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Parents Association 

Greetings WMA Families, 

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The start of a new school year is upon us and we couldn’t be more excited. 

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As President of the Parents Association this year, I wanted to welcome you to the wonderful community that is Waldron Mercy Academy and share some information about the PA and upcoming events to kick-start the year.

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The PA puts on numerous events throughout the year, like BINGO, Homecoming, Trunk or Treat, a Linvilla Hayride, Snacks with Santa, a Day of Service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr., Parents’ Quizzo, an Easter Egg Hunt, Gals ‘n Pals Dance, Son + 1 Phillies Game, and Faculty Appreciation Week. We also host a monthly Grab-and-Go for parents to catch up over coffee after Community Gathering, run the Clothesline, where gently used uniforms are laid out for the taking, and support the School Store.

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All PA events are run through our Committees. Please sign up here to get involved:

  • Aid to Faculty

  • Athletics

  • Clothesline/School Store

  • Events

  • Hospitality

  • Mercy Outreach

 

Additionally, the PA coordinates the Homeroom Parents and Grade Coordinators to support our teachers. If you are interested in this role please click here to sign up. 

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Parents Association Meetings- All are welcome to our monthly PA Meetings where we check in and plan future events. PA meeting dates are posted within the school calendar and updates are provided in the WMA Weekly. Meetings will be held in-person this year and refreshments will be served. Our first meeting will be held on September 19, 2024 at 7pm in the Library. 

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In the meantime, please save the date for the following upcoming events:​​

September 7—Back to School Picnic (2:00-4:00). Come see friends and familiar faces, and meet new ones! The Clothesline and School Store will also be available — please sign-up here if you can help out.

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Back to School Night PA Intro Meetings — the PA will hold a brief introductory meeting in the Cafeteria, after the teacher meetings. Stop by to find out more about what we do and how to get involved. The Clothesline will also be available before and after the teacher meetings—please sign-up here if you can help set that up.

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I want to personally extend a very warm welcome to all of you as we enter into the 2024/2025 school year. I hope to see you at upcoming PA meetings/events! Any questions? Please reach out to parentsassociat​ion@waldronmerc​y.org

 

Warmly,

Cat Bird 

PA President, Parent '28 and '30

PARENTS ASSOCIATION OBJECTIVES​

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  • Promote collaboration, communication & cooperation among the WMA parents, faculty and administration;

  • Actively encourage and coordinate parental aid to WMA faculty & administration in developing spiritual, academic, creative, emotional and physical growth of Waldron Mercy Academy students;

  • Provide an opportunity for parents, faculty and administration to share ideas, information and talents, and to listen and share in an atmosphere that is open and encourages collaboration;

  • Enhance the reputation of Waldron Mercy Academy in the community; and

  • Assist and promote Waldron Mercy Academy's athletic program and other sports related extracurricular activities.

  • How do I drop off my child safely at WMA?
    Formal supervision in the Dixon Gym begins at 7:30 a.m. No student should be in the building before that time. All students are expected to arrive by 8:00AM No student should enter through the main door unless they are a walker or are arriving after 8:10 a.m. School officially begins at 8:10 a.m. Attendance will be taken at 8:15 a.m. A child not in his or her classroom at that time will be marked late. ​ BY CAR Parents must drop all students off at the car line doors. Preschool, PreK and Montessori students will enter through the back driveway and be escorted directly to their classrooms. Students in K-8 will enter through the side playground driveway door. Please refrain from using cell phones during arrival on campus, follow the directions of carline staff, and remember to maintain a safe speed of 10 miles per hour. ​ BY BUS Students transported by bus enter the building through the designated door and go directly to the Dixon Gym. ​ WALKERS Students should enter through the front door and proceed to the Dixon Gym. ​ BY VAN Precious Cargo private van service transports from South Philadelphia, Fairmount and Center City. Please contact Amelia and John Fogarino at 215-463-5489 (H) or 215-480-0800 (C) Please call ASAP if interested.
  • How do I pick up my child at dismissal?
    Dismissal begins with prayer at 2:50 p.m. (11:50 a.m. on early dismissal days), followed by instructions for car, walker, Mercy After Care, sport, and bus lines. ​ CAR Parents are not permitted to pick up their children in the Dixon Gym, the Front Lobby, or any other door to the building. Please pull in the front driveway and form two lines. Do not leave your car for any reason. A placard will be given to you at the beginning of the year. Display the placard in the front windshield with the names and grades of all the children you are transporting. Follow the directions of the teachers in the car line. Teachers will escort your children to the car. Children who are not picked up by 3:20 p.m. will go to After Care and be charged accordingly. Please refrain from using cell phones during dismissal on campus, follow the instructions of carline staff, and remember to maintain a safe speed of 10 miles per hour. ​ BUS Students will be dismissed from the Dixon Gym as their buses arrive. A teacher will walk them to the buses. If a bus does not arrive at school by 3:40 p.m., parents will be notified. ​ WALKERS Only children who live within a one‐mile radius of the school will be permitted to walk home. Permission notes must be on file in the Main Office for students to walk home. A staffmember will cross the children at the traffic light at Merion Road andMontgomery Avenue.
  • How can my child be part of the After Care Program?
    Beginning the first week of school, Mercy After Care (MAC) is open from 3:00- 6:00 p.m for all students in Montessori-8th Grade. This program includes recreational activities, enrichment experiences, scheduled homework periods, and snacks. The staff consists of professionals, both teachers and teacher aides, who work together to provide individual attention, security, and consistency of programming in an atmosphere of respect and fun. On certain days such as Faculty Inservice Days, Spring Break and some holidays Mercy After Care closes at 4 p.m. ​ The cost of after care is $10 per hour. The MAC registration form can be found on our website.
  • What is the uniform for my child?
    Students in our three and four year old programs do not wear uniforms. We recommend comfortable clothing and safe footwear, such as sneakers. Starting in Kindergarten, every child wears a Waldron Mercy uniform. The students have a warm weather uniform, a winter uniform and a gym uniform. Specifics about our uniform can be found on our website. The school uniform is available through Flynn & O’Hara and can be purchased in-store or their website. Gym uniforms (also called Spirit Wear) can be purchased through Lands’ End, Flynn and O’Hara and the WMA Mullen Family School Store, located on our Garden Level or online.
  • What is the Parents Association? How can I become involved?
    Waldron Mercy Academy Parents Association is an organization made up of parents, teachers and administration. It consists of several committees that help with social, academic, athletic and outreach programs for WMA. All parents are welcome to be part of this association. Meetings are held monthly in the evenings.
  • What is the WMA Weekly?
    WMA families receive our weekly newsletter, the WMA Weekly, via email every Thursday afternoon. It is filled with all of the updated information parents need about upcoming events, lunch menus, athletic events, special speakers, etc. Parents are highly encouraged to read this newsletter each week to keep up‐to‐date on Waldron Mercy Academy news.
  • What food is available throughout the school day?
    Is breakfast available? CulinArt Group is the food service provider for WMA. Breakfast is available each day from 7:30 to 8 a.m. in the Cafeteria. Information about the cost and choices is found on the weekly menu posted on WMA’s website. Is a hot lunch available? A daily hot lunch program is available to students in Preschool-8th Grade. Information about the cost and choices is included in the calendar posted each month online. Parents have the choice of packing their children’s lunch or buying. Beverages and snacks may be purchased at WMA whether you pack or buy lunch. A debit process is used to purchase items and information will be provided on how to set up your account through MyPaymentsPlus. Are there healthy snacks available at lunch? There are healthy snacks sold at break time and lunch time. The prices range between 75¢ and $1.75. Is there a snack break? Beginning in first grade, students can purchase snacks for their morning break time. Soft pretzels can be purchased for 75¢. The school provides snack for Montessori children. Preschool, PreKindergarten and Kindergarten students bring their own snacks from home. Please be conscious that many students have food allergies. We ask that you do not send snacks to school that contain peanuts or tree nuts.
  • What is Community Gathering?
    Every Wednesday morning at 8:10 a.m., the faculty, staff and students join in the Dixon Gym for prayers and announcements. We celebrate birthdays, academic and athletic accomplishments, and we pray and sing together. Parents are welcome to attend.
  • What is “Back to School Night”?
    Each September, Waldron Mercy has a time for parents to meet the teachers, hear about the grade expectations and ask questions. “Back to School Night” for our Montessori 3 and 4‐year‐old students, and Preschool, Pre‐K, Kindergarten, and grades 1 -3 will be held Monday, September 9, 2024. Parents of students in grades 4 to 8 will meet on Tuesday September 10. All meetings begin in the Dixon Gym at 6:30 p.m. More information will follow.
  • When are parent‐teacher conferences? When are report cards distributed?
    The Waldron Mercy academic year is on a trimester system. Report cards are distributed at the end of each trimester. Parent‐ teacher conferences are held in October and February. Grades 5 to 8 can access their grades online. Pre‐k sends formal reports home three times a year. Montessori communicates progress through conferences two times a year. Kindergarten sends four formal reports home a year. Teachers schedule conferences for further communication concerning each child’s progress. All parents are expected to attend the conference at the end of the first trimester. The second trimester conferences are by request only. Teachers and/or parents can request a second trimester conference. ​ Students in kindergarten through grade five attend conferences when appropriate. Students in grades six through eight are required to attend conferences.
  • How do I communicate with my child’s teacher?
    Parents are encouraged to communicate with their child’s teacher as needed throughout the school year. Our youngest students (Preschool-3rd grade) come home each day with a school folder that should be checked for announcements and notices. All parents are welcome to e‐mail or speak to the teacher on the telephone. If needed, parents and/or teachers will request additional conferences to discuss their child’s progress.

COMMITTEES

Math Explorations

Math Explorations

Several times a year, parents of first, second and third graders attend math classes from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. to help with the students’ math explorations. Guided by parents, students work in small groups and “explore” different math concepts with the use of manipulatives and games. Please note that signing up does not guarantee specific Exploration dates. We will do our best to accommodate all requests.​

Parent Clearances

Parent Clearances

Under amendments to the Pennsylvania State Child Protective Services law, all teachers, staff, administrators, contractors, and volunteers who come into contact with students must obtain criminal background checks and child abuse clearances from the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, and Department of Human Services every five years.

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Beginning July 1, 2015, any adult applying for an unpaid position as a volunteer responsible for the welfare of a child or having direct contact with children needs clearances. This law affects all of our parent volunteers who come to school to help with classroom parties and activities, Math Explorations, chaperoning field trips, helping with the school musicals, etc. Any parent who could potentially be left alone with a student will have to obtain background clearances. 

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The following clearances are needed:

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In accordance with Pennsylvania Law, no volunteer who would be responsible for the welfare of a child or have direct contact with children would be permitted to do so where the department has verified that the applicant is named in the statewide database as the perpetrator of a founded report committed within the five-year period or if an applicant’s criminal history record information indicates the applicant has been convicted of an offense listed in 6344C (see link above). 

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Please provide a copy of all clearances to WMA. No parent will be permitted to volunteer in the school in any capacity without the proper clearances and paperwork on file at the school. Please understand that we are not trying to deter parents from being involved in the school life of their child, rather, we are abiding by the law and helping to create a safe environment for our students.

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