Mercy Messenger
Issue 11~ Sunday November 3rd, 2024
Through the intercession of Our Lady of Mercy, we commit ourselves to living the Good News of Jesus through Works of Mercy. Our rigorous academic program unleashes creative energy for the pursuit of knowledge and nurtures a hope-filled vision for Catholic leadership. We live out our relationship with God by respecting the dignity of others and providing service to the global community that fosters unity, understanding, and compassion.
Beginning Prayer
O Lord God, by the Precious Blood which Jesus, Your divine Son, shed upon the Cross this day, deliver the souls in Purgatory, particularly those souls nearest to me and for whom I should pray, that they may come quickly into Your glory to praise and bless You forever. Amen. Eternal rest give to them, O Lord.
Principal Update
Sunday November 3rd, 2024
Good morning,
I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween and a good day off on Friday. I know the students had fun playing Halloween Bingo with their prayer partners and had fun during their classroom parties. I hope everyone enjoyed the day off on Friday for All Saints Day. We have a busy week ahead. Our school auction is this Saturday night 11/9. The auction committee is hard at work finishing up last minute tasks and getting ready to decorate the gym this week. I know it will be an amazing night. I would like to thank everyone who has helped with the auction this year, but especially our two amazing co-chairs, Mrs. Angela Creed and Mrs. Maggie Insogna. Their time and effort has been a true gift to OLM. I would like to congratulate and wish good luck to our 7th grade OLM students from St. Alphonsus and St. Catherine's who will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation this week. Our students from St. Anthony's will be receiving their Confirmation later in the month of November. I hope everyone has a great week ahead and I hope to see many of you at the auction on Saturday night. Please reach out with any questions or concerns. Thank you.
In Mercy,
Bill Delaney
Safe Touch Lessons (Week of 11/11)
During the week of 11/11 the Archdiocese of Philadelphia safe touch lessons will be taught by your child's religion teacher. Attached is a video and the lessons that will be taught for each grade. If you choose for your child not to be taught these lessons please sign and return the opt out form that is also attached below before Monday 11/11. You are only signing the form if you do not want your child to be taught the lesson. If you have any questions please let me know. Thank you.
Winter Uniforms Start 11/4
Winter Uniforms begin November 4th! If you are in need of any -the uniform exchange will be available on the stage in the gym during conferences. If you cannot find something there please contact Julie Bebey - jbebey@olmrcs.com**
Robotics Program Coming to OLM
On Wednesday October 30th our technology teacher Mrs. Schmalbach and our middle school science teacher Dr. Garcia went to CTDI in West Chester and were trained on how to code and use certain robotics. The Foundation for Catholic Education has granted OLM with two robotic arms, two mini robots and other coding and technology equipment along with the training for our teachers. This program will be used in technology classes and in the middle school science classes. We are very grateful to the Foundation of Catholic Education for this generous donation.
Reminders
- Please remember to fill out all the school forms that are on FACTS.
- If you are changing the way your child is going home please call the main office before 1pm.
- If your child is absent from school please email attendance@olmrcs.com.
- Make sure to have all your clearances up to date if you are planning on volunteering in the school or with any clubs.
From the Nurse's Office
Please remember that your child needs to be 24 hours fever free and vomit free without medicine before returning to school. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school community healthy.
Important November Dates
11/4- Winter uniforms begin.
11/7- St. Alphonsus Confirmation.
11/8- 9 am Mass
11/9- St. Catherine's Confirmation.
11/9- OLM Auction.
11/12-11/14- Lollipop sale (8th grade fundraiser).
Update from Mrs. Caroline Maher- Assistant Principal
Mr. Delaney and I would like the parents/guardians of our middle school students to be aware that there is a central location where you can access your child’s homework. Please determine your child’s team- A, B, C, D, E, or F, and click on the grade and the team. It will take you to the homework posted by your child’s teachers.
Thank you.
Mrs. Maher
Looking for a used bookcase
The library is thriving this year with so many young readers and so many generous book donations, so much so that we are running out of space to house all of the new books. We are hoping that one of our families has an old bookcase no longer useful in their own house. The dimensions would need to be no greater than 20"wide by 40"high. Thank you for considering your donation.
Band for Today
OLM will begin to offer instrumental lessons from Band for Today beginning in the fall for grades 4-8th grade. These lessons will take place during the school day. Piano lessons will continue to be offered by Mr. Ferraro. Partial scholarships may be available. Lessons have just started. You can still sign up if interested. Thank you. Please visit the bandfortoday.com website for more information.
Counselor's Corner
This week Mrs. Parkhill started bully prevention lessons with Middle School students. It is beneficial to have common language or a definition of bullying so that students are aware of when it is happening and can make the decision to help stop it. Students discussed the definition of bullying and where it happens most often. A simple definition of bullying is unwanted, harmful behavior that is likely to be repeated, coming from someone who has more power. We used the Power, Pain, Pattern acronym to help remember the three components. There needs to be an imbalance of power (size, age, ability), it has to inflict pain (physical, emotional, social) and it needs to be a pattern (repeated). It is important to realize that behavior can be mean or inappropriate without being defined as bullying. Bullying is an intentional behavior that causes harm.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SKI & BOARD CLUB:
We need parent volunteers to help with Ski & Board Club Monday Pretzels. One person is asked to pick up pretzels at 8 am at the Philly Pretzel Factory Horsham, deliver them to the school, and help sort and distribute them. We need another parent to meet at the school at 8:15 am and help sort/distribute them. Please use the SignUp Genius link to volunteer for a day or two. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4DA9A62CA2FD0-51172154-2024#/
SHOP LOCAL! SELL YOUR SMALL BUSINESS:
Do you, someone in your family, or a friend have a small local business? Feel free to complete the form so we can share these businesses with the OLM community. We like to feature these businesses as the holiday season approaches. https://tinyurl.com/OLMsmallbiz24
MABEL’S LABELS:
Mabel's Labels will donate 20% of all purchase totals made through our storefront! Visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and select Our Lady of Mercy Regional Catholic School (Maple Glen). All coupon codes and promos are valid through our storefront and shipping is always free!
MINTED
This holiday season, we’ve partnered with Minted where you can save 20% and Minted donates back 15% to the school. Shop holiday cards and gifts on minted.com/holiday and use our promo code: FUNDRAISEMERCYREGIONAL.
Supporting Home & School
- Interested in joining the 2024-2025 HSA?
- We welcome you to check out our website, www.olmhsa.wixsite.com/2021, or follow and interact with us on social media, FB @olmhsa or Instagram @olmhsa.
Welcome back to OLM!!
At OLM the students are our top priority and we are excited to serve your child through our Lunch program. In this letter you will find some important information about the program, what it is included in every meal and payment options.
OLM Lunch Program and Meal Plan:
Full lunch: $5.00 and includes:
- Main Entree (two different options every day)
- Side Dish
- 2 fruits AND 2 veggies
- 1 drink (milk, small water bottle or 100% juice)
Menus are posted in the school website under the "Lunch Program" tab and are included in the school's communication that is sent home at the beginning of each month. In addition to the two main dishes daily options, we offer seven alternate lunch choices on a daily basis. Snacks, bottled drinks and A la Carte items are not included in the meal plan, but they are available to be purchased every day and can be bought with or without buying the meal.
As in past years, we will continue to offer Fireside (boneless wings) and Chick Fil A once a month. A Google form will be posted in the school communication so you can register for these lunches. Although payment is not necessary at the time of ordering, we kindly ask that you make sure that your account has enough balance to cover such lunches, otherwise your orders won't be processed.
This year we are merging the lunch program with our FACTS system. As in the past EVERY STUDENT is provided with a NEW PIN number. This PIN number can be found in your FACTS Family Page: All you have to do is select your child from the middle drop down menu and find his/her 5 digit number -on the left hand of the screen- labeled ID Number, system. We kindly ask that you help your child memorize his/her number as this will help us speed up the check out process.
Lunch FAMILY accounts can be funded through your financial link in the FACTS family portal.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at esolanodeguerra@olmrcs.com
Looking forward to serving your kid!!
Mrs. Eugenia Solano-DeGuerra
OLM Cafe Food Service Director/CARES Director
BEGINNING PIANO LESSONS AT OLM!!
Payment: Every 4 lessons in the amount of $100.
Lessons will be scheduled upon receipt of first payment.
Payments may be made through PayPal. FJFJR@comcast.net
Or Venmo at….. @Frank-Ferraro-12
Lesson details:
Private lessons, 30 minutes each, once per week, during school hours.
Teachers will be contacted regarding lesson times. Parents will be informed of their child’s lesson time.
We will begin lessons in October!!
Please purchase this piano book: Alfred's Basic Piano Library Lesson Book, Bk 1A: Book & CD
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0739024833/ref=cm_sw_r_em_api_c_u6L.xbJENWRFZ
Many Blessings,
Frank Ferraro
Piano Instructor
Car Line Procedures
Morning Car Line: For everyone's safety please do not park your car and walk your child over in the morning. Please stay in the car line and drop your child off on the sidewalk. Thank you for your cooperation.
To keep our students safe and the car line moving in the afternoon, please:
- Do not get out of your cars. A faculty member will help your child get into the car.
- DO NOT PASS cars in front of you as there may be children getting into their cars on the driver's side. Please be patient and stay in line as you exit the school property, following the car in front of you.
- Do not stop in front of your child. Pull up as far as you can (up to the gym doors) to allow the most cars to load at one time. Please pull right up to the car in front of you.
- Do not speed. The speed limit is 10 MPH while driving on any part of the school property. Please be mindful of your speed.
- Do not use your cell phone while driving in the parking lot.
- WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE PUT A SIGN IN YOUR PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDOW IDENTIFYING YOUR LAST NAME. This will help us find your child(ren) faster.
- If you need to buckle your child into their car seat, please do so in the circle near the exit of the property.
Uniform Policy
ALL uniform rules will be enforced. Please review the general uniform rules that are listed below and are in the student handbook.
● Girls’ kilts must be no shorter than two inches above the knee. After a second warning, they must wear navy blue tights or school-issued pants until the skirt/kilt is at the appropriate length.
● All students must wear OLM uniform pieces with logos. They must be purchased from one of our two approved vendors: Flynn & O’Hara or Lands’ End.
● All formal and gym uniforms must be purchased from one of our two approved vendors: Flynn & O’Hara or Lands’ End.
● NO LOGOS, Nike Elite sports socks, or the like are permitted with the school uniform except on gym days.
● Sneakers must be worn on gym days, even on a dress-down day.
● Girls may wear post-earrings or small hoops.
● Belts must be worn with pants or shorts by both boys and girls.
● Only the neckline of a plain white undershirt may be visible under the shirt.
Birthdays this week
11/4
Peyton Peterson
11/6
Elijah Finore
Mr. Delaney
11/8
Ethan Pomeroy
Isabel Gomes
11/9
Brynn Hamersky
Molly Maier
Altar Servers
Tuesday 11/5
Nathaniel Moffett
Ryan Romano
Wednesday 11/6
Steve Killinchi
Drew Barton
Thursday 11/7
Gavin Morris
Simon Schmalbach
Friday 11/8 (School Mass)
Victoria Heath
Erin Proulx
Bridget Proulx