The New Year has begun, second semester is now in full swing, and we are once again in welcoming mode with six new students joining us! We are pleased these young ladies and their families have selected Mercy High School to support them as they continue their academic, spiritual and character development through these formative years. These students received a blessing at our Welcome Back Mass, and we ask you to keep them in your prayers as they transition to a new school.

 

New Course Offerings: Is your daughter interested in STEM related fields? When our 2018-2019 course catalog is released in a few weeks, you will notice new semester offerings of Intro to Engineering, and Computer Science. These courses for upper classwomen are facilitated by Lawrence Tech University (LTU) faculty, and students will earn college credit for successful completion. We will need a minimum number of students in order to enter this partnership with LTU.

 

We are also exploring student interest in Honors World Language courses. We encourage you to review the course catalog with your daughter to help her best align personal interests and opportunities. All new course offerings will be outlined at the front of the catalog.     

 

Mercy is well known throughout the Detroit metropolitan area for the strength of our academic curriculum. This is only realized through the hard work, talent, and dedication of our outstanding staff. All of our team members are committed to supporting the needs of each Mercy student. However, this year we recognize the following staff for their dedicated years of service to Mercy High School:

 

5 Years

Mrs. Rebekah Ferguson (Performing Arts)

Mrs. Lisa Wilson (Science)

Ms. Abbey Youngerman (English/Social Studies)

 

10 Years

Mrs. Trish Brown (Counseling)

Mrs Hallie Smith (English/Yearbook)

 

15 Years

Mrs. Julie Earle (Communications/Marketing)

 

20 Years

Mrs. Carol Baron (Math)

Mrs. Angela Hayes (Business Office)

Mrs. Arpna Hessler (Counseling)

 

40 Years

Mrs. Vicky Kowalski (Math)

 

We are blessed and grateful to have these team members as a part of the Mercy family in sharing their many talents with us!

 

Thursday, February 1 is Mercy Open House! Do you know a family that would benefit from all that Mercy has to offer? Help spread the word that a Mercy education is a faith based education exemplifying academic excellence with award winning programs in journalism, fine arts and performing arts, exemplary technology and student mentoring models, opportunities for extra-curricular faith formation, athletic championship titles, a sisterhood that supports social and character development, and so much more. Please share information about our Open House!

 

ALICE Training: We are extremely grateful to the Farmington Hills Fire Department for their willingness to work in partnership with us to ensure the safety of our students and staff. Last week, all staff were provided response training should a violent school event occur. This workshop, in addition to the AED/CPR training previously received this year, help to strengthen our crisis management plan.

 

Vaping Awareness: The latest report on teen smoking from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows 20 percent of high school students have used at least one tobacco product recently, mostly e-cigarettes. Teen vaping use is present in high schools across the country. At Mercy, all tobacco and electronic cigarette devices are prohibited. When we are made aware of individual use of e-cigarettes on school grounds, we work closely to share resources with both students and parents on the risks and potential consequences associated with vaping. We encourage you to proactively enter conversation with your daughter on vaping use. A parent resource for starting this conversation may be found here.

 

Typical Teen's Bedroom?...Or is It?: We are pleased to announce that through a partnership with St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, a customized program will be offered to students, parents and staff to learn about the signs, symptoms and current trends of teen drug use.

 

For parents, a highlight of this program is a mock teenager's bedroom set-up for adults to observe and attempt to identify the obvious, and not so obvious, drug related paraphernalia.This program, "Drugs 101: What Parents Want to Know," will be offered to parents the evening of Wednesday, February 21 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. Please hold the date for this informative free session. Registration can be done here.

 

Our New Mercy Cross: Did you notice our new Mercy Cross located in the front lobby over the concession stand? This cross, made by Sister Marie Henderson '66 and former Mercy Art Faculty Member, was made using marble from our original Mercy High School building located at Southfield and Outer Drive. The school was relocated to our current site in 1965. The historical context of this cross is a beautiful way to represent all the many faith filled prayers that are said throughout the halls of Mercy education since 1945!

 

You may have noticed that the Mercy Cross does not have a crucified Jesus. This is because Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, believed that through prayerful reflection each Sister places herself on the Cross to be like Jesus. The theological meaning is likened to Saint Theresa's prayer, "Christ has no body now on earth but yours." Sisters of Mercy across the world wear this cross, and are thus recognizable.

 

March for Life Trip: 25 students traveled to Washington, DC with the Mercy Pro-Life Club for our annual participation in the March for Life gathering. We thank these students, and staff chaperones Mrs. Hallie Smith and Mrs. Lauren Marquard, as well as parent chaperone Mrs. Heather Krill for representing Mercy in this global concern for the sanctity of life.

 

Mercy Critical Concerns Awareness: The Sisters of Mercy were founded out of deep concern for people who were poor. These "five concerns" continue to provide focus for the Sisters in their ministry work, and are woven throughout the experience of a Mercy education.

 

During our recent professional development day, our Mercy Mission Committee team members hosted an interactive activity for all staff to further promote awareness and discussion of these Mercy concerns. Team members rotated to various stations centered on the Earth, Immigration, Nonviolence, Racism and Women. The day's activity provided valuable opportunity for our team to share ideas and perspective on how these founding concerns are supported across our curriculum.

 

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!