School Newsletter: November 6, 2021

Yesterday, both school staff and parish families were blessed to hear words of wisdom from  Dr. Michael Naughton, Professor and Director of the Center for Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas.  Dr. Naughton provided our staff with continued  professional development in our classical approach stemming from his own thirty years of instruction in both business courses and theology. 

In the evening, Dr. Naughton then provided an eye opening presentation on the importance of leisure and rest on the Sabbath. Since our families strongly honor the weekly Mass obligation, he focused more heavily on requirements beyond the one hour of worship. He discussed blocking off Sundays as a day for building habits of silence, celebrating family and friends, long meals, walks, freedom from technology, playing board games, simple acts of charity and more. It is through such genuine leisure that  our work then becomes more fulfilling. I sincerely look forward to Dr. Naughton’s  return to our community next year to share his great wealth of knowledge on any given subject.
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As a gift to our parents, a copy of his book,  Getting Work Right: Labor and Leisure in a Fragmented World is available to each school family.  Please pick up your complimentary copy in the school office. 
 
IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• New school policy: beginning Monday, November 8th, cell phones and smart watches will be collected in homerooms and placed in a basket upon arrival rather than kept in lockers. In addition, cell phones must be kept in the students backpacks during dismissal, to include waiting outdoors, until their parent/guardian has picked up. If a student needs to make a phone call during the school day, they may use the office telephone.  
• Join Deacon Bill, OLSOS Student Council, AHG, OLSOS Choir, and a guest speaker for OLSOS’s Veterans’ Day Assembly in the gym beginning at 2pm.  A reception will follow in the school cafeteria.
• Virtue of the Month: Humility- accepting your limitations and God-given talent
• Middle Schoolers can order their Pro-Life t-shirt ($5) this week with a Nov. 12 deadline
• Donations for our Advent Store can be dropped off at the school office 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
• The Fulcrum Foundation tuition assistance application for the 2022-2023 school year is available online at fulcrumfoundation.org 
  • The application is due by January 7th, 2022.  This year’s application fee is $35.
  • If you require assistance with this application, please call the school office to schedule an appointment anytime before December 10th, 2021. 

*This application MUST be submitted by any family that will be applying for parish assistance.
    
UPCOMING DATES
Nov. 9- Parents’ Club Meeting @ 7pm in Ctr. Rms.1 & 2 (childcare provided)
Nov. 10- Veterans Day Assembly @ 2pm in the Gym - Full Uniform Required - All parents, relatives, friends  and parishioners are invited with a reception in the cafeteria
Nov. 11- Veterans Day- NO SCHOOL
Nov. 24- Noon release- Thanksgiving Break- NO STAR CARE
Nov. 25-26 NO SCHOOL
Nov. 30- End of the Trimester    
Dec. 1- Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest due to office 
 
CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION IN ACTION 
In 7th Grade Literature Class, students continue to read “King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table.”  Alongside this classical read, they are producing a short play to share and perform for third grade as their focus is on the Medieval Year.                                                                                                                                                              
WITNESS OF THE WEEK
William Moran demonstrated Humility which is our virtue of the month. Like many students, William was challenged by an obstacle at school. He sized up his limitations and strove to overcome it. His success brought great pleasure to his homeroom teacher.