Our Lady of Sorrows School

What is Morning Assembly?
What is "Spirit Day"?
What are Student Orientation Days? Are Student Orientation Days mandatory?
What are Parent Registration Days? Are Parent Registration Days mandatory?
Where can I buy school supplies?
Can I purchase an extra set of books for my child?
How are kinder and pre-kinder classes organized?
What electives are offered?
Does OLSS have TAKS testing?
What sports do you offer?
Do students wear gym clothes for Physical Education (P.E.)?
What activities are available for the students?
What after-school programs are available?
What school sponsored events does OLSS have?
Are there school dances Underline?
What non-school activities are offered?
What about parties?
Do you have any counseling/support/social services?
Does the school allow for the purchase of a uniform from any vendor?
Does the school have "picture day"?
Can my child wear non-uniform clothes on picture day?
Can my child attend OLSS if we are not Catholic?
Will my child attend Mass? Will my child attend religion class?
Does my child have to attend CCD class (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine)?
How can parents get involved?
Are there other ways to get involved?
What are some activities sponsored by PTO?

What is Morning Assembly?

Morning Assembly takes place in the gym every morning at 7:45 except on Mass days. Students in grades 1-8 begin their day with Morning Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and Announcements. Students who arrive after 7:45 a.m. miss out on assembly. These students report to the cafeteria and are considered tardy.

Students in Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten do not participate in morning assembly.
What is "Spirit Day"?

Spirit Day is a day to promote team spirit and school unity. It is usually held on Thursdays. An optional "spirit day" shirt may be worn on spirit days. These may be purchased at Tuff Stuff, located at El Centro Mall in Pharr , Texas .
What are Student Orientation Days? Are Student Orientation Days mandatory?

Student Orientation Days take place in August before the first full day of school.

Student Orientation Days are mandatory half-day sessions held by grade level. Pre-K 4 and grades 1-5 report to class the first Orientation Day. Pre-K3, K5, and grades 6-8 report to class the second Orientation Day. Orientation acquaints students with their new teachers, classrooms, procedures, rules, etc.
What are Parent Registration Days? Are Parent Registration Days mandatory?

Parent Registration Days are half-day sessions held in conjunction with Student Orientation Days.

Parents report to the gym from 8:00 a.m. until noon while their children attend orientation in their respective classes. Parents receive information about arrival and dismissal routines, Parent-Teacher Organization activities, and more. Parents also take care of school business, such as immunization updates, lunch and drink card purchase, orders for optional home copy of textbooks, athletic program sign-up, car pools, safe study, and various permission forms. Parents go through the line one time, no matter how many children will be attending OLSS.

Parents must plan to attend one Parent Registration Day. Expect to spend 1 - 2 hours for this activity.
Where can I buy school supplies?

The school provides all school supplies : books, paper, binders, pens, and pencils. During the school year, some supplies are replaced when completely used.
Can I purchase an extra set of books for my child?

Although the school provides all materials, parents may purchase an extra set of textbooks to keep at home (this is optional). Download the list of textbook information from which our school obtains its textbooks . Books cannot be sold back to the school, but parents can sell their books at their discretion to students of upcoming grades.
How are kinder and pre-kinder classes organized?

These classes are categorized as Pre-K3 (3 year old), Pre-K4 (4 year old) and Kinder-5 (5 year old). Students are grouped in a class that provides a Montessori curriculum. They are combined so that the kinder students act as mentors or role models to the younger students. Students learn through Montessori methods as well as through traditional methods. For example, younger students will learn tactile and gross motor skills and, when appropriate, students will begin math and reading skills to prepare them for 1st grade.
What electives are offered?

Students do not have a choice about their courses. However, we provide quarterly courses outside of the core curriculum. These courses include Art, Music, Spanish, and Technology. In grades 7 and 8, Spanish and Technology become semester-length courses.
Does OLSS have TAKS testing?

No, students at OLSS do not take the TAKS test. Essentially, the TAKS measures how much a student knows about the content taught at a specified grade level. It is used by public schools to determine student mastery of content and is linked to promotion.

Our students take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills from Riverside Publishing (ITBS for short). The ITBS is a national norm-referenced test that measures a student's knowledge and abilities. These exams are important tools to gauge the progress of our students and the school. The information from standardized scores helps guide the instruction and curricular decisions for individual students and the entire school community. For your student and family, it gives you a snapshot of student strengths and weaknesses, as well as relative progress in certain subject areas. The ITBS test is administered in the spring each year to grades Kinder - 8.
What sports do you offer?

Our athletic department offers the following sports: volleyball, basketball, cross-country, track, soccer, and tennis.
Do students wear gym clothes for Physical Education (P.E.)?

Grades 4-7 are required to suit out for P.E. The P.E. uniform may be purchased at Tuff Stuff and consists of shorts and a T-shirt. Students are required to have their names printed on the back of their shirts. Children in grades 3 and under do not change, but stay in their uniform (girls wear gym shorts under the jumpers).
What activities are available for the students?

School extracurricular activities include: Student Council, Worship Committee, Student Executive Board, Camera Crew, Junior Tech, Choir, and Altar Servers.
What after-school programs are available?

Our music teacher offers private voice lessons and coordinates a choir. The school also offers the Working On Winning (WOW) program that provides a quiet place to do homework as well as general homework assistance and support.
What school sponsored events does OLSS have?

School sponsored events include Catholic Schools Week, Family School Picnic, Non-Violence Week, Red Ribbon Week, Science Fair, Technology Fair, Walkathon and more.
Are there school dances?

Yes, for Junior High students only (grades 6-8) Students are chaperoned and supervised by OLSS staff and teachers. One exception is the PTO sponsored Valentine's Family Night for all students and their parents.
What non-school activities are offered?

We have very active Boy and Girl Scouts programs, with Boy Scouts ranging from Tiger Cub to Webelo, and Girls Scouts ranging from Daisy to Cadet. Students are allowed to wear their scout uniforms to school on meeting days.
What about parties?

Grades PK-5 are permitted two (2) parties per year (Christmas and Valentine's Day). School dances and activity days are scheduled for Jr. High.

Students are not allowed to take class time for birthday parties. Birthday cupcakes may be brought to share with classmates during break time or lunchtime as part of the dessert.
Do you have any counseling/support/social services?

We have an on-staff counselor qualified to provide students with one-on-one and group support sessions.
We provide RAINBOWS for students suffering a loss through death or divorce.
If the child needs other services, the child and parents are referred to other agencies.
Does the school allow for the purchase of a uniform from any vendor?

No, the school requires that all students adhere to the uniform that is sold by company vendors approved by the school - Parker Uniforms, Tuff Stuff, and Pat's Shoe Box.
Does the school have "picture day"?

Yes, we have picture days for individual pictures, class pictures, and pictures with Santa. These pictures are done professionally by Jostens.
Can my child wear non-uniform clothes on picture day?

Children are allowed to wear non-uniform clothing for individual pictures and pictures with Santa. Junior high students are required to change back into their uniforms after pictures are taken. Children in grades 5 and under may stay in their regular clothes for the day.
Can my child attend OLSS if we are not Catholic?

Yes, however, they will be taught religion from a Catholic point of view and be required to learn the prayers and subject matter taught in their religion class. They are exempt from participating in the sacraments, although they will attend mass and other religious celebrations with the rest of the student body.
Will my child attend Mass? Will my child attend religion class?

Students in grades 1-8 attend Mass on most Fridays and on all Holy Days of Obligation. Kinder and Pre-K students receive their catechism training in the classroom, and K5 students begin attending Mass with the older students second semester.

Students attend religion class every day as part of the school curriculum.
Does my child have to attend CCD class (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine)?

No, our school provides a comprehensive religion program which amply prepares them to know their Catholic faith and prepares them to receive the sacraments of the Catholic Church.
How can parents get involved?

The school has three strong groups for you to get involved in: School Council, Development Council, and Parent Teacher Organization. The School and Development Councils are both advisory councils that provide input and support to the principal and pastor. The School Council helps to form policy and the Development Council procures funds for the long-term stability of the school. The PTO promotes school spirit and raises funds for current targeted needs in the school.
Are there other ways to get involved?

There are many ways to give of your time and talents (not to mention finances), including PTO meetings and activities (see next question), the annual PTO Fall Gala, the Golf Tournament and Car Raffle (sponsored by the Development Council), or volunteering in your child's class. Please talk to your child's teacher or someone at the front office for more information.
What are some activities sponsored by PTO?

The PTO is busy year round. Both PTO and the Development Council sponsors several (PTO & Development Events) events such as Breakfast with Mom, Donuts for Dad, Grandparents Day, Valentine Family Dance, Walkathon, teacher luncheons, and more.

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