MUSTANG MEMO
SUMMER EDITION
Principal's Message
Summer is officially here! I hope this letter finds you and your family enjoying the leisurely pace of the summer months. While our days may have slowed, the excitement and preparation for the start of the new school year grows. The purpose of this lengthy Mustang Memo is to share some important information for the 2021-22 school year.
Go Mustangs!
Maureen Hoy
Principal
New Teachers
It is with great pleasure that I announce the new faculty members joining our MOQ team this Fall. These teachers bring great faith, talent and energy to our school and were attracted to MOQ because of the focus on faith, strong academic standards and our positive, supportive community.
Miss Melanie Olson: Miss Olson will be teaching second grade. She is a graduate of University of Nebraska, Omaha, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education. She has endorsements in Early Childhood and Elementary education. Miss Olson is also a graduate of Mary Our Queen School and will receive plenty of support from her former teachers and her mom - Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Olson. We are so excited to welcome Miss Olson back to MOQ!
Miss Angela Whitney: Miss Whitney received a Bachelor of Science in Education and endorsement in Elementary Education with a concentration of inclusive practices from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. We look forward to Miss Whitney bringing her talents and enthusiasm for learning to the third grade team.
Miss Shantel Preister: After graduating from Wayne State College with a Bachelor of Science in Education, Miss Preister will begin her teaching career in third grade. A native of Petersburg, Nebraska, Miss Preister is excited to be moving to Omaha and joining the MOQ School community.
Miss Anna Finger: Miss Finger will join the MOQ School as a fourth grade teacher. She completed her degree in Elementary Education at University of Nebraska at Omaha. As a native of Omaha and graduate of St. Stephen the Martyr School, Miss Finger is excited to join MOQ School and use her expertise to serve the mission of our mission.
Miss Mallory Jurgensen: Miss Jurgensen is an addition to the MOQ Resource program and will join Mrs. Denise Goddard, to support student learning in grades K-8. Miss Jurgensen received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Master’s Degree in Counseling from Creighton University. She is also a Certified Dyslexia Advocate. Miss Jurgensen has over ten years of teaching experience.
Staff Changes
Mr. Mike McCarthy: Mr. McCarthy will move from the 4th grade classroom to teach Physical Education (PE) to K-8 students.
Mrs. Kristen Burton: Mrs. Burton will move from Preschool Teacher Assistant to Preschool teacher and Part-time Preschool administrator.
COVID-19 Protocol
A COVID-19 Focus Group met on June 24 to review current COVID data and safety protocols. The safety of our students and staff is a top priority. We continue to monitor the guidelines offered by the Douglas County Health Department and the Archdiocese of Omaha. A communication outlining specific COVID-19 safety protocol and procedures for the start of school will be shared in early August.
Tuition Plans and Tuition Assistance
The FACTS Tuition Plan process must be completed before your student is officially placed on a class list. If you have not completed this process, you will need the unique FACTS link that was emailed to you. This unique link will enable you to set up your tuition payment plan.
Children’s Scholarship Fund (CSF) and Parish Tuition Assistance awards will be noted in your FACTS account by early July.
Kindergarten Ice Cream Social
On Sunday, August 8, at 12:00 PM in the Trinity Rooms, all incoming Kindergartners (MOQ Class of 2030) and their families are invited to the Kindergarten Ice Cream Social. This wonderful event is sponsored by the MOQ Home and School Association and provides our new families an opportunity to meet other new and “seasoned” MOQ families.
Jr. High House Sorting
Students entering 7th and 8th grade are invited to attend a “House Sorting” event on Wednesday, August 11, at 2:00 PM in the MOQ Gym. Students will learn the name of their Jr. High House (homeroom), meet other students assigned to their House, receive their House T-shirt and have some fun.
House T-shirt orders for 7th and 8th grade students are due by July 7, to allow time for printing the shirts before House Sorting day. If you have not yet ordered your child's House T-shirt, please click HERE.
Back to School Open House
Back to School Open House Grades PreK-8
Thursday, August 12
Trinity Rooms: 6:00-7:30 School: 6:30-7:30*
Back to School Open House is a fun evening offering parents and students the opportunity to visit their new classrooms, meet teachers, drop off school supplies (labeled with student's name) and pick up any textbooks requiring a cover. Our MOQ Home and School Association also coordinates school and parish organization tables in the Trinity Rooms. Families have the opportunity to purchase school items, gather school and parish information, and sign up for volunteer opportunities. Click HERE for detailed information.
In an effort to minimize the crowd in the school building and classrooms, we will use the following schedule for classroom visits:
6:30-7:00: Families with the Last Name beginning with A-K
7:00-7:30: Families with the Last Name beginning with L-Z
At your family’s assigned time, please plan to enter the school building through the narthex doors, visit classrooms, drop off supplies and meet the teachers. A bell will ring at 6:55 and 7:25 to announce the end of classroom visits for each group.
Blessing of the Early Childhood Education and Youth Center
Important School Forms for Kindergarten and 7th Grade
All kindergarten and seventh grade students must have a copy of their physical health record, including updated immunization records, on file in the office. These forms can all be mailed to the school office or turned in at the Back to School Open House, but must be received prior to school starting. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in completing this essential paperwork.
Sycamore School
Sycamore School is our school information system and the primary tool used for most of our home/school communication. Directions for accessing Sycamore can be found beginning on pg. 37 of the Family Handbook. Sycamore will be back up and running August 12th for the 2021-22 school year. You will receive an email with your login information when it is open. Class lists will be available at that time.
FAQs
What are the school day hours? The school day begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 3:15 PM for students in Grades K-8. Click HERE for Preschool program times.
Calendar Notes:
- There is not a 2:00 dismissal on Wednesdays this year.
- Half-day dismissals are at NOON with no lunch served (except as noted below). Half days are: August 16; August 17; February 4; February 17; April 29 (Mustang March/Sack Lunch available); and May 13 (Field Day/Sack Lunch available).
When will I learn my child’s classroom assignment? Students will learn who their teacher will be on the morning of Thursday, August 12. Parents will receive an email with your unique Sycamore login information when Sycamore opens on Thursday, August 12. When you log into Sycamore, you will be able access your child’s classroom. Look for this exciting email around 9:00 AM on August 12.
When can students arrive at school in the morning? Students need to be in their homeroom/House by 8:00 AM. School doors open at 7:45 AM. Families will be assigned a door entrance (same door as 2020-21). School staff supervision will begin at 7:35 AM. Students may not be dropped off at their entrance before 7:35 as there will not be any supervision. MOQ Extended Care is available for students who need to be dropped off prior to 7:35 AM. (extendedcare@moqschool.org)
Can I drop my preschooler off at the main K-8 building at morning drop off? Yes. Preschool students may be dropped off with their older siblings at the narthex door even if it is not your assigned door. A preschool teacher/teacher assistant meet the preschoolers in the narthex and walk them to the preschool building. This is only for morning preschool programs.
Pick-Up: All preschoolers enrolled in all day or afternoon programs will need to be picked up at the preschool building at 3:00 PM.
When does my child have lunch and recess? HERE is the lunch/recess schedule for grades K-8.
Will volunteers have the opportunity to be in the school? We hope to welcome all volunteers back to in-person events. Please know that Safe Environment certification is required for all volunteers. As a reminder, certification expires after 5 years. To sign up for a Safe Environment class or to check your current certification status, please visit the Archdiocese website HERE.
What is the dress code for my child? Where can I purchase school uniforms? Please click HERE for the MOQ Uniform Guidelines. For your convenience, the MOQ Used Uniform Room will be open July 20 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Starting the week of August 2nd, the Used Uniform Room will be open from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. Please call the school office to make arrangements to visit the Used Uniform Room to ensure someone will be at the office to let you in the building. Additionally, uniforms can be purchased at DENNIS Uniform and DiGiorgio’s.
Summer Parish Activities
Picnics in the Parking Lot - The upcoming parish Picnics in the Parking Lot will take place on July 30, and August 20. The picnics are a great way for new families to meet other school and parish families. Many thanks to the Men’s Club for their work in planning these fun events.
Garage Sale - The parish Human Needs Garage Sale is also a wonderful way to reconnect with friends and shop while supporting the parish. The sale runs from July 30-August 1 in the MOQ Gym. Special thanks to Mary Parizek and the Human Needs Committee for this wonderful service project.
Parish 2 Parish Relay - The Parish 2 Parish Relay will be held on August 14, 2021. The Parish 2 Parish Relay is a multi-person relay race through the streets of four west Omaha parishes. The race begins and ends at Mary Our Queen with stops at St. Stephen’s, St. Wenceslaus and St. Robert’s. Each 6-member team (a minimum of 3 females per team) completes the 19-mile course with each member running one leg (about 3 miles). Registration is open and is limited to 50 teams.
Register: https://www.active.com/…/distance-run…/parish-2-parish-2021
Facebook page at- https://www.facebook.com/parish2parish
Our School
Email: mhoy@moqschool.org
Website: moqschool.org
Location: 3405 South 119th Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: (402) 333-8663