Mercy Peek & Ponder by Mr. McGrath
Volume III Issue 16 Monday, January 2, 2017
Our Lady of Mercy Regional Catholic School
Email: jmcgrath@olmcatholicschool.com
Website: www.olmcatholicschool.com
Location: 29 Conwell Drive, Maple Glen, PA, United States
Phone: 215-646-0150
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Our-Lady-of-Mercy-Regional-Catholic-School-1427959374084742/?ref=bookmarks
New Year's Greetings!
Happy New Year to all. January is always about fresh beginnings and positive change. I love the promise of the New Year and all the possibilities that exist for our children here at OLM and their future.
We already have over 25 NEW families for new school year! OLM has become a very popular destination!
There are many new and exciting things planned for 2017! But I think it is important at this point in time to stop and CELEBRATE Our Lady of Mercy School! There are enough negative images in/on the news! As Catholic education is an extension of our FAITH, celebrating OLM is most appropriate. A positive attitude brings optimism into your life, and makes it easier to avoid worries and negative thinking. Research has shown that schools that adopt positive thinking become happier places and more successful.
As with any organization, OLM continues to seek ways to advance itself and improve. The best way to do that is by healthy collaboration, mutual respect, and a humble dedication to the mission of OLM.
Thank you all so very much for the countless gifts, cards, and notes that I received for Christmas. It literally took me days to open and read each one. The support and affirmation that I receive each day from our families allow me to remain laser focused on ensuring that OLM is a place where students are helped to meet their fullest potential by providing an environment that is safe, supports risk-taking, and invites a sharing of ideas.
Have a Happy & Holy 2017! All my Best ...
John McGrath
Upcoming Events
January 3
Classes resume
January 5
Model UN Trip to University of Pennsylvania
January 6
School Liturgy, 9AM
Peacemakers
Jr. High Dance #4, 7:30PM
Home & School General Meeting
Sunday, Jan 8, 2017, 07:00 PM
OLM Cafeteria
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Class of 2017 Scholarship Awards
Gwynedd Mercy Academy:
· Megan Emmerling: Misericordia Academic
· Devon Sweeney: Trustee Academic
Mount St. Joseph Academy:
· Julia Norton: Alumnae Academic
St. Basil Academy:
· Grace Toriello: Music and Academic
· Melanie McGill: Mother Josephat Award
· Megan Emmerling: Academic
LaSalle College High School:
· Robert (Ted) Nagle : Presidential Academic
· Lucas Braccia: Principal Academic
Archbishop Wood:
· Margaret (Meg) Waltrich: Academic
· Lucas Braccia : Academic
Lansdale Catholic:
· Gavin Mook: Academic
Bishop McDevitt
· Emily Mirabelli: Lancer Academic
Total Scholarships as of 12/19/16: $218,000
Read our Wonderful School Publication: Mercy Magazine
Virtue of the Month: Prayer
Our virtue of the month of January is Prayer
Pope Francis says, "Prayer is very important. Never forget to pray! Nobody can tell when we are praying on the bus on in the car. We pray in silence, with the heart, so let's take advantage of these opportunities to pray."
The most important thing is to acquire the habit of prayer. It has to become a habit. Without that, we don't have an interior life; we just have an exterior life. And when all we have is an exterior life, we become anxious, restless, and that leads to greed, the inordinate love of possessing. For we end up trying to secure our own happiness and to reduce our own anxiety, and when things do not go our way in life, we become angry, impatient, irritated, we lose the peace that we long for. And when we are at that point, it means we've taken our life into our own hands. But life is not meant to be lived out of our own hands. We are meant to be carried along by God, like a baby is carried in a car seat. We are meant to be carried along by divine providence. God is in control, not us, and we have to surrender to his control. When we do so, life becomes so much more exhilarating.
St. Andre Bessette will be our model.
Prayer to St. Andre Bessette
Lord our God, friend of the lowly, you gave your servant, St. André Bessette, a great devotion to St. Joseph and a special commitment to the poor and afflicted. Through his intercession help us to follow his example of prayer and MERCY and so come to share with him in your glory. (mention your intention) We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
St. André Bessette, pray for us.
Students will be recognized at the School Liturgy on Friday, February 10, 2017.
Lollipops for Sale
The 7th & 8th grade will be selling lollipops every Thursday from now until supplies run out. All the proceeds are going to the Annual Giving Fund as their gift.
The lollipops are $1.00 each. Thank you for supporting our efforts.
OVER 300 students already! REGISTRATION OPEN TO NEW STUDENTS IN ALL GRADES K-8.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR!!!
- Register by 3/31/17 and the registration fee is $250 per family.
- Anyone not registered by 3/31/17 will be automatically re-registered at $350 per family.
In order to opt out of re-registration, please contact Julie, our Advancement Director, at jbebey@olmcatholicschool.com.
A letter and the re-registration form was sent home to students. To re-register, simply fill out the family name, your parish, child(ren) name(s), grades they are going into and any NEW family member joining OLM. Send in the formalong with your payment to OLM in an envelope labeled "Registration". The registration payment must accompany the form.
SMART AID FOR 2017-2017 IS NOW OPEN! Click the link above to apply.
Smart Aid Information
The new ONLINE application is available. Click the Smart Aid Button above to access the application. The Priority Deadline is 12/31/2016.
OLM SCHOOL CODE 91026
OLM families are encouraged to complete and submit and application. This application will handle all financial aid for OLM (and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia) - including BLOCS, Heritage of Faith Funds, and other scholarship opportunities - both system-wide and at OLM.
Those families who applied in 16-17 will only need to:
1. Login in ( using the username and password from 16-17) www.smartaidforparents.com
2. Update their information
3. Submit and pay the $25 application fee
4. Return to the site and upload their 2016 taxes when completed but no later than 3/31/2017.
OLM's online Art Museum
Yearbook Orders
Believe it or not, it is already time to place your order for the 2016-2017 OLM yearbook! To order, follow the steps below:
1. Go to http://www.schoolannual.com/
2. Click on "Buy your Student's Yearbook" which is above the School Annual / Joston's logo.
3. Enter in school name, city, state, and then click "Go"
4. Enter in number of yearbooks to purchase, as well as child's homeroom / teacher and pay via credit card.
Please note that all 8th grade students DO NOT need to purchase a yearbook since it is included in graduation fees.
- All orders are due by January 31st!
BOX TOP NEWS
Don't forget that we have two Box Tops contests running. The next contest ends on February 15th, and the class with the highest total will win a doughnut or cupcake party! The end of year contest is for a class Pizza Party! The class that turns in the most Box Tops over the entire school year will win this prize in June.
Keep sending in your Box Tops every month. All Box Tops submitted count toward both contests. The holidays are a great time to look for Box Tops on products such as: Land O' Lakes butter and cheese, Hefty disposable products, Green Giant veggies, Reynolds foil baking pans, Food Should Taste Good chips, and many more! Here is a complete list http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products
Finally, don't forget about the new Box Tops app. It's as easy as checking the app after you do your grocery shopping, looking for any items that you purchased, and snapping a picture of your receipt. This page explains it well: http://www.boxtops4education.com/bonusapp. Thanks to all who have already been using it. The earnings are added to our account every time you submit your receipts!
OLM’s 2nd Annual Designer Bag Bingo - Friday, January 27, 2017
Doors open @ 6:15 • Bring your family, friends, your favorite snacks and drinks! • $30 per person…or $275 for tables of 10, $220 for tables of 8 • Additional “special” bingo cards will be available to purchase
Email olmbingo2017@gmail.com for questions/ticket requests or RSVP with payment to JP Romano, (6-Opdyke) by Thursday, 1/19/17
*limited to first 250 people so act fast
* **proceeds benefit OLM Home and School Association
** ***Checks made payable to Our Lady of Mercy
*** ****Interested in donating a raffle basket, please let us know****
A MESSAGE FROM THE HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION...
The HSA is organizing another Teacher's Wish List. Last year, the OLM community provided so many important items to help our teachers provide the best education to our students. Please take a moment to look at this year's requests. If you are able to provide new or gently used items, please sign up!
Consider joining together with other families and don't forget about our specials teachers!
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0F48A5AC2CA0F85-teaching
When you have something ready, please contact the teacher it is for to set up the best way to get it to them!
Please contact Alison Bell, alisonL24@yahoo.com, with any questions!
We Can’t Do It Without You!
The Home and School Association sponsors a full calendar of social events, fundraisers, meetings and programs each year. Lots of volunteers are needed to help make this happen. Contact Mirella Palme at mirellapalme@verizon.net our volunteer coordinator to lend a hand!
To view a list of current volunteers and chairs/co-chairs, or to sign up as a volunteer, please https://sites.google.com/site/olmhsaweb/volunteers
Volunteer for Lunch Duty at OLM!
Two parent volunteers must be on-duty in the school yard - before the playground is open. This ensures the safety of ALL. Our active volunteer program not only provides valuable hands-on assistance through the school, but also benefits the children by reinforcing ties between the children’s individual homes as well as the community at large, and the school. The Lunch/Recess Duty Volunteer program is a great way to volunteer and become involved at the school.
Sign up for Lunch Duty at: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d4daaa622a6f49-january1
Birthday Blessings this Week!
Sunday, 01/01
Monday, 01/02
Mrs. Eugenia
Tuesday, 01/03
Colin Dowdell
Patrick Troy
Wednesday, 01/04
Thursday, 01/05
Harrison Glover
Mrs. Demkovitz
Friday, 01/06
Andre Sowden
Mary Cirelli
Samantha Morris
Saturday, 01/07
Ms. Jessica McGrath
ALTAR SERVICE THIS WEEK 9AM
Tuesday: TBA
Wednesday: TBA
Thursday: TBA
Friday: TBA