OCHS Students of the Month – December

Congratulations to the following students named Students of the Month for December:

Freshmen: Stephanie Dooper and Will Bickett

Sophomores: Erin Ballard and Alex Dotsey

Juniors: Melinda Thompson and Trenton Ackerman

Seniors: Kristen Wathen and Paul Brown

Ellen Wright Places in Saddlebred Equitation Competitions

Ellen Wright, a junior at OCHS, competed in the three 2008 National Championships in Saddlebred Equitation. She won two of the three National Finals and the Bronze Medal in the third.

She earned the following World and National Titles in 2008: World Champion 15 Year Old Saddleseat Equitation, World Champion of Champions Senior Saddleseat Equitation in Louisville, KY; Senior UPHA National Champion and Bronze Medalist in the USEF National Championship in Kansas City, MO; and Good Hands National Champion in Harrisburg, PA.

Ellen is the daughter of Bill and Shannon Wright and a member of St. Stephen parish.

Attention - Ruby Tuesday Restaurant

We encourage those with Ruby Tuesday Restaurant certificates to use them before Sunday, December 28. Their restaurant management team has notified us that they will no longer be open after Sunday, December 28, at the Towne Square Mall location.

Thanks for your cooperation.

OCS Central Office and SCRIP Office Open at 10 am on Tuesday, December 30

Due to maintenance work on the fire alarm system, the OCS Central Office and SCRIP Office will open at 10 am on Tuesday, December 30th.

The offices will be open until 5 pm as usual. Thank you for your cooperation.

New OCS Billboard in Place

Be sure to notice the new billboard posted for the Owensboro Catholic Schools highlighting ‘Daily Faith Formation.’

They are located:

Highway 60 – going East – just prior to the bypass/Hwy 60 intersection

Highway 54 – toward the bypass, on the left near the Wendy’s restaurant

Carter Road – toward the bypass, on the right, near Atlantis Swim Club

Director's Corner - K-8 Fundraising Options

For longer than anyone in Central Office can remember, we have asked our families with students in Kindergarten through 8th grade to participate in a fundraising event that sold World’s Finest Chocolate. The resources earned from these yearly events have helped us fulfill our mission of excellence in faith formation and academics at an affordable cost. As you probably remember, the experience last year, even though quite successful, was not as positive as those in previous years due to an increased cost to $1.25 per chocolate bar and others selling WFC at the same time as OCS.

The time has come to plan for another successful fundraising event and we need your help and insight. At the urging of those who coordinated the WFC event last year, we have identified the following three fundraising options to consider. I ask that you review these options and weigh in by completing the linked web-based survey. Please note that I have based the numbers on the fact that we have been able to earn an average profit of $22,500 over the past several years.

The options being considered are:
• Welch’s Fruit Snacks – These fruit snacks are made with real fruit and fruit juices and offer a healthier fundraising alternative. Each case contains 2 boxes of 54 pouches. Each pouch weighs 2.25 ounces and would be sold for $1.00 each. The variety pack offers an assortment of five popular flavors: Concord Grape, Strawberry, Mixed Fruit, White Grape Peach, White Grape Raspberry. We would need to sell 400 cases or 43,200 Welch’s Fruit Snack pouches. Our profit margin would be $.52 per pouch sold.

• World’s Finest Chocolate – We have been promised a return to a chocolate almond bar weighing 1.75 ounces that we will be sold for $1.00. We would need to sell 844 cases or 42,200 bars of chocolate. Our profit margin is $.53 per bar sold. WFC has also promised that we would be the exclusive sellers in the Owensboro market at the time we were selling.

• Restaurant/Vendor Discount Cards – These cards are the size of a credit card. The card would list a series of discount opportunities at restaurants and other places of business in Greater Owensboro. We would have a chance to choose the vendors on the card. The life of the card is one year. Each card would cost $10.00 and show a profit of $5.00. We would need to sell 4500 of these discount cards.

There are certainly pluses and minuses to either of these options. I encourage you to share your insight by clicking on the survey link below. Share with us your preferred choice and a brief comment. We ask you respond no later than Monday, December 22nd at 5:00 PM. We will review the survey results and make a decision next week. I thank you in advance for sharing your opinion.

I appreciate all you do to help us fulfill our mission of excellence in Catholic faith formation and academics. As always, your comments and insights are important to me.

I can be reached via phone at 852-8028 and email at ken.rasp@owensborocatholic.org.

God’s Peace!
Ken R. Rasp

Related Link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspxsm=qZin5GIIy7KToVnR6M_2bWpg_3d_3d

Junior Achievement at OCS

OCS participates in the Junior Achievement program. All the classrooms at the Elementary K-3 Campus and the Elementary 4-6 Campus participate in the program. All the 7th graders at OCMS and sophomores at OCHS benefit from Junior Achievement.

Best Buy sponsors the Elementary 4-6 Campus and UniFirst sponsors the instruction at OCHS.

Community volunteers are teaching the programs in 40 classrooms for Owensboro Catholic Schools this year.

Bryan McGraw Named Football All State

Congratulations to Bryan McGraw for being named All State Honorable Mention in football.

Bryan is the son of Vince and Teresa Edwards and is a member of Immaculate parish.

Boys Basketball Game Cancelled - Tuesday, December 16

Tongiht's basketball game vs. Apollo is cancelled due to inclement weather. It will be rescheduled for a later date.

SCRIP Office Open Regular Hours

The SCRIP Office and Central Office will be open regular hours, 8 am - 5 pm on Tuesday, December 16.

School Not in Session - Tuesday, December 16

OCS will not be in session on Tuesday, December 16 due to inclement weather.

Christmas Program Update - 4-6 Campus

Just a reminder to let you know that if school is cancelled for tomorrow, we will not be having the Christmas Program at the RiverPark Center.

The program will be re-scheduled for Wednesday night, December 17th, at the RiverPark Center. The performance times will be the same. Students will leave school to practice from 8:30-10:00 on this day. We will use the same permission slips dated for Tuesday, December 16th. If this is a concern, please contact the school office.

If school is canceled on both Tuesday and Wednesday, the Christmas Program will be re- scheduled for Friday, December 19th at 10:00 AM in the 4-6 gymnasium.

OCHS Revised Exam Schedule

Due to OCS not being in session on Tuesday, December 16, OCHS has announced the following revised exam schedule.

EXAM SCHEDULE FOR Wednesday 12/17/08 - Exams 5 & 7
8:20 - 9:35 Review for exam
9:35 - 9:40 Break
9:40 - 11:15 Exam
11:20 - 11:25 Homeroom
11:25 - 11:55 1st Lunch
12:00 - 1:15 Review for exam
1:15 - 1:20 Break
1:20 - 2:55 Exam

2nd Lunch
11:30 - 11:55 Review for exam
11:55 - 12:25 2nd Lunch
12:30 - 1:15 Review for exam
1:20 - 2:55 Exam

3rd Lunch
11:30 - 12:25 Review for exam
12:25 - 12:55 Lunch
1:00 - 1:15 Review for exam
1:20 - 2:55 Exam

Lunches stay the normal 7th block rotation for Wednesday.

EXAMS FOR Thursday 12/18/08 (Exams 1,3,4) AND Friday 12/19/08 (Exams 2,6,8)
8:20 - 10:10 Review & exam (110)
10:10 - 10:15 Break
10:20 - 10:25 Homeroom
10:30 - 11:00 Review (30)
11:00 - 11:30 1st lunch
11:35 - 12:55 Exam (80)
12:55 - 1:00 Break
1:05 - 2:55 Review & exam (110)

2nd lunch
10:30 - 12:25 Review & exam (115)
12:25 - 12:55 2nd lunch

OCMS Play - 'A Christmas Story' - Rescheduled

The Drama Club at OCMS will present 'A Christmas Story.'

The performance is rescheduled for Friday, December 19 - beginning at 7 pm.

The performance will be held in the Immaculate Parish Hall.

Admission will be $3 for adults and $1.00 for children 6 and over.

Join us for some Christmas cheer and watch a great play.

SCRIP Office Open Until 5 pm - Monday, December 15

Even though OCS dismissed early, the SCRIP office and Central Office will be open until 5 pm.

OCS Dismissed 1 Hour Early - Monday, December 15

Due to inclement weather, OCS dismissed one hour early.

Calls were sent out via the One Call Now service to notify our parents.

With early dismissal, there will not be an After School program held at either the Elementary K-3 Campus or Elementary 4-6 Campus.

Christmas Program Update - K-3 Campus

Many parents have called with questions about the Christmas Program in the event that we have inclement weather. Please read the following carefully.

PLAN A: If we are in school tomorrow, or have a delayed start to the day, the show will go on just as planned! Have your child at the RiverPark at 5:30 PM. The show will begin at 6:00 PM.

PLAN B: IF school is canceled tomorrow due to ice or snow, the Christmas Program will be rescheduled for the following night- Wednesday, December 17 at the same time and place! Students will also go to the Riverpark that day to practice.

PLAN C: If school is canceled on Wednesday, there will NOT be a Christmas Program at the RiverPark, however the children will have an "informal" program at 1:00 on Friday, December 19 in the gym, and all parents are invited to come. Friday is a FREE DRESS Day.
If we have to go with PLAN C- students will still have Free Dress on Friday.

SCRIP SUCCE$$ Christmas Reminders

Ten days and counting! Where does the time go? As we enter the final days leading up to Christmas, SCRIP SUCCE$$ has plenty of inventory on hand to meet all of your shopping needs.

However, you are encouraged to place your order early for the greatest selection.

Also, remember that the satellite office located at the K-3 Campus will be open just one more weekend -
Friday, December 19 - 4 pm - 8 pm
Saturday, December 20 - 8 am - 5 pm
Sunday, December 21 - 12 noon - 4 pm

Related Link: http://www.owensborocatholic.org/scrip_succe$$/index.php

Athletic Physicals Available

Call for a convenient appointment. Saturday mornings available by appointment only.

Clark Chiropractic Center
727 West Parrish Avenue
852-WELL

Softball Holiday Camp

Extra Innings 5th Annual Holiday Fastpitch Skills camp, located at Extra Innings and Advantage Court & Fitness in Evansville will be held on Monday and Tuesday, December 29 & 30 from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.

Contact the Camp for specific pricing. Areas covered are infield, outfield, hitting and bunting off of live arm, pitching and catching.

Directors Brent Hawkins and Larry Shown with over 60 years combined experience. Join OCHS Coach Allen Cox and OCHS Coach George Randolph to improve your skill level. Low staff to camper ratio.

Call 812-401-4244 or email oocoachhawkoo@yahoo.com for information.

St. Martin Parish Selling Tickets - Panther Creek Christmas Lights

St. Martin parish is selling tickets to see the Christmas Lights at Panther Creek Park. The tickets are $3.00 per car.

If anyone is interested please contact Jeanne Hayden at 316-6333 or Jennifer Self at 771-9491 or Tammie Thomas at 993- 2194.

OCMS Students of the Month - November and December

Congratulations to the following Students of the Month:

For November, the OCMS students of the Month were
7th Grade: Caroline Augenstein and Kyle Alvey
8th Grade: Martha Sharp Hughes and Daniel Castlen

For December Students of the Month were
7th Grade: Emily Wills and Houston Hartz
8th grade: Emily Rose and John Wathen

OCHS FFA Greenhand Induction

The OCHS FFA held its Greenhand Induction Ceremony for first year members. They participated in an "Introduction to FFA" workshop and learn about the motto, mission, creed, history, and official dress.

They then take a test reciting many of the things they learn and sign a "Code of Ethics" which qualifies them to receive the Greenhand Degree.

This year's honorees are: Kyle Davis, Matthew Franey, Tyler Grant, Matthew Jacobs, Madie Liles, Becca Millay, Brittany Nash, and Maddie Zoglmann.

The OCHS FFA Faculty sponsor is Mrs. Susan Zoglmann.

OCS Central Office and SCRIP Office Holiday Hours

Christmas Holiday:
The OCS Central Office and SCRIP Office will be closed on Wednesday - Friday, December 24, 25, and 26.
The offices will reopen for regular hours, 8 am - 5 pm, on Monday, December 29.

New Year Holiday:
The OCS Central Office and SCRIP Office will close at noon on Wednesday, December 31.
The offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, January 1 and 2.
The offices will reopen for regular hours 8 am - 5 pm on Monday, January 5.

New Local Retailer Joins SCRIP SUCCE$$ - Ozone

Ozone Laser Tag, located at 533 Triplett Street, has joined SCRIP. They offer a $5 certificate that can help you earn 20% toward your goal.

Ozone Laser Tag is available for parties, lock-ins, and walk-ins and are open Thursday through Sunday. Contact the owner Jason Ebelhar at 270-313-3305 for additional details or information.

6th Grade Academic Team Capture 1st Place in Academic Showcase

Congratulations to the 6th grade academic team on their victory this weekend at the 6th Grade Showcase.

Team members include: Meredith Bickett, George Bittel, Sam Booth, Logan Brown, Parker Clark, Drew Harvey, Collin Higgins, Leslie Kuntz, Jack Padgett, Jacob Payne, Adney Rakotoniaina, Laurine Scott and Audrey Wright.

OCES was the overall champion, competing against 7 other area teams in the region.

The quick recall team went undefeated taking 1st place.

Individual results were as follows:

Arts and Humanities

Meredith Bickett - 1st place

Audrey Wright - 2nd place

Language Arts

Leslie Kuntz - 6th place

Math

Sam Booth - 2nd place

Science

Audrey Wright - 1st place

Sam Booth - 2nd place

Social Studies

Meredith Bickett - 1st place

Logan Brown - 4th place

Final team results:

OCES - 1st place - 58 points

OPS 5-6 Center - 2nd place - 33 points

Daviess County Middle - 3rd place - 22 points

The Volunteer Coaches include: Karen Bickett, Robin Booth, Patty Kuntz, Debra Wright and Beverly Estes.

OCMS Play - 'A Christmas Story'

The Drama Club at OCMS will present 'A Christmas Story.'

Performance Dates:
Monday, December 15 - beginning at 10 am
Monday, December 15 - beginning at 7 pm

All performances will be held in the Immaculate Parish Hall. Join us for some Christmas cheer and watch a great play.

OCMS Academic Team - Fall Knowledge Master Open

The OCMS Academic Aces participated in the Fall 2008 Knowledge Master Open on December 3rd. This is an international competition using specially programmed software. OCMS placed 5th in the state and beat the local competition.

Congratulations to the following team members: Kyle Alvey, Chase Carrico, Kelsey Conkright, Marty Crowe, Brian Gross, Rebecca Gross, Martha Hughes, Patrick Lasley, Justin Magnuson, Eric McBride, Andrew Riccio, and team captain, Kevin Thompson.

OCHS Athletic Signings - Rachel Greenwell and Al Smith

Rachel Greenwell recently signed with Bellarmine to play Basketball next school year and continue her academic career. Rachel is the daughter of Nicole and Ryan Elder.

Al Smith has recently signed with Bellarmine to play Golf and continue his academic career next school year. Al is the son of Bill and Martha Smith.

OCHS Girls Soccer Players Named to Kentucky Olympic Development Program

Congratulations to Jessica Ralph and Anna McNulty who made the Olympic Development Program state soccer team for their age group.

Anna McNulty (born in 1993 team)
Jessica Ralph (born in 1992 team)

The Olympic Development Program (ODP) is a national program to identify and develop youth players to represent their State, Region, and country in soccer competitions.

Related Link: http://www.kysoccer.org/programs/odp/index.html

Free ADD/Dyslexia Workshops

Families Supporting Learning Differences in conjunction with Western Kentucky Speech Language Hearing Association and Brescia University Communication Sciences and Disorders Dept. present: Free ADD/Dyslexia Workshops by Jeffery Freed M.A.T., the author of "Right Brained Children in a Left Brained World"

Wednesday, December 10th 9 am-12 noon Brescia University Lechner Graduate Center, Corner of W. 7th and Frederica Street or

Thursday, December 11th 6 pm-9 pm Brescia University Taylor Lecture Hall in Science Building, Frederica Street

Due to limited seating, registration is required. Please email your name, phone number and the workshop you plan to attend to Families Supporting Learning Differences at: fsld@live.com

Related Link: http://owensborocatholic.org/documents/fsld_workshop.pdf

Flu vs. Cold - Symptoms

It's that time of year again - time for coughs, colds, sore throats, and fevers. How do you know if these symptoms are just a cold, or something more severe, like the flu? Typically, the flu (also known as influenza) has symptoms that may make your child feel worse than symptoms associated with a common cold. It is not always easy to tell the difference between the two.

To the left is a guide to help you to figure out the difference. Don't be too quick to brush off your child's symptoms as "just another cold." Flu symptoms can vary from one person to another, & they can change as the illness progresses. Other bacterial infections, such as strep throat or pneumonia, can also look like the flu or a cold.

It's important to seek medical attention immediately if your child seems to be getting worse, is having trouble breathing, has a high fever, has a bad headache, has a sore throat, or seems confused.

While even healthy kids can have complications of these common illnesses, kids with certain medical conditions are at more of a risk. To help determine what illness your child has, and if your child will need medication to overcome the illness, contact your child's health care provider.

Remember, frequent hand-washing with warm soap & water or use of an alcohol based hand sanitizing gel, is the #1 way to prevent the spread of germs & disease!
Related Link: http://owensborocatholic.org/about_us/School_Health

Community Solutions for Substance Abuse

The Community Solutions for Substance Abuse group of Owensboro and Daviess County is rolling out their new website and promotion of being Drug Free in Daviess County by distributing bracelets to each student this week. The bracelet includes the new website.

As a motivator for youth to visit the website, the group will run contests. The first contest will be the 'Secret Spotter Contest.' When a 'special spotter' see a student or adult wearing the bracelet, that individual who is spotted will receive one Malco special VIP movie ticket for admission to any Malco operated theatre for any regularly scheduled performance.

Again, these bracelets will be distributed to students this week.
Related Link: http://www.odcdrugfree.org/

Director's Corner - One Call Now

I am pleased to announce that Owensboro Catholic Schools recently entered into an agreement with One Call Now to provide a telephone communication service that will assist us in providing "timely and instantaneous" parent notification messages.

The One Call Now service will be used throughout the coming year by the Central Office and each of our schools to expedite important information to parents. Here are a few examples of its potential uses:

· School cancellations, delays, or early dismissals due to inclement weather

· Emergency school situations

· Absentee/attendance notification

· Lunch room account update

· PTO announcements

· Director's messages

· Principal's messages

Based on its successful use in the past year by Daviess County Public Schools, we are convinced that One Call Now will help OCS become more efficient and effective in providing immediate and updated information on our students and school activities.

At this point in time, we have provided the following contact information to One Call Now for each of our students and have been assured of its secure setting on their Student Management Database:

· Home Phone Number

· Dad's Cell Number

· Mom's Cell Number

The service, when prompted, will deliver a recorded message to each number provided in a matter of minutes. Please note that the system recognizes similar phone numbers for multiple child families and will only call a number once. Also, the service will leave a message on your home answering machine and cell phone voice mail. It will continue to call a number listed for up to one full day before suspending the call. A caller identification number will appear on your Caller ID display if you have Caller ID. OCS looks forward to utilizing this invaluable communication tool. We feel this service will provide another opportunity to keep you appropriately and necessarily informed and updated.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING

1. The One Call Now service will be tested on Tuesday, December 2nd. I will send a test message at approximately 9:00 AM to all student and staff contact numbers stored by One Call Now in its secure database. I ask that you contact Central Office at 270.686.8896 with problems or concerns. We can remove phone numbers from the database as well as add additional ones. The goal is to keep you informed and updated. Do not hesitate to let us know how and where you would like to receive these One Call Now messages.

2. My plan concerning school cancellation due to inclement weather is to let you know shortly after I hear from DCPS. My goal is to have the calls delivered beginning as early as 6:00 AM.

3. One Call Now tells us that in the near future they will open a Parent Portal that can be linked through the OCS Website. Via the portal you will be able to update your own contact information. You will be able to add up to 6 numbers for the service to call (i.e., cell number(s) and work number(s). Announcements will be made via In The Loop concerning the Parent Portal. I am excited about One Call Now and the opportunity it provides to keep our parents informed, especially concerning school cancellations, delays, and early dismissals. Accurate and timely information will allow you the opportunity to plan and coordinate care for your children.

I appreciate all you do to help us fulfill our mission of excellence in Catholic faith formation and academics. As always, your comments and insights are important to me. I can be reached via phone at 852-8028 and email at ken.rasp@owensborocatholic.org.

God's Peace!

Ken R. Rasp
Director

OCHS Football Players Named to M-I All Area Teams

Congratulations to the Football Aces on a great season. The Aces finished their season this past weekend in Fort Campbell.

Congratulations to the following OCHS football players named to the Messenger-Inquirer All Area Teams.

All Area 1st team

Bryan McGraw - Offense - Receiver and Special Teams

Aaron Wathen - Defense - Linebacker

All Area 2nd Team

Russell Hayden - Offense - Running Back

Aaron Wathen - Offense - Linemen

Chris Ward - Defense - Defensive Back

Matt Willis - Special Teams - Punter

OCS Elementary Students Serve as Community Problem Solving Team

Several OCS Students are participating in a Community Future Problem Solving Team. It involves creative thinking concerning community based issues. Recently, the group did some research about Alzheimer's disease and wrote a Reader's Write for the Messenger-Inquirer. It appeared in the November 28 edition. The group is led by Mrs. Julie Crowe.


Yellow paper, black letters makes reading easier


We are sixth-grade students at Owensboro Catholic Elementary School. We are the Community Problem Solving Team. We have been studying the human eye as it gets older and have learned there are ways to write that makes it easier for older people to see and read. November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month.


We would like to urge readers to write as big as possible when they want to communicate with an older person. Use plain letters, no fancy curlicues or anything like that. Use yellow paper for background when you can because with black letters, it is the easiest for people to see. People with Alzheimer's can still read and it makes sense to make it as easy as possible for them.


Keep visiting and writing and be in touch with your relatives if they live in nursing homes. There are 882 people living in nursing homes in Owensboro. Many of them have Alzheimer's disease. We hope people will do all they can to make things better for people who have this disease. Remember, yellow paper, black letters as large as possible and very plain. We hope our advice will help someone in Owensboro.

Cecilia Crowe, Collin Higgins Madeline Rafferty, Adney Rakotoniaina