Mercy High School is proud to present our Annual Mercy Make a Difference Day this Thursday, September 22. On this day during Spirit Week, staff and students will be going out into the community to do service. Imagine what an impact 600+ people doing 3 hours of service will have! We are expecting 100% attendance, so please do not schedule college visits or doctor appointments.

PERMISSION FORM

This is a reminder of today's communication in regard to the Make a Difference Day permission form signature request. We apologize for the oversight and confusion. Unfortunately, this field trip consent form was NOT included in the original back to school FinalForms required documents as originally thought. Please login to FinalForms and click on Field Trip and Spirit Week Consent.

Kindly review, sign consent, and submit in Final Forms by 11pm Wednesday, September 21 so your daughter can participate in the Make a Difference Day activities on Thursday, September 22. Students will also need to login and submit their signature.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY 9/22 SCHEDULE

• School will start at 8:00 a.m. with a meeting in Adviser Group followed by a short prayer service, directions for the day, and boarding of the buses.  
• Students will travel to the location and work with their Adviser and Adviser Group from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. doing a variety of service tasks. Students will earn 3 hours of community service toward their graduation requirement.
• The buses will bring the groups back to school. Lunch will be provided.
• The day will end at 1:45 p.m.   
• Students will be given a Make A Difference Day t-shirt on Thursday morning.

PARTICIPATION

Participation is mandatory. The Mercy Make a Difference Day Committee has coordinated with many organizations that are counting on us for our service. The goal is to have all of Mercy working together in the community.

Students who do not participate may jeopardize their participation in further Spirit Week activities including the Homecoming Dance. All students not in attendance (due to pre-arranged absence, illness, or injury) will still be expected to give 3 hours of service through Mercy either during unscheduled hours or before/ after school. A service plan must be submitted to the Dean of Student Affairs, (deanofstudents@mhsmi.org) by Friday, September 23 in order to attend the Homecoming Dance. Please contact Campus Ministry to find service opportunities throughout the school.

APPROPRIATE DRESS

Please make sure your daughter is appropriately dressed to do service activities for Thursday. Jeans, sweats, athletic or comfortable pants; sturdy, closed-toe shoes; and the Mercy Make a Difference Day t-shirt are necessary. Students may bring sunscreen and bug spray if needed. More specific details on dress will be provided by your daughter’s Adviser. Please note: Most sites suggest bringing heavy-duty gardening gloves.

WATER BOTTLES 

In keeping with the Sisters of Mercy Critical Concern of care for the Earth, plastic water bottles will not be provided. We ask that ALL students bring their own water bottle from home to fill prior to loading the the bus. Making sure it is labeled with the student name will be helpful as well.

We are very excited about this day. This is what we stand for as a school. In the words of Catherine McAuley, “No work of charity can be more productive of good to society, or more conducive to the happiness of the poor, than the careful instruction of women.” 

Make a Difference Day is such an important event for our school community to join together in service. This day affords our students a chance to practice the charism of Mercy. Thank you for your understanding and support!

We Are Mercy and Together We Can Make A Difference!