November 14, 2008

 

 

 

Dear OLG Parents and Friends:

 

It is hard to believe that we are already well into the second quarter and that our Thanksgiving break will begin in eleven days! Before the first quarter gets too far away from us, though, I wanted to pass on to you some of the many events that have happened here at our school!

 

First, let me congratulate the students who made the First quarter honor role: Honors – Enguerran de The, Effie Tjhai; High Honors – Amanda Dsouza, Elizabeth Radford, Mary Wigton; Highest Honors – Michaeleah Assini,  Andrew Donohue, Brandon Gollhofer, Stephen Jacobsen.  We have yard signs available for $20 for those students who are on the academic honor role! What a great way to support their accomplishment!

 

The results for those sophomores and juniors who took the PSAT test on October 15 should be in during December. These same students will be taking the Pre-ACT or PLAN test on November 20^th in the morning.  These are national test dates and can not be changed.  Please make sure your student is in school on this next upcoming date. These tests are used as one indicator of how students will test on their actual College Board exams.

 

The students had a fun time at Bass Hall in downtown Ft. Worth on Nov. 3^rd.  They arrived just a little early and were given a short tour of the facility.  We joined many other local high schools for the performance of Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors. Thank you to Mrs. Brissman and Mr. Needham for driving!

 

Six of our students assisted at the Bishop’s Annual Pro-Life dinner in Ft. Worth on November 1^st. It was a huge turnout. OLG sponsored a table for the event, as Stephen Jacobsen, Liz Radford, Effie Tjahi, Enguerran de The, Brandon Gollhofer and Emily Austin helped collect donations and assisted guests to their tables. The Pro-Life Club is a new club for our school and the students are becoming more active in their awareness of the responsibilities we have as Catholics to protect life at all stages. We are grateful for the assistance and guidance of both Mrs. Laux from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Mr. Downey, our Latin/Geography teacher.

 

Speaking of clubs, the Finance Club is meeting twice a month now.  The students realized there was so much to learn about money that they needed more time!!!

 

Our students are also collecting items to fill Victory Boxes to mail to our soldiers in Afghanistan. We began this on Veterans Day in addition to praying for our military men and women who have either died and have family in Texas or are recuperating in Texas hospitals. This is through the Texas Angels program. I was so surprised by the overwhelming response of the student with items to fill these boxes that I hadn’t expected the additional cost of mailing so many boxes!  We would greatly appreciate any monetary donations that families could make toward the postage for these boxes.  The largest box is mailed at a flat rate of about $10. I estimate that we will probably have 4 of these boxes.

 

Mrs. Moore, one of OLG’s three Math teachers, is overseeing our students’ entries in the Catholic Math League Competition. The competition is open to all Catholic secondary schools and middle schools who teach Pre-Algebra. Bishop Lynch and Christ the King Schools in Dallas are in the competition. The first round of the competition was November 4^th. There are three more rounds and testing is the first Tuesday of each month. You can view your student’s results at www.catholicmathleague.com. If you would like your student’s name to appear in the results please send in a written permission form for our school files.

 

Lastly, our Annual Development Dinner is coming up fast! It is scheduled for December 6^th at Trophy Club Country Club beginning at 6pm. This year we will have literature and representatives from several Colleges and Universities present. A representative from the University of Dallas will be on hand (Mrs. Brissman’s Alma Mater!) and Dr. Patrick from the College of St. Thomas More in Ft. Worth will be available to answer questions about their schools. Christendom College, Ave Maria University, and Franciscan University have all sent information for the event. Remember, as parents, this is one of the two events where we ask for your participation and financial support.  This year we are hoping to match a $75,000 Scanlan Grant.  Currently, we have $11,333 received toward that grant!! We have many, many benefactors to recognize and a wonderful meal planned for you. It has always been one of my most favorite events.

 

Please keep Our Lady of Grace High School in your prayers. We are so very blessed with the people God has sent to our school. May all that we do be “All for the Sacred and Eucharist Heart of Jesus, all through the Sorrowful and Immaculate heart of Mary, all in union with St. Joseph.”

 

In His Love,

 

 

Denise L. Donohue, MCSL

Principal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 5, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear OLG Parents and Friends,

 

You might want to earmark this letter for future reference because I have so VERY much to tell you about all that is happening at the school and ALL that is SCHEDULED to take place in the next few months or so!!!

 

First, let me say that we had a wonderful turn out for the initial Development Dinner Meeting this past Friday at the school!  Dr. Krebel will be sending out updates to all of the parents and friends of the school.  So many wonderful ideas were presented and I know that so many more ideas are just waiting to be shared so that this can be the most successful annual Development Dinner ever!!  For all of the new families to the school, I would like to share with you the philosophy of the school regarding fundraising. We have always held the position that it is the responsibility of the families and school to solicit funds for the operation of the school and that the students’ responsibility is to focus on education and community service activities…and to this end we have always been successful.  We have used two major annual events to accomplish this means and they are the annual Development Dinner and a Spring raffle, or in the case of last year, the Summer Golf tournament (which was awesome and tons of fun!!) The Development dinner is December 6^th at Trophy Club. This year’s speaker is Patrick Reilly from the Cardinal Newman Society. They are currently publishing the second edition of The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College.

 

On Wednesday, we will celebrate Mass for the very first time at our new campus!! Fr. Eldredge, TOR from Good Shepherd in Colleyville will be the celebrant. Students are required to come to school at the usual time in dress uniform.

 

The Stanford Achievement Tests will be administered beginning Sept. 15. They will be given on Monday through Thursday during the morning. Please send a snack with your student on those days.  These tests are used as indicators of student strengths and areas for improvement. There is no studying needed!  Students are just asked to do their very best. Results are usually returned to the school in time for Parent/Teacher Conferences in October.

 

Please return the permission slips sent home by Friday Sept. 12^th for The Bass Hall performance of A Comedy of Errors.  Even though the performance in not until November 4^th, I would like to reserve seats early so that we get our first choice.

 

Student Council Nomination forms are to be turned in by Thursday Sept 11.  Mrs. Austin will be distributing these forms this week.  Please indicate to her what position you are interested in. Campaigning will begin the week of Sept 15^th and speeches will be on Sept. 18^th during lunch. Elections will be Sept. 19^th at lunch. One of the first duties for student council is the Homecoming Dance on October 24^th at the Knights of Columbus building at SEAS. We do have alumni who are attending colleges and universities locally who might be able to drop in!!

 

Speaking of our alumni…Tyler Barmore ‘06 has just begun the second semester of his junior year at UT Arlington.  Tyler is studying Aerospace Engineering and working on his private pilot’s license.  Kammy Doyle ’07 has transferred from UNT to attend UT Arlington also.  Kammy is hoping to enter the nursing program at the beginning of her junior year next year.  She has her eyes on a PhD and then teaching.  Katie Sayler ’07 is back at Lexington College in Chicago. Katie earned the top GPA in her freshman class and received a full scholarship to return as a sophomore. Leigh Sanchez ’06 is already in Gaming, Austria at the time of this Principal’s letter.  She is in her junior year at Franciscan University and has worked in the Admissions office. She loves her school! Samantha Donohue ’07 will just miss Leigh in Austria when she begins her Spring semester in Gaming with Ave Maria University. Ave Maria houses their students on the Franciscan campus. Samantha headed back to Ave Maria a week early this fall to act as a freshmen orientation coordinator. And finally Lizzy Drybread ’07 is beginning her sophomore year after a “successful freshman year at the University of Dallas”. We are so very proud of ALL of our alumni and miss them dearly!!

 

Just an FYI…Our Lady of Grace High school instituted a chapter of the National Honor Society last year. Mrs. Austin is the coordinator for the chapter. All sophomores, juniors and seniors are eligible. The criteria include academic achievement as well as individual character and service.  Five teachers from the school vote on eligible selected students.  The first opportunity for student selection is after the first quarter report card. I just wanted to make students aware of this opportunity!! What they do – or don’t do – today might make the difference in selection for this Society. (It is a good life lesson as well!)

 

And lastly, I wanted to say a word of encouragement for our girl’s volleyball team. It’s never easy being a young start-up team. You don’t win as many games and the frustration with your ability is always there, but you each need to give yourselves credit for the immense amount of individual and team improvement that can be seen and the way you all continue to work together to represent our school. Continue to give your very best and you’ll find that success comes from within.

 

In His Love,

 

 

Denise Donohue, Principal

 

 

 

 

December 17, 2008

 

Dear OLG Parents and Friends,

 

Finals are underway and the end of the first Semester is here. We will dismiss directly after lunch on Friday to celebrate the Birthday of our Lord and the Solemnity of his Holy Mother and return bright and early Jan 5^th for the second half of the school year. I am anticipating welcoming a new Spanish-speaking student from Paraguay on Jan. 16^th.  His name is Gonzalo Bogerin.

 

Also, when we return, Elizabeth Radford will be inducted into the National Honor Society.  The exact date has yet to be set.  Students who have a 3.0 and above grade point average, exhibit qualities of leadership, character and service have the opportunity to apply each quarter. “Liz” was also selected for the second string TAPPS 1A Volleyball team.

 

Catholic Schools Week begins on January 26^th and the Catholic Schools Celebration Banquet will be Jan. 31^st.  Mrs. Austin will be recognized at the downtown Convention Center as school Honoree this year. Tickets are $75 per person. I would love to fill a table or two and win the award for the school with the highest percentage of attendees at the event!! OLG will host an Open House on Jan 11^th from 2-4 and again on Jan 26 from 9-4.

 

The week of January 12 – 17 and then January 22 is very important for our Pro-Life High School. We will be setting aside time for Prayer and activities that focus on the Unborn. The local Mass for Life is Jan 16^th at 6pm and the March for Life in Dallas is Jan. 17^th.  I anticipate some of our students will be attending these events. I am very proud of our on-campus Pro-Life Club.

 

Finally, I want to thank everyone for the wonderful evening we had together on December 6^th at the 9^th Annual Development Dinner for OLGHS at Trophy Club Country Club. I extend my heartfelt “Thank you!” to Dr. Krebel and the Development Dinner committee for an extraordinary effort at making the evening so very pleasurable, entertaining and fun! The numbers are in and we reached the first $25,000 match from the Scanlan Foundation and are into the second $25,000 match. I anticipate that we will reach this next match within the next few months. Thank you to everyone who donated so generously to the school.

 

May the Lord find you filled with Peace this Christmas Season!

 

Denise Donohue, Principal

 

 

January 30, 2009

 

Dear OLG Parents and Friends,

 

Happy Catholic Schools Week!! We are looking forward to tomorrow evening when we celebrate our Catholic Schools and especially to recognize Mrs. Debra Austin our Administrative Assistant as our Catholic Schools Honoree. OLG will have two tables at the Ft. Worth Convention Center along with the other 19 schools comprising the Catholic Schools of our Diocese.

 

The teachers have enjoyed the wonderful appreciation breakfast this morning, as I am sure the students enjoyed their Student Appreciation “snow days” on Tuesday and Wednesday!!  Unfortunately, these days need to be made up! We will have full days on Feb. 6th and March 6th as well as Thursday April 9th. Students are encouraged to continue bringing in baby items for our service project so that we may give these to the Keller Respect Life group.

 

Re-registration forms were due today. You may go on-line and complete and then forward your forms to me via email if you like. Payment in full at registration has a $100 discount. 1/2 payments are due Feb. 16 and May 31st. Diocesan financial assistance forms may be completed on-line at www.psas.com  Password FTWH. Paper copies are on order and will be received once they arrive at the Diocese. There is also in-house financial assistance and work/study. You must come in and complete a financial assistance form and submit by March 1 to be considered for aid. Current families submitting after March 1st for financial assistance may loose their preference due to new family enrollment and limited financial assistance availability.

 

Open enrollment begins next week. We already are receiving phone calls and visits to the school. On Tuesday morning I will host Coffee and Donuts with the Principal in the Library from 7:30am to 8:15am. There are so many, many new and exciting things happening with the school. I look forward to having a full senior course selection once again as well as the beginnings of a six-man football team.

 

We received a certificate from the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan for our Victory Boxes that were sent before Christmas as well as some pictures from our Rwandan sister school and their new soccer equipment. Our prayer list at the school keeps growing for all those who have requested our prayers. We pray for their particular needs daily and know in our hearts that God hears our prayers. He is so faithful to us and we have been so very blessed with the outpouring of His grace. Thank you for your individual prayers for our school. Please continue to pray for me and the members of our various Boards, Councils and Committees. I am continuously amazed and thankful for their enthusiasm and efforts to bring our school into the next phase of permanency so that we can provide state of the art facilities, education and our Catholic faith for families in northern Tarrant and southern Denton counties.

 

Looking forward to visiting with you over the next several weeks!

 

In His Love,

 

Denise L. Donohue, MCSL
Principal

 

March 6, 2009

 

 

Dear OLG Parents and Friends,

 

Results from the TAPPS 1A competition are in and we didn’t do too poorly seeing that we had 17 ribbons for places ranging from 1^st through 6^th!!  Those students receiving a

1^st place are: Liz Radford – Original Oratory, Emily Austin – Photography Creative Process (collage), Michaeleah Assini – Fashion Accessories, Effie Tjhai – Relief Sculpture. 3^rd place winner is: Stephen Jacobsen – Original Oratory. 4^th place winners are: Andrew Donohue- Literary Criticism, Amanda Dsouza – Poetry Interpretation, 4^th Brandon Gollhofer – Ready Writing. 5^th place winners are: Effie Tjhai and Liz Radford – Duet Acting, Andrew Fallon – Poetry Interpretation, Andrew Donohue – Advanced Math. 6^th Place winners are Stephen Jacobsen – Literary Criticism, Liz Radford – Ready Writing, Andrew Donohue – Science, Stephen Jacobsen – Advanced Math, Effie Tjhai – Sculpture. The OLGHS Newsletter took 2^nd place!!! Newsletter students are Ryan Beene, Brandon Gollhofer, Enguerran de The, and Amanda Schmidhausler. We are waiting to see which places will advance to the State Competition in Austin on April 3^rd & 4^th. We will need to coordinate with all parents as to transportation and accommodations. The school pays for the entrance fees for those students participating in State and it is the parents’ responsibility to pay for travel, accommodations and food.

 

Report cards will be going home this coming Wednesday at the end of school. Please review and sign your student’s report card and return by Friday March 13^th.

 

There is also on Wednesday at 7pm in the school library a sports meeting for all students participating in any Sport this coming Fall. This is the time of year that all sports teams are scheduling for their next season and we must make arrangements for all of our teams as well. Since our student population is still quite small, the verbal commitment on the part of a student can be an essential component as to whether the school outfits and schedules a season for that sport. It is not a light commitment, since it may impact more than student. Please seriously think about whether your student will be able to follow-through with the full commitment of participation that each sport requires so that we do not have to cancel scheduled events or waste money on unused athletic equipment or facilities rental. If we can re-direct funds to those areas that students are interested in, then that would be greatly beneficial to everyone! Additional great sport news to report…Michaeleah Assini came in 3d place in the Sacred Heart Invitational Top 10 golf tournament on March 3^rd.!!!

 

Spring Break begins the week of March 16^th. Students have reading assignments during the break to continue building their personal reading portfolios. My ninth grade Theology students have their Bible Timeline projects to work on!!  School resumes March 23^rd.  Fr. Kyle Walterscheid will be coming on March 27^th to speak with the students on current topics. I will ask if he might lead us in Stations of the Cross that day!

 

The OLG School Advisory Council meets every third Tuesday of the month except for this month when they will meet on March 24^th at 7pm. If you would like to attend the meeting or have an item for the agenda, please submit it one week prior, or make your request to attend, one week prior to the meeting date.

 

This is also the time of year when we begin seeking nominations for the Parent and Friend Association.  The Parents and Friends Association is such a key component to the daily operations of our school.  They are the folks who “put the icing on the cake” and make many of the school events run smoothly. Because of our size, we have not had the benefit of a Parents and Friends Association this past year, but we are growing and the need is immediate!! We are looking for key individuals for the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.  If you are interested, please let Mrs. Austin know and we will be in contact with you!! The President sits in on all of the School Advisory Council meetings as a non-voting member.

 

As a reminder, the deadline for financial assistance was March 1^st.  All families need to be current with their tuition payments and sports fees in order to qualify for financial aid.  Please see me asap if you have not submitted and intended to do so. Completed forms are going to the committee for review. It has always been the policy of the school not to turn away a qualifying family because of finances and in these uncertain economic times I know that many families are very, very concerned about the future. OLGHS has always found a way to work with families. We have sought out foundations and generous benefactors who see the benefit of formation in faith, truth and right reason of young adults and they have been instrumental in allowing our young people the opportunity to receive a strong education in virtue, integrity and academic excellence. Please contact me if these are your concerns.

 

Lastly, I want to thank each and every one of you for praying for our school.  Our Prayer Wall is growing with those who are in need of our daily prayers. Each morning we take time to ask the Lord to remember their particular needs.  If you would like us to add someone who is in need of remembrance or special prayers, please let the office know and we will include them in our morning prayers. May the Lord’s face shine upon each of you!!

 

In His Love,

 

 

Denise L. Donohue

Principal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 22, 2009

 

Dear OLG Parent and Friends,

 

Here, just past the midpoint of our summer break, I hope this letter finds everyone happy, healthy and relaxed! While the students are taking a breather from the daily requirements of academia, the teachers and administration have been hard at work preparing for another wonderful school year!

 

First, I want to introduce to you several of the new faculty who will be joining us in the fall to complete our senior course offerings and to replace some of the faculty who could not return. Mr. Christopher Tunnell comes to us from Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas via several pubic and private schools, the last being the Ft. Worth ISD where he worked full time as a Bilingual Teacher for grades 1 & 3. He is the current Director of the Cardinal Newman Institute in Ft. Worth which our previous teacher, Mr. Steve Matuszak, helped establish. He will be teaching Senior Great Books, Senior Theology, Logic and Spanish.  Mr. Douglas Jones is coming to us from Cardinal Stritch High School, another top 50 Catholic High School, in Oregon, Ohio. He has worked in Catholic High schools for 13 years in the areas of Theology, Science, Mathematics, Computer Technology and as a Catholic High School Principal for 3 years at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School in Montgomery, Alabama. Mr. Jones will be teaching all of the Math and Science courses this year as well as helping out on the football field. Both of these gentlemen served their country in the armed forces prior to transitioning to education. Mr. Tunnell left the United States Marine Corps as an Administrative Chief – Gunnery Sergeant and Mr. Jones as a Major in the United States Army. We thank them for their service to our country and welcome their expertise and commitment in the field of education and formation of our young adults. We are also fortunate to have Fr. Isaac Oroczo joining the school faculty this year. He will be assisting the school with all of our pastoral and spiritual needs as well as team teaching the 10^th and 11^th grade Theology classes with me.  Fr. Isaac helped us out at the end of school last year and he is a joy and inspiration for our young students!

 

With the return of the Great Books course for our seniors, it was time for a refresher for our faculty in the use of the Socratic Method for instruction. The Great Books course is the culmination for all of our courses here at Our Lady of Grace High School. Students, as seniors, are required to pre-read course material and come to class prepared to lead and facilitate discussion. Teachers are not looked to necessarily as the individual who imparts all  the knowledge, but someone who assists in facilitating the probing and depth of the discussion to begin unwrapping ultimate Truths of reality and especially for us, our Catholic faith. Discussion shifts into varying aspects of life from sociology to the economy to politics to morality to daily living. All of the teachers met July 6^th along with several other teachers from the Diocese, to participate in a Socratic Workshop led by Dr. Dan Guernsey from Ave Maria University. Dr. Guernsey is on our Honorary Advisory Board and is the Headmaster of Ave Maria’s K-12 school. All teachers will be using the Socratic Method in their specific subject areas as they are able.

 

Along with the return of our senior Great Books course, I am re-introducing a Logic course for all students. This will be a one quarter course and will focus on Formal Logic – or the structure of argument and discussion. TAPPS preparation will be a one quarter academic elective for the students. Juniors and Seniors only will have the option in the Spring to choose either Greek or Spanish.

 

Next year, we will be switching to the Iowa Test of Basic Skills for assessment of our students instead of the Stanford 10. This is a Diocesan-wide change and will offer the teachers more reports and teaching strategies for students. We will also begin the change over to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Framework for High School religion with the first courses implemented in our Freshmen Theology class. All Catholic High Schools are to begin the transition and have the framework in place by 2012. I have chosen two textbooks prepared by Midwest Theological Studies for our freshmen students and will continue the implementation on a yearly basis.

 

A representative from Christendom College will be at the school on July 27^th at 1pm. to meet with interested students and parents. His name is Michael Schmitt. I am very selective as to which colleges and universities I allow to present on campus. There are so many who want to come and meet with our students. Christendom College is a wonderful option for many of our families.

 

Also on July 27^th, we are offering a first aid, AED course for adults from 9-12. The cost is $25 per person. There is an optional booklet available for $15. Please call the school office at (817)933-6516 if you are interested to reserve a spot. We are hoping to confirm the availability of offering school physicals on site that same day. I will forward via email a confirmation to all families.

 

As a reminder, school begins August 12^th. We will be celebrating Mass the very first day and it will be a full school day. I am not sure if we will be celebrating Mass here at the school or at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, but I will also share that information with you once it is confirmed. Meet the Teacher night is August 10^th from 7-8:30pm. We have girls’ ties available here at the school for $8 each. There is a special tie for the senior boys which can also be purchased here at the school for $8 each. There will also be order forms for PE shorts and t-shirts as well as school sweatshirts. These orders must be pre-paid.

 

Lastly, I am very excited that the high school will be hosting Eric Genius on August 29 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton!! He is an internationally know Catholic musician. More information will be coming out – but mark your calendars now for this Saturday evening concert!!

 

All through the Sacred and Eucharist Heart of Jesus, all through the sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, all in union with St. Joseph.

 

Denise L. Donohue, Principal