The Mercy Momentum Prayer Knowledge Service
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The Mercy Momentum Prayer Knowledge Service SUMMER, 2008 Volume 12, Issue 3 Principal’s Preface Earth Matters at OLOM s we stand at start of a new school year we A find ourselves also on the threshold of a year dedicated by our Holy Father to honor the Apostle Paul. Our Lady of Mercy School, along with all other schools in the diocese, will study and strive to emulate St. Paul in his dedication and fervor in spreading the Good News of our savior, Jesus Christ. The letters of St. Paul to the earliest members of the Church carry messages for twenty- Seventh grader Taylor first century followers as they did for first century Lemoine and followers. They carry messages for adults and for fourth grader children in the school setting. Jack Poss As St. Paul challenged the Romans (Romans 12: work together 4-5) to remember that “…in one body we have during the final stages of many parts, and all the parts do not have the same recycling function, so we, though many, are one body in paper. Christ and individually parts of one another.” We are challenged to come together as a community with shared goals and the realization that the tudents at Our Lady of Mercy School spent success of the whole is dependent on each of the S many hours during the school year exploring parts performing its function. Accepting how their actions affect our Earth. This is not to say responsibility, working beyond the comfort level, that all Mercy Blue Jays have gone completely green, and holding oneself accountable lead to tasks but certainly that steps were taken at all grade levels accomplished and goals achieved in service to the to stress the importance of being kind to the Earth Body of Christ. and its resources. Science classes at Our Lady of Mercy School In his letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians served as the platform to truly make Earth Day one 12: 3-7) St. Paul stated, “There are different kinds of of awareness for students. On April 22, 2008, sev- spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are enth grade students served as instructors for stu- different forms of service but the same Lord; there dents in grades 1-6, by hosting sessions in regard to are different workings but the same God who recycling. A simple, yet effective activity, demon- produces all of them in everyone. To each strated the process of recycling paper through a individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given method students at all grade levels could under- for some benefit.“ We are challenged to seek out stand. Under the guidance of their Science teacher, the gifts in ourselves, develop those gifts to their Mrs. Nessie Galliano, seventh grade students shared fullest, and use them to serve our God from whom a “hands on” activity that stressed how recycling im- they came. We are challenged to recognize and pacts our earth. With minimal materials, student respect the gifts of others, though they may be instructors guided attendees through the process of different from our own, in the realization that each recycling paper. of our gifts is meant to be a part of the whole, the Following a closing session on how to properly wash one’s hands, Mrs. Galliano explained to each Body of Christ. group that “Everything you do today is for your fu- Continued on page 3 Continued on page 2 400 Marquette Avenue Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806 225-924-1054 Fax 225-923-2201 2 MERCY Motivates Earth Matters adventure as they learned about mineral classifica- Continued from page 1 tion and identification. It was a hands-on opportu- ture”. Students were offered simple suggestions for nity for students to gain additional knowledge of reducing waste, and for being more energy efficient. Earth science while studying this unit in Science A simple suggestion to conserve water is to turn off class. The students’ finds included dozens of min- the water while brushing one’s teeth. The sugges- erals, which they were allowed to take home follow- tions offered were ones that students can effec- ing the activity. tively execute in their daily lives. Students left each In more detailed units that stretched beyond the session with the understanding that the responsi- parameters of Earth Day, first grade students ex- bility of keeping the Earth clean belongs to every- plored the Rainforest and the Earth’s water. These one, and that individual efforts that foster conserva- lessons were incorporated into science and reading tive solutions, will greatly and positively affect the classes, and resulted in knowledge gained in regard future generations. to the importance of conservation. Learning about Mrs. Brandi Aydell’s fourth grade students con- the Earth’s oceans helped to introduce lessons structed “Garbage Sculptures” which were created about sea creatures, pollution, the weather, differ- using materials brought from home. The materials ent forms of water, and the properties of matter. In that would have otherwise found their way to the later units, first grade students learned about or- trash, were transformed into art pieces that were ganic foods as well as Louisiana products. The most displayed in the fourth grade hallway of the school. detailed study included the strawberry, and with All students learned about the importance of Earth creative writing that included some “Berry Fun Po- Day and the three R’s - reuse, reduce, and recycle. etry”, students began to understand and appreciate Diamond Del’s Mining Adventure, a mobile gem more fully some of what our “local” earth has to mine equipped with flumes and flowing water, ar- offer. The unit regarding strawberries culminated rived at Our Lady of Mercy School in late spring. with a field trip to pick strawberries at Blahut This activity offered fifth grade students a unique Strawberry Farm in Holden, Louisiana. First graders in Ms. Sherry McLaughlin’s class had fun while learning about the Earth’s water. Front row: Hannah Stears, Camille Fremaux, Tia Nix, Gina Ward, Grace Lachney, Caroline Johnson. Second row: Philip Tullier, Lane Bishop, Alexander Elliot. Third row: Kaytie Blanchard, Sydney Melder, Ryan Harrison, Alex Harrison, Olivia Clark, Nareg Moutafian. Back row: Kylle Poiencot, Joseph Price, Francis Dinh, Eli Addesse, Michael Degeyter, Ethan Roberts, Grant Ruffino, Sherry McLaughlin. MERCY Merits 3 The Coastal Roots Nursery Program enables stu- dents to become well informed about issues of Students of the Year coastal stewardship, as well as actively participate in coastal and wetland restoration projects. Our Lady of Mercy School is currently a participant in the Louisiana State University Coastal Roots pro- gram. In November 2007, all eighth grade students from Our Lady of Mercy School traveled to Fon- tainebleau State Park in St. Tammany Parish for a restoration planting trip. The students planted long- leaf pine and southern bald cypress seedlings that had been maintained in the school’s nursery, as part of the Seedling Nursery Program for Wetland Restoration. The students of Our Lady of Mercy School were 5th Grade 8th Grade well informed and actively engaged in creative pro- James Isacks Jeannie Vicari grams regarding the Earth throughout the school Congratulations to Our Lady of Mercy’s Students year. Students progressed while gaining an under- of the Year, James Isacks (5th grade), and Jeannie standing of the importance of appreciating and con- Vicari (8th grade). serving the Earth’s precious resources. Through Each year, Our Lady of Mercy School, in conjunc- simple means, students were given the opportunity tion with the Catholic Schools Office for the Diocese to explore the importance of their responsibility to of Baton Rouge, selects its Students of the Year. One practice the preserve and conserve theories that student is selected from the 5th grade class, and one will protect and ensure the availability of resources student is selected from the 8th grade class. These for future generations. students then compete against other 5th and 8th graders in the area at the Diocesan level. Principal’s Preface To be nominated and ultimately chosen to be Continued from page 1 Student of the Year is quite an honor. Candidates St. Paul encouraged the Philippians (Philippians for Student of the Year must, by their actions, exem- 2: 3-4) to become one by serving others rather than plify our school’s motto of Prayer-Knowledge- self. “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of Service. In doing this, candidates are screened for vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more their academic endeavors, their involvement in important than yourselves, each looking out not for their school and in the community, their involve- his own interests, but (also) everyone for those of ment with their church, and the leadership they others.” We are challenged to put our own desires have shown at school and elsewhere. aside for the needs of others and the benefit of the Congratulations to these two students on their whole, the Body of Christ. outstanding work, and a thank you for representing What lessons do these readings from Paul have Our Lady of Mercy School. for the beginning of the school year? St. Paul challenges us, adult and child, whatever part we play in the Body of Christ that is Our Lady of Mercy In the News . School, to work hard and expect that the work will Each year, the Advocate’s Educational Services De- not be easy. He challenges us to respect one partment host a Current Events Rally for students another and insist that those around us do the in grades five through eight. The purpose of the same. He challenges us to put the needs of others Current Events Rally is to encourage an under- first with faith that our needs will be fulfilled.