November, 2011

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise; Give thanks to him; bless his name. Psalm 100:4

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Today the "spooks and goblins" of Halloween are enjoying, and tomorrow the "Saints come marching in." The seasons and celebrations are passing so fast that they appear to (and sometimes do) overlap. But, this is the month of a very different celebration as we stop to reflect on our blessings and give thanks. Therefore, before I begin this message with news and happenings, I want to reiterate how thankful and blessed I am to be a part of this school and to have such incredible support from our wonderful families. I truly love your children, and I thank you for allowing me to be an important part of their lives and for allowing our school to be your choice of education for them.

Tuesday, November 1st, will be an all school mass as we celebrate All Saints Day. Students in the primary grades will be dressed as their favorite saints and will process into mass together. Also, this is the first mass that our pre-k and kindergarten children will attend. We would love for you to join us.

Also, on Tuesday afternoon there is a soccer game here against Berean. In addition to this one, we have several games in November including one on November 9th at Notre Dame against St. Jude. Try to make some of these games; the players love to have fans cheering them on. Go Rams!

Wednesday, November 2nd, our eighth graders will be going to Wesley Woods for their retreat. They will be returning on Friday, November 4th. Please remember them in your prayers for a safe, fun, team building, and spiritual trip. Many of them will be taking the entrance exam for Notre Dame on Friday, November 5th. Good luck, Eighth Graders.

There is a Booster Club meeting in the school library on Monday, November 7th. All Booster Club members are welcome; you are a member if you paid dues.

On Tuesday, November 8th, there is a Home and School meeting. They cut their number of meetings this year hoping they can get more participation. This is only the second meeting this year; so, please make an effort to join us. You will be getting more information on it shortly.

On Friday, November 11th, the parish will be celebrating Father Mike Creson's 25th anniversary of priesthood. If you plan on attending, make sure you rsvp to the parish office so they can be prepared for the numbers. Congratulations to Father.

November 16th is the $1 out of uniform day. The class that gets the proceeds will be announced that morning. October's went to second grade.

Also, this month, we will be working with Catholic Charities to collect food for Thanksgiving Baskets. Information should have been sent home with your students, and it is published in the Fanfare. The items are to be brought in by November 18th. Thank you for helping some needy families to have a Thanksgiving dinner.

On November 22nd, we will have our final All School Mass for the month. It is also the 7th grade's Virtue Mass. This will be a full day of school, but it is the last day before the holidays. We return on November 29th. Remember, we are closed the 28th for Bishop's Day.

November 27th is the first Sunday of Advent which brings us back to my second sentence of this letter: The seasons and celebrations are passing so fast that they appear to (and sometimes do) overlap.

I do hope you have a wonderful month and a special Thanksgiving. Again, thank you for all of your support.
God Bless,
Jeri McInturff

October, 2011

It is better to be patient than powerful. It is better to win control over yourself than over whole cities. Proverbs 16:32

Dear Parents/Guardians,

It is hard to believe that October is here, but we are going to greet it with our annual Outback Bowl Football Game. I hope you can come and join in the fun. The weather is supposed to be perfect for football. In addition to this annual event, October will be a busy month for other sporting events including the volleyball tournament Monday, October 3rd.

Reminders:
• The virtue for October is Kindness and it is sponsored by the third grade.

• October 4th is the Blessing of the Animals. It will be held at 2:40 on our football field. Bring your animals and enjoy.

• October 6th is the Living Rosary. It will be held in the gym at 2:00. You are invited to attend this inspirational prayer event.

• October 7th is a Diocesan in-service for our staff in Knoxville; there is no school for the students.

• October 12th is parent/teacher conference day. We will be giving out the report cards during these conferences. Conferences should be scheduled with your teacher, and they will begin after school. Because of the conferences being all evening, there will only be a half day of school on October 14th. For parents who do not come to conferences, the report cards will be sent home on Thursday. For those who need a conference, but cannot come in on Wednesday evening, contact the teacher to set up another appointment.

• October 13th is when the seventh and eighth grade students from OLPH and St. Jude will be going to Notre Dame. They will be attending mass officiated by Bishop Stika and will spend the day participating in various activities that will acquaint them with Notre Dame High School and inform them on vocations.

• October 15-21 is Fall Break. (Need I say more?)

• October 22nd is our Ram Run at the Chattanooga Market. This is a fun event that benefits Home and School which in turn benefits your children.

• October 22nd & 23rd is Oktoberfest at the Chattanooga Market. OLPH will have a Bratwurst Booth. The proceeds of this booth go to our Annual Fund which in turn also benefits your children. Hope to see you there.

• October 29th is Trunk or Treat. This is a first for OLPH, and it is sponsored by Home and School. Look for more information in the Fanfare.

• October is the last month for shorts to be worn (see the handbook under dress code).

Below is a reminder about our Homework Make Up Policy. We receive calls daily regarding this. This policy is in our handbook. Although we do expect children to make up their work when they are out ill, we do not expect them to work on it while they are ill. That is why we give them the extra time to accomplish it. If a lot of work is missed, the teachers will work with you to keep it from being so burdensome; therefore, please contact the teacher.
Students must make up work missed during their absence from school. The student will be allowed 1 day per each day absent to turn in missed work or make up missed tests and quizzes. Homework policies are as follows:

• Primary grades (K - 2nd): The student and teacher shall work together to make up any missed assignment.

• Intermediate grades (3rd?5th): The first day absent no homework will be gathered for the student. The teacher will fill out the "Work for an Absent Student" form to give to the student the next day. If the student is out for more than one day the teachers will gather the homework and books and will have them on the bench outside of the school office by 3:00 P.M. This will apply to the second day absent and any days thereafter.

• Middle grades (6th - 8th): All missing assignments may be accessed through ParentsWeb. If the student is out for more than one day parents may request the necessary textbooks to be picked up on the bench outside of the school office by 3:00 P.M.

The students have begun working on their fall gardens in the Outdoor Classroom. When you get a chance, stop by and look at them. Thanks to our volunteers, the classroom is really shaping up and will be dedicated soon. We will let you know when this happens.

The Home and School had a very successful Spaghetti Dinner. I want to thank Mr. Gass and all of his helpers. This was a lot of work and very much appreciated. Also, the Home and School sponsored $1 out of uniform days have been great; the teachers are very grateful for the extra support. This organization has been very busy, and this month is one of the busiest. So, if you can help out in any of their activities, I know it will be very much appreciated.

The "Meet and Greet" sponsored by CAG last month was a great evening. If you could not make it, but are interested in this organization, join them at their CAG monthly meetings. This group of parents supports our art, music, and band programs. Plus, they help classrooms go to various productions or art presentations, and they have brought productions to the school. We have a great arts program, and we are so fortunate to have such support.

Before we know it, October will be gone. So, enjoy the month and the beautiful fall days we have in store for us.

God Bless,
Jeri McInturff

September, 2011

But to those who did accept Him, He gave the power to become children of God... John 1:12

Ahh, September! It came quickly; we are already four weeks into the new school year and looking forward to the Labor Day weekend. It has been an incredibly busy four weeks with our academic and sports schedules. The hot temperatures and dry weather we have had has only made it more challenging. However, we are moving right along, and students and faculty are faring well.

This month is full of sports activities; please read the Fanfares for up to date schedules and information. They are sent to you every Friday, and they are also published on our website. Also, it is important to check your ParentsWeb regularly for updated class information including grades and assignments.

Several questions have come up about our allergy policy. We are an allergy awareness school. We have medical information and plans for all of our allergy students. The teachers and staff have been informed and trained on how to handle various situations in case of an attack. Because we have several children with peanut/tree nut allergies that are life threatening, we ask that students refrain from bringing products including nuts/peanuts for lunch or snacks. However, if a student does have a lunch containing peanuts/tree nuts, there is a table in the lunchroom specifically for them to use. They may have any friend/s join them. This keeps the product and residue at only one table, and we make sure that table is cleaned well after every usage. We also ask the students to wash their hands thoroughly after eating. The problem with the peanut/tree nut allergy is that an allergic child does not have to digest the food; he/she only needs to come in contact with it, and it can be life threatening. So, we ask for your understanding and thank you for your support. We have done a lot of research on this and think we have come up with the best solution for all. As far as the cafeteria food goes, we check all labels to make sure they are not nut contaminated, and the cafeteria staff also knows the students who are not only allergic to peanuts/tree nuts, but eggs, fish, etc. They monitor the students closely to make sure they are safe.

On Monday, September 12, CAG (Creative Arts Guild) is having a "meet and greet" for all of its members. They have sent out an invitation, and we would love to see a lot of people there. If you have not joined CAG, but would like to work with an organization that does so much for our school, you may contact Jennifer Conrad or any of our arts teachers.

All of our organizations are wonderful supporters of our school. We could not be who we are without them. Our Booster Club does a lot for our sports program; they, too, would like to have more people involved. To find out more, you may contact Todd Close. And we could not exist without our Home and School. Right now the Home and School is working on our Ram Run and Oktoberfest. They could use a lot more volunteers to help with this event; you may contact any Home and School officer for more information.

Our next $1 Out of Uniform Day is September 21st. August's proceeds went to the eighth grade. Thank you for your participation. We won't know who will receive September's until that day.

There is a sale of Innisbrook products going on now by the 8th graders to help pay for their retreat to Wesley Woods. The products are comparable to the Sally Foster products that have been sold in the past. If you are interested in purchasing quality holiday wrap or unique gift items, please contact an 8th grade student. This may be what you are looking for, and the proceeds are going to a great cause.

SAVE THE DATE: February 18, 2012. The three Catholic schools are working together to put on one big event to benefit all three schools. It is called "Chattigras", and you will be getting more information shortly.

I hope you have a safe and restful holiday and wonderful beginning of Fall. Thank you for all of your support.

God Bless,
Jeri McInturff

May, 2011

The Lord is good: his kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness, to all generations.--Psalm 100:5

Principal's Corner

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Unfortunately, the ending of April was not what we had hoped for. However, May should be a better month and end our school year on a happy and pleasant note. It is for sure going to be a busy one, but as I think back, every month has been full and busy.

This month, every grade level will (if they haven't already) be having a transition meeting for the parents of the upcoming students. Please try to make these. They will give you some information on what to expect next year. In addition, the teachers will be having some type of activities with the upcoming students to get them to feel a little more comfortable about their next year.

All grades will continue learning until the end. Many tests and assessments will be given as well as many celebrations. Today, we received the results of the TCAP Writing Assessments for the 5th and 8th grades. I am so proud and pleased. If your student is in one of these grades and took this assessment, you will be receiving the results with the report card. I do not expect the IOWA's or ACRE's back until later this month.

We have one Pre-K4 classroom filled, and we are excited. If you plan to send a child to our new Pre-K4, I recommend you send in your application ASAP. We are limiting the classes to 13. As has been announced, we did hire one teacher for the first class--Mrs. Jessica Heffern.

Speaking of new personnel, we have hired a teacher to replace Mrs. Gibson. Mrs. Gibson is moving back to Clarksville. Mrs. Sandi Forrester will be joining us. Her name may sound familiar as she has taught here previously. She and her husband are moving back from Florida.

Summer Camps are beginning to fill. If you wish to have your child enrolled in one of them, applications are being accepted.

Our class gardens are flourishing. We will be harvesting lettuce, onions, and radishes this week. Yummm, salad! Thank you, again, to Matt Stovall and all the other parents who have volunteered their work and supplies for our Outdoor Classroom. If you have not seen the progress, drop by for a look.

May Dates to Remember:

• Friday, May 6--The BVM Awards will be given at the all-school mass.
• Friday, May 6--The Middle School will have the last dance of the school year.
• Wednesday, May 11--Crazy Hat Day. This is sponsored by the 6th grade in honor of the memory of Amanda Swartout. There is no charge for this day; however, donations are being accepted to benefit Amanda?s favorite organizations: "Amanda?s Toy Closet" at LeBonheur Children's Hospital and "Amanda?s Acre" at McKamey Animal Center.
• Friday, May 13--Grandparents Day Brunch in the gymnasium following mass. There will also be annual Art Show and Book Fair in the PLC.
• Saturday, May 14--First Holy Communion
• Monday, May 16--Eighth graders will have a Transition Day in the morning and Class Night in the evening. Information is going out to the parents.
• Tuesday, May 17--Eighth Grade Liturgy at 6:30 P.M. (We wish them well.)
• Wednesday, May 18--$1 Out of Uniform Day. The proceeds will go to the Religion Department.
• Wednesday, May 18--Kindergarten Celebration at 7:00 P.M. in the gymnasium.
• Friday, May 20--Seventh Graders "Growing in Grace" luncheon.
• Friday, May 20--Fifth and Sixth graders AR reward trip to Lake Winnie.
• Wednesday, May 2--Last day of school--Field Day. More information will be coming home on this.

As usual, this is just a summary of events. More information and all updates can be found on Fanfare, Parents Web, and our Website.

The teachers will be here for In-Service on the 26th and 27th. After that, our summer break begins. I will be gone the first two weeks of June, but will be at school most of the rest of the summer. Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Sumrell, and Mrs. Hennen will be in and out during the summer. If you need to speak with me or any of the administration during the summer hours, and if we are not in the offices, leave a voice mail and we will get back with you. You can also email us.
Have a wonderful and safe summer.

Sincerely,

Jeri McInturff

Principal's Corner April 2011

And I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord, and my God is now my strength. Isaiah 49:5 Dear Parents/Guardians, Spring is here, and it is truly countdown until the end of the school year. How amazingly fast it has gone so far, and these next two months will also fly by. Although our IOWA testing is complete, there are still a couple of assessments coming up. The CogATs (Cognitive Abilities Tests), which are part of the IOWA testing, will be given to the 3rd, 5th, and 7th grade students April 5th-7th. These are short tests which are spread among three days--nothing to worry about. The ACRE (Assessment of Catholic Religion Education) national assessment will be given to the 5th and 8th grade students on April 11th and 12th. These will be given during religion classes. Our parent organizations are winding down this year's activities and working on developing new officers and ideas for next year. The School Committee, Home and School Association, Creative Arts Guild, and Booster Club are asking for your help in doing this. If you can commit time to any one of these organizations, please contact them. They are all looking for new officers for next school year, and they all do such great things for our students and school. We could not be successful without them. I know we are all so very busy; it is hard to imagine that we can put another minute of activity in our schedules, but think about it. As we prepare for Easter this Lenten Season, we will be giving the students an opportunity to attend reconciliation. There should be information sent home on this. We have two more $1 out of uniform days. The day this month is April 20th and will go for the 6th grade. The one for next month (our last one) will be for the religion classes. These have been so successful--thank you. Below is the list of what the money has been/will be spent on: · Kdg: Headsets and phonic readers · 1st: The Gingerbread House Project and Butterfly Project · 2nd: New Globes and books for the classrooms · 3rd: Electric pencil sharpener, deposit on bus for Space Center trip, wood for new shelves, and some miscellaneous supplies · 4th: New books and resource materials for the classrooms · 5th: Four large bulletin boards for outside classrooms and one for the cafeteria to display student work, · 6th: This month's collection · 7th: Electrical circuit supplies for science classes, books for classrooms · 8th: Books for the homeroom libraries, math games, dictionaries, and thesauruses If you have been on campus, you know that our Outdoor Classroom is really coming together. Our continued thanks go to Mr. Matt Stovall for all the work and time put into this wonderful project. Also, we wish to thank Mr. Jack Berry for donating the fence and labor to install it. If you would like to help out with any volunteer work or donations to this classroom call Kathy Sumrell. Our children are getting into the Outdoor Classroom spirit also. They have begun their individual garden boxes. Some things are already visible. The plantings of each grade level are: · Kdg: Tulips, onions, asparagus, and potatoes. The tulips are beginning to bloom now and the onions are coming up. · 1st: Lettuce and various wildflowers to attract butterflies and hummingbirds · 2nd: "1st Communion Garden"--Easter Lilies from the church will be transplanted · 3rd: Various seeds, bulbs, and clippings. They are studying and researching the different ways plants grow. · 4th: Tomatoes and snap peas · 5th & 6th: Herbs · 7th: Carrots, radishes, and potatoes · 8th: Flowers for the May Crowning and Mother's Day The garden projects have been a great source of learning and enjoyment for all. We have a wonderful group of children of all ages in our Recycling Club. Right now they are hosting a paper drive to help pay for the recycling activities. Please save and deposit your paper and cardboard in the bin located in our back driveway. Next week our 8th graders will be gone to Tybee Island. They should have a wonderful experience. Keep their safety (and the teachers' sanity) in your prayers. We have had a lot of extracurricular activities going on. Our Spring Sports have begu--we have tennis, track, and golf and they are all doing well. Our baseball students are on a combined team with St. Jude through Notre Dame. I don't think they have started their schedule yet. Our after school art classes are creating some wonderful works, and our Hand Chime Choir is getting ready for Grandparents' Day. We also have the Makers' Club going on here on campus. These children are enjoying creating and learning through scientific principles. Mrs. Bethune has an active and fun 3rd grade Book Club going, and Mrs. Polahar is getting a 5th grade Book Club started. We are very excited about the progress of our new Pre-K4 that will be opening in the fall. We have one class almost at capacity, and we have hired a teacher. We had several wonderful candidates to choose from We want to welcome Mrs. Jessica Heffern to our staff; she is very excited and is already involved in helping us with decisions and making plans. We will choose our second teacher just as soon as we are sure we will have enough students. The way enrollment is going, we should be able to do that very shortly. In addition to all that has been mentioned, our April calendar is full. Below are a few reminders: · April 1: Lenten dinner sponsored by the school staff in the PLC after 5:30 mass and before the Stations of the Cross. · April 2: Sugar and Spice Luncheon · April 4: Booster Club Meeting · April 6: Parent workshop for parents of 4th graders · April 9: Black and White Formal put on by the Knights of Columbus. Proceeds benefit our Catholic Schools Scholarship Fund. Should be lots of fun and for a good cause. · April 13: Annual out of uniform pictures will be taken by LifeTouch. · April 13: Operation Rice Bowls due · April 13: Home and School Meeting · April 14: Spirit Night at Chik-fil-A. Mrs. Carden?s class won the last one and her class was treated to Chik-fil-A nuggets. Who will win this one?????? · April 18: VIRTUS training · April 18: CAG meeting · April 21: Holy Thursday · April 22: Good Friday and our Easter break begins J Make sure you read our weekly Fanfare to keep up with all the happenings. They are posted in our website weekly. The three Catholic schools now are linked on one new website. Go to www.mycdcs.com. CDCS stands for Chattanooga Deanery Catholic Schools. The three of us (St. Jude, Notre Dame, and us) have been working together on promoting our schools, and it has been very exciting. I hope April is a good month for you. Have a very Blessed Easter and a wonderful Easter break. Sincerely, Jeri McInturff

Principal's Corner March 2011

The Lord will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth. Hosea 6:3

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Forgive me for being late with this letter. It has been a very busy two weeks, and then I was on Principal's Retreat the last few days of last week. So, here I am writing this on March 7th.

First let me thank all of you who were involved with the success of our Mardis Gras Carnival. The Home and School Committee, who had the foresight to move it indoors, created a lovely environment in our buildings. The student/parent participation on Saturday was overwhelming; the attendance was especially gratifying since everyone had to contend with additional conflicts of weather and parking. We are so fortunate and grateful for the support and commitment of our OLPH family.

Lent begins this Wednesday, March 9th, with Ash Wednesday. There will be an all-school mass where the students will receive their ashes. You are most welcome to join us then or attend one of our other masses: 12:00, 5:30, or 7:30 (Spanish). During Lent, our 8th grade will be spearheading a FOCUS project of Operation Rice Bowl, which is a Catholic Relief Service benefiting the poor. Information will be coming home through e-mail, Parents Web, and Fanfare.

Spring sports are beginning. We have tennis, track, and golf. We did not have enough boys to field a baseball team; so, our boys are combining with St. Jude boys and are being coached through Notre Dame. Intramural basketball for 3rd and 4th grades is also coming up. All of this information is in the Fanfare.

Some dates to remember:

· March 7--Booster Club Meeting in the school library. All are invited.
· March 11--This is an extra $1 out of uniform day to benefit our outdoor classroom.
· March 14--Students will be out of school this day; it is an in-service day for the teachers.
· March 16--This is the original $1 out of uniform day. The receiving grade level will be announced.
· March 18--There will be a VIRTUS training at 6 P.M. in our PLC. All adults who wish to volunteer or attend any function with our students must have this training. Go to www.virtus.org and register under the Diocese of Knoxville.
· March 22--The band will be going to Notre Dame to play.
· March 23--The School Committee will be meeting the school library. We are now taking applications for officers on this committee.
· March 23--Father Thomas J. Loya will be addressing the topic "This is My Body" at Notre Dame High School on this evening. You are invited. Earlier that day, he is addressing the Notre Dame students.
· March 28--This week is the IOWA testing week. More information will be coming home.

Have a wonderful March.

God Bless,
Jeri McInturff

February, 2011

February 1, 2011

Dear Parents/Guardians,

February 2nd is Groundhog Day. Let's all hope he doesn't see his shadow. January was a very "interesting" month weather-wise, and I really am ready for an early Spring.

My first piece of news for you is that we will be opening a four year old pre-school in the fall; we received the o.k. from the Department of Education last week. We are quite excited about this. Registration packets are in the making; however, if you don't want to wait for them, call Mrs. Hennen. Some brief information about it:

· Top priorities will be given to OLPH siblings followed by our Catholic Families.
· Tuition will be $500/month for an all day program.
· We will be taking $100 nonrefundable deposits.
· The lead teacher will be certified and qualified.
· The curriculum will be based on the State Early Childhood Development Program with an emphasis on preparation for, and transition to, our Kindergarten program.

Although February is a short month, it is packed with activities. Of course we are in the midst of Catholic Schools Week. The activities calendar has been posted on the website, in our Fanfare, and in the bulletin. Join us when you can. Most importantly, February 4th is First Friday. We always have a wonderful celebration at Mass, and you are always welcome and encouraged to attend when you can. This Friday will be even more special as we will be hosting a breakfast afterwards for all of our volunteers.

Other February events are:
· Parent-Teacher Conferences on February 9. Your teachers will be getting information out on this. They will be held from 3:00 in the afternoon until 7:00 in the evening. We encourage all parents to make appointments to come. They will be ten minutes each and we want your children to accompany you. If you think you need more than ten minutes; or, if you cannot make it that evening, please call your teacher to reschedule. Conferences are not only for students who are struggling in a class, but for all. Teachers and parents are partners in the children's education.

· Chick-fil-A Spirit Night on February 10.
· Half Day of School on February 11. This half day makes up for the evening parent conferences on February 9.
· $1 Out of Uniform on February 23.
· Catholic Schools Open House February 27. OLPH, St. Jude, and Notre Dame are having joint Open Houses in all three schools this day. Representative from Notre Dame will be here and we will have representation there. More information will be coming on this.

Of course, there will be basketball games throughout the month. Check with the Fanfare and website for dates and times. There have been changes because of all the missed games due to weather.

Our next year's school calendar has been sent to Dr. Morgan for approval. As soon as we get that, we will publish it. As in the past, we used the Hamilton County Schools Calendar to base on which to base ours.

Have a wonderful February,

Jeri McInturff

January 2011

The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!
--Numbers 6:24-26

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Happy New Year! I hope you had wonderful holidays. The snow was a mixed blessing for me; it was absolutely gorgeous to see, but we had to put off the family Christmas celebration until Sunday when my children could safely come to our house. But, as always, it was great.

As I look at the January calendar, there seems to be very few interruptions. We have one off day scheduled?Martin Luther King Day on January 17th. Barring any weather problems, the rest of January should be pretty smooth. We do; however, have a lot of basketball games scheduled for the month. Make sure to check out Fanfare and our website for these dates.

There will be a Home and School meeting this month. It will be held on Wednesday, January 19th. We haven?t had one in a couple of months because of all the activities going on; I hope we will see all of you at this one. The Home and School Committee was very busy and provided so much for our children and school the first semester. They are not finished; they have great plans for the second semester, also. So, please join us.

January 26th is our next $1 out of uniform day. These days have been extremely successful; thank you for all of your support.

January 30th is the kick off day for Catholic Schools Week. We have a great week planned beginning with 10:00 Sunday Mass on the 30th. You will be getting more information on this week and the planned activities throughout the month.

I want to thank you again for all of your support; our successes would not be possible without you.

God Bless,

Jeri McInturff