Our Lady of Victory Catholic School

Our Lady of Victory Catholic School, in Tyrone, Georgia, in partnership with family and church, exists to provide a community where faith, trust, hope, and love for God is encouraged and developed.  Dedicated to teaching the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church in a challenging academic environment, we strive to promote lifelong learning through critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and social responsibility.  We promote the values, attitudes, behaviors, and skills that students need to develop their leadership potential.

News Release                                                                         Week of February 7, 2010

Congratulations to Our Lady of Victory Catholic School

• Tenth Anniversary Year
• Recipient of the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award

Everyone enjoyed the special activities scheduled for the celebration of Catholic Schools’ Week.  A special “thank you” to Mrs. Blackerby, who coordinated the week’s events and to all of our teachers, staff, parents, and students, who contributed so much to the week-long celebration. 

Congratulations to Miss Angela Williams . . .  Miss Williams was elected OLV’s Educator of the Year and was honored at the Archbishop’s Education Banquet on Saturday.

Please remember that if you are unable to attend a Home and School meeting, you may catch up on the news by viewing the minutes in the Media Center.

Please note:  The date for our 10-Year Anniversary Gala has been changed to Saturday, May 8, 2010.  “Mark the date,” as you will not want to miss this memorable event.

Reindeer Run Update:  The final numbers are “in” and $4,351.59 was raised.   This entire amount has been dedicated to our playground cover project.

Thanks to our entire community, $1,625 was raised for the people of Haiti.   A check has been issued and forwarded to Catholic Relief Services.

Curriculum Update:

• Schedules have been completed through year-end with minor adjustments to accommodate our year-round Spanish classes for 7th and 8th grade students, as well as enrichment classes for all PK through 8th grade students.
• The Collins Writing Program is effectively being implemented “across the curriculum” – this includes writing in all classes, inclusive of mathematic classes, PE classes, etc.  The Collins Writing facilitator returns in March to follow up with faculty.

Catholic Identity Update:

• Christmas Project with feeder parish families was successful thanks to the outpouring of support from the OLV community. Our feeder parishes were most grateful for the generosity of OLV families.

• Service projects continue to be coordinated by OLV’s Religious Ed. Program, Beta, and Student Council.

Re-enrollment:

• Re-enrollment began on 1/21/2010.   Tuition increase was held to 3% for next year.   A family fund-raising assessment was added, as recommended by parents earlier this year, in the amount of $225 per family.  Current year cost to educate exceeds tuition by approximately $2700.  Next year’s cost to educate exceeds tuition by approximately $3200. Therefore, fund-raising receipts are essential to ensure the continued high-quality education and state-of-the-art facility we enjoy at OLV.  We appreciate all of the efforts made to date by Home and School, our Annual Fund Committee, and all participating families.  However, the fund-raising fee guarantees the school an “amount certain” to apply towards the cost to educate.

• Enrollment interest for next year has been strong – based upon the number of inquiries received to date (and school tours that have already been scheduled through the Admissions Department). We are currently preparing for our Open House on February 6th.

GRACE Update:  (G.R.A.C.E. Scholars, Inc. is a tuition tax credit program.  Please read about it at http://www.gracescholars.org -- a link to this address is on our website.)

• $10,592 has been designated to OLV from the GRACE program for 2010-2011. This is 5 times more than OLV received through the program last year – thanks so much to those of you who participated in the program.  However, we have a lot of work to do, as we want to increase this amount so that Catholic education is affordable to more families. Mrs. Frizzell, OLV’s Development Director, is our contact person and welcomes your calls and any questions you may have about the program.

Financial Status of OLV: 

• The 2010-2011 budget has been completed and approved (with above-referenced tuition increase held to 3%).
• The Advisory Council’s finance committee meets monthly to review financial reports and bank statement reconciliation prepared by the business office. 
• As you are aware, one of the key goals of OLV’s Advisory Council (AC) this year is to begin developing a Three-Year Strategic Plan for the school.  Our accreditation report is largely focused on curriculum and instructional goals of the school.  Although development and marketing objectives are certainly a part of our accreditation study, the Three-Year Plan will encompass development, marketing, and facilities in a much broader sense, with our Catholic identity and academic excellence being in the forefront.  AC chairpersons will be seeking your assistance to serve on committees to assist with this endeavor.   Also, all families will be requested to complete a survey to ensure that we have your feedback and suggestions for all areas of the school -- including curriculum, technology, facilities, etc. -- as we move forward with the strategic plan.

The business office will continue to post receipts of all fund-raising efforts on our website, so that you may keep abreast of fund-raising to date.

 With the onset of the colder temperatures, please remind your children to wear a coat (and all other appropriate outerwear) to school.

Safety patrol members are now in “full force” on the car line.   For the safety of all of our students and families, please follow our car line procedures, as outlined in the Family Handbook.  Our safety patrol members will remain on the sidewalk to greet your children and assist them out of the vehicle.  Safety patrol members have been trained not to step off of the sidewalk – therefore, please ensure that all backpacks are in the front or back seat of your vehicle and not in the trunk – our students may not step off the curb to unload trunks in car line due to the potential of moving cars.

Safety First …. Please remember not to pull out of car line.  Children are asked to load directly from the sidewalk during afternoon car line.   If you are visiting the school during school hours, please remember to utilize the parking lot (in lieu of parking in the “car line” lane).

Please remember that although we have Edline as a way of communicating student progress in grades 2-8, it does not replace all other parent communication to address your questions and receive your comments.   Although I prefer a telephone call or a personal visit, most of our teachers prefer e-mail.  As I am with the children the majority of the school day, I am much more accessible by telephone.  As always, my cell number will be included in the Family Directory.  (Cell number is (678) 469-9741.)

Grade-level coffees will be scheduled this year, commencing the first quarter of the 2009-2010 school year.  We began the coffees last year and found that they provided a very effective forum to share information and respond to questions that you may have as the year progresses.   The second “round” of coffees will begin soon.

Resource Department Changes for the 2009-2010 School Year:

• Resource and Support Services: Grades K-4:  Mrs. Crane will continue to work with students in grades K-3, and will also be working with students in 4th grade this year. The primary focus will be reading support.

• Resource and Support Services:  Grade 5:  Mrs. Jones will continue to work with small groups in 5th grade, rendering support in reading and mathematics.

• Resource and Support Services: All grades, as needed: Mrs. Munoz, our new Spanish teacher, who has extensive teaching experience, including support services, will also be working with students.

• Resource and Support Services:  Grades 6-8:  Mrs. Carpenter, Guidance Counselor will be working with students and faculty in our Middle Division with resource and support services for 6th – 8th grade students.

• Explore Program:  Miss Williams will continue as our Explore Coordinator for 3rd and 4th grade students.

Middle Division 2009-2010 Final Exam Schedule (for 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Students):

Middle Division Exam Review:  Third Week of May, 2010  -- through respective date(s) of exams.

Student folders containing tests that the students have completed during 3rd and 4th  quarters, which were returned to subject-area teachers, will be available to students to bring home on Wednesday, May 19, 2010.  (Folders will contain only those tests that students returned to subject-area teachers.)

Exams will be scheduled during regular class periods:

EIGHTH GRADE EXAM SCHEDULE:

SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADE EXAM SCHEDULE:

You are always most welcome to visit our school. Please remember to “sign in” at the front office window. This is a safety measure that we must follow at all times. Should you have an “emergency” need to visit a teacher/classroom, please allow Mrs. Laumann to page the respective teacher before you proceed to the classroom?  This ensures that the teacher is available and protects student confidentiality.

Please remember that students not enrolled at OLV may not “sit in” on classes.  Visiting students are welcome to accompany a student to lunch or recess, if applicable, provided that the visitor receives prior approval from the administration, checks in at the school office upon arrival, completes the required information on the visitor’s badge, and wears the visitor’s badge while on the school campus. 

As always, should you have any questions, please call or contact me by e-mail, lgrace@olvpatriots.org.   In addition, should you have any questions or concerns for our Advisory Council members and/or Home and School Board members, please contact them so that your concerns may be recognized and addressed. 

“Each and every day is a blessed gift – enjoy every moment.”

Blessings,

Linda Grace

Principal

Our Lady of Victory Catholic School is operated by Catholic Education of North Georgia, Incorporated.  The school is under the direct supervision of the Office of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Atlanta and is compliant with all policies and guidelines of the Office of Catholic Schools and the Archdiocese of Atlanta.  A copy of the Office of Catholic Schools Policy Manual is housed in OLV’s Media Center for viewing.