11/11/22 - Friday Forget-Me-Nots by Jim Silcott

Dear Our Lady of Peace Family,

Our annual November Open House is on Sunday, November 20. Please pass the word to anyone who is interested in coming to Our Lady of Peace for the 2023-2024 school year, especially incoming Kindergarten students.

For the first time in a while, we expect that in almost every grade we will be at full capacity next year. For number purposes, full capacity at our school is 240 students. While Our Lady of Peace has had more students in its building in years past than 240, in the era of differentiated learning and technology it is not prudent to have many more students than that.

Currently, in our projection for next year we are, of course, wide open for kindergarten next year, although we have a healthy crop of siblings of present students ready to join their older brothers or sisters. We have some space in next year’s first grade. Traditionally, we get some students from Our Lady of Bethlehem, whom we welcome. That influx of students makes it desirable not to fill up kindergarten to the max during that first crucial year, not only for giving OLB students an opportunity to join us but in maximizing the learning environment for that important first year.

In grades 2-5, next year’s classes are expected to be full, with a waiting list. That is why if you know anyone who wishes to join us in those grades next year, it is important for them to come to Open House, as registration for next students begins that day.

Our sixth grade for next year has about 10 openings. Many of them are filled by students from Indian Springs and Colerain Elementary Schools. But we expect that this class will also be full by the time we start school in August. Our openings in next year’s seventh and eighth grades consist of one-two spots. With the closing of St. Anthony School across I 71, we have a lot of interest in any openings in those grades as well as younger grades.

For the first time in many years, we may very well have to adhere to the prioritization protocol for the admission of students. It is in our handbook, but I thought that I would highlight it here. This is Diocesan policy by the way:

II. PRIORITIES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

A. In the admission of students to elementary schools, the recommended order or priority shall be as follows:

1. Sponsoring Parish families

a. Children from families with children already enrolled

b. Children now reaching school age

c. Children from families newly moved into the parish whose children have been in Catholic schools where such were available.

2. Children from non-parish Catholic families with students already enrolled in the school.

3. Transfer students from other Catholic schools:

a. From parish schools that are closing

b. From parishes not offering full programs, K-8

4. Children of other parishes may be admitted, if on the basis of a personal interview, the pastor or his designated authority judges the intent and motivation to be in accord with the highest ideals of Catholic education.

5. Other student transfers (children of another faith) may be admitted if, on the basis of a personal interview, the pastor or his designated authority judges the intent and motivation to be in accord with the highest ideals of Catholic education.

We have come a long way since being told our school might close last winter!

Jim Silcott