After our Easter break, the school year races toward its conclusion on May 24th! We appreciate the support we have received throughout the year. There are two topics I want to call to your attention:

Registration has been under way for several weeks now. Our early childhood grades are filling across the board! We still have plenty of openings for our Middle School. I want to remind you and ask that you advertise our tremendous discount for ALL sixth graders next year. Two thousand dollar scholarships are given to all returning and brand new students entering the sixth grade next year. Our current fifth grade class, having been small throughout the elementary years, needs to expand for the first year of Middle School. Of course the transition into the middle school grades is often challenging. This is an ideal time, especially for those attending large public schools, to enter the small-school environment that OLF provides.

Cell phones are a marvel. They provide instant communication opportunities to all of us. Used responsibly, this invention is one of the best tools ever to hit our modern society. Used irresponsibly, this tool can be harmful. How, you ask? Beyond access to various sites which may not be wholesome-teenagers soon discover they can insult, name-call, make fun, threaten, and bully others from a distance. No face-to-face interaction is required. One’s courage/audacity is boosted when there is little immediate consequence. Parents who make cell phones available incur a paramount duty: they need to oversee student usage. From “instagram” to various texting – messages containing threatening and bullying overtures may be sent and received, inappropriate language may be used, and other illicit topics may be discussed. Without proper and frequent monitoring, under aged students may be both victims of and perpetrators of this behavior. This interaction almost invariably takes place out of school during the evenings/weekends. It does, unfortunately, tumble in the school-house door the next day only to add more fury to the drama that is naturally generated by young teenage emotions. It is NOT a privacy issue; it is a requirement for good parenting.

May God bless you all this Easter season!

Tim Whalen, Principal
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School

The post April 2013 Newsletter appeared first on Our Lady of Fatima School - Albuquerque, NM.

March Madness is taking over…or so it seems!  Of course we are proud of our winning basketball teams and hope they do well in their tournaments.  March Madness continues, however, with several other very important topics-so PLEASE pay attention.

REGISTRATION for next year is underway.  Those who register by Monday March 4^th will only pay the standard Registration fee of $250. 00 established by the Diocese.  After next Monday the late registration fee is $300.00.  More importantly from our point of view is the necessity for finalizing our plans.  Two ideas are already on the front burner:  First, we hope to have TWO second grades next year.  Second, we hope to expand our 6^th grade to a minimum of 16 by offering a 2,000.00 scholarship to all RETURNING and all NEW sixth grade students.  We have a great middle school and the sixth grade year is a perfect time for students to TRANSITION into these expectations at a small school.  Please help us get the word out.  Our SAC and PSO parent leadership groups have promoted our school well…but it takes ALL of us!

SAFETY is critical to all of us.  Shortly after the recent tragedy in Connecticut, I reviewed for you in my last newsletter how well we completed our CONTAINMENT/LOCKDOWN drill.  Successful as it was-there is always need for improvement, although such situations are unpredictable.  I called for a Parent Committee to meet with me last month.  Several recommendations have been given attention since.  FIRST-we have invited an APD unit to meet with our faculty THIS Friday at 1:00pm.  All PARENTS are invited to join us in the library for this informative training.  We will focus on containment/emergency procedures.  Parents can help too!  Second, we have revised some of the language/instructions to our faculty relative to procedures during such emergencies.  Third, we have installed (at great expense, I might add) a Security lock, camera, and amplifier system to our main entrance in order to control more carefully those who enter our school.  Please join us this Friday in the library.  It is a First Friday and there is the usual Early Dismissal at 1:00pm.  Students may attend IF their parent/guardian is with them as well.

Parents have often expressed dissatisfaction with Road Runner Clothier.  That business has recently come under new management and promises to become more efficient in the providing of uniform apparel.  Its new name is the Uniform Store.  Beyond that report-OLF has contracted with a second uniform source.  Dennis Uniforms is now available locally and on line for ordering uniform apparel.  This action, the request of many parents, has been fully sanctioned and is available for your business NOW.  Advertisements will soon be distributed.

And finally-SERVICE HOURS need to be completed and updated on Sycamore.  As you know, service hours not completed are converted into a fine and placed on FACTS at the end of the school year.  In most cases, thank goodness, a mere updating on Sycamore reduces the necessity for this additional FACTS payment.

Spring break is only ONE week away!  School will be closed from March 11-15.  From that point only the Fourth Quarter remains in this school year.  Wow!  It has raced by!

May God bless you all.

Tim Whalen, Principal

Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School

The post March 2013, Newsletter appeared first on Our Lady of Fatima School - Albuquerque, NM.

Last Name, First Name, Middle Initial, (Maiden Name if applicable)
Street Address, City, State, ZIP
Home Phone & Email Address
Years attended OLF

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