Frequently Asked Questions
The office is open Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:00pm.
School hours are 8:45am – 3:00pm Monday to Friday with the exception of Non-Instructional (Professional days) and some early dismissals. All Professional and early dismissals are indicated on our school calendar. The students are expected to be in the back playground ready to enter the school at 8:45am.
The main entrance to the school is off 10th Avenue in Burnaby. The staff-only parking lot is adjacent to the school. All other parking is available next to the Parish.
We start taking applications at the end of November prior to the year your child starts Kindergarten. Your child needs to be 5 years old by December 31st.
No, the school does not have an open house for safety and security reasons. However, you can view this website to see the school and find information about the different programs that the school has to offer.
If you are interested in having your child attend Our Lady of Mercy, you can download an application form and drop it off at the office. The Principal will review it and if there are any spots available the secretary will set up an interview with you and your child. The interview is usually no more than a half-hour and you can request a tour of the school at that time.
All parents/visitors must report to the school office when entering the building. This is a safety precaution to ensure we know who is in the school at all times.
The school follows the CISVA Admission Policy for admitting students. All families are welcome to apply.
Class sizes are determined by the school Principal.
Yes, the school uniform is strictly enforced throughout the year. For more information including where to order school uniforms, please refer to our Uniform Policy.
- Recess for students is at 10:15 – 10:30am
- Lunch for all students is 12:00 – 12:50
For more details on our typical school day, please refer to our School Schedule.
While not mandatory, parents support is vital at Our Lady of Mercy. Therefore, we offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the school year. You can view and schedule these opportunities directly online to help make volunteering a straightforward process. Your scheduled volunteer hours are also tracked online. If parents choose the option to volunteer, it is their responsibility to keep track of their total volunteering hours to ensure they meet the necessary requirements of committed hours throughout the school year. Total committed volunteer hours should be completed by mid-June.
Please refer to our Parent Volunteer Program for more information.
All parents who choose to participate must submit to a Criminal Record Check. The school office sends a Criminal Record Check Request Form link to the interested parent(s) and they complete and submit online.
Once submitted and processed, a letter is sent to the school office notifying them that the parent has cleared and can volunteer. The Criminal Record Check letter is kept on file in the school office and is good for 5 years.
Fill out the Absentee Form or send an email to the office at [email protected]. Include the dates your child will be away from school. The office will notify your child(ren)’s teacher and note it on the school attendance.
All absences must be submitted to the office.
The youthcat after school program is open to all Our Lady of Mercy students in grades Kindergarten to 7. It runs from Monday-Friday 3:00 – 6:30pm (exceptions include school holidays and Professional days). Kindergarten students are able to join the program after their gradual entry program is completed.
For more information on the youthcat after school program (including where it’s located, rates, and how to register), please refer to the youthcat program page.
Yes, the school is currently partnering up with The Lunch Lady catering company. This partnership provides families with hot lunch opportunities twice per week. The menu options are provided throughout the school year and is available for all students of Our Lady of Mercy school.
Try to send lunch with your child to promote independence. If you need to drop if off, you can label it and leave it on the table in the foyer just inside the front door.
Core materials are pre-ordered for all students. Students are given their supplies on the first day of school in September. Grade specific material lists are made available in June.
Parish Education Committee (PEC)
CISVA stands for Catholic Independent Schools Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA). CISVA is the registered non-profit society whose educational policies and guidelines govern Our Lady of Mercy School. CISVA, for example, sets the minimum tuition fees and provides professional development for teachers and principals. CISVA requires that each school have a Parish Education Committee (PEC) to support the Principal and Pastor with the administration of the school.
Parish Education Committee, also referred to as “PEC”, is a group of six volunteers, elected by active Our Lady of Mercy parishioners, who work with the Pastor and the Principal to ensure the successful running of our school. The PEC, like the school, acts to forward the mission of the Catholic Church.
As a Catholic School in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, Our Lady of Mercy school is governed by the educational policies and guidelines of the Catholic Independent Schools Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA), a registered non-profit society. CISVA requires that each school have a Parish Education Committee (PEC) that manages the school on its behalf. Parents of Our Lady of Mercy students delegate responsibility for their children’s Catholic education to CISVA. CISVA delegates the PEC to support the Principal and Pastor with the administration of the school.
The PEC has responsibility for: setting and managing the school’s budget, planning and organizing the school’s fundraising activities, managing the school’s parent participation program, overseeing building maintenance and site improvements, long-term strategic planning, hiring of staff with the support of the Superintendent’s Office of the CISVA and in consultation with the Principal, and liaising with the Catholic Independent Schools Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA) and the Federation of Independent Schools Association (FISA). The administrative and business functions of the PEC are carried out within the Church’s mission to “build and proclaim the Kingdom of God.” A full description of PEC responsibilities and corresponding policies is available here.
PEC Roles and Responsibilities
Chairperson
- The role of the Chairperson in the parish or regional education committee is critical to the successful
functioning of the Education Committee and ultimately to the successful functioning of the school. The
Chairperson’s main task is to work closely with the Pastor and Principal to ensure that the goals and
objectives of the school are being met and that the policies and guidelines of the Society are followed. - The Chairperson derives all his/her authority from the role of the Education Committee. Since, in fact,
the authority to establish policy rests with the Committee it is important therefore, that when speaking
for the Education Committee, the Chairperson base his/her statements on policy that has been passed
or approved.
Vice Chairperson and Society Representative
- Fulfills the responsibilities of the Chairperson when he/she is unable to perform. Represents the PEC as a Society Delegate, attending the CISVA Annual General Meeting.
Treasurer
- The role of the Treasurer is a critical one in the financial management of the school and as such must be
filled by a person with a formal accountancy designation and/or business administrative skills with direct
experience in preparing and managing budgets, and undertaking financial analysis. - Assists with preparing budgets, ensuring fundraisers follow policy, ensuring school finances are in order, and reports to the PEC
Participation
- Oversees the Parent Participation Program and assigns parents to various categories of need for the school
- Communicates to parents about participation hours if families are not going to meet their hours
- Reports to the PEC
Maintenance
- Works with the maintenance families and our Facilities Manager to ensure maintenance projects happen
- Coordinates the participation families for Maintenance to ensure hours are met
Secretary
- Takes the minutes of the meeting and distributes them to the PEC and others as requested
PEC members talk about school needs and issues, generate ideas, problem solve, and make decisions.
Every PEC monthly meeting follows a set agenda
- we begin with faith development
- review action items from last meeting
- followed by reports (i.e. Principal, Pastor, Maintenance…)
- and finally, any new business
- on occasion there are “in camera” items that warrant discussion and only members of the PEC can stay for “in camera” items
No, you don’t have to be a parent with a child attending Our Lady of Mercy School to be on the PEC. You do, however, have to be a registered member of Our Lady of Mercy Parish. Our Lady of Mercy School was built by and for the parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy Parish.
Those eligible to hold office as a member of a Parish Education Committee are practicing Catholics, approved by the Pastor, who are eligible to vote in that parish and have reached the age of twenty-one (21), with the following exceptions:
• all employees of the CISVA or any CISVA affiliate School;
• anyone who is part of the governance structure of any other CISVA School or CISVA Affiliate School;
• past employees of the CISVA or any CISVA affiliated school until three full calendar years have passed since the termination of employment;
• employees of the parish; and
• spouses, children, parents, brothers and sisters of persons covered as above.
Every spring the school and the parish invite parishioners to consider joining the PEC. Anyone who is eligible can be nominated. Fr. Hien Nguyen must sign off on any official nominations. An election is held if there are more interested people than spots available. Nomination forms are available in the school office.
All members prepare for and attend a monthly meeting. Between meetings individuals carry out work on their own or with others to attend to their area of responsibility. Members also attend a one-day professional development conference in September.
Yes! Being a member of the PEC fulfills your parent participation requirements.
It is expected that each PEC member will take responsibility for a specific role and area of activity: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Parent Participation, Maintenance, Special Events and Fundraising.
New members are not expected to take on major responsibilities immediately. Members are expected to: share their knowledge and gifts towards the school’s betterment; prepare for, attend and participate as able in meetings; conduct themselves in the spirit of Christian collaboration; respect confidentiality when necessary; and support the Principal as the chief administrator in the school.
The PEC is accountable to the Board of Directors of the Catholic Independent Schools Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA). Parents of Our Lady of Mercy students delegate responsibility for their children’s Catholic education to CISVA. CISVA delegates the PEC to support the Principal and Pastor with the administration of the school. Ultimately, this means that the PEC acts on behalf of CISVA and not on behalf of the parents or the students.
CISVA stands for Catholic Independent Schools Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA). CISVA is the registered non-profit society whose educational policies and guidelines govern Our Lady of Mercy School. CISVA, for example, sets the minimum tuition fees and provides professional development for teachers and principals. CISVA requires that each school have a Parish Education Committee (PEC) to support the Principal and Pastor with the administration of the school.
What is the mission of the Catholic Independent Schools Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA)?
The CISVA Mission Statement is as follows:
“Our Catholic schools provide each student with an education rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Guided by the Holy Spirit and Catholic teaching, in partnership with home and parish, our schools foster the growth of responsible citizens who will live,
celebrate, and proclaim their faith.”
You do not need an appointment to talk with the Principal. Mrs, Grout is happy to talk with you. You can drop by the office any time and ask to speak with him. If he’s able to do so right then and there he will. If it is a longer conversation, please schedule an appointment through the Office by calling the school or emailing [email protected].
The Federation of Independent Schools Association (FISA) is the political arm of independent schools in BC. It has five member associations, including the Catholic Independent Schools of British Columbia, representing close to 300 independent schools in the province. FISA is a registered non-profit society that carries out research and advocates at different levels of government to fulfill its mission: “FISA BC’s mission is to enable parents to exercise the right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children and to promote the rightful place and responsibility of independent schools within a democratic and pluralistic society.”
There are several differences between a PEC and a PAC:
- PEC stands for Parish Education Committee and PAC stands for Parent Advisory Committee.
- A PEC is made up of seven parishioners from a Catholic church whereas a PAC is comprised of all the parents/guardians of children in a BC public school. An elected executive committee administers the PAC.
- The PAC plays an important role in improving the school life through its fundraising and volunteer efforts but it is not accountable to the school’s governing body (eg. the Vancouver School Board) for ensuring educational policies and guidelines are implemented; the School’s principal holds this responsibility.
- The PEC is responsible for managing the school of behalf of its governing body, the Catholic Independent Schools of Vancouver Archdiocese (CISVA).
Most Catholic schools in the Archdiocese are governed by the CISVA, as is Our Lady of Mercy. There are three non-diocesan high schools, originally run by religious orders (Little Flower Academy, Vancouver College and St. Thomas More Collegiate) that are not governed by the CISVA. Most of our students who continue to a Catholic high school will attend St. Thomas More Collegiate.