Endurance for Education

Join us for a beautiful Saturday morning with our first annual 5K run/walk, "Endurance for Education." We will begin in OLV's parking lot promptly at 10:00 a.m.  Participants may continue to register the morning of the event!  Check out our website for more details.  We hope to see you there! www.olvchicago.org

Back to School Night

Parents, we invite you to join us on Thursday evening at 6:30PM for Back to School Night.  We will begin our evening in the gym followed by time in your child's classroom.  Father Robert will lead us in prayer and we will hear from Mrs. Hodge, and some of our leaders from various organizations.  Many of our organizations will be represented in the gym with a table and their leaders.  In your child's classroom you will be able to meet his/her teacher, learn about the teacher's expectations, and get a glimpse into what your child has been doing in school.

Welcome Back and Happy Labor Day!

We are off to a great start for the 2013-2014 school year.  I cannot believe how quickly the summer has come and gone.  Here we are celebrating the unofficial end of the summer season with Labor Day.  Celebrated on the first Monday in September, Labor Day was created to pay tribute to the American worker.  Today we celebrate with parties, BBQ's, and a day off!  Happy Labor Day to everyone!  Don't work too hard!!

Summer Program

Our Summer Program is in full swing now! This week we have made Play-doh, walked to the park, created beautiful butterflies, practiced our Math and Reading skills, and more! There are a few spots left if you would like to register!! Call the office for more information 773-283-2229.

The Last Week of the School Year

Wow!!  June 7th is just one week away.  Where has this year gone?  This coming week will include the following:

• Monday, June 3: Regular day with uniforms
• Tuesday, June 4: Regular day with uniforms, last day of Specials classes, Closing Ceremony for Junior PreSchool at 9:15AM
• Wednesday, June 5: Closing Ceremony for PreSchool/PreKindergarten at 9:30AM, All School Picnic
• Thursday, June 6: Closing Ceremony for Kindergarten at 9:30AM, Cleaning Day, last day for 8th grade (dismissal at 11:00AM for 8th grade ONLY) and 8th grade dinner dance
• Friday, June 7: Last day of school - Mass at 8:15AM and dismissal at 10:30AM, 8th grade Graduation at 7:00PM in the church

On Wednesday and Thursday, the students do not need to wear their uniforms, and may dress down.  Shorts may be worn, but need to be at least 3" above the knee.  Sandals may be worn, but with a back strap and with socks.  NO FLIP FLOPS!

Friday, for the last day of school, students should dress up for Mass.

Thursday, the students will also be allowed to bring items to play with at recess.  We will be having an extended lunch/recess.  They may bring scooters, balls, skates, etc.  Check with your child's homeroom teacher of what your child would like to bring to make sure the items will be allowed.

Happy Memorial Day!

Today is a day we remember and thank all of our country's service men and women.  They gave their lives to make our country safe and the land of the free!  As a proud daughter of a vet and granddaughter of veterans, I say, Thank you!!

Today is also the unofficial start of the summer season.  I can hardly believe this school year is almost over.  Where has the time gone?  I think back to when I started at OLV, and loved coming to school each day.  Nothing has changed!  I wake up every morning, excited to come to school, wondering what the day will bring.  Even though our school year will end on June 7, our Summer Program will begin on June 10...that's right!  June 10.  Parents have asked for a 10 week program, and we have made the accommodations.

Wondering what we are going to be doing this summer?  Here is a quick glimpse: sports, science, math, reading, art, cooking, field trips, parks, library and more!!  How are we going to fit all of these great things in each day?   You'd be surprised!  Come and check it out!

Catholic Schools Week

Catholic Schools Week is coming up this coming week.  We will be gathering together for the 9:30am Mass this Sunday, January 27.  Following the Mass, stop by and visit OLV for our Open House from 10:30am-12:30pm.  Take a tour through each classroom to see what "tools" each student receives here at OLV.  Together we are "Building Our Future. 
If you can't make the Open House on Sunday, join us on Thursday evening from 6-7:30pm, or feel free to call for a tour at any time.

Our Family Christmas Tree

OLV Family Christmas Tree 2012

Our families and faculty have been bringing in ornaments to add to our family tree.  The tree can be found on the landing by the Laramie entrance.  I love walking past the tree each day looking at all of the ornaments.  Each day there are more ornaments to see.  Thank you for bringing in the ornaments and hanging them on our tree!

Back to School Night

The school year has begun, and it is great to have the students back in the building.  To celebrate our school year, we will host Back to School Night on September 18.  We will begin with everyone in the gym with a prayer and introductions of faculty and staff.  The evening will begin at 6:30pm.  We will also share some of the new and exciting things we are doing at OLV this year.  After we conclude in the gym parents will be invited to visit their child's classroom.

Back to School BBQ and Motorcycle Demo

Can you believe we are thinking about Back to School already?  Where has this summer gone?  It seems as if July just started, but we can definitely do without this crazy heat!

So, you may have heard, we are raising money to purchase iPads for the students in grades 5 - 8.  To help us with this purchase, we will be selling raffle tickets to win an 2012 Dyna Harley Davidson Motorcycle or a cash raffle prize.  Tickets will be on sale beginning July 22 at our Blood Drive.  We will also have the 2012 Dyna on display.  The tickets are only $20!

The winner will be chosen at our Back to School BBQ and Motorcycle Demo on Sunday, September 23 following the 11:15am Mass.  We will have instructors from the Woodstock Harley Dealership show us their moves on their bikes.  Food will also be available.  Start thinking about "gettin' your motors runnin," and join us for this great event to help support our technology enhancements at OLV.

For more ticket information, please contact the school office: 773-283-2229.

Excited to be at Our Lady of Victory!

I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to be a part of OLV School in Chicago!  A strong Catholic education is very important to me, and I am delighted to be able to bring the successful program of The Academy with to OLV.  We have many great things in store for the coming school year, including technology enhancements, an update to the curriculum, an update to our sports program, and more!  Stop by for a tour or call at any time 773-283-2229!

Summer Office Hours:

Monday through Thursday from 8:00am-12:00pm

Happy Easter from The Academy

Can you believe Easter has come and gone? We spend so much time preparing for the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, that we sometimes forget to take time for ourselves. The students prepared for us a beautiful prayer service on Holy Thursday for us to think about what it was like for Jesus to carry his cross for his death. Our preschool students colored pictures of the Stations of the Cross, while the students in the multi-age class wrote and read about the Stations. We recreated Jesus' symbolic act of washing his disciples' feet, during our prayer service when we washed our hands.

After this time of sorrow for Jesus, we can't wait to celebrate on Easter Sunday with Jesus' resurrection, and we remember that Easter is a time of new beginnings. I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Easter!

Oreo's 100th Birthday

Tuesday, March 6 is Oreo's 100th Birthday!

Who does not love Oreo cookies dipped in a cold glass of milk? It's hard to believe that Oreo's have been around for 100 years. This is something too exciting to let it pass us by! We, of course, will be celebrating Oreo's birthday at the Academy with some Oreo cookies and a nice cold glass of milk!

Dr. Seuss Week at The Academy

Dr. Seuss Week is in full swing at The Academy. Each class has a variety of activities planned each day related to our theme for the week. The teachers and students are reading Dr. Seuss books, doing art projects, writing stories, and more. Thursday, the students will work as buddies to create a Dr. Seuss activity. We are ending our fun-filled week with our field trip to see The Lorax, as well as having guests from the Harlem-Irving Target Store to read to us about Dr. Seuss.

Blogs

I have added links to our teachers' blogs on my blog! Check them out to see what our students are learning in each of their classrooms! The teachers have added pictures and videos you'll really enjoy.

Get Well Soon Cards

During Catholic Schools Week, our students made Get Well Soon cards for the parishioners who are homebound or sick in the parish. It has been a tradition that we began in our first year for the parishioners. They love getting the cards made and decorated by the students, and will often send thank you cards. This is a picture of one of our Pre-K three students opening her thank you card. We really enjoy doing this for the parishioners knowing that they appreciate getting this mail from our students. We brighten their day!

Read all about it...Catholic Schools Week is coming to The Academy! Join us for a week centered around Catholic Education and other related activities. Each day during the week we have a variety of activities planned, beginning with our families attending the 9:30am Mass on Sunday, January 29. An Open House will follow the 9:30am Mass for families to come and see why The Academy is the right choice for their child.

The activities for the week:

• 
  
  Monday - we will make cards for members of the parish who are sick and Thank You cards to their parents for sending them to The Academy


• 
  
  Tuesday - we will be writing a story about a day at The Academy from a student's perspective


• 
  
  Wednesday - the teachers are going to "swap" classes for a poriton of the day


• 
  
  Thursday - we are hosting two Open Houses from 9:00am-11:00am and 6:00pm-7:30pm


• 
  
  Friday - we will end the week with a prayer service
  
  

iPad Technology Coming to The Academy

New for the 2012-2013 School Year, the students in second and third grades will use iPad technology in the classrooms. We believe that technology is an integral part in education, and it enhances a child's ability to learn and his or her own level. The Academy is the only school in the area to be using this type of technology for its students at this grade level. Come for a tour or visit us at one of our Open Houses to see how we will be using this technology in the classroom!

2012-2013 Registration

We are now accepting applications for the 2012-2013 School Year. The Academy has been growing by leaps and bounds, and we are continuing to grow. Don't wait! Come for a tour today or visit us at one of our Open Houses to register! Spots are filling up quickly and you don't want to miss out!

The Academy is hosting Open Houses during Catholic Schools Week:

Sunday, January 29 from 10:30am-1:00pm

Thursday, February 2 from 9:00am-11:00am and 6:00pm-7:30pm

We can't wait for you to come and visit us to see the wonderful educational experience your child will receive at The Academy.

Academy Christmas Craft Fair

Join us Sunday, December 18 for the first annual Christmas Craft Fair and Stories with Santa! Entry is free to the event. Santa will be coming to read some Christma stories, and you'll have the opportunity to take a picture with Santa. There will also be cookie decorating, food, raffles, face painting and more! The doors open at 9am! We hope to see you there!