Wit's End . . . notes from the principal

As is usually the case, the school year is off to a running start and your calendar is probably looking a bit too full already. So many events have occurred since the last Memo but a few deserve some recap.

We celebrated Mercy Day, September 24^th, the 180^th anniversary of the first House of Mercy which Catherine McAuley opened on Baggot Street in Dublin, Ireland. We gathered for a special mass as a school community. It is important that each year we honor and recognize this school’s connection to Catherine and the work she began. This same day ushered in a week of excitement and fun as it was the 2007 Spirit Week! Great competitions and daily dress up made for a chaotic but very enjoyable five days. Seniors captured top honors!!

Fall is an extremely busy time for every high school student, but the senior class and their parents have many additional demands. College applications require significant focus while at the same time, seniors celebrate each traditional school activity as their “last” one. So much goes on and events follow in quick succession. Senior parents were invited to a special evening presentation on October 4^th. Hopefully the newsletter you received will lessen the stress and help you stay organized if you have a senior daughter. Already, the senior class celebrated their Blessing Mass on October 11^th. It was wonderful to see so many parents.

This particular week will end with the Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 18^th. These meetings, albeit brief interchanges with teachers, are intended to provide a face-to-face context for the daily interactions that your daughter has with the faculty. I truly hope that each of you is finding the PowerSchool site very helpful. May the conversations you have with your daughter regarding her schoolwork be frequent, supportive, and focused always on realistic improvement. If your daughter is struggling, take the time to find out why. We are here to assist you.

The entire Mercy community is always in my thoughts and prayer. May this school year be one of promise.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Carolyn Witte, Principal 

Come Right In Future Mercy Girls!

Our doors will be open for prospective students to MEET MERCY at our Fall Open House Sunday, November 4 from 1pm to 4pm.  Invite 7th and 8th graders to tour Mercy and discover what it means to be a part of the Mercy family!

If someone you know can't make it to the Open House, have them check out the new Be A Mercy Girl brochure and shadow a student program.

Contact mpstirling@mhsmi.org for more admissions information.

Mothers Club

In only 10 days Mercy girls will stroll down the Lord & Taylor Twelve Oaks runway for the Mothers Club 5th Annual Fashion Extravaganza.  Get your tickets for this fashionable morning which includes a boxed breakfast, beverages, raffles, door prizes, coupon for a complimentary make over, and not to mention cute clothes!  $30 per person. 

All proceeds benefit the Mercy Mothers Club.  CLICK HERE for invitation flyer or contact Lamia Arcori at 586-940-8601 or Ani Attar at 248-661-3038.

Have you come to a meeting yet?  Please join us for our next meeting November 5th at 6:30pm in the Media Center.  Please note the JANUARY meeting has been cancelled.  Click here to check out all the ways you can get involved and to download the volunteer form.

Dads Club

A busload of 50 Dads and Daughters had a screaming good time at Cedar Point on October 13th.  Now it's time to grab your partner and hit the square dance floor at the annual Dads and Daughters BARN DANCE Friday, November 2 at 7:30pm at Lazy J Ranch in Milford.  Cost is $15 per person or $30 per couple.  Click here for more information and to download the sign up sheet or contact Tom Fields at 248-865-9074 or tfields2004@comcast.net.

Deck your holiday halls with WREATHS and ROPING from the Dads Club.  Click here to pre-order online.  Available for purchase at the Mercy Marketplace held Thanksgiving weekend.

We welcome ALL DADS to our next meeting November 6th at 7:00pm in the Cafeteria. 

Mercy MOMENT of the Month 

 S - E - N - I - O - R - S !

The Class of 2008 had many memorable Mercy moments this month. 

They processed into the Auditorium for a special Senior Blessing Mass to celebrate and reflect upon their final high school year. 

And '08 knows how to rule '07 as they cheered, dressed, and worked their way to a Spirit Week championship.   

You really know how to show your MERCY SPIRIT, Seniors!

Guess What?

There are 4-legged Marlins.  New to Mercy this year is the EQUESTRIAN CLUB.  They galloped their way to a 5th place finish in their first season.  

Members are Erin Chiara '08 and horse Lucky, Rachel Kurcz '10 and horse Nina, Sydnee Rogers '10 and horse Ashton, and Jane Huffman '11 and horse Jack.  

Way to ride!

Student Successes ~ APPLAUSE!  APPLAUSE!

Elizabeth Grden '08 has been named a Commended Student in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program in recognition of exceptional academic promise. 

17 students from the class of 2007 have earned the designation of AP SCHOLAR in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college level Advanced Placement Program exams taken in May. 

SCHOLAR	SCHOLAR with HONOR	SCHOLAR with DISTINCTION
Maureen Anway	Megan Haapala	Christina Nypaver
Jaclyn Fiscus	Vanessa Hoang	Jennifer Pisani
Caitlin Fitzsimons		Mara Weber
Priya Khangura		Rebecca Zhou
Brigid Kilcoin
Carolyn Lusch
Meaghan Maraffino
Poorvi Modi
Julie Mulloy
Sarah Rogers
Christa Rutkowski

Lauren Madison '10 was the winner of the Vocal Division of the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp's Camper Solo Competition.

Danielle Cowper '08 was one of the 5 young women chosen to be a member of Catholic Central Homecoming Court.

FORE!  The Golf Team repeats as Catholic League Champions for the 4th year in a row.  All-Catholic golfers are Maggie Lentz '11, Allegra Wrocklage '09, and Megan Novak '08.  Check out the Athletics Calendar to come and show your Mercy Marlin sports spirit!

The Mercy Tech Club is recording the happenings in the Mercy halls and launched it's first MarlinTV episode.  MarlinTV is the new student VODcast available on the INTRANET and hopefully coming soon to a computer screen near you!  The goal of MarlinTV is to bring together and recognize all the different types of talent at Mercy.

Mercy Women Wear Pink for the Cause

Girls were out of uniform last Friday for a good reason.  Students and staff donated $5 to wear jeans and pink ribbons to join in the fight agains breast cancer. 

$4,000 was raised for the Sharing & Caring Breast Cancer Program affiliated with William Beaumont Hospital.  Sharing & Caring offers education and support for breast cancer patients and their families at the time of diagnosis, during treatment, and beyond.

A pink ribbon display board filled with pictures of women connected to our Mercy community touched by breast cancer is hanging in the Media Center during the month of October.  We continue to pray for a current teacher and parent recently diagnosed as well as all of those battling breast cancer.

Latest and Greatest from the ALUMNAE OFFICE

It was a Mercy Day to remember for Alumnae Mercy Moms and Daughters at the first annual Alumnae Legacy Reception held September 24th in the Media Center.  Principal Carolyn Behringer Witte '67 attended with daughter Alexa Witte '08 and welcomed Mercy girls past and present who reminisced while paging through old LORE Yearbooks.  Barbara Sulich Pichan '78 was the lucky lady winning the $1,000 tuition Legacy Lottery for her daughter Emily Pichan '11.  Click here to see some photos.

The Mercy community gathers every fall to remember and celebrate the lives of deceased alumnae, staff, family, and friends. 

Please join us in prayer and remembrance at the Alumnae Memorial Mass on Sunday, November 11 at 12 noon in the school chapel.  Contact the Admissions Office at 248.476.3270 or jlstark@mhsmi.org for more information.

(Digital photo montage by Elizabeth Peterson '07.)

Serving the Community

The Mercy Community Action Program (MCAP) promotes and encourages a commitment to volunteer service work by using the community as a classroom.  The start of the school year is the best time for students to plan where, when, and what they would like to do for their service project.  MCAP is a wonderful introduction to living out a philosophy of Mercy High School, which is that of service to others. 

Over half of the Mercy students go far beyond the 40 hour requirement, sharing their time and talents with those in need.  Click here for more Information about the service program or check the postings on the Service Bulletin Board and description in the student agenda book.  Contact  Service Learning Coordinator Mrs. Judi Dennis at jgdennis@mhsmi.org if you have any questions or concerns. 

A heart-felt THANK YOU to everyone who brought in an abundance of tuna, peanut butter, and cereal for the St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Detroit Food Pantry Program.  They had a depleted supply of food for those in desperate need and now because of Mercy High School they will have tuna for the first time in a year!

Make it to the Mercy MARKETPLACE

Shop the Mercy Marketplace for a wide variety of vendors from artisans and crafters to the Women in Business Specialty section.  Stock up on unique holiday gifts and goodies and even satisfy your sweet tooth at the Mercy MOMS BAKE SALE located in the Cafe.

Friday, November 23rd ~ 4pm - 8pm

Saturday, November 24th ~ 10am - 4pm

$3 Admission

Are you or someone you know a talented crafter?  There's still time to reserve a Marketplace space!  Click here to download an application or contact the Special Events Office at lckarbo@mhsmi.org or 248.893.3535. 

Testing the Waters

Chemistry teacher Ms. Kathy Kitzmann and AP Chemistry students Angela Haddad '09 and Chantel Morey '08 brought their test tubes outside to get wet and participate in the Worldwide Water Monitoring Day program.  

They tested the stream of water that runs north of the school and east of the pathway leading to the soccer field.  An Alumna parent Mrs. Lynette Milan provided the kit needed for testing the water's dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, and temperature.  Worldwide Water Monitoring Day is an international event that runs from September 18 - October 18 each year.

Let's Hear it for the STAFF!

Administrator and Registrar Mr. John Gernacy has been selected from 66 nominees for one of the top 10 "Ability is Ageless" awards.  Mr. Gernacy will receive his award at a luncheon hosted by Operation ABLE of Michigan on Wednesday, October 24.  No one deserves this honor more!  CLICK HERE for more award information.

French teacher Madame Joyce Campbell is the recipient of the 2007 Award from the Michigan World Language Association and the Intercultural Student Experiences Organization.  She was selected for providing outstanding cultural immersion experiences for her French students both in the classroom through her cultural projects and outside the classroom by providing travel opportunities abroad.   Félicitations!

FALL PLAY ~ ANNE OF GREEN GABLES

Come enjoy an evening of acting at the Mercy Fall Play Anne of Green Gables adapted by Sylvia Ashby.  Tickets are $8 and it will sure be a show to remember!

Friday, November 9 ~ 8pm

Saturday, November 10 ~ 8pm

Sunday, November 11 ~ 2pm

Mercy High School Auditorium

S o i r é e

Exciting plans are underway for the 29th Annual Mercy Auction Soirée March 1, 2008.  Check your mail for the Auction newsletter filled with photos, fun facts, important information, and ways to get involved.  Here's your opportunity to meet new parents, help create a magical event, and make a difference in your daughter's school.

THANK YOU to all of the Mercy Moms who have donated their time and efforts to assist with the Auction mailing.  We love having your smiling faces in the Development Office and appreciate your dedication!

Contact Linda Karbo in the Special Events office at lckarbo@mhsmi.org or 248.893.3535 for more AUCTION information.

Enjoy an exciting day of sales and shopping to benefit French Honor Society!  Get your $5 ticket to shop at the Parisian Laurel Park Community Day on Saturday, November 10.  Ticket holders will receive a $10 off coupon to use on a single item, 8 merchandise coupons to save on a huge selection throughout the store, and exclusive Bonus Buy offers!  Students will be selling tickets at Parent Teacher Conferences and to friends and family.  If you can't catch a student to purchase a ticket, e-mail inquiries or ticket requests to Madame Campbell jacampbell@mhsmi.org or Madame Shea cashea@mhsmi.org.

Student members of the Detroit Symphony's Civic Orchestra Mary Walle '09 and Renee Hudson '08 will be performing at Orchestra Hall this Saturday, October 20th at 3:00pm. 

Sign up NOW to shop for Mercy!  Click to register at target.com/tcoe, Meijer.com/MCRmember or gfsmarketplace.com or click here for more rewards program information.  A percentage of your family purchases will benefit the Mercy High School family.

LORE Yearbooks will be on sale for $55 November 6 - 9 before and after school in the hallway south of the reception area.

Subscribe to NEWSPRINT, the student voice of Mercy High School, for only $17.50 per year.  Contact lmwaldsmith@mhsmi.org for more information. 

Look who is a Sweepstakes Drive winner!

Mercy Month Ahead

Event	Date / Time	Location
Mothers Club Fashion Show	Oct 28 / 8a	Lord & Taylor Novi
All Saints Day Mass	Nov 1	Auditorium
OPEN HOUSE	Nov 4 / 1p - 4p	MHS
Mercy MOMS Meeting	Nov 5 / 6:30p	Media Center
Mercy DADS Meeting	Nov 6 / 7p	Cafe
FOCUS HOPE FOOD DRIVE	Nov 6 - 19	MHS
Fall Play Anne of Green Gables	Nov 9 - 10 / 8p Nov 11 / 2p	Auditorium
Alumnae Memorial Mass	Nov 11 / 12n	Chapel
Thanksgiving Prayer Service	Nov 19	Auditorium
Mercy MARKETPLACE	Nov 23 / 4p - 8p Nov 24 / 10a - 4p	MHS
Ethnic Bazaar	Nov 29	MHS

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 November issue to jhearle@mhsmi.org by November 12 to be delivered to your inbox November 15.