Welcome back!
Greetings Mariner Family! As summer draws to a close, we hope everyone is looking forward to being together at OLG School again!
This newsletter includes our COVID protocols as well as an update for our upcoming 25th Jubilee celebration. We anticipate an exciting year filled with memories - old and new. Thank you for being a part of our Mariner story.
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COVID-19 Protocols
Due to the substantial increase in COVID-19 cases in our community (globalepidemics.org), the faculty and COVID team have updated our approach for starting school as follows:
- All OLG Faculty will wear masks during school hours.
- Masks will be optional for students. If a student arrives at school with a mask (or requests a mask upon arrival), we will assume that their parents want them to wear the mask all day and will require them to keep it on all day - except during lunch and outdoor activity time.
- We will serve lunch for Elementary in the classrooms again and the 5th - 8th spread out in the cafeteria (as we did last year).
- Ancillary teachers for PreK - 4 will come to the classrooms to avoid mixing Middle School and Elementary classes and to take full advantage of the plexiglass in grades K-4th.
- Classes will take turns attending Mass in church and those not in church will watch the Mass via the internet (again like last year).
- For an on-going COVID exposure (aka student is living in a household with an active COVID case), the student will go on a remote learning plan until 4 days after the active case has been cleared (approximately 14 days total). If the OLG student never had any COVID symptoms during this time, the student will be allowed to return to school but will be required to wear a mask for 10 more days to minimize the risk to other students in the school.
- In the case of a single event COVID exposure, the school will offer the following options:
- Option 1: Quarantine student at home for 10 days from the exposure if they have no symptoms.
- Option 2: Allow student to attend school with a mask on during normal classes (excluding outside activities and when eating), for 10 days from the exposure if they have no symptoms.
- Please note that students who are vaccinated will not be required to quarantine or wear a mask if exposed, but will monitor for symptoms.
The following protocols from the July Navigator remain unchanged, and the COVID Team continues to encourage all eligible people to receive the vaccine (currently 12 years of age and older).
- Morning protocols with temperature checks will continue as a best practice.
- Plexiglass in grades K-4th will remain in place.
- Hand sanitizing stations will continue to be available.
- 6th - 8th grade students will have band, art, and PE classes together.
- 1st/2nd and 3rd/4th will have PE classes together.
- Parent/Teacher meetings can now occur by phone, Google Meet, within our Multipurpose room up front during teacher planning periods, or inside the classroom between 4pm-5pm.
- Enhanced cleaning procedures are now part of our normal routine.
- The office will continue to close during normal student arrival (7:30 - 7:55am) and dismissal (3:30 - 4:00pm) to allow office personnel to focus on student safety during these busy times.
- Because all after school, extra-curricular activities and events are optional for our students, masks will be optional but not be required during these activities for any participants or visitors. Visitors will be allowed to attend the games, performances, etc. inside the gym.
Please be aware that students' attendance via Remote Learning will no longer be recognized by the TEA. However, OLG will track remote learning and utilize this to justify the student receiving credit for the current year even if the student exceeds the 9 absences per semester.
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OLG School's 25th Jubilee
On August 14, 1996, Rev. Dan Morales founded OLG Catholic School. To celebrate this event and the hundreds of people who have been involved in making this school a shining light for the community, a Jubilee celebration will be held August 15th on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary starting with a special Mass with Bishop Cahill at 3:00pm and followed by a reception in the OLG Gym. Please RSVP to the office if you plan to attend.
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Mariner Open House
August 8th
If you missed the Open House, click here for the YouTube video of the orientation presentation.
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Getting Ready!
We worked hard to get everything in order for the start of school. The hallway was crowded with the results of a major clean-out as we prepare for our accreditation visit in October.
Room 14 has a new outside wall and the 8th grade installed a new floor as part of their service towards the Bishop's Award in the Spring.
We also have an entirely new internal network installed for better Internet connectivity.
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Preparing Classrooms
 Teachers are so excited about being back in the classrooms with their students. They are all preparing their classrooms for another fun and productive year of learning.
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 During Fall Inservice, teachers learn new programs, review policies, and renew certifications. This year, Paramedic John Mayne taught a CPR class where teachers learned the latest protocols to keep students safe.
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A Back-to-School Prayer
Lord God, please grant all of these students
a fruitful, fun, and engaging school environment
where each child feels included, cared-for and inspired
to grow in character as well as knowledge.
May our students be the friend that every child wants and needs,
and may your love and joy be evident in their lives.
- Author Unknown
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School Advisory Council
We are most grateful for the SAC members, who meet monthly to ensure that we can continue to provide a faith-based education to every child whose family so desires.
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Covid Task Force
We are also grateful for Covid Task Force members, whose guidance has been invaluable this year.
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We want to take this opportunity to thank our donors.
Your generosity makes it possible for our school to
provide a loving and productive environment
in which students can grow in the Light of Christ.
Thank you to our Jubilee sponsors:
Vernon, Karen, & Phillip Lyssy
Ricky & Patsy Servantes
Pam & Luis De La Garza
Roberts, Odefey, Witte, & Wall
John & Jennifer Wright
Ann Marie Odefey
Cheryl & Steve Marwitz
Gulf Coast Title Company
Dave & Wanda Roberts
Thank you to John Mayne for training OLG teachers in CPR and other safety protocols.
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This newsletter is periodically distributed to connect the Mariners with their families and community partners. For more information about our school, please go to our website: OLGMariners.org
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We are a Catholic educational community providing opportunity for growth in the Light of Christ.
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