OLQA Family,

As we approach Thanksgiving, just wanted to take a moment to express gratitude for all you do. This week as been a great time to reflect and be thankful for a wonderful start of the year. It was great to see the many students have been working incredibly hard in their classes get recognized for Honor Roll and Perfect Attendance at the Honor Roll ceremony.

It was also so wonderful to see everyone contribute to such an amazing Thanksgiving potluck! The food was delicious and it was so great to see such an amazing turnout. It also meant so much to see so many family contribute to help set up and support the event itself. We are truly blessed to have such great families in our school community!

This is a short week coming up with Thanksgiving on Thursday. Wednesday is a half day and there is no after school due to the holiday. However, please consider supporting the food pantry and soup kitchen of the Sisters next door by participating in the food and clothes drive. Items to donate are listed below. We hope you enjoy the time off and the holiday with family and friends!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mr. Sayer

Principal

Our Lady Queen of Angels School

No after school before thanksgiving break, please plan accordingly. Please make sure to make arrangements for pick up so staff are able to attend to their Thanksgiving plans.

Friendly reminder that we will be off on 11/28 and 11/29 for Thanksgiving Break. School will resume on Monday, 12/2. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday with family and friends!

As we approach the holiday season, we want to show our November cooperation and help our community through a Food and Clothes Drive for the Sisters of the Franciscan Renewal next door. To help their ministries helping the neediest in the community, we are going to ask you to donate the following items between now and Wednesday 11/27, the day we leave for Thanksgiving Break:

• PreK 3 & 4 = Boxed Macaroni & Cheese
• Kindergarten & Grade 1 = Dish Soap
• 2nd & 3rd Grade = Ramen Noodles
• 4th & 5th Grade = Winter Gloves
• 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade = Winter Coats (new or gently used)

There will be no practice on Saturday 11/30 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Reminder that the winter uniform has started. 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

Make sure boys wear a tie with their regular uniform. Not doing this will lead to a uniform slip.

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. The flue shot is required for students in prek3 and 4! New York State requires all immunizations to be up to date and your child can be excluded from school if they are not completed.

Congrats on finishing the TACHS Exam! Now is the time to complete both High School applications and Financial Aid forms. Applications and financial aid forms differ school by school, so check the school website or call the admissions office for specific questions.

Student Sponsor Partners (or SSP) is an amazing program that gives students a generous scholarship (usually around $100 a month), a summer program, and a mentor to attend Catholic high school. There are financial stipulations that apply, so please reach out to Mr. Sayer if interested in applying. To learn more and start the application, check the link below:

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 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

PK Parents, please be aware that we will be making an adjustment to our PK tardy procedure. TAs have been missing almost all of breakfast, a key time where they are needed to assist with safety, clean up, and bathrooms. Moving forward, students need to be on time to attend breakfast. If students are late, we will hold them by the main office and bring them up with the TA at 8:25. This will help ensure that TAs are able to be fully present at breakfast to start the day.

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’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!

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