Mercy Messenger
Issue 9~ Sunday, October 20th, 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
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.
Principal Update
Sunday October 20th, 2024
Good morning,
It is hard to believe that we are almost half way through the first trimester of the school year. During your conferences this upcoming week you will be receiving your child's progress report. Your child's teacher will be reviewing this with you during your conference. I will be in the main office during conferences. Feel free to stop in with any concerns or just to say hello.
This week is a busy week here at OLM. Other than conferences at the end of the week we will have our Living Rosary on Tuesday at 2pm that everyone is more than welcome to come and pray together as a school community. Wednesday is our school picture day in which pre k and kindergarten are to wear their Sunday best and grades first to eighth are to wear their regular school uniform. Then Friday night is our annual Trunk or Treat. I look forward to seeing most of you this week in and around the building. Once again thank you for your continued support of OLM.
In Mercy,
Bill Delaney
Lock down Drill Monday 10/21 @ 9:30am.
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.
2025-2026 Kindergarten Commitment for Current Families. Due by Oct 24, 2024
October 27 Open House Lawn Sign
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.
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.
Important October Dates
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).
11/1- All Saints Day. No School.
11/4- Winter uniforms begin.
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
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
Along with the anonymous reporting system, Safe2Say, there is another invaluable resource to aide in getting help for mental health conditions. The 988 Lifeline is as national network of local crisis centers that provides 24/7, free and confidential emotional support for people in suicidal crisis or distress. If you or a loved one is struggling with thoughts of suicide or having a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988. By starting the conversation, providing support and directing help to those who need it, we can help prevent suicides and save lives. Suicidal thoughts, much like many mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. It’s important to spread information and know the warning signs of suicide. More information can be found at https://988lifeline.org/ or https://www.nami.org/Home
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#/
TRUNK OR TREAT - THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25TH
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. If you would like to come and just treat around the parking lot please bring a bag of candy to donate to a car for them to hand out. Much appreciated! tinyurl.com/TrunkOLM24.
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
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION:
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:
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
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.
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
10/20
Mrs. DiCarne
John Skinner
10/22
Kingsley Juliani
10/23
Gwen Kelly
Jack Vanella
10/24
Ms. Bordoni
10/26
Annabel Gleeson
Altar Servers
Tuesday 10/22
Ryan Duffy
Thomas Hungerford
Wednesday 10/23
Will McMullen
Nicolette Cervone
Thursday 10/24
Faith Vandiver
Lori Erb
Friday 10/25
No School: Parent/Teacher Conferences