Beyond the Classroom
The school sponsored sports program is available to all students meeting the grade and age criteria to
participate in each particular sport. Interscholastic teams in Basketball, Baseball, Softball and Soccer
play against teams from other schools of similar size. Female and male students are encouraged to
participate. All students that commit to the team become members of the team. The cheerleading
squad is open to all students in grades 4 through 8. This non-competitive sport provides students with
opportunities to build team skills in leadership, sportsmanship, responsibility, cooperation and school
spirit.
The student body elects members of the Student Council at the end of each school year. The Student
Council is made up of a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and a committee of
representatives comprised of one student from each grade. The goals of the Student Council are to
provide experiences in service, responsibility and leadership. Students plan, lead and execute
activities and outreach projects throughout the school year that serve the student body as well as
communities outside of Our Lady of Mercy School.
The Mock Trial program, developed by the Connecticut Consortium for Law and Citizenship
Education, gives the students an exciting opportunity to enhance public speaking and critical thinking
skills, while having fun acting out all the parts of a trial. A team consists of twelve eighth grade
students representing the defense and prosecution sides. Our Lady of Mercy School won the State
Championship in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.
The Mercy Messenger, the school newspaper, is produced by the eighth grade, and assisted by
interested students in grades four through seven. The students are actively involved in every aspect of
publishing a newspaper, which includes layout, choosing and writing stories, editing, photography
and advertising. To prepare the students, all eighth graders participate in a weekly journalism class.
The Instrumental Band program is available to all interested students in grades 4 through 8. Weekly group instruction and band rehearsal is offered for all woodwind, brass and percussion instruments used in the Band ensemble. The band experience at OLM is designed to teach students the necessary technical skills and musicianship to be a successful member of a high school concert band, marching band, pep band and/or jazz ensemble.