Perhaps Mercy learned a lesson about what to put on the website for the public to view and what should be secure content for parents' eyes only...since they know the principal intimately and appreciate her sense of humor.

A website is a marketing tool and ALL smart parents go directly to the website to read everything available when researching a school to attend....AS THEY SHOULD!! It is not trolling, it is being an appropriate advocate for your children.

First of all, I worked at our lady of mercy for many years and now send my three children there. It is an AMAZING school and one of the few catholic schools with a special education/inclusion program. Joan Hosmer is one of the most professional principles I have ever worked with. Part of the reason it Is such a great place is because she has such a funny sense of humor! All of the parents appreciate it.

To the person who had a problem with her weekly letter...Perhaps you should look into a different school with a principal with less personality and no sense of humor?

First of all, I worked at our lady of mercy for many years and now send my three children there. It is an AMAZING school and one of the few catholic schools with a special education/inclusion program. Joan Hosmer is one of the most professional principles I have ever worked with. Part of the reason it Is such a great place is because she has such a funny sense of humor! All of the parents appreciate it.

To the person who had a problem with her weekly letter...Perhaps you should look into a military style school where humor is unacceptable and frowned upo

Seriously ridiculous that the principal's comments (obviously meant to be lighthearted) have so many worked up and looking for the sinister motive. Gimme a break. This town is so uptight it's really incredible.

The newsletters on their website were taken down to protect the children attending the school since they contained personal information about them.

Mercy is a wonderful, nurturing school and extremely inclusive. The quote you are referring to was meant in jest as the school fights to retain kids (boys in particular) in the upper grades and that fact is well known among the parents. Enrollment is down in private schools all over the area period.

I am a Mercy parent who had some of the same concerns but I thank God everyday for this school. It has been a wonderful experience.

For those who don't know much about Mercy you should research the school and staff before you insult those that work there. The school is and has been a Blue Ribbon school for several years, if you are not familiar with what this is you should research it because it says a lot about the schools academic and the students. The programs at Mercy are numerous: Special Education Program, Gifted and Talented, Spanish K-8 and a ton of clubs for children to join. You WILL NOT find this at other schools in the area. When you walk into school you see right away the hard work the teachers, many who have been there a long time, are putting into their jobs. They have a big reading initiative program every year the whole school participates in and you visibly see their progress and the excitement the children have doing it because there work is displayed through the hallways.

The school is one class per grade to keep the close knit community feel. Children leave this school as well as others due to many reasons, financial, family moves or as others already said to go to Mater Dei. Parents and children love Mrs. Hosmer and her professionalism.

Yes, it sounds like I work there or my children go there but neither are the case. My children are too young for school and only hope when they are old enough they could attend this school, although I have toured the school. I have many friends who do send their children there and ABSOLUTELY love it and the principal!

Anyone is allowed to have a guided tour of the school. I would suggest you to call and make an appointment!

You may want to look at St. Raphael's in Rockville. It is a very new school, very small, and the principal has designed the curriculum from the ground up. I have heard very good things about it, and if I lived closer, I would have sent my daughter there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- Thanks to all of you who took the time to comment on my post. Interestingly, the school's weekly newsletter is no longer available on its website. All past issues have been deleted as well. Perhaps someone associated with the school saw this thread and informed the administration.

That is interesting...I bet you are correct.

So what? Maybe they deleted so that posters like you -- who know nothing about the people involved or the school -- cannot take these newsletters out of context and write ridiculous posts.

Some people obviously have too much time on their hands -- to go trolling for gossip on an elementary school website is just pathetic.

You might also consider that she, herself, did not actually write it, but perhaps an underling did.

We are members of Mercy parish with our children elsewhere, but other parents we know say excellent things about the school. We know some of the religious ed people via ccd for our children and have always felt included and welcomed. Our previous parish, in Chevy Chase, made us feel like 2nd class citizens because our children were not in the school.

There was nothing mean spirited about her column. But clearly it was poorly written and was doomed to fail from the get go. Unbelievably amateurish of that person to think there wouldn't be some fallout.

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- Thanks to all of you who took the time to comment on my post. Interestingly, the school's weekly newsletter is no longer available on its website. All past issues have been deleted as well. Perhaps someone associated with the school saw this thread and informed the administration.

That is interesting...I bet you are correct.

OP here -- Thanks to all of you who took the time to comment on my post. Interestingly, the school's weekly newsletter is no longer available on its website. All past issues have been deleted as well. Perhaps someone associated with the school saw this thread and informed the administration.

All the neighborhood church catholic schools in Bethesda/CC and Potomac compete with Mater Dei, Stone Ridge, Holy Child in the later grades.

Our little K-8 (one class per grade) is actually UP in enrollment, and it's not in some hoity toity 'hood.

Anonymous wrote: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.

To 21:48 --

OP here -- Thanks for your post. Are you a current parent or recent past parent? If so, what do you like about the school and what are the areas that need improvement? I am looking for a Catholic school that will provide my son with an excellent, rigorous education as well as a nurturing environment. Are the teachers generally very good? Anything you are willing to share will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.