Yesterday I sent an email home about re-enrolling for next year. There is a 50% discount if you re-enroll by February 6th. Please read all the instructions in the email prior to beginning the process. Your SurePay should be saved so please do not create a duplicate. If you have any questions, email Rita Villegas, rita@olmctempe.com. Here is the Re-enrollment Link.

We are looking for volunteers to help with the Mother/Son Kickball.

Within the archives of the National Library of Medicine is an article titled, Mathematical models and their applications in medicine and health (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10260952/) published in 1981, undoubtedly cited by one of my professors when asked, “Why do nursing students have to take a course in statistics?”

Dear OLMC Community,

This upcoming week we will have Learning Labs and Enrichment as usual. 

Every month, a different grade brings in food for the I-Help program that helps feed the homeless in Tempe. This month is the 5th graders turn. Parents of 5th graders, please see your email for the sign up- we are still in need of a few food items.

Catholic Schools Week is coming up January 29-February 6. We will open the re-enrollment for current school families during that time and all that enroll before Sunday, February 6 will pay the discounted early enrollment fee of $150.00 instead of the usual $300. After February 6, the enrollment fee will be $300.00. I will email home a link on Friday, January 27. 

Dear OLMC Community,

We will begin re-enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year January 29 - February 6. There will be a $150 discount if you enroll that week. The link will be sent via email with the discount code.

We are collecting for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Drive. Please see the flyer for the grade specific donations.

There is no school on Monday for MLK Day and there is a half day, 12:30pm dismissal this Friday.

See you on Tuesday,
Dr. Shewbridge

To say that this past week was unsettling would be a tremendous understatement! For many, the daily reports of new COVID cases paired with the numerous media reports of school closures, or returns to the virtual classroom, reignited some fears long ago extinguished. The escalation in the number of COVID cases throughout the community this week was staggering 

(Maricopa County reported 14,186 cases for January 10, 2022 EPI Curve) and our school community was hit hard.

Dear OLMC Families,

Fr. McNair has invited everyone on Monday, January 17 at 4:00pm, to attend the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Mass at Sts. Simon and Jude.The Bishop will be presiding over the Mass. If attending, Fr. McNair asked that student representatives dress in their school uniform. If you have any questions feel free to contact him at 910-389-0317.

There is information about the ProLife March and Rally on January 15 at www.azliferally2022.org.

This Friday is a half day leading up to the long weekend. There will be a 12:30 dismissal and no school on Monday for Martin Luther King Day.

See you in the morning!
Dr. Shewbridge

Returning to school this past Monday was probably the most difficult task we have faced since the outset of the Pandemic (March 2020). The Omicron variant of the coronavirus began to spread rapidly while we were on break and because there was an absence of school based reporting and a hiatus from weekly meetings with the Health Department, what we would face upon our return was essentially unknown.

First, to clarify, “Omicron” is not a new virus. It is a variation of the same coronavirus that began circulating at the end of 2019. Following the Greek alphabet, we now reference the earliest strain of the coronavirus as the Alpha strain and the Delta strain has been responsible for the illness we have seen since July 2021. Viruses mutate, or change, over time, and coronaviruses (there are at least 11) are known to mutate frequently and quickly. (This was the subject of a Nurse’s Notes in March 2021 -Variations on a Virus).

With the dawning of the New Year, there is a strong desire to discard things of “old” and start fresh and new. That is no more evident than in the ongoing Pandemic! Around the time of Fall Break, we were very optimistic that once January 2022 arrived we would be able to discard some of the infection control strategies we have gotten used to over the past two years. Adopting a “mask optional” policy in lieu of the current, very limited, requirements for masking (outlined in Smart, Healthy, Holy - August 2021) was a consideration. However, the emergence of the latest coronavirus variant (Omicron) has provided reason to stay with the current practices and protocols.

Dear OLMC Community!

I wanted to begin by thanking everyone for the generous FFT gift for Christmas and all of the kind letters and cards. It was greatly appreciated!

This upcoming week there will be a half day on Friday with a 12:30pm dismissal. As always the children may wear a spirit shirt but their jacket must be OLMC outerwear.

Nurse David has written a Nurse’s Notes this week so please take the opportunity to read this information...CLICK HERE. We are not making any policy changes to our plan as we have been very fortunate as to not have transmission ever at the school. We will continue to do what we have been doing.

Dear Parents,

It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Christmas Program. The children were amazing. It was simply beautiful!

Thank you so much for the generous FFT gift card. I truly appreciate all of the notes and kind words. I am so blessed to be a part of the OLMC community.

The next newsletter will not be emailed until the new year.

Wishing you and your family a beautiful Christmas,
Dr. Shewbridge

Dear OLMC Community,

Happy Gaudete Sunday! We are nearing the Christmas season. I cannot believe we have one week left! We will have Spirit Days next week. Here are the themes:

• Monday - Favorite Hat Day with Spirit Shirt and uniform bottoms
• Tuesday -Christmas Themed shirt or sweater with jean bottoms
• Wednesday - PJ Day **PJs must have a top and bottom** No nightgowns. The children may not wear leggings or yoga pants. Must be school appropriate.
• Thursday - Favorite color shirt with uniform bottoms
• Friday - There is Mass this day! Please wear Mass uniform. Favorite holiday accessory- this includes socks, bracelets and girls may wear festive earrings. Boys may wear a Christmas tie!

Dear OLMC Community,

I hope your family had a blessed Thanksgiving. Please remember there is no school tomorrow and we will resume on Tuesday.

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, December 15. This is the evening of the Christmas program. The program will begin at 7:00pm. 

Thank you to everyone who supported the Dads’ Club fundraiser at Panda Express. Next month is Rubio’s.

The students in grades 6th through 8th will attend Reconciliation in the Church on Wednesday. Please remind your child that he/she needs to do an Examination of Conscience and need to know the Act of Contrition. 

Dear OLMC Community,

We will have a short week as we move into Thanksgiving. Monday and Tuesday are regular school days and then on Wednesday we will have STEM day. This is still a Mass day and the children will all be in full Mass uniform. We will have a 12:30 dismissal. School will resume on Tuesday, November 30th. 

Final Collection for the Thanksgiving Drive is Monday. 

There are no Learning Labs on Tuesday. 

Good evening,

The Dads’ Club Movie Night was a success. Thank you to all of the families who came out and enjoyed the movie. Unfortunately, my husband and I were under the weather, so I am sad we missed it! This is always so much fun!

The Book Fair was also a huge success. Funds raised through this event will go to purchasing new books for the library! Thank you to all of the parents who also supported the Teacher Wish Lists for books!

Dear Parents,

Thank you to everyone who helped support the Gala! It was such a wonderful evening! There are so many families who donated auction items, who helped solicit donations, who put the baskets together, set up, cleaned up, and of course attended the Gala on Saturday Night. I am truly overwhelmed by the generosity!

This week the children will have a half day on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (12:30 dismissal). They may wear a spirit shirt and their uniform bottoms all three days.