Mercy Messenger
Issue 11 ~ Sunday, November 5th, 2023
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
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. Dear God of Mercy, I pray this day for all souls, both known and unknown to me, who, although touched by death, have not yet entered Your Heavenly Kingdom.
Principal Update
Sunday, November 5th, 2023
Good Morning,
I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween. I know the students had fun playing Halloween Bingo with their prayer partners and had fun during their classroom parties. On November 1st we went to Mass to celebrate the feast of All Saints Day. After Mass the October peacemakers of the month for responsibility were awarded. We congratulate all of our students for practicing responsibility during this time. Our virtue for the month of November is empathy. Please discuss and model at home how to show empathy to everyone that we come into contact with.
This Friday November 10th we will be having a dress down day to raise money for our students who are in our wonderful ski club. The cost for the dress down day is $1. Thank you in advance for supporting this fantastic club. I hope everyone has a great week ahead. Go Eagles.
In mercy,
Mr. Bill Delaney
October Peacemakers (Responsibility)
Pre K
Carter Harris
Grade K
Hannah Fida
Jane Pollock
Clark Miller
Grade 1
Noelle McAllister
Emilia Conlon
Maggie Gallo
Grade 2
Quinn Miller
Cael Thompson
Colin Tolan
Grade 3
Luke Brannigan
John Skinner
Grade 4
Nicolette Cervone
Bridget Homa
Lucille Connelly
Grade 5
Hannah Marsh
Sophie Samson
Grade 6
Annaliese Amoroso
SImon Schmalbach
Grade 7
Isabella Eliason
Drew Barton
Grade 8
Jack Powers
Luisa Smith
Middle States Update
Ms. Joan Dollinger, the Principal of Assumption Regional Catholic School in Galloway, NJ and Chair of OLM’s Middle States team, came to school on 11/2 for a brief visit. The whole team arrives on Monday, November 27 and departs on Thursday, November 30, 2023. During the visit, the team will interact with faculty, staff, some parents and students. The team will experience a typical day in the life of OLM from morning arrivals to afternoon car lines and all things in-between. Each classroom will be visited by team members; seeing the students in action is always a highlight of the teams visit.
Reminders
- Winter uniforms began November 1st.
- Please do not get out of your car to get your child during car line. It is not safe to walk in the parking lot during dismissal. Thank you.
- Please do not drop your child off at school before 7:30.
- Please remember to fill out all the school forms that are on OptionC as soon as possible.
- 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. (See Wednesday communication for more information)
A Look Ahead
11/10- Dress Down Day. Ski club fundraiser $1.
11/17- Dress Down Day. Saint Vincent DePaul Food Pantry.
10/22- 10 am Prayer Service for First Responders.
10/22- Noon dismissal.
OLM Student Council Food Drive!
The OLM Student Council is sponsoring a food drive to support the Saint Vincent DePaul Food Pantry at St. Catherine's. Our drive will last from Monday, November 6th to Friday, November 17th. Please see the attached flyer for information on what to bring in. We thank you for your support!
Blossom in Stem Program (Spots still open.)
Gwynedd Mercy Academy is offering their Blossom in Stem Program to our 6th, 7th and 8th grade female students. This program is meant to enhance and expand their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Once a month, students from Gwynedd and their Stem teacher Mr. Berger will come to OLM to facilitate and aid them in performing Stem related activities and experiments. The club is free to our students and is open to 20 girls per session. There will be 9 sessions and it will be after school from 3-4pm. Below you will find a link for the sign up list. Thank you.
Counseling Corner
Students struggle for a variety of reasons. One reason could be a diagnosis of ADHD. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to focus, control impulses and regulate their energy levels. It is one of the most common disorders in childhood. At times, all kids struggle to pay attention and focus, but for students with ADHD, it is a lot harder and happens more often. Understanding the signs of ADHD is crucial. Common symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Students have a difficult time following directions, can be fidgety, can make careless mistakes and act without thinking. ADHD can be successfully managed and school accommodations can be put in place in order to help students succeed. If you have questions or feel that your child might be struggling, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Gawthrop or Mrs. Parkhill. They can help guide you in the right direction.
From the Nurse's Office
If your child test positive for Covid-19 please follow the CDC guidelines. If you have any questions please contact the nurse's office at nurse@olmrcs.com.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html
Adult Social POSTPONED!
We had to postpone the adult social event. Please stay tuned as we work on putting something together in the future. If you would like to be a part of this organizing the event please email hsa@olmrcs.com
Fireside & Penna’s Italian Market Gift Card Sale
Christmas will be here before you know it, and Monday, October 23, marks the beginning of our Fireside and Penna’s Italian Market gift card sale thanks to the generosity of the Penna family. $5 of each $25 card purchase will be donated to the Ski Club bus fund. Share on social media and opt to buy some for yourself to keep your family full and happy over the holidays with these great restaurant options. Cards can be used at both locations to help you with your weeknight meals, weekend breakfasts, party catering, and holiday gifting at this busy time of year. Our sale will run until November 6. Use the link below to help tally and sell gift cards. Cards will be distributed through school by our gift card committee members, Jennifer Tolan, Danielle Moore, Jen Penna, Kim Lewinski, and Kate White, by November 13. Thank you once again for your support! https://tinyurl.com/FiresideSki23
November Dine & Donate - Schenk’s Bakery
OLM is partnering with Schenk’s Family Bakery for Thanksgiving Desserts. **25% of all Thanksgiving dessert sales will be donated to OLM!** If you are interested in placing an order, please complete the order form: https://tinyurl.com/olmpies23. All orders and payments must be received no later than Wednesday, November 15th! All desserts will be delivered to OLM and pick up will be available for pick up at the OLM entrance on Wednesday, November 22nd from 10am - 12pm. Any questions, please email nschenk01@gmail.com or text 267-258-4127.
Ski & Board Club Dress Down Day - November 10th
Plan your fits now! The Ski & Board Club will host a $1.00 full dress down day for all OLM students! The proceeds will support the cost of bussing for the club’s trips to Bear Creek. This will be their final fundraiser and they hope this pushes them to the top of their mountainous goal! The club thanks everyone for all of their support this year!
Calling all Middle School Students!
Ski & Snowboard Club
We need parent volunteers with Ski & Board Club Monday Pretzels. One person is asked to pick up pretzels at 8am at the Philly Pretzel Factory Horsham, deliver to the school, and help sort/distribute. We need another parent to meet at the school at 8:15am and help sort/distribute them. Please use the sign up genius link to volunteer for a day or two. Our Lady of Mercy Home and School Association: 2024 OLM Ski & Board Club Pretzel Sale Volunteers (signupgenius.com)
Registration is out to join the club. Please refer to the Wednesday Communication for more information regarding signing up for the club.
Trunk or Treat - Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who braved the rain and cold weather on Sunday. It was so great to see so many families. Special shout out to our event chair, Heather Norman. You made this annual event such a success. We hope you all had a great time and met some new families.
Supporting Home & School
- Interested in Volunteering?
- We are always looking for new ideas, suggestions, and volunteers! If you have any interest in volunteering please feel free to fill out this interest form: tinyurl.com/OLMVolCalendar24.
- If you are interested in joining the board, we would love to hear from you! Please feel free to reach out via email at hsa@olmrcs.com. 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.
OLM's Annual Heroes Breakfast!
The Our Lady of Mercy School community invites all police officers, firefighters, EMS, medical personnel, military personnel, and veterans to a thank you breakfast and prayer service in gratitude for your service to our country and our community. Please join us on Wednesday, November 22nd for breakfast at 9:00am at Our Lady of Mercy School followed by a prayer service at 10:00am in St. Alphonsus Church. If you are able to attend, please RSVP with your name and number of people attending to jbebey@olmrcs.com by November 17th. Please see the attached flyer for details. Thank you for your service!
EITC Program
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC)
Program is open to individuals or businesses.
Anyone who participates receives a 90% tax credit with this program.
To learn more, attend an Information Webinar
- Tuesday, November 14 at 7pm
- Wednesday, November 29 at 10am
If you have any questions about this program, contact
Julie Bebey at jbebey@olmrcs.com or call her at school, 215-646-0150.
Scan the QR Code below to sign up for a Webinar!
2024-2025 Kindergarten Commitment
If you have a younger child that you are considering enrolling in Kindergarten for the 24-25 school year, please complete this form. We need an idea of how many spots we need to save for kindergarten for our current families before the Sunday, Oct. 22 Open House.
This is NOT an official registration, more information will be sent at a later date. If you have any questions, please reach out to Julie Bebey at jbebey@olmrcs.com
2024-2025 Financial Aid
2024-2025 financial aid is now open. Please log onto your FACTS account to apply. To be considered for financial aid you must fill out an application through your FACTS account. If you have any questions please send your questions to grants@olmrcs.com.
Uniform Policy
ALL uniform rules will be enforced starting this week. 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.
Car Line Procedures
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.
Birthdays this week
11/5
Franklin Panicker Jr.
11/6
Mr. Delaney
Elijah Finore
11/8
Ethan Pomeroy
11/9
Brynn Hamersky
11/10
Dominic Root
Monica Root
Altar Servers
Tuesday 11/7
Patrick Romano
Ryan Romano
Wednesday 11/8
Lily Samson
Michael Puleo
Thursday 11/9
Declan Doherty
Andrew Barton
Friday 11/10
Nora Schmalbach
Simon Schmalbach