Parents eNewsletter: June 2010

Today, I took a breath. Odd how I hadn’t realized that I had been holding my breath for so long. It is the second week of June and I took a breath. No, it is not why you might imagine, a sigh of relief that another school year has ended. Instead, it is a breath that releases the pent up anxiety that comes from working in a school.

Today, I took a breath and today I count my blessings. Last week, Mercy graduated 184 lovely young women. Last week, 553 other very excited girls traversed all the rows in the Auditorium to take their new seats in the sophomore, junior, and senior sections.They were shrieking and shaking, literally, due to their enthusiasm. Ignore the fact that a mere 18 hours later, each of them returned to their younger status in grades nine, or ten, or eleven. For a few glorious hours each had made the transition, even though temporary. Each girl still needed to finish her coursework and take her exams before she could truly claim her new status, but celebrate she did.

Today, I took a breath. I am blessed because a prom season came and went, as did a spring break, a skip day, a graduation day, and the all night party, and I was able to shake the hand of all 184 beauties after each had received her diploma. No chair was empty. The class was present, in total. No tragedy for any individual student . . . injury, accident, or loss of life marred this class of 2010. Today, I took a breath. I know that my experience was not shared by every high school principal across the nation. I know that, indeed, it was not the experience of every high school principal even in Michigan alone.

Hug your daughter today be she a newly graduated alumna or a proud new sophomore or junior or senior. Hug her today, because you can. Make a little fuss over her new stature. And then, after you do, take your own breath before you move on.

Sincerely,

GOD BLESS the Class of 2010!

Farewell Mercy. Hello future. CONGRATULATIONS and best of luck to the 184 extraordinary young women who received diplomas June 3rd at Compuware Arena for the 65th Commencement of Mercy High School. Welcome to the Alumnae Association!

And . . . did you know theClass of 2010 earned over $8 million in college scholarships? See more grads, white dresses, roses, smiles, speeches, and tears captured on film. View and order LIFETOUCH professional graduation photographs. Password is cwmercy2010.

Dads Club

THANKS for all the support this year in all of our Dads and Daughters events! The Tigers game was sold out and there were a record 84 golfers at our outing last month. Be sure to check out the Mercy Dads Club web pages throughout the summer for events and updates.

Read the full lists of awardees and highlights.

The entire Mercy school community convened on June 2nd for the annual HONORS CONVOCATION to recognize all the stellar students of 2010. From poetry and art, service and scholarships, biology and music, all were honored for their awesome achievements and a standing ovation to the seniors for a fabulous four years.

Let's Hear It for the STAFF

We salute these super staff who achieved a milestone in serving Mercy High School!

This year we say good bye to Mrs. Judy Pauley who has been a valued staff member for the past 12 years. Mrs. Pauley taught all things science: Chemistry; Biology; Anatomy; and Physiology. We thank you for all your guidance and encouragement. May god bless you in your future adventures!

GOLF IS SOLD OUT! Please email mallongolf@mhsmi.org to be put on the golfer wait list. This will be Meg's last year of championing this extraordinary event so we invite you to join us for dinner and the party celebrating Meg's dedication to Mercy. Dinner Package is $75/person and Party Package is $20 cover charge for party with band 50 Amp Fuse. Cocktails will begin at 4:30pm followed by dinner promptly served at 5:30pm at Fox Hills Golf Club in Plymouth. Party begins at 7:30pm with band 50 Amp Fuse. Visit the Golf Outing page to register and sponorship opportunties are still available!! All are welcome and encouraged to participate in this Mercy summer fun-raising event!

Student Successes ~ APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!

Kayce Nieto '12 has been selected as the female Athlete of the Month for Month of June as part of the promotion with Sunkist and the Oakland Press. Kayce plays Varsity Softball and she will receive a trophy, school plaque, $250, and photo shoot and interview feature.

Read The Best of this year's ART & POETRY Compilation Image Is! (pdf)

The Council of 2010 - 2011

The students have spoken, the ballots have been counted, andthe 'vote for me' posters pulled down.Time to congratulate these elected officers for the 2010 -11 school year.

Student Council Officers:

• President - Sara Yockey
• Vice President - Jessie Ronayne
• Secretary - Teresa Rotondo
• Treasurer - Whitney Morey

Class of 2011:

• President - Emily Shimskey and Meghan Donnelly
• Vice President - Jessica Knapp
• Secretary - Stephanie O'Neil
• Treasurer - Tori Czaplicka
• Class Rep - Colleen O'Malley
• HRC - Allie Babcock, Jasmine Hart, Reem Katbey, Ronni McGee, Paige Taliaferro

Class of 2012:

• President - Haleigh Guerin
• Vice President - Christine LaRouere
• Secretary - Alex Abowd
• Treasurer - Olivia Cholewa and Laura Williams
• Class Rep - Gina Mahaz
• HRC - Taylor Gordon, Cortney McKay, Heather Smith, Elaina Weber

Class of 2013:

• President - Chloe Henderson
• Vice President - Maggie Malaney
• Secretary - Maria Pluszczynski
• Treasurer - Katie Coerdt
• Class Rep - Alexis Schultz
• HRC - Christy Castillo, Sophie Lemisch, Candice McKay, Margaret Reaume

Is Your Name Listed?

Each year wepublish an onlinePRESS PROOF forthe Mercy Family so that when we acknowledge your gift in the Annual Report it will be as accurate as possible. View donors who have given July 1, 2009 through May 15, 2010 (pdf). Please check that your name is listed correctly and in the proper giving level. Contact twsklut@mhsmi.org or 248.893.3538 with any changes.

If you are not listed, you have until JUNE 30th to make your gift to this year's Annual Appeal Fund and make a difference at Mercy High School. Donate to mercy online! THANK YOU for all your wonderful support!

Guess What

The Mercy Women Mean Business Symposium is coming to a TV near you! Set your DVR's for Sunday, June 27th at 2:30 on Channel 56. Tune in to see and hear the amazing women leaders featured at the influential Women Mean Business event held in April at Mercy.

Latest and Greatest from the Alumnae Office

Plenty of Alums headed back to the Mercy Auditorium for MOVIN' UP. So many, they didn't all fit in this photo! Thanks for stopping by!

After five years as Mercy's Alumnae Coordinator, Jennifer Stark will beleaving the role to work part-time in Mercy's Admissions Office. If you or someone you know is interested in applying for the Alumnae Coordinator position please read more about the position and how to apply.

Your opinionmakes a difference! So if you have a comment to make or story to share for the MOSAIC Mercy magazine, please send us an email at alumnaeoffice@mhsmi.org.

SNAPSHOT of Mercy

SMILES and SONGS.

The Mercyaires brought in $400 for the Mercy High Auction and in turn were donated to do a performance at the Cristo Rey fundraiser. If you have a snapshot of Mercy to share, please send to jhearle@mhsmi.org.

MNotes . . . miscellaneous info you need to know!

Senior Parents - If you're wondering about a graduation gift and want something unique and personalized, how about adopting an auditorium seat in your daughter's name, with her graduation year. A perfect gift for your young Thespian, Mercyaire, Spirit Choir or Tri-M Music Honor Society Member. More information.

USED BOOK SALE - The Mercy Moms will once again be running the Used Book Sale. Drop off of books for sale will take place on August17 and the sale will be held August 18. Please visit the curriculum page of Mercy's web site in early August to see what books will be accepted for resale. Students will receive schedules by mail in the summer with further instructions on book purchasing from the Mercy Moms sale and/or from our online bookstore through Follett Virtual Bookstores. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ms. Linskey at mjlinskey@mhsmi.org or 248.893.3568.

Carpool - The Admissions Office generates a carpool list each spring to distribute to all incoming families as well as present Mercy families who request a copy. All students are included on this list unless the Admissions Office is notified and a request is made to remove them. If you do not want your daughter and address information included on the carpool list, please contact the Admissions Office at 248-476-2484 or mpweiss@mhsmi.org. The carpool list will be distributed via email in early June.

CLASS of 2011 Portraits - Seniors must have their yearbook photo taken at Prestige Portraits to be pictured in the yearbook and the class composite. More portrait details and deadlines.

CLASS of 2011 MANDATORY MEETING - The Counseling Office suggests yourdaughter begin over this summerfamiliarizing herself with college applications that she plans to complete.From ourexperience, we know thatstudents will have manyquestions about the application process once they start looking at the actual forms. Therefore, every year we hold a mandatory meeting with "seniors" to walkthem throughthe "how to's" of completing their applications.Please save the date for the mandatory senior college information meeting Friday, August 27th. Last names A - K, 9am - 11am; Last names L - Z, 12pm - 2pm in the Mercy Auditorium.

Tuition Assistance and Scholarship Award letters will be mailed by June 30.

Summer Shopping -Click and shop at ONECAUSE. Hundreds of online merchants like Nordstrom, Lands End, Amazon, and morewill give MERCY a nice percentage from every item you purchase. Simply register your information and select Mercy High School (ID 130214). If you are out and about at Target or picking up some tasty BBQ fare at Gordon Foods or Meijer, please be sure to designate MERCY. Register at target.com/tcoe, Meijer.com/MCRmember, gfsmarketplace.com or for more rewards program information.

Looking Ahead to the 2010 - 2011 School Year