OLQA Family,

We had a lot of celebrations happening this week! Thank you to all our Middle School families and teachers for cooking and coordinating the wonderful Hispanic Heritage Month potluck. The food was amazing! We also got a chance to have our first buddy classroom day of the year, while we hosted visitors from All Hallows High School and the Horizons St. David's Program.

Next week, we have Monday off, but there is a lot happening. Tuesday at 8:30 is our school Mass in the OLQA Church. Additionally, Progress Report Conferences are on Friday starting at 1:00. Links to sign up for your teacher's spot are listed below. This is a great way to learn about how your child is doing so that they have time to continue their great work or improve their grades before report cards come out.

Lastly, our Fall Fun Day celebration is two weeks away on Friday, 10/25. Students can dress up in costumes ($2) and there will be games and snacks in the gym. We'll also do a costume parade to end the day. We are asking for parent volunteers to help make it possible. If you're interested, please fill out the form below or reach out to Jenniffer.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mr. Sayer

Principal

Our Lady Queen of Angels School

In observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day, there will be no school on 10/14. Enjoy the day, and take a moment to honor and celebrate the rich cultures and histories of Indigenous peoples.

School resumes 10/15.

Come together in faith and community as we celebrate Mass on Tuesday 10/15 at 8:30 in the OLQA Church. Let's gather to reflect, pray, and renew our spirits. All are welcome!

Mark your calendars! Progress report conferences will be held on October 18th from 1:00 to 4:00. This will allow students to learn how to improve before their first report card. Please keep an eye out for them and review your child's progress. Don't forget to sign up for the parent teachers conferences, the forms will be sent out by the teacher . Thank you for your support!

We’re excited to announce our Fall Fun Day on Friday 10/25 from 12:00 to 2:30. Our Fall celebration will consist of dressing in costumes or dressing down ($2 at the door), buddy classroom games and snacks in the gym, and a costume parade around the building.

We need your help to make it amazing! If you'd like to volunteer or donate something, please fill out the form and join us for a day full of festive activities. Your time and support make all the difference!

We are continuing two enrichment programs from Last Year, the Aequora Latin Program and GLAM (Girls Learn Advanced Math). Both programs will be held after school on Thursdays and sign up sheets are below.

Aequora Latin Overview:

The Aequora program is based on a custom 4th-8th grade curriculum focusing on literacy education via Latin. The curriculum is taught by volunteers during after-school hours. Through Aequora, young students can develop their English Language Arts skills and acquire strategies for vocabulary, reading comprehension, and spelling, all the while playing games and having fun with peers. About 60% of English vocabulary comes from Latin, and research shows that students who are exposed to Latin score higher on standardized tests and have improved literacy outcomes.

GLAM Overview:

At GLAM, we believe that girls should feel confident to pursue math and other STEM subjects. GLAM is an after school program to teach young girls challenging, fun, exciting math in a fun and comfortable setting that goes beyond what is taught in a typical math classroom. To solidify skills and gain even more confidence in their math abilities, the girls will meet once a week with our amazing female volunteers. GLAM is taught by female high school and college students to ensure an environment where the girls are being taught by another peer who acts more as a role model, rather than a school teacher. Sessions meet once a week at your child’s middle school.

We want to encourage students to regularly attend Mass. As a way to encourage this, we will have a pizza party for students who attend Mass 10 times outside of school between now and December. They can track their Mass attendance using the tracker below.

Also, we encourage students to attend our local Parish, St. Cecilia's (106th Street between Park and Lex). On Sundays, they have Mass at:

• 9:00 (English)
• 11:00 (Spanish)
• 12:30 (Spanish)

Help your children grow in their faith by taking them to Mass! The children DO NOT have to go to st. Cecila's Parish, as long as they are attending a church it does not matter!

Please remember to bring in your Medical Forms. New York State requires all immunizations to be up to date and your child can be excluded from school if they are not completed.

Early Drop off will begin this Monday 9/16. Make sure to register for the program using the link later in the newsletter. Early Drop off will go from 7:15 to 7:45, Monday through Friday.

Verification letters for students will be done on Wednesdays ONLY. Please note that creating verification letters takes time. Kindly allow sufficient processing time for your requests. Thank you for your understanding and patience!

Metro cards were given to students. If you have not received a metro card please reach out to Ms. Jenniffer. jengarcia@olqaeastharlem.org. There will only be one replacement if the child loses it.

We will be implementing Early Drop Off again this year. Early Drop off will now start at 7:15 and go to 7:45. Students will go down to the cafeteria and can have breakfast. The cost is as follows:

• First Child: $50 a month
• Additional children: $25 a month per child

Any questions, email Ms. Dobrina at dcarrara@olqaeastharlem.org

We hope this newsletter finds you well and that your child is enjoying their summer. We are excited to share some updates and reminders with you as we continue to provide a nurturing and engaging environment for your children.

Program Highlights:

Fun and educational activities:

• Our dedicated staff has been working hard to plan a variety of activities that combine learning and fun. From arts and crafts to sports activities. We aim to keep your child engaged and entertained in a safe and inclusive environment.

Parent-Staff Communication:

• Open door policy: we value your input and encourage you to reach out to us with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. We are available to discuss your child's progress, any specific needs, or to address any other matters you may have. To foster a strong partnership between parents and our program we will be posting on the OLQA newsletter where we will be sharing updates about the program.
• Update contact information: Please inform us immediately if there are any changes to your contact information. It is crucial that we have the most updated information to reach you in case of an emergency.

Important Dates and Reminders:

• We are excited to open registration back up for OLQA after-school program. To ensure your child’s spot by completing the enrollment form.

We appreciate your ongoing support and trust in our after-school program. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us. Together, we can create an enriching and enjoyable experience for your child.

We will host TACHS Prep after school starting on Monday. Details of the program follow below:

• Days of the Week: Monday & Wednesday
• Start Date: 9/23/24
• End Date: 11/6/24
• Cost: $50 total
• Times: 4:15 to 5:15

Sign up using the Google Form linked below:

Registration is open and deadline is October 16th at 11:59 PM. You CANNOT MISS THE DEADLINE. There is a $71 registration fee.

Please email Mr. Sayer at james.sayer@olqaeastharlem.org to confirm you've registered for the exam.

Friendly reminder to ensure that you 1) enter from the 2nd Avenue door at dismissal and 2) leave from the 3rd Avenue door. This helps ensure a smooth traffic flow in and out of the gym.

Reminder that beginning of year forms can now be accessed on SchoolAdmin. They need to be completed by 9/8, so please ensure they are signed as soon as possible. The forms to complete are:

We are no longer accepting cash deposits. Please bring in a check or a money order. If you bring cash you will be turned away. Thank you families for understanding.

We suggest you pay online using FACTS. FACTS can also take payments in debit or credit card for your convenience.

Have any questions, feel free to reach out to us!

• Mr. Sayer, Principal = Email: james.sayer@olqaeastharlem.org; C: 929-390-1687
• Ms. Dobrina, Operations Leader = Email: dcarrara@olqaeastharlem.org
• Ms. Nieves, Academic Dean = Email: mnieves@olqaeastharlem.org
• Ms. Jenniffer, Operations = Email: jengarcia@olqaeastharlem.org