Parents eNewsletter: September 2010

We are well into yet another new year of school and I am keenly aware of how that might feel to you as parents, depending upon the age and grade of your daughter.

For the ninth grade parents, there might be a measurable difference between those of you who return to this moment in time with a second or third or fifth child (you may fill in the accurate data), and those for whom this marks the first or maybe only return to high school since your own personal experience. The transition from grade eight to grade nine is a significant one, regardless of the elementary or middle school quality. It is a passage of importance, laden not only with excitement and independence but also trepidation and caution. Let her know she s capable and supported at this time.

For the parents of those tenth grade wise fools , a phrase that defines many more ages in adulthood than that of sophomore year, recognize and compliment her achievements of her first year and help her articulate how she can approach the more difficult challenges ahead  harder coursework and greater responsibility  by looking carefully at what did and did not work for her last year. She hasn t figured it all out quite yet, regardless of her apparent bravado, but she deserves your attention for what she s done well so far.

Now, to you upperclassmen. Parents of juniors probably need some comfort themselves. This third year usually tips the scale of academic rigor for your daughter, the coursework becoming even more challenging. More apparent, however, is how quickly sites get set on college choices. Having only completed two years of high school, these children  yes, most are still flirting with age 15 or 16  must face the decision making that will not actually materialize for another two years! She firmly straddles two very different worlds  high school and college. You and your daughter will have the opportunity for your own personal face to face meeting with her counselor to help you make sense of the year ahead and her vast opportunities. Take your time with this. Don t be panicked by the mentality of Alice s Mad Hatter that you re already late, late for [some] very important date.  Frankly, that rabbit was quite nuts in his approach and missed a great deal along the way.

To my graduating senior parents, yes, you parents who are now temporarily at the top of the food chain, enjoy this year as it begins. Just yesterday I was returning from a trip to Kentucky where I was able to hear a recruitment presentation, one made to hundreds of young students from across the nation, all of whom will graduate high school next June in the class of 2011. This was a select group; each student present will be offered scholarships from a number of schools, and each was being courted by the University of Louisville. I listened as the university provost spoke with pride regarding the merits and specific programs and opportunities at Louisville, so as to distinguish it from other places. Nice things for these students and parents to hear. And even though this particular group of parents had an advantage over many other parents  their children have already tested and achieved singular recognition by the end of their junior year  these parents still looked eager, fearful, excited, and nervous. After all, they, like you, want their child to find that home away from home. Next year, at this time, most high school graduates will have left home and their parents, for the first time in their lives. They will have begun their transition to their new life, a transition that includes greater and greater separation and independence from you.

What struck me was a phenomenon I saw played out first, as I listened and watched the large group presentation. Later, I saw the same phenomenon in a much smaller group. My cousin, Prof. James Grubola, is the chair of the art department at the University of Louisville. Jim permitted me to attend this recruitment day as an observer, and therefore I was one of about 30 people (eight students and their parents) who were there to see and hear about the Fine Arts program and degree opportunities. The phenomenon was this. The parents were the ones who were visibly the most engaged, the most animated, the ones whose expressions rose and fell with what they were hearing about this school, all that their children could experience, the choices they could make, the opportunities that each could have.

I took it in as one who has seen the faces of literally hundreds of high school seniors and their parents as they consider the future. The seniors don t yet know how excited they should be. They often appear quite flat, even bored, regarding the magnitude that is ahead. But the parents, oh, the parents, can at times almost salivate with excitement when they talk about the campuses they ve toured and their daughter s stress of having to make a choice. Don t miss the fun of all this. Don t miss the privilege it is to be able to help your daughter choose a place to begin her next educational journey.

So to close, I say to each of you as parents, regardless of your daughter s grade, enjoy and celebrate what is unique about this year, what especially is offered to her, and to you. Indeed, you will not pass this way again.

Mercy MOMENT of the Month

"Amen! We Affirm! Amen! We Encourage! Amen! We Bless and We Celebrate!"

Students and staff assembled and extended hands to ask the Lord's blessings on Cheryl Delaney Kreger, Ed.D. '66 as she begins her new ministry as President of Mercy High School. "God of Mercy, strengthen her to do what is needed to further the mission of mercy in our school and in our world. Stir up in her the same passion that impelled Catherine McAuley to respond to the needs of her time. May Catherine's spirit find expression in Dr. Kreger. Protect her and bless her with the sure knowledge of your presence and providence, now and always."

Dr. Kreger spoke about the spirit of Catherine McAuley, "Her specific and unique gift, given by the grace of God, in and for the church is her charism. Catherine McAuley provides a strong role model for women today with the ability to inspire, encourage, and challenge all of us." The entire Mercy community is honored to have you at Mercy, Dr. Kreger!

Mothers Club

THANK YOU to all the moms who attended our first meeting and all are welcome at our next meeting Monday, October 4th at 6:30 in the media center. Be sure to check out the Mothers Club home page and calendar for more information about upcoming events.

NEW MOMS WELCOME DINNER -There is a special welcome dinner planned for Monday, September 27th here at Mercy to honor and celebrate all the new moms of our Mercy community. The evening begins at 6:30pm with Mass, followed by a reception and light dinner. A Welcome program will follow at 8:15 pm. Please RSVP to newmomdinner@gmail.com with your name, your daughter's name, and a phone number. We hope to see all our newest Mercy Moms on September 27th!

FALL FASHION - Mothers Club FASHION SHOW and Fall Boutique will take place on Sunday, October 24th at the Rock Financial Diamond Center. Cosmetics, fashion, handbags, unique gifts, and lunch. Hosted by Paigion of 102.7. CLICK HERE for all the runway details and reservation form.

Dads Club

The annual Dads and Daughters Cedar Point trip will be held Saturday, October 16. All rides are open and once darkness falls, Cedar Point becomes a giant haunted amusement park. Snacks, movies, and refreshments on the bus ride and an opportunity to spend a whole day of roller-coasting fun with your friends and DAD! Bus leaves Mercy at 9:00am. CLICK HERE for all the info and sign up online at http://bit.ly/Cedar2010.

There's plenty of fun in store with the Dads Club this school year: Barn Dance; Wreath Sale; Grand Raffle; Tigers Baseball Game; Golf Outing. ALL DADS are welcome at our next meeting October 5 at 7:00pm in the Cafeteria.

WELCOME to MERCY!

Mercy students and staff proudly sang, "WE ARE MERCY HIGH" at the opening school assembly to give a heartfelt welcome to the 209 Freshwomen, 9 new Sophomores, and 2 new Juniors who joined our Mercy family. More warm welcomes to these 3 new staff members: Social Studies Teacher Mrs. Cindy Richter; Biology and Anatomy Teacher Mrs. Cathy Riley; and Alumnae Coordinator Mrs. Margaret Haapala Kurpiers '85.

Help us welcome even more Mercy girls to our spectacular school! Spread the word about our upcoming Mercy Open House, November 7 from 1pm - 4pm. Contact admissions@mhsmi.org for more admissions information.

Did You Know?

Did you know there are 43 Sisters of Mercy sponsored high schools in the Americas? Mercy education has a long and rich history. The works of Mercy established by Foundress Catherine McAuley and her followers were marked by a special concern for the needs of the poor, especially women and children. This ministry has continued for over 170 years. It is the work of Sisters of Mercy of the Institute of the Americas and their co-ministers who extend the charism of Catherine McAuley today. Located in 20 states in the continental US, one territory and in 5 countries. Visit the Network for Mercy Education at netmercyed.org.

Mercy Leadership Conference

This past June four Mercy students attended the Mercy Leadership Conference on the campus of Gwynedd Mercy College in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania. The Mercy Leadership Conference is for selected young women holding leadership positions or with leadership potential in Mercy schools across the country. The conference was established in the 1990 s to fill a need for leadership formation in the spirit of Catherine McAuley. Each school attending is allowed to bring 4 students and one chaperone. Students were nominated by staff members and fellow students who were former participants in this same conference and were chosen by a selection committee to attend. This year s participants were: Sara Yockey 11, Alexandra Babcock 11, Paige Taliaferro 11 and Lauren Hensick 12 along with Mercy Service Coordinator and Pastoral Minister Judi Dennis. The girls participated in workshops such as: assessing leadership style; the nuts and bolts  job of being a leader; team building; servant leadership; and how to be a leader of Mercy after high school. While at the conference the students learn about life at other Mercy high schools from fellow Mercy young women from around the United States.

Student Successes . . . APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!

159 students took 220 AP Exams in May 2010. We salute these girls who have earned the honorary distinction of AP SCHOLAR in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the AP Exams.

Let's Hear It For The Staff

Congratulations to Spanish Teacher Se ora Stacy Guerrero-Hurst on her August 28th marriage to Aaron Hurst.

A U C T I O N 2011

WHAT is the Mercy Auction? The Mercy Auction is the largest Parent Driven Fundraiser of the school year. It is an elegant night out for parents and supporters of the school and consists of a silent auction with over 400 items, a fabulous strolling dinner, and a Live auction hosted by Steve Garagiola and Joe DuMouchelle.

WHO is the Mercy Auction? The Mercy Auction is you! Many hands are needed to pull off this event. The Auction Committee consists of dedicated parents who lend their time and talents to create a wonderful evening of Mercy. Please join us at the first Auction planning meeting on Tuesday, October 12 at 6:30 in the Mercy Media Center.

WHEN is the Mercy Auction? Mark your calendars now! The Mercy Auction is on February 26, 2011 and is held at the Diamond Center at Rock Financial Showplace in Wixom, MI. The evening begins with a mass at 5:00 pm. The silent auction and strolling buffet begin at 6:00 and the live auction and special raffle drawings begin at 8:30 pm.

WHERE is the Mercy Auction? The Mercy Auction is at the Diamond Center at Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, MI.

WHY is there a Mercy Auction? The main goal of the Mercy Auction is to raise money to help with the cost of educating young women at Mercy High School. The second goal is to promote a sense of community within the parent population by providing a fun activity for all to enjoy.

HOW can you help? There are so many ways to get involved with the Mercy Auction! You can make a difference. Donate unique items, advertise in the catalog, volunteer, and bid with heart on Auction evening. A helpful and unique way to help is to host a Gift Gathering Party. Simply put, host an open house type party where your guests bring a gift for the Auction. You can host with a group of parents and friends or by yourself. It can be a themed party or a simple get-together.

CLICK HERE for all things AUCTION and for more information contact the Auction Office at 248-893.3535 or auction@mhsmi.org.

Latest and Greatest from the Alumnae Office

Celebrate the Mercy Alumnae Legacy

There are 80 Alumnae who have a daughter (or two &) currently enrolled at Mercy. If you are a Mercy alumna-mom you are invited to join us for a mother-daughter dinner to celebrate the Mercy Alumnae Legacy on Tuesday, October 12 from 6:00pm - 7:30pm in the Mercy Media Center. Contact the Alumnae Office at alumnaeoffice@mhsmi.org or call 248.893.3583.

Give Me a M, Give Me an E, Give Me a R, Give Me a C, Give Me a Y!

Marlins are sure making headlines!

Golf is in full swing. Swim and Dive are splashing to first place. Cross Country continues to set records. Equestrian is galloping to victory. Field Hockey is scoring a winning season. Volleyball is spiking their way to the top. Brush up on your Marlin cheers and chants and see our teams in action! CLICK HERE to view the Athletics Calendar and even get driving directions.

Let Us Pray ~ Prayer from the President

Mercy President Dr. Cheryl Kreger shared this prayer at the September Mercy Board of Trustees meeting:

We pray that we will be Mercy today. We pray that we will make a difference through Mercy today. We pray that our faith in God will continue to grow. We pray that we will believe in one another and love one another. And we pray that we will follow in Catherine's footsteps and write the next chapter of the Mercy story. We are called to live the story of Catherine McAuley, to serve all with mercy, justice, humility and compassion. As we answer this call, let us pray together the beginning of Catherine's prayer. "My God I am yours for time and eternity. Teach me to cast myself entirely into the arms of your loving providence with the most lively, unlimited confidence in your compassionate, tender pity."

Coming soon Mercy will email the daily student prayer as announced over the PA each morning. All parent emails will be included in this daily prayer distribution list. If you choose to unsubscribe, simply click the link at the bottom of the email. We also hope to feature a prayer or reflection from a staff member each month in the MEMO as well as post an online prayer request form on our web site which will allow you to submit your prayer intentions.

MNotes . . . miscellaneous info you need to know!

Summer Make-Over - Mercy High School had a rejuvenating summer with an update to the network operating system, installation of new servers, additional data projectors, new desks, chairs, doors, and lighting. A newly paved south parking lot, refinished gym floor, wall replacement, and some fresh paint really gave Mercy a spruce up for all the students.

YEARBOOK

• Yearbook Sales: Preparations are under way for the 62nd volume of Lore, Mercy's nationally-recognized yearbook. Pre-order yours for $60! Orders will take place before and after school Oct. 4-8. You can also pay online at http://store.classscene.com/YBMerchandise.aspx?jobId=6472. Pre-order yours now; the price goes up to $65 in November.

• Yearbook Senior Parent Ads: Looking for a special way to commemorate this year? Consider placing a congratulatory message in the Lore. There are a variety of sizes and options. Ad prices start at $50. CLICK HERE to download the order form or contact Mrs. Hallie Smith for more information.

• Mercy Photos Needed! If you take photos of games, preparing for dances or whenever Mercy students get together, the Lore staff needs your help! Upload your photos to our site on Class Scene and your photo(s) could appear in the 2011 yearbook. Registration is free and easy. Click on the link to register and begin uploading your photos and viewing the photos others have uploaded. http://www.classscene.com//Secure/SignUpIndividual.aspx?nmaac=pqbd5478PQ

PIZZA, JAMZ, and JEANS - Please note the Music Department changed the date of Pizza, Jamz, and Jeans to Tuesday, October 19 at 6:00pm. The theme this year is "Top of the Charts."

Freshwomen Parents

• Catch up on ninth grade news! CLICK HERE to read the September issue of the monthly newsletter exclusively for freshwomen and their families.
• To assure that ninth graders have adequate vision to meet educational demands, Michigan Public Health Code, Act 368, recommends vision screening for ninth graders. To meet the screening needs of these students, the Oakland County Health Division offers free vision screening by appointment at each of the three health division locations. Parents can call 248.424.7070 to schedule an appointment.

Look who is a Sweepstakes Drive winner!

SNAPSHOT of Mercy

FRESH FACES!

The Class of 2014 are all smiles as they participate in their Freshman Technogy Orientation Scavenger Hunt featuring Network Access, MOODLE, DyKnow, PowerSchool, Groupwise, Appropriate Use Policy. If you have a snapshot of Mercy to share, please send to jhearle@mhsmi.org.

Mercy Month Ahead

The OCTOBER MEMO will be delivered to your inbox October 21st. If you have any questions or want to submit any educational stories or share some good Mercy news, please contact jhearle@mhsmi.org. Want even more? Click the school year calendar and the Mercy web site. And don't miss all of the latest Mercy In The News articles. Check out the current announcements, view past issues of the MEMO newsletter, and browse the home page to links to see what's happening today @ Mercy.