OLQA Family,

Thank you for a wonderful week and a wonderful Fall Fun Day! I just wanted to express my gratitude for our amazing families and all you did to make Fall Fun Day such a great experience for kids. From donating snacks and games, to volunteering during the day, to coming out to cheer on the kids in the costume parade, we owe such a great day to you! We are so blessed to have such amazing families at OLQA that go above and beyond for our kids.

For next week, be aware that we have our All Saint's Day Mass on Friday. Parents are welcome to join us and it is a Holy Day of Obligation. As reminder that October 31st is a regular 4:00 dismissal day and there are no costumes. Please be aware that November starts Winter Uniform, which means all students wear long sleeve button down shirts, no polos, and boys start wearing ties for their regular uniform.

This week was also a big week for High School Applications. Cristo Rey visited to meet with our 8th graders and we had great turn out at our High School Workshop. Thank you for our 8th grade families making the time to attend! Be aware that Wednesday 10/30 is the last day to sign up for the TACHS exam and that the 3 school choices are due the week of 11/4.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mr. Sayer

Principal

Our Lady Queen of Angels School

We will have an All Saint's Day Mass at 8:30 on Friday 11/1 in the OLQA Church. Parents are welcome to join our school community in prayer on this Holy Day of Obligation.

We will also be announcing our Students of the Month in Morning Prayer on Friday 11/1. Students will be selected for best showing our October Value of the Month, Respect All Life.

Please be aware that October 31st will be a regular B-day with a 4:00 dismissal. Students should wear there regular B-Day uniform and there are no costumes.

Reminder that the winter uniform will start on 11/1. This means that students:

• Must wear a white dress shirt / blouse. They cannot wear the polo shirt.
• Boys will need to start wearing the tie with their white dress shirts.
• Students must wear the sweat pants with the gym uniform, no shorts.
• Students cannot wear winter boots, they must change into proper shoes at school

Please be aware that the last day for 8th graders to sign up for the TACHS exam is Wednesday 10/30. You can sign up for the exam using the link below.

Please be aware that if your child attends early drop-off more than 3 times in a month, you will be charged for the full month. The cost is $50, and it will be added to your FACTS account. Thank you for your understanding!

We’ve noticed a recent trend where lunches are being dropped off after the school day has started. Please understand that we cannot disturb the class or leave the front desk to deliver lunches, and we are not responsible if a child does not receive their lunch. To avoid any issues, please ensure your child has their lunch with them at drop-off. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

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.

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.

Registration is past due and you must register to apply to Catholic High Schools. There is a $71 registration fee.

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

Make sure to enter your 3 high school choices for the TACHS exam ASAP. You can enter them at the website listed below.

The TACHS Exam will be on 11/8. There are 2 times when you can take the exam (around 8:30 and 10:00), which are released the week of 11/4. Exams will take place here at school on the school laptops.

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:

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.

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!

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