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:

 

• Main school gate closed and locked at all times, including after school hours during after care and extracurricular clubs;

 

• Staff supervision at main school gate during early morning drop off, morning arrival, and afternoon dismissal;

 

• Early morning care moved to Room 101 for visibility to main school gate;

 

• Installed alarms on south gate near kindergarten and north gate near fourth grade;

 

• Installed camera system and buzzed entry to main school office entrance;

 

• Installed buzzed entry to lobby door leading into administration offices and to side lobby door leading into school;

 

• Closed school entrance after morning car line and reopened for afternoon dismissal to maintain one point of entry and exit during school hours;

 

• Closed and locked front gate and side gate leading to courtyard during preschool hours, including school mass days;

 

• Closed and locked access from inside church leading to courtyard during preschool hours;

 

• Re-keyed locks on all doors at the main school campus.

 

In addition to the above security enhancements and school projects, this summer we plan to complete the following:

 

• Install a fence around the perimeter of the main school campus;

 

• Install security cameras in Panther Park;

 

• Develop our guidance department to include a part-time school counselor to help address the students’ emotional, social, and behavioral needs.

 

Below are the results of the parent survey also shared during the meeting:

 

• 56% - Keep existing detail deputy and add SRO

 

• 32% - Keep existing detail deputy only

 

• 12% - Replace detail deputy with SRO only

 

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 3^rd 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 3^rd 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 7^th and 8^th 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…3^rd 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

7^th 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

8^th 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…3^rd 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 6^th 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

 

Principal’s News

 

Congratulations to the following 8^th grade students who were selected to receive the 2017-2018 Pinnacle Award presented by the Broward County Nonpublic School Association: Christopher Enlow, Chloe Fandino, and Ashley James. These students are truly “Pinnacle” students, who set an example for others to follow, and who make significant contributions to our school and community. They excel in academics, community service, citizenship, student activities, perseverance, effort, dedication, and commitment to positive goals. Christopher, Chloe, and Ashley will be honored at the Pinnacle Awards Program and Luncheon at the Signature Grand on March 21. Once again, congratulations to these students and their parents on this well-deserved, prestigious recognition!

 

On January 19, students in Grades 4-8 participated in our MHOC School Spelling Bee. Congratulations on a job well done to all participants and “top spellers”! Our Elementary School Bee Champion is Kellie Jones (Grade 5), and our Elementary School Bee Runner-Up/Alternate is James Arthurton (Grade 5). Our Middle School Bee Champion is Christopher Trokey (Grade 8), and our Middle School Bee Runner-Up/Alternate is Christopher Enlow (Grade 8)! Kellie and Christopher T. will represent MHOC School in the upcoming Broward County Spelling Bee, which will be held at the Signature Grand on March 13, and we are very proud of them! A big thank you to Ms. Mary Suppe for serving as MHOC School’s Spelling Bee Moderator and thanks also to our spelling bee pronouncers, Mrs. Lisa Capon, Mrs. Cindy Longman, Miss Stacy Sexton, and Mrs. Julie Winninger!

 

Congratulations to our MHOC math team who competed in the Annual St. Thomas Aquinas High School Sister John Norton Math Competition on January 21, 2018! “Division A” won 1^st PLACE OVERALL (TEAM) out of 15 schools! Congratulations to “Division A” team members: Christopher Enlow, Ashley James, John Lynch, Ryan Lunch, and Christian Solanet! Congratulations to Christopher Enlow, who won 2^nd PLACE OVERALL (INDIVIDUAL)! Christopher Enlow also won 1^st place and Ryan Lynch won 2^nd place on the “Division A” MHOC team. EXCELLENT WORK! “Division B” team members included: Elizabeth James, Victoria Servideo, John Hancock, Joseph Natoli, and Santiago Raigoza. Santiago Raigoza won 1^st place and John Hancock won 2^nd place on the “Division B” MHOC team. CONGRATULATIONS! Thank you to Miss Stacy Sexton (Algebra/Geometry Teacher) and Miss Jackie Schaub, who together served as team moderators for this exciting competition! Thank you also to our parents for their attendance and support!

 

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…3^rd Home and School Association (HSA) Meeting has been rescheduled from Tuesday, January 23 to 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.org or your PlusPortals account for updated calendar information!

 

WEEK OF JANUARY 22

 

Monday, January 22

 

Re-registration continues

All families must complete one virtual registration form per student to ensure enrollment for the 2018-19 school year. If you did not receive an email from panthers@mhoc.org with the link to our online re-enrollment form, or if you need any assistance with the registration process, please do not hesitate to contact us. We thank your family for partnering with Mary Help of Christians Catholic School!

 

Cyber Safety Week begins

Classroom Guidance Activities for the week include: Learning how to be safe online; Learning how to be a responsible digital citizen; Creating strong passwords. For more information, please see the flyer that was sent home in Thursday’s folder.

 

 

Chick fil-A Accelerated Reader Lunch

 

 

School Advisory Board Meeting at 1:30 p.m. in School Conference Room

This meeting is for Board members who meet regularly to advise the Pastor and the Principal in matters relating to the school. Minutes of the meeting will be posted on PlusPortals once they are finalized.

 

Tuesday, January 23

 

No School Events

 

Wednesday, January 24

 

Cyber Safety Presentation for Parents at 8:00 a.m. in Room 101

 

Cyber Safety Presentation for Students in Grades 5-6 at 10:30 a.m. in Church

 

Cyber Safety Presentation for Students in Grades 7-8 at 11:40 a.m. in Church

 

Thursday, January 25

 

Open Enrollment for 2018-2019 school year begins today

 

Cyber Safety Dress Down – “May the Force (of Good) be with you!”

Students may dress in their favorite Star Wars shirt, hat, and/or socks along with their regular uniform bottoms.

 

Friday, January 26

 

School Mass at 8:30 a.m. led by Grade 2

Please join us as we celebrate Mass in song and prayer!

 

Quarter 2 Honors Ceremony

Our Honors Ceremony will be held immediately following Mass. After the ceremony, all honors students in Grades 6-8 will be invited to stop by the Lunch Patio for a quick breakfast treat! Congratulations, Honors Students!

                                   

Saturday, January 27

 

Science Expo at MHOC School from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

 

Sunday, January 28

 

5B Class Mass – Catholic Schools Week begins!

 

Have a good week, and thank you for your continued support.

Dr. Fernandez, Principal

 

Principal’s News

 

As you know, this year’s Panther Prowl funds were earmarked for technology enhancements. After assessing our school’s greatest technology needs, we are happy to announce that we have ordered 3 new iPad carts for the lower school (Grades K-2), AppleCare+ extended warranty, and protective cases as well as 13 laser printers for all our classrooms! Thank you to everyone for your support of this year’s walk-a-thon fundraiser. We look forward to continuing to update our school’s resources!

 

Construction update…thank you to everyone for your patience, as we navigate through the various stages of construction. Father Ireneusz, 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!

 

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 “JOY” throughout the month of December: KA-Michelle Russo; KB-Alejandro Bocanegra; 1A-Kylee Lima; 1B-Dylan Hall; 2A-Aidan Fonteciella; 2B-Harry Torres; 3A-Dior Ferguson; 3B-Carlie Stirk; 4A-Ricardo Estevez-Rivas; 4B-Alessandra Freeman; 5A-Dylan Abadie; 5B-Mary Bolek; 6A-Elizabeth O’Toole; 6B-Payton Thigpen; 6C-David Lyew; 7A-Deni Rivard; 7B-Owen Quincey; 7C-Daniel Perret-Gentil; 8A-Joshua Bunetta-Murphy; 8B-Nico Cash; 8C-Chloe Fandino. Each student received a Virtue of the Month Certificate, a magnet and a chocolate chip cookie from the Panther Café! Congratulations to students and their parents!

 

Please be advised that there will be no summer camp this year due to ongoing construction and various church and school projects. We are excited about the improvements to our campus and will update you with more details as they become available. Thank you!

 

As a reminder, 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!

 

Please be sure to check the school’s website at www.mhocschool.org or your PlusPortals account for updated calendar information!

 

WEEK OF JANUARY 15

 

Monday, January 15

 

No School in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

 

Tuesday, January 16

 

Re-registration continues! All families must complete one virtual registration form per student to ensure enrollment for the 2018-19 school year. If you did not receive an email from panthers@mhoc.org with the link to our online re-enrollment form, or if you need any assistance with the registration process, please do not hesitate to contact us. We thank your family for partnering with Mary Help of Christians Catholic School!

 

HSA Executive Board Meeting at 8:15 a.m. in School Conference Room

 

Pre-Kindergarten Meet & Greet at 9:30 a.m. in Church

This is an informational meeting for the parents of 4's interested in applying to MHOC’s kindergarten class for the 2018-2019 school year!

 

Chick fil-A Mathletics Lunch

 

Wednesday, January 17

 

Spirit Day

Sponsored by Student Council! 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 sell ice cream during all dismissals for $2.00. Enjoy!

 

7C Visit to Aston Gardens

As part of our MHOC tradition, 7C students will visit Aston Gardens right across the street to share some quality time with the residents of this wonderful senior-living community!

 

Thursday, January 18

 

Quarter 2 Report Cards emailed to parents after 4:00 p.m. today

As a reminder, while each student may have several parent/guardian/contacts within our student information system, each student may have only one primary contact person. The report card will be emailed to this specific email address. Please contact Ms. Angela Rumpf at angela.rumpf@mhocschool.org if you have any questions regarding this process. Thank you!

 

Friday, January 19

 

School Mass at 8:30 a.m. led by Grade 2

Please join us as we celebrate Mass in song and prayer!

 

MHOC School Spelling Bee immediately following Mass

Please join us for our Elementary School Bee followed by our Middle School Bee! The two champions will advance to compete in the Broward County Spelling Bee, which will be held at the Signature Grand on March 13, 2018. Good luck to all our spelling bee participants!

                                   

Saturday, January 20

 

St. Thomas Aquinas Sr. John Norton Math Competition – Go Panthers!

 

Sunday, January 21

 

5A Class Mass

 

Have a good week, and thank you for your continued support. See you in car line tomorrow morning!

Dr. Fernandez, Principal

 

Principal’s News

 

Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and your New Year is off to a great start. Thank you to all who gave so generously to classrooms and staff this Christmas season! We appreciate your gifts of time, talent, and treasure! May God bless you.

 

As you know, Quarter 2 ended on December 22 and grades have been closed from parent/student view on PlusPortals. Quarter 2 report cards will be emailed to each student’s primary contact family member on January 18 after 4:00 p.m. Quarter 2 Honors Ceremony will be held after Mass on January 26.

 

Please be mindful of our school’s Uniform Policy, which can be found in our Parent-Student Handbook on Plus Portals under the "school links and files" section. Adherence to MHOC’s Uniform Policy begins in the home. As always, thank you for your support.  

                                                           

Thank you to everyone for supporting Student Council and this year’s Christmas Shop! A special thank you to Mrs. Julie Winninger, Ms. Pat Kappes, Mrs. Kathleen Christofori, and Mrs. Kathleen Slater along with Mrs. Donna Hanrahan, Mrs. Lisa DiRenzo, Student Council, and our awesome parent volunteers! Students really enjoyed the chance to shop for their family members on their own and experience the spirit of giving…and budgeting!

 

As you know, 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 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. Thank you in advance to our Gala Committee for all of their hard work so far!

 

Please be sure to check the school’s website at www.mhocschool.org or your PlusPortals account for updated calendar information!

 

WEEK OF JANUARY 8

 

Monday, January 8

 

School Resumes

 

Tuesday, January 9

 

No School Events

 

Wednesday, January 10

 

No School Events

 

Thursday, January 11

 

Re-registration begins today! Please be on the lookout today for our virtual invitation to register your child(ren). An email will be sent per student from panthers@mhocschool.org providing a link to our latest online re-enrollment form. The email will be delivered to the primary family contact on record within our school's database system. If you do not receive an email per child or need any assistance with the registration process, please do not hesitate to contact us. All families must complete one virtual registration form per student to ensure enrollment for the 2018-19 school year. We thank your family for partnering with Mary Help of Christians Catholic School!

 

Friday, January 12

 

School Mass at 8:30 a.m. led by Grade 2

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 the month of December, students were chosen for embodying the fruit of “JOY”. One student from each homeroom will be awarded a Virtue of the Month Certificate, a magnet and a chocolate chip cookie from the Panther Café! We will also be presenting our Mathletics Awards for Grades 6, 7, and 8 “Top 3 Point Earners”!

 

4^th Grade Buddies

Fourth grade students and their pre-kindergarten “buddies” will enjoy spending some time together after Mass!

 

Saturday, January 13

 

No School Events

 

Sunday, January 14

 

There is no assigned homeroom class mass on January 14.

 

Have a wonderful weekend, and thank you for your continued support. We look forward to welcoming our students back to school on Monday, January 8!

Dr. Fernandez, Principal