Mercy Peek & Ponder by Mr. McGrath
Volume III Issue 26 Sunday, March 12, 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
CALLING ALL CAMPERS! SAVE $50 with EARLY REGISTRATION (coupon attached)
Information went home on March 1st. We are very excited to bring Camp Mercy to our OLM families this summer. The camp runs from June 19th through August 18th. Families can register for the full 9 weeks or individual weeks. Before care and after care is available as well as full day and /2 day options. Check out the brochure for a complete overview of the camp. A registration form is attached to this email.
Upcoming Events
March 13
Third Trimester begins
Stations of the Cross - grade 7 leads - 2PM
March 14
Report cards distributed - grades 4-8
March 15
Report cards distributed - grades K-3
Class Mass - grades 6-8, 9AM
March 16
Inview Testing, grades 3-7
Assembly "Ryan's Story", grades 5-8, 1:15PM in gym
Terra Nova Testing (grades 3-7) Schedule 2017:
Monday-Thursday, March 13th to 16th : In-View Practice Tests given
Friday, March 17: In-View Testing
Monday, March 20: Reading
Tuesday, March 21: Language
Wednesday, March 22: Math
Thursday, March 23: Science
Friday, March 24: Social Studies
Volunteers for St. Catherine's Parish Event - "Coffee & Donuts"
Sunday, Apr 2, 2017, 09:00 PM
St Catherine of Siena, Witmer Road, Horsham, PA, United States
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
BOX TOP CONTEST WINNER
SCIENCE FAIR
Date: Thursday, April 27th and Friday, April 28th
Grades: K-6 (Voluntary participation)
7-8 (Required participation)
Parent invite: Thursday, April 27th from 7:00 - 8:00 PM
Attached is a letter explaining the Science Fair and what it's all about. This is an exciting event for our junior high students who have been working since September and are eager to share their projects and ideas with you. If your K-6 grade child is interested in participating, please print and submit the entry form by Friday, March 31st. Any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Sharon Gribb at sgribb@olmcatholicschool.com.
Boy Scout Troop 540 is NOW at OLM!
Attention boys grade 5 - 8. Come meet the young men from Boy Scout Troop 540 on March 20th from 7pm - 8:30pm in the OLM Cafeteria. Not sure what scouting is all about? Well, come and find out. It is far more than just camping and hiking as the young men of Troop 540 give you a taste of the life skills they have learned. This will range from cooking skills to team building activities to STEM activities. Parents Welcome to join. Any questions in advance, email 540scoutmaster@gmail.com for details. See you on the 20th!!
Reading Olympics 2017
With the weather that is forecast this week. meetings for Reading Olympics will be announced at morning assembly.
MERCY 5K - SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017
The 5th Annual Run is scheduled for Saturday March 25, 2017. Registration is now open. Register before February 6th for early bird pricing! The homeroom class with the highest percentage of participation will receive a prize. Post race food courtesy of Fireside Bar & Grill. Happy running!
Click here for all the information:
http://www.olmcatholicschool.com/runformercy.html
A Shout-Out to our Students Runners:
This year, the classroom with the highest percent participation in the 5K will win Rita’s Water Ice - date to be set with teacher of the winning classroom.
Also, 5K age groups have changed to give our younger runners an opportunity to win prizes. New age groups: 9 and under - top 3 boys and girls
10-14 year olds - top 3 boys and girls
Our Virtue of the Month of March is FAITH
Pope Francis says, "Love and Mercy are the measures of faith."
Catholic Faith believes in the value and dignity of each individual person, including the weakest. The love of God towards us is unconditional. Catholic Faith therefore gives hope to everyone including those who had committed grave wrong in the past. Catholic Faith preaches the profound love and forgiveness of God, which we may better experience when we also forgive other people.
Although the fruit of Catholic Faith should include striving to perform acts of love, Catholic Faith is not a religion that only preaches justice and the need to do good deeds. Justice is already known to many people without Catholic Faith. The profound love and forgiveness of God surpasses even the justice of God. The coming of Jesus is not to bring justice but to reveal the unconditional love of God.
Catholic Faith believes in the gifts of different talents to each individual in order that we may use them to serve others in our daily work at home and at work. Catholic Faith believes in the love and healing from God especially when one has been deeply hurt by people in the world.
Catholic Faith believes in the love of God present in us. However the lack of love and hurt from many people often makes it more difficult to believe in the love of God. It may take strong Faith to believe in and to rediscover the love of God.
St. Katherine Drexel will be our model.
Prayer to St. Katherine Drexel
Ever loving God, you called Saint Katharine Drexel to teach the message of the Gospel and to bring the life of the Eucharist to the Black and Native American peoples. By her prayers and example, enable us to work for justice among the poor and oppressed. Draw us all into the Eucharistic community of your Church, that we may be one in you. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Students will be recognized at the School Liturgy on Friday, April 7, 2017 at 9AM.
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. ALL applications are due on or before 03/31/2017.
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.
A NOTE FROM HOME AND SCHOOL - NOMINATIONS FOR 2017-2018
Thank you for all you have done this year to help OLM be the best possible school! In whatever way you have helped, it is appreciated more than you know.
Believe it or not, we are starting to plan for next year and Home and School needs your help. We are looking for people to join our Home and School Board.
Attached is the nomination form. If you are interested in participating or know someone who would be an asset, please complete the attached form and return it to Megan Romano by Monday, April 3rd.
We would LOVE to have our board in place by the first week of May so we can get a jump start on the 2017-2018 school year. There are many way you can help and our school can benefit.
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-march1
Birthday Blessings this Week!
Sunday, 03/12
Caroline Sellers
Monday, 03/13
Kaitlyn Cunningham
Tuesday, 03/14
Matthew Braccia
Wednesday, 03/15
Avery Chase Felipe
Thursday, 03/16
Mrs. Costanzo
Friday, 03/17
NIcole Bradfield
Sydney McKernan
Saturday, 03/18
Maggie Mikalic
ALTAR SERVICE THIS WEEK 9AM
Tuesday: Elena Franklin
Wednesday: Teddy Nagle
Thursday: Mark O'Brien
Friday: NIcky Araco