Mercy Peek & Ponder by Mr. McGrath
Volume II Issue 12 Sunday, November 22, 2015
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
Reflection Corner: Gratitude for the Little Moments
"Gratitude, yes, for all the big things that stand tall, thick with abundance, joy and fruitfulness, but deep thankfulness for the bite –sized pieces of life." – Joyce Rupp
How generous are we in thanking God for the moments of grace that bring peace and unity into our lives and family? Children and loved ones?
One with the World in Remembrance and Prayer
Join us as we pray:
"Loving God,
Welcome into your arms the victims of violence and terrorism.
Comfort their families and all who grieve for them.
Help us in our fear and uncertainty,
And bless us with the knowledge that we are secure in your love.
Strengthen all those who work for peace,
And may the peace the world cannot give reign in our hearts."
State Budget and Release of Funds
STATEMENT OF ARCHBISHOP CHARLES J. CHAPUT, O.F.M. CAP. REGARDING EDUCATION TAX CREDITS
Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) are vital programs that assist many thousands of needy children. They do it by enabling Pennsylvania businesses to donate to qualified scholarship organizations. Donor companies then receive a tax credit, within specified limits, against their Pennsylvania tax liability. The resulting scholarships benefit children whose families meet certain low income criteria.
Unfortunately, the Department of Community and Economic Development is currently unwilling to issue authorizations to firms ready to make contributions to qualified scholarship organizations.
The real world result that flows from the refusal to issue contribution authorizations is to prevent companies from gaining the approvals they urgently need in order to make contributions and secure the resulting tax credits required for the current calendar year. This creates a very serious problem. If these contributions are not made, then scholarships will not be available for thousands of students who attend Catholic and many other private schools. In the case of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, this immediately builds pressure for school closures as early as next year, because the EITC and OSTC scholarships are vital to parents’ ability to afford their children’s education.
This situation is time sensitive, because the end of the year rapidly approaches. The administrative details of the programs require authorizations for companies and actual contributions to the scholarship organizations before year end.
I ask Catholics and all persons who support good educational options for the poor to contact Governor Wolf today via this website – https://governor.pa.gov/contact/ -- and to ask for his support in issuing these authorizations.
+Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Philadelphia
Upcoming Events
November 23
St. Anthony Confirmation (6th Grade), 4PM
November 25
Thanksgiving Prayer Service, 10:30AM
Noon Dismissal
November 26
Happy Thanksgiving! No School
November 27
No School
November 30
Classes Resume
St. Anthony Confirmation
We are over 200! Time is Running Out!
During our three weeks of re-registration over 200 currents students (YES, THAT'S 200) have registered for next year! We thank you for your commitment to the Mission of OLM. Our Lady of Mercy continues to evolve with many new and exciting ventures in the works!
As a reminder:
If you register by 11/30/2015, discounted registration fee is $200 per family.
Placement for the 2016-2017 school year is guaranteed until 11/30/2015 as we will be accepting new registrations starting 12/01/2015.
Our registration fees cover: the cost per student of the student information database (MSP), Religion books, certain instructional classroom supplies, and administrative fees for the operation the FACTS system. Please note, registration fees are non-refundable.
Exciting News!
Pulsera Club
Our Lady of Mercy's Spanish club will be partnering with an organization called the Pulsera Project to benefit the people of Nicaragua. The organization was founded by a group of young people from the United States who went on a service trip to the country and saw firsthand the extreme poverty that Nicaraguans are suffering; a majority of the population lives on two dollars or less a day and work up to 15 hours daily in sweatshops. The Pulsera Project employs both adults and teens to make friendship bracelets ("pulseras" in Spanish) to help them get out of the sweatshops and to spend more time with their families while also earning much higher wages.
OLM will be having its first Pulsera sale the week of November 30. The Spanish club will be selling bracelets during both lunches Monday-Friday (November 30-December 4). Each bracelet costs $5 and comes with the name and a picture of the person who created it. It's a great way for the students to see who their money will be helping, to make it more "real." After the sale, our school name will be listed as one of the participants on the Pulsera Project's website.
For more information, please visit the Pulsera Project's website:
http://www.pulseraproject.org/
Service Sunday at OLM.
Additional Smart Aid Information
OLM SCHOOL CODE 91026
ALL OLM families are encouraged to complete and submit and application. This application replaces PSSA (BLOCS) and Smart Aid 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.
While we believe that Smart Aid will help us to more effectively and efficiently provide financial aid services to our families, we also know that the strategic use of financial aid is crucial to achieving and sustaining our enrollment goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who should complete this aid application?
A: Whomever the child resides with should fill this application out, whether it is a parent, grandparent, aunt/uncle, or legal guardian. There is a section within the application where you can enter contributions from non-custodial parents and relatives.
Q: Why do I need to input my spouse’s information if I am remarried and they are not legally responsible for my children?
A: Smart Aid’s calculation works off of the total household income, therefore including all income, whether the party is legally responsible for your children or not. Our system however, does take into effect your spouse’s expenses as well as their income. It is important to list all expenses that are asked of within the application.
Q: I do not have the required tax documents. HELP!
A: Include the most recent tax documentation you have available. If you are asked for a specific line from a tax document that you have not yet completed, please estimate the projected amount.
Q: How will I know if I qualify for aid or not?
A: We do not disclose information about the results of your application. All final tuition aid decisions, including notification of an award amount (if any); will be made by OLM. For the date award notices is anticipated to be March 2016.
OLM YEARBOOKS!
Believe it or not, it is time to our your 2015-2016 OLM yearbook! The cost of the yearbook is $20. All orders are to be completed online this year. Please no cash or checks! To place an order please follow the directions below. The Class of 2016 need NOT order a Yearbook as they are provided one as part of the Jr. High Dances.
The company is aware of a problem with online ordering and is working to correct it. More information will be sent out with the Mid-Week Communication on Tuesday, 11/24.
All yearbooks orders are due February 1, 2016!
Operation Gratitude
SPECIAL REQUEST FOR 4TH TO 8TH GRADE LUNCH VOLUNTEERS
We welcome your assistance at Our Lady of Mercy Regional Catholic School. We are most fortunate to have such an interested, committed and involved parent community. 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. OLM NEEDS YOUR HELP WITH LUNCH VOLUNTEERS! The Lunch/Recess Duty Volunteer program is a great way to volunteer and become involved at the school. Participating in our volunteer program is a wonderful opportunity to see your children at lunch and work with fellow parent volunteers.
Use the following link for Signup Genius web site:
November Virtue of the Month - Generosity
PRAYER TO SAINT FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI
O Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, mindful of Your bountiful goodness and love, deign, we implore You, through the tender devotion of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini for Your Sacred Heart, to hear our prayers and grant our petitions.
O God, the Holy Spirit, Comforter of the afflicted, Fountain of Light and Truth, through the ardent zeal of Your humble handmaid, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, grant us Your all-powerful aid in our necessities, sanctify our souls and fill our minds with Divine Light that we may see the Holy Will of God in all things.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, beloved spouse of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, intercede for us that the favor we now ask may be granted.
Experience the Circle of Mercy
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 November we will be raising money to support the Saint Vincent DePaul Society. This Society is dedicated to the service of others. The Saint Vincent DePaul Society places a particular emphasis on helping the needy and those living in poverty through their service projects. The members of this Society try to see the face of Jesus in each person that they serve. Every donation will assist this Society in helping people in need to experience compassion and mercy. 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.
Our students supported breast cancer research in the month of October through weekly collections and a "pink" dress down day on 10/20. We are so proud to present a check in the amount of $1.005.00 to the Bott Cancer Center at Holy Redeemer Hospital.
The Charles A. and Betty Bott Cancer Center at Holy Redeemer Hospital is an accredited cancer program by The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. We combine compassionate care with the latest cancer diagnostic and treatment services, in one convenient location. In combination with Holy Redeemer’s team of outstanding oncology nurses and radiation therapists, the facility also houses physician offices, a medical oncology unit for outpatient infusions, and a dedicated 30-bed inpatient medical and surgical oncology unit. In addition, the center also offers integrative services and community educational and outreach programs and screenings. For more information http://www.holyredeemer.com/Main/Cancer.aspx
OLM Home & School News
- Secret Santa will be held December 8th, 9th and 10th ~ more information will be coming home with students the week of November 30th.
- Save the Date: Please save the date for Home and School's first ever Designer Bag Bingo on Friday, January 22, 2016 ~ Ticket information will be available soon.
- Box Top Collection: Home and School is looking for a few volunteers to help with the collection of box tops. This is a great way to volunteer from home. If you are interested, please contact Eileen Wisniewski at edw1972@yahoo.com
LET'S HEAR IT FOR OUR 6TH GRADE FOOTBALL PLAYERS!
The 6th grade boys listed below represent St Alphonsus parish and OLM on the St Gen's CYO (Flourtown) JV football team. The team is coached by OLM parent Rob Gentile.
The team is undefeated. They won last Sunday afternoon vs St Matts and are now playing tonight at O'Hara in Springfield vs. St. Max Kolbe for the championship of the Archdiocese! The Wildcats love fans. It would be great if you could spread the news at OLM. This is a huge accomplishment and the parents and coaches are so proud.
Nicky Araco, Danny Bryce, Jimmy Johnston, Matt McGettigan, Peter Reilly, Will Thompson
Winston Wear School Store
Birthday Blessings this Week
Garcia, Edwin Nov 22 - Sunday
Horvath, Mark C. Nov 22 - Sunday
Fisher, Emily Nov 23 - Monday
Reilly, Shannon Nov 23 - Monday
Araco, Nicholas Nov 25 - Wednesday
McGrory, Mary E. Nov 25 - Wednesday
Powers, William Nov 26 - Thursday
Mrs. Myers - Nov 27 - Friday
Cirelli, Anne Nov 28 - Saturday
Joyce, Brady Nov 28 - Saturday
Sabia, Camille Nov 28 - Saturday
Playground at Lunch Recess
Tuesday, 11/24: Ms. Bordoni
Two parent volunteers must be on-duty in the school yard - before the playground is open. This ensures the safety of ALL.
Altar Servers 9AM
Tuesday, 11/24: Connor Cunningham
Wednesday, 11/25: Antonio Fabrizio