What's up at Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac, MD???

[Anonymous]

In the past, I have heard many good things about Our Lady of Mercy "through the grapevine." However, I recently learned that their enrollment is dropping and a fair number of students are transferring to other schools. I read many of the back issues of the school's weekly newsletter located on their website, and, quite frankly, felt that the principal's messages were inappropriate and obnoxious! In the most recent one (dated Jan. 5 2011), the principal appears to be chastizing/mocking those who are intending to transfer out of the school. Some of the other past messages are negative and dictatorial. Does anyone know what is going on there??? I was considering the school for my son, who will be applying to kindergarten, but I'm not sure I will even bother to visit it during Catholic Schools week.

Any helpful insight is appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I don't have any insight but I just read the letter you're referring to and it is quite unprofessional and inappropriate.

[Anonymous]

I just read it and it sounds like her attempt to be funny over something that apparently strikes a nerve. Not knowing her, I'm not sure if that's her usual style or not. Maybe some Mercy folks know better.

[Anonymous]

OP here - Thanks to those who took the time to read the most recent OLOM newsletter. I obviously haven't met her (Joan Hosmer) either. It's so hard to really learn about a school unless you know current parents, which I don't. I'm really hoping that some OLOM parents will post their thoughts. Thanks again for your time.

[Anonymous]

P.S. it appears they have removed the Principals message from the site

[Anonymous]

It's not the Principal's Message - it's one of the weekly memos.

[Anonymous]

OP - is this what you are referring to:

"Our annual Open House during Catholic Schools Week is Wednesday, February 2
from 8:30 until 10:30. An invitation is included in this mailer. It is always a delightful
morning so please join us and please bring a neighbor or friend who might
be thinking about our school. There will be displays of student work, textbook
samples, coffee and pastries, and tours of the school for visitors. We will be advertising,
but we also need you to help get the word out about our wonderful
school. Remember ~ the more students, the lower the tuition, so start recruiting!

If you have lost your senses and are considering applying to another school,
please remember that there is an administrative fee of $50 per application. It is
our honor to write extensive recommendations for our 8th graders applying to high
school. Transcript requests and recommendations for students applying to transfer
from our school, however, require a $50 fee. And remember, just because
your child is accepted to another school does not mean they have to make the
wild and crazy choice to leave us. You can always reconsider…"

[Anonymous]

i got a chuckle out of that.

[Anonymous]

Yeah - I agree with idea that it's meant to be lighthearted to the parents. If it's a weekly memo it's meant for the insider school families who presumably would understand.

[Anonymous]

I think it's just an attempt to be funny. It falls a little flat, but don't we all have moments when our humor doesn't go over as intended?

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's an obvious attempt to make light of an uncomfortable situation - an attempt at humor that fails miserably. But it's completely inappropriate for this type of newsletter. What kind of amateur administrator would think to write something like this, let alone publish it? Completely embarrassing.

[Anonymous]

You guys are nuts. I don't know this person, but it is obviously light hearted humor. I think it says something positive about the atmosphere at the school.

Sounds like someone has an axe to grind.

And BTW, enrollment is down at most Catholic schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
And BTW, enrollment is down at most Catholic schools.

Not the "good" ones from what I can see. We really want a neighborhood school but may not get into our home parish because of full classes and sibling preference.

[Anonymous]

What is your neighborhood school?

[Anonymous]

The transfer situation is nothing out of the ordinary. Some of the Mercy kids were always looking to go to Landon, Holton (start at 3d grade), Mater Dei (1st grade) and the Heights (not sure). So the parents were looking to put their kids somewhere until these entry years. Has happened every year for decades and says nothing about the quality of the school.

Of course, the principal would like to convince familiies not the leave and truly believes that Mercy is a better option (it was a Blue Ribbon school last year!). See other threads on the Blue Ribbon application, which includes test sores.

Hope this helps.