Wit's End . . . notes from the principal

WELCOME to a new school year!  I hope that each of you enjoyed some quality family time together this summer.  Each grade level has its own challenges, but also some terrific and unique opportunities and benefits.  It is my sincere wish that your experience this year is a good one.

I hope you were able to attend our Parent Night on September 12th, meet with your daughter's adviser, collect a myriad of handouts, and also hear from each of your daughter's teachers this semester.  I began the evening with a prayer, one written by Mr. Steven J. Binz from Mount Saint Mary Academy in Little Rock Arkansas.  In 2006, Mercy Secondary Education Association was pleased to publish a collection of prayers written by and for Mercy eduators.  This collection, entitled With Great Confidence in God, shares the work of nearly 70 writers from 26 Mercy schools around the world.  I share the prayer by Mr. Binz again, here, as it aptly defines the importance of the job of parent and appropriately asks God for assistance and guidance.

May this year bring you closer to God and closer to the daughter you treasure so very much.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Carolyn Witte, Principal

A Parent's Prayer for a Daughter

God of mercy and love, hear my prayer for my daughter.  Be with her in these years as she struggles to hold on to the warm blanket of childhood while stretching toward the independence of adulthood. 

Help her to feel loved for who she is and not for what she does.  Help her believe that she is good even when she makes bad choices.  Let her know that her life has purpose even when she cannot understand why things happen.  Enable her to hope in the future even when she is tempted to give up.

When she is discouraged, help her to trust.  When she cries, use her tears to wash away the pains.  When she is hurt, heal her heart and memories.  When she fails, give her the courage to begin again.

Help me to be a guide, a comforter, a model, and a companion along the way.  Let me always realize that she is a precious and unique gift in my life.

Help me to praise and encourage at least as much as I correct and discipline.  Be with me as I try to help her become who You created her to be.  Amen.

Welcome to MERCY!

218 Freshwomen, 15 transfer students, and 5 new staff received a resounding round of applause from our 762 students at the opening school prayer service on September 5th.

Religious Studies Teachers Mr. Bryan Jeffreys and '97 Mercy Alum Mrs. Alison Kline-Kator were all smiles while being introduced on stage with fellow newcomers '94 Mercy Alum Ms. Eleasha Mercer, Math Student Teacher, Ms. Stacy Guerrero, Spanish Teacher, and Mr. Bob Moore Latin Teacher. 

Mothers Club

We're rolling out the red carpet for the Mothers Club Fashion Show, October 28 at Lord & Taylor 12 Oaks Mall.  Doors open at 8:00am and the showcase of clothes runs until 11:00am.  The cost for this memorable morning is $30 and includes a boxed breakfast and beverages. 

All proceeds benefit the Mercy Mothers Club.  For more information, please contact Lamia Arcori 586-940-8601, Anni Attar 248-661-3038, or Nancy Czanko 734-953-9799.  Hope to see you there for the best in fall fashion!

Calling all MERCY MOMS!  Join us for our next meeting October 1st at 6:30pm in the Media Center.  The Mothers Club is still in need of volunteers.  Click here to check out all the ways you can get involved and to download the volunteer form.

Dads Club

Get ready for plenty of Dads and Daughters fun this school year starting with a spooktacular trip to Cedar Point on   Saturday, October 13.  Snacks and movies on the bus ride down and a guaranteed good time.  Bus leaves from Mercy at 11am.  Click here for more information and to download the sign up sheet. 

Put on your cowboy and cowgirl hats and get ready to square dance with your daughter at the annual Dads and Daughters BARN DANCE Friday, November 2 at Lazy J Ranch in Milford.  The western festivities start at 7:30pm and cost is $30 per couple.  Click here for more information and to download the sign up sheet. 

Contact Tom Fields at 248-865-9074 or tfields2004@comcast.net for more information about these events.

ALL DADS are welcome at our next meeting October 2 at 7:00pm in the Cafeteria. 

Mercy MOMENT of the Month 

Go Mercy!  Go Marlins!  Way to go on being awarded the STATE CHAMPS! High School Sports TV Show SCHOOL SPIRIT AWARD. 

Show host Lorne Plant was crowded by enthusiastic Mercy girls in the gym last Thursday to present the trophy.

If you missed the Mercy spirit spotlight shown last Saturday, it will be reaired throughout the week on Comcast Local and posted on the STATE CHAMPS! web site.

We've got spirit!  Yes, we do!

Guess What?

There are about 480 staff and students tapping away everyday on their Tablet PC's at Mercy. 

A Lasting Legacy of Mercy Women

Mrs. Judy Ewald has been a Mercy teacher for 32 years.  She has truly experienced it all with 3 daughters and 1 daughter-in-law having graduated from Mercy, but never has she had a granddaughter walk through the Mercy halls until now.  That's 49 Mercy years and counting since there are 7 more future Marlin granddaughters, including an adopted 5 year old from Liberia, Africa. 

Pictured here with her granddaughter Samantha Wenson '11 and daughter Jeni Ewald Wenson '85, Mrs. Ewald says, "I feel so blessed to be able to do my ministry here and to have had my daughters experience quality education and faith formation."  Quite a legacy!

Are you an Alumna and have a Mercy daughter currently enrolled?  Meet and greet other Mercy Alumnae legacies as the Alumnae Association honors and celebrates the bond that is created when a Mercy education becomes a family tradition at a special reception on Mercy Day, September 24 from 7pm - 8pm in the Media Center.  For more information or to RSVP contact the Alumnae Office at alumnaeoffice@mhsmi.org or 248-476-3270.  

THANKS, Mercy Shoppers!

On September 6, 2007 Mercy High received a $990.00 check from TARGET'S Take Charge of Education School Fundraising Program.  Thanks to you, our Mercy families, that's a nice "chunk of change" for doing what you do anyways - SHOP - and using your TARGET REDcard.  Mercy receives 1% of your purchases and a check arrives a couple times a year.  THANK YOU!

Now, if EVERY Mercy Family would sign up at target.com/tcoe, these dollars for Mercy could grow even more.

The same thing happens at Meijer and Gordon Foods too.  Shop and Mercy receives a percentage of all sales; every purchase adds up.  And it's simple to enroll.  Just visit Meijer.com/MCRmember or gfsmarketplace.com or click here for more rewards program information.

Mercy MARKETPLACE Arts & Crafts Show

Artists, unique high quality crafters, and women in business are needed for the annual Mercy Marketplace held Friday and Saturday November 23 and 24 of Thanksgiving weekend. 

Click here to download an application if you or someone you know are interested in participating in this fundraising event for tuition assistance. 

For more information, contact the Special Events Office at daludwinski@mhsmi.org or 248.893.3516.  And don't forget to come shop and mingle at the Mercy Marketplace!

Hail to the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

The Sisters of Mercy received an award at the National Catholic Education Association Convention honoring their work in Catholic education.  Today, Mercy sponsored secondary and elementary schools serve over 30,000 students in schools that share a common heritage, legacy, and mission. 

Sisters of Mercy educators and their co-workers demonstrate commitment to compassionate service to those in need, spirituality, faith development, responsibility, global vision, and academic excellence to their students.  They continually seek to find new ways to bring Mercy to the world, "By collaborating with others in works of Mercy we continually learn from them how to be more merciful."

Science Teacher Ms. Kathy Kitzmann performed her world famous Mercy song "A Woman Who Makes a Difference" with her band Chrome Folk BBQ at the Finnish Cultural Center in Livonia this past summer.  Click here to view and listen to the inspirational tune.

Want to hear the latest from the Mercy students?  Subscribe to NEWSPRINT, the student voice of Mercy High School, for only $17.50 per year.  Contact lmwaldsmith@mhsmi.org for more information.  Click here to read last year's informative issues.

PLEASE return your Mercy Family Pledge Form to the President's Office before October 5, 2007.

Look who is a Sweepstakes Drive winner!

Mercy Month Ahead

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 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 the October issue to jhearle@mhsmi.org by October 12 to be delivered to your inbox October 18.