Mercy Peek & Ponder by Mr. McGrath
Volume III Issue 5 Sunday, October 9, 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
September Peacemakers of the Month
Our Peacemakers of the month help us to maintain and strengthen our OLM community. During the month of September, students were asked to look to Saint Mother Teresa and work to be people who are charitable. When you think of people who were amazing examples of charity - Mother Teresa definitely makes the top ten list. She explained once what this virtue of charity is all about.
"Love in action is service. Become friends to those who have no friends. Become family to those who have no family. Become community to those who have no community."
Charity is just that simple - love people as God would love them. So why is it such a hard virtue to put into practice? Probably because it means we have to forget ourselves and put the other person first. We have to change our priorities. That may mean to glance up from our phone or tablet to look around at the needs of others. It may mean to stop what we are doing and change our plans to help someone in need. Charity may be as easy as just listening to someone who is lonely.
Our Lady of Mercy School embraces the virtues of our faith and look to the saints for inspiration and guidance.
The following students have been chosen as Peacemakers of the month for September. They exercised true Christian charity by doing things for others. We offer them a big OLM CONGRATS!
Kindergarten: Andrew Barton, Andreana Mongone, Liam McLaughlin
First Grade: Sienna Cervone, Annabel Miller, James Connelly
Second Grade: Natalie Bonner, Ryan Piranian
Third Grade: Madison McErlean, Lily Auxer
Fourth Grade: Thomas Regan, Courtney Sock
Fifth Grade: Emma Greenhalgh, Annie Cirelli, Matthew Emma
Sixth Grade: Elena Franklin, Charlie Johnston
Seventh Grade: Kathleen Tallon, Margaux Barrett
Eighth Grade: Nicole Funk, Devon Sweeney, Drew Dolaway
Ambassadors of Mercy
4th
Kelsey New
Marissa Moffa
Ellie Maguire
Anthony Gentile
Emerson Selgrath
Katie Romano
5th
Maddie Auxer
Katie Brown
Grace Hoeger
Remy Barrett
Haley Lewinski
Brady Joyce
Angela Lafond
Robert Reilly
Stephanie Froehlich
Annie Cirelli
Maddie Norton
Scott Hughes
Emily Fisher
Chloe Herron
6th
Lauren Bauer
Nathan Selgrath
7th
Ansley DiNicola
Michaela McCook
Ally McGuire
Cassidy Palazzo
Sarah Hughes
Margaux Barrett
Bianca Coleman
8th
Emily Sadorf
Gina Princivalle
Siobhan Brogan
Katherine Wesztergom
Emily Mirabelli
Grace Toriello
Upcoming Events
October 11
School pictures (in uniforms - no gym uniforms)
October 12
Grade 4 Class Mass, 9AM
October 16
Last Day for Yankee Candle Orders
October 18
General Home & School Meeting (cafeteria), 7PM
October 19
Club Day #3
STREAM ACADEMY (grades K-5), 1:15PM
October 20
National Day of Writing
Michael Dooling, author visit and assembly
Grades K-3 - 9:15AM
Grades 4-8 - 10:15AM
October 21
Dress Down Day ($1.00 donation suggested) to
benefit "Live Nice"
Jr. High Dance #2, 7:30PM
October 23
OLM Family Hayride, 1PM
October 25
Philadelphia Orchestra Music Field Trip, grades 3-5
October 27
Parent-Teacher Conferences, 3P-6P
October 28
Parent-Teacher Conferences, 8A-12P
Middle School Haunted Hayride, 7P-9P
October 30
Lead Gift Event, 2PM
October 31
Halloween Parties, 2PM
A Big Thank you to our Home & School
Our theme for this school year at OLM is “Rooted in God ... and growing in MERCY."
Our theme for this school year at OLM is “OLM is rooted in God and growing in Mercy”. Keeping this theme in mind our OLM community will be collecting donations throughout the school year. These donations will help to spread mercy on a larger scale. In this way we can help mercy to grow in the larger world community in addition to our own community at OLM. 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 positive difference in helping mercy to grow.
During the month of October we will be accepting donations to support “Live Nice”. This initiative was started by a local elementary school student and raises money to support positive youth programs and anti-bullying organizations. This initiative has already raised money to teach anti-bullying, to support Philly Girls in Motion, to provide for friendship benches at a local elementary school, and to support the Mercy Project. This Project provided blessing bags to the homeless in Philadelphia and Upper Darby. We look forward to continuing to support organizations that help mercy to grow. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Our Mission Collection total for September was $210.00. This money will be sent to the Missionary Childhood Association. Thank you for your gift of charity.
Virtue of the Month: KINDNESS
Our virtue of the month of October is KINDNESS.
"From the Cross, Christ teaches us to love even who do not love us. This is true Christian kindness" ~ Pope Francis
Kindness is to be felt rather than to be defined. It is better to experience it than to try to explain what it is. Moreover, its home is in the heart rather than in the intellect.
When closely looked at, kindness seems a very complex virtue; or we might say that kindness is not so much a single virtue, as a happy mixture of many. Sometimes it takes the form of a special affection, manifesting itself by gentleness, love, mercy and graciousness. Sometimes it takes a more active form, inspiring zeal and generosity.
That so many virtues need unite to build it up proves the worth of kindness. Its beauty and its fragrance are enhanced by its coming before us in the guise of a basket of many flowers.
Kindness is truly defined as that feeling in the soul which inclines a person to wish well to others, and to seek to do them good. Kindness begins its work by making the kind person think well of others, and feel for others.
Kindness is a retiring virtue. It is not striking like genius, nor noisy like valour; in silence and in the dark it does good. Kindness is not of the proud plants which flower only on the heights, it loves the fertile lowliness of hidden valleys, it is among those humble virtues.
We pray to Saint Faustina to help us to be kind people.
Students will be recognized at the School Liturgy on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.
Home & School Meeting
The Home and School Association
Invites you to:
The Home & School General Meeting
Tuesday, October 18 at 7 P.M. in the Parish Hall (gym)
*Mr. McGrath will present the current state of the school - highlighting new curriculum initiatives and exciting new co-curricular offerings at OLM. He will update the OLM school community on our goals for the year including our Middle States benchmarks for this academic year.
*The Board will discuss their goals for the year in the areas of finance, development, advancement, facilities and governance.
*Julie Bebe will talk about the Annual Giving Fund.
*Home and School will give a brief overview of upcoming events.
We hope to see you there!!
Wine and Cheese will be served.
The class with highest attendance will receive a milkshake party.
STREAM
OLM is asking parents to review the attached STREAM FAQ's and complete the following:
1. STREAM survey
2. STREAM sign-up
Both are accessed via hyperlinks. Additionally, please carefully review the items we are seeking for our STREAM Academy. Thank you so much for your support in this exciting new initiative at OLM.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS WERE ARE IN NEED OF:
- paper towel rolls
- toilet paper rolls
- wrapping paper rolls
- cans (if no sharp edges)
YANKEE CANDLE
The Yankee Candle Fundraiser has begun!! Everyone knows that Yankee Candles are great... and they make terrific gifts too! A packet was sent home for manual order and orders may also be placed online. A copy of the catalog is attached, as well as information for the new mobile app. The last day to place orders is October 16th so get your orders in soon. Looking forward to another successful Yankee Candle season. Any questions, contact Karen Ryan @ (215) 542-1426 or mailto:bkwryan3@gmail.com
The Kidstuff Sale has ended so this is just a reminder to parents who have not returned their books or sent in a check. Thank you!
Now is the time to send in those Box Tops that you've been saving up all summer!
Please use the collection sheet or place the Box Tops in a plastic bag or envelope with your child's teacher's name it. Our first contest will run through October 20th. The class that submits the most Box Tops will win an ICE CREAM PARTY! If you are a warehouse club shopper, keep your eyes out for packages with Bonus Box Tops, in stores now. Also, there is a new Box Tops app this year that helps our school earn bonus Box Tops. Select the products you purchased, scan your store receipt, and the Box Tops get added to OLM's account.
Please take a minute to check it out here http://www.boxtops4education.com/bonusapp and consider giving it a try. Last year our school earned $1,746. Let's work together to pass our $2,000 goal this year! Please contact Eileen Wisniewski at edw1972@yahoo.com with any questions about the program or the new app.
A MESSAGE FROM THE HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION...
OLM Adult Social
TICKETS ARE ON SALE!
Saturday, November 12th ~ 7:00 - 11:00 PM
$25 per person (Includes food, beer & wine & DJ)
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
GIANT A+ REWARDS PROGRAM
Welcome to the start of a new school year and a year of A+ School Rewards. Beginning October 12, 2016 through March 17, 2017, Our Lady of Mercy will have the opportunity to earn cash through the Giant A+ School Rewards Program. Our School ID # is 26548.
All you have to do is: Log on to www.giantfoodstores.com/aplus to designate our school online using your Giant BONUSCARD - or - Call the A+ Hotline at 888 - 448 - 4642 for assistance.
Remember: If you registered your card last year, you DO NOT need to re- register this year. You can visit the website to verify the correct school assignment.
Also, don’t forget to encourage your friends and relatives to do the same. It could mean more CASH for our school. After you register your card, each shopping trip to Giant using your BONUSCARD earns CASH for our school. Each month, the amount of CASH awarded will be updated on the Giant A+ website.
You can track the amount of points you earn for our school by checking your grocery receipt and online when you create an account at www.giantfoodstores.com.
Our school will receive a check at the end of the program and the money can be used for any of our school’s educational needs.
Thanks for supporting our school.If you have any questions, please contact Janine Braccia at janinebraccia@comcast.net.
Grade School Dance at Villa Joseph Marie High School
News from the OLM Cafe
The OLM Cafeteria is at full swing! On September 13, we served an option with gluten-free ingredients– Nachos Grande made with ground beef and served with corn chips, to raise awareness for Celiac Disease, and on September 15, we celebrated Watermelon Day and Lunch was served with a fresh watermelon treat!!
Due to the controversy in recent studies about Gatorate and the effects that it has in young kids, OLM has decided not to sell it anymore. Starting October 15th, students in the second lunch period would be able to buy Vitamin Water as an option for an additional drink. The same way, due to the controversy in recent studies about food coloring, Water ice would not longer be available as a snack and we would substitute it with a vanilla ice cream sandwich.
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:
Birthday Blessings this Week!
Sunday, 10/09
Antonio Fabrizio
Monday, 10/10
Remy Barrett
Sarah Hughes
Tuesday, 10/11
Wednesday, 10/12
Thursday, 10/13
Friday, 10/14
Saturday, 10/15
Richie Lemanowicz
ALTAR SERVICE THIS WEEK 9AM
Tuesday, 10/11: Antonio Fabrizio
Wednesday, 10/12: TBA
Thursday, 10/13: Kate Donovan
Friday, 10/14: Tim Barrett