Dear Families of the Academy of Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
As we come to the close of another academic year at OLMC, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for all that you have done to welcome me to the OLMC family. It has been a great learning experience with many challenges along the way. Challenges that have enabled me to grow into my role as an educational leader while reveling in the “Mount Carmel Experience.” From the youngest Pre-K student to the oldest Eighth Grade graduate, the students have been my greatest joy and always bring a smile to my face. Knowing that each of them are benefiting from all that we are doing is what makes it all worthwhile. Watching each of them grow and change has filled me with both wonder and awe.
As we bring the year to a close, I look forward to creating an even more vibrant learning atmosphere in the 2017-2018 academic year by creating a strong interactive partnership with faculty and parents with the focus on enriching the lives of our children.
During the 2017-2018 year there are new and exciting things happening.
- During the school year we constructed a new resource room to be used for small group instruction across all grade levels and content areas, complete with a flat screen TV and SMARTboard.
- We continued the bathroom renovations, this time providing much needed staff only restrooms.
- Three grades, spread across all three departments received classroom upgrades and SMARTboards in their classrooms. This initiative will continue in the summer months and next year.
- We have devoted resources to give students even more access to technology with the arrival of 60 Apple MacBook Air laptops. These computers will be available for each school within the Academy, so whether your child is in PreK-3 or Seventh Grade they will have access to all that the world of learning has to offer. We have upgraded and added to our iPad inventory to also provide more hands-on technology experiences for students of all ages.
- With a generous gift from the Class of 2017, our Grade 8 Classroom is being completely renovated.
- Due to the hard work of the Parents’ Guild our Odyssey Theatre is getting a brand new lighting system and updated sound system. The theatre will be shining on her fifth birthday this upcoming theater season!
- Mr. Elliot Guerra has accepted Fr. Dan’s invitation to head up the revitalized Confirmation program. Some have been concerned that this means that Elliot is leaving our Academy. Not at all! He will be fulfilling every single role he is presently doing in our school. Elliot will handle all the communication functions and web site management that he presently does. And, Elliot will be presenting a full year of dramatic productions just as he has done in recent years.
- We welcome Ms. Brandi Simpkins, a mother of three Warriors and an already committed member of the Parents’ Guild, as she becomes Chair of the Guild this year. We thank Mrs. Benedetta Watros and Mrs. Helen Vafiadis for their years of dedicated service.
- As for communication from me, I am planning on having a series of meetings (one per trimester) to be sure everyone is on the same page moving forward. I will speak at each Parents’ Guild meeting and will post those remarks in the minutes and share digitally with the community.
- We are still in the process of hiring replacements for our beloved staff that have retired or moved. Stay tuned for hiring announcements as they become available.
Thank you for what has been and thank you for your willingness to participate in what will be. I look forward to working together come September! May you create cherished family memories throughout this summer, be safe and peace-filled. God bless!
In Carmel,
Miss Koval