Celebrations!!!

 

First I would like to thank all of you who sent cards and good wishes while I was recuperating.  I am well and have enjoyed the many celebrations that take place as we send the Senior class on to the next phase of their journey!  We are very proud as well of our Tennis and Outdoor Track and Field Teams who both won SCC titles with the Outdoor Track and Field Team winning the Class L State title!

Proms

The last weekend in April saw both the Juniors and Seniors dressed in gowns and enjoying their respective proms.  The pictures from these two events are superb and I am told that both proms were wonderful with all having great fun.

 

Junior Prom

 

 

Senior Prom

 

 



“May Crowning”

One of the first events that signify the beginning of the graduation season for our Seniors is the May Crowning.  It is a wonderful ceremony which honors Our Lady where the seniors bring young friends or relatives to help with the celebration.  This year’s May Crowning took place on the last day of April with pictures being worth a thousand words, it was a great day!

 

Mother-Daughter Mass and Breakfast

On Sunday, May 3^rd Fr. Greg Galvin presided at the Mother Daughter Mass which was followed by Breakfast in the cafeteria.  This event is always quite enjoyable and an opportunity for mothers and daughters to spend some special time together. 

 

 

Art Show and Spring Concert

We have a number of talented young women who excel in the visual and performing arts.  In the Spring we are able to feature their accomplishments with an Art Show and Spring Concert.  The Art Show was successful and our hallways were filled with exhibits of great quality work.  We also were able to appreciate the hard work of our young women who excel in music at our Spring Concert held during the second week of May.

 

Class of 2015 Activities

We really enjoyed the Senior events that occurred during the month of May.  They are designed to transition a class from current students of Mercy to active alumnae.  The class of 2015 participated fully in all activities and I know we will continue to see them as they return for many visits!

May 15 was the last day of classes for Seniors and it begins with the traditional breakfast in the parking lot!

 

Next, was class night where all enjoyed an appetizing meal, watched a slide show and laughed at the many superlatives!  This class went above and beyond by surprising Sr. Mary with a class gift to the Capital Campaign of $10,000!!  What a wonderful way to remain a part of Mercy High School into the future!

All activities culminated with the Baccalaureate Mass and then Graduation.  The Class of 2015 is quite accomplished having earned over $7 million in scholarships. 

Baccalaureate Mass

 

 

Class of 2015 Graduation:

 

The picture below is of graduates with their mothers who are also alumnae of Mercy High School.  What a wonderful legacy to share!

 

 

Honors Assembly

Our underclasswomen were also recognized during the month of May for their many academic accomplishments during the 2014-15 school year.  Please click the link to see a listing of awards given at the Awards Assembly held on May 12.

Honors Assembly Awards: 

 

 

Athletic Accomplishments

Our Spring sports teams have been competitive and done very well this season.  We are pleased to be celebrating with two teams in particular as they have earned SCC Championships.

SCC Champs in Tennis:

 

SCC Champs and Class L State Title Winners in Outdoor Track and Field!

Upcoming Events:

·  The “Go the Mile” Leadership Workshop for Class of 2016 is being held at the University of St. Joseph June 10 – 11.  Over 90 members of the class will be attending.

 

·      Nearly 40 students will be traveling with the French NHS on a trip to Quebec which will take place the week of June 8.  Enjoy!

·  Our Mission Trip to Newark, New York will take place the week of June 14 with students and adults prepared to offer service to the poor and elderly of that area.

·       Sr. Mary will be leading a group of students to Ireland where they will participate in the “Young Mercy Leaders Pilgrimage” July 14 – 17^th at Baggot Street in Dublin, Ireland.

·  Summer Programs:  A number of Academic and Sports programs are being offered for girls in grades 5 – 9.  Click below for more information.  There is still time to register!!! 

         Mercy Summer Programs: 

 

•   Please check the Edline homepage for the summer   assignments folder.  All summer assignments should be posted by June 19.  Also, be sure to check the Mercy High School homepage for any updates throughout the summer!

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Easter!

As I sit to write this blog, the snow is falling outside and it is hard to believe that the holiday which is one week away is not Christmas but Easter!  We have to believe that Spring will arrive.....eventually!

We have had a number of wonderful, spirit filled events since my last posting and I am excited to share them with you.

Discover Mercy

On Saturday, March 14 we had a record number of girls from grades 5 - 7 here participating in activities and learning about Mercy High School.  They tried tie-dying, cheerleading, mock trials, robotics and so much more.  We all had an enjoyable time and look forward to seeing them return in the future. The following picture is of the beginning prayer service that morning.

 

 

 

Spirit Week

The following week found us celebrating Spirit Week and really appreciating the gift of creativity possessed by so many at Mercy!

The pictures below give examples of the various themed days and how inventive some of our Mercy Women (and faculty) can be!

 

It was St. Patrick's Day on Tuesday. Many were wearing green and we were able to enjoy some Irish Dancing during the lunch periods!

 

 

 

 

The cake auction was on Wednesday and we raised a record amount of money for charity.  The cakes looked incredible as usual!

 



On Thursday each classed dress in themed costumes and on Friday we celebrated the USA by wearing red, white and blue:

 

 

World Language Honor Society Inductions

The evening of Thursday, March 19 saw us inducting students into four language honor societies:  French, Italian, Latin and Spanish.  It was a wonderful evening where all could be proud of their achievements. Thank you to the Home and School Association for the beautiful reception provided after the ceremony.

 

 

Senior Class Trip

This week on Thursday, March 26, our seniors filled three coach buses and left at 7:00 a.m. to enjoy a day in the city of Boston.  They toured Fenway Park, enjoyed a lunch cruise and did some shopping at Fanueil Hall.  They report having a great day with many smiling faces on their return.

 

Retreat Day

On Friday, March 27 we held our annual retreat day.  Taking the time to reflect together as a school community is very important  and makes an impact on all of us who participate.  The theme this year was "A Girls World - Mercy Girls Making a Difference".  Sr. Deirdre Mullen, RSM, a Sister of Mercy working at the United Nations with Unicef, addressed the student body and relayed to us some powerful stories.  Our Mercy women took time to reflect on the challenges that girls meet around the world and how they might make a difference.  I was impressed by the sharing and action planning.

 

 

Upcoming Events:

 

• Spring Break begins Friday, April 3rd (Good Friday) with classes resuming on Monday, April 13.

• You will receive notification of Third Quarter Report Card postings by Wednesday, April 1st at 3:00 p.m

 

• The 2015-16 school calendar has been posted on the website at the following link:  2015-16 calendar

 

• During the month of April I will be having surgery and taking the time needed for recuperation.  I appreciate being remembered in your prayers and will return as soon as I am able! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Assistant to the President/Principal Maria Bergan at mbergan@mercyhigh.com who will direct you to the appropriate person to answer your questions.

 

Be well and have a Blessed Easter!



 

 

 



Spring is Coming – Really!

As we finish the second week of March I am very hopeful that we may have turned the corner when it comes to winter storms!  We have just completed a week without delay or snow days and the next week is as promising!

We have a number of activities planned and the Spirit at Mercy is very high!

Discover the Cure

Mercy students attended the orientation to the Yale Medical School Discovery to Cure Summer Internship Program on March 6. The girls listened to Yale Professors, research experts, and Doctors about current research projects - various topics ranging from cognitive brain functions to the road to the cure for ovarian cancer!

Read Across America

 On Friday, March 6 we joined with others across the United States taking 20 minutes out of the school day to drop everything and read quietly.  It was a great experience and you could hear a pin drop in the hallways!

Fiddler on the Roof

Each year Mercy and Xavier join forces to present a spring musical.  This year we enjoyed Fiddler on the Roof the weekend of March 6-8.  It was a great experience for students as they spent many weeks practicing and learning about another time and culture.  Thank you to all who worked so hard to put forward such a wonderful production!

Upcoming Events:

·        Monday night our basketball team will be playing in the Class LL semifinals.  The game will be held at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.  We will have a team bus leaving from Mercy at 5:00 p.m. Students have already signed up and handed in their permission slips. 

Join us for the game that starts at 7:00 p.m. as we continue our “Run to the Sun”! The winner of Monday night’s game will play in the state finals at Mohegan Sun the weekend of March 21/22.

·   Monday begins Spirit Week at Mercy.  Our SAC officers have an exciting and busy week planned.  Please see below:

Monday, 3/16:  Twin or Multiplicity Day.  Students may wear their own clothes as long as they have a twin or group to match with.

Tuesday, 3/17:  St. Patrick’s Day.  Students may wear anything green along with their skort.

Wednesday, 3/18:  Cake Auction.  Students wear their class shirts along with their skort.

Thursday, 3/19:  Class Battle Day.  Each class has selected a particular theme and will dress accordingly.

-          Seniors:  Xavier Boys

-          Juniors:  High School Musical

-          Sophomores:  Superhero

-          Freshwomen:  Neon

-          Faculty:  Red for St. Joseph’s Day

Friday, 3/20:  USA Day.  Students may show their Patriotism by wearing red, white and blue.

Students are to be in uniform if they are not in Spirit attire.  This is a fun week with a lot of competition and excitement.  Prizes will be awarded for the most spirited students and faculty!  Watch for the pictures on Twitter next week!

·        Sports physicals will be held March 17 & 18.  Students should have already scheduled an appointment with the nurse.  If a physical is needed, please contact our nurse as soon as possible.

·  Thursday, March 19^th is the Induction ceremony for the Foreign Language Honor Societies.  For the first time the Italian Honor Society will be inducting members as well as French, Latin and Spanish.  The ceremony will begin at 7:00 p.m.  Congratulations to all inductees and future honor society officers!

Happy Valentine’s Day

The building is filled with smiles today as students are receiving warm wishes from friends here at Mercy thanks to the Spanish NHS valentine sale and at Xavier through the annual Mercy – Xavier valentine exchange.  As we wait for yet another winter storm, it is amazing all that we have accomplished over these past few weeks!

Souper Bowl

During Superbowl week, the National Honor Society sponsored a canned food drive contest which resulted in over 500 canned goods being donated to the Amazing Grace food pantry.  Our junior class won the competition and will have a jean day at some future date to be announced. 

Poetry Out Loud

February 3^rd was the snow date for our school wide Poetry Out Loud contest.  Each English class held poetry recitation contests where students memorized and presented poems from a set list given by the National Poetry Out Loud organization.  After school class competitions were held resulting in fifteen students qualifying for the school competition.  Our school winner now moves on to the Regional competition in Manchester and hopefully then to the State finals.  Last year, Michaela Toledo ’14 became the Connecticut representative to the National competition in Washington, D.C.

Our top three finalists for this year’s Poetry Out Loud contest are:  1^st place, Jaye Santoro; 2^nd place, Shanya Wyatt and 3^rd place, Angela Barbagallo  Congratulations!

 Blood Drive
On Thursday, February 5^th we were fortunate NOT to have a delayed opening and the National Honor Society sponsored blood drive was able to take place.  The drive was well organized and went very smoothly thanks to the hard work of the NHS and its moderators!  The Mercy community successfully donated over 40 pints of blood and can be proud of the impact they have made on the lives of others.

Senior Valentine Dance

On Saturday, February 7 the annual Senior Valentine dance took place.  The decorations made by the students were lovely and celebrated the theme of Valentine’s Day and friendship.  There was an abundance of valentine sweets to enjoy throughout the evening.  Those who attended enjoyed themselves and showed great Mercy Spirit!

Surprise, Surprise!!!

Junior class moderator and Theology teacher, Mrs. Michele Dastoli, is expecting her first child this Spring.  The Junior class with the help of Mrs. Lori Broderick, their other class moderator, surprised Mrs. Dastoli with a baby shower this past Tuesday, February 10.  The Junior class wore pink as the new baby is expected to be a girl!  We’ll watch for the new Miss Dastoli to arrive in the class of 2028!!!

Athletic Achievements

The Mercy Tiger Basketball team has been having a very successful season.  We have recently celebrated with Maura Fitzpatrick as she scored her 1000^th point at Mercy.  Congratulations Maura!

Our Indoor Track team has also had a very successful season and won the SCC Championship this past week.  Great work ladies!  Well done.  SCC Champions

Upcoming Events

 

·      February Break – There will be no classes at Mercy from Monday February 16 through Friday, February 20.  Classes resume on Monday, February 23.

 

·  There will be an AP Information Night held on Tuesday, February 25 at 7:00 p.m. for parents and students in grades 9 – 11 who are interested in taking an AP course next year.  Teachers of AP courses will be available to answer any questions.

 

·   Save the Date!  Our musical, Fiddler on the Roof, will be presented on March 6^th – 8^th.  You may buy tickets online, just click here:  Fiddler Tickets 

 

·     There is still time to get in on the Education Raffle which will take place on May 13.  Click here to purchase your ticket!

 

·     Please note that classes will be held on Monday, March 9^th.  This was originally planned as a faculty in-service day.  Regular classes will be held.  In addition, a full day of school will be held on Holy Thursday, April 2^nd.  In the past this has been the Bishop’s Holiday.  Due to the number of snow days, classes will held that day and spring break will be, as noted on the school calendar, from April 3- April 12^th.  

 

 

Merry Christmas!

I had a teacher say to me today, “I can’t believe that Christmas Eve is next Wednesday!”  Neither can I!  Time has passed so quickly and we have enjoyed some great activities leading up to the holidays.

 

 

National Honor Society Induction

 On November 18, 55 members of the Junior and Senior class were inducted into the National Honor Society.  To be eligible for membership, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.6 or better and exhibit the four characteristics of Character, Scholarship, Leadership and Service.  After the ceremony, all were treated to refreshments provided by the Home and School Association.

 

Thanksgiving Pie Baking

 

While I am really not a baker, I have learned that you do not need to bake to enjoy the Pie Baking evening held on the Monday before Thanksgiving here at Mercy.  This year we provided nearly 300 pumpkin and apple pies to the needy of greater Middletown.  What I truly enjoy about this evening is seeing alumnae return and families come to know each other while we are peeling and mixing!  Thank you to everyone who helped to make the evening such a success!

Radio City Music Hall

One of the activities that our Sophomores look forward to each year is their field trip to New York City to see the Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall.  Four coach busses pulled out of the Mercy parking lot at 6:45 a.m. and by all reports, it was a great day!

 

Christmas is Coming!

The signs of the holiday season can be seen throughout the hallways.  The Christmas themed class hallway competition has resulted in some festive walls.  All four grade levels did a wonderful job!

 

Another sign of the holiday was the “Ugly Christmas Sweater” competition:

 

Charitable Giving:

The Mercy community can be depended upon to remember those less fortunate during the Christmas season.  Many collections occurred throughout the month of December.  Toiletries, over 150 coats and 245 Pajamas along with monetary donations have been gathered and given to organizations working with those in need.  We can be proud of the clubs and honor societies that organized these drives and we had some fun in the process!

 

Upcoming Events

·         Return from Christmas Break on Monday, January 5^th.

·         This Break is a good time for students to organize their coursework and begin to prepare for their midterm exams which will occur January 12 – 16.

·         Report Card Night – January 28 from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

 

May you have a very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!  And if you would like a real treat, click below to hear our Chamber Choir sing a carol taped during our Prince of Peace Pajama day!

 Chamber Choir