Kindergarten graduation

Our 8th graders graduated last week, and this week it was the kindergarten's turn! During a morning ceremony for family and friends, the kindergarten students showcased all that they've learned this year.

This crew has grown by leaps and bounds since their first day of school nine months ago. Now budding readers and independent workers, they are ready to tackle new challenges. We are proud of your hard work and look forward to watching you grow! Congratulations, kindergartners!

Clay creations from art class



A sampling of the clay art creations made by OLS students this year.

 

6th coil pots, mugs, bowls and other creations:

 

 4th grade rattle critters:

 7th grade clay creations of choice:

 2nd grade "dinosaurs":

5th grade coil bowls, mugs, etc.:

8th grade farewell

We are so proud of our 8th graders, the OLS class of 2016! They undertook countless responsibilities at school this year, from crossing guard to office and classroom aides. Through their hard work, dedication, and commitment to service, they set an example for the younger students, putting the OLS mission into action.

 

 

We bid a fond farewell to the class of 2016 last weekend. The students and their families celebrated their achievements and marked an end to this chapter of their life. Congratulations to our newest alums! We will miss you!

 

Snocones with Mrs. Banahan

 

Last week the students were surprised with two fabulous treats - a visit from Mrs. Banahan and snocones!!  It was wonderful to see Mrs. Banahan and who doesn't love a snocone?!

 

We couldn't have asked for a nicer day to celebrate!

Indoor Recess

 

A rainy day can't keep the 7th graders from having fun!  Here they are playing gaga ball in the gym foyer during a rainy indoor recess.  They are both creative and resourceful!

Treat Week

Some of our parents decided to designate this past week as Treat Week for our hardworking faculty and staff. Countless parents volunteered to assist with the project, and our faculty were showered with delicious goodies all week long!

Just a sample of the treats from the week:
an ice cream float bar!

Thank you, faculty and staff, for your endless dedication to our students! And thank you, parents, for your generosity and creativity! We are blessed to be part of such a devoted community.

Exploring the Earth's Matter

Ms. Schweiss' 4th graders have been learning about what is inside of the earth in Science. They learned what makes up the inside of the earth. They ended their studies by making a cross-section of the earth using play dough.

Spring Concert

Last week, the OLS students showcased their musical talent in our annual spring concert. The beginning and concert bands, directed by Mr. Litvin, treated the audience to selections in a variety of musical styles. Impressing the audience with their development over the past 8 months, the Beginning Band explored a theme by Mozart and played an upbeat march. The Concert Band performed a number of pieces, ranging from a bold fanfare to selections from Harry Potter.

Between the band pieces, Mr. Vizer directed all of the students in upbeat choral performances. Each choir included a medley: Shirley Temple favorites by the primary choir, Walt Disney selections by the middle grades, and The Sound of Music collection by the junior high. As an extra special treat, the OLS Cantor Choir performed in well-balanced harmony.

Special thanks to Mr. Litvin and Mr. Vizer for their work in preparing our students for the concert! It was a terrific evening to highlight the musical talent at OLS.

Grandparent's Day

Last week, the 1st graders shared a special afternoon with their grandparents. After a welcome by Mrs. Mongan, the students served their grandparents a snack, and then they worked together to complete a booklet about themselves. The class ended the event by singing a few of their favorite songs. Both grandparents and students alike enjoyed the chance to spend the afternoon together!

Field Day

The weather was perfect for the annual OLS Field Day. Students from pre-K through 8th grade gathered in their family groups to compete in games ranging from bean bag tic-tac-toe to parachute game.  The day finished in a tug of war match between the 7th and 8th grades, a tradition enjoyed by both the participants and the spectators.

Thanks to Mr. Paulus for organizing the event and to the faculty and parent volunteers who made the day a success!

ProLife Award

Clayton, his mother, and grandmother proudly display his award.

Congratulations to 8th grader Clayton, who was recently recognized by the Archdiocese for his prolife essay! 1,100 students from throughout the metropolitan area submitted essays in a contest held by the Respect Life Apostolate, and he was selected as a finalist. Clayton and other finalists were honored at an award ceremony last month at the Bishop Rigali Center. We are so proud of you, Clayton!

Team Joy

To show our support for Mrs. Banahan as she battles cancer, Mondays in May are Team Joy days. Students and faculty wear their green Team Joy sorts with pride as we continue to pray for Mrs. Banahan's return to health.

 If you ordered a Team Joy shirt, join us in wearing it on Mondays this month. Share a pic on our Facebook page! Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

SRN: Final Speech Tournament

On April 30th, the Our Lady of Sorrows Speech Team participated in the final meet at Vianney High School.  It was a nice win for Our Lady of Sorrows...Our Lady of Sorrows is very proud of our 2016 Speech Team, but are sad to let Amy D., Kaitlyn W., and Faith K., who performed in speech earlier in the year, go into high school next year.--8^th grader Kaitlyn W.

"Speech is amazing!" was how the 8th grade girls described the speech team at OLS...I asked them why they joined speech.  Faith said it was a means for her to become less shy.  Amy said it was to improve her public speaking, and Kaitlyn said it was a way to become more outgoing.  They all enjoyed their time in speech and agreed they loved it.  I asked them how speech helped them and they all said it taught them how to work.--8th grader Brady Y.

 

As this school year comes to a close, so does the Bellarmine Speech League 2015-16 year.  OLS had a wonderful season, and to cap it off, we participated in a final speech meet.  Three speech club members were chosen to participate...Kaitlyn, Matilda and Anna received gold ribbons, and Amy received a trophy for her outstanding work!  Congratulations speech team on a wonderful 2016 speech season!--6^th grader Anna S.

First Holy Communion

Saturday, the 2nd graders and their families gathered to celebrate their First Holy Communion. The sunny skies matched the students' excited smiles as they looked forward to receiving Jesus for the first time. Their reverence and awe before the blessed sacrament served as a powerful example for all who witnessed it.

 Thank you to all who helped prepare our children for this important step in their faith formation: Mrs. Huelsing, Dr. Sanders, Fr. Pete, and their parents.

1st Annual Bags Tournament!

Join the OLS Athletic Association for the 1st Annual Bags Tournament on May 21st!

 

1^st Annual Our Lady of Sorrows Athletic Association Bags Tournament

When: Saturday May 21 – Doors Open at 5:00, Tournament begins at 6:00

Where: Our Lady of Sorrows Parish Center

Cost per 2 person Team: $60

Interested in attending but not playing, you are welcome too!

For $20 you can come eat, drink, and of course heckle the players.

Admission includes Beer, Soda, Barbeque, and Snacks.

Tournament Rules:

·        Number of entrants limited to first 48 teams

·        Double elimination

·        Games will be played to either 21 points (no penalty for busting) or 30 minutes, whichever comes first.

·        Points will be awarded as follows: 3 points for a ringer and 1 point for a bag on the board – cancel will be in effect (3 on board cancels 1 ringer)

·        First team to score at least 21 points wins – no penalty for busting

·        Team to score last tosses first and continues to toss until the opponent gains the point advantage on any round of tossing

·        Teams will alternate tosses

·        Boards will be furnished and teams will be randomly assigned boards; this is a fundraiser and many different sets will be used.

·        Prize money will be awarded to first ($120), second ($60), and third ($30).

To register a team or general attendance, please contact Dan Cline at daniel.n.cline@sbcglobal.net or 314-402-5069 

 

3rd Grade's Busy Week

Mrs. Gatner's 3rd graders had a busy week last week.  They  presented their biography reports, played math games, did hands on experiments in science.  They were also preparing for their play, Pecos Bill, which they performed this week for the other students and parents.  

2nd Grade Math

Mrs. Huelsing's second graders love to practice their math facts at the chalkboard! Four students work at the board at a time while the rest of the class solves the problem at their desks.  After they have an answer, the whole class talks over the solution and discusses strategies for reaching the correct answer.

7th/8th Grade Trip to SLU

The 7th and 8th Grade students have been studying the brain for the past few weeks.  They learned about the anatomy and functions of the different areas of the brain.  They also made brain hats to help understand the area and functions.

We saw a video of a sheep brain dissection.  The students then went to SLU to dissect a sheep brain to learn more.

After the trip to SLU they will then compare the similarities and differences between a sheep brain and human brain.  They will also looking at diseases of the brain and abnormalities as well as how to keep our brains as healthy as possible.  The students are also finding science current events regarding the brain as well.

Sidewalk Art

Our kids are showing their OLS love! We spied this artwork on the playground last week.

 

 

The primary students were playing hangman, and the solution was the word "friend".

 

 

Daily Sentence Editing

Mrs. Ryan's students know that proper grammar and sentence structure are essential to successful writing. They practice sentence editing, looking for errors in punctuation, capitalization, and verb tense, just to name a few. After they've had a chance to edit their sentences on their own, they take turns making corrections on the SmartBoard.