Dear Mercy Families,

 

With each new week since having joined the Mercy community, I experience more of the unique traditions, talents and celebratory accomplishments that underscore why a Mercy education makes a difference.

One of the most impressive events recently shared throughout our student body is Ethnic Bazaar. This annual celebration of the diverse music, dance, food, and song is truly a Mercy treasure as we continue to explore the Sisters of Mercy call to this year's theme of Who is Our Neighbor?

The energy at Mercy abounds across athletics where we celebrate our Swim and Dive Team State Champions, to the outstanding performances by our cast and crew of the fall Anne of Green Gables theater production, and the model student programs Mercy shares within the broader community. Our Link Crew program, a student leader project for incoming students who are mentored by upper classwomen to support a successful transition, is stellar. Under the guidance of counselor Mrs. Trish Brown, we share our best practices with other schools; and next fall will host the regional Link Crew conference. The Mercy student iWizards group is recognized by MANS (Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools) as a model student led technology support program. Mr. Larry Baker was invited to present at the December MANS Technology Gathering to other educators interested in establishing student centered technology initiatives.

We are also excited to share the news that our Mercy family has expanded! Math teacher Mrs. Christa Polan and her husband Geoff welcomed their son, Axel Graham Polan into the world on November 5th. Mrs. Erin Somerville (Advancement Office) and her husband John welcomed John Marshall Somerville Jr. on November 10th. Both moms and their babies are happy and healthy!

Club Competitions: CyberPatriots is an educational program created by the U.S. Air Force to promote and encourage cybersecurity and other STEM related professions. Kudos to our newly established Mercy CyberPatriot team who competed in their first online Cyber security competition, scoring 170.9 out of a possible 222 points.

The Mercy junior varsity Quiz Bowl team recently won all three games in a competition against Country Day, Brother Rice, and University of Detroit Jesuit. The team is currently undefeated and ranked at the top of their division! Our varsity Quiz Bowl team played three tough games against U of D, Country Day, and Farmington, in a hard fought challenge. Mercy also has two novice Quiz Bowl teams this year, the Maroon team and the Gold team. Both novice teams won two of their three games, and our Mercy Maroon team is in second place within their division.

Final Exams: As we approach the end of the first semester, please encourage your student to pace themselves in preparation of final exams, and to communicate with teachers over any missing work that may still be accepted. Our Final Exam schedule is as follows:

3rd hour    8:30 - 9:50 am

5th hour  11:30 - 12:50 pm

CPR Training Update: We are immensely grateful to the Farmington Hills Fire Department for their support in helping us to ensure the health and safety of our students. CPR training is now incorporated into our Health class for all sophomore students. 9 of our staff members have become certified American Heart Association instructors in order to support this student initiative, as well as to CPR train our staff.
 

Family Emergency Training Opportunity: An unfortunate current reality is the need for immediate medical response in the event of a violent situation, and in-house training will be provided to our staff. The Farmington HIlls Fire Department also encourages all of our families to become empowered to react in the event of a bleeding emergency. Stop the Bleed is a national campaign launched in response to multiple mass casualty events. Local training for the general public is available on Saturday, December 9 at Beaumont Hospital in Farmington HIlls. This free training session is available in four one-hour increments throughout the day. Sessions begin at 9 am, 10 am, 11 am, and noon. Visit here to register.

All Saints Day Mass: During this all school Mass, we prayed for the deceased members throughout our community. If you have experienced the loss of a loved one this year, please know that you and your family were in our special prayers during the liturgy. At this Mass, we also had the opportunity to bless our many students who exhibit leadership through Link Crew, National Honor Society, Language Honors Society, Clubs, Human Relations Council, Student Government, retreat leaders, pastoral ministers, liturgical ministers and all others who exercise leadership skills.

Our Youth Mercy Associates: During the Immaculate Conception Liturgy on December the 8th we will be holding our annual commitment ceremony of the Youth Mercy Association, honoring a group of students who are dedicated to service, prayer, faith and love. We selected to acknowledge our Youth Mercy Associates on this day to correspond with the Foundation Day of the Sisters of Mercy - who celebrate 190 years this year!

The following girls will be making their first one year commitment as Youth Mercy Associates:

Kauai Johnson - '18

Madeline Gwinn - '18

Alexis Dickie ' - 20

 

Making their re-commitment as Youth Mercy Associates, are:

Brooke O'Brien - '18

Sarah Pegler - '18

Danielle McClain - '18

Becoming a Youth Mercy Associate is a year long process with a need to fulfill requirements including planning and leading a prayer service, completing a community service project, reading a book about faith, attending a special faith-filled event, and regularly attending group meetings. Please join us in praying for these young ladies as they model the Mercy values and mission.

Focus: HOPE: Thank you for supporting our Thanksgiving Focus: HOPE Food Drive. Aside from the donated food and supplies, together we donated $4,192.00 for low income seniors in need this holiday season.

Sanctum House: Our very own Farmington Hills based Sisters of Mercy along with other partners in southeast Michigan, opened Sanctum House in November - a refuge for victims of human trafficking. This two-year residential treatment program offers medical and psychological treatment, and an opportunity to better develop basic life skills in order for victims to transform their lives. Additionally sponsored by the Archdiocese of Detroit, the University of Detroit Mercy, Trinity Health Care, and Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan, this program is the first of it's kind in the region dedicated to adult women. Volunteer opportunities and requested donations are listed on the organization's website at sanctumhouse.org.

As you can see, there are many reasons to be proud of our school. As our Mercy students remind us during daily announcements, "it's not what it is, but what it can become." Thank you for allowing us to support your daughter as she becomes a woman who makes a difference!

May God's Grace and Blessings be in your path,