Week of January 3, 2017

Happy New Year &  Welcome Back to School 

Calendar Change - Monthly Faculty Meetings
In order to assist the Blended Learning Project that occurs on Fridays for students and teachers in grades 3, 4 and 5 the monthly faculty meetings will take place on Mondays.
There will no longer be 1/2 days on Fridays for Faculty Meetings..
The following dates have been approved for faculty meetings by the Superintendent of Schools Office:
Monday January 9th - Dismissal at 12:00 noon Faculty Meeting
Monday February 13th - Dismissal at 12:00 noon Faculty Meeting
Monday March 13th - Dismissal at 12:00 noon Faculty Meeting 
Monday May 15th - Dismissal at 12:00 noon Faculty Meeting
The After School Program will be in session on these days.

Progress Reports - Friday January 6th 

                           Progress Reports will be distributed on                      Friday, January 6th to all students.

This Progress Report will also list the standards that are also being covered in class as was the last Report Card.
The Progress Report should be signed and returned to the home room teacher. 
The progress report serves to make students and parents aware of academic successes and areas in needs of improvement since the last report card. 
       Mid-Year Assessments will be administered the week of                  January 17th for students in grades K-8 - dates are posted on the monthly calendar which is being sent home on January 3rd.
The Mid-Year Assessments will cover material covered since September. Review material will be posted on the teacher's blog by January 10th.

As a reminder report cards will be distributed to students on Thursday, February 2, 2017 so there is ample time for students to improve their grades before report cards are distributed.

PreK-1 Mrs. Fundora's Class

PreK-2 Ms. Rodriguez's Class

Kindergarten Classes

Parents are reminded that the web site has opened for registration. Alba, the school secretary, will also assist any parent in the process and the link is on the school web site of www. olqmnyc.org.

Financial Aid packages are available to students entering Kindergarten 

Income Eligibility Guidelines for Scholarships and Financial Assistance
Household Size	Eligible Income*
Two	$91,056
Three	$108,528
Four	$126,000
Five	$143,472
Six	$160,944
Seven	$178,416
Eight	$195,888

Tuesday January 3, 2017 Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus 

School Opens

Monthly Calendars will be sent home.

Wednesday January 4, 2017 Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Thursday January 5, 2017 Feast of St. John Neumann

8:15 AM -----------Mr. Woods will meet with parents of students in PreK-1 Mrs. Fundora's class in the library regarding registration for September.

Friday January 6, 2017 - Feast of the Epiphany

Blended Learning Coach will be here.

Progress Reports will be sent home.

Sunday January 8th - Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

9:00 AM - Living Environment Class

1:00 PM - Mass for all students in sacramental program

                  Monday January 9th                       Early Dismissal Day 12:00 noon

Faculty Meeting

Week of December 19, 2016 Announcements

Lessons and Carols 

PreK-1, PreK-2 and students in grades K-8 

December 21, 2016 

8:30 AM 

Parents Welcome 

Mr. Damian Hermann, 

Regional Superintendent of Schools for Manhattan will be joining us. 

Classroom Christmas parties begin at 12:00 noon

Parents are asked to speak to the classroom teachers or check their blog as to what to bring. 

Extended Day Program Ends 

The extended day program for students in grades 3-8 has ended for the 2016 school year.

As explained previously in this blog the focus on Blended Learning along with Google Classroom,          i-Ready, Achieve 3000 and MAP testing will be the main themes as we move into the 2017 school year.

Parents in those grades should be looking at assignments in Google Classroom and having their child practice i-Ready work on a regular basis. If your child has "forgotten" their login or password please see the classroom teacher or Mr. Guzman.

Christmas Recess

Christmas Recess begins at 3:00 PM on 

Wednesday, December 21st.

School will resume on 

Tuesday, January 3rd for all students 

Monday December 19, 2016

Shopping Bags are needed for students to pack their desks.

Tuesday December 20, 2016 

Advent Confessions Grades 3-8 9:00 AM

Wednesday December 21, 2016 

Lessons and Carols 8:30 AM in Church

Parents Welcome

Classroom Christmas Parties begin at 12:00 noon.

            

Week of December 12, 2016 Announcements

After School Program

Friday December 16, 2016 

Not in Session 

All students dismissed at 3:00 PM 

Faculty & Staff Christmas Party

Holiday Assembly

December 14th  

All PreK and Kindergarten Classes

9:00 AM 

Parents Welcome 

Eureka Math Teacher Training

Teachers will be attending training this week  for the new Mathematics series that was implemented in October - Eureka Math.

Grades 3, 4 & 5 

Students have been given access to the new computer based differentiated learning website in grades 3, 4 & 5. i-Ready covers both Mathematics and ELA and should be used by students at home when "...they have nothing to do". The computer program will work on developing better skills in both subject areas.

It is used in the classroom on Wednesdays and Fridays as part of the Blended Learning Platform.

Should your child have"lost" their login and password either contact the classroom teacher or Mr. Guzman in the office.

Definite Christmas work - 20 minutes a day for each subject. Other students may still access IXL and Achieve 3000.

Monday December 12, 2016 - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Instructional Specialist will be here to work with students and teachers in the PreK For All Program 

Parents of 4 year old PreK students should enroll for Kindergarten before Christmas break.

Scholarships will be available for all students entering Kindergarten based on income. Alba in the office can assist parents in applying on-line. 

Tuesday December 13, 2016 - Feast of St. Lucy 

PreK For All Social worker will be here to work with teachers and students 

Wednesday December 14, 2016 

Holiday Assembly - All PreK & Kindergarten Classes                                         9:00 AM Parents Welcome

Map A Month Due 

Thursday December 15, 2016 

Parents Welcome

Native American Heritage presentat-ions in classrooms:

9:00 AM - Grades 3 (Ms. Bagley), 5 (Mrs. Ramsey) and 7 (Mrs. Larios) - in classrooms 

10:00 AM - Grades 4 (Ms. Bagley), 6 (Mrs. Ramsey) & 8 (Mrs. Larios) in classrooms 

Friday December 16, 2016

No After School Porgram

All students dismissed at 3:00 PM 

Sunday December 18, 2016 

No Living Environment Class 

1:00 PM - Mass for all students 

Reminder -                                                                                         Lessons and Carols in Church December 21st - 8:30 AM 

Parents Welcome

All classes will participate led by Ms. Alma 

Week of December 5, 2016 Announcements

Smart Tuition - Late Fees 

Changes have been made regarding parents requesting the waiver of Late Fees etc. 

 Mr. Guzman may now take your request and will contact Smart Tuition and The Regional Office of Tuition Management for parents.

 No longer should parents call the tuition management office as it can now be handed in the school office. 

As  reminder - fees for bounced checks, credit/debit cards that do not have enough funds cannot be waived.

Only late fees requesting a later date for payment that is done BEFORE the 15th of each month.

Tuition Suspension Day - December 12th

There will be a tuition suspension day for students who have an outstanding balance on their account.

This suspension day will only occur if the parent did not come in to set up a payment plan before report cards.Students will be excluded from class until the parent pays 1/2 of the owed tuition and set up a payment  plan with the regional business manager.  

In keeping with the tradition of St. Nicholas Day Fr. Antonio will be going to classrooms and distributing candy canes and reciting with the students:

 St. Nicholas Day Blessing of Candy Canes

Monday December 5, 2016

Candy Bars are available in the office for parents who did not pick them up beforehand. There are only 25 boxes available.

Tuesday December 6, 2016- Feast of St. Nicholas

Fr. Antonio will distribute candy canes to students

Wednesday December 7, 2016 - Feast of St. Ambrose

Thursday December 8, 2016 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception 

Mass at 9:00 AM led by the students of the second grade. 

Parents welcome to attend.

Tuition Suspension Letters will be sent home

Friday December 9, 2016 - Dismissal at 3:00 PM

PreK For All Coach will be working with teachers and students.  

Sunday December 11, 2016 - Third Sunday of Advent 

Living Environment Class 9:00 AM

Mass for all students 1:00 PM

Parent Meetings regarding Tuition Suspension 

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 

Week of November 28, 2016 Announcements

Calendar Change

The December calendar has been changed. 

The early dismissal for faculty meeting will be on December 2nd.

 Dismissal will be at 12:00 noon.

The After School Program will be in session.

Teaching Interpersonal Skills 

                      In this article in Kappan, Adam Dovico (Wake Forest University), says that because of students’ constant heads-down focus on their electronic devices, there’s been a “stark decline” in their ability to interact appropriately with other people. “Typically, students are more comfortable texting or sending an e-mail to introduce themselves or communicate than offering a firm handshake or a warm smile,” says Dovico. “With the convenience of and accessibility to cell phones, it’s now more important to select the correct emoji than to excel at face-to-face interactions.”                                                                                                                                           To prepare students for college admission, scholarship opportunities, job interviews, and the modern workplace, not to mention their personal relationships, Dovico believes schools need to join with families in explicitly teaching students the skills of interacting with others. This is especially important because studies have shown that humans form an impression of another person “spontaneously and with minimal cognitive effort” within a tenth of a second – somehow we take in scores of subtle cues to form a split-second judgment that can make a big difference in subsequent interactions.

Drawing on his experience as a teacher, professor, researcher, and PD presenter, Dovico came up with this SPECIAL acronym for face-to-face interactions:

-   Shake hands – a firm, appropriate grip;

-   Posture – standing up straight, shoulders back, conveying confidence and awareness;

-   Eye contact – looking the other person in the eye during the entire interaction;

-   Charm – winning the person over with a smile, raised eyebrow, head nod, laugh;

-   Introduce yourself – saying, “Hi, I’m ----” gets the ball rolling;

-   Ask a question – “What brings you here?” or “Don’t you hate this snow?” begins a conversation and shows interest in the other person;

-   Lean in and listen – without invading the person’s space, getting a little closer signals engagement and helps you listen and respond appropriately.

These elements, executed smoothly and naturally, “make you come across as confident and professional,” says Dovico. “Many of these proficiencies require practice, which is why it’s vital to begin teaching them at an early age.” He’s working with his four-year-old son on the handshake and introducing himself. In the elementary grades, building a repertoire of questions is helpful, and by middle school students might be coached on the head nod, eyebrow raise, or appropriate lean-in. In high school, students should be able to get into a good conversation with a stranger, maintain eye contact, be charming, and stand out in a crowd.

            Of course, says Dovico, “we’re humans, not robots, and no amount of practice in a staged setting can prepare someone for real-life, unpredictable encounters. 

“Making a S.P.E.C.I.A.L. First Impression” by Adam Dovico in Phi Delta Kappan, November 2016 (Vol. 98, #3, p. 55-59), 

Smart Tuition - Late Fees 

Changes have been made regarding parents requesting the waiver of Late Fees etc. 

 Mr. Guzman may now take your request and will contact Smart Tuition and The Regional Office of Tuition Management for parents.

 No longer should parents call the tuition management office as it can now be handed in the school office. 

As  reminder - fees for bounced checks, credit/debit cards that do not have enough funds cannot be waived.

Only late fees requesting a later date for payment that is done BEFORE the 15th of each month.

Tuition Suspension Day - December 12th

There will be a tuition suspension day for students who have an outstanding balance on their account.

This suspension day will only occur if the parent did not come in to set up a payment plan before report cards.Students will be excluded from class until the parent pays 1/2 of the owed tuition and set up a payment  plan with the regional business manager.  

Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 will have access to i-Ready in the coming week and a report of recent on-line testing will be available for parents.  This again is an on-line platform to assist parents in helping their child raise their reading and Mathematics skills.

This program is part of the Blended Learning Platform of teaching/learning that is going on in  Ms. Bagley's, Mr. Badia's               Ms. Serewko's and Mr. Placido's classrooms.

Hopefully after the beginning of the new year i-Ready will be available for all students in grades K-8.

Students in those grades are also using Google Classroom for assignments, assessments and projects. Students may complete their assignments etc by using an i-phone,i-pad or a computer. All students in grades 3,4 and 5 have received instruction by the teachers and the Blended Learning Coach the last few weeks. Parents who have questions may see the classroom teachers involved or Mr. Woods .

Sunday - November 27th First Sunday of Advent

Monday - November 28th

December calendars will be sent home with students today.

Tuesday- November 29th 

Superintendent of Schools will be in building to review Blended Learning Classrooms of Grades 3, 4 and 5 

Wednesday - November 30th - Feast of St. Andrew

Alan's last day- we wish him well in his new endeavors.

Thursday December 1st - World AIDS Awareness Day 

PreK For All coach will be working with teachers and students.

On-Line enrollment for 2017-2018 begins today for students entering Kindergarten next year and any new students.

Friday - December 2nd - Early Dismissal Day 12:00 noon

Faculty Meeting 

After School Program in session 

Sunday - December 4th - Second Sunday of Advent

Living Environment Class - 9:00 AM

Mass for all students 1:00 PM 

Week of November 21, 2016 Announcements

Thanksgiving Week 2016 

Canned Food and Turkey Drive

Canned Food will continue to be collected for distribution to the outreach program of St. Patrick's Home in the Bronx

 All the food will be delivered to St. Patrick's Home

by Confirmation students of grades 7 & 8.

Mr. Woods has been bothered by children in the upper grades reporting that their parents say that Nursing Homes receive money from the government and they have enough and don't need canned foods!

Parents evidently did not read the total information on the canned food drive that benefits older people who decide NOT to go to a nursing home and are served by the outreach program of St. Patrick's Home assisted by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York. These are seniors who are living by surviving on Social Security and Food stamps who do not want to leave their homes. 

Then people complain that Trump is president-elect and yet they have the same viewpoint regarding the care of those at the end of their lives.

Parents should correct themselves and apologize to their children for expressing their incorrect thinking!

Report Card Day - Tuesday November 22, 2016

Report Card Assemblies 

9:00 AM - Grades 5-8

9:30 AM - Grades 2-4

10:00 AM Grades K & 1

Parent Teacher Meetings 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM

PreK and Kindergarten Classes in their classrooms

Grade 1- microscope room - first floor

Grades 2-4 - science room - first floor

Grades 5-8 - library - second floor

Monday November 21, 2016

Tuesday November 22, 2016 - Report Card Day 

Please look at note above.

After School Program in Session 

No Extended Day Classes

Wednesday November 23, 2016

Thanksgiving Mass at 9:00 AM led by the Baptism Class

Parents Welcome

Confirmation students and Greenhouse students deliver turkeys and canned foods to St. Patrick's Home.

After School Program in session

No extended Day classes 

Thursday - November 24, 2016 - Thanksgiving

Friday- November 25, 2016 - Thanksgiving Holiday

Sunday- November 27th -

Students may attend Mass with their parents--holiday weekend. 

Week of November 13, 2016 Announcements

Canned Food and Turkey Drive

Canned Food will continue to be collected for distribution to the outreach program of St. Patrick's Home in the Bronx.

Dress down day on Thursday will also raise money for turkeys to be purchased.

                    All the food will be delivered to St. Patrick's Home

by Confirmation students of grades 7 & 8.

Thanksgiving Assembly
PreK and Kindergarten Classes
Students in all PreK classes along with Kindergarten Classes will perform for their parents on 
Thursday November 17, 2016 at 9:00 AM.
The assembly will last approximately 45 minutes and each class will perform under the direction of Ms. Alma, the music teacher and the classroom teachers.

Tuition Meetings - Report Card Distribution

Sunday November 20th

2:00 PM-5:00 PM

Mr. Woods will meet with parents regarding outstanding tuition for report card distribution.

Mr. Woods will THEN submit parent/student names to the tuition manager for tuition extension and the ability to pick up their child's report card.

This is a wake up call for parents who wait until report card day to come and see Mr. Woods for tuition extension/payment etc. 

Teachers will not be able to see parents or receive their child's report card unless tuition is up to date or an extension has been granted by the regional office.

IT IS TOO LATE ON REPORT CARD DAY.

No e-mails, phone calls etc. for the extension as a form must be filled in for the extension by THE PARENT and scanned and sent to the regional office.

Report Card Day - Tuesday November 22, 2016

Report Card Assemblies 

9:00 AM - Grades 5-8

9:30 AM - Grades 2-4

10:00 AM Grades K & 1

Parent Teacher Meetings 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM

PreK and Kindergarten Classes in their classrooms

Grade 1- microscope room - first floor

Grades 2-4 - science room - first floor

Grades 5-8 - library - second floor

Monday November 14, 2016

A reminder to check in with Mr. Guzman regarding tuition balance.

Map parent report due back to classroom teacher.

It will be then returned home to you on Report Card Day.

Tuesday November 15, 2016 - 

Tuition Payment Due to Smart Tuition

Touring Tuesday - Parents are welcome to visit classrooms.

Please call Alba and arrange for a tour by students of the 7th and 8th grades.

Wednesday November 16, 2016

Grades 7 & 8 visit the Holy Doors at Most Precious Blood Church as part of the Year of Mercy which ends on Sunday November 20th.

Ms. Becca will work with students in grades 3, 4 & 5 regarding a new online program i-Ready. More information will be sent home next week regarding the i-Ready program.

Thursday - November 17, 2016

PreK and Kindergarten Thanksgiving Assembly 9:00 AM 

Parents are welcome to attend.

PWC - Price Waterhouse Cooper will work with students in grades 3-8 on financial literacy.

FRIDAY - November 18, 2016 - SCHOOL CLOSED

Conference Day for Teachers

Sunday - November 20, 2016 Feast of Christ the King

End of The Year of Mercy

Living Environment Class 9:00 AM

Reconciliation Class 12:00 noon

Mass for all students in sacramental class 1:00 PM

Parent Meetings regarding Tuition and Report Cards

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM