FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE
Our Lady Queen of Heaven School :: February 19th, 2016
"I desire mercy, and not sacrifice" (Mt 9:13)
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
The new ECC is almost completed. Entergy needs to come and move the pole that now sits in the middle of the new driveway. The new pole is up but the electrical lines have not been moved. The construction people need to condition the building before they can lay the VCT. The bathrooms are tiled, the cabinets are in, the walls and cabinets are painted, the changing tables are constructed, and the kitchen is almost completed. It is going to be the very best!!!
I am going to be so glad when I don’t have to attend a construction meeting every two (2) weeks, but I will miss all of the wonderful people who have worked so hard to help OLQHS change and grow. I have learned so much because individuals have taken time to explain the various construction elements that were needing consideration. I believe we have a great new home for the youngest members of the community and for our teacher's babies.
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Meris Courville as the Director of Administration of the ECC and Katrina Lee as the Assistant Director of Child Development and Curriculum. June Green will become the Assistant Director of Aftercare and Summer Care. It was a decision that was made through a lot of prayer, observations, and discussions. I feel these three ladies share the vision of the administration and Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Heaven School to make the ECC an integral part of our school.
Meris has been working at the ECC for more than 10 years. She has been involved with the construction and plans for our new facility and has had input into every aspect of the new building. Mrs. Lee is in the process of obtaining her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education. She is such a great teacher that I want her to continue to teach the 4 year-olds. She will do her other duties in the afternoon hours. Mrs. Green has also worked at the ECC and the school for many years. As a team, they will work together to make the ECC the best childcare center around.
The opening of the new center will start a new era for the Our Lady Queen of Heaven School Community.
Thank you for all that you do!
OLQHS is an incredible place to be!
~Ms. JoAnn
The Season of Lent
Lent is a time of conversion, and a time to guard against the devil, who tries to rob us of God’s dream that we become his sons and daughters. That is what Pope Francis said on Sunday when he visited the violent, crime-ridden Mexican suburb of Ecatepec.
“Lent is a good time to recover the joy and hope that make us feel beloved sons and daughters of the Father,” the Pope said Feb. 14.
God the Father, he continued, “waits for us in order to cast off our garments of exhaustion, of apathy, of mistrust, and so clothe us with the dignity which only a true father or mother knows how to give their children.”
He said that “God’s dream” makes its home and lives within each one of us, “so that at every Easter, in every Eucharist we celebrate, we may be the children of God.”
However, Francis also noted that Lent is “a time of conversion,” and of experiencing daily “how this dream is continually threatened by the father of lies, by the one who tries to separate us, making a divided and fractious society.”
"The works of mercy on the road of the Jubilee" (Pope Frances)
Instant Wisdom
Writing that Makes Sense
When a child first learns to write, his stories may not always make sense to others. Help his writing flow logically with these two ideas.
- Let him read his stories to you. Ask questions to encourage him to add information (“What did you do with your friends at recess?” or to clear up a confusing part (“Who said, “Let’s go home”—you, or your brother?”)
- Even if he isn’t writing sentences yet, he can tell you stories. He might describe the new class pet or something funny that happened at lunch. He’ll practice relating events in a logical order, and that can help when he puts his thoughts and ideas down on paper.
Read-along books: Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia, Dragons Love Tacos, Just a Second, and Bedtime is Canceled.
Caught You Being Good this week at OLQHS! Let’s Celebrate!
- Jack Watson and Adam Guth were handing out bulletins after church on Sundays.
- Mrs. Foshee caught Colin Tanner being Good! He came in after school and put my stools up on the tables so the cleaning crew can sweep. He did this without being asked. Thanks, Colin!
Carline Changes
Thank you so much for your willingness to adjust to the new carline configuration. It is working so well. All carlines are finished by 3:30pm or better. The neighbors are very appreciative.
Groundhog Day History
Groundhog Day marks the midway point between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox. It is a derivative from the early Christian holiday of Candlemas Day. The holiday is commemorated when a famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, emerges from his burrow and looks for his shadow. The tradition goes that this day, is used to help determine how many weeks of winter might be left. It is observed every year on February 2nd and was established in 1887.
Other School News...
Pre-K
We are learning about life in the city and in the country. How they are alike. How they are different. The students have drawn their favorite farm animals and they are a treat to see!
We are learning about Lent and what we can give up or sacrifice (toys from the Treasure Box) and what we can do to be good and kind , like Jesus!
Kindergarten
Our kindergarten students are now PUBLISHED AUTHORS! Each student has written an entry and created an illustration to be included in our class books. Soon, we will have a "Meet The Author Day" at school where we will reveal our new books and celebrate our new authors.
During the month of January, Ms. Edens has had a class competition to see if we could fill a hot cocoa mug full of marshmallows by doing good deeds and displaying exemplary behavior. Every time a student was "caught being good," they were able to add a marshmallow to the mug. As a class, we achieved our goal and celebrated with a hot cocoa party!
2nd Grade
Last month second grade had Famous American Day. Also, last month second grade had their 1st Communion Ritual where they receive a candle. Right now we are studying space. Friday we go to NASA. We will be studying the solar system and each child will make a planet and give a report.
5th and 6th Grades
Next Tues. Feb. 23 the MOLU lab is coming to our school for the first time to conduct several experiments that deal with oil and gas energy. MOLU stands for Mobile Oilfield Learning Unit. The sponsors for this special program are Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Marathon Oil Corp, Nat’l Oilwell Varco and Schlumberger & Shell. This traveling educational exhibit is geared toward 5th grade and up. During this lab 5th and 6th grade students will break into 6 different learning stations where they will learn about various energy concepts.
7th and 8th Grade Religion Classes
This week the 7th and 8th graders are participating in lessons on the Chair of St. Peter taught by Mrs. Mandy Robichaux and Mrs. Sharon Saltzman, Apostles of St. Peter. The students will learn about the history of our great faith and gain love for the office of the Papacy. They will be making a spiritual bouquet for Pope Francis and a picture will be sent to him.
Mrs. Trahan says THANK YOU!!!
2016 OLQHS ANNUAL AUCTION EVENT
OLQHS AUCTION 2016
TICKETS
Purchase your tickets now! $50/person
You may buy your ticket online or make your check out to OLQHS PTC. No tickets sales after March 1st – must purchase tickets at the door for $65
GOLDEN TICKET
This year – don’t miss your chance to take home your favorite live auction item for just $100! The night of the auction, you will be able to purchase a golden ticket for $100. There will be a limited number of tickets and the winner must be present to win – drawing will be at the beginning of the live auction.
THEME BASKETS
Theme basket committee is accepting donations now! Please make a monetary donation or donate a gift card to help us fill these baskets! Send all donations to your child’s homeroom teacher. All donations must be turned in by Friday, February 19th.
The class with the best participation will win a popcorn party!!
SPONSOR THIS EVENT! Contact Megan O’Quin at moquin@olqhs.org for sponsorship information.
Live entertainment by Cold Sweat!!
Friday, Mar 4, 2016, 06:00 PM
OLQH Family Life Center Gym
The Art World
Congratulations to our new students in Artsonia's Hall of Fame. We have two new Kindergarteners, Ali Williams and Sarah Paggen. There are two new Second Graders as well--Asa Listi and Drake Hinton. Emma Cooper in Third Grade is new in the Hall of Fame, as well as two Seventh Graders Andrew Landry and Gavin Broussard. Good job, everyone!
Kindergarten is finishing their Cracked Easter Egg Families as an Easter Gift to their parents. First Grade is finishing their Snowman in the Yard with cray pas (they LOVE cray pas!). Second Grade will learn to weave and make an Easter place mat.
Third Graders are using their new cursive writing skills to create an alien monster, which is super fun! Fourth Graders are working very hard on their Picasso Portraits. Parents, be sure to go out and buy a frame because these pictures are frameable. I am sooo very proud of Mrs Duhon's and Mrs. Arceneaux's Third Grade classes for the amount of Art/Music AR Biographies that they are reading . I would like to see the other Third Grade class and all the Fourth Grade classes do some reading. Remember, you learn about the artists/composers, you get a sticker, you get candy, and you get points on your art grade. Why wouldn't you read?
Fifth Graders are madly painting their Mask Gourds and they are looking great! Seventh Grade is finishing their Jay Bowdon style Abstract and will soon begin on their gourd bowls. Eighth Graders are doing a study of Andy Warhol and will do a Warhol Style self-portrait on the Wacom Tablets in the Fine Arts PC Lab. They will be fabulous!
Remember we are having fun, creating, and making messes!
Brenda Foshee, Art
OLQHS LIBRARY
AR STAR
Congratulations to AR Stars Claire Brescher, 8th grade; Frances Oiviedo, 7th grade; George Trappey, Avery Heinen, and Matthew Acuna, 5th grade and Emma Bright, 5th grade.
Special congratulations to our Double Stars April Wang and Sarah Doty, 5th grade; and Christopher Abrahams, 6th grade.
SPRING BOOK FAIR STARTS FEB. 29!
First grade classes are learning about Caldecott Award picture books in the library. The award is given each year to the picture book voted to have the best illustrations. The students are learning about the art mediums used in the drawings and discussing their favorites as we read and discuss the winning books. The lesson will culminate with the students selecting a favorite to draw in Mrs. Foshee’s art class. Student work will be displayed in the library and the primary quad.
OLQHS BAND
The Band students at OLQH have been hard at work this year! They have had a blast playing at the Pep Rallies, have enjoyed participating in the prelude music for the Festival of Lights and Wreaths and loved playing music for the Thanksgiving Mass. All of the band students helped us celebrate the Christmas Season with the beautiful music in conjunction with the OLQH Chorus at our annual Christmas Concert. Congratulations BAND Students on a music filled fall semester!
Band Notes
Band Festival for the 7th and 8th Grade Band is quickly approaching! We will be performing at the Civic Center for a stellar panel of judges on March 8th. All are invited to come out, to hear and support our awesome, hard working OLQHS Concert Band.
The 8th grade band had a blast leading the Kindergarten Mardi Gras Parade and they played the Alma Mater beautifully for the Alumni Mass during Catholic Schools week.
Music/Choir
Congratulations to the following students who participated in the DISTRICT V VOCAL MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION HONOR CHORUS PERFORMANCE on Saturday, Feb. 13. They were selected by audition from schools across the 5 parish area to represent OLQHS. These students had the opportunity to rehearse with a nationally recognized conductor and perform in a concert with representatives from the other area schools. GREAT JOB!!!
5th Grade
Madison Blanchette
Olivia Larsen
Sarah Lumpkin
Isabella Lundy
Caroline Ritchie
Destiny Wilrye
6th Grade
Emily Cobb
Haley Curol
Hallie Marie Kleckley
Livya Monson
Hailey Williams
Dhara Brasieur
Addy Caswell
Kat Daley
Mazie Marceaux
Maria Thibodeaux
Christopher Abrahams
Jay Fuselier
Brennan Welsh
7th Grade
Allison DeBarge
Molly Inman
Lay'Sha Turner
Melisa Vo
Baylee Erwin
Kristen Guillory
Allison Johnson
Megan McGee
8th Grade
Hannah Bertrand
Emma Matt*
Allison O'Quain*
Ana-Claire Perkins*
Jane Clare Radde
Jillian Sedano*
Juliana Broussard*
Jace Peloquin
*=3 Year Honor Chorus Participant Award
Also, “THE HALLS ARE ALIVE……WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC!” Over 100 of our Jr. High Students are hard at work preparing and rehearsing for the April performances of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Please plan on joining us for one of their amazing presentations of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s famous and beloved musical, THE SOUND OF MUSIC.
Performances will be at the LCB Arts Academy Auditorium on April 28 & 29. Ticket information will be released soon.
Mrs. Colette Tanner
BETA CLUB
BETA Club is an academic achievement and service organization for 6th, 7th , and 8th grade students. Each year the BETA Club participates in many service projects to benefit our school and community. Recently, the BETA Club collected and donated blankets to Abrahams Tent.
This year the BETA Club will once again sponsor the Mardi Gras Beads Collection for the Autism Society. Collecting, sorting, and selling Mardi Gras beads is one of the Autism Society’s largest fundraisers, and OLQH School was a HUGE contributor last year. We are hoping to have another wonderful year of donating to this cause.
We will have a classroom competition and the class who collects the most Mardi Gras beads in Elementary and the most beads in Jr. High will each get a Pizza Party! The second place classes will get a candy prize! In order for the beads to count for your child’s class, please COUNT the beads at home and send the number to your child’s teacher with the beads. If you send the beads in plastic grocery bags, please DOUBLE BAG them and don’t overfill them so they don’t break through. Please do not send the beads in paper bags that will tear with the weight of the beads.
Collection will begin on Ash Wednesday, February 10 and end Friday, February 19, 2016. Thank you so much for your participation in this fundraiser project!!!
On Tuesday, February 16, 2016, the OLQH Beta Club inducted 56 new members.
We also honored 47 second year members and 51 third year members. The National Junior Beta Club is a student centered organization whose motto is “Let us Lead by Serving Others.” Members must maintain a 90% academic average and a 90% Conduct grade. Members also serve the school, church, and community through many service projects. Our most recent service projects were a blanket collection for Abraham’s Tent and a Mardi Gras bead collection for the Autism Society. Congratulations to all of our newly inducted members! We are very proud of ALL of our Beta members!
SWAG CLUB
The 6th grade SWAG Club did a lesson on differences. Each student was given a different colored egg. They decorated their egg with a self-portrait. After the class discussed how every egg looks different on the outside, the students cracked their egg into a bowl revealing that they were all the same on the inside.
Culinary Club
This year the Culinary Club will be venturing out into the community to learn about how restaurants operate behind the scenes. The 8th grade Culinary Club members will be visiting the Harlequin on February 22. The students will learn about the different cuts of meat, and how they are prepared. The 6th grade members will be going to Ci Ci’s Pizza on March 9 where they will be able to make their own pizzas. 7th grade members will take their annual trip to L’auberge to visit all of the restaurants. The date of this trip has yet to be confirmed.
Sue Ellen Stokeld
MATHCOUNTS
Congratulations to the MATHCOUNTS team for winning 2nd place at the Regional Competition at McNeese on Saturday, February 6, 2016. Team members include Allison Johnson, Katherine Jester, Ethan Hebert, and Gabrielle Kuehn. Also, placing in the individual competition were: Allison Johnson, 8th place, Ethan Hebert, 4th place, and Gabrielle Kuehn, 2nd place. Gabrielle won a $750.00 scholarship to McNeese.
Placing in the countdown round were: Allison Johnson, 2nd place, and Ethan Hebert, 3rd place.
Other participants from Our Lady Queen of Heaven School in the Regional Competition included Maggie Bruchhaus and Kade Bouillion.
Team members will now compete in the State Competition in March.
OLQHS Chess Club Holds Intra-Club Tournament
The first tournament of 2016 was divided into two separate brackets. One competition included all 2nd and 3rd grade members, while another was for students in grades 4-7. The format was single elimination.
The winner in the grades 2-3 competition was Briggs Hebert. He won a tough match against Shaun Nhdlovu in the finals. The grades 4-7 champion was Matthew Acuna. He prevailed with a quick checkmate in the finals against L.J. Aguillard.
A second tournament is planned for late February when several former members will be returning to the club after other extracurricular activities come to an end. Among these returning players is last year’s defending champion, Jake Smith.
OLQHS JAZZLINE UPCOMING EVENTS
Attention all previous members of OLQHS Jazzline and/or Baronettes from this year's 6th and 7th grades: Jazzline Tryouts are soon approaching. If interested, parents/guardians MUST attend the parent pre-tryout meeting to sign up and receive important information about the group.
Dates:
1.Pre-Tryout Parent/dancer meeting: Monday, March 21st 5:00 - 6:00. Room 13 Sra. Smith Spanish room (sign up for tryouts, discuss expectations, tryouts, fees, obligations, practices, etc.)
2. Tryout practices: Monday - Thursday, April 11-14th, little gym from 3:30-4:30. Learn routine and skills.
3. TRYOUTS: Friday, April 15th little gym from 3:30-4:30pm. May leave after performing.
4. UNIFORM FITTING: Wednesday, April 20th in little gym from 3:30-4:30. - first payment installment due.
For more information or questions, please email Sra. Smith at masmith@olqhs.org.
CHEERLEADING UPCOMING EVENTS
I also wanted to let everyone know the dates for cheer tryouts. All incoming 8th graders who have been a Baronette or Jazzline member with good academic standing of a 80% average or better is eligible for Cheer.
Dates:
- Pre-Tryout Parent meeting: Wednesday, March 23rd 6:00pm (sign up for tryouts, discuss expectations, tryouts, fees, obligations, practices, etc.)
- Tryout practices: Wednesday & Thursday, April 6 & 7th, 3:30-4:30. Learn routine and skills
- TRYOUTS: Friday, April 8th 3:30-4:30pm.
- UNIFORM FITTING: Tuesday, April 12th in Middle School from 3:30-4:30
- Post Tryout Parent Meeting : Wednesday, April 13th 6:00pm
OLQHS ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
Register now to play in the OLQHS Golf Classic!
Friday, March 18, 2016
11:00 am
Lake Charles Country Club
3 man scramble - $400/team
Register now online here
Contact Megan O’Quin at moquin@olqhs.orgfor sponsorship information.
YEARBOOK DEADLINES
The deadline to order a 2015-1016 yearbook and purchase a personal or business ad to be place in the yearbook is Friday, March 18th.
Order forms for both can be found at www.olqhs.org under the “Parent” tab. If you have questions about yearbook orders, please email kbabineaux@olqhs.org or pbeverung@olqhs.org. If you have questions about yearbook ads, please email ctanner@olqhs.org.
OLQHS is a Cell Phone Free Zone
Please when driving through carline; remember that school zones are cell phone free zones. The crossing guards as well as duty teachers have noticed that there are quite a few people who are on their cell phones while picking up their children. When the Louisiana legislature voted the cell phone free zones into law, I am sure they were concerned with the safety of the children of Louisiana.
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