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 13, 2022
Hello OLA Families,
We are looking forward to a lovely Christmas Program this evening put on by Mr. Yanez, our music teacher. Please have your child at the church by 6 pm. We plan to begin at 6:30 pm. See you all tonight!
The faculty and staff would like to wish all our OLA families a safe and joyous Christmas vacation. Peace and Blessings to all!
Advent Reflection for December 13 – The Third Week of Advent
-Memorial of Saint Lucy
Readings: ZEP 3:1-2, 9-13, PS 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 AND 23, MT 21:28-32
Invitation: The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Reflection: In today’s gospel, Jesus challenges the Chief Priests and Elders on two sons. One was asked to go into the vineyard but he said no, but eventually went. The other son said yes, but didn’t go. Which son was in his father’s grace, and the natural reaction was the first. Yet Jesus says it’s the tax collectors and prostitutes that enter heaven before the righteous.
I often struggle with obligation versus love of obligation. I can go through the motions, attend Mass and leave the same person I was an hour before. However, falling in love with that time with Christ is always a life changing experience, even if it’s a nudge. It’s easy to fall in love if the obligation goes right. Yet when obstacles are thrown in front of us, the love of obligation strengthens us for those times. There are certain times we don’t have the strength and it’s others prayers lift us.
This Advent our journey is about to bring us to the greatest enlightenment: the birth of Jesus. A moment that forever changed the world. In the next few weeks, how has that moment changed your life?
Prayer: Saint Lucy, whose beautiful name signifies light, by the light of faith which God bestowed upon you increase and preserve His light in my soul so that I may avoid evil and be zealous in the performance of good works, and abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and sin. Obtained for me, by your intercession with God, perfect vision for my bodily eyes and the grace to use them for God’s greater honor and glory and the salvation of souls. St. Lucy, virgin and martyr hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. 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 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.
None
Barnes & Noble Bookfair
Congratulations to our Barnes & Noble BookFair raffle winners!!
Tobin Miller Grade 1
Elisse DeLeon Grade 2
Brenna Caron Grade 7
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 EGift 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 collected canned soup to donate to Many Meals this holiday season as well as adopted a family through St. Vincent De Paul. Thank you for all the wonderful donations. We have such a giving community of families here at OLA! Happy Holidays!
OLA Sports Center
CONGRATULATIONS OLA BOYS FLAG FOOTBALL! The boys went undefeated this season and won the championship game. Great job boys! Thank you to coach Bamieh, Coach Tauber and all the parent volunteers. The season was a huge success because of your hard work and dedication.
Girls volleyball is set to play in the championship game Wednesday 12/14. The game will be played in the Saint Bonaventure gym at 4pm.
Come out and support the team and GOOOOOO DOLPHINS!!
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 Save the Date! Auction Planning Meeting on Zoom tentatively scheduled for the evening of Thursday January 19th on Zoom. Please attend and learn how you can help us plan and prepare for our school Cinco de Mayo Fiesta and Auction on May 5, 2023. Watch for a zoom link after the holidays. | |||
 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. | |||
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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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