Mercy High School Monthly Parent E-Newsletter - June 2007

I have been asked more than a few times in recent weeks, "So, the year must be winding down about now, right?"  In this wonderful time of year, each and every year, a time that I like to refer to as "well orchestrated chaos," people outside the school environment think of winding down as an apt description.  How far from the truth is that perception.  This is truly when every thing and every one does a myriad of activities, none of which can be remotely compared to winding down.  Such is this time when things and people wind UP!

Frosh have successfully completed their first year of high school, an accomlishment of enormous proportion.  How much each girl has changed and grown.  For the sophomore, she now elevates to the prestigious category of upperclass.  Ooooh, the solid color skirt and all the privilege it provides.  For the junior, she now belongs to the class of focus for the next entire year, the senior class.  Released time is an earned reality.  And for the class of 2007, already gone and ready to be so, they await college and again a return to frosh status.  Each class pushes the class ahead, to move aside and to make room.  Passages . . .not to be trivialized.  Rituals . . .not to be overlooked.

For each girl, I hope this year has provided you with tremendous opportunities and that, like me, you have stored a lesson or two learned along the way.  May your summer be joyful, restful, and great FUN!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Carolyn Witte ~ Principal

Mercy Moment of the Month

GOD Bless the Class of 2007!

Bye, bye, Mercy High!  Look out world, here we come!  CONGRATULATIONS to the 190 women who received diplomas June 7th at Compuware Arena for the 62nd Commencement of Mercy High School.  Welcome to the Alumnae Association, girls!

There are plenty more gorgeous white dresses and smiling faces captured on film.  Click here to view and order LIFETOUCH graduation photographs.  Personal password is 07mercy. 

Hail to the HONORED

From fitness to art, service to scholarships, writing to science, students to staff, all were honored at the annual Mercy High School Honors Convocation held June 6th.  Students were recognized for awesome  achievements and applause given to the seniors for a fabulous four years.  

Kudos to all of Mercy's fine award winners!  Click here to check out the full list of awardees and highlights.    

Let's Hear it for the STAFF

Stand up!  Clap your hands!  Raise a glass!  Give a THANK YOU to these dedicated staff members who achieved a milestone in serving Mercy High School.  We appreciate you!

Also . . . Ms. Kathy Kitzmann received a $600 Professional Training Enhancement Grant from the Detroit Section of the American Chemical Society.  The grant money will go toward the ChemEd 2007 Conference she will be attending in July at the University of North Texas.

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.

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

Go Marlins!  Go Marlins!  What a spectacular spring sports season.

Cheers to our Catholic League Champion Golf and Track & Field teams.  Soccer was Division I District Champs and Softball won Districts and Regionals and competed in the State Championship quarter-finals.  Lacrosse also won Regionals and competed in the State Championship Semi-Finals. 

CONGRATULATIONS to all our athletic superstars.  You make Mercy proud!

Fall sports begin August 13.

Fantastic Forensics 

Seventeen girls on Mercy's Forensics Team competed at the Grand National Tournament in Houston, Texas over Memorial Day weekend.  With almost 2,800 students from 58 dioceses across the country competing in the annual weekend event, Mercy girls held their own to advance three students to the Octofinal Round and win medals. 

Senior Courtney Williams and junior Kaley Ronayne won a medal in the Octofinals in the category of Dramatic Duo and senior Jaime Craig advanced to the Octofinals to win a medal in the category of Oral Interpretation.  The team is coached by Mrs. Kathy Sill of the Performing Arts Department.  Bravo to the entire team for a stellar season.  

Take a Swing with Meg Mallon

SPONSORS!  GOLFERS!  FRIENDS!   Get your registration in by June 25th to golf and dine with Mercy's LPGA star Meg Mallon at Fox Hills in Plymouth on JULY 9th.  The 17th Annual Mercy Meg Mallon Golf Outing promises a tee-rific time to raise funds and friends for Mercy!  

Thank you to our current 2007 sponsors:  Hour Media, Tom Holzer Ford, Morrison, Mercy Alumnae Association, Mercy Mothers Club, Plante & Moran, Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home, Basic Rubber & Plastics, All America Plywood, Zatkoff Seals & Packings, BSB Communications, Air & Water Systems, DHL, The Baumann Family, JP Morgan Asset Management, Jostens, St. Therese of Lisieux, Diversified Investment Partners. 

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 August 13 and the sale will be held August 14.  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 at the beginning of August with further instructions on book purchasing from Mercy Moms and/or from our online bookstore through VarsityBooks.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ms. Linskey at mjlinskey@mhsmi.org or 248.893.3568.

Have a Seat

Adopt-A-Seat in our Mercy Auditorium for your graduate!  Your daughter's own special seat personalized with her name and the Class of 2007. 

Just want to surprise a student or sister or alumna friend?  This makes a lasting gift for any Mercy girl for many years to come. 

Click here for more information and contact Christopher Blitz in the Development Office at ctblitz@mhsmi.org to order. 

Mercy MARKETPLACE Arts & Crafts Show

Join us for a planning picnic in the Mercy Development courtyard on Wednesday, July 18 at 3pm to share ideas for the 2007 Mercy Marketplace . . . A celebration of artists, crafters, and women in business. 

The annual Mercy Marketplace is held Friday and Saturday November 23 and 24 of Thanksgiving weekend. 

Please bring a friend and get involved in this fundraising event for tuition assistance.  We look forward to seeing you!  RSVP to daludwinski@mhsmi.org.

Missed getting your copy of the 2006 - 2007 Lore Yearbook?.  There are still additional copies of the all-color yearbook available for $60.  Contact Mr. German at mjgerman@mhsmi.org.

After the success of "42nd Street," the Performing Arts Department is planning to offer another dance class in the fall.  Girls were asked in May to take a survey about their interest in dance so the department could shape a class accordingly.  The dance class considered will be tap, jazz, hip hop, or a combination of these styles and will be taught on the weekends by Ms. Krista Eschbauch, choreographer of "42nd Street" and next year's spring musical.  The class is not connected to next season's "The Music Man," but it should allow girls to be able to move better on stage.  An information sheet detailing the finalized class will be available in September in the Drama Office.

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!

The Dearing Concert Duo, featuring music teacher Abha Dearing, was heard many times on WRCJ Radio over the last few weeks and performed as a featured ensemble at the Chamber Music Concert.  Their next local show is in downtown Farmington on August 3rd at 7:30pm in the Pavilion.  Find out more at dearingconcertduo.com.

Looking Ahead to the 2007 - 2008 School Year

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?

The MEMO will return to your e-mail inbox in September.  Submit information for the first issue of the 2007 - 2008 school year to jhearle@mhsmi.org.