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COLLEGE PREPARATORY RECOMMENDATIONS
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Mercy High School is a college preparatory school and thus strongly suggests that students plan their course of studies in accordance with the following recommendations:
- 8 semesters English
- 6 semesters Social Studies including one year of World History, one year of American History and one semester of American Government
- 8 semesters Classical or Modern Foreign Language
- 6 semesters Mathematics
- 1 semester Computers
- 6 semesters Laboratory Science, to include Biology, Chemistry and Physics
- 7 semesters Religious Studies
- 2 semesters Physical Education, to include one semester of swim
- 1 semester Health
- 1 semester Speech
- 1 semester Fine Arts
Minimum Class load per semester - five classes
Maximum Class load per semester - seven classes
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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
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| Mercy recognizes that all of its students may not go to college immediately after graduation. Therefore, listed below are the minimum requirements for graduation.
A total of 23 credits and eight semesters of full enrollment (five classes per semester) are required. These 23 credits include:
- 8 semesters English
- 6 semesters Social Studies including one year World History, one semester American Government and one year American History
and one semester of Economics
- 8 semesters Mathematics
including Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II
- 1 semester Computers
- 6 semesters Laboratory Science
to include Biology and Chemistry or Physics
- 4 semesters of one World Language
- 7 semesters Religious Studies
- 2 semesters Fine Arts
- 1 semester Physical Education / Swim
- 1 semester Health
- 1 semester Speech
Requirements in bold reflect changes affecting the classes of 2011 and after.
All students must complete a minimum of 40 community service hours (see student handbook)
***SENIORS – Please pay special attention to the following information: Seniors gain the privilege of released time. They do not gain a guarantee as to when their unscheduled time will occur. Their course requests are the priority. REQUESTS BY STUDENTS OR PARENTS FOR AN UNSCHEDULED SEVENTH HOUR WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. We cannot accommodate the time requests from seniors for after school job responsibilities, sibling care or assistance needed at a family business. Please make arrangements that allow for a 2:35 pm dismissal.
Grade Point Average - Class Rank:
Grade Point Average (GPA) and Class Rank are used for college transcripts, scholarship recommendations, etc. GPA is computed each semester and is based on all grades earned. Class Rank is unweighted and computed at the end of six semesters and again after eight semesters.
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ADVANCED PLACEMENT
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| The Advanced Placement [AP] program includes college-level courses and exams given to secondary students as an opportunity to gain advanced placement and/or credit in college. More than 90 percent of the colleges attended by advanced placement candidates grant credit and/or placement to students whose exam grades are considered acceptable. Advanced Placement courses are special college-level learning experiences that most often take a full academic year. These courses explore subjects in greater depth, and compared to other high school courses, are more challenging and stimulating.
At present, Mercy High School offers full year Advanced Placement courses in American History and European History, American Government and Politics, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Past students have successfully completed Advanced Placement tests in the following subject areas: Studio Art, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, English Literature and Composition, Economics, French Language, European History, American History, Calculus, and Spanish Language. All AP exams (except Studio Art) contain both multiple choice and free-response questions that require essay writing, problem solving, and other skills. Most of the examinations are three hours long. They are given every year during two weeks in May. The fee for each exam in May 2006 was $84.
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COURSE FEES
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A number of courses have associated course fees. These fees generally cover the cost of materials / supplies used in class and / or are most often in lieu of purchasing a course textbook, laboratory manual or workbook. The following fees apply to the courses specified and appear on each individual’s billing statement.
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Course
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Fee
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Course
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Fee
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AP European History
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$10
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Sculpture
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$70
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Microsoft Office Suite
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$20
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Drawing 1
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$75
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Desktop Publishing/Web Design
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$20
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Drawing 2
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$75
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Programming
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$20
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Painting 1
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$110
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Biology
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$5
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Painting 2
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$110
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Anatomy and Physiology
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$5
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Fibers
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$70
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Microbiology
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$5
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Ceramics 1
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$75
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AP Biology
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$5
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Ceramics 2
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$75
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Chem Com
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$5
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Portfolio Preparation
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$150
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Chemistry
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$5
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Varsity Choir
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$10 per semester
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AP Chemistry
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$5
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Concert Chorale
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$10 per semester
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Conceptual Physics
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$5
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Orchestra
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$10 per semester
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Physics
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$5
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Nutrition and Exercise
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$30
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AP Physics
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$5
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Adv Sport and Weight Training
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$30
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Art Foundations
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$70 |
Lifetime Fitness
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$30
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Graphic Design
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$50
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Introduction to Swimming
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$45
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Jewelry 1
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$70
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Lifeguard Training
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$80-85
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Jewelry 2
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$70
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FINE ARTS REQUIREMENT
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Each student is required to take two semesters (effective with class of 2011 and after) in any of the fine arts areas sometime during her four years at Mercy. Election of one semester of any of the following entry level courses would meet this requirement.
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Art Foundations
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Introduction to Acting
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Theater Production
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Broadcasting
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Choral
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Orchestra
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| HONORS / ADVANCED PLACEMENT REGISTRATION |
| In selecting an Honor’s or Advanced Placement course, 10th, 11th and 12th graders and parents will make a minimum commitment for one full semester. Completion of a signed agreement, which specifies such a commitment, will be necessary to finalize the registration process. This agreement will be part of the registration verifications materials mailed home. Any request to drop the course or transfer to another course will not be considered until the end of the first semester. These courses are, by design, more rigorous. The learning will be challenging and stimulating and likely move at a faster pace than the average class. As such, when students register for these courses and we provide the staffing, ever mindful of class size and teacher load, the student cannot make a different choice after the fact. Such requests negatively impact class size and staffing decisions already made. |
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INDEPENDENT STUDY
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| Juniors and Seniors interested in a field of study which extends beyond the scope of the curriculum are invited to apply. The Independent Study program places responsibility for learning upon the student and allows each individual to plan and execute her own highly individualized program of work. Faculty members are available to help the individual students attain their objectives and evaluate the quality of their work. Students may elect to work in either a creative or scholarly area. In order to be eligible for independent study, the student should have completed in-depth work in the related area. However, if the applicant is considered to be positive and sincere, as evidenced by high motivation or considerable intellectual curiosity, previous performance will be disregarded.
Independent Study ordinarily lasts for one semester. It is subject to the same policies governing other course offerings at Mercy High School. Independent Study is generally taken as a sixth or seventh subject. It may be taken instead of one semester of a program for graduation requirements. [For example, of the six semesters of Social Studies required for graduation, one may be an Independent Study.] The student's application must be approved by the department chairperson within the first two cycles of the semester in which the student plans to study. Applications are available in the Counseling Office.
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SERVICE REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATION
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| A Mercy Community Action Program (MCAP) service obligation is required of all students who graduate from Mercy High School. Twenty-five hours of community volunteer service is required of all students sometime during their attendance. Community volunteer service must be outside of Mercy through an agency, church, community center, hospital or other organization. Students are supervised and work is evaluated. It is preferable that the service experience be continuous with one agency on a regular basis for a given period of time (i.e. semester, year). Components of the MCAP program include the following: the service experience and regular reflection with the MCAP Coordinator regarding selection of service, performance, progress, learning self-evaluation, completion of service and a final written evaluation/summary of the experience. Students meet with the MCAP Coordinator on a regular basis during their unscheduled time to complete these components.
Students register for MCAP by contacting the MCAP Coordinator and completing an initial application indicating the type of service in which they want to become involved. Students are encouraged to make their own arrangements for service opportunities with the assistance of their parents, through their youth groups, churches and other connections. If students need further assistance in finding a service opportunity guidance will be given by the MCAP Coordinator. The service requirement may be accomplished during the summer months. Students who wish to do this should see the MCAP Coordinator before the end of school in the spring. Seniors involved in MCAP must have all components of the program completed by Easter break of senior year.
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VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
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| LIVONIA CAREER TECHNICAL CENTER |
| Courses at the Livonia Career Technical Center are open to Juniors and Seniors. There is no Livonia residency requirement; Mercy students, however, must provide their own transportation both to and from the center. There is no additional cost for participation in this curriculum. There are both one and two year programs.
Counselors will help the students make decisions regarding course selections at the center as well as scheduling their course selections at Mercy. Students still satisfy the graduation requirements from Mercy without difficulty.
Parents and prospective students are encouraged to call and/or visit the Livonia Career Technical Center (734 744-2816) to investigate any program of interest. Further information and descriptive brochures are available in Mercy’s counseling office. There may be a limited number of openings for Mercy students in particular programs.
Courses offered include: Visual Communications, Website Design & Administration, CISCO Systems, Network Administration/Computer Technician, Architectural Technology, Engineering Technology (CAD), Criminal Justice, Health Occupations, Medical Assistant, Sports Medicine, Fashion Merchandising, Cosmetology (meets off site from center), Culinary Arts (meets at Franklin High School, Livonia).
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OAKLAND TECHNICAL CENTER SOUTHWEST – Walled Lake
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The Technical Center Program is open to Juniors and Seniors but they must reside in Oakland County. There is no additional cost for participation in this curriculum. There are one and two year programs. We recommend that one year courses be taken in the Senior year so that skills learned can lead to employment after high school.
Students receive three credits per year for this Technical Program. They leave Harrison High School at 7:30am each morning on a Farmington school bus. They are returned to our school about 11:15am. This means that students can enroll in 3 or 4 classes at Mercy in the afternoon. Their program will be individually scheduled. There is no problem completing required course work for graduation from Mercy High School.
Counselors will help students make these decisions. Parents and prospective students are encouraged to call and/or visit the Oakland Technical Center Southwest (248-960-5400) to investigate any program of interest. A student makes a commitment for the entire year. Further information and descriptive brochures are available in Mercy’s counseling office. There are only a limited number of openings for Mercy students.
Seventeen different programs are offered at the Technical Center. The following courses may be of interest:
Auto Body Repair; Automotive Technology; Automated Office; Computer Aided Design - Architectural; Computer Aided Design - Engineering; Computer Information Systems; Cosmetology; Dental Assisting; Desktop Publishing; Electronics Technology; Floral Design & Sales; Greenhouse Management & Landscaping; Heavy Equipment & Truck Technology; Machine Technology; Medical Assisting; Visual Merchandising; Welding & Fabricating
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