OLQA Family,

This was a truly special week at OLQA! First off, it was wonderful to get to celebrate our first school Mass of the year. It was wonderful to see so many parents join us and to see the kids do such an amazing job, especially with their singing. It was also wonderful to see our Students of the Month get recognized at our Friday Morning Prayer. Their pictures are below and shout out to them for doing such a great job showing Knowledge!

It was also great to welcome Fr. Peter and Fr. Gerald from St. Cecilia's to OLQA! After our first Mass, we are doing a weekly Mass challenge. Students who go to Mass 10 times between now and December can participate in a Pizza Party. See the tracker below.

Academically, we're nearing the end of NWEA MAP Testing. Only Math MAP testing is left for next week. Make sure to check out the schedule below. On test day, get a good nights sleep before and have a healthy breakfast. We also have Religion Beginning of Year testing coming up. This will be a short multiple choice test to see student growth moving forward. Make sure that students are working hard, as Progress Report Conferences are coming up quick on 10/18.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mr. Sayer

Principal

Our Lady Queen of Angels School

Reminder: Picture Day is this Monday! Make sure that everyone is in regular uniform for picture day so they look good for their photos!

Please ensure your child brings their picture form, which was sent home earlier this week. You can also pay online use code OLQAFall2024 , click on the picture to take you directly to the site. Looking forward to capturing some great smiles!

Next Friday,10/04 will be an B-Day. The uniform for that Friday is as follows:

• PE Uniform: PreK 3, Grade 1, Grade 3, Grade 5, Grade 7
• Regular Uniform: PreK 4, Kindergarten, Grade 2, Grade 4, Grade 6, Grade 8

NWEA MAP Testing will begin this week and we will ease into it with the Language Exam. The NWEA MAP exam is a nationally normed exam that gives us an update on your child's academic progress since last Spring. Do not stress over the exam, as this is a baseline that will help measure student growth later in the year.

Dates for the Exam Follow Below:

• NWEA Math Exam, Week of 9/30
• Grades 2, 5, 7 = Tuesday 10/1
• Grades 1, 6, 8 = Wednesday 10/2
• Grades K, 3, 4 = Thursday 10/4

Be aware it is a skills test, so students do not need to study for the NWEA MAP exam.

Be aware there will be Archdiocesan Beginning of Year Religion Testing starting this week and ending 10/11. This is a baseline exam to understand student knowledge.

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!

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. Thank you for your support!

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! Please Inform Ms. Jenniffer if are in need of a verification letter.

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