates of OLQM you may remember that 98% of the asbestos was removed from the school in the summer of 1984. You may fondly remember that it was not completed on time and that school began one week later than everyone else.

Dear Parents,
Although you may not realize it, asbestos is a common material in almost every building in our society. It is a fireproofing material; it is found in floor tiles, it is used as an acoustical material to deaden sound. Under certain conditions, however, when it is damaged, asbestos can prove to be a concern.

Several years ago, because of that concern, the Federal Government asked every school in the country to conduct an inspection for all asbestos-containing materials.
The inspection of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School revealed asbestos-containing materials in the basement of the school. It is as the Environmental Protection Agency states, "important to note that not all friable asbestos-containing material need be removed from schools. Once such material has been identified, a program can be implemented to insure that the material is maintained in good condition, and that appropriate precautions are followed when the material is disturbed for any reason."

Nevertheless, in order to insure that no danger arises in the future from the friable asbestos, we have arranged corrective action.

Furthermore, in any student access area where friable asbestos has been detected, environmental engineers have been retained to do inspection and evaluation work in order to advise what, if any, steps are required to insure the ongoing welfare of students and staff, and to assure that no student or staff member will be exposed to unsafe levels of friable asbestos. The Archdiocese of New York has spent over 10 million dollars in the abatement of asbestos since 1983 (long before the current regulations), and will continue with its commitment to provide a safe environment for our students and employees.

The management plan is available to all parents and staff for review on Sundays from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM.

Picture Day
Individual Picture Day is Thursday, October 30th
Picture envelopes need to be returned to the tuition office by Wednesday October 29th.
Parents are reminded to pick the background on the envelope --there are 30 choices!
Please make sure you have exact money in the envelope.
Should you have any questions please see Mrs. Resto in the tuition office.
Students should be in dress up clothes - no jeans, no large earrings, no hats, no stuffed animals!


Halloween 2014
There will be a Halloween parade for students in grades PreK and Kindergarten beginning 8:30 AM on Friday October 31st.
After the parade all classes will return to their classrooms. The 8th grade will be hosting a cake sale and there will be a Halloween Costume Contest beginning at 1:30 PM in the lunchroom- Parents invited.
The best costume in each class will receive a gift card to McDonald's.

Monday October 27, 2014
Picture money due to tuition office.
Yankee Candle Fund Raising envelopes will be sent home.

Tuesday October 28, 2014 - Feast of St. Simon Jude
Picture money due to tuition office

Wednesday October 29, 2014
Picture money due to tuition office- last day we must call the company and let them know the number of students so they may send the appropriate number of photographers.

Thursday October 30, 2014
Individual Picture Day - 8:30 AM

Friday October 31, 2014 - Halloween
8:30 AM - PreK and Kindergarten Halloween parade
1:30 PM - Halloween costume contest in lunchroom- parents invited.

Saturday November 1st- Feast of All Saints - Holyday
Turn clocks BACK ONE HOUR---more sleep!

Sunday November 2, 2014
1:00 PM - Mass for all students
No Classes
3:00 PM - Biology Class

A message from the Manhattan Catholic School Regional Office

Dear Families,
Now that there is the first confirmed case of an adult with Ebola in NYC, I want to review the guidelines provided by the NYC DOH regarding the transmission of ebola. Our school receives constant health alerts from NYS & NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Archdiocese of New York. Schools in the Archdiocese follow all advisory and directive instructions from these organizations.
I thought it would be helpful to share some information that I have received this week from the NYC Department of Health and the NYC Department of Education regarding the growing concern over Ebola:
The NYCDOE and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene are working together to ensure that you have the most up-to-date guidance. The facts below are important to help parents and staff understand how low the risk of Ebola exposure is:
• Ebola is spread by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. You cannot be infected simply by being near someone who has Ebola.
• The Ebola outbreak is concentrated in only three countries – Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.
• If someone has traveled to Liberia, Guinea, or Sierra Leone in the past 21 days but does not have any symptoms, they cannot infect anyone else with Ebola. New York City is collaborating closely with its state and federal partners to protect New Yorkers.

The Department of Health, and I, want to reassure you that school officials and all medical care providers in NYC have been prepared by the Health Department to look for signs of Ebola and take immediate steps to respond and isolate people who may be infected. You can acquire accurate information about Ebola from the Department of Health's site nyc.gov/ebola.
I will provide any further information as necessary. As always, please feel free to contact me by email or phone with your concerns or questions. Please keep those affected by Ebola, directly and indirectly, in our thoughts and prayers.

Andrew G. Woods, principal

Week of October 20, 2014 Announcements

Interim Assessment Number 1
The Interim Assessment for Unit One material will be administered this week in Mathematics and English Language Arts.
The assessments will be given Tuesday and Thursday. Makeups for any child who is sick will be given upon their return to school.

Safe Environment Curriculum Week - October 20th - October 24th.
Letter from the Superintendent of Schools Office
Dear Parent(s) or Guardian(s),
The safety and well-being of all our children in our parish and school communities are our highest priorities. To serve the goal of creating a safe environment, every year in our schools and religious education programs, the children receive lessons in personal safety, as required by the Bishops Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, which was adopted by the U.S. Bishops in 2002.
This year, our Safe Environment lesson plans have been fully revised to better address each grade level, with a lesson which is age-appropriate, user-friendly, and consistent with the moral teachings of the Catholic Church. These lessons are designed to promote respect for the dignity of the human person and virtuous living. Our goal in revising the curriculum was to equip teachers, parents/guardians, and students with knowledge that can help keep children and young people safe, while providing this instruction in a way that fosters the formation of Christian virtues. These revised lessons were developed by the Safe Environment Office of the Archdiocese, in consultation with professional educators and child safety experts.
The full lesson plans for each grade level can be reviewed online at http://www.archny.org/childrens-curriculum/. These lessons will cover such topics as internet safety, how to develop good boundaries in relationships, how to deal with uncomfortable or threatening situations, and how to get help from a trusted adult. Each year, parents/guardians will receive a short overview of the lesson that your child will receive during their Safe Environment instruction class period. This will enable you to reinforce the lessons your children have received, and to assure them of your support in their safety. Resources will also be available at the website noted above, to help parents/guardians further educate themselves and their children in this important area.
If you have any questions about the material presented in your child's Safe Environment lesson plan, please feel free to contact Mr. Woods.
We thank you for the sacred trust you have given us in the care and protection of your children. May the collective vigilance and efforts of the entire Catholic community renew trust and confidence. We must trust Christ's promise: "for God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26).

Candy Bars
Please remember that candy bars are available in the tuition office to assist parents in their fund raising requirements. Payments for the bars may be made through Smart Tuition or through the school office.

School Evaluation
The school evaluation that was scheduled for this last week was cancelled and will instead take place Tuesday, December 9th.

Monday - October 20, 2014
Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
Common Core State Standards Unit Two begins
Safe environment curriculum covered this week.

Tuesday - October 21, 2014
Feast of St. Hilarion
Interim Assessment Number 1 - English Language Arts
Safe environment curriculum covered this week.

Wednesday - October 22, 2014
Feast of St. John Paul II
Yearly Asbestos Inspection

Thursday - October 23, 2014
Feast of St. John Capistrano
Interim Assessment # 1 - Mathematics
Safe environment curriculum covered this week.

Friday - October 24, 2014
Feast of St. Anthony Mary Claret
Safe environment quiz will be given today.

Sunday - October 26, 2014
Communion Class 12:00 noon
Mass for all students 1:00 PM
Biology Class 3:00 PM

Week of October 13, 2014 Announcements

Interim Assessment
The first Interim Assessment conducted by the Superintendent of Schools office for all students in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade will be administered next week. It will cover all the material for Unit I of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The second Interim Assessment will be administered during the first week in February.

Cornerstone Student Information System
Parents are able to keep up with their child's grades by reviewing the Cornerstone Student Information System. Parents who need login and passwords for the system should send Mr. Woods an e-mail at olqm1@aol.com.
The next face to face training with Alan will be Friday November 14th from 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM during report card distribution.

Gym Schedule
The gym schedule was revised in late September in order to accommodate the return of Ms. Alma the music teacher. The following is a list of grades and days of gym classes in order to avoid confusion:
PreK-1 - Mrs. Fundora's class - Fridays
PreK-2 - Ms. Rodriguez's class - Thursdays
Kindergarten - Tuesdays
Grade 1 - Tuesdays
Grade 2 - Wednesdays
Grade 3 - Mondays and Wednesdays
Grade 4 - Mondays
Grade 5- Thursdays
Grade 6 - Thursdays
Grade 7 - Tuesdays
Grade 8 - Tuesdays

World's Finest Candy Bars/Yankee Candles
Parents are reminded that candy bars are available in the office to assist parents in fund raising requirements. There will be a Yankee Candle Sale in November to assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in selling the candy bars.

School Evaluation
The school evaluation that was scheduled for Thursday October 16th has been postponed by the regional office due to some staff changes. When it has been rescheduled Mr. Woods will inform parents and students on this blog.

Hispanic Heritage Celebration - Thank You
A thank you to the parents who assisted with the Hispanic Heritage Celebration that was held on Friday October 10th.

This is Earth Science and Biology Week

Monday - October 13th School Closed - Columbus Day

Tuesday- October 14th
Anti-bullying curriculum will be covered by teachers today.

Wednesday - October 15th
Do You need Candy Bars?? - the office only has 30 boxes left!

Thursday- October 16th

Friday - October 17th
Map A Month Due

Saturday October 18th - Feast of St. Luke the evangelist

Sunday October 19th
12:00 Noon - Reconciliation Class
1:00 PM Mass for all students
3:00 PM - Biology Class Lab

Week of October 5, 2014 Announcements

Progress Reports
Progress Reports were sent home on Friday with ALL students. There is a line for parent signature at the bottom of the report. Please sign and return with your child so that the classroom teacher may ascertain that a parent reviewed the report. It will be returned home on Monday afternoon.
This report shows your child's progress for the first month of school and indicates to parents that their child may need assistance in some specific area.
Report Cards will be distributed on November 14th -- therefore there is ample time for students to improve in grades that may not be satisfactory at this time.
Parents are also reminded that they should be reviewing their child's Cornerstone SIS (Student Information System) once a week with their child.
Parents should call Alba at 212-567-03190 to schedule an appointment to see the child's teacher. Please remember that some teachers have family responsibilities or attend school at night. Parents who wish to see Mr. Woods regarding a student's grades should see him on Sundays from 10:00 AM - 11:30 am - NO APPPOINTMENT NEEDED.

IRIS -Immediate Response Information System.
We believe that IRIS is finally working. If you did not receive a message on Friday night and again on Sunday please see Alba in the office or send Mr. Woods an e-mail. Also, if you change your telephone number please let the office staff know so that the system may be updated.

SMART Tuition
On Wednesday - Alan and Mr. Woods will be meeting with SMART tuition along with the other principals of the Catholic School Region. As of today no one has expressed any major concerns to Mr. Woods regarding Smart Tuition. If you have any concerns please let Mr. Woods know before Wednesday.



Hispanic Heritage Celebration
October 15th marks the end of Hispanic Heritage month. On Friday October 10th there will be school celebration in the lunchroom from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM.
Parents are welcome to attend.

Auditorium Ceiling
As parents see the auditorium is in a state of flux. The drop ceiling was removed through the generosity of the school alumni exposing the original wooden Cathedral ceiling underneath. Many would not know that it was the intention of Monsignor Ryder, the foundling pastor of OLQM, to build an upper church in the present auditorium in 1932. Unfortunately, the Great Depression overwhelmed the finances of the church at the time and the construction was halted.
The next step is to replace the lighting in the auditorium - raising it to the rafters of the wooden ceiling and putting in ceiling fans for circulation. Construction takes time and patience and we will keep you up to date when the next phase begins.

Monday - October 6, 2014
Progress Reports due to classroom teacher.

Tuesday- October 7, 2014
Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

Wednesday- October 8, 2014
8th grade parent meeting regarding High School enrollment 7:00 PM in library

Thursday - October 9, 2014
Candy Bars available in office to assist parents in Fund Raising.

Friday - October 10, 2014
Early Dismissal Day at 12:00 noon
Hispanic Heritage Celebration in auditorium 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Parents Welcome

Sunday - October 12, 2014
Mass at 1:00 PM for students in sacramental program
No classes.

Week of September 28, 2014 Announcements

Welcome Back Miss Alma
Ms. Alma has returned to OLQM to teach music to students in grades PreK, Kindergarten, Grades 1, 2 and 3.
She will be here on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning this week.

Cornerstone Students Information System
Parents wishing to have login and password information regarding the Student Information System may request the information by sending an e-mail to Mr. Woods at olqm1@aol.com.
Last week only 32 parents showed up for information. The next time that Alan will be available to assist parents one to one will be on Report Card night which is November 14th from 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM.

Progress Reports
The first Progress Report will be sent home this Friday October 3rd with your child. Please look at it carefully and if you have questions please call Alba to schedule an appointment to see your child's teacher(s). The best way for you as a parent to keep up with your child's progress is to monitor the SIS (Student Information System) weekly.

IRIS - Immediate Information Response System.
The IRIS system will be tested today - Sunday September 28th. If you did not receive a recorded message please inform Alba or Alan so that your information may be verified.

Feast of St. Francis of Assisi-October 3rd --9:00 AM Mass
The annual blessing of domesticated animals will take place on Friday October 3rd at the 9:00 AM Mass. Students may bring their animals from home to be blessed. Due to allergies dogs and cats will have to return home after Mass--please make arrangements for them to return home.

Smart Tuition
Mr. Woods and Alan will be attending a meeting between the Superintendent of Schools Office, the regional principals and Smart Tuition on October 8th. Parents who are experiencing problems should e-mail Mr. Woods at olqm1@aol.com so that it may be addressed at this general meeting.

Interim Assessment #1
The first Interim Assessment will be administered to students in grades Kindergarten - 8th grade the week of October 20th. It will cover all the material that has been covered by teachers in Unit I of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

Monday September 29, 2014
Reminder Candy Bars are in the office to assist parents in fund raising.

Tuesday September 30, 2014
Feast of St. Jerome
October calendars will be sent home today.

Wednesday October 1, 2014
Feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Thursday October 2, 2014
Feast of Guardian Angels

Friday October 3, 2014
Mass in honor of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi 9:00 AM
Parents Welcome.
Animals Welcome!!
led by the students of the 7th grade.

Saturday October 4, 2014
Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

Sunday October 5, 2014
First Day of Sacramental Program
All students MUST attend Mass here at 1:00 PM
They must sit in the front of Church with Mr. Woods.

Week of September 21, 2014 Announcements

To Parents - An eye opening article from the Wall Street Journal

Fighting the Internet Invasion of Childhood

When I heard my daughter's screams from Web deprivation, I knew I was onto something.
By
MARTIN KUTNOWSKI
Sept. 9, 2014 7:10 p.m. ET
From inside the fortress of her bedroom, my 10-year-old daughter launches guerrilla warfare. Her weapon: piercing screams. She is angry with me because she has discovered that her iPad cannot get online. Last night I managed to selectively program our wireless modem so that specific devices connect to the Web only one hour a day, compared with the four or five hours that she and her 9-year-old brother had recently been spending online. Now I can finally limit their surfing time without constant personal involvement.
American children need 60 minutes of moderate to intense activity a day, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control. One could only hope to meet that standard. Returning from work every evening, I would find two zombies—the cliché never gets old, because it is accurate—in front of the computer. In a catatonic state, the children would respond to my greeting with an unintelligible mumble. After turning the computer off, I would try to talk them into riding the bicycle or going to the park.
Failing that, I'd make them to do chores or homework, often musing how much easier it would be to haul an elephant up a mountain. At dinner, if asked what they had learned at school—the kind of conversation I used to have with my parents—my annoyed children would respond "nothing," absently looking into the distance, longing to tether themselves online as soon as I turned my back.

Corbis
My daughter's screams and sobs are an eye opener, indicating the real extent of their electronic addiction. As a professor in a four-year undergraduate university, I meet young people just as they emerge from the public-school pipeline, and from years of excessive electronic stimulation. Differences among these entering students are profound, in physical health, in skill level, in social and academic engagement, and ultimately in their chances for success. Many of these students have urgent needs: Some don't understand their own nutrition, how to form a coherent and complete sentence, how to focus long enough to read one chapter of a book, or how to talk and collaborate with one another or with the teacher.
I help as much as I can, and often my students become engaged with their academic and social environment. An earlier intervention—fewer videogames, more activities outdoors and more guided reading, for instance—could have saved those who give up. And no, l don't buy the fantasy that failing students will be "successful" dropouts like Steve Jobs or Bill Gates. Statistics predict that most people without a postsecondary education will be low-wage earners.
I shudder at the idea of my own children becoming like these vulnerable youth. During my children's childhood, the quality of which is my absolute responsibility, I don't want TV, videogames, Internet, tobacco, alcohol, drugs or any other kind of poison or addiction to wreck their development. When videogames were restricted to PlayStations, Xboxes or the Wii, it was easy: I just didn't purchase any of these. We went once a week to the arcade at the mall.
But as my children grew older, their relationship with the Internet posed a bigger challenge. Before hacking my modem, I considered quitting my job or reducing my hours so that I could be back at home in the afternoon. That wasn't feasible. Neither was pulling the entire household off the grid forever.
Fade to black and fast forward. It has now been several months since I imposed stiff electronic rations. Like fish returning to a river that had been polluted for decades, my children have radically altered their habits, behaving in ways that seemed extinct. If they get bored, they now find things to do, playing with marbles if necessary. They complain occasionally, but tough luck. They are once again avid readers, and, just as significantly, avid talkers.
When we watch TV shows together as a family—not to fill the day but because the day is done—we discuss what the story taught us. Keeping the parasitic electronic stimulation at bay, for now I have managed to emulate for them the simpler, less invasive environment of my own childhood. I dwell in the temporary truce, knowing that new parental challenges will keep me on my toes. This is a long war that can never be won—only tied perhaps—until they grow up and leave home. Soldier on.
Mr. Kutnowski, a pianist and composer, is the director of the fine arts program at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

Cornerstone Student Information System Training
Cornerstone training for parents to access their child's grades will be provided this week by Alan in the school library.
Parents are urged to bring a laptop or iPad for easy setup.
Training will be:
Tuesday 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Wednesday 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Thursday 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Friday 7:00 AM -10:00 AM

Classroom Inc Program
Classroom Inc begins this week for students in grades 5 and 8.
Students who have laptops and are able to bring them to school every week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays should do so for the program.
DO NOT BUY A LAPTOP if students have one and they are responsible enough to bring it to school that will make the program run smoothly.
iPads do not work with Classroom Inc.
Ms. Serewko and Mr. Placido will post more information on their blog entries.

Sacramental Program Registration
Sunday September 28th is the LAST Sunday for registration.
All students in the sacramental program will begin by attending Mass as a group on October 5th at 1:00 PM.
Parents may register on Sunday September 28th from 12:00 noon until 2:00 PM.

IRIS - Immediate Response Information System.
Due to flaws with the Cornerstone system this week the IRIS system was not able to be set up.
We should be testing the system this week and you will be notified of the posting of the blog, half days and if need be closing due to snow through this system.

Monday- September 22nd
Autumn begins today at 10:29 PM

Tuesday September 23rd
Classroom Inc begins. Students in grades 5 & 8 laptops
Cornerstone training for parents 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM in library.
Special Gym Classes - Kindergarten, Grades 5, 6, 7 and 8

Wednesday September 24th
Classroom Inc Grades 5 & 8
National Punctuation Day
Cornerstone training 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM in Library

Thursday September 25th
Cornerstone training for parents 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM in library
Special Gym Classes
Grades PreK -2 (Ms. Rodriguez) 5, 6, 7 & 8

Friday September 26th
Cornerstone training for parents 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM in library.
Special Gym Classes
Grades PreK -1; Grades 3, 4 and 8

Week of September 15, 2014 Announcements

Friday - September 19, 2014 - Dismissal at 12:00 noon
As mentioned on the monthly calendar - Friday September 19th dismissal will be at 12:00 noon so that the faculty may meet together with Mr. Woods.
Parents who are need of child care for their child may see Mr. Marcial for a special rate on half days.

Parent Sign Off Sheets
On Friday September 12th parent signature pages for the school handbook, emergency cards, free lunch etc. were due to the classroom teacher.
A number of parents forgot to hand in the papers and your child may be denied the free breakfast & lunch unless we have an income sheet handed into the office.
Parents are requested to make sure the papers are handed in this week to the classroom teacher.

Extended Day Math Classes
Students in grades 5-8 will attend school until 5:00 PM once a week
to prepare them for the upcoming Interim Assessments in October along
with New York State Preparation.
Grade 6 will be dismissed on Mondays at 5:00 PM
Grade 5 will be dismissed on Tuesdays at 5:00 PM
Grade 8 will be dismissed on Wednesdays at 5:00 PM
Grade 7 will be dismissed on Thursdays at 5:00 PM

Title I Classes
Title I classes will again be offered to students this year who did not meet the standards in ELA and Math on the most recent NYS tests. Classes will also be offered to students in Kindergarten. Letters will be sent home in the next week for a parent signature and parents are free to see the Title I teachers should they have questions. This is a voluntary program and parents have the right to request that their child not attend these classes.

Smart Tuition
A reminder that payments are due to Smart Tuition by the 20th of each month. If not paid in time there is a $35.00 late fee charged. If a parent needs an extension they are requested to see Mr. Woods or send an email to olqm1@aol.com (Mr. Woods' e-mail.) Last year Smart Tuition collected $6,930.00 in late fees and NONE OF THAT MONEY CAME BACK TO THE SCHOOL. Parents who request an extension before the 18th of the month are granted the extension without incurring the late fee.
Parents who have questions regarding the billing cycle etc. may call Alan in the school office at 212-567-3190.
Alan is in the office:
Mondays 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesdays 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesdays 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursdays 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Fridays 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Teacher e-mails
All e-mail communication to teachers must be sent to olqm1@aol.com wherein Mr. Woods will forward the e-mail to the requested teacher. This policy enables Mr. Woods to screen the communication between parents and teachers and ensure that all communication is appropriate.

Appointments with teachers/Mr. Woods
Parents who wish to meet with their child's teacher are requested to call Alba to schedule an appointment. Many teachers have family commitments or attend graduate school after dismissal and Alba will be able to coordinate meeting times for parents. Parents wishing to see Mr. Woods may see him on any Sunday (except holiday weekends)from 10:00 AM - 12:00 noon without an appointment. Should parents be unable to meet at this time then parents may schedule an appointment with Alba. Weekday appointments are made from 6:30 AM - 7:30 AM before school begins for the day.

Monday - September 15, 2014 Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

Tuesday - September 16, 2014
Candy bars will be available in the tuition office to assist parents in their fund raising. Candy money may be paid to Smart Tuition or may be paid at the tuition office and we will forward the payment to Smart Tuition.

Wednesday- September 17,2014
Feast of St. Robert Bellarmine

Thursday - September 18, 2014
Special Gym Classes - Grade PreK-2; Grades 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8

Friday - September 19, 2014
Early Dismissal Day 12:00 Noon

Sunday - September 21, 2014
Registration for Sacraments 12:00 noon - 2:00 PM
Baptism
Reconciliation
First Holy Communion

Week of September 8, 2014 Announcements

Back to School Prayer
We thank you for the fragrance of a new box of crayons, Lord,
The rainbow in each perfect row;
Thank you for each bundle of snowy white notebook paper,
Awaiting fresh possibilities.
May they remind us that you make all things new and bless us with abundance.
Thank you for this ruler; for every eraser that tops every pencil.
May they help us remember to measure our blessings ,
But never your boundless love for us;
To allow for the making of mistakes as a normal part of human learning.
As we lay out our new clothes for these first days of school,
Help us remember to put on Christ each day, too,
And to “clothe the naked” as He asked us.
But mostly, God, help us remember
that Jesus is always our best and most devoted teacher—
That we never outgrow all his lessons on how you want us to live and to love.

By Home Faith editor Mary Lynn Hendrickson Give Us This Day

Yearly Calendar
Parents wishing to review the yearly calendar may click on
the link to the school website at the top of this page.
The yearly calendar was set up in
the summer of 2014 and periodically may have dates, times etc. changed.
It is important to read this blog weekly and check the announcement
board in the lunchroom if there are changes.

Extended Day Math Classes
Students in grades 5-8 will attend school until 5:00 PM once a week
to prepare them for the upcoming Interim Assessments in October along
with New York State Preparation.
Grade 6 will be dismissed on Mondays at 5:00 PM
Grade 5 will be dismissed on Tuesdays at 5:00 PM
Grade 8 will be dismissed on Wednesdays at 5:00 PM
Grade 7 will be dismissed on Thursdays at 5:00 PM

Breakfast & Lunch Program
As a reminder income forms are due to the classroom teacher
for the free breakfast & lunch program.
Breakfast is served from 7:00 AM - 7:45 AM


Monday September 8, 2014 Feast of the Birth of Mary
Opening School Mass at 9:00 AM led by he 8th grade students.
Parents Welcome
Reminder all parent forms are due to classroom teacher by Friday September 12, 2014

Tuesday September 9, 2014
Computer and gym classes begin today.
Reminder all parent forms are due to classroom teacher by Friday September 12, 2014

Wednesday September 10, 2014
Reminder all parent forms are due to classroom teacher by Friday September 12, 2014

Thursday September 11, 2014 Patriot Day
Art Classes begin today.
8th grade parent meeting regarding High School Admission process.
Library at 7:00 PM
Reminder all parent forms are due to classroom teacher by Friday September 12, 2014

Friday September 12, 2014
Feast of the Holy Name of Mary
Reminder all parent forms are due to classroom teacher by Friday September 12, 2014

Sunday September 14,2014
Registration for Sacramental Program 12:00 noon - 2:00 PM
Sacrament of Reconciliation Grade 2
Sacrament of First Holy Communion Grade 3
Sacrament of Confirmation Grades 7 & 8
Baptism - Grades 2-8 must meet with Mr. Woods
Parish Feast Celebration 12:00 noon - 5:00 PM

15 August 2014

Dear Parents,

I hope that this letter finds you and your family well and during these summer months you have been able to enjoy some relaxing days. This letter in the mailbox always signals that the days of summer are fast coming to an end.

As in the past there will be an opening parent meeting on the day before school begins: Wednesday-----September 3, 2014

The times for the meetings are:

PreK-1 and PreK-2 5:00 PM

Grades Kindergarten – 4th grade 6:00 PM

Grades 5-8 – 7:00 PM

The meeting will begin in the school auditorium with me and then you will proceed to the classrooms to meet with your child’s teacher.

As these meetings are planned for Parents and Teachers you are asked to arrange for child care so that there will not be any disruptions during the meeting.

School will begin on Thursday September 4, 2014 at 8:00 AM for all students in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade. School will dismiss at 3:00 PM and the After School Program will begin the same day for those who have been enrolled.

PreK students are to arrive at 9:00 AM on Thursday, September 4th and they also will be dismissed at 3:00 PM. The After School Program will also begin that day for those that have been enrolled.

In order to be of any assistance the school office is open daily from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM and will also be open on Labor Day from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The teachers have posted their supply lists on the school blog of www.olqmnyc.blogspot.com.
Students in grades 2, 3 & 4 need to check all three teachers supply list and students in grades 5, 6, 7 & 8 need to check all four teachers supply list.

Parents wishing to enroll their child for the After School Program will be able to do so on the night of the parent meeting with Mr. Marcial, the program director.

Enjoy the remaining days of summer and looking forward to meeting with you on September 3rd.

Sincerely,
Andrew G. Woods

Week of June 23, 2014 Announcements

Report Card Distribution and Tuition
Some parents had requested an extension to June 20th for tuition/and or fund raising. Those monies are now past due. A reminder that your child will not receive their report card nor records transferred unless all money owed the school is paid before Wednesday June 25th.

Summer School
Students who failed one or more subjects for the year as reflected on their report card will be required to attend Summer School.
Also students who attend Ms. Levine's class will be required to attend the Title I Summer School in Reading and Mathematics.
Students in grades 1-6 may attend the FREE Title I Summer School if the registration form was returned in April.
Students in Grades 7 & 8 will be required to attend OLQM Summer School and will need to register on Thursday June 26th or June 27th.
A letter will be attached to the report card and the report card will have it mentioned in the comment section for Quarter 4.
Students who do not attend Summer School will be required to repeat the grade as listed in the Parents Handbook.
Students who fail 3 or more subjects on their report card will be required to repeat the grade level.

Summer Hours
The school office will be opened Monday thru Friday from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM every day during the summer.
Mr. Woods will be supervising the PreK Summer Program, The Title I Summer Program and OLQM Summer School during the Summer so parents who may want to see him should schedule an appointment with Alba. Mr. Woods will not be in the school office on Fridays or Sundays during the Summer but instead will be working in the Greenhouse.

Smart Tuition changes for the 2014-2015 school year--Please read these carefully.
In the hope of avoiding the unfortunate situation where children were removed from classrooms this year the following changes will be made to Smart Tuition:
1. All payments will be due on the 10th of each month beginning August 10, 2014.
2. After the second failed payment of a credit card or checking account that credit card etc. will not be able to be used to process any further transactions in Smart Tuition.
3. There will be no further Tuition cards in the office for payment of fund raising candy bars. Instead that payment must be made to Smart Tuition - or the parent may pay in the office and will be issued a receipt whereupon the payment will be made from the office to Smart Tuition.
4. Parents in need of Verification letters from the office will again need to print out the Smart Tuition statement to verify the person paying the tuition is listed with Smart Tuition.
5. Parents who request an extension on their tuition will be granted that extension by Mr. Woods with the following stipulation. If the due date for the extension is not met then the late fees that were waived, in good faith, will be reinstated for the months the parent was granted the extension.
6. In reviewing the catastrophic issues that parents caused themselves, their children and the school office upon reflection it is recommended that payments are made from a checking account on a regular basis- this avoids fees for credit card payments etc. Should parents need a different date for the funds to be drawn from their checking account-----that can be arranged through the office so that late fees will be avoided.
7. Mr. Woods is shocked by how many parents paid $350.00 or in most cases more in late fees, bounced checks etc. to Smart Tuition when a simple meeting on a Sunday with Mr. Woods could have avoided all that before the payment was due. None of that money comes to the school instead it goes to Smart Tuition for the phone calls and e-mails they send to parents to remind them of late payments.
8. As Mr. Woods works with Smart Tuition and the Regional Board further changes may be made. Mr. Woods formally complained to the Board of Directors regarding Smart Tuition and during the Summer meetings are being arranged to address these issues.

Regents Biology Class
Congratulations to:
Jack Valderabanno, Lance Garcia, Lourdes Toribio, Alexander DeJesus Castillo, Arelisse Munoz and Jayden Torres who were administered the Living Environment Regents Exam on Tuesday June 17th. They all passed the exam.
This class was set up with financial backing of the Moglia Family Foundation for iPads, books and high school science equipment.
The students in 8th grade will carry this Regents credit with them to High School and will not need to take this exam in High School.
The Moglia Family also decided that the students may keep their iPad as a gift as a reward for their academic success as he will be increasing the funding for this class.

Monday June 23, 2014 - CLEAN OUT YOUR DESK DAY.
NO AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM THIS WEEK
Students will clean out their desks and fix their classrooms.
Students may wear shorts for the day and should bring shopping bags if they have hoards of material in their desks/seat sacks.
PreK Summer Program begins at 7:30 AM

Tuesday June 24, 2014 - 8th grade Graduation Day
FULL DRESS UNIFOM DAY.
Dismissal at 1:00 PM
End of Year Mass and Graduation Exercises at 11:00 AM
Parents who are available from Grades 1-7 should make an attempt to be at graduation.
Mr. and Mrs. Hanlon along with Mr. Kelly will be here to be part of the graduation exercises. Mr. & Mrs. Hanlon along with Mr. Kelly raised thousands of dollars for OLQM scholarships this year and their hard work should be recognized not only by the students but also by the parents. Just a simple thank you after the Mass by a parent shows a donor that parents appreciate their dedication to assisting them through scholarships.

Wednesday June 25, 2014
Dress Up Day - no uniform needed but nice dress up clothes.
End of Year Classroom party - 8:30 AM
Awards Day - 11:00 AM in auditorium
Dismissal at 1:00 PM.

Thursday, June 26, 2014 and Friday June 27, 2014 - Registration for Summer School in office.
8:00 AM - 12:00 noon
Mr. Woods will not be in office on Thursday but instead at a meting at the Archdiocese of New York.
Mr. Woods will be in the office on Friday all day.

Monday June 30th - OLQM Summer School Begins

Monday July 7, 2014 - Title I Summer School Begins
Parents with questions should see Mrs. Ramsey.

Week of June 16, 2014 Announcements

Graduation Gowns
Graduation gowns for students in Kindergarten and 8th grade are in the tuition office.
They may be picked up when there is a ZERO balance on the Smart Tuition Account. Parents who pay by credit card must wait for 5 days for the credit card to be processed by Smart tuition. It is better if you have a balance to bring in cash or money order to Mrs. Resto in the tuition office and we will forwarded the money electronically to Smart Tuition.

Tuition and Final Exams and Graduations
A reprint from the blog posting of May 19, 2014

Students may not take final exams in June;
Students may not participate in PreK or Kindergarten graduation ceremonies;
Students may not participate in 8th grade graduation ceremonies
unless all tuition is paid.


Monday June 16, 2014
Review Day for Final Exams Grades 1-8
Kindergarten End of Year Assessments

Tuesday June 17, 2014
PreK -1 - Mrs. Fundora's Moving Up ceremony 11:00 AM in lunchroom.
Students are to arrive at 10:30 AM and report to classroom.
Parent luncheon following ceremony.
Kindergarten End of Year Assessments

End of Year Exams Grades 1-8 in Mathematics and Social Studies
Biology Regents 1:30 PM

Wednesday June 18, 2014
PreK-2 - Ms. Rodriguez's class Moving Up ceremony 11:00 AM in lunchroom.
Students are to arrive at 10:30 AM and report to classroom.
Parent luncheon following ceremony
End of Year Exams in Reading and Language Arts

Thursday June 19, 2014
Kindergarten Graduation at 11:00 AM in lunchroom.
Students are to arrive at 10:30 AM and report to the classroom.
Parent luncheon following ceremony.
8th grade class trip 10:00 AM--Students may not attend trip unless all tuition is paid and there is a zero balance on account.

Friday June 20, 2014--Early Dismissal Day 12:00 noon
Shorts Day for Haiti - as of now we have raised $648.00 ---our goal is $1,000.00.
Sister Valorie Lordi, OP on Saturday June 14th picked up $537.84 worth of medications from Mr. Woods.
It is hoped that we will not disappoint her and the Haiti mission scheduled to leave Monday June 30th.
LAST DAY OF AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

Week of June 9, 2014 Announcements

Tuition
This past Monday June 2nd ----47 children sat in the lunchroom because tuition was not paid. Presently 15 of those children have not returned due to non-payment of tuition.
A reminder to all parents that no child will take end of year exams beginning June 16th unless all tuition has been paid for the year and they will be excluded from class.
Smart Tuition issued new statements to all parents on Friday June 6th indicating the fund raising that was not paid.
Please check your Smart Tuition account statement whether you get in on-line or in the mail as soon as it comes.
A reminder to PreK parents to check their statements so that your child may participate in the graduation ceremony.
Letters will be sent home this week with your child indicating the balance due and there will be no extensions on tuition since it is the end of the academic school year.

Graduation Gowns
Graduation gowns for students in Kindergarten and 8th grade are in the tuition office.
They may be picked up when there is a ZERO balance on the Smart Tuition Account. Parents who pay by credit card must wait for 5 days for the credit card to be processed by Smart tuition. It is better if you have a balance to bring in cash or money order to Mrs. Resto in the tuition office and we will forwarded the money electronically to Smart Tuition.

Blackstone Financial Group Community Service Project - Wednesday June 11th
The Blackstone global investment firm will be sending 42 volunteers on Wednesday June 11th to paint the stairs, bathrooms and organize the school library. Some students from the 7th and 8th grade will be working with them as they extend their hand to help us here at OLQM.

Prep for Prep
Prep for Prep is a leadership program for middle school students who excel academically and have the potential to enter prestigious High Schools. We congratulate Joshua Capellan of the 5th grade for being accepted to this program which will entail him attending Summer School and an after school program twice a week while he is in 6th, 7th and 8th grades.
He joins Alexander Castillo, of the 7th grade, who was accepted into the Teak Program last year - a similar program for students who excel academically in school.

Progress Reports
Progress Reports were distributed on Friday May 30th by Fr. Antonio.
If there was a white sticker on the report parents should make an appointment to see their child's teacher so that a plan of action may be drawn up before final exams.
As a reminder if your child fails a subject for the year they must attend Summer School at OLQM.
Students failing 3 or more subjects will be retained as stated in the Parents Handbook.
For students in grades 1-6 there is the free Title I Summer Program that parents were urged to apply for last month (92 students are presently enrolled) - Registration is now closed.
All students attending Ms. Levine's class are required to attend Summer School.
For students in grades 7 & 8 parents will need to register for Summer School in the tuition office on June 26th or 27th. The fee for each subject is $200.00.
Parents should refer to the Parents Handbook should they have questions as to the policy on Summer School or Retention.
Parents should see Mr. Woods any Sunday from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday June 8th;
Sunday June 15th;
Sunday June 22nd
and NOT wait until the last day of school if they have questions.
Parents may also e-mail Mr. Woods at olqm1@aol.com

Monday June 9th
Graduation gowns available at Tuition office.
Study Guides were sent home for the end of the year exams by all teachers - is your child using them to study?

Tuesday June 10th
Mrs. Resto will be in office from 7:30 AM - 12:00 noon for parents with tuition questions.
Study Guides were sent home for the end of the year exams by all teachers - is your child using them to study?

Wednesday June 11th
Blackstone Financial Investment Group Community Service Project
Study Guides were sent home for the end of the year exams by all teachers - is your child using them to study?

Thursday June 12th
Math Coach will work with students
Study Guides were sent home for the end of the year exams by all teachers - is your child using them to study?

Friday June 13th - Feast of St. Anthony of Padua
Early Dismissal Day -- Dismissal at 12:00 NOON
After School Program in session.
Study Guides were sent home for the end of the year exams by all teachers - is your child using them to study?

Sunday- June 15th - Father's Day
Mass at 1:00 PM for all students in sacramental program.
Certificates of completion will be distributed after Mass.

Week of June 2, 2014 Announcements

Progress Reports
Progress Reports were distributed on Friday May 30th by Fr. Antonio.
If there was a white sticker on the report parents should make an appointment to see their child's teacher so that a plan of action may be drawn up before final exams.
As a reminder if your child fails a subject for the year they must attend Summer School at OLQM.
Students failing 3 or more subjects will be retained as stated in the Parents Handbook.
For students in grades 1-6 there is the free Title I Summer Program that parents were urged to apply for last month (92 students are presently enrolled) - Registration is now closed.
All students attending Ms. Levine's class are required to attend Summer School.
For students in grades 7 & 8 parents will need to register for Summer School in the tuition office on June 26th or 27th. The fee for each subject is $200.00.
Parents should refer to the Parents Handbook should they have questions as to the policy on Summer School or Retention.
Parents should see Mr. Woods any Sunday from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday June 1st;
Sunday June 8th;
Sunday June 15th;
Sunday June 22nd
and NOT wait until the last day of school if they have questions.
Parents may also e-mail Mr. Woods at olqm1@aol.com

Fund Raising - Candy Sales
All fund raising was due on April 15, 2014 to Mrs. Resto in the school office. Any money not paid before June 1st will be added to a child's Smart Tuition account beginning on June 2, 2014.
Please see Mrs. Resto in the tuition office if you have questions.

End of Year Exams
End of Year exams will be administered to students in Grades 1-8 the week of June 16, 17, 18 and 19th.
The end of year exams will cover material from September to the present as per the direction of the Superintendent of Schools office. The score on the exam will be placed on the report card and will count as 15% of the total grade for the year as calculated by the Student Information System.
A study guide will be available for parents in PRINT this year and will be distributed June 4th. The study guide will outline the important topics in the six units of study that have been taught this year that should be studied. Parents are urged to work with their children using the guides as a tool for success.

Pre-K Summer Program
Parents who have not notified Mrs. Resto that they are interested in the PreK Summer Program should do so as soon as possible.

June 2014 Calendar
The June calendar will be distributed on Monday June 2nd.

Monday June 2, 2014
Unit VI Week 6

Tuesday June 3, 2014
New York State Science Test Grades 4 & 8 Written Section

Wednesday June 4, 2014
Archdiocese of New York Religion Exam Grades 3-8

Thursday June 5, 2014
New York State Mathematics Field Test Grade 3

Friday - June 6, 2014 - Early Dismissal Day 12:00 noon
After School Program will be in session.
Faculty Meeting - scoring of Religion Exam

Sunday - June 8, 2014 Pentecost Sunday
Mass at 1:00 PM for all students in sacramental program.
No classes.

Week of May 27, 2014 Announcements

June 2014 Calendar - Please Read Carefully
A reminder that the June calendar needed to be altered due to the snow days taken this year.
1. All Fridays in June ---school will be opened.
June 6th - 12:00 noon dismissal scoring of Archdiocesan Religion Exam
June 13th - 12:00 noon dismissal planning meeting
June 20th - 12:00 noon dismissal Rating Day for End of the Year Exams
2. The last day of school is Wednesday, June 25th.
3. Graduation/ moving up ceremonies Dates
a. PreK-1 moving up ceremony - Mrs. Fundora's class - Tuesday June 17th at 11:00 AM
b. PreK-2 moving up ceremony - Ms. Rodriguez's class - Wednesday June 18th at 11:00 AM
c. Kindergarten graduation ceremony - Ms. Ocasio's class - Thursday June 19th at 11:00 AM
d. 8th grade graduation - Tuesday June 24th at 11:00 AM
A reminder that no child will be able to participate in any moving up or graduation ceremonies unless all tuition/fund raising is up to date and paid.

Fund Raising - Candy Sales
All fund raising was due on April 15, 2014 to Mrs. Resto in the school office. Any money not paid before June 1st will be added to a child's Smart Tuition account beginning on June 1, 2014.
Please see Mrs. Resto in the tuition office if you have questions.

End of Year Exams
End of Year exams will be administered to students in Grades 1-8 the week of June 16, 17, 18 and 19th.
The end of year exams will cover material from September to the present as per the direction of the Superintendent of Schools office. The score on the exam will be placed on the report card and will count as 15% of the total grade for the year as calculated by the Student Information System.
A study guide will be available for parents in PRINT this year and will be distributed June 4th. The study guide will outline the important topics in the six units of study that have been taught this year that should be studied. Parents are urged to work with their children using the guides as a tool for success.

Pre-K Summer Program
Parents who have not notified Mrs. Resto that they are interested in the PreK Summer Program should do so as soon as possible.

Tuesday May 27, 2014
Price Waterhouse Cooper will work with students in grades 3-8 on the topic of Taxes

Wednesday May 28, 2014 - new moon
New York State Performance Test Grades 4 & 8 in Science

Thursday - May 29, 2014 - Feast of the Ascension
Mass at 9:00 AM led by the Kindergarten Class
Project Leap

Friday - May 30th
Progress Reports will be sent home today.
Mr. Woods will be in the office on Sunday from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM for parents who wish to discuss Progress Reports.

Saturday - May 31st - Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sacrament of Confirmation 3:30 PM
Bishop Gerald T. Walsh, Vicar General will be the main celebrant.
All students in sacramental are required to be at Confirmation ceremony in DRESS clothes.
Students do not need to attend Mass on Sunday.

Sunday - June 1, 2014
Mr. Woods in office 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Biology Class 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Week of May 19, 2014 Announcements

June 2014 Calendar
A reminder that the June calendar needed to be altered due to the snow days taken this year.
1. All Fridays in June ---school will be opened .
2. The last day of school is Wednesday, June 25th.
3. Graduation/ moving up ceremonies Dates
a. PreK-1 moving up ceremony - Mrs. Fundora's class - Tuesday June 17th at 11:00 AM
b. PreK-2 moving up ceremony - Ms. Rodriguez's class - Wednesday June 18th at 11:00 AM
c. Kindergarten graduation ceremony - Ms. Ocasio's class - Thursday June 19th at 11:00 AM
d. 8th grade graduation - Tuesday June 24th at 11:00 AM
A reminder that no child will be able to participate in any moving up or graduation ceremonies unless all tuition/fund raising is up to date and paid.

Fund Raising - Candy Sales
All fund raising was due on April 15, 2014 to Mrs. Resto in the school office. Any money not paid before June 1st will be added to a child's Smart Tuition account beginning on June 1, 2014.
Please see Mrs. Resto in the tuition office if you have questions.

Rowland Reading Testing Program - Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2
This past week children in Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 were administered the second battery of tests designed by Rowland Reading.
There were two separate tests given last week and your child will be bringing home the results of those tests on Wednesday, May 21st.
Should parents have questions regarding the test results they may see their child's teacher and/or Mr. Woods.
As a reminder any testing program is only one measure of a student's progress. Classroom participation, homework, teacher-made tests, daily and weekly assessments are all part of the academic progress that a child experiences.

Student Information System - SIS
As we approach the end of the year it is important that parents keep abreast of their child's academic progress by checking the student information system regularly and scheduling an appointment with the child's teacher(s) if necessary so there is no heartbreak in June.
Progress Reports will be sent home on Friday May 30, 2014.

End of Year Exams
End of Year exams will be administered to students in Grades 1-8 the week of June 16, 17, 18 and 19th.
The end of year exams will cover material from September to the present as per the direction of the Superintendent of Schools office. The score on the exam will be placed on the report card and will count as 15% of the total grade for the year as calculated by the Student Information System.
A study guide will be available for parents in PRINT this year and will be distributed June 4th. The study guide will outline the important topics in the six units of study that have been taught this year that should be studied. Parents are urged to work with their children using the guides as a tool for success.

Pre-K Summer Program
Parents who have not notified Mrs. Resto that they are interested in the PreK Summer Program should do so as soon as possible.

Monday May 19, 2014--Tuition Suspension Day
Unit VI Week 4
Mathematics coach will work with students today.

Tuesday May 20, 2014
Mrs. Resto will be in office to answer questions regarding fund raising.

Wednesday May 21, 2014
Rowland Reading Testing results will be sent home to parents in Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2.

Thursday May 22, 2014
Project LEAP - Grades 1, 2, 3, 7 & 8.

Friday-- May 23, 2014 - EARLY DISMISSAL DAY 11:00 AM
Faculty Meeting - scoring of NYSESLAT test

Sunday - May 25, 2014
No Classes
No 1:00 PM Mass - children are to attend Mass with their parents.

Monday - May 26, 2014 - Memorial Day - SCHOOL CLOSED

Week of May 12, 2014 Announcements

May Procession- Tuesday May 13th 10:00 AM
Feast of Our Lady of Fatima.
All students should have a pair of rosary beads for the May Procession.
The procession will be lead by the students of the Communion Class who should wear their First Holy Communion outfits.
Parents are welcome to join us.

Tuition Suspension Day - May 19, 2014
As mentioned previously no student will be able to continue at OLQM after
May 31st unless tuition is up to date.
Letters will be sent home on Thursday and all parents who receive a letter are required to see Mr. Woods.
Students may not take final exams in June;
Students may not participate in PreK or Kindergarten graduation ceremonies;
Students may not participate in 8th grade graduation ceremonies
unless all tuition is paid.

Fund Raising - Candy Money
A reminder that Fund Raising money was due to Mrs. Resto in the tuition office on April 15th.
If the Fund Raising money is not paid by May 31st - it will be added to the child's Smart Tuition account in June.
Please see Mrs. Resto if you have any questions.

Monday May 12, 2014
Happy Birthday Fr. Antonio

Tuesday May 13, 2014- Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
May Procession at 10:00 AM
Students in First Holy Communion should wear their communion clothes
Parents Welcome
NYSESLAT Reading
Math coach will work with students today.

Wednesday May 14, 2014 - Feast of St. Mathias
Full Moon
PreK and Kindergarten parents should see teachers regarding clothes for graduation pictures.

Thursday May 15, 2014
Uniform Measurement Day - a representative will be at school to measure students 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM in school library.
Project LEAP
8th grade graduation Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral - full dress uniform.
Tuition Suspension Letters will be sent home today.

Friday May 16, 2014
PreK and Kindergarten Graduation Picture Day
Math coach will work with students today.

Sunday May 18, 2014
Mass at 1:00 PM for all students in sacramental program.

Week of May 4, 2014 Announcements

Fund Raising
Parents are reminded that fund raising money was due April 15, 2014 to the Tuition Office.
Beginning June 1, 2014 any uncollected monies due the tuition office will be added to Smart Tuition for end of year financial reconciliation.
Please see Mrs. Resto in the tuition office if you have questions.

PreK Summer Program 2014
As of Friday May 2nd there were 6 available seats for the PreK Summer Program. Parents who are interested in the program should see Mrs. Resto as soon as possible.

Title I Summer School
Letters were sent home regarding the free Title I Summer Program. All forms are due to the office by Friday May 9, 2014 so they may be processed.
As a reminder any student in grades 1-6 who had a notification that Summer School may be required for promotion should enroll in this free program if they were eligible.
Please see your child's report card if you are unsure if Summer School was required for promotion.

PreK and Kindergarten Graduation Picture Day
Students in PreK and Kindergarten will have their pictures taken on Thursday May 8th for graduation. Please check with your child's teacher regarding what they should wear for the pictures.

Graduation and Outstanding Tuition ---PreK, Kindergarten and Grade 8
As a reminder all tuition, fees etc. must be paid before a child may participate in graduation ceremonies. There must be a zero balance on the account for the child to participate in the ceremony.

Tuition Suspension Day - End of Year Exams
The final Tuition Suspension Day will be Monday May 19, 2014. As a reminder the final date for all tuition is Friday May 30th. Students will not be permitted to return on June 2nd and will be unable to sit for end of year exams unless all tuition is paid.

Rowland Reading End of Year Assessment - May 13th, 14th and 15th
Students in grades Kindergarten, First and Second will be administered an end of the year assessment by Rowland Reading through their on-line system.
Results will be available as to growth indexes etc. after the testing is administered and will be sent home.


Monday - May 5, 2014 - Cinco de Mayo
Math Coach will be working with students today.

Tuesday - May 6, 2014
Anti-bullying curriculum will be covered by teachers today during Religion classes.

Wednesday - May 7, 2014
NYSESLAT Listening test

Thursday - May 8, 2014 Feast of St. Peter of Tarentaise
PreK and Kindergarten picture Day.
Project LEAP

Friday - May 9, 2014
NYSESLAT Writing test

Sunday - May 11th - Mother's Day
No Classes and no requirement for Mass attendance.
Students should attend Mass with their Mother at whatever time their mom wants so that the students can use their allowance money to take Mom out for lunch after Mass!

Welcome Back
It is hoped that everyone relaxed and had an enjoyable Easter break.

First Holy Communion Class
As announced after Mass on Sunday there will be a parent meeting for students receiving First Holy Communion on Sunday, May 4th.
The meeting will be in the school library at 7:00 PM on Monday April 28, 2014.

NYSESLAT - New York State English as a Second Language Test
The Speaking session of the NYSESLAT will begin to be administered to students this week. It is a one to one test between the classroom teacher and the student.
This is the first part of the test the other sections of the test will be administered in the coming weeks.

Extended Day Math Class Grades 5-8
This week will be the last week for students in grades 5-8 for extended day Mathematics classes.
Therefore, parents of students in grades 5-8 should remember that beginning Monday, May 5th all students in grades 5-8 will be dismissed at 3:00 PM unless the student has decided to join the teacher for after school detention.

Monday April 28, 2014 Feast of St. Louis de Montfort
Students return from Easter Recess.
Mathematics Review Day for students in grades 3-8.
May calendars will be sent home.

Tuesday April 29, 2014 Feast of St. Catherine of Siena
Students in grades 3-8 should have 3 pencils for the upcoming Mathematics tests given to teacher today.

Wednesday April 30, 2014 Feast of St. Pius V
NYS Mathematics Test Grades 3-8 starts at 8:30 AM

Thursday May 1, 2014 Feast of St. Joseph the Worker
NYS Math Test Part II
Project LEAP Classes grades 1, 2, 3, 7 & 8

Friday May 2, 2014 Feast of St. Athanasius
NYS Math Test Part III

Sunday May 4, 2014
First Holy Communion 1:00 PM
All students in sacramental program are to be in dress clothes - no jeans or sneakers.