Let us ask for the grace to be surprised every day by God’s gifts.

Pope Francis

Important Dates

• Friday, April 28 – Professional Day – School and Office are Closed
• Tuesday, May 9 – Noon Dismissal
• Friday, May 19 – Professional Day – School and Office are Closed
• Monday, May 22 – Victoria Day – School and Office are Closed
• Thursday, May 25 – Screenagers @ St. Michael’s 7:00pm
• Wednesday, May 31 – OLM Track Meet – Noon Dismissal
• Friday, June 2 – Walkathon – Noon Dismissal
• Friday, June 16 – Activity Day – Noon Dismissal
• Wednesday, June 28 – Last Day of School – 10:30 am Dismissal

Urgent Attention – Immediate Action Required
We have been notified by St. Thomas More that some parents are parking in their back parking lot adjacent to Mary Avenue Park. There is a reduced number of parking spots due to fire regulations therefore OLM parents are not permitted to park there. OLM parents are welcome to park along 12th Avenue and walk through the STM lot and along the track to bring their children to school. Unfortunately, there have been some instances

Screenagers
When: Thursday, May 25 at 7:00 pm
Where: St. Michael’s – 9387 Holmes Street, Burnaby

Parents are invited to view “Screenagers”. Please mark your calendar.

“An award-winning film that probes into the vulnerable corners of family life and depicts messy struggles over social media, video games, and academics. The film offers solutions on how we can help our kids navigate the digital world.”

Parent Participation Portal – 2023/24 submissions being accepted
If you opted to enroll into the Parent Participation program for the 2023/24 school year in your child’s registration package, you must submit an online request form, so that you can be assigned to an appropriate position. The participation portal page is active and available for parents to submit their participation request forms for the 2023/24 school year. Here is a link to the Participation Program page that contains the sign-up link at the bottom of this page:
https://ourladyofmercy.ca/admissions/olm-participation-program/

As per OLM’s Parent Participation guidelines, in order for parent members to benefit from the Participation discount, it is the parent’s responsibility to register on the Participation Portal. It is also the parent’s responsibility to complete the full 60 participation hours, prior to the end of the school year. Participation request forms will be accepted until May 15, 2023. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our Parent Participation Coordinator at [email protected].

Parish Education Committee (PEC) Elections
Our Lady of Mercy Parish Education Committee election activities are mandated by CISVA to commence in April, with elections occurring on May 27 and 28, 2023 for the upcoming school year. Nominations are now being accepted for 3 vacant positions if you are interested in participating.

The Parish Education Committee has appointed the following persons to be the Nominating Committee for the upcoming 2023/24 Our Lady of Mercy Parish Education Committee elections: Father Hien Nguyen, Cami Mezo, Tony Simas and Rick Valerio. They invite and receive nominations for our Parish Education Committee.

Those eligible for nomination must be:
“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:

• Teachers and principals of the school;
• Past employees of the school until three full calendar years have passed since
  the termination of employment;
• Employees of the parish and/or school;
• Spouses, children, parents, brothers and sisters of persons covered as above;
• All other teachers/principals employed by CISVA”

Nomination forms for parishioners wishing to run for election to the Parish Education Committee of Our Lady of Mercy School are available from both the school/parish offices and online, via the following link:
https://ourladyofmercy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nomination-Form-Package-2023.pdf

Nomination forms are to be submitted and stamped as accepted by the school office no later than 3:00pm PST on Friday, May 19, 2023. No nominations will be accepted if incomplete or is not stamped.

If the number of nominees is the same or less than the number of positions available for election, the election will be considered uncontested and the election date will be deemed unnecessary. If the number of nominees is higher than the number of roles available for election, the election will proceed as scheduled.

May 9 – Noon Dismissal
This is a reminder that on Tuesday, May 9, students will be dismissed at noon. Please note that hot lunch is canceled on Tuesday, May 9th. If you have paid for lunch on this day, you will receive a credit in your MunchaLunch account.

YouthCat is operating as normal, however, it commences at noon (please provide a lunch).

May 19 – Pro- D Day – School and Office Closed
A reminder that on May 19 the school and office will be closed due to the Pro-D Day. May 22 is Victoria Day and therefore there will be no school on that day as well.

“Lent is a time to return to what is essential. Fasting is the spiritual training ground where we shed the things that weigh us down. Almsgiving, charity, will be a sign of our compassion towards those in need, Prayer will give voice to our desire to encounter the Father. In God no act of love, no matter how small, and no generous effort will ever be lost.”

Pope Francis

Important Dates:
• Thursday, March 2 – Art Day
• Tuesday, March 7 – School finishes at 2:00 pm (Youth Cat is still Available)
• Tuesday, March 7 – Student-Led Conferences – Starts at 2:00pm, doors close at 6:00 pm
• Thursday, March 9 – Registration Packages are Due
• Thursday, March 9 – Hip Hop Performance 1:30 in the gym
• Friday, March 10 – Last Day before Spring Break – 3:00 dismissal
• Monday, March 27 – School Re-opens
• Thursday, April 6 – Holy Thursday – Noon Dismissal
• Friday, March 7 – Good Friday – School and Office Closed
• Easter Monday, April 10 – School and Office Closed
• Friday, April 28 – Professional Day – Friday and Office are Closed

Art Day
The students at OLM will be participating in their 7th Annual Art Day, Thursday, March 2nd. This year’s Art Day is inspired by the Canticle of the Sun prayer by St. Francis. Students will be creating a Gallery of Gratitude based on the canticle and by creating unique frames for their artwork. All students are encouraged to dress up as an artist for the day. Costume suggestions include berets, aprons, scarves, overalls, oversized shirts, painted shirts and hats.

Grow and Glow – Student-Led Conferences
When: Tuesday, March 7
Time: Anytime from 2:00 p.m. to 5:40 p.m.
Doors Close at 6:00 pm
No registration is required. Come anytime!
Student-Led conferences are a time to celebrate your child’s learning and progress. This conference focusses specifically on your child’s reading and writing progress, as well as the other aspects of their learning.
Please note: This is a shortened school day. 2:00 pm dismissal

Hip Hop Performance:
Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 1:30pm
The students are to come to school dressed in their hip hop costumes.
Grades K – 7 are to wear a pair of blue jeans that they can move in. Students are encouraged to wear some kind of accessories, i.e. hat, bling, bandanas, glasses or other accessories to add Hip Hop flavor to their costume. Please accessorize!
The colour for the tops are as follows:
Gr.7 – Black
Gr 6 – Grey
Gr 5 – Blue
Gr 4 – White
Gr 3 – Red
Gr 2 – Orange
Gr 1 – Yellow
Gr K – Green

“How can we safeguard and cultivate the peace of Jesus? He himself points to three wellsprings of peace, three sources from which we can draw as we continue to nurture peace. They are forgiveness, community, and mission.”

-Pope Francis

Important Dates

• Monday, February 6 – Personal Care Drive Begins
• Tuesday, February 7 – Skating Grades 3,5 and 7
• Thursday and Friday February 16 and 17 – SCHOOL CLOSED
• Monday, February 20 – Family Day – SCHOOL AND OFFICE CLOSED
• Wednesday, February 22 – Ash Wednesday
• Thursday, February 23 – AGM – 7:00pm in the gym
• Thursday, March 9 – Registration Packages DUE
• Friday, March 10 – Last day before Spring Break
• Monday, March 27 – School reopens.

For all school events, please check the OLM calendar page.

Tax receipts
Tax receipts will be given out on Tuesday, February 7. Please check your eldest child’s backpack.

Personal Care Drive
From February 6-10 the Leadership Club students are asking the school to “Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve” and participate in our Personal Care Drive. With the number of homeless people and families in need growing within our community, we at OLM are striving to help out in a very small way.

The OLM Leadership club will be collecting personal care items to donate to local food banks within our community. Your help is greatly appreciated. Donations can be brought to the classrooms. Items being collected are as follows:

• Primary Grades (K-3)
  • Dental care – toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash
  • Baby items – Diapers, baby food
• Intermediate Grades (4-7):
  • Men’s care – shaving cream, razors, deodorant shampoo, conditioner, soap
  • Women’s care – women’s hygiene products, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, soap

Let’s come together as a religious community and Wear Our Hearts on Our Sleeves for those in need.

Mabel’s Labels Fundraising
Mabel’s Labels Annual Warehouse Sale is here! Everything from labels, tags and more is on sale for up to 50% off! Over ten different Mabel’s Labels products are on sale – so get them before they’re gone, you’re not going to want to miss this!
Here’s how you can get in on the sale:

1. Visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and search for “Our Lady of Mercy School (Burnaby)“
2. Choose the “Sale” tab at the top of the screen.

Dress Down / Theme Days
Dress down days or theme days have been created to build community and school spirit. In addition, they help students recognize certain topics or events in a special way. It is a way for students to become actively involved through participation.
Dress Down Theme Days for the rest of the school year are as follows:

• January 19, 2023 – Hat Day – Students are to come dressed up in colourful outfits which coordinate well with their artistically created hats, adorned on their heads.
• February 14, 2023 – Valentine’s Day Gear – Students can wear Valentines Day traditional colours of pink or red. Hearts, bows and arrows…anything that represents the day.
• April 27, 2023 – Career Day – Career exploration is an important topic for elementary students. Introducing young children to potential career options early on in school can keep students focused and engaged in subjects throughout middle and high school. Students are to come dressed as a profession they would like to grow up to be.
• May 25, 2023 – Matching Day – Students partner with another student and dress in the same outfits

If students wish to participate in Dress Down/Theme Days, the cost is $2.00.

Popcorn Sales
Popcorn sales will occur on the following dates:

• January 12, 2023
• February 22, 2023
• April 22, 2023

The cost is $1.00 per bag. Popcorn will be distributed at lunch time. Students may only purchase one bag.

Treat Sales
Treat sales will take place on the following dates:

• January 27, 2023
• February 10, 2023
• April 14, 2023
• May 12, 2023
• June 7/14/21, 2023

Frozen treats, candy bags and chips are examples of items that will be sold. The cost of the items will be between $1.00 – $2.00.

Hot Dog Days
Hot dog sales will take place on the following dates:

• January 25, 2023
• March 1, 2023
• April 29, 2023
• May 24, 2023

The cost for one hot dog, juice box and chips is $5.00. Individual hot dogs can be purchased for $3.00 each.