Inspiring Minds and Hearts

I hope all of you are getting by in these trying times. It is not easy for any of us right now, but if we all take it one day at a time, we will get through this. What I would like to do in this reflection is offer some suggestions as to how you can get the most out of watching mass on television or the computer while you are unable to attend mass in person. It goes without saying that there is nothing like attending mass at your local church. To be present at the holy sacrifice and receive the Blessed Sacrament in Holy Communion is the greatest thing we can do while we are on this earth. Also, a great benefit of attending mass in person is receiving the priest’s blessing at the end of mass. But right now, all of this is not possible for you. Therefore, while it is not required that you watch mass on television or online, I highly recommend that you do so. While the same graces that you would receive at mass are unavailable, there are still many other graces to be received...

As part of a series during OLSH’s closure for the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the OLSH community have been invited to share reflections on their experiences. Today's reflection comes from theology teacher Mrs. Nancy Jarocki. I have been musing all day about my students. I miss them! There have been plenty of emails back and forth about school work. That’s a good thing but I miss the banter before and after class and even some of the more crazy things they say and do. I have been grading current events for seniors and, as you can imagine, most of them had something to do with the coronavirus. The students were so honest in their reflections about how frightened they are of all of this. The panic buying makes them wonder if they should be concerned about the food chain, they know enough to realize that prom is probably off the table and are wondering if graduation may be too. Some of them have personal health worries or worry about their parents who are healthcare workers or ...

Protecting children online has become an important topic for parents. And it’s an important topic for schools, too. OLSH has partnered with SecURLy, The Student Safety Company, to put safeguards in place while students access the internet at OLSH and while using OLSH email accounts. Mrs. Patricia Krueger, OLSH Director of Technology, initiated the partnership as a proactive way for our school to address student safety online. SecURLy’s content filter serves as a profile based content filter, allowing for reporting by user id and is linked to student (and employee) gmail accounts. The filter has the ability to monitor student activity to be proactive in noticing trends in search history and sites visited. Additionally, secURLy offers an anonymous tipline that can be used by students or parents to report bullying or other issues or concerns. The tipline and content monitoring are managed by secURLy professionals who have been trained about what to look for and will notify the schoo...

Making the transition to Catholic high school is a big step. Parents are preparing their children for new buildings, new teachers, new opportunities, and making new friends. On top of that, parents may be feeling anxiety as they watch their children move on to the next step in their educational journey – and may be feeling overwhelmed by their upcoming tuition payments. Frequently we have found that tuition for Catholic high school is much higher than what families are paying for Catholic elementary school. Regardless of a family’s financial situation, paying for Catholic education involves some level of sacrifice. As the cost to educate increases, schools and parents must work together to make it possible for students to receive a quality education rooted in faith and values. At OLSH, we believe an investment in an OLSH education is an investment in your child’s future. And we work diligently to ensure that an OLSH education is accessible to any qualified student who seeks it....

Articles abound on creating the perfect classroom space – from flexible seating, modular tables, and other cooperative learning tools; to technology features like projectors, Smartboards, and iPad carts; to basic comforts like lighting and temperature. At OLSH, we pride ourselves on our facilities, featuring various classroom configurations, air conditioning, and arguably the cleanest school in Pennsylvania (thanks to our outstanding maintenance crew)! But it’s what you find on the walls of the classrooms at OLSH that I’d like to take a moment to focus on. In each classroom at OLSH, you’ll find the San Damiano crucifix. When St. Francis of Assisi was praying before the crucifix in the chapel of San Damiano, he heard the voice of the Lord coming from the image of Christ and asking him to rebuild His house. This encounter profoundly affected Francis, and the effects have rippled down through the centuries to the present in the various orders associated with the Fra...

Sleep is key to success on exams. As students prepare for midterm exams next week, English teacher and Director of the OLSH Writing & Learning Center, Mr. Tyler Rodgers, prepared a fun special announcement with a serious message about the importance of sleep! Below is the transcript of Mr. Rodgers' message - good advice for all of us, but especially students preparing for exams! Good Morning OLSH I hope you are all well rested and alert this morning! I am here to talk to you about…..Midterm study tips and …. Well…. Being well rested and alert. Using all of my scientific mind and the power of the internet and “RELIABLE RESOURCES AND RESEARCH” I have compiled some interesting data for you all. As we approach the week of Midterms you should all be thinking about studying. Recent research suggests that while studying is vital to doing well on tests, staying up late to cram and losing sleep is counter productive to scoring well. According to UCLA “If a student sacrifi...

Now that we are a week into the new school year and students have figured out the basics (how to get into their locker, where their homeroom is, and the quickest way to the cafeteria at lunchtime), it’s a great time to think about ways to make the new year a successful one. A new school year is a great time for a fresh approach to attitudes about school work or even interacting with others. Organization is key! For some students, the range of courses, teachers, and expectations in high school can be overwhelming. Staying organized with a planner is key to keeping track of projects and due dates. Using a paper calendar can be helpful, as the act of writing something down actually helps you remember what you wrote! For others, transferring assignments to an online calendar is helpful since you can set reminders to alert you when a due date is approaching. Be the kind kid Whether it’s the simple act of saying hello as you pass people in the halls, inviting someone to sit with yo...