Dear Parents and Guardians, Our first few days have been action-packed! Here are some important announcements: Technology at OLMCA  We are so delighted to announce that 25 brand new Google ChromeBooks have arrived at OLMCA. The purpose of Chrombooks in middle school is to empower our students to become fully active participants in our technology driven society. Through the instruction of the classroom teachers along with Mr. Seubert and Ms. Quinlivan, students will acquire technological and critical thinking skills enabling them to be better prepared for high school and the real world. Thanks to the tireless work and enthusiasm of Mr. Seubert, our students have started using our new iPad Air 2 tablets this week. Our second graders were using their new iPads to understand the importance of having a healthy diet! This acquisition of new technology could not have been done without the support of our parents and greater school community. We are excited to see what the students will achieve next! Home Academy Association Thank you for your AMAZING support and huge turnout during the OLMCA Back-to-School Night! Let’s continue that enthusiasm this Thursday night, September 21st at 6:30pm. Please join us for our first Home Academy Association meeting of the year!  At Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy we want parents to get involved in the lives of our school and community. This platform gives families the opportunity to join in making OLMCA the best it can be. We value your input and need your help to achieve all of our goals! Without you we cannot do it.  Please join us this Thursday night, September 21st at 6:30 in the gymnasium. 50th Anniversary Gala Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy invites you to GALA 2017! We are  celebrating our 50th Anniversary. Join us October 21st from 6 to 11 pm at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills for an evening to remember! Cocktails, h’orderves, and a light dinner will be served. Dance the night away while bidding on items in our Silent Auction and Raffles to benefit a new outdoor play space and gymnasium upgrades. Our goal is to raise $50,000 and with your help we can make it happen! Please check our school website for more information!   Hurricane Harvey and Irma Dress Down Day Our hearts and prayers continue to go out to our Catholic school families affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. The National Catholic Educational Associations (NCEA) Student to Student: A Catholic School Response to Hurricane Harvey campaign is gaining momentum and we are here to help. #StudentToStudent Join us for a special dress down on Friday, September 22. For $1.00, you will make a difference for students enrolled in Catholic schools. NCEA will distribute 100% of the funds collected to dioceses in the affected areas for their Catholic schools in vital need of support due to the impact of Hurricane Harvey. Please review the dress down guidelines as outlined in our Parent-Student Handbook. Students may wear:                                                                           Jeans                                                                                       Sneakers Short socks Shorts no shorter than two inches above the knee Skirts no shorter than two inches above the knee Skorts no shorter than two inches above the knee Sweatshirts Sweatsuits Dresses no shorter than two inches above the knee Slacks Students may not wear: Flip-flop sandals Open back shoes Tank tops T-shirts with inappropriate writing Peep Shoulder/Off the Shoulder shirts/sweatshirts Sneakers that convert to roller skates Any shorts shorter than two inches above the knee (Ex – Biker shorts) Pajama pants Make-up, nail polish, jewelry Low-cut blouses/tops (Mid-drift should be covered at all times) Clothing that is extremely tight (Ex – leggings with a short tight shirt) Hats Seat Availability-Pre-K For All We still have seats available for Pre-K for All. If you know a family that might be interested in our program, please contact Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy directly. If your child will be 4 years old on or before December 31, they will be eligible for our enriching and fun full day program! We are more than happy to answer or questions or schedule a tour. Sincerely, Dana McCann Principal

Click here to download more information about the 50th Anniversary gala!

Our hearts and prayers continue to go out to our Catholic school families affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. The National Catholic Educational Associations (NCEA) “Student to Student: A Catholic School Response to Hurricane Harvey” campaign is gaining momentum and we are here to help. #StudentToStudent

Join us for a special dress down on Friday, September 22. For $1.00, you will make a difference for students enrolled in Catholic schools.

NCEA will distribute 100% of the funds collected to dioceses in the affected areas for their Catholic schools in vital need of support due to the impact of Hurricane Harvey.

Welcome to the start of a brand new school year! We hope that you and your family had a peaceful, restful, and enjoyable summer. We are very excited to share with you some upcoming highlights at OLMCA!

Morning Routines (Grades K-4)

Starting on Monday, September, students in grades K-4 will go straight to their classroom at 7:50. The students will be supervised by the teachers on the floor. The students may enter from the main entrance as usual. Please be advised that parents may not go to any of the classrooms without an office pass.

Early morning-drop will begin at 7:15 in the Parish Hall. Students will be supervised by teachers, served breakfast, and be brought to their classes.

Meet the Teachers (K-8)

Thursday, September 14 at 6:30 PM

Our teachers eagerly await the opportunity to meet the parents of their students! We will gather in the school gymnasium where I will address the parents regarding parent communication and special events at OLMCA.  After my brief presentation, you will go upstairs to meet your childs teacher! Parents will go directly to the classrooms for 15-minute sessions, with three separate sessions available for parents with multiple children. If you have a child in grades 5-8, you will remain in the gymnasium. I look forward to seeing everyone!

OPTION C (Grades 1-8)
Parent Portal

Please make sure that your emergency card has been filled out. This will allow for the most effective communication between the office and you! We will continue to use the OptionC Learning Management System for all students and parents. This system provides an online resource for students and parents to retrieve important information. You will receive a username and password on Back to School Night. This will allow you to view grading information and attendance for your child. It is very easy to use and will be a means of communication between the academy and you and your child/children.

 Back to School Liturgy

Grades K-8

September 13 at 10:00 A.M.

Monsignor McGuirl and Father Greg will celebrate our schools Opening Mass on Wednesday, September 13 at 10:00 A.M. Students in grades K-8 will gather at Our Lady of Mercy Church for the mass. All family members are welcome to join us! It will be a wonderful celebration of community, love, and education! We look forward to seeing you there!

Lunch Forms

The lunch and breakfast program begins on Monday, September 11. Children need healthy meals to learn! You should have received a form with information to apply online. You are able to apply online at nyc.applyforlunch.com. The school code for OLMCA is: 28N725. Filling out this form will help determine your eligibility for free lunch. Be advised that the lunch costs $1.75 per day until the forms have been returned for students in grades K-8

If you have any questions about the lunch program, the office staff will be happy to assist you.

OLMCA Facebook Page School Website

We are extremely excited about our Facebook page. This is another tool to keep you connected with the exciting events at OLMCA. We will use this page as a tool to communicate with our current families while reaching out to our extensive alumni base. Be sure to like our page and share it with your friends and family!

You can access our page at: https://www.facebook.com/ourladyofmercyca/

OLMCAs 50^th Anniversary Gala

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy invites you to GALA 2017, Celebrating our 50th Anniversary. Join us October 21st from 6 to 11 pm at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills for an evening to remember! Cocktails, h’orderves, and a light dinner will be served. Dance the night away while bidding on items in our Silent Auction and Raffles to benefit a new outdoor play space and gymnasium upgrades. Our goal is to raise $50,000 and with your help we can make it happen! Please check our school website for more information!

Welcome to New Faculty Members!

Please join me in welcoming some new faculty members!

Mrs. Donna Alleva, Financial Secretary

Ms. Jessica Ruddy, Nursery Teacher

Ms. Alyssa Loscalzo, Pre-K Teacher

Ms. Jennifer Clinton, Teacher Aide

Ms. Korinne Manno, Teacher Aide

Thank you so much for entrusting us with your children. We look forward to another amazing year!

 

OLMCA Draft Calendar 2017-18

OLMCA Office Hours

Friday, June 23 ? Thursday, June 29 3: 9 AM-12 PM

Friday, June 30-July 7: CLOSED

July 10-July 26: 8 AM-12 PM

July 31-August 11: CLOSED (Appointments available upon request)

August 14-August 17: 8 AM-12 PM

August 21-Augst 31: 8 AM-12 PM

September 4- CLOSED

September 5- 8 AM-3PM

 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Final Days of School

Our last full day of school is Monday, June 19. This is also the last day of Extended Care. On Tuesday, June 20 and Wednesday, June 21, we will dismiss at 12 PM. Hot lunch will be served until Wednesday, June 21. The last day for early morning drop-off and the breakfast program is Thursday, June 22.

Report cards for students in Grades 1-7 will be distributed on Thursday, June 22. The annual Awards Ceremony will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Church at 10:30. All parents and families are invited to attend. We will dismiss from Our Lady of Mercy Church.

Summer Packets

All students entering Grades K-8 at OLMCA in September will receive a summer packets. These packets will be distributed by Friday, June 16. Students are asked to complete the summer packet and return it to their homeroom teacher on the first day of school. The directions for the packets will also be made available on the school website. For new families, summer packets will be mailed directly to their homes.

Registration

Priority registration for current students and their relatives ended as of Friday, April 28. Families must be current on this years tuition to register for next year. It is imperative that you return the form as soon as possible to ensure that your child has a seat for the 2017-18 school year. If you are in need of an extra registration sheet, please contact the office at 718-793-2086.

Teacher Recognition Ceremony

On Friday, June 9, the Diocese of Brooklyn honored several of our teachers celebrating milestones for their years of service to Catholic Education. Congratulations to all teachers recognized!

Ms. Sue Jo Feeley (20 years)

Mr. Thomas Kennedy (15 years)

Mrs. Nicole Vaccaro (15 years)

Mrs. Monica Cirone (10 years)

Ms. Lauren Leone (10 years)

Ms. Ann Quinlivan (10 years)

Mrs. Janice Ray (10 years)

Step-Up and Graduation Dates

• Pre-K (Friday, June 16 at 9 AM and 10:15)
• Nursery (Tuesday, June 20 at 9 AM)
• Kindergarten (Wednesday, June 21 at 9 AM)

Grade 8

Graduation (Saturday, June 17 at 11 AM)

OLMCA Office Hours

Friday, June 23 ? Thursday, June 29 3: 9 AM-12 PM

Friday, June 30-July 7: CLOSED

July 10-July 26: 8 AM-12 PM

Office hours for August will be available on the school website. You will also receive an e-mail indicating August hours.

The office will be closed on Fridays throughout July. If you need to schedule an appointment outside of office hours, please contact Ms. McCann at dmccann@olmercyca.com or call the office at 718-793-2086 for an appointment. We are happy to accommodate your schedule.

See You in September!

Thank you for a wonderful year at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy. It has been an honor to serve as principal of this academy. It has been a pleasure getting to know all of the students. We are a community filled with gifted athletes, artists, musicians, scientists, mathematicians, and so on. On behalf of the entire faculty and staff, I wish you a happy, healthy, and blessed summer. We are looking forward to another exciting year at OLMCA. See you in September!

 

Race for Education

Our annual Race for Education was a tremendous success! We raised $11,037.75! Our students concluded Spirit Week with a desire to run for new and improved technological devices. Once we order the new devices, we will be sure to inform you of our new educational devices!

On behalf of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Academy, I would like to thank all of the sponsors that contributed to our special race. Thank you to all of the parent volunteers that supervised the students, punched holes, and helped serve food. Thank you to the faculty and staff for organizing this wonderful event. I would especially like to thank Mrs. Monica Cirone and her team of teachers for preparing a delicious barbecue! This event would not have been the success that it was without the support of Mrs. Kathleen Murphy and Mrs. Joan Mlicko. Their leadership was without peer. ?I cant wait until next years race!

Here is a breakdown of the winners:

Highest Donations:

?Grand Prize: Lucas Holloway (Grade 2) and Dylan Vetell (Grade 2)

(Tie, both students will receive a $100 prize)

2^nd Place: Isabella Sardinas (Grade 3)

Highest Earning Class:

Grade 1 (The class has earned a pizza party!)

Grade 3 with 100% returns will earn a pizza party!

Most Laps

Grade 1: Gael Lucas and Mia Watts

Grade 2: Lucas Holloway

Grade 3: Eziel Hernandez-Vargas

Grade 4: Avi Gupta and Joshua Paduani

Grade 5: Isabel Berrios, Hunter James, and John Leo Masi

Grade 6: Thomas Heinz

Grade 7: Kacper Niepokoj

Grade 8: Devin Arasa

All participants will receive a dress down card. Thank you again for your support and generosity!

Registration

Priority registration for current students and their relatives ended as of Friday, April 28. Families must be current on this years tuition to register for next year. It is imperative that you return the form as soon as possible to ensure that your child has a seat for the 2017-18 school year. If you are in need of an extra registration sheet, please contact the office at 718-793-2086.

Volunteer Luncheon

Please join us for a Volunteer Celebration!

Thursday, June 8, 9-10:30AM

Our Lady of Mercy Parish Hall

As a special thanks to all of our volunteers, we are hosting a breakfast to celebrate all that you have done to create a strong partnership between school and home!

Step-Up and Graduation Dates

• Pre-K (Friday, June 16 at 9 AM and 10:15)
• Nursery (Tuesday, June 20 at 9 AM)
• Kindergarten (Wednesday, June 21 at 9 AM)

Grade 8

?Graduation Mass (Sunday, June 11 at 10 AM)

Graduation (Saturday, June 17 at 11 AM)

It is an exciting time at OLMCA. We look forward to sharing these special moments with you and your children. Be sure to check the website for important announcements as we begin to prepare for the 2017-18 school year!

Service book Drive

for Underprivileged Children in Cambodia

Now Until Friday, June 9th

Dear Parents and Students,

For part of this summer, I will be volunteering at a school for poor and orphaned children in Cambodia. Cambodia is a very poor country. ?Many Cambodian children have no choice but to work or beg on the streets. ?Access to education is the only hope that Cambodian children have to someday have a better life. ?Learning to speak and read English will increase their chances of future employment and success dramatically.

The school at which I will be working has a library of only a few books. ?It is my goal to provide the school with many more books in English and expand this into a real, working School Library. ?Many of you have generously donated books to our School Library in the past, and as a result, we have several duplicate books that we will be able to donate from our school to theirs. ?But we could still use more!

If you have any gently used books that are still in good condition, please donate them for our Service Book Drive. ?We will be focusing on books that will help children learn to read basic English, specifically picture books, Easy Readers, simple chapter books, and graphic novels.

At the conclusion of our Book Drive, on Friday, June 9th, we will be having a special Service Dress-Down Day. ?We are requesting that the students pay $1.00 to dress down that day. ?This is to help defray the costs of shipping the books to the school in Cambodia. ?I will be paying the bulk of the shipping costs myself, but any small amount that we could raise to help with this cost would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so very much for any help that you could offer, either in donating books or participating in our Service Dress-Down Day. ?The children and I are so grateful for anything that you can do to help!

Sincerely,

Ms. Ann Quinlivan

School Librarian