Dear OLL Families,
I hope this message finds you well as we approach an exciting time in our school calendar. We're eagerly preparing for Catholic Schools Week, a special time when we celebrate the value of Catholic education and its contributions to our community. In conjunction with this celebration, we're thrilled to announce our upcoming Open House on Sunday, January 19th. This event provides an excellent opportunity for both current and prospective families to explore our facilities, meet our dedicated staff, and learn more about the enriching programs we offer.
I'm also pleased to share that registration for the upcoming school year will open this week for our current families. We encourage you to complete your registration promptly to secure your child's place for the next academic year. As an added incentive, we're offering an exciting opportunity – all families who register and process both the registration fee and technology fee during this period will be automatically entered into a raffle for a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship!
We're looking forward to a wonderful Catholic Schools Week and hope to see many of you at our Open House. If you have any questions about the registration process or the upcoming events, please don't hesitate to reach out to the school office. Your continued support of Our Lady of the Lake Schools is deeply appreciated. Together, we're building a bright future for our students.
Have a beautifully blessed week,
Mr. Conroy
A Friendly Reminder to All School Visitors
Even if you know other parents or visitors, we ask that you never let anyone into the building without them going through this process. It’s all part of our efforts to make sure everyone stays safe while at school!
Thank you so much for your cooperation and support—we really appreciate it!
Why Healthy Eating Matters and How to Do It Together
January is Family Fitness Month—the perfect time to focus on staying active and nourishing your body with wholesome foods. Eating well as a family is about more than physical health; it’s an opportunity to bond, create traditions, and teach kids valuable life skills. Here’s why it matters and how to make healthy eating enjoyable for everyone.
Tips for Healthy Family Eating
- Plan Meals Together: Spend time each week planning meals as a family. Include a mix of protein, whole grains, and vegetables to teach kids about balanced nutrition.
- Shop Smart: Visit the grocery store or farmer’s market as a family. Encourage kids to pick a new fruit or vegetable to try, like juicy oranges or hearty Brussels sprouts.
- Cook as a Team: Involve everyone in meal prep. Younger kids can wash veggies or set the table, while older kids can chop or measure. Cooking together makes mealtime faster and more enjoyable.
- Focus on Whole Foods: Reduce processed foods and prioritize whole ingredients like fresh produce, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats to keep everyone energized.
Making Healthy Eating a Family Tradition
Healthy eating can be a fun and rewarding way to spend time together. By embracing seasonal produce, planning meals as a team, and trying new recipes, your family can make nutritious eating a cornerstone of Family Fitness Month and beyond. Build habits that support an active, vibrant lifestyle for years to come.
Exciting News! Registration for Mad Science BRIXOLOGY STEM Course Extended!
Mad Science has extended the registration period for their BRIXOLOGY STEM course! If you're interested in registering your child, visit the link below to sign up and make the payment directly to Mad Science.
BRIXOLOGY sets the foundation for the next generation of makers! Kids will explore various types of engineering and construct exciting projects using LEGO® bricks. From assembling a space station while learning about aerospace engineering to building boats, vehicles, carnival rides, and more, your future engineer will engage in real-world design challenges. Along the way, they'll develop problem-solving, team-building, and creative skills.
Students in Grades 3–6 are invited to join our exciting Brixology STEM program! Sessions will be held once a week on Wednesdays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Café.
Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to spark your child's imagination and love for STEM! Let the tinkering begin!
Calling all parents! We need your help to make lunchtime a smooth and enjoyable experience for our students. Volunteering for lunch duty is a wonderful way to engage with our school community and support our students during their midday break. Whether you can spare one day or several, we’d love to have you on board!
Sign up today to lend a hand during lunch!
Quick Schedule Update Reminder:
- Pre-K to 4th Grade: Lunch remains from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
- Grades 5 to 8: Lunch is now from 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Thank you for helping make our school a great place to grow and learn!
NOROVIRUS OH MY!!!
Norovirus is a virus that causes acute gastroenteritis. It is not related to influenza viruses, which primarily cause respiratory infection.
MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal Pain
Fever, Chills, Headache, Body Aches and Fatigue may also be present. Symptom Onset is usually ABRUPT, which is very characteristic of Norovirus.
Norovirus is VERY CONTAGIOUS and is spread through contaminated food or water, by contact with an infected person, or by contamination of environmental surfaces.
Incubation Period (time period from when you are exposed to the virus to when you become ill): 12-48 Hours. Infected individuals are SYMPTOMATIC for 1-2 DAYS.
Typically, a person is contagious as soon as they begin feeling sick and remains contagious until a few days after they recover.
Norovirus can spread quickly from person to person in schools! Children and staff who are experiencing symptoms of Norovirus should stay home from school until 24-48 HOURS AFTER SYMPTOMS ARE RESOLVED!
HAND HYGIENE
- Hands should be washed with SOAP and WATER for at LEAST 20 SECONDS
- Hand Sanitizer alone does NOT work well against Norovirus
- GOOD HAND HYGIENE PRACTICES Washing hands after using the bathroom, before and after eating lunch, and after coughing and sneezing
Our Lady of the Lake School
Email: tconroy@myoll.org
Website: https://myoll.org/
Location: 26 Lakeside Avenue, Verona, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-239-1160
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollverona