Our Lady of Mercy Parish was founded early in 1954, when Archbishop John J. Mitty designated Father Richard W. Power as pastor and established parish boundaries which embraced all of the Westlake section of Daly City, parts of Broadmoor and other sections to the West of Skyline.
After the parish was established, Father Power made a major decision – build a school first, even before a temporary church. Father Power recognized the need for a school since Pope after Pope had stressed the need for Catholic education, and reminded parents of their obligations in this respect. The Holy Fathers had asked that other buildings be delayed to achieve this useful and practical end. Construction of our school commenced January 3, 1955. The cost was $186,000 to construct the school and $20,000 to furnish it. The architect was Vincent G. Paney. The Westlake Catholic Men’s Club and the Westlake Catholic Women’s Club worked hard to raise the money for the school. The new school was described as modern, comfortable and adequate, without unnecessary frills. The school opened its doors in September 1955. The first scholastic year started with 5 grades (1-5). One class was added each year until the full total of eight were in session. The school was staffed by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, one of the finest teaching orders in the country. The first principal was Sister Claire.
In 1958 another first grade was added in order to meet the needs of a growing parish. Since there was not any available space in the school, the first graders gathered in the church hall kitchen while the lower school was being built. This was the beginning of the double school. In 1987 we added Kindergarten. We also added a new building that housed a computer lab, athletic office and the 4B classroom. Renovations and upgrading continued with the expansion of the school library, addition of a conference room, and renovated student restrooms. We repaved and relined the schoolyard, added playground equipment, added new double sided basketball backboards and additional volleyball courts.
Our school is known as a "Five Star" School because of its academic excellence, strong spiritual foundation, enrichment programs (art, music, library skills, computer education, dance, choir and band), fitness for life through physical education and after-school league sports and special services, such as full-time counselor, extended care, homework club, resource teachers and a security guard to ensure the safety of the students on our very large campus.
Our current pastor, Father Bill Brown, is committed to catholic school education and is supportive in encouraging expansion and the upgrading of existing programs. We have high speed internet access throughout the school as well as wireless internet access. The students are able to access the internet in the computer lab, their classroom or at their desk with Apple i-book computers.
OLM is committed to the education of all students, including those with special needs. We have resource teachers to help students with learning disabilities as well as students who require remedial help. We have also contracted with an educational psychologist who will test some of our at-risk students.
The faculty reviews one subject area each year and also the textbooks that are used for that subject. We make sure that our curriculum and textbooks support the California State standards as well as the Archdiocesan Curriculum. This procedure ensures that are textbooks and curriculum are always up-to-date.
Today there are almost 550 students and 70 employees at Our Lady of Mercy School. We also have a very dedicated and active Parent-Teacher Organization. The PTO oversees socials and fundraisers. All of our parents participate by sharing their time and talents to insure the continued growth of OLM.
This year OLM celebrates its 50th Jubilee. We look forward to celebrations with our alumni, families and friends during our jubilee year.
The dreams never end at OLM—we hope to have a pre-school and a gym in the near future.
Our Lady of Mercy School continues, as Father Power said, to be "second to none."