Mercy Peek & Ponder by Mr. McGrath
Volume II Issue 23 Sunday, February 14, 2016
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
Upcoming Events
February 15
No School - Presidents' Day
February 16
Confessions, Grades 3 to 8, 1PM
February 17
Grade 2 Class Mass, 9AM
Mission Collection: JDRF
RSVP/Money due for Father/Daughter Snowflake Ball
February 18
Middle School Academy Club Day
February 19
Dress Down Day: Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF)
Fourth Grade Trip to the Franklin Institute
February 21
Mother/Son Bowling, 12:30PM
OLM Parent Survey 2016
At OLM, we are committed to providing the best for our students and families. Your feedback will help us identify what we do well and what we need to improve.
Please complete this confidential survey, answering questions based on your overall experience.
The link below will take you to our 2015-16 Parent Survey. It will take you about 10 minutes to complete. Please complete the survey by February 29.
If the survey is completed by 225 respondents, the students will be receive an ice cream treat at their lunch.
To access the survey please click on the hyperlink:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F3WQMKL
Thank you very much for your time and continued commitment to Our Lady of Mercy,
Mr. John C. McGrath, M.Ed.
Principal
Did you know?
- OLM has its own learning support with a Tier Three Reading Intervention Program. OLM uses a proven research-based, multi-sensory approach for learning the basic language skills of reading, writing, and spelling. We are the only providers in the area offering this help, without an additional charge. The program is provided by a Certified Academic Language Practitioner who is certified by The Alliance For Accreditation and Certification of Multisensory Structured Language Education, Inc. (This is the same program offered at The Center School (Abington) for $29,000 and The Quaker School (Horsham) for $34,200.
Weekly Reflection: Lent - Pray, Fast, Give
Ash Wednesday, February 10th, marked the beginning of the Lent Season. It is a time of repentance, prayer and fasting for forty days. This day receives its special name from the blessing and imposition of ASHES in the form of a cross on our foreheads. “Remember man that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
PRAYER: Jesus, our Savior, grant to your faithful, Lord, a spirit generous enough to begin these solemn fasts with proper fervor and to pursue them with greater devotion. This we ask of you in your most holy name. Amen. (Liturgical Press)
Reminder on Church Doctrine on Fasting and Abstinence: Abstinence from eating meat is to be observed on all FRIDAYS during Lent. Abstinence from eating meat is to be observed on all Fridays during Lent. This applies to all persons 14 and older. Fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday applies to all Catholics from age 18 through age 59.
Virtue of the Month: KINDNESS
Our virtue of the month of February is KINDNESS. Students will learn that kindness is a gift of the Holy Spirit where one learns the quality of understanding and sympathy for those in need. It is shown in friendliness of speech, generosity of conduct, and forgiveness. Saint Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother will be our model. Students will be recognized at the School Liturgy on Friday, March 11th.
O St. Gabriel of our Lady of Sorrows, obtain for our young people the grace of following Jesus with generosity. May they place the gospel at the very heart of their lives. May they desire to love God wholeheartedly as you did. May they especially obtain a true devotion to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, and following thy example may we all increase in grace. Pray for us that we will be saints, so we may know the peace and joy of eternal life in Heaven.
+Amen+
Reading Olympics
Mission Collection: February - JDRF
Our theme for this school year at OLM is “Experience the Circle of Mercy”. Keeping this theme in mind our OLM community will be collecting donations throughout the school year to help organizations that show and promote mercy in the world. In this way we can help others throughout the world experience mercy as a result of our generosity. These mission collections will take place each Wednesday. Please encourage your child to bring donations regardless of how large or small the donations are. Every donation makes a difference in helping more people to experience the circle of mercy.
During the month of February - Collection Dates: 02/17, 02/24 and the Dress Down Day - 02/19 - we will be collecting money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF).
JDRF exists for the millions of children, adults and families challenged by type 1 diabetes (T1D) every single day. Their determination to overcome this chronic, life-threatening disease strengthens ours to end it.
T1D is an autoimmune disease in which a person's pancreas loses the ability to produce insulin—a hormone essential to turning food into energy. It strikes both children and adults suddenly and is unrelated to diet and lifestyle. It requires constant carbohydrate counting, blood-glucose testing and lifelong dependence on injected insulin.
JDRF is the largest nongovernment funder of T1D research. We are uniquely positioned to advance groundbreaking therapies through the research pipeline to better treat and, one day, even prevent and cure T1D. But we can't do it without you.
We look forward to continuing to support organizations that help others to experience the circle of mercy throughout the school year. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (Middle States Association or shorter as M.S.A.C.S. or M.S.A.) is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit association dedicated to educational excellence and improvement through peer evaluation and the proper accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary/high schools, and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. Our Lady of Mercy will be re-accredited from April 10th to April 13th, 2016
Our Team
Internal Coordinators
Caroline Maher
Eighth Grade Teacher/Asst. to the Principal
Natalie Marano
Third Grade Teacher
Planning Team
John McGrath
Principal
Linda Reilly
First Grade Teacher
Stephanie Cox
Fourth Grade Teacher
Alison Dudenbostel
Sixth Grade Teacher
Carol Opdyke
Resource Room Teacher
Karen Ryan
Parent
Caroline Maher
Eighth Grade Teacher/Asst. to the Principal
Natalie Marano
Third Grade Teacher
Mercy 5K - Saturday, March 19, 2016
The 4th Annual Run is scheduled for Saturday March 19, 2016. Click here for all the information:
OLM Run for Mercy 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run
Sponsorship information is needed by 2/15. It’s not too late! Forms are available on the school website - click on the 5K sneaker!
5K Early registration discount ends Feb. 15th!
Register by 2/23 to be guaranteed a race shirt!
Over 200 registrations so far - Join the Run for Mercy today!
New this year: Long sleeve tech shirts for 5K participants!
Awards for first place boy and girl in each grade! In addition to age group awards.
Post race party catered by Fireside Bar and Grille!
We are looking for 100 OLM Students to register and take part in the 5K Run & One Mile Fun Run. The first 100 students who register for the 5K run or One Mile Fun Run will receive a choice of a free "official" OLM 5K stuffed penguin or School Supply Kit Pouch (with logo) with Pencil, Eraser, and Sharpener. Let’s all run for MERCY! Perhaps, Winston will run with you!
OLM Home & School News
Mother /Son Bowling: Sunday, February 21, 2016 at Thunderbird Lanes in Warminster
Father/Daughter Dance: Friday, February 26, 2016
Last call! We hope all OLM girls and their special sweetheart can join us for the OLM Snowflake Ball, Friday, February 26 in the Parish Center!
Don't forget to send in your money and the attached RSVP form by February 17.
Flowers for the dance can be ordered online through Ambler Flower Shop. See flyer for details. Additional photography envelopes which are due on the night of the dance, are available in the office.
OLM Mercy 5k Run: Saturday, March 19, 2016 for any registration questions please contact Megan Citro at mcitro@comcast.net
Thank you for all you do to support our Home and School Organization!
OLM YEARBOOKS!
The deadline for OLM Yearbooks for 2015-2016 has passed. Please do not call School Annual, as they will be unable to help you.
Birthday Blessings this Week
Hart, Caitlin Feb 16 - Tuesday
Spera, Adam T. Feb 16 - Tuesday
Peyton, Aidan K. Feb 17 - Wednesday
Torres, Alicia Feb 17 - Wednesday
Mrs. Maples Feb 17 - Wednesday
Moon, Kyle Feb 19 - Friday
Toriello, Grace A. Feb 19 - Friday
Playground at Lunch Recess
Tuesday, 02/16: Mr. Smith
Wednesday, 02/17: Mrs. Kennedy
Thursday, 02/18: Mrs. Marano
Friday, 02/19: Mrs. Kling
Lunch Duty Sign-Up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d4daaa622a6f49-february
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.
Altar Servers 9AM
Tuesday, 02/16: Mary McGrory
Wednesday, 02/17: Antonio Fabrizio
Thursday, 02/18: Meghan Dennin
Friday, 02/19: Owen McFadden