Take a drive with your daughter.  That's my request for what is currently the "almost the end of another school year" Mercy Memo.  It doesn't matter if your daughter has a driver's license of her own or, if instead, you still cart her from place to place.  It doesn't matter if she's thrilled about the idea or labels it "lame."

Take a drive with your daughter.  You will most likely have to schedule it with her.  Yes, make an appointment with your kid.  Give yourself a brief window of time to do this.  Maybe you allow yourself one week from today -- today being the day you are reading this.  It needs to be no less than a 30 minute drive.  Beyond that, it's your call as to length of time.

Take a drive with your daughter.  There can be no destination for this drive other than returning home at its conclusion.  A destination defines a purpose, that of errand, necessity, or event controlled by someone else.  The drive itself, in this case, is the purpose.

Take a drive with your daughter.  Fear not.  Tell nothing more than, "I need you to take a drive with me.  There is nothing wrong.  I just need you to take a drive with me and trust me."  Once you back the car out of the driveway and are on your way, and yes, you are behind the wheel, choose a direction that will quickly separate you from your routine surroundings.  If you can, drive toward open space.  Your daughter's curiosity will be evident and she very likely may be concerned as to your mental stability.

Take a drive with your daughter.  Tell her you needed time alone with her, just with her, so that you could reconnect.  Tell her you needed this and you needed it now - in May - not at some undefined later moment that you both know just wouldn't happen.  You need not do any preparation for this drive.  Just be.

Take a drive with your daughter.  Tell her something funny about yourself.  Surprise her with something she doesn't know about you.  Tell her what you've been doing lately, and your thoughts about the past few months.  Ask her what's been going on with her?  What's gone well?  What's on the horizon for her?  To what is she looking forward?  Then, listen.

Take a drive with your daughter.  When you pull back into the driveway, give her a hug.  Say thank you.  See how good you feel.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Carolyn Witte ~ Principal

Please join us at our next joint meeting Tuesday, June 12 @ 7pm for refreshments and an opportunity to celebrate the end of a school year with other Mercy Moms and Dads. 

Way to go, Mercy Dads!  The Dads Club was named the Catholic League Dads Club of the Year for exceptional financial contributions and ongoing support of the Mercy athletic programs. 

$150,000 and Counting . . .

That's right, Mercy.  We did it!  Not only did we do it - we overdid it by more than $10,000, thanks in part to the movin' and groovin' of Mr. Morgan and Mr. Courage at the closing assembly dance-off challenge.  And THANKS to all of YOU, students, staff, and parents for sellin' and sellin' and sellin'.

Check out all of these saleswomen who were simply the TOPS!  Gillian Staudt sold an unprecedented 870 tickets and Jennifer Ryan sold a whopping 220 tickets to reign as the top school sellers.  Top class sellers were: Senior Aliie Mikels - 130; Junior Paule LeBaune - 90; Sophomore Lauren Smith -130; Freshwoman Annah Bravo -136. 

Advisor groups worked together to be at the TOP!  Mrs. Ewald's and Mrs. Sill's Advisor groups were the first to have sold a book of tickets.  Ms. Noll's Advisor Group was the first to all be in jeans.  Mr. Davenport's Advisor Group sold the most tickets.  And drum roll, please . . . the SOPHOMORES won the crown for being the top selling class of the drive winning their very own day off - June 1st!

More THANK YOUs to Lynn Hall, Maureen King, Kari Weber and all the parent volunteers for taking time out of your mornings to coordinate and count.  THANK YOU to Mr. Sill for prepping the sound and lights for the rockin' assemblies.  THANK YOU to the spirited 2007 Sweepstakes Student Committee who played, planned, and performed! 

Can't wait until next year's Sweepstakes Drive . . . will we "outdo" ourselves again?

Teacher of the Year

Mercy congratulates Mr. George Wright, the 2007 Teacher of the Year.

Mr. Wright has taught Religious Studies at Mercy for 37 years and is beloved by both current students and thousands of alumnae. Students and staff cited numerous characteristics in their nominations of Mr. Wright. They spoke of him as "one who sets high standards but works doggedly to insure that students achieve and understand."

Words of praise also included "caring, compassionate, funny, respectful and fair." One who models his global concern for others by his actions, Mr. Wright is truly a gentle man, a man of Mercy!  We are proud to honor him.

Order your Tablet PC Today!

Parents and guardians of the Class of 2011 are ordering their required tablet computing bundle to have them over the summer break at http://www.inacomp.net/mercy.  The deadline for incoming frosh to order is July 20th as there may be as much as a 4-6 week delivery timeline.

If you need to ship to an address other than the billing address on your credit card, please assist InaCOMP by doing the following: Contact your card issuer and have the alternate Ship-To Address added as an authorized shipping location in your account records or in the memo filed. If you choose to ship to an address other than your billing address that has not been specified as an alternate Ship-To Address with your card issuer, your order may be delayed by up to several days as we complete verification.

What an HONOR

We salute these hard-working young Mercy minds on their induction into the following Honor Societies.  All girls must maintain a certain GPA as well as demonstrate qualities of leadership, character, and service.  

la Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica	La Societe Honoraire de Francais
Toni Rose Arceno	Mary Bender
Allison Boatright	Christina Bender
Meaghan Borgelt	Kira Boneff
Kelly Cebula	Laura Bridges
Felicia Flowers	Francesca Chiejina
Samantha Horsell	Natalie Dulzo
Julia Kowalski	Chandler Foster
Tara Kristock	Paige Gross
Jungeun Lee	Tiffany Haddad
Karen Malloure	Sophie Juncaj
Kristen Malloure	Laura Lavender
Marissa Martz	Paule Labaune
Jordan Mueller	Katie Martel
Katie O'Donnell	Maura Nicholson
Alyssa Paul	Jenny O'Neil
Bianca Pomponio	Vanessa Rychlinski
Deidre Ratliff	Theresa Whalen
Kelsey Risk
Mary Walle
Caitlin Williams

National Honor Society
Alison Allen		Natalie Herzog	Jennifer Paxton
Maria Arambula		Renee Hudson	Christine Pelton
Leann Arcori		Victoria Johnson	Rachel Perkowski
Alyssa Beck		Diana Karvelis	Mary Podlaski
Helen-Marie Berg		Rachael Kassa	Amanda Popiela
Elizabeth Brady		Jayme Kelmigian	Meghan Porter
Mirabeth Braude		Jacquelynn Kittel	Lauren Preininger
Camille Brazzle		Michele Krasnesky	Amanda Rahie
Theresa Broniak		Marilyn Kubek	Raven Rickard
Marisela Castaneda		Krista Kulesa	Kaley Ronayne
Haley Cavanaugh		Shannon Landsberg	Gina Rotondo
Sarah Choss		Rachel Lang	Natalie Roxas
Alyssa Ciapala		Shelby Legel	Catherine Sarin
Dayna Cole		Margaret Love	Christie Scott
Megan Craig		Lindsay Mack	Janine Semperger
Gabriela Crowley		Kelsey Maxwell	Florianne Silvestri
Elaine Czech		Katelyn McDowell	Jenna Stocks
Molly Donovan		Nicole Merenius	Jane Wade
Kathryn Gardner		Taylor Milligan	Sara Wagener
Anne Gariepy		Shannon Moore	Kellyann Wargo
Mary Getschmann		Chantel Morey	Bianca Wasson
Ann Gibson		Melissa Murphy	Lucia Wylie-Kellermann
Meagan Giovanni		Megan Novak	Lauren Yaldoo
Elizabeth Grden		Katie O'Connor
Elizabeth Hagemeyer		Katherine O'Donnell
Alyssa Harding		Grace O'Malley
Joan Hayner		Virginia Page

More to HONOR . . . next month we salute those who received special Honor Society awards.

Mercy Moment of the Month

AWESOME ART!

Andrea Starbird and Megan Pryce stand proud next to their exhibits on display last week during the Mercy student art exhibit.  Bravo to ALL of the 250 talented Mercy artists on their outstanding creations!

Student Successes  ~  APPLAUSE!  APPLAUSE!

Junior Leann Arcori (pictured with mother Lamia) received the Optimist Club Leadership Award at the Award Breakfast held April 25th. 

For the past 8 years, the Optimist Club honors a junior from each high school who is nominated by the school as an outstanding leader.  Leann represented Mercy and received a $250 gift. 

Emma Fricke, Taylor Milligan, Allegra Wrocklage, and Erica Parkinson were selected to participate in Operation Bentley at Albion College.  Operation Bentley is an all expense paid weeklong program  for involved high school Sophomores and Juniors who want a "hands-on" experience in government and public affairs.  They will join 100 students from all across Michigan May 20 - 26.  Good luck, girls!

Congratulations to Sophomore Marissa Martz who was one of three young women chosen to receive the Our Lady of Guadalupe "Portraits of Everyday Heroes Award" in recognition of her making a difference to help the homeless. 

Sophomore Patrice Wiley was highlighted on April 29th as the Detroit Free Press Student of the Week.  Patrice is the president of READ 2 ME Tutorial, author of four locally published books, serves as a motivational speaker for the importance of literacy, and founded the Hit the Street anti-drug campaign.  Wow, Patrice!

Senior Carolyn Lusch won first place and Freshwoman Danielle Morrison won second place in the Teen Creative Writing Contest sponsored by the Farmington Community Libraries. 

Marie DiPonio, Samantha Horsell, Christina Lentz, Theresa Whalen, and Vanessa Hoang were named semi-finalists in the "Letters about Literature" program from the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries for the state of Michigan.

Newsprint is proud to announce the following juniors have been selected as editors for the 2007 - 2008 school year: 

Helen Marie Berg - Editor in Chief	Alyssa Harding - Community Editor
Janine Semperger - Assoc Editor in Chief	Libby Hagemeyer - Opinions Editor
Gina Rotondo - Managing Editor	Sarah Cross - Entertainment Editor
Jackie Kittel - Design Editor	Shannon Moore - Sports Editor
Liz Grden - Copy Editor

Patty Battersby competed in the American Guild of Music Regional Voice Competition and received first place in the Pop Division and a second place in both the Broadway and Classical Divisions.  Danielle Morrison earned a AAA evaluation rating and second place for length of study for piano in the American Guild of Music Regional Competiton.

A standing ovation to the new officers of the International Thespian Society:

Mary Malaney - President	Kaley Ronayne - Treasurer
Molly Donovan - Vice President	Ann Marie Gibson - Scribe
Alexa Witte - Secretary

Our kickin' Marlin athletes keep earning awards, so keep clicking our Athletics Awards and Highlights web page!

Even More ART

May 11 thru June 1 the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center will showcase some fine Mercy talent from the following winners of their 2007 High School Competition:

Katrina Arevalo - won the$100 Chris and Tina Parfitt Award with this piece.

Cassidy Cunitz

Jessica Das

Alexis Jakubiak

Marilyn Kubek

Shannon Langan

Kellyann Wargo

Freshwoman Tara Ellis won 2nd place in the Farmington Area Art Contest for the newspaper weave purse she designed and created. 

Her purse was inspired by Mrs. Rife's Fibers class and will be on display throughout the Farmington Area as part of the 12th Annual Festival of the Arts.  Tara also took home an award certificate and $150 cash prize.

TAKE 25

Friday, May 25, 2007 has been designated as National Missing Children's Day.  This day reminds our nation to renew efforts to reunite missing children with their families and make child safety a national priority.  TAKE 25 is sponsored by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  TAKE 25 urges parents and educators to: 

• 1) Devote 25 minutes on May 25th to simple activities and discussion on safety with children.
• 2) Use resources from www.take25.org to teach children ways to be safer. 

What a "TEA-riffic" afternoon for MERCY

225 women gathered at the 3rd Annual Tea for Tuition last month.  The Mercy gym was filled with 33 brightly decorated tables of Mercy women sipping tea and enjoying gourmet sandwiches and sweets.  President Sister Regina Marie Doelker, RSM presented the 2007 Distinguished Alumnae Awards to Sister Rita Valade, RSM '72 and Carol Hackett Garagiola '73.  A Mercy student scholarship recipient spoke about her Mercy experience and how tuition assistance touched her life and helped make her Mercy education possible.

One of our '71 alums called from Florida two days before the TEA to offer a challenge:  if Mercy's alumnae and guests could raise at least $10,000 in donations to the Tuition Assistance Fund, she would match it!  Sure enough, everyone got out their pocketbooks and met her generous challenge and over $20,000 was raised for the Tuition Assistance Program.

SPECIAL THANKS to all of our guests, donors, and event supporters.  Visit the Tea for Tuition Photo Gallery.

Let's Hear it for the Staff

Mrs. Vicky Kowalski  will be inducted into the Catholic League Hall of Fame next month for her successful 27 years coaching the Mercy Golf Team.  The team has won many Catholic League, Oakland County, and State Regional Championships and Vicky has been privileged to coach many all-state golfers, including LPGA player Meg Mallon.  Vicky also coaches the Mercy Varsity Bowling Team.  Way to go, Vicky!

Fore!  Tee up for the Mercy Meg Mallon Golf Outing

Register today for the 2007 Meg Mallon Golf Outing and save $50!  Mercy's Meg Mallon, 1981 Alumna and LPGA star, joins us on the course to raise funds and friends July 9th at Fox Hills in Plymouth. 

Join us as a golfer, sponsor, or dinner guest.  Thank you to our current 2007 sponsors:  Hour Media, Tom Holzer Ford, Morrison, Mercy Mothers Club, Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home, Basic Rubber & Plastics, All America Plywood. 

The Spring Concert "Celestial Music" is this Sunday, May 20th at 2pm in the Mercy Auditorium.  Come enjoy vocal and instrumental music that celebrates the moon, stars, sun, and heavens as well as our exceptional Mercy musicians.  Tickets are only $5 at the door.  The concert will be short, sweet, and full of variety, including many solos, duets, and trios in addition to the choirs, orchestra and Mercyaires.  Classical, pop, jazz, and musical theatre are just a few of the styles represented. 

The Actor's Workshop class will present a children's production of "Sleeping Beauty" Tuesday, May 22, at Our Lady of Loretto School in Redford and Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Plymouth.  The traveling troupe of actors transport a portable set with curtains, costumes, and props to entertain the younger members of the community.  On May 30, the class will present the show at 7pm for "An Evening of Acting" in the Drama Studio for family and friends.  Everyone is welcome.  Free admission.

The Performing Arts Department has announced its theater season for the 2007 - 2008 school year.  The fall play will be the beloved children's classic "Anne of Green Gables" and the spring musical will be the all-American "The Music Man," featuring the Catholic Central Marching Band.

The Southwestern Oakland Cable Commission of Farmington, Farmington Hills, and Novi are looking for High SCHOOL PROM and GRADUATION pictures to showcase on Public Access Channel INFO 12.  Send a digital picture to mcohn@fhgov.com with name, Mercy High School, graduation date, and a short message.  We hope to see plenty of smiling Mercy faces on our local cable TV!

Don't wait!  Only 6 weeks left to make a difference at Mercy with your Annual Fund gift.  Click here to see all of our generous donors listed in the Annual Fund Spring Honor Roll. 

Interested in planning the Mercy Marketplace November 23 and 24?  Please plan on attending our first meeting on May 30th in the Mercy Development Conference Room at 4pm.  Contact Diane Ludwinski in the Special Events Office at daludwinski@mhsmi.org for more information.

Did you know?

Parents, do you or a friend have an older car just sitting around taking up space in the garage?  Donate it on behalf of Mercy to Charity Motors.  Click here for other ways to give to Mercy. 

Mercy Months Ahead

Event	Date / Time	Location
NO SCHOOL	May 18 May 28 June 8
Spring Concert	May 20 / 2pm	Auditorium
Evening of Acting	May 30 / 7pm	Auditorium
Baccalaureate Mass	June 5	Auditorium
Honors Convocation	June 6	Auditorium
Graduation	June 7	Compuware Arena - Plymouth
Mothers Club Meeting Dads Club Meeting	June 12 / 7pm	CAFE

Next month get a sneak peek at next year's 2007 - 2008 school calendar.

Want even more?  Click the school year calendar and the Mercy web site. 

Check out the current announcements, view past issues of the MEMO newsletter, and browse the home page little yellow box to link to what's happening today @ Mercy. 

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

Submit information  for our last issue of the school year to jhearle@mhsmi.org by  JUNE 11 to be e-mailed to your inbox  JUNE 14.