Principal’s News
Please keep in your prayers the victims of the Santa Fe High School tragic shooting last week, and pray also for their family and friends. May God grant strength and peace to all in their community. It has been an incredibly difficult school year for all. God is faithful, and our MHOC community is strong. Thank you for support, as we pray for a safe end of the school year!
Communication regarding the 2018-19 school year will be sent to parents once it is finalized. Please be patient, as we work towards completing this process. Be assured of my continued commitment to providing our students with the very best in Catholic education.
Thank you to all parents for treating us to a week filled with wonderful surprises during Teacher Appreciation Week (TAW). We especially thank Mrs. Natalee Lima, TAW Committee Chairperson, and the TAW Committee and volunteers for your time, talent, and much appreciated generosity!
We had an absolutely amazing Night of the Arts, and we thank Mrs. Susan Calderalo, Mrs. Lisa Landers, and Mrs. Mariel Buttonow for all of their hard work and dedication to our school’s Fine Arts Program! Bravo! We also thank all of our teachers, parents, volunteers, and of course, our talented students for a special evening! We are extremely proud of our MHOC students!
Last week, we held our annual Athletics Banquet! Thank you to our Athletic Director, Coach Julizza Licardie, and our Booster Club Chairpersons, Mrs. Del Aguila and Mrs. Armenakis, for a terrific event! We also thank all of our coaches and athletes for a successful year, and we thank all of our parents for your support of our Athletics Program! Some of our immediate and future plans to improve our sports program include the following:
If you have any suggestions, we would love to hear from you, especially our coaches! Please contact Coach Licardie at julizza.licardie@mhocschool.org.
As in past years, MHOC classrooms continue to be peanut/nut free. Therefore, please do not send any peanut or nut products for your child to eat during snack/class celebrations, etc. in the classroom. MHOC has several students with life-threatening peanut/nut allergies, and any exposure to peanuts or nuts through contact or ingestion can cause a severe reaction. Further, if your child has eaten peanuts or nuts prior to coming to school, please be sure your child’s hands have been thoroughly washed prior to entering school. Lunches and snacks are not to be shared at school under any circumstances. We appreciate your cooperation with this policy and your help in keeping all of our students safe and healthy.
As a reminder, access to the kindergarten entrance during morning arrival is closed to all pedestrian traffic. Please park in the church parking lot, and walk to the main school gate for drop-off. The kindergarten entrance will be open during afternoon dismissal as usual.
Please be reminded there will be no summer camp this year due to ongoing construction and various church and school projects. Many of these projects are “works in progress,” and we thank you for your continued patience and cooperation.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS…June 5 is the last day of the 2017-18 school year! Final School Mass at 8:30 a.m. followed by our Annual Talent Show! Noon dismissal for all students! Panther Café closed. No after care.
Please be sure to check the school’s website at www.mhocschool.org or your PlusPortals account for updated calendar information!
WEEK OF MAY 21
Monday, May 21
8th Grade finals
Jonathan Reed Measurement Day from 3-6 p.m. in the church for families whose last names begin with A-L - please refer to flyer that was sent home in Thursday folder and email loop.
Tuesday, May 22
8th grade finals
Jonathan Reed Measurement Day from 3-6 p.m. in the church for families whose last names begin with M-Z – please refer to flyer that was sent home in Thursday folder and email loop.
Wednesday, May 23
Kindergarten Step Up Day:
This is a special morning planned for all students entering kindergarten in the fall and their parents!
Kind Club Bake Sale during dismissal in front of school (exit to car line):
$1.00-$3.00 items. Proceeds will benefit American Cancer Society.
Thursday, May 24
Feast of MHOC School Mass at 8:30 a.m. led by Grade 8:
Please join us as we celebrate Mass in song and prayer! May 24 is a special day for our school! Mary Help of Christians is one of the many ways in which we have come to know and love the Blessed Mother. It refers specifically to the aid that Mary gives on our behalf, as she prays with us and for us. We hope you will join us!
Immediately following Mass, we will present our Quarter 4 Accelerated Reader (AR) Awards and Mathletics Awards. We hope you will be able to join us for the celebration of Mass and our students’ successes with AR and Mathletics!
Friday, May 25
No school mass
Dress down & popsicle reward to celebrate Renaissance Honor Roll:
Congratulations to all students and teachers! Please ensure that your child follows the guidelines for dress down day, which may be found in the Parent-Student Handbook on page 36. Enjoy!
Confirmation practice at 6:30 p.m. (A-I) and 8:00 p.m. (J-Z)
Saturday, May 26
Confirmation at 10:00 a.m. (A-I) and 1:00 p.m. (J-Z):
Please keep our eighth-grade students in your prayers, as they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today.
Sunday, May 27
No assigned class mass
Monday, May 28
No school in observance of Memorial Day:
We encourage you to spend some time remembering and honoring the men and women who have died in military service for our country. God bless America!
Have a good week, and thank you for your continued support.
MHOC has been named to the Renaissance National Honor Roll for Outstanding Performance in Advancing Students’ Achievement in Reading! Renaissance recognizes educators around the country who have implemented reading practice programs successfully and have led their students to meet or exceed data targets that lead to significant student growth. Our school earned this distinction by guiding effective implementation of the Accelerated Reader (AR) Program. To date, our school has read close to 19,000 books during the current school year!That’s almost 300,000,000 words! Our students also average 30 minutes of daily engaged reading time! This is an outstanding accomplishment for our students! Congratulations to our students and our entire school…let’s keep reading and growing!
Thank you to Mrs. Julie Winninger, Ms. Pat Kappes, Mrs. Mariant Cerda, and Mrs. Beatriz Miranda-Vilamek for planning, organizing, and executing another beautiful evening for our MHOC family! Our “First Annual Father-Daughter Dance” on April 21 was amazing! We had a great turnout, and the dads and daughters had a special evening together! We look forward to continuing this new tradition at MHOC School next year!
Thank you to our Home and School Association (HAS) Board Members for all of their dedication to our school this year: Mrs. Katherine Orces, President; Mrs. Ada Salazar, Vice President; Mrs. Natalee Lima, Secretary; Mrs. Beatriz Miranda-Vilamek, Treasurer; and Mrs. Mariant Cerda, Homeroom Parent Coordinator! We also thank and appreciate all of our committee chairpersons for working with our HAS Board Members on so many of our school events! Mrs. Orces, Mrs. Salazar, and Mrs. Lima have resigned as Board members for next school year, and we are sorry to see them go! We are happy to announce that Mrs. Cerda will serve as our new HAS President and Mrs. Miranda-Vilamek will serve as our new HAS Vice President! We have three (3) open positions: Secretary, Treasurer, and Homeroom Parent Coordinator. If you are interested in serving in any capacity, please contact Dr. Fernandez or Mrs. Julie Winninger. Meeting minutes from our April 17 Home and School Meeting are now posted on PlusPortals. Thank you!
As in past years, MHOC classrooms continue to be peanut/nut free. Therefore, please do not send any peanut or nut products for your child to eat during snack/class celebrations, etc. in the classroom. MHOC has several students with life-threatening peanut/nut allergies, and any exposure to peanuts or nuts through contact or ingestion can cause a severe reaction. Further, if your child has eaten peanuts or nuts prior to coming to school, please be sure your child’s hands have been thoroughly washed prior to entering school. Lunches and snacks are not to be shared at school under any circumstances. We appreciate your cooperation with this policy and your help in keeping all of our students safe and healthy.
Construction update…we are making progress! Thank you to everyone for your patience, as we continue to navigate through the various stages of construction. Our new Parish and Student Center is still on track for substantial completion this October 2018! As a reminder, access to the kindergarten entrance during morning arrival will be closed to all pedestrians. Please park in the church parking lot, and walk to the main school gate for drop-off. The kindergarten entrance will be open during afternoon dismissal as usual.
Please be reminded there will be no summer camp this year due to ongoing construction and various church and school projects. Many of these projects are “works in progress,” and we thank you for your continued patience and cooperation.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS…June 5 is the last day of the 2017-18 school year! Final School Mass at 8:30 a.m. followed by our Annual Talent Show! Noon dismissal for all students! Panther Café closed. No after care.
Please be sure to check the school’s website at www.mhocschool.orgor your PlusPortals account for updated calendar information!
WEEK OF MAY 7
Monday, May 7
Teacher Appreciation Week begins!
We love our MHOC teachers and look forward to a wonderful week of love and appreciation for all they do each and every day! Thank you in advance to Mrs. Natalee Lima and our Teacher Appreciation Week Committee for all of their hard work in planning such a fun and important week for our teachers!
Tuesday, May 8
Teacher Appreciation Day!
Night of the Arts Rehearsal
Please refer to Mrs. Susan Calderalo’s communication regarding rehearsal information and required field trip forms. Thank you!
Wednesday, May 9
Teacher Appreciation Week continues
Night of the Arts!
It is going to be a spectacular evening! Tickets may still be purchased directly from Coral Springs Center for the Arts (CSCA). Tickets are $15 each. All money raised for this event will go towards supporting the arts at MHOC! Tickets may be purchased in person at the CSCA Box Office, via phone 954-344-5990, or via their website http://coralspringscenterforthearts.com/index.php. Please contact CSCA for further details. See you at the show!
***Lobby doors open at 5:30 p.m.
***Theatre doors open at 6:00 p.m. (call time for students)
***Show begins at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 10
Teacher Appreciation Week continues
Kindergarten “Muffins with Mom” at 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. in classrooms
Please be sure to sign in the school office and obtain a visitor’s pass to enjoy some special time at school this morning with your child!
Friday, May 11
Teacher Appreciation Week continues
School Mass at 8:30 a.m. led by Grade 6
Please join us as we celebrate Mass in song and prayer! This week’s school mass will be offered in a special way in honor all mothers on this Mother’s Day! Immediately following Mass, we will present our Student of the Month Awards! Students are selected based upon the virtues of the “Fruits of the Holy Spirit.” For this month, students were chosen for embodying the fruit of “GOODNESS”. One student from each homeroom will be awarded a Virtue of the Month Certificate, a magnet and ice cream coupon from the Panther Café!
Saturday, May 12
No School Events
Sunday, May 13
No Assigned Class Mass
Happy Mother’s Day to ALL of our MHOC Mom’s today! Wishing you a special day filled with God’s love and blessings.
Have a good week, and thank you for your continued support.
Dr. Fernandez, Principal
Principal’s News
Thank you to Mrs. Celia Taylor for serving as Vice Principal of MHOC School this year. We are appreciative of Mrs. Taylor’s contributions, and we wish her all the best, as she pursues a new opportunity effective May 1, 2018.
Construction update…we are making progress! Thank you to everyone for your patience, as we continuing to navigate through the various stages of construction. Father Ireneusz, Ms. Donna Murphy (Director of Plant Operations), and I continue to attend bi-weekly Owner-Architect-Contractor (OAC) meetings, and our new Parish and Student Center is still on track for substantial completion this October 2018! Beginning on Wednesday, May 2, access to the kindergarten entrance during morning arrival will be closed to all pedestrians. Please park in the church parking lot, and walk to the main school gate for drop-off. The kindergarten entrance will be open during afternoon dismissal as usual.
Congratulations to Chloe Fandino (Grade 8) and Ashley James (Grade 8), who were each nominated and selected for the prestigious National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Outstanding Achievement Award! The award recognizes 500 exceptional NJHS students from across the nation who have demonstrated excellence in the five pillars of NJHS: scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. Having two students selected from MHOC is AMAZING, and we are so proud of Chloe and Ashley on their achievements!
MHOC Middle School Choir “Sweeps” the Competition! Congratulations to Mrs. Susan Calderalo and MHOC’s Middle School Choir on their SUPERIOR ratings this past Friday at Music USA Festivals at Universal Orlando!Students won First Place Show Choir (Grade 8), First Place Concert Choir (Grades 6-8), and Grand Champions Concert Choir (Grades 6-8). Thank you to Mrs. Susan Calderalo for all of her hard work, dedication, passion, and enthusiasm for our school’s music program, and thank you to all our choir parents for their support! Thank you also to our teacher and parent chaperones who spent their entire day supervising and taking care of our choir students…and having some fun too! We had a great day, and we look forward to next year’s competition!
Thank you to Mrs. Julie Winninger, Mrs. Mariant Cerda, and Mrs. Beatriz Miranda-Vilamek for planning, organizing, and executing such a beautiful “First Annual Mother-Son Social” on April 21! We had a great turnout, and the moms and sons had A LOT of fun together! We look forward to continuing this new tradition at MHOC School next year! This week on May 4 is our “First Annual Father-Daughter Dance,” and we cannot wait to see our dads and daughters attend this special evening!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our second Home and School Association (HSA) Meeting on April 17. Our HSA and Committee Chairpersons did another great job sharing and updating parents on the many wonderful events we still have planned for this school year! Please be sure to contact me with any specific questions or concerns. Meeting minutes will be posted to PlusPortals upon receipt.
We thank our Book Fair Committee Chairperson, Mrs. Sheri Dwyer, for all of her hard work during our Spring Scholastic Book Fair last week! Thank you also to the parents who volunteered throughout the entire week. We appreciate everyone’s support of literacy at Mary Help of Christians Catholic School!
As in past years, MHOC classrooms continue to be peanut/nut free. Therefore, please do not send any peanut or nut products for your child to eat during snack/class celebrations, etc. in the classroom. MHOC has several students with life-threatening peanut/nut allergies, and any exposure to peanuts or nuts through contact or ingestion can cause a severe reaction. Further, if your child has eaten peanuts or nuts prior to coming to school, please be sure your child’s hands have been thoroughly washed prior to entering school. Lunches and snacks are not to be shared at school under any circumstances. We appreciate your cooperation with this policy and your help in keeping all of our students safe and healthy.
Night of the Arts is next week…Have you purchased your tickets? Tickets must be purchased directly from Coral Springs Center for the Arts (CSCA). Tickets are $15 each. All money raised for this event will go towards supporting the arts at MHOC! Tickets may be purchased in person at the CSCA Box Office, via phone 954-344-5990, or via their website http://coralspringscenterforthearts.com/index.php. Please be aware that CSCA charges a convenience fee to purchase tickets by phone or internet. CSCA Box Office Hours are M-F 10am-5pm/Sat 12-4pm/Additional hours-2 hours prior to most performances. CSCA is closed on all major holidays. Please contact CSCA for further details. See you at the show!
Please be reminded there will be no summer camp this year due to ongoing construction and various church and school projects. Many of these projects are “works in progress,” and we thank you for your continued patience and cooperation.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS…June 5 is the last day of the 2017-18 school year! Final School Mass at 8:30 a.m. followed by our Annual Talent Show! Noon dismissal for all students! Panther Café closed. No after care.
Please be sure to check the school’s website at www.mhocschool.orgor your PlusPortals account for updated calendar information!
WEEK OF APRIL 30
Monday, April 30
Grade 3 Field Trip to Coral Springs Center for the Arts
Tuesday, May 1
May Crowning Prayer Service at 8:30 a.m. in Church
In honor of Our Blessed Mother, we will hold our annual May Crowning this Tuesday. Please join us as we pray together in devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary!
Wednesday, May 2
Grade 8 Field Trip to Junior Achievement (JA) Finance Park
Eighth grade students will participate in an educational trip to Junior Achievement. The financial literacy program, JA Finance Park, introduces students to personal financial planning and career exploration. During their visit, the students will participate in a realistic or virtual community to put into practice what they have learned throughout the school year by developing and committing to a personal budget!
Thursday, May 3
No School Events
Friday, May 4
$3.00 Dress Down sponsored by Student Council
Please ensure that your child follows the guidelines for dress down day, which may be found in the Parent-Student Handbook on page 36. Thank you for your cooperation!
No School Mass
“Ties & Tiaras” 1st Annual Father-Daughter Dance from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at Parkland Golf & Country Club
We hope you will join us for this very memorable evening! It will be a special evening for dads and their daughter(s) filled with lots of love, music, and surprises. Limited tickets available! Please call Mrs. Julie Winninger in the school office for more information.
Saturday, May 6
No School Events
Sunday, May 7
KB Homeroom Class Mass at 9:00 a.m.
Have a good week, and thank you for your continued support.
Dr. Fernandez, Principal
Principal’s News
Happy Easter! We hope everyone is having a wonderful break. As you know, Quarter 4 is well underway, and we are looking forward to a safe, happy, and peaceful end to the school year. Please remember to keep our school, our faculty and staff, and our students and families in your daily prayers.
Beginning on April 9, we will have three (3) after care staff members supervising the students during after care hours: Mrs. Lisa Ramos, Mrs. C., and Mrs. Maria Marotta or Ms. Kerryn Barra. We will continue to close and lock the main school gate, and you will continue to buzz for entry. You will also be required to provide your child’s first and last name in order for the gate to be opened. Please close the gate behind you, and do not allow anyone else to enter a/k/a “tailgating”, as this is one of the most common security breaches we have encountered! Please proceed to after care, where you will be required to sign out your child. If you have any questions or concerns pertaining to after care, please contact Mrs. Stephanie Messina (after care coordinator) and Ms. Lisa Ramos (new after care lead staff member).
As you know, MHOC School is fully accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference (FCC). As an accredited school, we must complete an annual report (ARCA), participate in a third-year review, complete a self-study each accreditation cycle (CIPA), and host an accreditation visitation each accreditation cycle. This school year, we have been in the final stages of completing the self-study process. On April 19-20, MHOC will welcome a Visiting Team to spend two days learning about the progress the school has made since our last accreditation visit seven years ago. We are proud of our school and the great work of our teachers, staff, and students! We welcome the Visiting Team to our MHOC community and look forward to their commendations and recommendations for future growth!
As in past years, MHOC classrooms continue to be peanut/nut free. Therefore, please do not send any peanut or nut products for your child to eat during snack/class celebrations, etc. in the classroom. MHOC has several students with life-threatening peanut/nut allergies, and any exposure to peanuts or nuts through contact or ingestion can cause a severe reaction. Further, if your child has eaten peanuts or nuts prior to coming to school, please be sure your child’s hands have been thoroughly washed prior to entering school. Lunches and snacks are not to be shared at school under any circumstances. We appreciate your cooperation with this policy and your help in keeping all of our students safe and healthy.
Prior to Easter break, teachers once again reviewed the Student Pledge for Chromebook Use in Grades 6-8. As a reminder, students (and parents) may not use school email for personal reasons, including but not limited to communicating with parents/students/others during the school day or setting up social media and chat accounts. Each of these instances is a violation of our school’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and will be addressed accordingly. The Chromebooks are to be used for educational purposes only, at home or school. Adherence to MHOC’s Chromebook Policy is required of all students (and parents).
Attention Grade 8 Parents...Our Graduation Mass will be held at MHOC Church on Friday, June 1 at 4:30 p.m. Based on the church’s seating capacity and class size, each graduate may have up to five (5) family members/guests seated in the church. Overflow seating will be available in the church courtyard. We look forward to celebrating this special day with you and your families and thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Please be reminded there will be no summer camp this year due to ongoing construction and various church and school projects. Many of these projects are “works in progress,” and we thank you for your continued patience and cooperation. In order to ensure the safety of all pedestrians, we will continue to have all walkers park in the church parking lot and enter through the kindergarten gate only.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS…Next Home and School Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 17 at 8:15 a.m. in Church.
Please be sure to check the school’s website at www.mhocschool.org or your PlusPortals account for updated calendar information!
WEEK OF APRIL 9
Monday, April 9
School Resumes
Tuesday, April 10
HSA Executive Board Meeting at 8:15 a.m. in School Conference Room
Wednesday, April 11
Grade 3 Retreat
Please keep our third grade students in your prayers as they prepare to receive Christ in the Sacrament of First Holy Communion on April 14!
Thursday, April 12
Night of the Arts Tickets Go On Sale Today!
Tickets must be purchased directly from Coral Springs Center for the Arts (CSCA). Tickets will not be available at MHOC. Tickets are $15 each. All money raised for this event will go towards supporting the arts at MHOC! Tickets may be purchased in person at the CSCA Box Office, via phone 954-344-5990, or via their website http://coralspringscenterforthearts.com/index.php. Please be aware that CSCA charges a convenience fee to purchase tickets by phone or internet. CSCA Box Office Hours are M-F 10am-5pm/Sat 12-4pm/Additional hours-2 hours prior to most performances. CSCA is closed on all major holidays. Please contact CSCA for further details. See you at the show!
$3.00 Dress Down sponsored by Booster Club
Students may wear their favorite sports team jersey with uniform bottoms/shoes. Thank you for supporting MHOC Athletics!
Mix it Up Lunch sponsored by MHOC Kind Club and BRO Club
Today during all lunch periods, students will have the opportunity to “mix it up” once again this school year and learn more about one another. What a wonderful idea to promote kindness and positive peer relationships!
Quarter 3 Report Cards emailed to parents after 4:00 p.m. today
Report cards will be emailed to each student’s primary contact. Please contact Ms. Angela Rumpf at angela.rumpf@mhocschool.org if you have any questions. (Please note: Quarter 3 Honors Ceremony will be held on Friday, April 20 immediately following our school mass, and Quarter 3 Honors Breakfast for students will be held on Monday, April 23 at 8:15 a.m.)
Friday, April 13
School Mass at 8:30 a.m. led by Grade 5
Please join us as we celebrate Mass in song and prayer! Immediately following Mass, we will present our Student of the Month Awards! Students are selected based upon the virtues of the “Fruits of the Holy Spirit.” For this month, students were chosen for embodying the fruit of “KINDNESS”. One student from each homeroom will be awarded a Virtue of the Month Certificate, a magnet and ice cream coupon from the Panther Café!
Jump Rope for Heart Finale
Please join us as we wrap up our Jump Rope for Heart event sponsored by the American Heart Association. Parents welcome! Please sign in at the school office and wait for your child’s class in front of the school by the cross at the following times: Grades K-4 at 9:30 -10:30 and Grades 5-8 at 10:30-11:30. Students should wear regular p.e. uniforms and bring a snack since it is an early release with no café service. No water bottles needed, as water stations will be available. Our BSO Detail Deputy will provide security in front of the school during the event.
Early Release/No After Care
Please follow regular dismissal procedures:
Grades K-2 at 12:20 p.m.
Grades 3-5 at 12:40 p.m.
Grades 6-8 at 1:00 p.m.
Parent-Teacher Conferences from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
For security purposes, if you will be meeting with your child’s teacher, please park in the church parking lot, enter through the side entrance, and proceed to the back patio for check-in. (Please note: Iowa Assessments results for Grades 2-8 and Writing Assessment Program (WrAP) scores for Grades 3-8 will be sent home on April 19).
First Holy Communion Rehearsal at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 14
First Holy Communion at 9:00 a.m.
Sunday, April 15
1A Homeroom Class Mass at 9:00 a.m.
Have a good week, and thank you for your continued support.
Dr. Fernandez, Principal
Principal’s News
Thank you to Sergeant Lori Eller and Officer Jasen Pellegrino from the City of Margate Police Department for an excellent school safety presentation for our MHOC parents on March 22! Based on parent feedback, it was an informative and productive meeting, and parents appreciated the opportunity to ask questions and share their concerns. Thank you, parents, for your attendance and participation! For those parents who were not in attendance, while we cannot include all of the questions/answers/concerns discussed at the meeting, the following is a brief update.
In addition to the security overview provided at the last Home and School Meeting (see minutes on PlusPortals), we have completed an initial threat assessment and implemented the following security enhancements within the past several weeks:
In addition to the above security enhancements and school projects, this summer we plan to complete the following:
Below are the results of the parent survey also shared during the meeting:
As a reminder, the purpose of the survey was to obtain your input on the issue of police presence on campus, which is one important aspect of school security. However, this specific issue has been the greatest concern I have received from parents since the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy.
Please be assured that thoughtful, meaningful, and reasonable considerations to all security issues are being addressed to improve upon our school’s overall safety. We will continue to keep you updated. Thank you.
Teachers have once again reviewed the Student Pledge for Chromebook Use in Grades 6-8. As a reminder, students (and parents) may not use school email for personal reasons, including but not limited to communicating with parents/students/others during the school day or setting up social media and chat accounts. Each of these instances is a violation of our school’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and will be addressed accordingly. The Chromebooks are to be used for educational purposes only, at home or school. Adherence to MHOC’s Chromebook Policy is required of all students (and parents).
As you know, there will be no summer camp this year due to ongoing construction and various church and school projects as mentioned above. Many of these projects are “works in progress,” and we thank you for your continued patience and cooperation. As a reminder, in order to ensure the safety of all pedestrians, all walkers must park in the church parking lot and enter through the kindergarten gate only.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS…Next Home and School Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 17 at 8:15 a.m. in Church.
Please be sure to check the school’s website at www.mhocschool.orgor your PlusPortals account for updated calendar information!
WEEK OF MARCH 26
Monday, March 26
Grade 1 Field Trip to Butterfly World
Grade 3B “Communion Dolls” Activity in Room 101 from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 27
Kindergarten “Spring Centers” in Classrooms at 8:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Wednesday, March 28
Full Day of School (Regular Dismissal Times)
No School Mass
No After Care
Thursday, March 29
No School/Holy Thursday
Friday, March 30
No School/Good Friday
Saturday, March 31
No School Events
Sunday, April 1
Happy Easter! May the Peace of the Risen Lord be with You and Your Families.
Have a good weekend, and thank you for your continued support.
Dr. Fernandez, Principal
Principal’s News
Thank you to Sergeant Lori Eller and Officer Jasen Pellegrino from the City of Margate Police Department for an excellent school safety training for our MHOC staff last Friday! As a reminder, Officer Pellegrino, who specializes in tactical responses to active shooters in schools and who educates teachers, administrators, staff, and parents on school safety, will be holding a school safety presentation for parents on Thursday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the church. All parents are encouraged to attend. Thank you for your continued support, as we move forward with improving our school’s overall safety and security.
In an ongoing effort to enhance security and maintain one point of entry and exit at MHOC Church and School, beginning on Monday, the north entrance (school entrance) will be closed after 8:00 a.m. when morning car line is finished and re-opened after 2:00 p.m. when afternoon car line begins. If you will be visiting school during these specific times, you must enter through the south entrance (church entrance). As a reminder, for afternoon car line, we do not begin entering numbers into the dismissal system until 2:05 p.m. Please do not arrive until 15 minutes prior to your specific dismissal time. Further, for the safety of all children, please maintain a 15-mile speed limit and refrain from using cell phones during arrival and dismissal procedures.
As you know, there will be no summer camp this year due to ongoing construction and various church and school projects. Many of these projects are “works in progress,” and we thank you for your continued patience and cooperation, as we navigate through the entire process. In order to ensure the safety of all pedestrians, beginning on Monday, all walkers must park in the church parking lot and enter through the kindergarten gate only.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS…First day of school for students for the new school year will be on Monday, August 20, 2018!
Please be sure to check the school’s website at www.mhocschool.org or your PlusPortals account for updated calendar information!
WEEK OF MARCH 12
Monday, March 12
Iowa Make-Up Testing Week
We will have Iowa make up testing for students in Grades 2-8 who were ill last week and could not be in school.
Touching Safety Lessons
This program is provided to us by the Archdiocese of Miami and is a part of our ongoing effort to help create and maintain a safe environment for children. As a parent, you have the right to choose whether your student participates. If you have questions about the program or the lessons, please contact your child’s religion teacher. If you determine that you DO NOT want your child to participate, please complete the “opt-out” form that was sent home last week and return it to your child’s teacher on Monday morning.
Tuesday, March 13
Spelling Bee
Our Elementary School Bee Champion, Kellie Jones (Grade 5), and our Middle School Bee Champion, Christopher Trokey (Grade 8), will represent MHOC School in the Broward County Spelling Bee. We wish them all the best! Congratulations, and GO PANTHERS!
Mathletics Chick-fil-A forms will be sent home today!
Wednesday, March 14
Confessions
Confessions will be heard for students in Grades 3-8.
Special Dress Down Day sponsored by Student Council
In remembrance of the one-month anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) tragedy, students may wear MSD colors (Maroon/Burgundy and Silver) with appropriate out of uniform bottoms and shoes (please refer to Parent-Student Handbook for clarification on “Out of Uniform Dress Code”, if needed). Cost is $3.00 minimum donation. Our MHOC students will be receiving an MSD memory item made by our Kind Club & BRO Club members later in the day. Please continue to keep the MSD community in your prayers.
Family Math Night
Once again, Lucky’s Market welcomes MHOC students in Grades K-8 and parents to its store for an early evening of hands-on fun with mathematics in a real-world setting. Sign-in between 3:30-5:30 p.m. Lucky’s Market is located at 9184 Wiles Road in Coral Springs on the corner of University and Wiles. Please note that parents must supervise their children at all times. Thank you!
Thursday, March 15
No School Events
Friday, March 16
End of Quarter 3
Grades were closed from parent/student view on PlusPortals last Friday so that we may begin the report card process. Quarter 3 report cards will be emailed to each student’s primary contact family member on April 12 after 4:00 p.m. Quarter 3 Honors Ceremony will be held after Mass on April 20, and Quarter 3 Honors Breakfast will be held on April 23 at 8:15 a.m.
Mathletics Chick-fil-A forms are due this morning!
School Mass at 8:30 a.m. led by Grade 8
Immediately following Mass, we will present our Quarter 3 Accelerated Reader (AR) Awards and Mathletics Awards. We hope you will be able to join us for the celebration of Mass and our students’ successes with AR and Mathletics! If you will be joining us for our school mass or the awards presentation, please remember to enter through the side church doors by the circle. Thank you for your cooperation.
Grade 5 Field Trip to Junior Achievement BizTown
Fifth Grade will be visiting BizTown, a unique experiential education program operated by Junior Achievement of South Florida. While visiting BizTown, each student will become a town citizen and assume a job in one of the town businesses. Students will experience economics first-hand by producing and/or selling products, receiving a paycheck, working as a member of a business team, repaying business loans, shopping, and managing a personal bank account. What a wonderful day of putting into practice all that students have learned about financial literacy as part of their social studies and math curriculums.
Saturday, March 17
No School Events
Sunday, March 18
6C Homeroom Class Mass
Have a good week, and thank you for your continued support.
Dr. Fernandez, Principal
Principal’s News
Thank you to all parents who attended the Home & School Meeting on February 27! The meeting minutes are posted on PlusPortals. As a reminder, Officer Jasen Pellegrino from the City of Margate Police Department, who specializes in tactical responses to active shooters in schools and educates teachers, administrators, staff, and parents on school safety, will be holding a school safety presentation for parents on Thursday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m. in church. All parents are encouraged to attend. Thank you for your continued support, as we move forward with improving our school’s overall safety and security.
In an ongoing effort to enhance security at preschool and during school masses, the front gate is now designated as a preschool entrance only. If you will be joining us for school masses at 8:30 a.m. on Fridays, you must enter through the side church doors by the circle. We appreciate your cooperation and ask that you arrive to mass on time. Thank you for your cooperation.
We had a beautiful Ash Wednesday Prayer Service in Panther Park. MHOC’s Kind Club and our new BRO (Brothers Respecting Others) Club shared a heartfelt presentation about the “40 Acts Challenge” that we are participating in as a parish community during this Season of Lent. It is wonderful to see and hear how our simple acts of generosity, love, and kindness have made a positive difference for so many people, especially during this difficult time in our community. Please continue to pray for all those affected by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy.
Congratulations to MHOC’s Science Olympiad team who placed 3rd overall in the Florida Science Olympiad Regional Tournament at FAU on February 17! The goal of Science Olympiad is to improve the quality of science education through competitions similar to sporting events. Students compete as a team against other schools in 23 different events that range the spectrum of science subjects. We are so proud of our entire Science Olympiad team, and we thank Ms. Jackie Schaub and Mrs. Donna Hanrahan for all of their hard work in preparing our students for this exciting competition! Earning 3rd place overall qualifies our team for the Florida Science Olympiad State Tournament on March 24 at UCF…CONGRATULATIONS, and GO PANTHERS!
Congratulations to the following students who were recognized as “Student of the Month” at the conclusion of Mass on Friday for consistently demonstrating the Virtue “SELF-CONTROL”: KA-Lucas Granados; KB-Belen Hall; 1A-Sophia Dulski; 1B-Sabrina Cernech; 2A-Jason Andree; 2B-Brady Cavarretta; 3A-Emily Bastian; 3B-Lola Meehan; 4A-Savannah Sendik; 4B-Karina Otero; 5A-Carson Flack; 5B-Lucca Freitas; 6A-Elizabeth James; 6B-Sophia Alvarado; 6C-Madelyn Boykin; 7A-Domenica DelAguila; 7B-Gianna Licata; 7C-Miranda Valbuena; 8A-John Lynch; 8B-Taylor Murray; 8C-Christian Solanet. Each student received a Virtue of the Month Certificate, a magnet and ice cream coupon from the Panther Café! Congratulations to students and their parents!
Thank you to Coach Licardie for facilitating the Jump Rope for Heart program at MHOC! Coach Licardie has been working hard to emphasize to students the importance of developing heart-healthy habits and being physically active, all while helping to save lives with your generous donations to the American Heart Association. Thank you to all parents, sponsors, and students for your contributions!
As you know, there will be no summer camp this year due to ongoing construction and various church and school projects. Many of these projects are “works in progress,” and we thank you for your continued patience and cooperation, as we navigate through the entire process. Our new Parish and Student Center has finally gone vertical, and we could not be more excited to see walls! We are still on target for substantial completion in October…please pray for good weather and no construction delays!
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS…First day of school for students for the new school year will be on Monday, August 20, 2018!
Please be sure to check the school’s website at www.mhocschool.org or your PlusPortals account for updated calendar information!
WEEK OF MARCH 5
Monday, March 5
Iowa Testing Week
The Iowa Assessments will be administered this week for all students in Grades 2 – 8. Please do your part as parents to ensure that your child gets plenty of rest during the week and has a good breakfast daily. Please make sure your child brings two #2 sharpened pencils and a light healthy snack to school each day. Your child should be in school and on time during testing days. We will have make up tests the following week for students who are ill and cannot be in school. Homework and assessments will not be assigned this week for Grades 2-8.
Tuesday, March 6
Iowa Testing
Spirit Shop during all dismissal times – New Location!
Stop by the MHOC Spirit Shop “Under the Tent at the Kindergarten Gate” for our used uniforms sale. All items $5.00!
Wednesday, March 7
Iowa Testing/No School Events
Thursday, March 8
Iowa Testing/No School Events
Friday, March 9
Iowa Testing/No School Mass
School Safety Training for Staff/No After Care
Saturday, March 10
Virtus Training (Spanish) at MHOC Church from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. – Pre-registration required at http://www.virtusonline.org/
Sunday, March 11
6B Homeroom Class Mass
Have a good week, and thank you for your continued support.
Dr. Fernandez, Principal
Dear Parents,
Thank you again for your support of our MHOC community, as we mourn together during this very difficult time. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students, staff, and families and entire Parkland community continue to be in our daily prayers.
Today, Father Ireneusz celebrated the life of Gina Montalto, one of the victims of the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas tragedy. Gina’s family are MHOC parishioners, and Gina attended our preschool many years ago. While we cannot begin to imagine the grief that Gina’s parents and family have endured, we respectfully ask for your prayers for the family today and in the months to come.
We understand that this tragedy has touched so many people in our community, either directly and indirectly. Know that we offer our continued prayers and support and that we are listening to your concerns as MHOC parents. Be assured that we are reviewing current safety policies and procedures to ensure ongoing safety and to improve upon our school’s overall security. Our approach to school safety will continue to be proactive, and we will do all that we can to maintain a safe school environment and protect our students while in our care.
Tomorrow is a new school day, and while it may be difficult once again to drop off your child at school, we are prepared to welcome them with love, understanding, and support. I encourage you to take a few minutes to read the attached article, which is a good resource both for parents and educators.
If you have any questions, concerns, feedback, or input, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Dr. Fernandez, Principal
As you know, flu season is upon us, and schools in general are affected at this time of year. Our office staff has done an excellent job taking care of our students and contacting parents immediately if students become ill while in school. We have had many students treated for cold and flu symptoms. We are following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting classrooms on a daily basis; however, in addition to these and other preventative measures, we can all help to decrease the spread of the flu by staying home when sick. Know that we are doing our best to keep our students healthy in school. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the office. Thank you!
Thank you to everyone for a wonderful Catholic Schools Week! We especially thank Mrs. Donna Hanrahan, Mrs. Lisa DiRenzo and Student Council as well as Ms. Jackie Schaub, Ms. Stacy Sexton, and National Junior Honor Society for planning the entire week of festivities! Thank you also to Mrs. Kim Eichholtz and Campus Ministry, and Mrs. Susan Calderalo and Music Ministry/Choir for planning a beautiful mass honoring our grandparents. A big thank you to all teachers and staff, maintenance team, students, parents, and grandparents! MHOC is truly a special place.
We held our 7th and 8th Grade Dance on February 11! Thank you to Ms. Jackie Schaub, Ms. Stacy Sexton, and National Junior Honor Society for planning and organizing such a fun evening for our students! Thank you to our fantastic DJ, Mrs. Susan Calderalo, and thank you also to our additional chaperones: Mrs. Julie Winninger, Mrs. Lisa DiRenzo, and Mrs. Jennifer Muhlig! The students truly enjoyed the dance as well as spending time with their friends! The students looked really great too…thank you, parents, for your support! Thank you also to those parents who donated drinks, snacks, goodies, and decorations for the dance and to everyone who helped to clean-up afterwards. We had a great night!
As you know, there will be no summer camp this year due to ongoing construction and various church and school projects. Many of these projects are “works in progress,” and we ask for your patience during the initial planning process. We are excited about the improvements to our campus and will update you in the near future. Stay tuned! We have confirmed that the first day of school will be Monday, August 20, 2018!
Per school policy, Facebook or any other social media platform may not be used as an official Mary Help of Christians School communication source under any circumstance. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Dr. Fernandez.
Please be reminded that we have rescheduled this year’s Gala from Friday, February 9 to Saturday, April 21!Our Lucky Duck Raffle will be held from March 22-April 20! The success of our Gala Auction relies heavily on the live and silent auction portions of the event. We are still looking for volunteers to help with auction acquisitions! If you would like to volunteer in this capacity, or if you would like to contribute goods, services, gift certificates and/or cash donations to help ensure that this year’s fundraising efforts are successful, please contact our Gala Chairperson, Mrs. Beatriz Miranda-Vilamek, via email at bisabelm@gmail.com. We appreciate your support!
SAVE THE DATE…3rd Home and School Association (HSA) Meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 27 at 8:00 a.m. in Church. We look forward to seeing you!
Please be sure to check the school’s website at www.mhocschool.orgor your PlusPortals account for updated calendar information!
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 12
Monday, February 12
7th Grade Field Trip to Archbishop McCarthy High School
Seventh grade students will visit McCarthy High School to attend a community service play.
Tuesday, February 13
8th Grade Field Trip to Chastity Day
Eighth grade students will participate in Chastity Day sponsored annually by the Archdiocese of Miami’s Respect Life Ministry.
Wednesday, February 14
Ash Wednesday Prayer Service at 8:30 a.m. in Panther Park
This week, we will be entering the Holy Season of Lent, a time of spiritual renewal in which we are called especially to pray, fast, and give alms. Students will participate in our school’s Ash Wednesday Prayer Service this morning (please have your child bring a towel). Parents welcome! Immediately following the prayer service, MHOC’s Kind Club will share a brief presentation about the “40 Acts Challenge,” which Father Ireneusz explained at Mass today. Please take some time to talk with your child about the Season of Lent and how simple acts of generosity, love, and kindness can make a difference in someone’s day. Have a blessed Lenten Season.
Thursday, February 15
No School Events
Friday, February 16
No School Mass
Jump Rope for Heart Kick-Off at 8:30 a.m. in Church
Jump Rope for Heart is a community service learning program of the American Heart Association that teaches children the importance of developing heart-healthy habits. It also teaches children that being physically active can be fun and that raising funds to support cardiovascular research and education helps save lives in their community and across the country. Parents welcome!
Saturday, February 17
No School Events
Sunday, February 18
There is no assigned class mass due to the long weekend.
Monday, February 19
No School - Presidents’ Day
Tuesday, February 20
No School – Archdiocese of Miami Professional Day
Wednesday, February 21
Spirit Day
Students may wear any MHOC shirt with their uniform bottoms. This includes team jerseys, club shirts, summer camp shirts, Panther Prowl shirts and spirit shirts from past years. Additionally, Student Council will be selling ice cream during dismissal for $2.00. Let’s celebrate our Panther Pride!
Early Release at 1:00 p.m. – Regular Dismissal Procedures
Grades K-2 at 12:20 p.m.
Grades 3-5 at 12:40 p.m.
Grades 6-8 at 1:00 p.m.
Have a good week, and thank you for your continued support. See you in car line!
Dr. Fernandez, Principal
Principal’s News
Happy Catholic Schools Week! Each year Catholic schools set aside the last week in January to celebrate Catholic education in our nation. During the entire week, MHOC faculty, staff, and students will focus on this year’s Catholic Schools Week theme: “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” Thank you for your commitment to Mary Help of Christians and Catholic education. We look forward to a wonderful week!
Thank you to Mrs. Janet Hearn for all of her dedication in organizing and facilitating Cyber Safety Week for our school! Students learned how to stay safe online, and we all learned a great deal from our Cyber safety expert, Dr. Sameer Hinduja. Thank you to Dr. Hinduja for his visit, and thank you to parents for joining us for our Cyber safety parent presentation, as well!
Congratulations to all of our students for a successful Science Expo on Saturday! Students definitely showed their scientific thinking and problem-solving, and it was a perfect combination of education and family fun! A special thank you to all our “science” teachers for their dedication to our school’s science education program!
As you know, there will be no summer camp this year due to ongoing construction and various church and school projects. Many of these projects are “works in progress,” and we ask for your patience during the initial planning process. We are excited about the improvements to our campus and will update you in the near future. Stay tuned!
Please be reminded that we have rescheduled this year’s Gala from Friday, February 9 to Saturday, April 21!Our Lucky Duck Raffle will be held from March 22-April 20! The success of our Gala Auction relies heavily on the live and silent auction portions of the event. We are still looking for volunteers to help with auction acquisitions! If you would like to volunteer in this capacity, or if you would like to contribute goods, services, gift certificates and/or cash donations to help ensure that this year’s fundraising efforts are successful, please contact our Gala Chairperson, Mrs. Beatriz Miranda-Vilamek, via email at bisabelm@gmail.com. We appreciate your support!
SAVE THE DATE…3rd Home and School Association (HSA) Meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 27 at 8:00 a.m. in Church. We look forward to seeing you!
Please be sure to check the school’s website at www.mhocschool.orgor your PlusPortals account for updated calendar information!
WEEK OF JANUARY 29
Monday, January 29
Catholic Schools Week sponsored by Student Council and NJHS
Please refer to the letter and flyer that were sent home in the Thursday folder for details! Below are just a few highlights for the week…
Catholic Schools Week - “Sharing our Knowledge”
Students will participate in discussions and activities about what makes Catholic schools special!
SOUP-er Bowl Collection sponsored by Grade 6
Students are encouraged to bring in cans of soup and place them in a box in the 6th grade classrooms to “root” for their team to win the SOUP-er Bowl! All soup cans will be donated to the Soup Kitchen at St. Vincent de Paul.
Tuesday, January 30
Catholic Schools Week - “Showing Panther Pride”
Students may wear any MHOC shirt with their regular uniform bottoms! Kona Ice treats will be available for purchase after lunch for $3.00. Enjoy!
Wednesday, January 31
Catholic Schools Week - “Serving Others”
Students will make Get Well pictures and cards for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. NJHS will host a Donut Sale during morning arrival with all proceeds donated to a Catholic charity.
Thursday, February 1
Catholic Schools Week - “Giving Thanks”
In appreciation of our MHOC parents, Student Council will host a “thank you” parent-student lunch during regular lunch times. We look forward to seeing you!
Friday, February 2
CSW “Appreciating our Grandparents” – School Mass at 8:30 a.m. led by National Junior Honor Society
Please join us as we celebrate a special Mass in honor of our grandparents followed by brunch and a visit to the classrooms! 11:30 Dismissal for All Students. After care will be available as usual.
Saturday, February 3
No School Events
Sunday, February 4
7A Class Mass
2018 Super Bowl LII!
Have a good week, and thank you for your continued support.
Dr. Fernandez, Principal
6000 University Drive
Parkland, FL 33067
954-323-8006
954-323-8010
