“Education is not about knowing things or taking lessons but about being able to use three lingos: those of the head, the heart, and the hands…learning so that you can think about what you feel and do, can feel what you think and do, and can do what you feel and think. Unity within a person”

Pope Francis

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year at Our Lady of Mercy. We are all excited to have
students back in our classrooms and hallways filling them with energy and enthusiasm for
learning. We want to extend a very special welcome to our kindergarten students and new
students who will be joining our OLM community.

Going back to school after the long summer can be a time of excitement for many children (and
parents 🙂 However, for some children the transition back to school, especially for
kindergarteners and the new students can be stressful or worrisome. We would like to share some
tips that will help you and your family keep organized, create routines, and support your
child(ren) to be the best at school.

1. Use a calendar
Your children will be better prepared for school when they can visually see when school will
start again. A good idea is to hang a calendar in their room and let them mark off each day with a
colorful pen until the new school year starts.

2. Re-establish daily routines and bedtime routines early
Establishing consistent routines is very important for children. Getting enough sleep is critical
for a child to stay healthy and be successful. They will need some time to get back to the
sleeping pattern that they had before the summer holidays started. In order to make it easier for
children to be awake early in the morning, parents can introduce a bedtime routine one to two
weeks before school starts.

Create a bedtime routine that is consistent to help your children settle down and fall asleep. For
example, a calming pre-bedtime routine may involve a bath/shower, reading with them, tucking
them in and saying goodnight.
Have your children turn off electronic devices well before bedtime and remove the electronics
from the bedroom. Try to have the home as quiet and calm as possible when younger children
are trying to fall asleep.

3. Make the unknown environment more familiar
If your children are worried about the fact that they will start school in a new environment such
as a new classroom or where they will line up, bring your children to the school so that they can
become more familiar with the new place. It is also a good idea to have a conversation with them
about all the positive aspects at school such as their favorite subject and the activities they love at
school.

4. If your child(ren) is worried…
One of the most powerful ways you can support your children through the process of returning to
school is by trying to understand how they are feeling about it.

• find the right time to ask them questions to get a sense of what’s on their mind. Help identify
  what they are worried about. Listening to what they are experiencing – give them an open space
  to talk about what’s going on or ask questions
• encourage them to problem-solve
• focus on the positive aspects (what are they looking forward to or are curious about)
• role play different scenarios to build confidence
• be supportive but don’t allow your child to stay at home

5. Pack your bags the night before
There are quite a few things you can do the night before to help the morning rush run a little
more smoothly. Can you have backpacks packed, and waiting by the door? Can you encourage
your children to pick out their clothes and have them ready? Can you prepare lunches the night
before? These little things can go a long way to help you feel prepared.

6. Eating healthy
Studies show that pupils who have a nutritious breakfast and a healthy lunch function better.
They do better in school and have better concentration and more energy. In advance, ask your
children about healthy food that they like to take to school. Maybe your children like particular
fruits or vegetables which you can pack, as well as a healthy sandwich.

7. Give kids time to adjust
Different kids will be feeling different things – excitement, nervousness, uncertainty – about
going back to school. It’s important to give them time to transition back.

Physical activity is a necessary requirement for optimal health – and the benefits are even greater if you can do it outdoors.

Regular physical activity in childhood helps to develop cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength and bone density, and being outdoors is known to improve mental health.

There are many benefits to unstructured, outside play. When children spend time outside, they:

1. Sit less, move more and play longer – key to cardiovascular health and fitness.
2. Have healthier eyes – 10+ hours a week outside reduces nearsightedness risks. 
3. Sleep better – sunlight helps regulate melatonin and sleep patterns.
4. Enjoy improved mood – exercise reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression.
5. Feel more connected to nature – experience calm and develop mindfulness.

Planning active outings doesn’t have to be challenging or costly. Here are some ideas that you can try this week:

• Go for a walk or hike – try these 10 hikes to take your kids on this summer.
• Play in a forest or park – try a new regional park every day for a week.
• Climb a tree – this Vancouver climbing tree is inspiring, but start smaller!
• Explore a local stream – check these beautiful watershed walks in the region.
• Play hopscotch or jump rope – try teaching these six fun jump rope games. 
• Swim at the pool, waterpark or beach – check beach safety conditions first.
• Ride a bike or scooter – find easy, family-friendly cycling routes.
• Visit farms, fish hatcheries and bird sanctuaries – this local family fun guide has unique ideas. 

Find more ideas to keep your kids active through the year on Fraser Health’s website:  https://ow.ly/lrmm50PezbK

“Let us rise up, then, and set out as pilgrims of hope, so that, as Mary was for Elizabeth, we too can be
messengers of joy, and peace.”

Saint John Lateran

Important Dates:
Holy Thursday, March 28, 2024 – Stations of the Cross 11:00 am. Everyone Welcome.

• Noon Dismissal
• No YouthCat
• Hot Lunch to be delivered at 11:00 am

Good Friday, March 29, 2024 – School and Office closed for Good Friday
Monday, April 1, 2024 – School and Office closed for Easter Monday
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 – Pro-D Day – School and Office closed
Friday, April 19, 2024 – Grade 6 Immunization
Friday, May 3, 2024 – Crowning of Mary – Mass 9:30 am
May 8, 9 and 10, 2024 – Outdoor Education Grade 6 and 7
Friday, May 17, 2024 – Pro-D day – School and Office closed
Monday, June 3, 2024 – Pro-D day – School and Office closed

*Please refer to the OLM Calendar for any changes or important dates

Drop Off Reminder
This is a reminder that students are to be dropped off only in the designated area. Please do not drive to
the front of the school where the playground is at any time between 7:45 am – 4:00 pm. We are so
thankful that parents are willing to be traffic supervisors. We ask you to be respectful if a supervisor
approaches you to remind you of any safety rules.

Sneak Peak
Next week we will be launching a Special fundraiser for Mother’s Day. Look out for that notice!

We wish everyone a Blessed Easter.

Help keep kids stay safe from bully behaviour online and at school

Bullying can affect all children and has negative impacts on the victim as well as the bully.

Bullying can appear in several forms:

• Verbal bullying: Examples are name calling, making fun of someone, making jokes at another’s expense, unwelcome teasing and spreading secrets someone disclosed in confidence.
• Physical bullying: Pushing, shoving, pinching, hitting, spitting, damaging property and vandalizing lockers or school supplies. 
• Social bullying: Examples are spreading rumours, being exclusive with friends and excluding people from events or study groups.
• Cyberbullying: Using social media to intimidate, exclude and disseminate private information or using texting, emails or other applications to damage someone’s reputation.

Strategies focused on building self-esteem, developing respectful relationships and providing clear but respectful communication tend to be the most successful.

Children who are bullied need to be empowered and supported in developing healthy relationships.

Bullies on the other hand, need to learn social responsibility, empathy, right from wrong and remedial actions, such as rebuilding relationships and apologizing. 

What can you do as a parent to prevent or deal with bullying?

• Encourage your child to report bullying they either experience or witness to school staff, such as teachers, counsellors, principals or parents.
• Provide opportunities for open dialogue about sensitive topics.
• If your child is the bully, encourage them to reflect on their actions, and how they would feel if the tables were turned and they were on the receiving end.
• Help your children develop digital literacy so they are aware of what cyberbullying looks like and have strategies for handling cyberbullying when it arises.

Find more advice for preventing or dealing with bullying on Fraser Health’s website at: https://ow.ly/Yq2150Pei4C

Our Winter Food Drive was once again a huge success, due to the generous donations by our OLM Community. The food collected will help two food banks in our area:

• Don’t Go Hungry in New Westminster – feeding over 500 families weekly. 
• Help Us Belong  in Burnaby – Feeding over 500 families weekly.

Your donations, while they may seem insignificant, are impactful to those in need. We believe that a single action can make a difference in the community and that collective action can impact the world. Congratulations O.L.M.!!

In other Leadership Club News, we are excited to participate in the Shoebox Project. We will be donating 20 personally crafted gifts that contain a mix of essential everyday items and small luxuries that any woman would love! These boxes are meant to uplift and empower women who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Money raised from hot dog days, popcorn/chips and frozen treat sales have been used to fund this project. More community outreach projects will take place in the new year.