The OLMA Overview -- January 12, 2017

We put out a call this week for help with our upcoming Mock Interview and Job Shadow Days for juniors and our new Mini-Mester program for juniors, sophomores and freshmen. If you have interviewing experience and/or a job that you think our students would benefit from experiencing, please contact Mrs. Szawlewicz on extension 420.

This week was a busy one as we geared up for Mid-Term Exams next week. There is no school on Monday and we will have noon dismissal next Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday will be a study day. We've encouraged the girls to get together with classmates and use the time wisely.

Next Saturday, January 21, will be our third testing day for incoming freshmen. It's the last day that students can test and still be considered for one of the Merit Scholarships we have available. If you know of someone who is interested in attending OLMA next year, please spread the word about this scholarship opportunity. We'll be out and about today, tomorrow and over the weekend making our second round of deliveries to newly accepted students!

Also on January 21st, OLMA sophomore, Ashley Iveson will be representing OLMA as part of the Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra. She will be performing at the Temple University Performing Arts Center at 3 PM that day. Tickets are free if you'd like to attend.

Finally, we are so proud of our Iyanla Kollock, who qualified last night to run the 55 meter dash in the prestigious Millrose Games. She will travel to New York's Madison Square Garden on February 11 to compete! We are so excited for her and proud of all of our winter athletes.

Have a great long weekend! -- Mrs. Coyle

Take a look at the "spark" that keeps the spirit of sisterhood
alive and well at OLMA!

Student Spotlight

Savannah Barr, Class of 2019

While many of us dread the thought of being out in the ice and snow, OLMA's Savannah Barr can't wait to have at it! For the last seven years, Savannah has been figure skating. What started out as basic skating lessons turned into a love for ice dancing -- something she practices for two hours a day, Monday through Saturday.

Savannah's focus is two-fold: sharpening her ice dancing skills to advance to the gold level and testing as high as possible in the "Moves on the Field" program. She's currently a novice in Moves on the Field and recently tested to Pre-Silver in ice dancing -- something she does solo, as well as with a partner.

"My goal is to earn gold and possibly compete in college," said Savannah. "Meeting Meryl Davis and Charles White (2014 Olympic Ice Dancing Champions) recently at Stars on Ice inspired me to work harder than ever." Savannah skates at Hollydell in Sewell and Igloo in Mount Laurel.

Now a sophomore, Savannah said that she and her parents chose OLMA for high school because they wanted her to have the best education possible. She was homeschooled prior to joining OLMA, but reported having a very smooth transition as a freshman last year. Her favorite subject is History and she hopes to study Physical Therapy and continue her skating in college. Take a look at a recent clip of Savannah ice dancing with her partner and coach.

OLMA sophomore, Savannah Bar, Ice Dancing

Annual Fund Contributors Rock

Mr. James Gee (left), stopped in to present Mrs. Coyle (center) with a donation for the Annual Fund from his family and business, RK Chevrolet. Also pictured is his daughter, Victoria Gee.

While we still have a long way to go toward meeting our goal of $100,000 in new donations, we are incredibly grateful for the support we've received so far. Our Fund Drive has six levels of giving:

St. Mary Joseph Rossello Society -- $10,000 and Up
Mother Dolores Salerno Society -- $5,000 to $9,999
Daughters of Mercy Club -- $1,000 to $4,999
Villagers Club -- $500 to $999
OLMA Gold Club -- $100 to $499
OLMA Green Club -- $1 to $99

To take a look at our progress, click here. There's still time to donate, so click here to find out more. As always, thank you.

She Runs Like the Wind

OLMA's own, Iyanla Kollock, competed in the Millrose Games trials yesterday in New York. She ran the 55-meter dash in the preliminaries and won with a time of 7.14 seconds. She then ran in the finals -- and won again breaking her own record with a time of 7.03 seconds.

Iyanla is now ranked No. 7 in the United States and will compete in the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden on February 11. She runs like the wind...and we are so proud of her! Watch her in the finals below. She's in OLMA Green and Gold in Lane 4.

2017 Millrose Trials Finals -- Iyanla Qualifies for Millrose Games in Madison Square Garden

OLMA Students Help the Homeless

It was all hands on deck today as OLMA students and faculty got to work making hundreds of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches throughout the day. Most of them will be delivered to the Code Blue warming center in Bridgeton. One hundred and forty will be used as part of full lunches prepared for the homeless in Vineland via the Spirit & Truth Ministry. Lunches are prepared each month and the sandwich making for Code Blue will continue weekly until the weather breaks for spring! You can help by send in a jar or two of peanut butter and jelly! Thank you.

#Spainexchange #Olmaabroad #Hermitsabroad

It was back-to-school on Monday for the OLMA and PREP students who are participating in a student exchange in Spain. We hope you are checking our social media pages for ongoing updates and photos! Use the hashtags above to find them on Twitter.

OLMA Goes to Broadway!

If you love Broadway, now's the time to sign up for our annual trip to the Big Apple. This year, we'll be seeing A Bronx Tale, starring Robert De Niro! It all happens on March 15, 2017. Cost per person is $169 and includes transportation, a dance workshop (taught by a show choreographer), lunch, and orchestra seats for the 2 PM show.

If you're new to A Bronx Tale, here's the story: As he grows into a teenager on the streets of the Bronx in the socially turbulent 1960s, Calogero (Lillo Brancato) gets taken under the wing of neighborhood mobster, Sonny (Chazz Palminteri). Sonny initiates the boy into the ways of gangland life, in direct conflict with his straight-arrow bus driver father (Robert De Niro). But when Calogero falls for his African-American classmate, Jane (Taral Hicks), the repercussions threaten the entire neighborhood.

All OLMA students and family members are invited to attend. Payment is due to Mrs. B or Mrs. C by January 27. Make checks payable to OLMA and get set for a day you won't soon forget!

Mark Your Calendar

Get a prview of what's in store this winter in the calendar section of the new OLMA website.

Photo Caption: Iyanla poses for a picture wearing her new qualifier shirt! Congratulations!

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the who le staircase."

--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Visit our website

We hope you enjoy the OLMA Overview. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact Mrs. Kinkade at 856.697.2008, ext. 140, or email her at: [email protected]