Mercy Peek & Ponder by Mr. McGrath
Volume II Issue 17 Sunday, January 3, 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
New Year's Greetings!
We are so happy to WELCOME three (3) new students to our school this week: Wyatt (Kindergarten), Brock (2nd Grade), and Shaela (2nd Grade). Our students have already met our new students and we are so excited! 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 2016! 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 all week 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 2016! All my Best ...
John McGrath
Upcoming Events
January 4
Classes resume
January 6
Mission Collection - THON
January 8
School Liturgy, 9AM
Peacemakers for December: JOY
Jr. High Dance #4, 7:30PM
Epiphany of the Lord (January 3, 2016)
Today we celebrate the manifestation of God to the world in the person of Jesus.
The magi were men of the East who were wealthy and educated. They were able to see the signs of the times concentrated in a single star and came to honor a great one born into the world. Naturally, they began by seeking him in a palace, since they came looking for the King of the Jews.
They eventually find a poor infant born to parents who were far from home. They bend their knee before the helpless infant, and offer gifts of great value to a child that is poor. Station in life is forgotten in the presence of this child whose star they had followed.
We are invited to follow the example of the magi. We know that Jesus is God become flesh and blood like us. He has told us that God is so passionately in love with humanity that he entered the human condition in order to redirect human history back into its proper order – the establishment of the kingdom of God.
He came to remind us that each of us is created by God and destined for God. Our destiny is eternal union with our God. As one of the Sunday prefaces reminds us: “So great was your love that you gave us your only Son as our redeemer. You sent him as one like us, though free from sin, that you might see and love in us what you see and love in Christ.”
Today’s feast offers us a challenge for this New Year. Can we become like the magi, and lift our eyes from our preoccupations with our own petty concerns, so that we can see the glory and splendor of our God all around us? Can we receive the good news that Jesus has shared with us, by humbling ourselves before the helpless, seeing in them the presence of our God? Can we announce the good news by acting justly and peaceably?
Another new year offers each of us an opportunity to deepen our faith and widen our love. It offers us opportunity and grace to grow. May we have the wisdom of the magi to see the signs of our time and follow the lead of grace. We too will find Jesus with Mary his mother. May we learn to humble ourselves before him in the many forms he will take each day and offer him all that we are and have in loving service.
Four Diamonds
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 January, we will be raising money for the Four Diamonds Fund. The Four Diamonds' mission is to conquer childhood cancer by assisting children treated at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. Each year, Four Diamonds provides direct support to approximately 600 children with cancer – 100 who are newly diagnosed and 500 who are continuing their fight. Since its creation in 1972, Four Diamonds has helped more than 3,600 children and families and supported a diverse platform of childhood cancer research at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital, seeking improved treatments and cures to benefit those around the world. We here at OLM are answering the call to help those facing pediatric cancer and we are asking for your support. We will be collecting donations each Wednesday in January and the fifth grade will sponsor our fourth annual Mini-Thon on Friday, February 5th. More information about this exciting event to follow! 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.
Scholarship Awards for the Class of 2017 as of 01/03/2016
We are so happy and proud to announce scholarship awards to the following students in the OLM Class of 2016. The list will be updated as more awards are announced.
Shannon Reilly: Mount St. Joseph Academy: Founders Academic Scholarship
Maeve Gallagher: Mount St. Joseph Academy: Fontbonne Academic Scholarship
Micaelina Carter: Mount St. Joseph Academy: Fontbonne Academic Scholarship
Maggie Fitzpatrick: Mount St. Joseph Academy: Eugenia F. Comerford ’37 Alumnae Award
Carrie Johnston: Gwynedd Mercy Academy: Legacy Scholarship
Thomas McLaughlin: Bishop McDevitt: Lancer Leadership Scholarship
Nicholas Signoretta: LaSalle High School: Principal Scholarship
Lansdale Catholic: Msgr. Joseph Schade Scholarship
TOTAL AS OF 12/17/15: $138,000
Mercy 5K - Saturday, March 19, 2016
2016-2017 Registration
If you register prior to 03/31/2016, registration fee is $250 per family.
If you registered after 04/01/2016, the registration fee is $350 per family.
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.
OLM Home & School News
Designer Bag Bingo:
Join us for our first annual
Our Lady of Mercy Designer Bag Bingo
Friday, January 22, 2016 at 7:00 (doors open at 6:30)
To purchase your tickets, complete the form sent home, email olmbingo2016@gmail.com or call
Megan Romano at 215.367.5156
$25 (cash or check made out to OLM)
BYO food and drinks...
Catholic Schools Week:
Catholic School’s Week Breakfast: Please join us on January 31, 2016 from 11:00 to 1:00 for Home and School’s annual breakfast to kick off Catholic Schools Week in OLM’s Cafeteria.
Family Fun Bingo: As we end Catholic School’s Week, please join us for our family bingo which will be held February 6th at 6:00! More information will be coming home this week.
Please save the dates for the following events! Information about these events will be coming home soon:
Mother /Son Bowling: Sunday, February 21, 2016 at Thunderbird Lanes in Warminster
Father/Daughter Dance: Friday, February 26, 2016
OLM Mercy 5k Run: Saturday, March 19, 2016
Thank you for all you do to support our Home and School Organization!
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. The Class of 2016 does NOT need to order a yearbook as it is included in the graduation fees. All orders are to be completed online this year. Please no cash or checks! To place an order please follow the directions below:
1- Go to www.schoolannual.com
2- At the top of website, select " "Buy Your Student's Yearbook". This will open a new tab.
3- Type in "Our Lady of Mercy" as the school. Be sure to select the correct school since there is another OLM!
4- Order your yearbook and check out! It may ask you to create an account to purchase the yearbook online!
All yearbooks orders are due February 1, 2016!
Birthday Blessings this Week
Mrs. Eugenia Jan 2 - Saturday
Dowdell, Colin B. Jan 3 - Sunday
Troy, Patrick J. Jan 3 - Sunday
Glover, Harrison J. Jan 5 - Tuesday
Mrs. Demkovitz Jan 5 - Tuesday
Burkhart, Riley Jan 6 - Wednesday
Cirelli, Mary Jan 6 - Wednesday
Sowden, Andre I. Jan 6 - Wednesday
Ms. Jessica Jan 7 - Thursday
Giannini, Julie S. Jan 9 - Saturday
Giannini, Justin V. Jan 9 - Saturday
Playground at Lunch Recess
Tuesday, 01/05: Mrs. Ronzoni
Wednesday, 01/06: Ms. Bordoni
Thursday, 01/07: Ms. Duncan
Friday, 01/08: Mrs. Reilly
Lunch Duty Sign-Up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d4daaa622a6f49-january
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, 01/05: Peter Reilly
Wednesday, 01/06: Danny Bryce
Thursday, 01/07: Antonio Fabrizio
Friday, 01/08: Owen McFadden