| |
Enter to Learn. Go Forth to Serve.
|
Sunday, September 8, 2019
|
Did you know that all O'Hara families have free, unlimited access to on-demand Catholic cont
ent? Thanks to St. Mary Catholic Church, you can learn and grow your Catholic faith through FORMED. Read, listen, and watch content on their website or their application. The Parish Code needed at login is YW8CCT.
Click here to login
.
|
MASS on WEDNESDAY 
All Kindergarten - 8th Grade students will attend Mass at St. Mary on Wednesday, September 11. Students should be dropped off at St. Mary by 8:05am. (St. Mary is located at 1062 Charnelton St.; cars should enter the parking lot from 10th St., between Lincoln & Charnelton.)
All boys
must wear a white button down shirt and a plaid uniform tie, with khaki or navy uniform pants. Shorts are not permitted. (A limited quantity of bow ties and regular ties are available for sale in O'Hara's front office.)
All girls must wear one of the following:
Plaid uniform skirt & white button down shirt
Plaid uniform jumper with collared white shirt underneath
No pants or shorts are permitted
All students should wear comfortable shoes for walking back to O'Hara from St. Mary. If you have questions about the Mass Day Dress Guidelines, please refer to our
Dress Code.
Preschool & PreK students
should report to O'Hara by 8:30am on Wednesday. These students are not required to wear Mass dress.
|
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Health Screening Volunteers are needed on Friday, September 27, from approximately 8am - 11am.
All students are screened by dental staff, and grades 1, 3, and 5 are screened for vision and hearing.
7th and 8th graders will also receive a quick blood pressure reading.
We are in need of about 20+ volunteers total, no prior health care experience is needed.
All are welcome to come help and get a start on your FIP hours!
Please remember to have all your
volunteer requirements
met by this date in order to volunteer.
If you are a dentist or know of a dentist or dental assistant who would like to help, we are in need of these professional volunteers as well.
Please email or text to sign up or for more information:
-or-
|
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT FOR PRESCHOOL - 5 PARENTS
Mark your calendar! Back to School Night for parents of students in grades PreS - 5 will be held on
Thursday, September 19. (
Adults only, so please make childcare arrangements.)
PreS - 5th Grade Night: Thursday, September 19
4:30 - 6:00pm:
Volunteer training offered in the library
6:00 - 6:30pm:
Pre-S & Pre-K parents meet in classrooms
6:30 - 8:00pm:
All-Parent Meetings
|
|
2019-20 VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS: CASE TRAINING
All volunteers have requirements to fulfill before being eligible to volunteer at school this year
.
Per the Archdiocese, online updates to your volunteer training are not available this year, and anyone who wishes to volunteer must attend one of the in-person training sessions. The dates and times of the upcoming sessions are listed below, and further instructions are on our website, please
click here to learn more. Please contact
Stacie Seaver with any questions.
September 10 1:15pm- O'Hara Library
September 11 8:15am- St. Paul Parish Hall
September 12 5:30pm- O'Hara Library
*September 19 4:30pm- O'Hara Library
September 20 8:15am- O'Hara Library
September 24 5:30pm- O'Hara Library
September 26 1:15pm- O'Hara Library
* Pre-School - 5th Back to School Night
|
MEDICATION AT SCHOOL
The school must follow state guidelines regarding medication.
If a student requires a prescription medication during the school day, parents must complete a medication authorization form, and bring the medication (in the original container) and the form to the front office. Prescriptions require written instructions from the physician for the administration of the prescription, or a prescription label must be on the bottle.
If a student requires a non-prescription medication during the school day, parents must complete a medication authorization form, and bring the medication (in the original container) and the form to the front office (this includes over-the-counter medication such as Advil, Tylenol, etc.)
Children may not carry any type of medication (or chapstick, cough drops, sunscreen, etc.) during school. However, i
nhalers may be carried and used by a student if the necessary paperwork has been completed and submitted to the school.
All medications need to be in the original container.
Any medications brought to school will be stored and locked in a designated place where students do not have access to them. Medication must be picked up by the parent on the last day of school, or it will be discarded on June 30, 2020.
|
CARPOOL REQUESTS
SHELDON AREA CARPOOL
If you live in the Sheldon area and are interested in carpooling this school year, please contact Matt Autry to discuss a potential schedule and logistics:
m.autry76@gmail.com
/ 541-729-4848
AFTER SCHOOL RIDE NEEDED TO POLK STREET
The Singleton family is looking for some that could pick up their PreK daughter, Chloe, every day after school and drop her off at Foundations Montessori (1852 Taylor St.) near the corner of 18th and Polk. They are willing to help pay for any gas used during this time. Please contact Jeff Singleton if you can help:
jssingleton07@yahoo.com
/ 541-206-9765.
|
MIDDLE SCHOOL MATHCOUNTS CLUB
In mid-September, we will start a MathCounts club to prepare middle school students for the popular middle school math competitions, MathCounts and AMC8. The club will meet once a week during lunch (tentatively on Thursdays), and more frequently as the competition dates get closer. Students will spend the time working on fun math problems.
The competitions, which have both individual and team elements, encourage students to develop their math skills and find creative solutions for problems. We invite all students who like math, regardless of their performance in class. Please contact O'Hara parent
Maria Nemirovskaya for more information.
|
GIRLS BASKETBALL: OPEN GYMS AT MARIST
The Marist girls basketball program will be hosting a number of Saturday morning open gyms from 9a to 11a at Marist Catholic High School for girls in grades 5-8. If your daughter is interested in participating, please contact coach
Britton Reeser for dates and more information.
|
YEARBOOKS
The 2018-19 yearbooks are on order and in production. We will distribute yearbooks out to those families who placed an order last year once they arrive to us here.
|
LINKS: 
Reminder for students with the Annual Plan:
Please remember, the default meal selection for your student is the hot lunch. If your student would like the Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Vegetarian option, then that option must be selected in the online ordering system at least 2 weeks prior to the meal date.
If your student would like to select the Salad Bar and/or the Hoagie Sandwich option instead of, or in addition to, the Hot Lunch, that selection must be made in the online ordering system by 9am.
Volunteers are needed to help in the kitchen, please contact
Tracy if you can help.
Hot Lunch Contact:
Tracy Whalen, Kitchen Manager (541-485-5291 x 303). Email is the best way to contact Tracy.
|
Our Jog-A-Thon is October 18; please register now to help our school meet our goal of raising $70,000. Our fundraisers help us bridge the gap between tuition and our operating costs.
Here's how to set up your student's fundraiser account:
- Go to http://pledgestar.com/oharacatholic
- Click "Not Registered For This Year's Event"
- Enter parent name and email address, then click "Submit"
- Follow the instructions on-screen to register students
When you finish, the system allows you to email pledge requests to your family and friends, and allows them to make secure credit card donations online. You will be notified each time a pledge is made, and you can track your pledge progress online. We will still have paper pledge forms for those who bring in cash and checks. You can turn those into the Advancement office.
If you need help setting up your account, stop by the Advancement office or email
Michelle Campbell
.
Join us for our Monday morning assembly on September 16 for our Jog-A-Thon kick-off and announcement of our Summer Incentive winner!
|
|
DROP-OFF, PICK-UP AND PARKING LOT REMINDERS
|
|
Please read below for reminders about traffic flow in our parking lots:
BACK LOT
- Please form two lanes once you enter through the back gate.
- The right lane (next to building) is for drop-off, and children should exit vehicles on the right side only and stay on the sidewalk.
- The left lane is for cars who wish to park. Cars should proceed slowly and cautiously and follow the directions of staff in the parking lot. Please use your turn signal to let staff know your intent.
- When parking in the back lot, please make sure to keep all children with you until you reach the school sidewalk.
- There is
no parking in the fire lane
(along the chain link fence that runs parallel to the primary wing)
- Please exit onto Jefferson Street ONLY.
No U-turns!
-
Turn right to exit onto Jefferson street
unless the road is clear. Do not wait to turn left and back up traffic.
FRONT LOT
-
Please form two lanes
upon entry of the horseshoe from 18th street.
- All drivers and pedestrians must follow the direction of our staff in the parking lot.
-
Pull all the way forward
to the 2nd crossing guard when possible - do not drop off at the front doors UNLESS traffic is stopped and you are near or between the crossing guards.
- Please
have your child(ren) ready for prompt departure
prior to entering the horseshoe. (Backpacks loaded and ready to go.)
-
Walkers:
Please wait for a verbal ok from the crossing guard to cross.
-
Turn right to exit onto 18th street
unless the road is clear. Do not wait to turn left and back up traffic.
ALL-SCHOOL SAFETY REMINDERS
- All students and parent should
enter the school through the front doors ONLY. Please
don't open doors for people you don't recognize and
please don't prop open any doors at any time.
Take a deep breath, have grace and a sense of humor as the beginning of year kinks get worked out. We appreciate all of you and your efforts to keep drop off safe and efficient.
|
2019-20 GOSPEL T-SHIRTS 
Ordering deadline is September 13
Make sure to place your order by this Friday! Orders placed by Sept. 13 will be ready by the end of September. Gospel t-shirts may be worn, with jeans, on the designated day each month (beginning in October).
Congratulations to O'Hara student Clara Gramzow - she designed our t-shirt this year!
Click
HERE to ORDER
.
|
|
ROOM PARENTS
If you are interested in being a Room Parent for the new school year, please email
Barb Whitford. Room Parents work closely with the homeroom teachers and coordinate activities with other parents in the class. If a parent works alone as the room parent, he or she receives 10 FIP hours for the year. If two parents share the job, each receives 5 hours.
|
SPORTS PHYSICAL REMINDER FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
A valid sports physical is required to be on file in the O'Hara office for any student participating in O'Hara's Middle School Sports. We recommend that parents schedule summer appointments for sports physicals for any students that might want to participate in middle school sports this school year. Students in grades 7-8 are eligible to play volleyball, basketball and track. Girls in grade 6 are eligible for volleyball this fall, and all students in grade 6 will be eligible to participate on the track team in the spring. Students will not be permitted to participate in practice or competition without a sports physical on file in the front office. Due to our liability insurance, there can be no exceptions made to this rule. Click
HERE
to download the required form. Please contact Barb Whitford to verify the date of the physical we have on file for your student(s).
|
O'HARA'S NEW GRADING/STUDENT INFORMATION SOFTWARE SYSTEM - PARENT ACTION REQUIRED
Over the summer, O'Hara transitioned from Teacherease to a new Student Information Software system called Alma. This is a positive change for our school; Alma is modern and user-friendly and there are many new features that we are excited to implement.
On Friday, 8/30, all O'Hara parents with emails on record received an email invitation from Alma. In order to access your students' information, you will need to complete the log in and password setup following the instructions in the email. The email came from this address:
notifications@getalma.com.
|
MORNING DROP OFF HOURS
O'Hara's building is closed to parents and students until 7:50am each morning. Only students with special case-by-case permission, will be permitted to enter the building. (Parents and siblings of those students must wait outside the building until 7:50am). Students should be in their classrooms by 8:05am, when the morning bell rings. We ask that all parents please exit the building promptly when the bell rings and not linger in the hallways. Parents of Preschool - Kindergarten students should walk their child to the classroom.
We will have an all-school Monday Morning Assembly each week. Students report to the gym instead of classrooms on these days; parents are welcome to stay for the assemblies.
|
O'HARA'S FRONT DOOR SCHEDULE
Please read below for a reminder of our schedule for the front entrance.
Parents will be able to open the front door by using their right index finger on the fingerprint reader located on the wall next to the front doors.
(Please note: you will only be able to open the door if you have registered your fingerprint into the system at the front office. All information from last year carries over, so returning parents do not need to re-register. New families: please stop in the office this week to complete the fingerprinting process.)
Our daily schedule on school days is as follows:
7:50am - 8:05am: Front & Interior doors open for morning drop off
8:05am - 2:35pm (2:00 on Wed.): Front & Interior doors locked, access through front doors with fingerprint only; access through interior doors by front office buzzer system only
2:35pm (2:00 on Wed.): Front doors open for afternoon release
3:15pm - 8pm: Front & interior doors locked, access with fingerprint only
8pm - 7:50am: Front & interior doors locked - no parent access*
*Doors will be open for sporting events and large school functions. Those running extra-curricular activities (sports, Scouts, etc.) will have extended hours of access as necessary.
We would like to ask that you please DO NOT hold the door open for anyone that you don't recognize.
Visitors to our school that do not have fingerprint access must push a call button on the entrypad that will activate a camera in the front office. The camera displays a live video feed of the front entry, including the ability to talk to visitors, if necessary, to determine their business with the school. Our front office staff, at their discretion, will be able to remotely open the doors for visitors. Parents who have not yet, or choose not to, input their fingerprint into the system will enter by pushing the same call button to be buzzed in.
Grandparents, nannies and other frequent visitors to the school will be permitted to add their fingerprint to the system on an as-needed basis as requested by the parent(s) of their O'Hara student. Parents, please send an email to
Barb if you have a grandparent or nanny that routinely drops off or picks up your student and you would like to request fingerprint access. We also request that parents keep the school informed of any changes to their grandparent/nanny list.
|
|
COMMUNICATIONS INFO FOR OUR FAMILIES
|
NEW CONTACT INFO?
If your family has a new address, phone number, email address, etc., please make sure to update us with your new information. O'Hara's 2019-20 School Directory will be going to print soon, and we want to make sure we have everyone's information correct! Please fill out
this form
, or email
Barb Whitford
if you have updates to share with us.
|
O'HARA WEBSITE UPDATE
O'Hara uses a password protected portion on our website for important resources for our families. The password to access this page has been updated for our new school year.
The new password is: HOUSE
|
EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS FROM O'HARA
Please make sure to add the following email addresses to your safe senders list and/or your address book to ensure you receive O'Hara's weekly email bulletins (sent each Sunday afternoon during the school year) and other important updates:
Parents wishing to add an additional email address (work, grandparent, nanny, etc.) to our weekly bulletin distribution list should email that request to:
communications@oharaschool.org.
|
O'HARA'S APP FOR SMARTPHONES
O'Hara also uses our app to send push notification reminders for special dress days, early release days, Mass days and more. We request that all parents download our app.
O'Hara's app is available
HERE, or by searching the app store for: web4u ocs
The app includes quick access to the following:
School Calendar
Student Lunchtime Schedule
Gospel Theme T-Shirt ordering
Dress Code
Weekly Bulletins
School Supply Lists
|
SCHOOL CALENDAR
O'Hara uses a Google calendar as our school calendar. Parents can access this calendar via our app and our website. It can also be added to iPhone calendars. Please visit our
school calendar page on our website for the link to add the calendar to your phone.
|
CONTACT INFO FOR O'HARA STAFF
All O'Hara staff members have a school email address. Email addresses are set as follows: John Smith = jsmith@oharaschool.org
There are a few exceptions to note:
Click
HERE for a complete staff listing.
|
|
|
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
-
Joshua 24:15
|
|
|
|
| |
|
