MUSTANG MEMO
August 30-September 3, 2021
Principal's Message
As we welcome the month of September, we can celebrate a successful start to the 2021-22 school year. Students are doing a wonderful job of settling into the new school year routines and we look forward to a busy week before our upcoming three-day weekend.
K-8 Curriculum NIght
Tuesday, August 31, is Curriculum Night for parents of students in Kindergarten through Grade 8. (There is no Curriculum Night for preschool students.) The purpose of this evening is to provide parents an opportunity to gain a general overview of curriculum and expectations for their child’s grade level. The evening will begin in the Church at 6:00 PM. Four 15-minute rotations will allow parents to attend multiple grade level presentations. A schedule for the evening is HERE.
School COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed and parents will wear masks in the school building. Seating will be limited at each session. This event is for parents only. Students do not attend. Childcare will not be available.
Curriculum Night is a wonderful opportunity to begin building a working partnership between home and school. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.
Service Project - Fall Festival Food Drive
The Fall Festival Food Drive is our first official service project for this school year. Students are invited to donate non-perishable food items to support the Ladies Guild Grocery Booth. This Wednesday, September 1, students donating to the drive earn a free dress day. Thank you to the Ladies Guild for providing this opportunity to serve our parish.
STAR Testing
All students in grades K-8 will complete a STAR 360 test in the next few weeks. This assessment instrument is a computer adaptive tool that will provide important data utilized to evaluate our curriculum and inform instructional decisions. This standardized test is required by the Archdiocese of Omaha and replaces other standardized tests (MAP Growth and Terra Nova 3) used in the past. Students will be completing assessments in Math and Reading. Results will be shared with parents.
Classroom teachers will share specific testing dates.
Counselor's Corner
As our routines become settled here at school, this is a good time to think about your routines at home. We all know how full our schedules become with sports, after school events, homework and even finding time for that sit-down dinner as a family. Here are a few ideas to get you started on the “right” foot for the new year.
- Set a routine for homework—whether it is “as soon as you get home” or “after a snack” or some other practice you us, it is helpful for the children to know when and where to study.
- Have specific school materials for the children to do their homework in their designated “homework spot.” We expect (per our handbook) that most grade levels will have homework each night. Sometimes it is “only” to read a story to you or with you, but getting into the habit of understanding their responsibility with their own work is important from a very young age. Help them with this by expecting and practicing it.
- Prepare items (such as bookbags) needed for the next morning ready the night before. If the children are responsible to get that test/paper/etc. signed by you before the drive to school—it will make for a smoother ride to school for everyone. Discuss this and practice it now—from the very beginning of the year.
- If procrastination or focus is a problem, set a timer for a short period of time (10 or 15 minutes) and have them check in with you…and then repeat. This allows for movement and focusing.
- Sleep…does it ever feel like we get enough?! Well, it is a much-researched topic that shows children need those 8 to 10 hours each night to do their best work.
- As more and more children have cell phones, experts agree that it is necessary to keep phones out of the bedroom. Research has shown that cell phones (and like electronic devices) hinder our body’s ability to begin a natural “shut-down” process for a restful night’s sleep. Have every family member leave his or her phone in a central spot, like the kitchen.
- Our very important STAR Testing (standardized tests) window has begun and will end on September 17th for kindergarten through eighth grade. Individual teachers have probably sent you their testing schedules. We appreciate whatever you can do to help your child attain his or her best score—accurately showing their full potential.
Please know that I am available for questions and concerns you might have with your child’s education and well-being. I can help with school communications, assignment book checking and/or many other “helps” you might need. Never hesitate to give me a call if you have a question or concern. We all work as a team to make the MOQ experience the best it can be! Welcome back!
(Other ideas can be found at scholastic.com, kidshealth.org, www2.ed.gov)
Dr. Peggy Croy
School Counselor
New this year--order your YEARBOOKS online when you place your photo order!
MOQ COVID Weekly Update and Protocols
We continue to monitor data related to COVID-19 and are grateful for the faith, perseverance and hard work our students and families have shown. Thank you for helping MOQ maintain learning and safety in our school.
The COVID-19 school safety protocol is reviewed and updated every three weeks and communicated in our Mustang Memo. Please click HERE for this week’s update.
Weekly COVID Update
The number of new positive cases in the MOQ School community this week is 0.
Extended Care
Don't forget to fill out the September Calendar. Please do not fill out a new form if you need to add or delete any days. Instead, email extendedcare@moqschool.org if you need to add or delete days.
Registration is now CLOSED for Before and After Care. At this time, we are full.
Registration is still OPEN for Break Care and Summer Care.
With these hot temperatures, we are limiting time outside. We use this chart to determine how long we will be outside or if it is safe to go outside. When we are in the yellow zone, we go out for no more than 30 minutes. If we are in the red zone, we stay indoors. All children must bring their water bottle out with them. If they do not have a water bottle, we have them available for purchase.
We are still hiring for a teacher position or support staff. Please contact Ashley or Mary if you are interested at extendedcare@moqschool.org
We keep parents updated on activities, snack schedule, and more on our Facebook Page. Please join the group to hear about our latest happenings!
Girl Scouts
Girl Scout troops are forming now. Join Girl Scouts to gain knowledge and experience learning through fun in the four pillars of Girl Scouting: Life Skills, Entrepreneurship, Outdoors, and STEM! Gain lasting friendships with your troop in a girl-led environment designed to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Interested in joining or learning more about Girl Scouts at MOQ, please email Debbie Stalnaker (dbecker31@yahoo.com)
MICRO Soccer
MOQ Athletic Updates
GOLF:
Join MOQ Athletics for an afternoon of Golf in September. All proceeds will go directly to the Mary Our Queen Athletic Department and will assist in funding our programs, uniforms, and equipment. Register HERE. Winners of the tournament receive the coveted Mustang Masters Jackets.
SPIRIT STORE - UPDATE:
Please click HERE for the MOQ Football Spirit Wear Store. Get your orders in for athletic or fan apparel. The store will be open until August 30, 2021. After the store closes at 10:00 PM on August 30, all orders will be produced together. Orders are expected to be completed the week of September 27-October 4. When all the items are completed, the Spirit Store coordinator will pick up all the orders together. Everyone will then be contacted and a pick-up time will be set up per everyone's availability. If you have any questions, please contact Jami Woodling at jwoodling@hotmail.com.
BASKETBALL:
Mary Our Queen Athletics is excited to announce that basketball will be available to Mary Our Queen students in both the 5-day school and Religious Education program. First and second graders will be in a league representing MOQ, and third through eighth grade students will represent MOQ in the PAL basketball league. Tryouts will be in late September (final dates TBD) and rosters will be finalized mid-October.
Please sign your player up no later than September 1, 2021, on the WeShare link HERE.
MOQ Fall Festival
Join the fun by volunteering at the Mary Our Queen Fall Festival! Many hands make light work and we appreciate you sharing your time with the MOQ community.
Click HERE to volunteer. We encourage you to make this a family event--bring the kids and let them help too!
If you have any questions, please email moqfestival@gmail.com.
Looking Ahead
Tuesday, Aug. 31: K-8 Curriculum Night, 6:00 PM
Wednesday, Sept. 1: Last Day to Sign Up for Basketball
Monday, Sept. 6: No School - Labor Day
Tuesday, Sept. 7: No School for Students; Faculty In-Service
Wednesday, Sept. 8: Picture Day
Saturday, Sept. 11: MOQ Parish Fall Festival, 4:00-11:00 PM
Our School
Email: mhoy@moqschool.org
Website: moqschool.org
Location: 3405 South 119th Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: (402) 333-8663