Remember those unusually warm days we had in November and December?  Oh, how sad it is that we people of Michigan have such selective memory each winter.  Recent thermometer readings have jolted us back to reality.  Yes, it's cold and thank you very much but I don't need media forces telling me what it "feels" like.  It feels cold!  Hug someone you love, keep warm, and enjoy the winter season that is upon us.

We began our course registration process for 2007-08 on February 12th and I sent an e-mail reminder to parents last week.  The many programs we offer single us out from a number of quality high schools.  Discuss the many opportunities with your daughter.  Consider the graduation requirements of course, but encourage your daughter to select courses that will help her tap into some unique talent or passion.  Course pre-requisites, recommendations, and even academic contracts are intended to increase the possibilities for student success.  If you have any questions regarding your daughter's decisions, please contact her counselor.

As we prepare ourselves for this Lenten season, we come together in prayer.  Our Ash Wednesday liturgy will be held on February 21st at 9:55am in Mercy's Auditorium.  Please join us if you are able to arrange your schedule.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Carolyn Witte ~ Principal

Come to the best party of the year!

INVEST in education . . . INVEST in Mercy . . . INVEST in our future.  The Auction is the largest parent fundraiser of the year and will be held Saturday, March 3.  Invitations have been mailed for Mercy's Garden . . . Where Minds Grow and raffle tickets are waiting to be sold.  Please help us meet our school goal of $225,000! 

Come and bid on your favorite items, purchase and sell raffle tickets, volunteer some time.   You can view the Auction catalog to get a sampling of what is available.  There is something for everyone and every budget.  And there's still time to give a gift!  Some items on the Auction wish list are airline frequent flyer miles, condo or timeshare at a ski or golf resort, New York Broadway tickets, and shadowing opportunities for a student (doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc...)

Any questions?  Contact the Mercy Special Events Office at 248.893.3516 or auction@mhsmi.org. 

Please join us at our next meeting Monday, March 5 @ 6:30pm for refreshments and an opportunity to meet other Mercy Moms. 

Dads Club

Let's Bowl!  Don't miss the Dads and Daughters Bowling outing Saturday, February 25 from 1pm - 3pm at Drakeshire Lanes.  $10 per bowler includes two games, shoes, and food.  Space is limited so click here for the sign up sheet or grab one at the reception area.

Calling all Mercy Dads!  A special Dad's Club Membership Drive meeting and raffle drawing event will be held February 27 in the Mercy Cafeteria from 7pm - 9pm.  Plenty of food and fun.  Raffle tickets are still on sale for a chance to win $1,000, $1,500 or $10,000!  If you would like additional tickets, please contact Clyde Jokinen at 248.802.4932 or c_jokinen@yahoo.com. 

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!

Recruitment is an ongoing and exciting process here at Mercy.  On January 26th 227 acceptance letters were mailed to prospective students in the Class of 2011.  Applications continue to arrive daily, especially with the recent February High School Placement Test.  It is certainly not too late to begin the application process; the next and final HSPT is offered at Mercy on March 31.

Shadowing remains the best way for 7th and 8th graders to determine if Mercy is a good fit for them.  From October through January, we have hosted 209 visitors in our building.  If you know of a prospective student, please encourage her to schedule a shadow day through Admissions.

Word of mouth communication is by far the #1 way that prospective families initially learn about Mercy.  Our continued thanks to our wonderful Mercy families for sharing your positive Mercy experience with others.  Check out pictures from our Winter Open House.  Always feel free to contact the Admissions Office with questions or ideas at 248.476.2484 or mpstirling@mhsmi.org.

Catholic Schools Week ~ Heart of Mercy

January 29 through February 2 was the Catholic Schools week of national recognition to spread "The Good News in Education."  Given that we celebrated the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of Mercy, the assembly on January 29th included viewing the video "Circle of Mercy" which provided an excellent narrative and visual history of Catherine McAuley's life.

Two Heart of Mercy honorees were announced at the assembly:  Senior Alyson Ponto and Religious Studies teacher, Mr. Peter McGrane.  A reception followed the assembly for the honorees and some of their family members, who were "hiding out" prior to the announcement in the Auditorium.  It was a marvelous morning!

Also noteworthy ~ Mercy's prayer class and Hermitage Room was featured in the Michigan Catholic special Catholic Schools Week supplement.  Click here to read all about it.

Student Diversity Conference 2007 ~ The Next Generation:  Coming Together

Thirty six Mercy students joined approximately 40 students from each of the three Farmington Public high schools along with smaller groups of students from Novi, Avondale, Troy, Bloomfield Hills Andover high schools, and three Farmington middle schools for this year's Student Diversity Conference. 

The opening keynote session was a performance by Jamal "versiz" May, a well known Poetry Slam Champion.  His words were powerful and spoke directly to the students.  Three breakout sessions followed where students pre-registered from a selection of 11 relevant topics.  Small group discussions led by Student Diversity Committee members were extremely well received with active, serious, and respectful dialogue.  Mercy students gained much by sharing and listening to peers from other schools.

Student Successes  ~  APPLAUSE!  APPLAUSE!

Senior Carolyn Lusch has been named a Finalist in the 2007 Competition for National Merit Scholarship Awards.  She is one of approximately 15,000 named finalists from a field of more than 1.4 million high school juniors from across the country who took the PSAT test last year.  As a finalist, Carolyn competes to win a Merit Scholarship.  We congratulate Carolyn and wish her well!

Marlin Seniors Paige Sheridan, Chelsea Sloan, and Casey Pedersen scored big on February 7th as they each signed  National Letters of Intent for full ride DIVISION I college scholarships. 

Paige will play soccer at Eastern Michigan University.  Chelsea will play volleyball at University of Illinois at Chicago.  Casey, who was recently named the WXYZ Channel 7 Scholar Athlete of the Week, will play soccer at Binghampton University in New York.

The Forensic team was fearless at their first competition last month.  Look at all those 1st place finishes!

Cheers to these singing students who had a very successful round at the District Solo and Ensemble Festival last month: 

The Tech Club joined the Cartridge World Recycling Program which collects used printer ink cartridges.  Any Mercy student can collect empty ink cartridges from teachers, parents, friends, businesses, and deposit in the Cartridge World bins located in the Media Center and room N15 West Computer Lab.  Mercy Tech Club will receive around fifty cents for inkjet and $3 for laser cartridges.  Start saving your cartridges today!

Tuition Assistance and Scholarship Programs

Tuition Assistance is awarded annually by the Mercy High School Tuition Assistance Committee on the basis of financial need.  Consideration is also given to attendance, effort, and school involvement.

Mercy utilizes the independent review company Private School Aid Service (PSAS) to determine need.  In order to apply for tuition assistance for the 2007-2008 school year, families will need to complete the financial aid application (one per family) and forward it with required documents directly to PSAS by March 30, 2007.  An application fee is required.  The Detroit Archdiocese offers a tuition assistance program.  It is recommended that families also complete the Detroit Archdiocese Financial Aid form.  See www.aodonline.org for details.  If both forms are mailed in the same envelope, only one fee of $20 is required.

Financial Aid application packets for the 2007-2008 school year will be available to incoming freshwomen at registration on February 26 and 27, 2007.  All other students can pick up a packet from the Mercy Development Office.

Before Easter break, current students will be given information regarding Mercy's named scholarships.  These awards are also based mainly on financial need, though some have other requirements as well.  If your daughter qualifies, she can write an essay and submit to the Development Office for consideration by Friday, May 4, 2007.  Current students chosen to receive named scholarships will be announced at Mercy's Honors Convocation on Wednesday, June 6, 2007.  Incoming Freshwomen will be notified by mail.  Brochures detailing each scholarship can be found in the Development Office and will be available for new students at registration.

Mercy Moment of the Month

Mr. Scalzi's Physics class provides an opportunity for a hair-raising experience!

(photos by Mr. Wampuszyc)

Reflect, Reconnect, Rejoice

Mercy moms and students, take time during Lent to reflect on your life, reconnect with God, and rejoice in all that is good and holy at our Mercy Lenten Series.  Join us for one or all three evenings:  Tuesday, March 13; Wednesday March 21; and Thursday, March 29.  Soup supper from 6:00pm - 6:30pm in the Mercy Development Offices followed by the Lenten speaker and reflection 6:30pm - 8:00pm in the Mercy Chapel. 

Click here for more information about the wonderful women speaking and their topics.  RSVP to the Alumnae Office at jlstark@mhsmi.org. 

Tea for Tuition

Join us for a spring celebration with other Mercy women at the 2007 Tea for Tuition.  Sip some tea at a Mercy mom mingler table or pour a cup and host a table of your own.  The afternoon includes tea, treats, entertainment, silent auction, and special drawing.  Funds raised benefit the Tuition Assistance Program.  Click here for more information.  RSVP to the Alumnae Office at jlstark@mhsmi.org.

Mercy PHONATHON Raises Over $12,000!

On two bitter cold winter evenings, January 31st and February 1st, parent volunteers hit the phones in the Development Offices to make connections with past parents and Mercy Alumnae.  Thanks to this enthusiastic group, over $12,000 was pledged to help grow Mercy's Annual Giving Program.

Not only was the two-evening PHONATHON a nice financial success, but hundreds of friendly Mercy messages were left on answering machines across the country.  To all PHONATHON parent volunteers, the gift of your time was invaluable.  KUDOS to you, PHONATHON parents!

ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS!  The deadline for Senior Yearbook Ads has been extended to February 23.  Contact mjgerman@mhsmi.org.

The Mercy Figure Skating Team won their district and will be advancing to the State Championships, which will be held March 31 at the Detroit Skating Club in Bloomfield Hills.  The team will also be competing in an Individual Competition on March 3 at Novi Ice Arena and at the Garden City Invitational on March 11.  Congratulations and good luck to all of the skaters!

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 would like to request a copy of the carpool list or 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 mpstirling@mhsmi.org and she will be removed.   The carpool list will be distributed via e-mail at the beginning of June 2007. 

Check out the new current announcements page on our improved Mercy web site and view past issues of the MEMO newsletter. 

High 5 to the following Sweepstakes Drive winners:

Click to make your annual gift to Mercy right now online. 

It's fast, easy, and secure! 

Volunteers wanted!  Need service hours or want to help Mercy's Auction garden grow?  Click here on current announcements to see ways to get involved or contact Mercy's Special Event Office at 248.893.3516 or auction@mhsmi.org.

Check out the Athletics schedule and come cheer for our marvelous Marlin teams!

Want even more?  Click the school year calendar. 

Have comments to make or news to share about the Mercy MEMO?

Have a picture to submit for the Mercy Moment of the Month?

Submit information  for our next issue to jhearle@mhsmi.org by  MARCH 9 to be e-mailed to your inbox  MARCH 15. 

You're always a click away from more Mercy info @ www.mhsmi.org.