Our Lady of Mercy Academy (New Jersey)

Our Lady of Mercy Academy
Address
1001 Main Road
Newfield, NJ, (Gloucester County) 08344
Coordinates 39°32′39″N 74°59′47″W / 39.54417°N 74.99639°W / 39.54417; -74.99639Coordinates: 39°32′39″N 74°59′47″W / 39.54417°N 74.99639°W / 39.54417; -74.99639
Information
Type Private, All-Girls
Motto Knowledge and Truth
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Established 1962
Principal Mrs. Brooke A. Coyle
Faculty 22.0 (on FTE basis)[1]
Grades 9–12
Enrollment 178 [1] (2009-10)
Student to teacher ratio 8.1:1[1]
Campus Suburban
Campus size 57 acres (230,000 m2)
Color(s) Green and Gold         
Athletics conference Cape-Atlantic League
Team name Villagers
Accreditation Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools[2]
Newspaper The Oracle
Website http://www.olmanj.org

Our Lady of Mercy Academy (OLMA) is a college preparatory, all-girls Catholic high school founded in 1962 by the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy in Franklin Township, New Jersey, United States. Despite its location in Franklin Township, the school has a Newfield mailing address. Operated under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden,[3] the first class, consisting of 23 students, graduated in June 1965. Its first principal was Sister M. Dolores. The first faculty members were Sisters Gertrude, Dominica, and Matthew Marie; now, most of the faculty is lay.

OLMA is the only all-girls high school in South Jersey. The school grounds span 57 acres (23 ha) and include a gym, sports fields, a Chapel and an indoor pool. Its traditions include a senior trip to Florida, a religious retreat for all grades, junior Ring Mass and celebrations of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Three Kings Day, Mary Day, and pi day.

Description

The school colors are green and gold. Green represents hope; gold represents victory. The school motto is "Knowledge and Truth". The school crest features a lamp for knowledge, a globe for truth, a cross for Christianity, an open book "of life" and an "M" for the Blessed Mother. The school is inspired by the vision of Saint Mary Joseph Rossello, who educated young girls in the 19th century. The school's community service club is named in her honor. OLMA is a sister school to St. Augustine College Preparatory School, the all-boys college prep school in Southern New Jersey, as they share certain amenities such as busing and use of sports fields.

As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 178 students and 22.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 8.1:1.[1] Each year, students, faculty, staff, family, friends, and alumni gather for the traditional Communion Breakfast, a Mass followed by a brunch. On October 2, 2011, this event kicked off OLMA's year-long 50th anniversary celebration, and featured as guest speaker Theresa Grentz of collegiate basketball fame.

Athletics

The Our Lady of Mercy Academy Villagers compete in the National Division of the Cape-Atlantic League, an athletic conference consisting of both parochial and private and public high schools located in Atlantic County, Cape May County, Cumberland County, and Gloucester County, that operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[4]

OLMA sports include: Crew, Lacrosse, Softball, Swimming, Basketball, Track, Cheerleading, Winter Track, Cross Country, Tennis, Volleyball and Soccer

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Our Lady of Mercy Academy, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed September 24, 2012.
  2. ↑ MSA-CSS. "MSA-Commission on Secondary Schools". Retrieved 2009-07-31.
  3. ↑ Catholic Schools Directory, Roman Catholic Diocese of Camden. Accessed October 20, 2016.
  4. ↑ League Memberships – 2015–2016, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2016.
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