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…December 6, 2022
Advent Reflection for December 6 – Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent (Feast of St, Nicholas)
Readings: Is 40:1-11, Ps 96:1-2, 3 and 10ac, 11-12, 13, Mt 18:12-14
Invitation to Prayer: Lord Jesus, open our ears to hear the message of your loving power.
Reflection: Think about comfort. Maybe that word evokes a certain food, a warm blanket for a chilly day, or even a kind word from someone you know. Maybe we’ve even heard that word used in the last days of a loved one’s life: “All we can do is make them comfortable.” The word indicates a transferal of strength, a lending of support from someone who stands with another. In the first readings from today’s Mass, God’s prophetic Word is an appeal for comfort to His people.
Maybe, as the light wanes and the weather gets colder, we find it hard to muster up enough strength for ourselves (let alone strength to lend to others). If God is speaking “Comfort my people” to His Church today, how can we respond? Our readings reveal that when God desires comfort for His people, it is a desire that those people would let themselves be comforted. He is there to be our strength, if only we let Him.
The remainder of our selection from Isaiah speaks to the power of His Word and the might of His Arm. It also shows us that His strength is a tender support, like the gentle embrace of a shepherd carrying a lost lamb back to the fold. It is this theme that Jesus picks up in our Gospel from today, reminding us that He is the Good Shepherd who gave up everything in hopes that not one of us “little ones” would be lost.
Let us be mindful that someone in our life may need to hear that God has enough strength for whatever cross they are carrying. We may even need to hear this word ourselves. As we continue the Advent journey to Bethlehem with the Holy Family, let us be reminded that St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary give us models of reliance on God, the one who brings true comfort.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you have revealed to us the strength of a Father who loves us. May we be willing to let His will be done in our lives so that his strength can be a true comfort to us and those around us this Advent season. Amen.
Virtue of the Month of December ~ Patience
Our Saints:
Grades PK - 2 St. Monica
Grades 3 - 5 St. Isaac Jogues
Grades 6 - 8 St. Rita of Cascia
The virtue for this year is Hope and the theme for this year is Study.
Patience
“Patience is one of the humble, workaday virtues; but it is , in a real sense, the root and guardian of all virtues, not causing them but removing obstacles to their operation. Do away with patience and the gates are open for a flood of discontent and sin.” - St. Thomas Aquinas
Patience is an important and needed virtue, but it is not an easy virtue, for it demands much watchfulness over our emotions and impulses. There is a close connection between Christian patience and awareness. We must trust in the providence of God, which is an awareness that there is nothing that happens in our life except that God foresees it, allows it, and can bring good out of it. If we trust in His loving and all-wise concern for each of us. The practice of Christian patience requires that everything be seen in the light of faith. However, in our fast-paced society, patience is not a readily practiced virtue. Technology has increased the speed on the information highway. But, at the same time, it has diminished our patience. Modern technology is indeed a mixed blessing. We can quickly amass facts. But this is not the same as acquiring knowledge. Even in our personal relationships, modern technology both helps and hinders. With lightning speed, we can connect with people around the globe. But this instant connection may , at times, impede us from communicating with someone seated with us at the same table. Unfortunately, because of the desire for instant gratification, it becomes all too easy to dismiss patience as an outdated virtue.
Calendar Highlights
December 8 All School Mass 9:30
December 9 Barnes & Noble Bookfair 3pm-7:30pm
December 9 Urbane Cafe Fundraiser 4pm-9pm
December 13 Christmas Program 6:30 pm
December 16 Jeans for Jesus-Theme Christmas (no charge)
December 19-January 2 Christmas Break
January 3 School resumes
Contents of Weekly Brown Envelope
Please remove contents, complete and return any forms, sign and return the Brown Envelope every Wednesday.
Barnes & Noble Bookfair Flyer and Bookmark
Amazon Smile Flyer
Barnes & Noble Bookfair
When: Friday, December 9th, 2022
Time: 3:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Come Join the Fun!
Make sure to sign in for a chance to win 1 of 3 gift cards!
Receive a reward pass for a Free non-uniform dress day on Wednesday 12/14 with any purchase made at Barnes & Noble on 12/9.
This year the bookfair is an in person event. Online ordering is not available as a way to support the event.
Thank you for supporting our School!
Lost and Found-Please check the lost and found located outside the school office for missing items.
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 under Documents or on our website under quick links. This will generate a report that is given to teachers daily. Thank
you!
Support OLA School with Amazon Smile!
Why not benefit our school while holiday shopping on Amazon with Amazon Smile?
It’s easy and Amazon will donate 0.5% for all eligible purchases back to our school.
Here's how:
How to use AmazonSmile using the Amazon app on your mobile phone:
Open the Amazon Shopping app
Navigate to the main menu (≡)
Tap on Settings and then select “AmazonSmile”
Search for "Our Lady of the Assumption" and be sure to select the Ventura, CA location
Follow the on-screen instructions to turn ON AmazonSmile in the mobile app
Once AmazonSmile has been activated in your app, future eligible app purchases will generate a donation for the charity you have selected.
How to use AmazonSmile on a web browser:
Visit smile.amazon.com
Sign in with the same account you use for Amazon.com
Search for "Our Lady of the Assumption" and be sure to select the Ventura, CA location
Start shopping!
Note: You must navigate to smile.amazon.com to generate donations. Purchases at www.amazon.com will not generate donations
Tip: Add a bookmark to make it easier to shop at smile.amazon.com
More info -
Scan this QR Code
Thank you for supporting our school!
EGift Cards are electronic gift cards sent right to your RaiseRight account or to any recipient you choose. RaiseRight has a large selection of E-Gift options so you don’t have to wait for physical gift cards to arrive or worry about shipping delays. EGift can even be sent as gifts right to the recipient. Log in to your RaiseRight account for those last minute gifts!
Remember-Our school earns a percentage back on every card purchased.
As an added bonus, earn one parent hour for every $200 in gift cards purchased!
Should you have any questions, please contact: Katie Flores jimmykatieflores@gmail.com or Regina Ruiz reginam03@hotmail.com
What’s Happening with our Student Council!
The Student Council will be collecting canned soup to donate to Many Meals this holiday season as well as adopting a family through St. Vincent De Paul. All OLA families have been contacted through their teachers.
OLA Sports Center
Boys Flag Football won their first playoff game on Monday 26-8. They advance to the championship game to be played Wednesday December 7th here at OLA at 3:30. Check our OLA App for game schedules and scores. Come out and support the team and GOOOOO DOLPHINS!!!
Girls Volleyball will play their first playoff game today 12/6 in the Saint Bonaventure gym at 3:30. Check our OLA App for game schedules and scores. Come out and support the team and GOOOOOO DOLPHINS!!
Edge is on Wednesday nights from 6 to 7:30 pm. Junior high youth in grades 6-8 are welcome. Please contact OLA youth minister, Gabe Rivera, for more information at youthministry@ola-vta.org or 805-642-7966 x121.
Women’s Bible Study Session at OLA Church Find your people bible study - Building a deep Community in a lonely world! After dropping off the kids... Please join us for friendship, knowledge and growth in a 7-week bible study group. With coffee and refreshments too. Questions? Contact Jennifer at: womansbiblestudy@ola-vta.org  APA BOARD CORNER Urbane Cafe Fundraiser Friday December 9th from 4:00pm-9:00pm Shop the bookfair, enjoy dinner out and support our school! | |||
 The digital marquee birthday flier is available in the office. Enjoy announcing your child's next birthday on the OLA marquee! Announcement cost is $15 The APA Board would like to thank all the wonderful families of OLA for volunteering and participating in the many fundraising efforts this year. If you are interested in joining for the 2022-2023 school year please contact Jennifer Bamieh jenniferbamieh@yahoo.com 
New sessions to begin in the new year. These sessions will be led by Dea Boheme. Please call Dea at (805) 390-1260 to reserve a spot. Protecting God's Children (Initial training, 3 hours) All sessions begin at 1 pm and are held in the Santa Cruz Room Two VIRTUS classes have been scheduled for January. Protecting God's Children 4.0, Saturday, January 14, 2023, 1-4 pm in the Santa Cruz Room Keeping the Promise Alive (Recertification), Saturday, January 21, 2023, 1-2:30 in Mulcahy Center. To register, participants should call 805-390-1260. | |||
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. |
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
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