Mission Statement: Our Lady of the Assumption School Commits itself to provide an education based on catholic values and academic excellence in a caring and safe atmosphere in partnership with the family and parish community.
From the Desk of the Principal…January 14, 2025
Hebrews 2:5-12. You gave your Son authority over all your creation – Psalm 8:2, 5-9. Mark 1:21-28.
What are human beings that you are mindful of them?
Psalm 8 begins by proclaiming the greatness of God and his creation and then questions how humans can be given such special privileges. Why does the Creator of all care so much for us? Much later in time, following the death and resurrection of Jesus, a similar question is posed by the author of Hebrews – how could our God ‘abase’ himself to be one of us?
When we truly ponder the awesome majesty of God, it is inevitable that we ask the same questions. Surely, the answer must fill us with such a sense of love, peace and joy! Despite our ‘nothingness’, God is working to draw us to himself. There is nothing that our God hasn’t done and won’t do for us. There’s a thought to penetrate our hearts today.
ALMS (pronounced /ä(l)mz/) is always looking for parent and student volunteers to help us build a stronger presence at community and Parish events. ALMS is OLA school’s “do good” committee dedicated to getting our school involved in community programs that teach your kids the value of service to others. For more information, check out our FAQ or volunteer now.
ALMS Quick Links
OLA Friendship Sunday Hosts – Sunday, January 26th, 2025
ALMS is looking for OLA Friendship Sunday hosts. The purpose of OLA Friendship Sunday is to connect with other parish members in a casual setting, while fostering a stronger sense of community after Sunday mass. Attendees can grab a cup of coffee, a sweet treat and chat with other attendees. Hosts are chartered with donating refreshments for parish attendees and greeting attendees as they enter.
This volunteer position is eligible for parent hours. Hours are based on the actual hours spent on the project. Student hosts will be eligible for ALMS student membership. Email us at ALMS@olaventura.org if you are interested is becoming an OLA school host.
ALMS Meal Trains
Do you know someone in our community that could use a helping hand in the form of a hot meal?
Maybe this person just had a baby, is going through an illness, recently lost a loved one or is experiencing some other major life event.
ALMS Meal Trains focus on delivery of local take-out food and/or the giving the recipient restaurant gift cards. We can even make the meal train anonymous. Once you make a request, an ALMS volunteer will contact the recipient and take care of all the details, including sending out meal train requests to our school community.
Virtue of the Month: Gratitude
Each month, we introduce a new virtue to our students, along with Saints to guide and inspire them in their faith journey. As part of the Year of Faith, our school theme is Service, reminding us to live our faith through acts of love and kindness.
This January, we are focusing on the virtue of Gratitude. Gratitude calls us to recognize and give thanks for the blessings in our lives, both big and small. Through prayer, reflection, and service, we encourage our students to develop hearts full of thankfulness and to share that joy with others.
May we all strive to live this virtue each day and give thanks to God for His abundant gifts!
Saints for the Month of January
PK - Grade 2: St. Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis: A Lesson in Gratitude
St. Francis of Assisi was born into a wealthy family but chose to give up everything to follow God’s call. He was so deeply thankful for all of God’s creation that he wrote songs celebrating the sun, the moon, the plants, the animals, and all of nature.
St. Francis taught others to see everything around them as a gift from God, inspiring a spirit of gratitude and care for creation that continues to resonate with us today.
Grades 3 - 5: Saint Julie Billiart: A Life of Faith and Joy
St. Julie Billiart grew up in poverty and had little formal education, but her deep knowledge of her Catholic faith stood out. Even as a young girl, she shared her love for God by teaching other children. At just 14, she dedicated her life to God and spent the rest of her days serving and educating the poor.
St. Julie founded the Sisters of Notre Dame, a community dedicated to teaching young girls about faith and education. Despite being bedridden for 22 years, she was known for her joyful smile and unwavering gratitude. After being miraculously healed, she continued her mission with even greater vigor.
St. Julie once humbly remarked that she was ashamed not to have already died of gratitude for all that God had done for her. Her life reminds us to embrace faith, serve others, and find joy even in life’s challenges.
Grades 6 - 8: 
“I did not know what it was [the Lord] wanted, but I went forward…without doing anything unusual.” These words from young seminarian Josemaria Escriva foreshadowed his life’s mission: founding Opus Dei, “The Work of God,” a movement encouraging holiness through ordinary life.
Born in 1902 in Barbastro, Spain, to Jose Escriva and Maria Dolores, Josemaria was the second of six children, though only three survived to adulthood. At age two, he nearly died of a serious illness, but his mother entrusted him to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and he made a full recovery—a grace he credited to her intercession.
Grateful for his family, Josemaria often described the family as the “first school of holiness,” where parents and children sanctify one another. Through Opus Dei, he shared this belief, teaching that holiness is possible in everyday life.
Saint Josemaria’s life is a reminder to seek God’s presence in our daily routines, transforming the ordinary into opportunities for grace.
Calendar Highlights
January 14 | APA Board Meeting 6pm OLA School |
January 17 | OLA Works of Mercy $1 Non Uniform Dress |
January 20 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day-No School |
January 23 | Skating Plus Fundraiser |
January 24 | All School Mass-9:30 am Hosted by Grades K & 5 |
January 26-February 1 | Catholic School Week |
January 30 | Open House 6 pm-7:30 pm |
Extended Day Care registration packets are available in the school office.
Contents of Weekly Brown Envelope
Please remove contents, complete and return any forms in the signed Brown Envelope every Wednesday.
Work of Mercy Flyer
Auction Dinner invitation
Skating Plus Fundraiser Flyer
Auction Tickets On Sale Now!
Mark your calendars for the 2025 OLA Annual Auction & Dinner on Friday, February 28, 2025, at 6:00 PM at Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach.
Invites went home in today’s brown envelope, and tickets are officially on sale! The best way to RSVP is online at https://paybee.io/in-person-event/ola/1.
Early bird pricing is available until January 28, so don’t wait!
We look forward to seeing you at our biggest fundraiser of the year!
Hot Lunch
Click Here to Order
A few things to keep in mind when ordering with Choicelunch -
Our regular ordering deadline to order from the full menu is 9 am the day before lunch will be served. After 9 am the day before lunch has passed, you will be given the option to order an entree-only lunch, up until 9 am the day lunch will be served or until lunches sell out.
Lunch can be canceled as late as 9 am the day before it will be served for 100% credit. After this point in time, the lunch will be sent to the school and there is no credit given.
You can also find our FAQ here - https://help.choicelunch.com/hc/en-us
OLA Parish Events
Stay up-to-date with access to events, documents, news from administrators, student stories, and even emergency notifications.
You can download the app for free on Google Play or Apple App Store.
Download for Android https://bit.ly/3HRxTwQ
Download for iPhone https://apple.co/3JwStCO
Reporting an absence:
If your child will be absent from school, please complete the Absent Reporting form. This form can be found on our app, tap the menu button or on our website under quick links. This will generate a report that is given to teachers daily. Thank you!
APA BOARD
Have questions or are interested in joining us? The APA meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6pm. We’d love to see you! Email us at: APAboard@olaventura.org.
The Assumptions Parent Association (APA) Board is dedicated to supporting our school through event planning and fundraising efforts throughout the year. We invite you to join in on the fun by becoming a part of one of our committees:
Hospitality: Assist in organizing events and showing appreciation to our teachers and staff.
Communications: Help keep our school community informed about upcoming events.
Volunteer: Coordinate parent volunteers for various school activities and events.
Fundraising: Plan and support our fundraising efforts.
If you’re interested in joining a committee or learning more about what we do, please reach out to us at Apaboard@olaventura.org. We look forward to working together to make this year a great one for our students and school!
If you’d like to learn more about how you can support our school and get involved with the Assumptions Parent Association Board, please reach out to us at Apaboard@olaventura.org. We look forward to working together to make this year a great one for our kids!
The digital marquee birthday flier is available in the school office. Announce your child's next birthday on the OLA marquee! Announcement cost is $15
School Office Hours
The best times to conduct school business in the office are:
Mornings
8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Afternoon
12:50 pm - 2:30 pm
Closed for Lunch(12:00-12:50)
After Dismissal hours:
3:00pm-3:30pm
Please do not come in during dismissal. We are calling students for pick-up and are unable to give you uninterrupted attention. The office is closed for lunch from 12:00pm-12:50pm, if your child needs to leave early from school Please pick them up before 12:00 pm or after 12:50pm.
At Home Rapid Covid Test kits:
Test kits are available in the office. Please contact Jennifer Colitti at jennifer@olaventura.org. You are also welcome to come into the office and pick up tests for your family.
Office of Safeguard the Children
Zoom Protecting God’s Children
Keeping the Promise Alive
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles mandates all clergy, staff, whether paid or volunteer, and all volunteers who work in any capacity with or around children, the elderly, or people with special needs to complete the initial three-hour VIRTUS® Protecting God’s Children for Adults™ program. The program helps clergy, staff, volunteers, and parents to understand the facts and myths about child sexual abuse, how perpetrators groom children and young people, and how they, as caring adults, can learn and implement the important “Five Step Plan” to Protect God’s Children in helping to prevent child sexual abuse.
More than 150,000 clergy, staff and volunteers have participated in these training sessions throughout the five Pastoral Regions of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Please know you are welcome to attend a training at any parish in our diocese. To learn where the training is taking place visit lacatholics.org and under the pull down menu titled PROTECT/REPORT move your cursor to Safe SafeGuard the Children then to Education and Training. In that section you will be able to navigate to all the training sessions. Our region is the Santa Barbara Region.
Training at OLA: None at this time.
Protecting God’s Children (Initial Course) In the Santa Cruz Room. To register please call the OLA Church Office for more information at 805- 642-7966.
Keeping the Promise Alive (Re-Certification Course): To register please call the OLA Church office for more information at 805- 642-7796.
Student Learning Expectations (SLE’S)
OLA Students aim for the S.T.A.R.S when they:
SHOW AND LIVE THEIR FAITH
THINK CRITICALLY AND WORK COOPERATIVELY
ACTIVELY MAINTAIN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
RESPECT OURSELVES AND OTHERS
STUDY AND LEARN