Mercy Messenger

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.

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Sunday October 13th, 2024

Good morning,

As I stated at the beginning of October this month is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. In honor of this we will go to church on Tuesday October 22nd at 2pm and perform a Living Rosary. We will be praying to the Blessed Mother for all the special intentions that we may have. All are welcome to join us in prayer at 2pm. A special thank you to Mrs. Womelsdorf and Mrs. DiCarne for organizing this special prayer service.

I will be out of the school building from 10/15-10/18 at an Archdiocese of Philadelphia principals conference. I will still be checking and answering emails, however if you have an immediate need or concern please contact our Assistant Principal Mrs. Caroline Maher at cmaher@olmrcs.com. I hope everyone has a great upcoming week. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns.

In Mercy,

Bill Delaney

We will be practicing our mandated lock down drill on Monday 10/21 at 9:30am. Teachers will review the process with the students ahead of time. The drill should only last 5-10 minutes. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out. Thank you.

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.

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.

10/18- Middle School Hayride.

10/18- Dress Down Day ($2 Ski Club).

10/22- Living Rosary in Church (2pm).

10/23- School Pictures.

10/24- Parent/Teacher Conferences (3-6pm).

10/25- Parent/Teacher Conferences 8am-12pm. (No school for students).

10/27- Fall Open House (11am-1pm).

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

https://sites.google.com/olmrcs.com/middleschoolhomework

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.

Safe2Say is an easy way to let someone know there is a problem and get help from an adult to handle it. During the Middle School Safe2Say lessons students will learn the three steps that would help keep your friends and classmates safe:

1. Recognize the warning signs

2. Act Immediately, take it seriously

3. Say Something

A warning sign is when someone says or does something that shows a plan to harm themselves or others. Examples of warning signs include obsession with weapons, talking about hurting/attacking others, talking about wanting to die or making threats.

After warning signs, students should act immediately and take the threat seriously.

Finally, a student can “say something” to a trusted adult (at school or home), make a Safe2Say report or call 911. There are options depending on the severity of the concern and comfort level. If warranted, submitting a tip to Safe2Say is easy. There is an app, you can text, call or submit on-line. Below is the information to help guide you:

Download Safe2Say app

Text S2SS to 738477

Call 1-844-SAF2SAY or 1-844-723-2729

Safe2SAYPA.org

We encourage our students to identify trusted adults and act immediately when warning signs appear. Teachers, counselors and the principal are always available to talk and guide your student through this process.

We are 11 days out from our annual OLM Middle School Haunted Hayride and Corn Walk of Horror at Winding Brook Farm in Warrington, PA, on Friday, October 18, from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. All payments were due on Monday, September 30th . More information about the events can be found on www.windingbrookfarm.com or by emailing OLM parent, Erin Ellis at ekathleenellis@gmail.com. More information will be sent via email to those who signed up.

Below is a list of fall events for you to get involved in. These events and clubs are open to 6th, 7th, & 8th grade.

• Ski & Snowboard Club Interest Survey
• For those who completed the survey, the Ski & Board Club chair, Gwynn Amoroso, will be reaching out shortly with the next step for registration. We can’t wait to see you guys on the slopes!

• 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#/

Everyone’s favorite fall event, Trunk or Treat, will take place on Friday, October 25th from 6-7:30 (setup 5:30PM). More detailed information and the link to register can be found below. Start brainstorming what your car will be! tinyurl.com/TrunkOLM24

Thank you to the entire OLM community for your generous monetary donation and school supplies. The outpouring love for the SFA community was so amazing.

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

BTFE is digital! Visit www.boxtops4education.com today to get the app and start earning for OLM -- use the referral code XXJZ0B0U when you sign up to earn a minimum of 20 Bonus Box Tops when you scan your first receipt! September 18th kicks off National Box Tops Week so be on the lookout for additional info regarding opportunities to earn bonus box tops! More detailed instructions and special NBTW offers will be posted in our Instagram stories and highlights @olmhsa.

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!

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.

• Interested in joining the 2024-2025 HSA?

• Want to be more involved with events at school. Feel free to complete the interest form: tinyurl.com/2425OLMVolCalendar. As the event becomes closer we will pass your information to the chair of the event. We welcome you to follow and interact with us on social media, FB @olmhsa or Instagram @olmhsa.
• 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

OLM is so excited to be performing Beauty and the Beast JR. in May 2025! Details and audition information (as applicable) can be found on the OLM website or by visiting: www.olmrcs.com/musical-2024/

DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR THE SHOW Has Been Extended To THIS FRIDAY 10/18
Commitment contracts and dance audition videos for our 4th-8th grade students who are auditioning for a role are also due next Friday 10/18. Don’t delay! Sign up today!
Click here: tinyurl.com/OLMMusicalReg25

BEAUTY & THE BEAST JR. - GET INVOLVED OR SUPPORT THE OLM MUSICAL
OLM is so excited to be performing Beauty and the Beast JR. in May 2025! Details and audition information (as applicable) can be found on the OLM website or by clicking the link below.
Click here: olmrcs.com/musical-2024/

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

band@olmrcs.com

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.

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.

10/15

Quinn Miller

Evelyn Steingall

Penny Harkins

10/18

Mrs. Pankiv

Mrs. Womelsdorf

Alexander Chiriaev

Madelyn Gallagher

Sydney Erb

Tuesday 10/15

James McGeehan

Andrew McGeehan

Wednesday 10/16

Annaliese Amoroso

Ryan Welsh

Thursday 10/17

Luke Norman

James Norman

Friday 10/18

Seamus Graham

Maeve Graham