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Mercy High School Monthly Parent E-Newsletter -November 2009
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Wit's End . . . notes from the principal
Today, I have a lesson plan.
Yes, although the title for my role here at Mercy is that of principal, make no mistake. I am and will always remain a teacher by my own admission, but I am also a student and choose never to retire that role. I am privileged in these monthly musings, to consider a moment of thought and share it with you, the larger audience of Mercy parents. So think of this now, as one student of the world delivering her class presentation on a simple topic, the assignment – something of seasonal relevance.
Oh my. The topic is too broad, too all encompassing. How does one choose? Do I speak of something connected to fall, the loss of leaves on the trees, the upcoming and often dreaded colder temperatures?Do I choose end of calendar year realities, look to a new year, or speak of some recent experience in the school calendar, a beast of a different sort? Do I preview upcoming events? I chose none of the above but instead approached the task in a different way.
The lesson today is on emotion, a single emotion that, yes, is considered now because it is November, and we soon gather for Thanksgiving celebrations. Class, today I speak to you about gratitude. Simply defined, it is considered a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgement of a benefit received. For many years, the notion of feeling and expressing gratitude has been researched and indeed many great thinkers believe that there may be a strong connection, an actual physiological response, between gratitude and well being.
Too much attention is given to all that is wrong in our lives. The energy dedicated to anxiety, loss, fear, regret . . . is immeasurable.We say aloud that our lives are not about the accumulation of stuff and yet so much of our efforts seem fixed on that, the worry of what we don’t have, or what we won’t achieve or won’t experience.How different might our lives become if we could redirect that attention to our present reality?Consider making a Gratitude List. I have one. Yes, it is an actual written list and is currently taped to the mirror in my bedroom.I see it and consequently experience it anew each and every day.
Gratitude, kindness, thankfulness . . . these have a profound effect on the quality of my day.They turn me toward hope, vision, peace, and contentment.I forget that what draws my attention, my focus, my effort is actually what I choose. This doesn’t happen to me:rather, I select what to consider and I create my reality.Thus, my thoughts, from the moment I get out of bed each morning, are mine to choose.I cannot choose all that will happen, but I can and do, always, choose my response.
Kindness trumps greed: it asks for sharing. Kindness trumps fear: it calls forth gratefulness and love. Kindness trumps even stupidity, for with sharing and love, one learns.(Marc Estrin, American writer and cellist)
Makes sense doesn’t it? I cannot be in complete despair if my brain considers persons, circumstances, surroundings for which I am grateful. To awaken and think about the blessings in my life places me in positive stead for the day. I think better; therefore, I feel better. I am better.
For whom are you grateful?
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.(Albert Schweitzer, 20th century German-French theologian, musician, philosopher, and physician)
My Gratitude List has some names on it, just the names, for it takes nothing more than seeing the names to stir the feelings. My list also contains some phrases that describe my immediate surroundings.I know that I live better than most of the people on the planet.I know this is primarily accidental circumstance, and nothing more. My list also mentions some words which capture my current condition (physical and mental). I am conscious that things change in a blink, so I acknowledge those things that are still true.
One’s Gratitude List does not need to remain stagnant and fixed.Things get added; things are removed. None of this has anything to do with having changed my mind about my gratitude. My list changes as my focus changes, but in all cases, I am the beneficiary. My first waking moments are spent with thoughts that are positive and life giving. With that frame of reference, I believe I am more likely to build than damage as I make my way through the day. I have re-established a foundation for good.
To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.(Johannes A. Gaertner, 20th century German Art history professor)
Not a bad goal, don’t you think?
At this time of year, when the culture would suggest that I have little choice but to shift into high gear, construct massive to-do lists, mourn the lack of time, deride the unrealistic expectations, and sink deeper and deeper into a self imposed anxiety . . . I choose, instead, gratitude. What I do, I will do with love. I will make my relationships with people more important than the surroundings wherein we gather.I will dust less and visit more.
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. (Melodie Beattie, American writer and journalist)
Time is up.My class presentation is concluded. I return now to my day job, that of high school principal, but I do so choosing to modify my Gratitude List once again . . . adding that I am grateful for you, others like myself who honor the blessing and responsibility of parenthood.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Carolyn Witte, Principal
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Mothers Club
The Mothers Club Annual Fashion Show and Boutique was a fashionably fun andfabulous girls day out. There were over 60 auction items and 20 boutiques with everything from chocolate to clothing to cooking items. The stars of the show were of course all the Mercy models. Way to work the runway, ladies!
REFLECT and RECONNECT with your daughterat the Mother Daughter Evening of Spiritual Reflection Wednesday, December16 at St.Aidan'sChurch in Livonia. Mass begins at 6:30pm with dinner immediately following. Cost is $35. CLICK HERE for more info and registration form. Questions? Call Maureen Babicz at 248.896.2223.
ALL MERCY MOMS are invited to join us for our nextmeeting December7 at 6:30pmin the Media Center.
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DadsClub
 Deck your holiday halls with Christmas Wreaths & Roping from the Dads Club. A variety of sizes are available as well as English Garden gift cards. Pick up and pay for items on November 24 and 25 from 12noon to 3pm at the Mercy Pool Parking Lot. CLICK HERE for details and to preorder your items online.
Spend Friday evening December 4 going round and round with your daugher at a good old fashioned BARN DANCE. Cost is $30. CLICK HERE for event details. Questions? Contact John Conely at jjconely@comcast.net.
ALL MERCY DADS are invited to join us for our nextmeetingDecember1st at7:00pm in the Cafeteria.
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Admissions Anecdotes
On Sunday, November 8, Mercy hosted 213 prospectivestudents and their familiesat our annual Fall Open House. Families discovered what makes Mercy, MERCY! They toured the building with students, spoke toour teachers, administrators, and coaches, and were especially impressed with the newly renovated scienceclassrooms. The Tablet PC demonstration in the Media Center was buzzing and the Mercyaire performance in the auditorium was a huge hit. Everyone enjoyed a fall treat of cider and donuts in the cafeteria while chatting with current parents. Plenty of pictures will be posted on Admissions web pagesoon!
ManyTHANKS to the student, parent, staff, and alumnae volunteers who made the day a success! Our next open house is Sunday, February7 from 1:00 – 3:00. In the meantime, if parents know of a prospective student in your parish or neighborhood, pleaseencourage them to contact Admissions Director MaureenWeiss '96at mpweiss@mhsmi.org or 248.476.2484 and arrange a day to shadow a student.
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CELEBREZ La Semaine Nationale Du Francais
 Bonjour! Earlier this month Mercy French students enthusiastically participated in National French Week sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French. Girls embraced their artistic side and designed original French cultural t-shirts to wearand showcase their pride.Four guest speakersspoketo all levels of French classes about "La Francophonie" in the world. Mme Petrillo from Canada, Monsieur Rodolfo from France, Madame Charles and Madame Auguste from Haiti. The speakers enriched the student's knowledge about the French language and culture of their native countries. The presentations wereMAGNIFIQUE!
Eating french cuisine always makes the week that much sweeter! For National Crepe Day we made over 300 scrumptious crepes filled with nutella or jam for all Mercy students to savor. Mme Witte and Mme Rozman joined in cooking the crepes this year and the cafeteria cooked up some fineFrench luncheon items.80 French students, parents and staff enjoyed an authentic French dinner at "Cuisine" in Detroit. Chef Paul served an amazing French dinner and made a short presentation to us about his training as a chef in Lyon France.
A field trip to the DIA to see theAvedon French fashion photograpy exhibit closed out our celebratory week. French 2-4 students were accompanied by Mme Bolton and Mme Petrillo, Mme Campbell and Mme Shea.The students completed a study worksheet on the exhibit that will help them with their French fashion project next semester. Four docents from the DIA guided all participants through the DIA later in the day highlighting their French collections.
Mercycertainly joined in the National Celebration "au grand style!"
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Food For Thought
"It is when times are most difficult that heroic individuals need to rise to the occasion and take a stand for those who go without. Most of us will not think twice about sitting down to a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner. We don't think twice about getting a snack out of our fridge or running through a drive-thru. At this time of year, we are called to share with those who cannot take basic necessities for granted.Can you stand up and say I CAN do something, in a small way, to help those who suffer? Jesus reminds us in Matthew's gospel, 'whatever you do to these least sisters and brothers of mine, you do for me.' Don't look at minimum requirements, but consider how you can be a hero standing up in a time of crisis."~ Mr.Joe Gerardi.
Mercy's Focus: HOPE Food Drive ends Monday. It asks all of us to fill a bag of food and donate $5 in this season of Thanksgiving. It asks all of us to do more. It ask all of us tolive out the Mercy value Option forthe Poor.
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Student Successes . . . APPLAUSE! APPLAUSE!
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 Charlotte Morrow '10 attended the weeklong National Junior Classical League Convention held at the University of California this past summer. The NJCL is an international organization of secondary students who study the language, culture and literature of ancient Greece and Rome. She was the only delegate from Michigan and was elected as the NJCL National Historian for this school year. In doing so, she became the first representative from Michigan to be elected to the National JCL Board since 1993 and only the third national officer ever to be elected from this state. Since shecurrently is President and Historian of the Michigan JCL she created an impressive state scrapbook which she presented at the National Convention to 1,300 student delegates. Now as the National Historian she will help plan next year's Convention and has been furnished with a Mac computer, printer, and 30" monitor to be used to put together the NJCL scrapbook.
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 Lauren Richards '10, Shannon Carpenter '11, *Diana Jasser '11, *Kathryn Carolyn Kemp '11, *Meghan Ronayne '11, Samantha Wenson '11, Mary Haapala '12, and *Elaina Weber '12 were all recipients ofthe 2009 Scholastic All-Catholic Award. *Those pictured were presented medals during half-time of a Prep Bowl game held at Ford Field.
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Counseling Corner
Junior Parents – The Individual College Planning Meetings with junior students and their parents began the week of November 16th.Counselors will continue to meet with families through January.There are a number of students who still need to schedule their appointment.Please confirm with your daughter.An e-mail notification of the appointment time is sent to parents when scheduled.
Kaplan @ School Partnership – Mercy has recently partnered with Kaplan Test Preparation Services.If your daughter is planning on taking a test preparation course to plan for the ACT and/or SAT, consider Kaplan.Courses will be held on site at Mercy and the cost of the course is $499.The course includes 20 hours of classroom instruction and the opportunity to take 4 full-length proctored practice tests.Contact your daughter’s counselor for more details regarding the program.
Freshwomen Parents - CLICK HERE to read the November Ninth Grade Newsletter.
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"Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death"
Mr. Baker's three American Government classes have been engaged in a challenge based learning project called "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death". This challenge involved selecting a liberty from the Bill of Rights and researching it, designing a multi-media web site, presenting a slide show to peers tracing the group's process from inception to solution, and engaging in detailed self-assessment of their process.
Several students and their work have been highlighted on thisweb site - Click to Go to Visit Student Web Sites and Gallery. The following students' work or photos appear at the site: Sophomores Brittany Jonna, Shannon Manalel, Danielle Collins, Elizabeth McMillian, Monica Shammas, Erin Klaus, Emily Rabahy, Amy Nabozny, Elise Jelonek, Kellie Brue,Daniela Rodriguez, Alex Clark, Audrey Cords, Katie Koehler, Katie Arthur, Kelsey Marrocco, Susan Panetta and Junior Samantha Meredith.
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Let's Hear It For The Staff
On November 2 & 3, Mr. Larry Baker served as an ambassador for Apple Computer, hosting two breakout sessions at the Michigan Association of Charter Schools Annual Conference. The event, held at Cobo Center, was attended by 3.000 educators. Mr. Baker's topics were "Free Tools and Resources for Implementing a 21st Century Learning Environment" and "Quick and Easy Podcasts Using iLife '09". Two weeks earlier Mr. Baker had appeared at Grand Traverse Resort, presenting "Digital Anthologies" to the Michigan Association for Media Specialists in Education. Mr. Baker will also be presenting at the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning Conference at the Amway Center in Grand Rapids.
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A U C T I O N 2010
'Tis The Season For Auction Gifts - TheAuction Team is reaching out to each Mercy family with the hope that everyone will be able to contribute to the Auction in some way, big or small. Creativity and networking are key as you think of ways to support this year's Auction. Not sure what to donate? Concert, show, and sports tickets; electronics; gift certificates; trips and weekend adventures. CLICK HERE to fulfill an Auction gift wish.Over the years, the Auction's most intriguing and successful items have been acquired by parents just like you!
Hey, Don't Throw That Away - Think before you throw away any items from holiday gifts such as packing peanuts, paper shredding, confetti paper, andbaskets, baskets, baskets. They are critical materials in producing Auction gift baskets. We are also in need of sturdy boxes of all sizes to help with our display.Send them in with your daughter or drop by the Advancement Office. Looking for some service hours??? Stop in the Advancement Office and wrap boxes in our Auction colors to be used for the Display.
Please contact Auction Coordinator Kari Weber at klweber@mhsmi.orgor 248.893.3535 for anything AUCTION.
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Cultural Sensitivity Workshop
 Last week fifty 10th, 11th & 12 graders participated in Mercy’s 19th annual Cultural Sensitivity Workshop. The workshop is modeled after workshops initiated by Focus:Hope’s Educational Project. The theory behind the workshop involves identifying a diverse group of student leaders, not exclusively elected leaders, removing them from the school setting for at least an overnight time period, and immersing them in honest open discussion about very real issues in their lives focusing in on diversity, prejudice, stereotyping, racism, and affirmative action. They are exposed to both large and small group exercises which stimulate serious thought and frank discussions.
Students have an opportunity to learn about people who appear different from themselves, get to know them at a deeper level, build trust, understand how damaging stereotyping is to human dignity and to begin to really understand how closely connected and similar all humans are. New friendships develop, barriers between groups are broken down and generally, students return to school with a very different view about fellow students they may have never spoken with before the workshop. Our hope is always that these participants along with others from past years will serve a nucleus that supports a more caring, less judgmental school climate.
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Advancing Mercy
Moving Mercy Forward – The Annual Fund and Our Campaign
Many sources of funding support the work of Mercy High School. Tuition is the largest single source of funding, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. The Annual Fund Program provides monies for current programs, limited capital improvements and tuition assistance while the Capital Campaign is designed to fund the major physical plant and long-term program improvements.
These two activities have similar but separate objectives within the scope of funding for Mercy High School. Likewise, the sources of funding have different characteristics too: usually, Annual Fund dollars will come from personal or organizational “operating funds” within the given fiscal year.Conversely, Campaign support is usually longer-term (based on pledges up to 5 years in length) and often coming from resources that have been accumulated over time. The most common Annual Fund gift will come in the form of cash/check. Frequently, Campaign gifts will be made in the form of appreciated assets – money market funds, stocks, bonds, etc.. .
Make a Campaign Commitment
Have you ever heard someone say something like this? “My daughter is a Senior this year, she’ll never get to use the new student commons.” Consider: many years ago, someone made a sacrifice so that your daughter could have the use of the Mercy High School of today. Pass it on. Make your commitment to our Campaign so other young women of the future can experience a quality Mercy education!
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Mercy TECH TALK
Mercy's IT Department attends to many requests throughout the day. The first chart reflects user groups serviced and the secondchart reflects the general categories of the services. Help Desk tickets are generally not created for the many questions addressed and setting adjustments that are made throughout the day. Rather, Help Desk ticketsare created for services which require follow-up by the department. Counter service, diagnostics, re-imaging, certified HP warranty repair,the loanerpool and the in-house availability of consumables such as batteries and pens assist in keepingtechnologyemployed by the Mercy learning communityavailable and robust. |
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Did You Know?
Last school year a large number of students were commended for their fine work in poetry. As a result, Mercy applied and won a Creative Communications Language Arts Grant to help fund a special project for this year's poetry students. Poet Bard Mr. Terry Wooten (Counselor Mrs. Blaise Lowe's Father) will read from his work and conduct a workshop during which studentswill meet with various senior citizens, listen to their stories, then write poems from the recorded interview with these guests. Mr. Wooten has been conducting various "Elder Projects" throughout the state with teenagers and seniors for the past few years and we are honored to know he will spend two school days with us on December 14 and 15. He'll offer tips as to how to craft personal interviews into poetry.
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Give Me a M, Give Me an E, Give Me a R, Give Me a C, Give Me a Y!
Volleyball servedtheir way to a REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPand are now in the STATE Play-offs!
Swim and Dive Team repeated as Catholic League Champions and will try to splash their way to a 3rd STATE CHAMPIONSHIP this weekend! Fear the Fish! Go MARLINS!
Pom Pon took an impressive 2nd place in the High Kick Championships. Way to kick it, girls!
Golf received plenty of post season awards. All Oakland County Honorable Mention: Maggie Lentz '11and Elena Vlachos '11;All-Area First Team: Maggie Lentz '11and Patty Battersby '10, Second Team: Elena Vlachos '11and Brenna Hammond '13, Honorable Mention: Bethany Rizik '10 All-State Academic First Team: Bethany Rizik '10, Academic Honorable Mention: Patty Battersby '10, Honorable Mention Division 2: Maggie Lentz '11.
Mercyathletessure like to be in the paper! CLICK HERE to read about some of them in all their Marlin glory. Brush up on your Marlin cheers and chants and seeour teams in action!CLICK HERE to view the Athletics Calendar and even get driving directions.And don't forget to check out studentandathlete.com for the latest scores!
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Fan & Follow
 Become a FAN of Mercy on Facebook!
There are already over 1,500 . . . so join in the fan fun and CLICK HERE. |
 Tweet! Tweet!
Now you can follow Mercy High Schoolon Twitter!
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MNotes . . . miscellaneous info you need to know!
The annual Mercy High Christmas concert, A Traditional Christmas, will feature the Mercy choirs, orchestra and Mercyaires on Sunday, December 13 at 2pm in the Auditorium. This year we will again engage an old Mercy tradition of singing and playing "The Halleluia Chorus." All Mercy alumnae are invited to join us on stage for this grand finale! For more information about the concert, contact Mrs. Malaney at admalaney@mhsmi.org.
AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING - The National Honor Sociey will offer after school tutoring on Wednesdays from 2:45pm - 3:30pm throughout the school year. Tutoring sessions will have 4to 5 NHS members in the Media Center to tutor in all subject areas.
Have you read MOSAIC? The Fall/Winterissue of the MOSAIC Mercy High School Magazine was mailed this month. CLICK HERE to view it online. If you have stories to share, please contact Jennifer Stark at jlstark@mhsmi.org in the Alumnae OfficeorJulie Earle at jhearle@mhsmi.org.
Mercy Ethnic Bazaar 2009:One World - One Familywill be held December 10th (2nd-6th hour) in the Drama Studio. Enjoydance, poetry, fashion, song, prayer, art, food, music, and more!
Shop. Give. Make a Difference. If you are ordering gifts online, go toONECAUSE FIRST. Hundreds of online merchants like Nordstrom, Circuit City, Lands End, Amazon, and morewill give MERCY a nice percentage from every item you purchase. Simply register your information and select Mercy High School (ID 130214).If you are out and about Christmas shopping at Target or picking up some tasty holiday fare atGordon Foods or Meijer, pleasebe sure to designate MERCY. Clickto register at target.com/tcoe, Meijer.com/MCRmember,gfsmarketplace.comor click here for more rewards program information.
Yearbook Ends Sales in December: Get it before it's gone! December marks the last time we will be accepting orders for the award-winning Lore. Yearbook orders will take place December 7-11 before and after school for $70. A limited number of yearbooks may be available in May, but don't wait. The only way to ensure that your daughter has a 2010 Lore is to order it in December. In addition to in-school sales December 7-11, online orders can be made at www.yearbookforever.com through 1/3/2010. A small service fee is included.
Calling all photographers: Have you taken a photo that would look great in the yearbook? Uploadyour photos as www.classscene.comand you may see your photos in the yearbook! Type marlins in the box, hit go and you'll be on your way to uploading and viewing photos. All photos used in the yearbook will be properly credited. Thank you for your help in producing another award-winning yearbook. Please contact Mrs. Hallie Smith at hlsmith@mhsmi.org with any questions.
Faith on Fridays - There will be morning Masses at 7:25amin the chapel before school onDecember 18, February 5, and May 15.
Look who is aSweepstakes Drive winner!
Campus Outfitters is holding a 35% off uniform sale. CLICK HERE for all the info.
Subscribe to NEWSPRINT, the student voice of Mercy High School! A complete 12 page newspaper filled with everything from school news to world events, exciting features, sports, and entertainment. Newsprint is the source that links the Mercy community to the rest of the world. Support the staff of talented young Mercy women and enjoy informative and entertaining features by purchasing a subscription to this award-winning, student produced paper. Newsprint is distributed to students at school but it can also be delivered directly to your home or place of work. The price is $12 for the year (6 issues). Please send your name, preferred mailing address and email, along with a check payable to Mercy High School to Ms. Lynn Waldsmith, Newsprint Advisor Mercy High School, 29300 W. 11 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI48336-1409. Visit mhsmi.org/newsprint to view past issues.
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Snapshots of Mercy
Say cheese! Caught some girls chillin' and chattin' and smilin' in the Media Center during French Week! If you have a snapshot of Mercy, please send to jhearle@mhsmi.org.
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Mercy Month Ahead
| Event |
Date / Time |
Location |
| Focus: HOPE Food Drive |
Nov 10 - 23 |
MHS |
| Thanksgiving Prayer Service |
Nov 23 |
Auditorium |
| Thanksgiving Break Begins |
Nov 25 / 1:40pm |
MHS |
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Dec1/ 7p |
Cafe |
| Mercy MOMSGathering |
Dec7/ 6:30p |
Media Center |
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Dec 8 |
Auditorium |
| Ethnic Bazaar |
Dec 10 |
Drama Studio |
| Celebration of Founding Sisters of Mercy |
Dec 11 |
MHS |
| Christmas Concert |
Dec 13 / 2pm |
Auditorium |
| Mother / Daughter Evening of Reflection |
Dec16 / 6:00pm |
St. Aidan |
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THANK YOU for taking the time to read the MERCY MEMO. The purpose of this parent newsletter is to inform, enlighten, and entertain.TheDECEMBER MEMO will be delivered to your inbox by December 17.If you have any questions or want to submit information contactjhearle@mhsmi.org.
Want even more? Click the school year calendarand the Mercy web site. And don't miss all of the latest Mercy In The News articles.Check outthe current announcements, view past issues of the MEMO newsletter, andbrowse the home page yellow boxtolink towhat's happening today @ Mercy.
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