2023 Annual Spring Publication

The Anchor

LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR

Dear Friends of Our Lady of the Lakes,

Our student body is a faith-filled group of young people containing a definite thirst for God and knowledge deep within their hearts. They are to be commended as extraordinary young people with a passion for Jesus Christ. Our students, past and present, are a tremendous compliment to us. They used the educational foundation received here and represent us well in their endeavors. This attitude is part of what makes Catholic schools so great. We have the ability to charitably teach discipline and hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It brings me great joy and satisfaction to be the Pastor at our parish and our PreK-12 Catholic school. Our children are a great gift from God and I am simply honored to play a part in their formation. This is yet another benefit of a Catholic education.

At Our Lady of the Lakes we are not interested in simply providing an alternative to the public school system. We fulfill a ministry by serving God while providing a profound educational experience helping our students to become joyful missionary disciples. After graduation, our students excel academically receiving the highest honors possible at institutions of great distinction. We must continue to be part of this mission and communicate our successes to one and all. Please consider a Catholic education at Our Lady of the Lakes for your children.

God Bless, Fr. Scott Thibodeau Pastor

LETTER FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL

Dear Friends of Our Lady of the Lakes,

Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School embodies a safe, nurturing, and faith-based educational environment where each child receives significant personal attention and love from a family-like community. It is a place where students learn to love God and one another while getting to know who they are and how to be the best they can be. It is a blessing to work in a place of hope where we share the mission of living our vocation as disciples, modeling Christ’s love in the care we give our students.

At Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School we spend every day “guided by the Holy Spirit, under the Mantle of Mary”. We invite you to see for yourself what makes Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School such a one-of-a-kind place to learn and grow through God and the Catholic faith.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

God Bless, Mrs. Jeanine Kenny Head of School

our l A dy of T he l A kes PA rish

In September of 1948, the late Edward Cardinal Mooney discovered a need for a Parish in the Oakland County vicinity. Through this, the late Rev. Frederick J. Delaney was appointed to start Our Lady of the Lakes. This year, we are delighted to celebrate the 75th anniversary of our parish! In our 75 years, we have grown into a large parish. We are a community of single and married, young and old, students and retired. Over 500 people volunteer in some way each week in the church and school! We are also a generous community, helping the poor through our St. Vincent de Paul conference; Giving Trees for Lent, Advent, and Back to School; and collecting food for those in need. We continue to enhance our faith through bible study groups, FORMED, plus books and CD’s found in our Lighthouse Catholic Media kiosks. We bring others into our faith through our Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.) process. Our parish brings together individuals to create one large “Laker” family, which now includes our new Family of Parishes: St. Anne’s, St. Daniel’s, and St. Rita’s.

Our current pastoral team includes Rev. Scott Thibodeau as pastor and Rev. Robert Voiland as associate pastor. These two show tremendous leadership and we couldn’t be more blessed to have them guide our Lakes community.

OCIA

This year, we walked with 12 adults and 13 children from our parish that were welcomed into full communion through the OCIA process. Please pray for them and their journey in faith! In addition to our standard Monday night Faith Formation process, we offer a Sunday Family Gathering process for families to choose for their journey in faith. In this process, the families attend Mass together once a month as a group and share lunch together before the kids head off to their classrooms as the parents stay gathered for prayer, discussion and shared insights. The other weeks of the month, families are instructing their children at home in the ways of the faith using our books and digital platform.

For more information on our Family approach to catechesis, visit https://ollonline.org/faith-formation or contact the parish office.

Father Scott Celebrates his 25th Ordination Anniversary

This year, Our Lady of the Lakes is celebrating Rev. Scott Thibodeau’s 25th ordination anniversary. Having served at our parish for 6 years now, we are delighted to have Fr. Scott as our pastor during a huge milestone in his priesthood.

Fr. Scott is a graduate of Catholic schools, having attended St. Peter and Paul Grade School in Detroit, and graduated from Deaborn’s Divine Child High School. In May of 1998, Fr. Scott was ordained a Catholic Priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Fr. Scott was an associate pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows in Farmington Hills and The National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, and served as pastor at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Beverly Hills and St. Raphael’s in Garden City. He joined our family at Our Lady of the Lakes as pastor in July of 2017.

Congratulations to Fr. Scott on 25 years of priesthood. We thank you for your sacrifice in union with the Lord. Please join us in prayer as we honor and look forward to his continued journey as a priest.

Young Adult & Youth Evangelization

Last fall, we formed our middle school youth group and have continued to grow our high school youth group along with our young adult ministry group. These groups allow one to form healthy relationships while walking with others in the faith.

Our mission is to form the youth’s hearts and minds to be ready disciples and leaders to the world by offering opportunities to encounter Christ and Community. Working in this mission our group focuses on three things: Faith, Fellowship, and Service.

FAITH: In order to love God we must know Him. We take time to discuss the teachings of the Church and our youth groups lean into the Saints to learn about relevant topics and experiences that the youth are facing. We take trips to Cathedrals, go on retreats, and participate in small group discussions. One of our favorite traditions are our ‘Coffee with Christ’ weekends where we go to Mass together and go out for coffee where the teens are able to ask any questions about the faith.

FELLOWSHIP: One of the beautiful things about our faith is that we are one united Church. It can be a challenge in our times to surround ourselves with good friends who will help lead us to Heaven. We have leaders who truly care about the youth and have the passion to call them higher while also loving them where they are at. Our group loves to laugh and have a fun time together and it always brings the leaders joy to see the teens exchanging phone numbers and planning hangouts.

SERVICE: Our group believes in not only teaching the faith, but also living it out. We participate in service events and mission trips in the summer. This helps widen the youth’s worldview as well as grow in charity, humility, and love.

This is a great opportunity for one to dive deeper into their faith no matter what level they are currently at. We welcome all students and young adults in our parish community to join! If you are interested in learning more about our groups, visit Our Lady of the Lakes website or email the Director of Youth and Young Adult Evangelization at michelle.konarzewski@ollonline.org.

Scan the QR codes below to join our Flocknote!

Want to Get Involved?

Become a sacristan, eucharistic minister, usher, church cleaner, choir member, lector, and more! We also have an active Knights of Columbus chapter that includes over 300 catholic gentlemen and their families. Visit our website at ollonline.org or scan the QR code below to learn more about the ministries we offer.

MS Youth Group

Young Adult Group

Welcome neW sTAff

AMAZING CATHOLIC EDUCATOR

Our Lady of the Lakes’ very own, Terry Zaleski was awarded the Amazing Catholic Educator award by the Catholic Foundation of Michigan in 2023. Per the Catholic Foundation, “This award recognizes teachers, specialists, and administors across the Archdiocese of Detroit who are creating a school culture that is proudly Catholic, academically excellent, accessible to all, and sustainable for the future.” Mrs. Zaleski has been a teacher in the AOD for 16 years. She currently teaches high school math, accounting and personal finance here at Our Lady of the Lakes. She not only teaches, but is also a member of the disciplinary committee, chairs the National Honor Society, and volunteers to host various clubs and activities often giving up her personal time to ensure students and parents have what they need.

Courtney Powers PreK Aide

Shannon Stanbury Grade K

Tanya Blaine Grade 4

Tess Frederick Grade 5

Adria Willer K-5 Art & STEAM

Jim Wilson 6-12 Spanish

Phil Dawson Middle School Math & English

Elyse Prosniewski High School Drama, English and Theology

TERRY ZALESKI

We are extremely grateful that Ms. Zaleski chose Our Lady of the Lakes to call her home.

“MS. ZALESKI CHOOSES TO PRACTICE HER FAITH IN OUR SCHOOL, AS WELL AS OUR PARISH. SHE IS OUR MOST SUPPORTIVE TEACHER, OFTEN GIVING UP MORNINGS, EVENINGS, AND WEEKENDS TO ENSURE STUDENTS AND PARENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND LIFE.”

-ADMINISTRATION

“Ms. Zaleski taught all 4 of my kids, and when they went to college, not only were they well prepared, but they actually said their college course was easier than Ms. Zaleski’s class! Well done Terry! Thank you for thoroughly preparing our students for college and beyond!”

“Terry was the first teacher I met when I interviewed at Lakes. One reason I decided to take this job is because of her evident passion and joy, for not only teaching, but teaching at Our Lady of the Lakes. Her love and commitment to her students on both an academic and personal level is truly inspiring. I am grateful every day I get to work beside her and learn from her.”

“Terry is always available to her students.”

“Terry is an amazing teacher because she makes time in her day to work with students who struggle because she wants to see all students succeed.”

“Terry is an inspiring and fantastic educator who brings a passion for both Christ and academics to the classroom every day. She will always make time during her busy schedule to give students extra one-on-one instruction or help with any problems that come up. I’ve only been at Lakes for two years, but during that time she has been a role model to me for great teaching!”

“Terry always goes above and beyond for her students and coworkers.”

“Ms. Zaleski teaches the most challenging mathematics courses at OLL, but our students know that they will always feel supported. Ms. Zaleski is also eager to celebrate with students, even for the smallest of wins, like a quiz retake that went better than expected, or an AP class with spectacular attendance and great teaching!” TesTimoniAls

THE ANCHOR uPcoming evenTs

Saturday, August 26

3RD ANNUAL OUR LADY OF THE LAKES CAR SHOW

10AM - 1PM

OUTLAW ALUMNI GAME 1PM

Sunday, Sept. 24

5TH ANNUAL HARRY MILLER CLASSIC

1:30PM SHOT GUN START @ FOUNTAINS GOLF COURSE

Wednesday, October 25

TRUNK OR TREAT

ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, PARISHIONERS, AND FRIENDS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US FOR A HALLOWEEN NIGHT OF FUN!

Friday-Saturday, Nov. 10-11

THANKSGIVING FESTIVAL MIDWAY GAMES, FACE PAINTING, TURKEY AND HAM RAFFLES, DINNERS, SPIRITS, AND MORE!

Saturday, December 9

JINGLE BELL BASH CRAFT SHOW

100+ VENDORS, HANDMADE ITEMS, HOBBY CRAFTS, HOME DECOR, AND MORE

BRUNCH WITH SANTA BREAKFAST, CRAFTS, AND SANTA!

Saturday, March 2

20TH ANNIVERSARY AUCTION

JOIN US FOR A FUN ROARING 20’S PARTY TO CELEBRATE 20 YEARS OF AUCTIONS HERE AT OLL!

Become a Tuition Angel!

OLL believes it is important to provide the opportunity for a Catholic education to all families. Your gift as a Tuition Angel will have an immediate impact on the lives of current and future students. This fund provides the critical dollars necessary to subsidize tuition assistance opportunities that are provided by our parish and extended to families who would otherwise not be able to afford to provide a Catholic education for their children. Become a Tuition Angel today at ollonline.org/tuition-angels or by scanning the QR code here.

ALUMNI UPDATES

Michael Boyea (‘05) & wife Chelsea welcomed son, Theo Maxwell Boyea on November 21, 2022.

CJ Garris (‘10) and Christie Matlosz were married on February 3, 2023 in Saint Johns, Florida.

Garrett Ross (‘13) and Valarie Rajala L‘Anse

Josh Sawicki (‘05) & wife Caroline welcomed daughter, Elaine Margaret Sawicki on October 13, 2022. Also pictured son, Benjamin and daughter, Annabelle.

STAY IN TOUCH

Send us your current email address, update your personal information, and submit an alumni entry at https://ollonline.org/alumni or by scanning the QR code below.

Contact the Alumni Office at: alumni@ollonline.org or 248-623-0340 x 3.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Hannah (Garris) Severson (‘11) & husband Ben welcomed son, Zachary Michael on July 14, 2022. Also pictured, son, Benjamin.

James Soliman (‘05) & wife Joy (Gener ‘06) welcomed daughter, Elle Dea Soliman on March 15, 2023.

Bishop Boyea graduated 8th grade at OLL in 1965. He then attended Sacred Heart Seminary High School and College from 1965-1973. He was ordained in May 1978 while serving as a deacon at St. Benedict Church in Pontiac. After much hard work, dedication, and faith he was named the fifth bishop of Lansing on Feb 27, 2008, by Pope Benedict XVI. Bishop Boyea currently serves as the episcopal moderator of the United States Association of Consecrated Virgins and on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Catholic Conference.

Congratulations Chris Newell (‘91) for his new role as the New York Mets Cyclones Manager. Pictured here are Alumni Dan Webster (‘80) & Alex Webster (‘05) who traveled to support Chris in his new endeavours.

Congratulations Marc Summers (‘98) for being named Intersectional 2 Coach of the Year in the Catholic League for a 2nd time. Marc received his first award in 2019 and was then granted it again this past basketball season for the 20222023 school year after the team had won their league.

Congratulations Dan Webster (‘80) for being named Intersectional Coach of the year in the Catholic League for Baseball. This Year Dan took the team to win their league for the 2023 season and played at Comerica Park in the semi-final game.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

2022 hArry miller clAssic recAP

The 4th Annual Harry Miller Classic Golf Outing on September 25, 2022 was an extreme success, helping to benefit OLL‘s Tuition Angel‘s Scholarship program. With record breaking numbers, a great time was had by everyone. Thank you to the many sponsors who continue to support OLL. We look forward to seeing you again on Sunday, September 24, 2023!

2022 SPONSORS HARRY MILLER CLASSIC SPONSORS

Randy Wise Auto Group

True North Asphalt

Tony Serra Nissan & Grand Blanc Nissan

Marc Summers - PML Bastian Financial

18 HOLES W/ CART, LUNCH, DINNER, RAFFLE & PRIZES

Karen Wise

Knights of Columbus

Waterfall Jewelers

Belle Tire

SOUL Program

Weingartz

All Saints Cemetery

Stump Brothers

Gordon Chiropractic

Mike Sullivan

Star Cutter

Gordon Chiropractic

Help provide an outstanding Catholic education to OLL students by raising money for the Tuition Angel Fund.

FOUNTAINS GOLF & BANQUET CENTER

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2023

1:30PM SHOT GUN START

All current parents, parishioners, alumni, and friends are welcome and encouraged to join us!

SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE

• EVENT SPONSOR: $5,000

• LUNCH SPONSOR: $2,000

• DINNER SPONSOR: $2,000

• BAR SPONSOR: $1,500

• BEER CART SPONSOR: $1,500

• HOLE SPONSOR: $250

• GOLF PACKAGE: $500

*includes one foursome, lunch & dinner

• SINGLE GOLF PACKAGE: $125

*includes golf, lunch & dinner

REGISTER ONLINE TODAY!

OR CONTACT THE ALUMNI OFFICE

248-623-0340 x 3 |

golfouting@ollonline.org

VISIT | ollonline.org/golf

THE ANCHOR high school

Congratulations class of 2023 on earning $3,355,008 in college scholarships!

HS National Honor Society

President: Brennan Wyrembelski

Vice President: William Burton

Treasurer: Dylan Dropps

Secretary: Quinn Robak

Alison Anthony, Joseph Anthony, Kevin Conway, Joseph Davies, Gabby Lampe, Helen Schneider, Alex Wyrembelski, Natalia Bihar, Wujin Kwon, Jack Romkema, Alexis Allan & Grant Summers

AcAdemics

National Technical Honor Society at Oakland Technical

Our Lady of the Lakes partners with Oakland Technical, which allows our juniors and seniors to attend vocational school and learn an employable trade. The programs last one to two years. Most students begin vocational school in their junior year, but it can also be added in their senior year. Vocational school offers an alternative for students who do not plan to attend college or want to begin their college courses toward a career, often creating a career for the future. This year we are proud to announce that 4 students made the Dean’s list and were inducted into the National Technical Honor Soctiety at Oakland Technical. Congratulations Keldon Ko shorek, William Burton, Robert Hoffman, and Helen Schneider!

Red Cross Awards

Every year two OLL senior students participate in The American Red Cross High School Blood Program Leaders. These students organize and host as many as 6 blood drives throughout their final year of high school. For their service, these students qualify for a scholarship worth as much as $3,000. The scholarship amount is dependent on the success of the blood drives and the total amount of blood collected. Congratulations to Kevin Conway & Maddy Rafferty.

WXYZ Brightest and Best

Brightest and Best is WXYZ’s 43-year tradition recognizing the academic achievements of graduating seniors from high schools across metro Detroit. Each year, Channel 7 hosts a special event at WXYZ-TV and invites more than 250 honorees and their families to attend. The recipient receiving this award from our school is: Joseph Anthony.

Morency and Blust Scholarship Recipient

The Morency and Blust Scholarship is in honor of Mickey and Irene Morency and Raymond and Patricia Blust. The Morency and Blust Scholarship has been established to assist a graduating OLL senior in paying a portion of the first year’s tuition at their chosen institution of higher education. This wonderful opportunity has been afforded to us by Mickey, Irene, Raymond, and Patricia who believe in the value of higher education and the prudent investment needed to attain that education. Congratulations Natalia Bihar on being the 2023 recipient!

DAR Good Citizen Award

The Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in United States’ independence. They work to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. In order to be considered for the DAR Good Citizen’s award, the student must exhibit dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. Congratulations to Senior, Alison Anthony.

Certificate of Merit Award

SWE Detroit will award one Certificate of Merit (non-monetary award) per high school to an outstanding senior female who shows exemplary ability in math and science. The Detroit Section of the Society of Women Engineers annually recognizes high school females who have shown exemplary abilities in areas such as leadership, academics, and community activities.Congratulations to OLL Students, Gabrielle (‘23) and Alexis (‘24) who were chosen by our high school staff this year for showing their exemplary ability in math and science.

AThleTics

4 YEAR VARSITY ATHLETES

Sponsor an OLL Student Through Scholarship!

We, here at Our Lady of the Lakes, strive for excellence and affordability and wish to provide an education to all who seek it. We appreciate our families‘ investment in their child's education and wish to make that process as easy and painless as possible. Through our various programs, generous donors, and faith-filled community, we are devoted to finding every opportunity to welcome each student to our school.

If you would like to donate and/or fund one of our Laker High School Scholarships, please reach out to advancement@ollonline.org or scan the QR code to donate directly to OLL's Anchor Annual Fund.

Laker Leadership Scholarship

Laker Legacy Alumni Scholarship

NICK BLOSE

PAUL BROWER

LUKE RONQUILLO

HOLTIE WARE

LUKE CLASON

CAMERON MCCORMICK CHASE CAMPBELL

JOSEPH DAVIES

KELDON KOSHOREK

BELLA ASAI

HAYDEN FULFORD

KEVIN CONWAY MARIA VALDOVINOS

QUINN ROBAK

DYLAN DROPPS

COLLEGE BOUND ATHLETES

Bella Asai

Nick Blose

Keldon Koshorek

Winona State University

Quinn Robak

Rochester University

Concordia University Ann Arbor

Spring Arbor University

Kevin Conway Illinois Institute of Technology

The Laker Way

Our Lady of the Lakes Football has gone through a lot of trials and tribulations in the last four years. With juggling harsh restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic, and going through three different head coaches in such a short timespan; the team has been through a lot. Starting in the 2022 season, Coach Snarey stepped in to make changes for the better. He resurrected a lot of classic Laker traditions and helped to mold a stronger team culture.

“A lot was different about the offense,” Coach Schaller said in an interview, “[we] may have been slow out of the gate but I knew that we would come together and trust, we were much more aggressive so we could let our boys go to work.”

The boys put a lot of work in during the offseason to prepare both physically and mentally. Starting in July, the boys woke up bright and early and got to work building techniques and memorizing plays. This year, Coach Snarey put a lot of emphasis on building a strong team culture. The first weeks of practice were run entirely by the team captains, in order to build a sense of brotherhood.

When asked about the purpose of this, Snarey said, “The reason the captains ran the first week of practice is because I wanted them to take control of this team and lead them to victory on and off the field as well in the classroom.”

Snarey also organized volunteer days for the team, where the boys got their hands dirty pulling weeds and laying down mulch to help beautify the campus.“

The volunteer work was to give back to the community because they love to give to us, they come to our games to support us and even the moms would prepare us dinner when they didn’t have to.”

This year, Coach Snarey established awards to honor the legacy of two legendary Laker coaches, Coach Boyd and Coach Mullins. The two dedicated many years to the team and have poured countless hours into molding young men into better people both on and off the field. First, the Mike Boyd award, which honors a four-year senior on the team who exemplified leadership, academics, and a strong work ethic.

Next, the Lonnie Mullins award, awarded to a freshman who is growing as a leader both on the field and in the classroom. Next, our new head coach Christopher Snarey, came in for the seniors last season and wanted to make a change and we could all see it in his face. He made changes to the team that made football exciting and fun for everyone. These changes made a difference as more and more people kept coming back to play this amazing sport. One tradition brought back to the team was waking up early for Church each Sunday. The team would wake up early for Mass followed by a team breakfast to review the game plan. This tradition helped to further bind the team to God both on the field and in Church.

Coach Snarey gave a lot back to the team by assembling a new coaching staff. The traditions he was able to bring back from his high school days on the team show how much he looked to follow in Coach Boyd’s footsteps and allowed the team to come together as a family. With Coach Snarey leading the team the future of Laker’s football looks bright.

“This team [formed] a special bond with their brothers and with the coaches on and off the field,” Coach Snarey continued, “You could definitely see it in the way they would always lift each other up in ways the coaches really couldn’t, it was amazing to see and I’m excited for building [the team] moving forward.”

-SENIORS Liam Stotz & Luke Clason

Letter from the Class President

“Once a Laker always a laker.” As a third generation Laker this phrase holds a special place in my heart but as an outsider looking in this phrase probably wouldn’t resonate with you the same way it resonates with me or the Lakes community. Being a Laker doesn’t mean you are an alumni or have kids currently enrolled, being a laker means you’re a friendly, selfless, loving Christian who would drop anything in a heartbeat if it meant it would help the community. Growing up I have always been surrounded by lakers and the stories of all the amazing people my family met along the way. After you spend time around the school and the people you realize how everyone knows everyone, everyone is family and one thing we all know is that family will always help family.

Going to a small catholic school allowed me to find out who I was as a person and gave me opportunities I wouldn’t have been able to have anywhere else. I came from a public school where I was one of 50, I was just a number in a class. When I came to Lakes I was much more, I felt at home, safe, and most importantly seen and prioritized. Not only did I gain opportunities in the classroom, but I also gained many on the field or court. Starting off I wasn’t much of an athlete and was very shy, after a few seasons at Lakes in many different sports I grew confident and now I can proudly say I am a collegiate athlete. Lakes didn’t just help me excel athletically and academically, but it also shaped me into the person that I am today. Lakes puts a big emphasis on service, putting the bettering of others before yourself. This emphasis taught me how to be thankful, considerate, and understanding, which are things more useful in life than any number of degrees or achievements. With only a few months left of being a student at Lakes I can honestly say that going to a small school is not a disadvantage but is full heartedly an advantage. I didn’t just make any friendships here I met my family, a family I will stay in touch with forever. Lakes is and always will be the best part of my life and I can confidently say I will always be a part of this community no matter where I am in life. I could never thank Lakes and the community enough; without this school and people I would not be where I am.

-Bella Asai, Senior Class President

Life Skills Class Makes a Come Back

“Our students spend hours being prepared academically for their careers past high school but don’t know how to do taxes, cook healthy meals, budget money, or apply for a job. I personally lacked a lot of these skills after high school, and I want to help our students develop these skills.”

- Mr. Petersen

Life Remodeled

Life Remodeled is a 6 day project (October 3-8) of which Our Lady of the Lakes High School students and staff had the privilege of volunteering on Wednesday, October 5th. 6,000 volunteers signed up to participate in this life changing project. Students were transported by bus to the former Cooley High School to begin serving in Detroit. Students were assigned to groups of 8-10 with 2 teachers leading each group. We had the privilege of Fr. Bob joining us. He helped with the clean up, and directed students to do the same.

Work varied from sweeping, removing debris and brush, lawn mowing, delivering mums and much more. Our students also loaded the equipment onto the semi trailers when our assignment was completed. Only abandoned buildings or homes were targeted for blight removal. Our volunteer work was totally outdoors. In one of our assigned streets, you could not see any part of the sidewalk or fire hydrant. After hours of mowing, trimming, and blight removal, the sidewalk was again made visible. Many folks in the neighborhood thanked the volunteers for their outreach and actually pitched in to help. Cars stopped and people inquired how they could lend a hand. The block of Steel and Appoline Streets were transformed. As you looked back on the block, you could see piles of garbage bags, yard waste, tree and vine cuttings, and piles of tires. The work accomplished was astonishing. I am proud of the Christian Service our students provided and they did it with a happy heart.

-Kathy Lewis, Campus Minister

OLL Welcomes Sal Malek

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Sal Malek as the new Athletic Director of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic High School! With an outstanding record and an impressive career in CHSL athletics, Sal brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our school community. Sal Malek is a distinguished member of the Detroit Catholic High School League Hall of Fame, a testament to his remarkable contributions to high school athletics. With over 30 years of experience, Sal has demonstrated his dedication and passion for nurturing student-athletes both on and off the field.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the staff at Our Lady of the Lakes and to build upon the strong traditions of faith, community and excellence here”, said Malek. “ I look forward to working together to serve our student-athletes to help them grow into joyful disciples.”

Prior to joining Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic High School, Sal served as the Athletic Director for Ladywood High School and the Academy of the Sacred Heart for over two decades. Most recently he has worked with UofD Jesuit and Marian High Schools. His leadership and commitment have led to numerous successes and accolades for the schools he has been associated with.

Malek will be replacing Mr. Kullman as athletic director, who will in addition to his other existing duties, be moving into a newly created role focused on school operations and growth. “I could not be more excited to welcome Mr. Malek to Our Lady of the Lakes”, Kullman said. “There is no question that bringing his passion for Catholic school athletics to OLL is a huge win for us. His expertise, strategic vision, and commitment to the holistic development of studentathletes will undoubtedly elevate our sports program to new heights. We have big ideas and an exciting vision for the future. Mr. Malek will be a big part of that and we cannot wait to get started.”

We extend a warm welcome to Sal Malek and look forward to the positive impact he will have on our student-athletes, coaches, and the entire Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School community. Please join us in congratulating Sal on this well-deserved appointment and in wishing him continued success in his new role!

OF ATHLETICS

elemenTAry

Elementary Students Win Oakland County‘s #NoHaz Contest

“Earlier this year, #OaklandCounty reached out to local elementary schools asking for student artwork to help promote the #NoHaz program and the safe disposal of #HouseholdHazardousWaste. Dozens of fourth and fifth graders answered the call with creative and thought-provoking posters.”

Congratulations Reagan McGowan and Blake Macka for becoming finalists in this year’s contest. Reagan ended up placing 2nd overall! Thank you to all of our students who participated.

Become an OLL Sponsor?

We provide many ways for our community to support Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School. One way we help to bridge the gap between what tuition covers and actual school costs is due to our generous sponsors. If you would like to become an OLL Sponsor for Athletics (Laker Anchor, Laker Platinum, Laker Gold, Patron Sponsor) or any of our Advancement Events, including, but not limited to, Golf Outing, Auction, Tuition Angels Race, Jingle Bell Bash Craft Show & Thanksgiving Festival, please reach out to advancement@ollonline.org or call 248-623-0340 x 3.

KIDS SPEAK OUT

Our 4th, 5th, and 6th graders that competed in the final round for The Breakfast Optimist Club of Waterford Township‘s Kids Speak Out oratorical contest all placed! This is an annual contest providing the opportunity to sharpen their speech writing and public speaking skills. All of the students presented to their classes and the top 3 students from each class were chosen by their teachers to move on to the next level. Each student was awarded with scholarship funds that will be given to them upon graduation. Congratulations students! We are so proud of you.

Optimist Club

Oratorical Contest Results

1st place

2nd place

3rd place

4th place

Kara Branson (4th grade)

Brady Robak (5th grade)

Eloise Lafferty (5th grade)

Kaylen Webster (4th grade)

All Students That Competed:

Kara Branson

Kaylen Webster

Bennett Dawson

Morgan McGowan

Brady Robak

Eloise Lafferty

Brynn McCarthy

Tyler Holaly

Lakers Instructional League Grows

This year OLL rolled out phase 2 of our (LIL) Lakers Instructional League. With the help of volunteer parents and staff we were able to expand our offerings beyond Pre-K Sports camp and begin offering K-4 instructional leagues including cheerleading, run club, track, soccer, flag football, basketball, and coach pitch.

L.I.L. is a program designed to engage students in our school community in foundational athletic principles. Its purpose is two-fold. First, we wish to provide an opportunity for our students and families to engage in activities that they would otherwise be doing outside of our community. Second, we wish to support our students with what we believe are positive and productive lessons in fundamentals, teamwork and sportsmanship.

We have received such positive feedback on our leagues this year and are excited to continue to grow our Laker communities knowledge of sports helping to shape them for the future.

Donor Provides Sensory Room to Elementary

This school year we have been so blessed to provide our elementary students with a sensory motor room. Our sensory motor room is a controlled and intentionally created space that provides multi-sensory resources to support a student’s sensory needs that help enable them to engage in learning. It was created to be a safe space to relax, calm down, focus or to encourage the development of various skills. It was through the generous donation of an anonymous donor that allowed us to offer this very special room to all of our students.

“We have learned that when students spend time in a sensory room, it helps them to improve their visual, auditory and tactile processing, as well as fine and gross motor skills. It provides a sense of calm and comfort for the students. The sensory room helps children learn to self-regulate their behaviors, which ultimately improves focus.”

-Mrs. Carrico - Resource Room

donors & suPPorTers

2022-2023 DONORS AND SUPPORTERS

Laker Elite Gold Level ($25,000 +)

Al Serra Foundation

Maria Molnar

Karen Ostdiek

The Luchi Family -SOUL

The Whitehurst Family - TrueNorth Asphalt

Laker Elite Blue Level ($10,000 +)

Jody Motley

The Metrose Family

Laker Elite Gray Level ($5,000 +)

Anonymous Donor

Anonymous Donor

Anonymous Donor

Grand Blanc Nisan

Tony Serra Highland

Laker Elite White Level ($2,500 +)

Bastian Financial

Rick and Nichole Campbell

Lonnie Olson

Bruce and Sandy Rule

Laker Elite Black Level ($1,000 +)

Alliance Catholic Credit Union

Marce Brown

The Lafferty Family - Wee Friends

Joann Townsend

LaFontaine Automotive

JP Morgan Private Bank

Knights of Columbus - Waterford Chapter

Quest Realty

Maggie Sans

Waterfall Jewelers

Fountains GC

Clarkston Dental

Patrick Miles

Audrey & Billy Graham

The Summers Family - Priorty Mortgage Lending

Laker Donors

Colin & Stephanie Adler

Katie Adler

Kitty Adler

The Allan Family

Kenny Allen

The Allen Family

David Alt

Kevin Altenburg

The Altenburg Family

The Amaro Family

The Anthony III Family

The Arteaga Family

Mary Anne Bagley

Ryan Ball

Tom Balog

The Barber Family

Danny Bartels

The Barthel Family

Andrew & Lindsay Bastian

Jessy & Ben Bastian

The Baumann Family

The Bellomo Family

The Berney Family

The Bihar Family

George Blaha

The Blaine Family

The Bock Family

The Bolanos Family

The Bonnell Family

The Boyer Family

The Branson Family

The Brikho Family

Baron & Ivette Brown

Andy & Christi Brown

The Broxterman Family

Bill Burton

The Cameron Family

The Camilleri Family

The Carrico Family

Patrick Casey

David Ciampaola

Jacqueline Ciolek

The Clason Family

Paul Clemo

Anthony Clevio

The Colvin Family

The Comerford Family

James Conway

The Cottrell Family

The Dannewitz Family

Steven Davanzo

The Davies Family

The Dawson Family

The Degen Family

The Deming Family

The Derkos Family

Jamie DiDio

The Diffenderffer Family

Jim DiMarco

The Dluzynski Family

The Dobias Family

The Dolzynski Family

Jeff Dropps

Matt Dropps

Steve Dunaway

The Edwards Family

Patrick Elliot

The Elston Family

The Eshkanian Family

The Farkas Family

The Ferris Family

The Ferro Family

The Fulford Family

The Gadecki Family

The Gauthier Family

Tom Giampaola

The Gillispie Family

Andy Goff

The Graham Family

Nicolette Grannis

James Greig

Miranda & Anthony Grochowski

Bill Groves

The Halyckyj Family

Brendan Harrington

The Harris Family

Jill Haug

The Fulford Family

Clarence Head

Debbie Head

Eric Haener

Larry Hearn

Ray Hearn

The Helsom Family

The Herder Family

Marissa Hernandez

Tony Hernandez

Justin Herr

The Herrington Family

The Heslip Family

The Holaly Family

The Horaney Family

The Humphrey Family

The Hurren Family

The Ison Family

The Jamieson Family

The Jock Family

The Johnson-Green Family

The Kattola Family

Danielle Kazyak

The Kelco Family

Janet Kelley

The Kelly Family

The Kenny Family

K of C Pope John

XXIII Council #5436

Jerry Kopec

Rick Kopec

Kevin Koshorek

The Kosti Family

The Kowaczyk Family

The Kowalski Family

The Krajenke Family

The Kucmierz Family

Jared & Lisa Kullman

Nancy & Tom Kullman

Ron Labo

Kelly Lafnear

The Lampe Family

Steve Lancaster

Katie Larsen

The Lawson Family

The Leddy Family

The Long Family

The Lund Family

The Luptowski Family

The Macka Family

Chris Males

The Mamola-Felice Family

Mark Marion

The Martínez Family

The Matthews Family

Tim McCarthy

The McGowan Family

Dianne McMillan

Bob Meacham

The Mecoli Family

Dave Melkonian

Scott Melkonian

Marc Mercer

Chris Mersino

The Metrose Family

Matt Meyers

Adam Miller

The Miller Family

Brian Mirzoian

Jessica Mitchell

The Mojica Family

The Monohon Family

The Monroe Family

Joe Montana

Steve Morey

The Morrison Family

The Motala Family

The Motley Family

Steve Murdock

The Mussen Family

Heidi & Angelo Newby

The Newell Family

The Nickels Family

The Nienhaus Family

Nick & Dayna Niewolak

Lindsay Noble

The O‘Donnell Family

Sandra Osborn

The Panin Family

The Papke Family

Mike Paramo

Larry Paulus

The Percival Family

Ken Pfahl

The Powers Family

Dave Przygoda

The Pusta Family

The Radic Family

The Ray Family

The Redburn Family

The Reisner Family

The Remsing Family

The Renzo Family

Phil Reppuhn

The Robak Family

The Rocquemore Family

Karen Romkema

The Rose Family

The Rothermel Family

The Rotole Family

The Rusch Family

Stephanie Ryeson

The Rolsch - Sadek Family

The Sawicki Family

Ed Schedlbower

The Schmidt Family

The Schneider Family

donors & suPPorTers

2022-2023 DONORS AND SUPPORTERS

Kurt Schulte

Kyle Selahowski

The Sesti Family

Bob Skandalaris

Theresa Smith

The Stanbury Family

Mary Stanik

Marty Stenquist

John & Kim Stolarski

LJ & Alaina Stolarski

Eric Straw

The Strelchuk Family

The Sumner Family

Kris Tennyson

The Torosian Family

The Tota Family

Carl Uberti

Mark Uberti

The Vercauteren Family

Sandi Walters

The Ware Family

Chris & Michelle Webster

Darlene Weisserman

The Whalen Family

David White

The Whitehurst Family

The Williamson Family

Lucy & Jeff Wise

Randy & Kathy Wise

The Wright Family

The Wright Family

The Wyrembelski Family

The Zednik Family

Kevin Zezula

Michael Zubalik

William Zurbriggen

Laker Event Donor

5th Tavern

ACE Hardware - Clarkston

Airport Road Mini Storage

Al Serra Chevrolet

Alex‘s Gourmet Market

All Saints Cemetery

Ann Arbor Hands On Museum

Art & Jakes

Bagley & Langan

Bavarian Belle Riverboat

Belle Tire

Belle Tire Distributors

Bellezza Salon

Bonobo Winery

Brioni‘s Cafe & Deli

Buffalo Wild Wings - Waterford

Caberfae Peaks

Camp Bow Wow

Capital City Skydiving

Card My Yard - Clarkston

Carl‘s Golf Land

Chateau Chantal

Cherry Hill North Bowling Alley

Clarkston News

Core Connection Pilates

Cranbrook Institute of Science

Crispellis

Crunch Fitness

Crystal Downs

Davison & Associates

Deb Keith Designs

Detroit City Sports

Detroit Red Wings

Dick‘s Sporting Goods

Downey Potato Chips

Dunhams

Emagine Theaters

Essence on Main

Famiglia Wealth

FireKeepers Casino Hotel

Float Clarkston

Fratarcangeli Wealth Management

Garrat & Bachand, P.C.

Bloomfield Hills Law Firm

GFS - Gordon Food Service

Glow Rhino

Go Comedy! Improv Theater

Goldfish Swim School

Gordon Chiropractic

Gordon Chiropractic

Grand Rapids Public Museum

Great Lakes ACE Hardware

Great Lakes Arcades

Great Lakes Loons

Green Bay Packers

HandleBar Detroit

Impression 5 Science Center

Intuitively Strong - Christi Brown

Iron City Gym

Jack‘s Roadside BBQ

K1 Speed

Karen Wise

Kevin Zezula - Ameriprise Financials

Kings Island

Knights of Columbus

Lakeland Ice Arena

Leo‘s Coney Island

Lourdes Senior Center

Luca + Danni

Mackinac Island State Parks

Commission

Mark Ridley‘s Comedy Castle

Meijer Gardens

Mel‘s Grille

Michigan Awesome

Michigan Church Supply

Michigan Outdoor Adventure Center

Mike Sullivan

MJR Digital Cinemas

My New Favorite Thing

Nichols Snowboarding

Night Fision

Oakhurst

Oakland County Parks

Oakland Yard Athletics

Ollie‘s Bargain Outlet

One Night Stans

Orchard Primary Care

Oriental Trading Company

Parker‘s Hilltop Brewery

Peppa Pig World of Play

Pet Supplies Plus

Pete‘s Oven Bakery

Pine Knob Banquets & Golf Course

Pine Knob Pizzeria & Wine Shop

PKSA Karate - Clarkston

Powers Pottery

Pristine Auction House

Pro Sports Zone

Puckmasters

Puppy Pirates

Qdoba - Clarkston

Randy Wise Auto

Reed Foster Staffing Solutions

Roberts Restaurant Group

Rolladium

Rosewater Aestetics

THE ANCHOR

Roxana‘s Dance Expressions

Roxana‘s Dance Expressions

Schellige Scaes Naturals

Schwartz and Co. Investment Advisors

Simply Natural Health Foods

Sip N‘ Sail Cruises

Skull Island

Soggy Doggie

SOUL

SPINS Bowl - Waterford/Century Bowl

Spring Meadow Country Club

Square One

Star Cutter

Star Line Ferry

Stars and Stripes Athletic Center

Stephanie Miller Real Estate

Strelchuk

Stump Brothers

Sweet T‘s Coffee & Ice Cream

Tastefully Simple Basket

Tenutas

The Dinner Detective - Troy, MI

The Fed

The Fed Community

The Finch

The Gateway

Tolenas Winery

Tolenas Winery

Top Golf Auburn Hills

Torosian

Tota

TraumaDog Woodworking

Troy Escape

Two Men and a Truck

United Shores Professional Baseball League

Van Conway & Partners

Van Horn Concrete

Vertical Drop

V-Nails in Waterfall Plaza

Walter T‘s Grooming Company

Weingartz

West Michigan Whitecaps

Witty Grin Photo Booths

Zap Zone

Support Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School

The Laker community has always been strong, defined by its deeply rooted faith and family values, but we are counting on you now more than ever. Giving has never been easier or more important. You can join in support of this community effort by making a donation at ollonline.org/support-our-school or by scanning the QR code here.