Back to School Night Notes - 9/18/26
The transition to PowerSchool and Finalsite has created some communication challenges. The Diocese is working through these issues across 23 schools, and OLMC is creating workarounds in the meantime.
Teachers are using PowerSchool for communication, while other school messages may come through Finalsite. Parents should watch for emails from both systems.
Parents will receive individual PowerSchool login information. Because each family has unique authentication information, these emails must be sent individually. The school may distribute them one grade at a time and test the process with a few families first.
PowerSchool does not currently provide the same easy homework snapshot that Rediker did. For now, Google Classroom will be used for homework, projects, assignments and reminders.
Middle school students may have several Google Classrooms for different subjects. Students should also use their school planners to stay organized.
Parents should regularly check the school website and Parent Resources page, which is being kept updated with important information.
Lunch orders are monthly and must be submitted on time because orders are placed with vendors in advance.
For dismissal changes, early pickups or other time-sensitive matters, call the school and leave a voicemail. Staff may not see emails during the school day, especially close to dismissal.
Families should return the handbook acknowledgment form and review the handbook, as there have been changes to policies including attendance and tardiness.
The dress code is in the handbook and on the school website. Beginning next week, uniform expectations will be more closely enforced, including tucked-in shirts, properly worn ties and skirts not being rolled.
Students should come to school with their required supplies. Supply lists and color-coded notebook/folder requirements were provided, and students are now expected to arrive prepared each day.
Education is a partnership between school and home. Parents are encouraged to contact teachers or administration whenever they have questions about expectations or procedures.
Morning drop-off and afternoon pickup are going well and continuing to improve.
Please use the family pickup placard and keep it clearly visible so staff can quickly identify cars and families.
Anyone volunteering more than once must complete the required diocesan clearance process, including applicable fingerprinting/background checks and Virtus/child-safety requirements.
One-time volunteers may not need the full clearance process.
PTO Meeting: Tuesday, September 22 at 7:00 PM
Room Parent Meeting: Thursday, September 24 at 6:00 PM
8th Grade Parent Meeting: Thursday, September 24 at 7:00 PM
Parents rotate through three 15-minute classroom sessions. The evening is intended to provide an overview of classes and expectations rather than individual conferences. Specific concerns about a student should be discussed separately with the teacher.
September 13, 2026
Good afternoon Mt. Carmel family!
After a successful first week of school, I hope everyone has taken the opportunity to catch up on some well-deserved rest. As we begin our first full week of school, please keep in mind the following items:
Thank you to the teachers and parents who volunteered to chaperone our Back-to-School Dance on Friday evening. Many of the 5th – 8th graders attended and enjoyed their first social function of the year.
Snacks will be sold at lunch beginning tomorrow ($1.00).
We will have our first fire drill this week. Teachers will explain the drill process to the students. If you know your child is sensitive to noise, please prepare your child for the loud alarm that signals the drill.
On Tuesday evening, plan on stopping at Rita’s in Berlin, where a portion of all sales from 6 PM to 9 PM will be donated to the school. See the flyer for details.
Back-to-School night takes place on Thursday, 9/17, at 7 PM. Details will be sent home prior to that evening.
Please see the attached flyer for information about the Unity Fun Day being sponsored by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office on Saturday, 9/19.
Details regarding the login process for our new student information system, PowerSchool, will be e-mailed to parents this week. Please continue to check for e-mails from the school, as this will be our primary means of communication.
We are fortunate to have an active youth group in St. Simon Stock parish. Information about the group’s activities may be found by accessing their website: https://www.stsimonstock.net/YouthGroup
Enjoy the rest of the day!
Be well,
Alice Malloy
September 6, 2026
Hello OLMC families!
As we celebrate the Labor Day weekend, I hope everyone finds the time to enjoy the last few days of summer vacation with family and friends. There are several things which need to be communicated before our opening day on Tuesday.
Students may be dropped off as early as 7:20 AM. Morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up procedures are attached to this message. For everyone’s safety, please follow the published guidelines!
For our opening day, Tuesday, September 8, parents of K- 8th grade students are invited to escort their child/children to the gym where we will gather for morning prayer as a school community. Pre-K parents may drop their children off at the classrooms and then proceed to the gym if they choose. After the students are dismissed to homerooms, parents are welcome to enjoy a cup of coffee and share first day stories! Families choosing to join us should park in the lot closest to the church.
For our first day, students may wear the summer uniform or the winter uniform. Gym clothes are reserved for gym days and announced special occasions only. We begin school with full day sessions, so please pack lunch for your students. Our lunch program (including snack sales) does not begin until the week of September 14. Don’t forget – order forms for lunches and spirit shirts are due this week.
After-care will begin on September 8. If you have not already done so, please send in the required paperwork on the first day. All forms are located on the school website in the document library.
Additionally:
Summer IXL work (for returning students) must be completed by the start of school on Tuesday in order for credit to be given.
The 2026-27 School Handbook will be uploaded to the school website in the document library by September 8. Please note that there have been some changes to this document. The signature page will be sent home with all students on the first day of school and must be returned by Friday, September 11.
We will celebrate Mass together as a school family on Friday, 9/11 at 9 AM. Please join us if you are able.
On Friday, 9/11, there will be a Back-to-School dance for students in grades 5 – 8. Permission slips with full details will be sent home on Tuesday as well.
Thank you for taking the time to read all of the above information. With prayer and patience, we will have a successful school year!
Enjoy a restful Labor Day!
Be well,
Alice Malloy
Drop-off & dismissal information
August 16, 2026
Hello OLMC families,
Don’t forget our school-wide orientation this Wednesday, 8/19, at 6:30 PM. This is an informal opportunity for parents and students to meet teachers and visit their students’ new classrooms. Plan on visiting homerooms first, then stopping in to see special area teachers.
Following our orientation, at approximately 7:15 Wednesday evening, we will move our gathering to the parking lot for an Ice Cream Social. Keep your fingers crossed for favorable weather!
Please see the links below for information on school lunches, pretzels, and spirit shirts. Feel free to bring the completed forms with you on Wednesday night and give them to Mrs. Buttari.
Be well,
Alice Malloy
August 13, 2026
Good afternoon OLMC families,
Please read the attached letter from our superintendent, Dr. Bill Watson, regarding the Educational Choice for Children Act.
Have a great day!
Alice Malloy
August 9, 2026
Hello OLMC parents,
I hope this e-mail finds everyone enjoying their summer vacations. As we approach the start of another school year (don’t worry…it’s still a month away), there are many things to communicate – staffing changes, volunteer opportunities and dates to remember.
Neither Mrs. Sabato (junior high math) nor Mr. Hasson (junior high language arts) will be returning to Mt. Carmel in September. I am pleased to announce that Mrs. Alyssa Ferenz will be joining our school family as the junior high math teacher. I am currently interviewing for the language arts position and hope to fill the opening shortly.
Mrs. Bilella will be absent from school for a few months as she recovers from surgery to repair a torn tendon in her ankle. Keep her in your prayers for a speedy recovery. In the interim, Mr. Jastrebski will be filling in and covering her gym classes.
Please remember to check the school website for information about supply lists and required summer work. All summer work is posted on individual class websites as well as the “2026-2027 summer work” page. This work is a graded assignment for upper grade students. For specific details visit: https://olmc-school.org/classrooms/
Our uniform swap is open during summer office hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM to noon.
Thanks to a generous donor, there are a limited number of brand new student backpacks available on a first-come, first-served basis during our normal summer hours.
Our friends at Schuster’s Shoes in Berlin stock uniform shoes for OLMC. Please support this local business for all your footwear needs.
There are always many varied opportunities for parents/family members to volunteer at school. Allvolunteers must have the necessary background checks and attend a child safety seminar known as Virtus. Forms are posted on the school’s website in the document library and are also available at school.
Save these dates!
Please visit us the evening of Wednesday, August 19 at 6:30 PM to meet the teachers and visit the classrooms. Afterwards, join everyone outside to enjoy a parking lot party with some frozen treats.
Kindergartners and their parents are invited to visit the classroom on Wednesday, September 2, at 6 PM to celebrate “The Night before Kindergarten.”
School opens on Tuesday, September 8 with full day sessions all week.
Have a great day!
Be well,
Alice Malloy
July 17, 2026
Hello Mt. Carmel families,
As we hit the mid-point of July, I hope that everyone is enjoying their well-deserved summer vacation! At this point in summer, the school building is quiet, but there are a few items to share.
Yesterday was the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, our school’s patroness. Take a few moments to offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the continued health and safety of our school family, and for a successful 2026-27 academic year!
Please remember to check the school website for information about supply lists and required summer work. All summer work is posted on individual class websites as well as the “2026-2027 summer work” page. For specific details visit: https://olmc-school.org/classrooms/
Please remember that tuition accounts will be set up in Finalsite for the upcoming school year. When contracts are generated, parents should receive an e-mail from “Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Regional School” or “info+ourladymtcarmelnj@fsenrollment.com” which gives specific information about accessing your contract. Contracts are not activated until a parent completes the process by choosing payment plan details and “signs” the form electronically. As of today, most contracts have been generated, so please check Finalsite accounts.
Our uniform swap is open during summer office hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 AM to noon.
Save the date! On August 19 at 6:30 PM come visit your child’s classroom, meet some of the faculty and join us afterward for an Ice Cream Social / Parking Lot Party. More information will follow as it becomes available.
Please note: you may receive this message twice today. I am sending it via RenWeb and via Finalsite. Families who had RenWeb accounts in the 25-26 school year will get this message through both platforms. New OLMC families will only receive this message through Finalsite. Please bookmark the Finalsite address as this will be the primary e-mail platform through the remainder of the summer.
Be well,
Alice Malloy
June 21, 2026
Happy Father's Day!
As we enjoy this beautiful weekend (without any homework/studying!), I wish all members of the OLMC family a happy, healthy and safe summer. On behalf of the faculty and staff, I would also like to thank everyone who sent in goodies during the last few days of school. The treats were certainly enjoyed by all!
The school will be open for art camp this week from 9 AM to noon. Summer office hours begin the following week, on June 30 and extend to August 27. The school office will be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 - noon during that period.
Please note: as the school transitions from FACTS & RenWeb to Finalsite & PowerSchool over the summer, be on the lookout for e-mails coming from those two new platforms. We will all need to exercise patience as we learn how to navigate these platforms.
Be well,
Alice Malloy
June 14, 2026
Hello OLMC families and friends,
As we enter the final week of the 2025-26 school year, there are a few items to highlight:
Tomorrow, 6/15, we will bid farewell to the 8th graders with an Awards Assembly at 10 AM and Baccalaureate Mass at 6 PM. Both events take place in the church and are open to the entire Mt. Carmel school community; please join us if you are able.
Our Pre-K 4 students will have their graduation exercises on Tuesday, 6/16, at 9:30 AM in the gym. The teachers will inform parents of details for this important event.
Tuesday, 6/16, is the last day of class for our Pre-K students.
We will close out our academic year with a school Mass on Wednesday, 6/17, at 9 AM. Please join us if you are able!
Report cards (hard copy) and STAR test results (grades 1-7) will be sent home with students on Wednesday, 6/17. As mentioned in previous communications, report cards will not be issued, nor will students with outstanding balances be re-registered for next year until all current balances are cleared.
Wednesday is also our last day of school for the year. It is an early dismissal day and there is no after-care.
Enjoy the remainder of the weekend!
Be well,
Alice Malloy