FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE
Our Lady Queen of Heaven School :: November 6th, 2013
The FHS is a monthly on-line school newsletter. It will be emailed to you through School Reach. There will be weekly reminders of important events and activities that are planned for the upcoming week.
Dear Parents and Members of the OLQHS Community
I cannot believe it’s already November and the Holiday season is fast approaching. It has been an eventful fall. The Auction and Carnival have already been completed for the 2013 – 2014 school year. Football and volleyball seasons are over. The construction of the new building is underway and progress can be seen every day. Soon the foundation will be poured and then the walls and roof will go up. The goal is for the building to be completed by the end of May. After school lets out this year, it will be time to transform the science building and the 8th grade quad into our new Pre-K and Kindergarten areas. Next summer will be a busy time moving everyone into the new building and on to the main campus. It will be an exciting time and OLQHS will need everyone’s support and assistance. It will have to be a real community effort just as the Cornerstone Capital Campaign has been a real community effort. The goal of 3.5 million has not been reached yet, but we are almost there. After the renovations are completed on the science building and the 8th grade quad, it will be time to start the real reason for this entire construction, the new Early Childhood Center.
Let us pray that we do not have a rainy winter and that all involved in the construction do not suffer any injury. May God continue to shine upon this wonderful community that I am so blessed to be a part of.
OLQHS is an incredible place to be.
Ms. JoAnn
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song”. (Psalm 28:7)
Important Messages From Our School
- We will have our Thanksgiving Food Drive November 11 – 15. Thank you for donating.
- No Buses November 11, 2013
- Please be aware there are now large trucks moving dirt, etc around the school.
The Early Childhood Center is taking applications for a mature individual to work part-time with toddlers. Please call 477-8438 for more information.
- “OL’ Man Winter” Long sleeve T-shirt Sale” - Cold Weather is upon us. . . The OLQH long sleeve gray T-shirts that we have left in stock, regular price $17 are on sale for $10.00. These shirts may be worn on T-shirt days and OLQH field trips.
Limited number of long sleeve T-shirts available. Get yours before they are gone!!!
Year of Faith
Words from Pope Francis:
Prayer
“Instant Wisdom”
Text Dependent Questions: What Are They?
The Common Core State Standards for reading strongly focus on students gathering evidence, knowledge, and insight from what they read. Indeed, eighty to ninety percent of the Reading Standards in each grade require text dependent analysis; accordingly, aligned curriculum materials should have a similar percentage of text dependent questions.
As the name suggests, a text dependent question specifically asks a question that can only be answered by referring explicitly back to the text being read. It does not rely on any particular background information extraneous to the text nor depend on students having other experiences or knowledge; instead it privileges the text itself and what students can extract from what is before them.
For example, in a close analytic reading of Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address,” the following would not be text dependent questions:
- Why did the North fight the civil war?
- Have you ever been to a funeral or gravesite?
- Lincoln says that the nation is dedicated to the proposition that “all men are created equal.” Why is equality an important value to promote?
The overarching problem with these questions is that they require no familiarity at all with Lincoln’s speech in order to answer them. Responding to these sorts of questions instead requires students to go outside the text. Such questions can be tempting to ask because they are likely to get students talking, but they take students away from considering the actual point Lincoln is making. They seek to elicit a personal or general response that relies on individual experience and opinion, and answering them will not move students closer to understanding the text of the “Gettysburg Address.”
Good text dependent questions will often linger over specific phrases and sentences to ensure careful comprehension of the text—they help students see something worthwhile that they would not have seen on a more cursory reading. Typical text dependent questions ask students to perform one or more of the following tasks:
- Analyze paragraphs on a sentence by sentence basis and sentences on a word by word basis to determine the role played by individual paragraphs, sentences, phrases, or words
- Investigate how meaning can be altered by changing key words and why an author may have chosen one word over another
- Probe each argument in persuasive text, each idea in informational text, each key detail in literary text, and observe how these build to a whole
- Examine how shifts in the direction of an argument or explanation are achieved and the impact of those shifts
- Question why authors choose to begin and end when they do
- Note and assess patterns of writing and what they achieve
- Consider what the text leaves uncertain or unstated
Caught You Being Good this week at OLQHS!!! Let’s Celebrate!!!
Mrs. P would like to recognize Lance LaBove for his kindness as an upstander when another student needed it.
Ethan Manuel and a group of students were walking and Ethan fell and dropped his binder. Lucas Brugioni stopped and helped Ethan then carried his binder for him.
Awesome students!!!!
Cornerstone Capital Campaign
We have reached 93% of our goal! With your help – we can reach 100%!
You have seen the progress on the new middle school building – we hope for the slab to be poured this week! We are getting excited about what is to come!
If you are interested in making a donation to the campaign or would like more information, please contact Megan O’Quin at 477-7349 or moquin@olqhs. org. Thank you for your support and help continuing the legacy of OLQHS!
“Layers of Legacy” Courtyard
There is still time to purchase your brick in the “Layers of Legacy” Courtyard! In the new OLQHS middle school building, there will be a brick courtyard where students will be able to congregate, learn and perform school activities. You have the opportunity to purchase a brick for this courtyard for yourself, a loved one, an organization or business, or in memoriam. Bricks may be purchased in increments of $100, $250, $500 and $1,000. We hope you will join us in making a lasting tribute, paving the way for generations to come!
Please contact Megan O’Quin at 477-7349 or moquin@olqhs.org for more information.
The deadline for purchasing bricks is December 31, 2013.
Middle School Youth Ministry of Our Lady Queen of Heaven
Hello, my name is Joshua Thompson and I have recently accepted the position of Middle School Youth Minister for this wonderful parish community. I come from Moss Bluff and I am from St Theodore parish. I was homeschooled up to middle school where I attended Holy Family and was then homeschooled again until I graduated high school. After high school I joined a religious order called the Legionaries of Christ where I spent 8 years in formation towards the priesthood. After these years in the Legion and many positive experiences I have discerned that the Legionary priesthood is no longer my path and so I have returned home to study at Nursing at Macanese and serve in whatever capacity I can. During my last two years as a Legionary, I worked at Everest Academy, a K-12 school in Clarkston, MI as the instructor of formation for the 3-8 grade boys. I plan on bringing my experience with middle school youth as well as my joy and passion for helping young people develop themselves in the image of God to my new position at OLQH. I ask for your prayers and will keep you in mine. God bless, Joshua Thompson.
Middle School Activities for Our Lady Queen of Heaven Youth Ministry for this week are:
November 9, 2013, 10-5 - Middle School Rally at Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Sulphur. Pick up registration forms at the youth house, or call 474-8755, or Diocese office of youth ministry.
THANK YOU!!! :: Heavenly Jazz Fest :: OLQHS Auction & Carnival
Thank you to all who volunteered to help with the 2013 Auction and Carnival. Both events were wonderfully successful and it is due to your participation, support and enthusiasm. Special thanks to our Auction Chairs Wendy Mann-Harper and Kayla Young and our Carnival Chairs Kerri Courville and Liz Fruge. It was a great weekend; we truly appreciate all you do for the OLQHS community!
Fast Start Program for PreK and Kindergarten
The Fast Start send home literacy program is now in progress in both the K and Pre-k. The folders are being sent home each Tuesday with new poems and nursery rhythms. We highly encourage you to take part in the program and enjoy the time spent with your child doing the Fast Start 1...2..3 routine! To further encourage you, here is an excerpt from a research article on the subject.
“In a 12 week implementation of the program at home, Rasinski and Stevenson (2005) report that the most at-risk students engaged in Fast Start made significantly more progress in word recognition and fluency than students not doing Fast Start at home but receiving the same reading instruction in school. In fact the Fast Start students made nearly twice the gain in fluency (automaticity) than students not engaged in Fast Start.”
sixth grade
The sixth grade students are learning some new reading strategies and skills with our new reading series. Many of these are unfamiliar to the students, but they have been working hard. With perseverance the students have made progress and hopefully with determination will work towards mastery of these new strategies and skills. The students are reading up a storm. For the first nine weeks period, the students have earned a total of 3,965 points. I am extremely proud of them.
Ms. Hearn
Music
Congratulations to the following 5th grade students selected to participate in the District V – Vocal Music Teacher ELEMENTARY HONOR CHORUS:
Madison Bebee, Mary-Katherine Burr, Lilliana Fruge, Kristen Guillory, Audrey Heinen, Kali Hudson, Megan McGee, Emily Monk, Molly Ortego, Colby Rapp, Sophia Snider, Lay’sha Turner
JH Honor Chorus Audition Winners:
Juliana Broussard, Emma Matt, Allison O'Quain, Ana-Claire Perkins, Jillian Sedano, Caleb McMorris, Lauren Godeaux, Hannah Guillory, Benjamin Tanner , Anna Cameron & Ally Kadlubar.
OLQHS Beta Club
The Beta Students participated in setting up for All Souls’ Day Mass on November 4, 2013. Each member were given specific jobs to place over 2,000 candles in white bags across the entire cemetery before 6:30 Mass. The Beta students took this job seriously and were very reverend throughout this service project. The Beta Sponsors are so proud of the members who dedicated his/her time to prepare the cemetery for this event in our community.
OLQHS Beta Club
OLQHS Beta Club
OLQHS Beta Club
NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY
Congratulations AR Stars Mercedes Oviedo & Kelsie Cooley, 8th grade; and Priyenka Patel, 6th grade.
Congratulations to our first Double AR Star of the year: Jake Hanks, 6th grade.
Remember OLQHS BOOK FAIR will be open until Friday November, 8th.
OLQHS 4-H Club
There will be a 4-H meeting on Monday, November 18th at 3:30 in Mrs. Houssiere’s room
“FOR IT IS IN GIVING THAT WE RECEIVE…” – St. Francis of Assisi. This year, OLQHS has 2 opportunities to GIVE
THANKSGIVING FOOD BASKETS :: Collection Week November 11-15
First, in an effort to help the needy of our parish, we will put together our traditional Thanksgiving Baskets. We would appreciate all the support and help you can give in order to enrich the holiday season for these needy people. Remember the call of the Gospel which reminds us to share freely with the poor what we have been freely given. Collection week for Thanksgiving Baskets will be November 11 – 15, 2013. Thank you for your on-going generosity! Examples of items to bring for the food drive are: potted meat, peanut butter, dried beans, rice, pasta products, instant potatoes, Vienna sausages, sugar, flour, canned tuna, canned soup, mac & cheese, pork & beans, grits, oatmeal, canned or powdered milk, kool-aid, canned vegetables, tomato products, canned fruit and baby food.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD :: Collection Week November 14-18
Second, as a SCHOOL-WIDE project, OLQHS will participate in a program that stretches across the world and reaches many people in need. Since 1993, OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD has been sending packed Christmas shoeboxes to children all over the world. For the past 6 years, the OLQH scouts have participated in OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD. Four years ago, we extended an invitation to the students and school community to participate in this amazing program. Over the years, the OLQH School Community has donated over 1800 packed shoeboxes!!! THAT IS WONDERFUL!!!! Unfortunately, the number of packed shoeboxes collected last year was lower than in previous years. But remember, each box is 1 child that knows he or she is loved…each box is 1 child that knows someone is praying for them…each box is 1 child that will experience God’s Love through your generosity.
This year, we hope to see the program grow even more… to make this the LARGEST COLLECTION WEEK of our OLQHS~OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD history!!! EACH STUDENT will receive a SPECIAL OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD Shoebox to fill. In each shoebox will be a brochure explaining the program, a prayer card bookmark and an ALL ABOUT ME page. If you need more information you can click on the RELIGIOUS INTERACTIVE link on the OLQHS website. A list of sites, including the OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD site will be linked. You can also view videos about how these simple gifts make amazing differences in the lives of these children. Please remember to include the $7 shipping fee with each shoebox. You CAN pack additional shoeboxes and you can use regular shoeboxes or plastic containers. Plastic snap containers that are about the same size as a shoebox are an EXCELLENT additional gift. The family that receives it can use the plastic boxes to keep grains safe or to collect water. You can even have a PACKING PARTY where a group gets together and packs MULTIPLE boxes.
Tracking Your Boxes or Letter of Thanks
On the Operation Christmas Child website, you can print out special labels that allow you to TRACK-YOU-BOX. The company will send you an email shortly after your box is delivered telling you in what country a special child received your gift. In years past, boxes from OLQHS have gone to Benin, Kenya, Tunisia, Madagascar, Ghana, China, India, Belize and Russia! Sometimes, people receive very moving THANK YOU letters from the children that received their shoeboxes. This is such a special treat! If you receive a thank you letter or if you track your box, could you please let Mrs. Tanner know? She is keeping a scrapbook that plots how many countries we reach over time. She is including in this scrapbook copies of thank you letters received.
Collection Week for the shoeboxes is NOVEMBER 18-21, but you can start packing and bringing them in now. Students that pack shoeboxes will receive either a sticker or a balloon when they turn in their packed shoebox.
ASBESTOS STATEMENT
EACH YEAR PARENTS MUST BE INFORMED THAT THE SCHOOL HAS COMPLIED WITH ALL NATIONAL STANDARDS REGARDING ASBESTOS ON CAMPUS. CERTAIN VINYL FLOORS AND THE PANELS THAT ARE BELOW THE QUAD WINDOWS WILL HAVE TO BE HANDLED APPROPRIATELY IF EVER REPLACED. OUR REPORT INDICATES THAT EXISTING ASBESTOS IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND WE HAVE THE HIGHEST RATING GIVEN. YOU ARE WELCOME TO EXAMINE THE ASBESTOS FILE IN THE OFFICE IF DESIRED.
About Our School
Lake Charles, LA 70605
Phone: 337.477.7349
Fax: 337.477.7384
Email: drivero@olqhs.org
Website: www.olqhs.org
Location: 3908 Creole Street, Lake Charles, LA
Phone: (337)477-7349