Monday Notes
August 18, 2008
Dear Families,
Welcome to Villa Teresa as we join in celebration our 75th Anniversary in serving the Oklahoma City community. Actually, our school family has members who live in many areas – Newallah, Newcastle, Blanchard, Norman, Edmond and Moore. Each letter we will acknowledge our humble beginnings as part of celebrating. The Carmelite Sisters of St. Therese began in 1917 complying to a request by Fr. Edward Soler who escaped the wrath of Pancho Villa in Mexico. Fr. Edward was a Carmelite priest from Valencia. Dressed as a woman he escaped to Cuba and then to the United States ending up in Oklahoma on the way to Holy Hill in Wisconsin. Receiving letters from Spain, he was requested to stay in this area to minister to immigrants from Italy and Mexico. Being the wise man that he was, he sought help asking a bishop in Philadelphia if he knew any Sisters or young women who would be willing to come and catechize (teach religion). Agnes Cavanaugh had just been released from the Presentation Sisters due to health concerns, but she still wanted to teach and share the Love of Christ with those in need. She responded and came with a couple of friends who a year later became the Companions of the Little Flower. After the canonization of St. Therese, we became the Carmelite Sisters of St. Therese.
Many of you attended Open House on Saturday. Isn’t it a wonderful experience to see all the energy of our students and teachers as we embrace this new school year. To help you know what goes on in the classrooms, each teacher will host an orientation. Below is the schedule:
LC 3 – Tuesday, August 26 at 5:30 p.m. Cafeteria
LC 4 – Thursday, August 21 at 5:30 p.m. Cafeteria
Kindergarten - Thursday, August 21 at 5:15 p.m.
First Grade – Monday, August 25 at 5:15 p.m.
Second Grade – Wednesday, August 27 at 5:15 p.m.
Third Grade – Friday, August 22 at 5:30 p.m.
Fourth Grade – Tuesday, August 26 at 5:15 p.m.
K- 4th Grade meetings will be in their classrooms.
Thanks for all your help during Open House - it was good to see volunteers start early. Villa Teresa has a stewardship program that allows more parent involvement in helping us with our mission. For you to be able to come in regular contact with our students to help with various events, you must go through the Safe Environment Training. These sessions are part of the orientation offered by the teachers and is also offered during our Open House events. To complete the program, you must not only watch the video, you must read and agree to our Code of Conduct and complete the paper application for volunteers (which is the same as when you fill an application of employment). A background check will then be enacted and your references contacted. If one of the three of these elements is not met you are not yet approved fully for volunteering. Paper applications are included in your Parent/Student Handbook given out at Open House.
Our yearbook is in! Matthew Frost did an excellent job of editing and producing a fine overview of our school and the many activities. At Open House there were many opportunities to sign up for extra activities. Our violin teacher is moving back to OKC so in addition to piano, guitar, dance, we also will be offering violin. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are also fun service groups that promote leadership and responsibility.
We will begin our Immersed in Christ Program in September. Fr. Knight will send the reflections for our continuing growth in the spirit. In the meantime, our Holy Father has announced this year to be devoted to the Apostle, Paul. Each morning in prayer, the students and teachers will reflect upon the words of Paul. This week, so that you can join us in reflection, we will be focusing on Colossians 3:12 -“You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Our Gospel value for this year is Respect.
May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you in His care.
Sr. Veronica
Posted on Monday, August 18, 2008
by Sr. Veronica
filed under