Preparing for Egypt Day

Each year, Mrs. McGrath and the 6th graders put together Egypt Day for the kindergarten students. The middle schoolers learn a great deal about Egyptian art, history, and culture through this project and then have a chance to teach the younger students what they've learned.

This week, the 6th grade is hard at work preparing for the event, which will take place later this fall. Pictured here, the students are busy creating mummy coffins. We can't wait to see the finished product!

Teaming Up to Study Johnny Appleseed

These happy 2nd graders are hard at work creating their puppets.

The 1st and 2nd graders had some fun learning about Johnny Appleseed with the team teaching of Mrs. Huelsing and Mrs. Mongan. They enjoyed learning about the legend of this historic character. Math played a big part when they learned about fractions as Mrs. Huelsing cut the apples into halves and quarters. Tally charts were turned into bar graphs as the students voted for their favorite apple.

The students exercised their creative sides when making paper apple splits and paper bag puppets of Johnny Appleseed. The Smartboard came in handy when showing a video on the life cycle of an apple and activities in an apple packing company. The best part, however, was working together!

Two 1st graders proudly display their finished puppets.

Scenes from the Weekend

What a fabulous weekend to live in south city! OLS families enjoyed a full weekend of south city outdoor fun on a beautiful fall weekend. We kicked off the excitement on Friday with our first food truck event. Throngs of OLS school families, parishioners, and neighbors flocked to the parking lot to enjoy delicious food and lively dancing.

A view of the crowd that gathered to enjoy our inaugural Food Truck Friday.

On Saturday, we headed to the Macklind Business District to celebrate Macklind Days with the surrounding community. OLS students spent the afternoon painting faces to the delight of many. Besides face painting, a team of OLS volunteers helped supervise the bounce house, bag up trash, and tear down at the end of the night.

An OLS 7th grader paints faces during Macklind Days.

Sunday found us in Francis Park spreading OLS spirit at Art in the Park. Kids who stopped by our booth had a chance to create maracas out of spoons, plastic eggs, and dried beans. The park was packed, and we loved the chance to share our OLS pride!

OLS Cub Scouts help kids make maracas at Art in the Park.

A big thank you to all who made this weekend a success! From the event organizers - Joe and Emily Feldman, Anne Kromer, JoEllen Sarich - to the hardworking volunteers. From the fun-loving attendees to the prayerful support behind the scenes. We are grateful to be part of such a fantastic community!

Student Reporter News: Infographics

Our student reporters chime in out their recent work on infographics. Find out how Mrs. Ryan's students are putting these tools to work:

As always, the OLS 8th grade is learning something new. Technology is being used more and more these days, and now we've learned how to make the new way to get information called the infographic. An infographic is a creative design used to spread information. To begin, we analyzed the parts of an infographic. Then we chose our topics and did research. Once we had filled our brains, templates were given to us so we could create an infographic all our own. It was a fun and easy way to learn.  -- Amy D., 8th grader

An infographic created by two baseball-loving 8th graders.

This week in English, we are learning about infographics. Understanding these is a good life skill to know. They are a good way to organize data and are interesting. It's a good skill to know how to read them because most companies now use them to display data. Right now, we are learning how to make one. Some key things you need for an infographic are color, a good subject, organization, and an eye catching design. It's also a good idea to add charts to display your information. I am happy that we are learning this skill!  -- Natalie K., 7th grader

These students created a graphic look at monkeys and their difference from apes.

OLS in the Community

This weekend, OLS students and families are coming together to celebrate OLS spirit on our campus and throughout south city. If you're looking for something to do this weekend, join in spreading the OLS love at one of these events:

Food Truck Friday (9/25): Our inaugural food truck event hosted by the Home & School and Athletic Associations. Bring your neighbors, friends, and family for an evening of food, drinks, and entertainment. Several entree and dessert trucks will be in attendance, and a DJ and karaoke will keep the crowd entertained. The food trucks will be onsite from 5:00-8:00, and the party will continue until 10:00. Find more information on our Facebook page.

Macklind Days (9/26): An annual neighborhood event, OLS has provided volunteers to help the event run smoothly. You might see friendly OLS faces supervising the bounce house or tidying up, and you'll see lots of OLS students at our face painting table. With activities for the whole family, stop by Macklind near Nottingham from 12:00-8:00 to join the fun!

Art in the Park (9/27): Another long-standing neighborhood tradition, OLS is joining with many other area schools and local artists at this popular event in Francis Park. We'll be making maracas with all the kids who stop by our booth. If you're in the park from 10:00-6:00, stop by to say hello!

All School Mass

Most weeks, Wednesday is all-school Mass day for OLS students. The 1st through 8th graders begin their morning by celebrating liturgy with members of the school and parish communities (kindergarten students will begin attending all-school Mass later this semester).

Many OLS parishioners come each week to celebrate the Eucharist with us.

If you haven't attended a Wednesday morning Mass recently, you will be pleasantly surprised by the beauty of our Honors Choir's singing! Mr. Vizer, our music teacher, leads the choir, which is open to students in grades 3-8. They practice every Wednesday morning at 7:15, so they are primed and ready to go for morning Mass! If your student wants to join the choir, contact Mr. Vizer.

Bible & Prayer Study Group

Coming this October: Bible & Prayer study group!

Beginning on Tuesday, October 13th at 7:00 pm and continuing for five weeks, the Bible & Prayer study program will be offered at OLS.

"Plug into the power of prayer" by exploring the human quest for God and unveiling the true nature of prayer: what it is, how it works, and the bountiful blessings available to those who walk with God.

With the assistance of a trained leader and a participant workbook, the Bible & Prayer study program looks at the prayer lives of the towering figures in both the Old and New Testaments, showing the different forms our communication with God can take.

For more information and/or to register, contact Christina Sanders at olscre@sbcglobal.net or 314-351-1600 ext 107.

Learning the Scientific Method

Making predictions and thinking about possible outcomes.

In science, the 4th graders recently conducted an experiment called "Dancing Raisins". Using the scientific method, they pondered whether or not the raisins would dance when placed in clear soda. Do you know the answer?

Getting a closer look and recording observations.

During their work on this experiment, the students learned the terms buoyancy and density and worked on the process of the scientific method. They were very excited about the experiment and discovering how the raisins behaved.

Can you see what is happening to their raisins?

Kindergarten Color Days

OLS students start kindergarten in a colorful way! Among the first things they study, our students learn to read and write the names of the basic colors. They spend one week per color and end the week by wearing their special color to school and bringing a show and tell item of that color.

The kindergarteners kicked off their color studies with red week. We saw lots of Cardinals gear, fire trucks, and superheroes, not to mention hearts, Santa, and a rose. Look for more colorful adventures from this crowd!

Family Groups Celebrate Christmas

While we’re thinking of cooler days, we can remember how last year’s family groups celebrated Christmas. On the last day of school before Christmas break, all the family groups gathered in the gym for a Christmas carol sing-along. Listen in to their version of “Let it Snow":

We promise: we're finished with Christmas posts until December. If you're viewing this message through your e-mail and can't see the video, follow this link to watch the video on the blog.

Sharing Christmas Stories

On this hot September day, let’s flashback to last Christmas. In early December, the 4th graders read various Christmas stories to their preschool friends. The 4th graders practiced in advance by reading to their beanie babies. Their preschool friends were captivated by the stories. Both groups had a lovely morning!

A beanie baby listens in as this 4th grader practices his story.

Papa Palooza and Flat Francis

Save the date: the Archdiocese of St. Louis is celebrating Papa Palooza on Saturday, September 19th! At this family-friendly event, which coincides with Pope Francis's visit to Philadelphia, St. Louis area Catholics are invited to the campus of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary to enjoy games, dinner, raffles, and a concert. Activities run from 2:00-8:00pm. Find all the details and register for the event on the Archdiocese's website.

After Papa Palooza, the Archdiocese will launch a Flat Francis contest. Inspired by the Flat Stanley project, this contest encourages participants to take pictures of Flat Francis out and about in our fine city and to share the photos on social media. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative photo, the pic with the most social media action, and the Flat Francis who visits the most Catholic religious sites. The contest runs from September 20th through December 27th, so you'll have many opportunities to pose with Flat Francis. Visit the Archdiocese's website to review the contest rules and to download your own Flat Francis.

Revisiting St. Patrick's Day

With so many things happening last March, we missed the chance to report on Mrs. Hodgson’s St. Patrick’s Day projects. We’ll rewind the clock now and peek at her first graders in action.

Mrs. Hodgson’s reading class celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by learning about the life of St. Patrick, the legend of the shamrock, and by making shamrock people. They also read some books written by Tomie de Paula, an author known for his Irish tales of leprechauns and mischief.

Student Reporter News: New Responsibilities

Today, we again feature a couple of our student writers. As they settle into the new school year, our students are finding that with their new grade level come new responsibilities. 8^th grader Madison F. and 6^th grader Preson L. tell us a bit about the new expectations they’ve discovered so far this school year:

“As the school year starts, the 8^th grade is excited to become the new leaders of the school. They now have new responsibilities to show how they can be the leaders of the school and to show how responsible they are becoming. We are grateful that we have privileges, and we know that we should act the way we are supposed to so as to keep those privileges. We are also excited for the new band teacher to come and teach us. We are also happy to use the new science equipment that we didn’t have before. I hope that this year will be a great year!” – Madison F., 8^th grade

“What I like this year is that moving from fifth grade to sixth is an adventure. I like having a locker and changing classes every period. We get to go to recess before we eat lunch. I like how we get to do free writes. I like that we learn new things every day. School life for a sixth grader is fun!” – Preson L., 6^th grade

Staying Cool

After a mild start to the school year, summer returned to St. Louis last week! Our students and faculty  are working hard to stay cool through the hot streak, usually spending the hottest hours of the day working in our coolest spaces.

Last Friday afternoon, the 7th graders spent some time with their 2nd grade buddies in an air-conditioned meeting room. The older students read to their buddies and then listened as the younger students took a turn reading. To keep extra cool, they shared popsicles as well as stories!

Celebrating Those who Labor

In honor of Labor Day, we'd like to thank all of those who labor for our school. The list of individuals who help us would fill a city block, so we'll we'll avoid naming names here.

We are grateful for our dedicated pastor and principal, who oversee the seemingly endless pile of administrative needs and who create the positive environment in which our students learn. Our terrific office staff keep communication flowing, organize our daily schedules, and ensure that our bills are paid. The fantastic OLS faculty challenge our children to learn new things, stretch their imaginations, and continually strive to do their best. The hours they work go far above and beyond the call of duty as they work tirelessly to meet our students' needs.

In addition to our administration, faculty, and staff, we are blessed with countless volunteers who generously give of their time. From playground monitors to library assistants, the OLS community pulls together to share their talents for the good of our school and parish communities. We could not fulfill our mission without our hardworking volunteers.

To all of you, a deep and heartfelt thank you!!

If you'd like to volunteer your time but don't know how to get involved, don't fret! Find some ideas on this FAQ page or fill out our talent survey, and we'll find a place for you.

Student Reporter News: Ice Cream Social

Whenever possible, we like to open up the blog to our student writers. What better way to learn about OLS than through their eyes? Today, two of our students report on the ice cream social, which was held a few days before school began.

“The end of summer is always marked with the Ice Cream Social. It is when my classmates get to see each other again. We start with ice cream and then go and see all our new teachers. For the first time, they also had a book fair at the social. The school is filled with students running around, checking out their new classrooms, and getting used to being in the building again. This year, after the end of the Ice Cream Social, tables and chairs were cleaned up and a movie was put on a big screen. Everybody seemed to enjoy the Ice Cream Social, and this year, it was a really good one.” – Sam B., 7^th grade

“You can start to tell that school is just about to start up again when the ice cream social comes around. Students and their parents come up to OLS to meet the teachers, see the classrooms, and eat ice cream. Also, people talk and socialize with each other. A few differences took place this year, though. First off, the Scholastic book fair was, for the first time, during the ice cream social, and there was a movie after. Snacks and drinks were sold during the movie to make money. People got the feeling that it is going to be a good year at OLS.” – Ben K., 8^th grade

April Artwork

We flashback again to last spring when Mrs. McGrath's art students took advantage of a beautiful day to sketch outside. The lovely grounds around OLS provide plenty of inspiration for our budding artists.

Theme for 2015-16

Each year, the 8^th grade class selects a theme for the academic term. For 2015-16, the 8^th graders chose “Trust in God with all your heart” (Proverbs 3:5). A generous parishioner, Linda Carter, designed and created a banner, which bears the theme and hangs in a central hallway for all to see. Banners from past years line the cafeteria, reminding students of our history and tradition.