June 12, 2013

State Championship Run!
Our Mercy Softball team competed this year above anyone’s expectations winning the SCC Conference championship and making it all the way to the State Championship Finals!  What a game against Southington for the State Championship.  The Mercy crowd was outstanding and they were truly treated to an incredible game.  In the end Southington won with a score of 1-0, but they better watch out because the Mercy Tigers will surely be there again next year!  To read more about the game:  MIDDLETOWN PRESS 

 

 

 

Golf Team
On graduation night, May 30, Emily Fritsch  arrived with a runner-up team trophy for the SCGGL (Southern CT Girls Golf League) Tournament.  Isn’t that impressive?  Our young women have truly had a spectacular year in sports!

 

This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as activities, celebrations and honors for our students at Mercy as the 2012-13 academic year comes to a close.

Class of 2013
The class of 2013 truly was an outstanding class and it showed as they participated in their final class activities.  We began with a Class Night on May 23^rd where they shared in a lovely dinner and enjoyed hearing class superlatives and wills. 

Pictured above are Sr. Marian, Mrs. Nancy Clayton and Sr. Ann who joined the seniors on their class night.  Congratulations go to Mrs. Clayton who is leaving with this class as she retires.  Thank you Mrs. Clayton for your years of dedication to the young women at Mercy!

On the following Sunday, May 26^th the Mercy community came together to celebrate the Baccalaureate Mass.  The Mass was beautiful and the number of awards given at the ceremony following, outstanding!  The class of 2013 received over $6 million in scholarship monies for their continued education.  As it was my first Baccalaureate at Mercy, I was very pleasantly surprised to see the luncheon that was prepared by the Home and School parents for the senior families after the event.  I could not get over the amount and quality of the food offered.  It all helped to make that Baccalaureate Sunday a very special day for our seniors and their families.

 

The picture above is of the 12 seniors with their mothers who are also alumnae of a Mercy high school!

Graduation

Once Graduation day arrived there was not much left to do but hand our young women their diplomas, wishing them all the best and urging them to please come back to let us know how they are doing.  It was a VERY HOT evening, but I think that is how graduations usually are!  The auditorium was packed with proud family members and we were honored and pleased to have Bishop Cote come to hand our graduates their diplomas personally.

After the Graduation ceremony there were light refreshments available in the cafeteria and then students quickly got ready to go to the Safe Graduation party that the Mercy and Xavier parents worked together to plan.  The event takes place in the Freeman Center at Wesleyan University from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.!  It takes much planning to gather the prizes and food for the night and MANY parent volunteers.  Thank you to all who helped to create that event where over 200 Mercy and Xavier graduates participated!

Here is a pic of some participants as they were ready to go!

Non Senior Activities!

 Yes, we actually were also quite busy on other fronts while our seniors were going on their way.  The underclasswomen valiantly moved into final exam mode the day after graduation and were quite successful as their efforts at studying paid off! 

 

Relay For Life

Our Fight Against Cancer Club had a team participate in the Relay for Life which took place on June 1^st at Woodrow Wilson Middle School.  They represented us well and did some great work! 

 

Outstanding Youth of the Year

Congratulations to Erica Nauman who was one of the New Haven Register’s Outstanding Youth of the Year!  She received the award at a banquet on Sunday evening, June 1^st.

Chamber Choir

The Chamber Choir went to Hartford on June 5^th to sing for an event called “Honoring Community Safety and Bravery: A Student Tribute to Newtown and Connecticut.”  The event took place at the Legislative Building and began outside where they sang “The Prayer of the Child” beautifully.  It was a quite moving experience and I know those in attendance were quite impressed with our young women.

They did also get to tour the Capitol Building and even get a quick meeting with the Governor!

Basketball Championship Banquet

On Thursday evening, June 6, we celebrated the state championship won by our basketball team this year at Mohegan Sun!  It was a great evening which brought back many of the players from past teams.   Ms. Jennifer O’Brien ’96, a member of the 1996 state championship team, spoke to the group and shared how her experience on that winning team has given her the skills which helps her with her successes in life.

Making the evening even more special was Bishop Cote who joined us for dinner and shared a few words of congratulations.  Mayor Drew of Middletown also came to present a town Proclamation.

Mercy Golf Tournament
On Monday, June 10, we held the 21st Mercy Classic Golf Tournament at Lyman Orchards Golf Club.  Over 100 golfers enjoyed the day and helped to support the Mercy Scholarship Fund.  Here is a picture of some current and past Mercy dads enjoying the day!

Upcoming Events:

·         Summer Hours for Main Office:  June 17 – August 9,

             8:30  a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

·         HAP – Higher Achievement Program.  We are still taking registrations for our summer HAP program for rising 7^th and 8^th grade girls.  The program is from July 8 – 19 with an optional third week of July 22-26^th.  The mornings consist of academic work related to preparation for the High School Placement Test and the afternoons will have more recreational type activities.  If you are interested please click below for more information:

       Higher Achievement Program

·         SAT Prep Course:  This will take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from June 25 – August 6^th, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

·         Mercy Summer Basketball Camp:  For girls entering grades 5 -9.  July 22-26, 9:00 a.m. – noon.  Click below for more info:

          Mercy Basketball Camp Info

 

• Report Cards:  You will be receiving an e-mail from Sr. Peggy when the report cards are ready for viewing.  This should occur by this evening, June 12th.

 

This concludes the Principal's Blog for the 2012-13 school year.  It has been a wonderful year and I look forward to continuing this practice in 2013-14.  Do not be surprised if you receive an update now and then through the summer and you will surely have an update in the middle of August with needed information for the beginning of the new school year.

 

Enjoy these summer days!

 

Be Well.

 

 

 

 



Principal’s Blog

 

May 23, 2013


Senior Farewell

We have had an incredible two weeks of activities as we began the process of saying goodbye to the Class of 2013.  There are so many traditions in place to help us transition our seniors to their place as Mercy alumnae, and so many involve food!!!   Mercy women certainly know how to celebrate accomplishments.

 

Ascension Thursday/Senior Farewell Mass

On May 9 we began with our Ascension Thursday Mass which would also be the last school Mass attended by the Class of 2013.  Their junior sisters who are peer ministry candidates helped to prepare the Mass.  A special blessing was prayed over the seniors and charms given to them of words such as Faith, Hope, Love, Friendship.

 

Junior Prom

With the theme of the New York City Skyline our Junior Class really outdid themselves in preparations and decorations for their Junior Prom.  The Juniors looked beautiful and a great time really was had by all!

 

Academic Honors Assembly

On Tuesday, May 14 we gathered as a school community to honor the academic achievements of our student body.  There were over 20 Book Awards presented as well as numerous academic department awards.  We also had students who received prestigious awards such as:

The Rensselaer Medal which is awarded to a promising student who has distinguished herself in the areas of mathematics and science.  This award guarantees a minimum $15,000 per year scholarship for each Medalist who applies, is accepted, and chooses to enroll at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  This year’s recipient was Alexandra Caudullo.

The Elmira College Key Award is sponsored by the Elmira College Alumni Association. The Key holds a monetary scholarship value of $15,000 per year upon enrolling at Elmira College.  The Elmira College Key was awarded to Abigail Nagy. 

 

The National Society of Women Engineers presents an Academic Achievement Award in recognition of three years of excellence in science and mathematics.  This award was presented to Rachel Dziatko and Julie McLaughlin

 

Our Seniors will receive their awards at the Baccalaureate Mass which will take place on Sunday, May 26.

 

Senior Tree Dedication

A tradition at Mercy High School that goes back many years is that of the Senior Tree Dedication.  As I arrive each morning I walk by a tree that has a tag noting that it was dedicated by the Class of 1990.  This tree is tall and beautiful and on Thursday, May 16^th I was able to participate in the dedication of the tree for the Class of 2013.  It is a way of showing the rootedness of each class that graduates from  Mercy High School and how they are always a part of us here.  What a wonderful ceremony and I look forward to watching this tree grow as proud and strong as the others I see.

Spring Concert

Also on Thursday, May 16^th we had our Spring Concert which included presentations by our various music ensembles, the Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Choralations, Wind Ensemble and “No Man’s Jazz Band”.  What a wonderful evening of music!  The Chamber Choir performed one song dedicated to the children of Sandy Hook which they have been chosen to sing at the State House in Hartford on June 5^th.  We are very proud of Mr. Link and all our young women performers.

 

Theater Arts Performance

The Fine Arts Curriculum at Mercy also includes a class on Theater and this semester they wrote, and performed in their own version of Cinderella.  Students, with the help of their teacher Ms. Morse, were able to share their work by performing for some of the students at St. Mary’s School in Middletown.  Thank you to Mrs. Peck and all at St. Mary’s for being such wonderful hosts!  To see a video of the performance click here:  Theater Arts Cinderella

 

Governor’s Scholar Award

Each year, the Connecticut Association of Schools and Big Y World Class Market, collaborate to coordinate the Governor’s Scholars Program.

The purpose of the program is to recognize and to honor academically talented high school students throughout the state, and to present thirty students for special recognition to the Governor of Connecticut. Congratulations to Emily Hall who was selected as one of these thirty scholars in the state.  Here is a picture of Emily with the Governor of Connecticut and the other awardees.

Seniors Last Day

Friday, May 17^th was the last class day for our Seniors.  What a wonderful day filled with the celebration of friendship, farewells and class stepping up.  The seniors began their day decorating their cars and eating breakfast in the parking lot!  It was a beautiful Spring day and at noon we gathered the entire school for a picnic on the grounds.  We ended the day with a Spirit Assembly where our class officers were inducted and the Seniors and others entertained.  The assembly ended with each class taking its new designated place in the auditorium.

 

Graduation Rehearsal

This week the class of 2013 is returning for their graduation rehearsals.  On Tuesday, May 21^st the Alumnae sponsored a breakfast for them to welcome them into Mercy Alumnae membership.

Upcoming Events:

·         Safe Graduation:  On Thursday, May 30^th there will be a Safe Graduation Party for the Mercy and Xavier Class of 2013 Graduates at Wesleyan University.  The cost of the evening is $50 and permission slips can be found in the Mercy High School main office.  Thank you to all the parent volunteers who have worked so hard to make this evening possible!

·         The Mercy High School Basketball State Championship Banquet will be held on Thursday, June 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Mercy High School.  Please come and help us celebrate the team’s success!  Click here for more information and to register:  Mercy BasketballBanquet

 

·         21^st Annual Mercy Golf Classic:  The annual Golf Classic will take place on Monday, June 10 at Lyman Orchards Golf Club in Middlefield.  All proceeds benefit the Mercy Scholarship Fund.  For more information and to register click here:  Mercy Golf Classic

 

·         Book Buy Back and Rental Return:  Will occur in the Multipurpose Room:

 

June 5, 2013 – 9:00 a.m. – noon

June 6, 2013 – 10:00 a.m. – noon

 

Buy Back:  Students bring in books they own for purchase by Follett (usually a check is issued and sent to the student/parent at their home address sometime during June)

Rental Return:  Students bring in the books they rented from Follett

For more information click here:  Book Buy Back

 

·         Fall Sports Physicals:   Avoid the August rush for a sport physical.  We will be doing sports physicals on June 3^rd and June 6^th at 12 noon. You must sign up beforehand and we are limited to 25 per day. To register, please call the nurse, Mrs Romegialli. The August physicals are on the 5^th and 7th. They also are 25 per day. Please call to reserve a spot.

 

 

·         Monday, May 27^th is Memorial Day – School Closed

        Wednesday, May 29 – End of Term Four

        Thursday, May 30 – Mercy Graduation – No School

        Friday, May 31^st – Final Exams Begin

 

Be Well.

 

 

 

 

May 8, 2013

Principal’s Blog

 

Spring has Sprung!

We have had some beautiful days to enjoy these past two weeks as the weather is finally warming!  As the school year comes closer to the end, the activities are numerous!

 

National Library Week

The week of April 22^nd was National Library Week.  There were a number of activities planned throughout the week including a Book Discussion on The Fault in Our Stars by John Green which took place on Thursday that week.

Senior Prom

It is most definitely prom season and I may be biased, but I think our young women at Mercy really are at the top when it comes to classy dress.  They were all beautiful and I’ve never seen so many matching dresses and vests &ties!! It was a beautiful night at the Aqua Turf and fun really was had by all!

Art Show

This past week student art work has been displayed throughout the building.  There are examples of student work from all our art classes.  There are photographs, ceramics, paintings and drawings displayed throughout the halls of Mercy.  We have decided to extend the time that the artwork will be displayed so be sure and stop in to see what our young women have done.

 

May Crowning

On May 1^st we held our annual May Crowning.  The veil this year was donated by Mr. Giles D’Orvilliers father of alumna Ms. Anne D’Orvilliers  ‘71 and handmade by Mrs. Betsy Spiro   We enjoyed having so many young visitors with us for this special tribute to Mary.

 

 

Grandparents Day

Due to the overwhelming response of grandparents who came to our past May Crowning events, we needed to create a day special for them alone!  So on May 2^nd we welcomed nearly 300 grandparents to Mercy for breakfast and a specially prepared prayer service.  It was great to see the pride on the faces of our young women as they introduced their grandparents to their friends and members of the Mercy community.

 

Congratulations to Chamber Choir and Wind Ensemble!

The Mercy Chamber Choir and Wind Ensemble competed at the Six Flags Music in the Park Competition this past Friday at Six Flags New England. The Chamber Choir placed first in the Women’s Choir category and placed 2^nd overall. The wind ensemble placed 5^th in the band category. The girls enjoyed a beautiful day in the park after the competition.

 

Congratulations to the following winners of Latin Exam Awards!

 

NATIONAL LATIN EXAM AWARDS
MEDALS AND CERTIFICATES

2013

 

LATIN I

                                Allison Wojciechowski                                     Gold Medal  Summa Cum Laude

                             Michelle Reinert                                               Silver Medal Maxima Cum Laude
                             Julia McQuade                                                  Magna Cum Laude

 LATIN II

                                Savanna Hajdasz                                              Silver Medal Maxima Cum Laude
                                Maggie Qiu                                                        Magna Cum Laude
                                Talia Staiger                                                       Magna Cum Laude
                                Christine Cammisa                                           Magna Cum Laude

 POETRY III

                                Emily Hall                                                           Silver Medal Maxima Cum Laude
                                Madeline Kumm                                               Cum Laude
                                Julia Marcin                                                       Cum Laude
                                Simone Jaros                                                     Cum Laude

 POETRY IV

                                Alice Ochterski                                                Silver Medal Maxima Cum Laude

 

Mother/Daughter Breakfast

 

On Sunday, May 5^th we celebrated another tradition here with the Mother-Daughter Mass and Brunch.  What a beautiful day and special time for all our young women of Mercy to share with these significant women in their lives.

 

Upcoming Events:

 

·         AP Exams began on Monday, May 6 and will continue through Wednesday, May 15.  We will be administering 13 AP exams this year.  Good luck ladies and study well!

·         Senior Activities:

·         May 9 – Ascension Thursday and Senior Farewell Mass

·         May 15 – Senior Class Photo

·         May 16 – Senior Tree Dedication and Yearbook                          Distribution

·         May 17 – Seniors Last Day

 

·         Our Juniors are preparing for their prom which will take place here at Mercy on Saturday, May 11 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  I know they have been busy preparing and planning with their theme of a New York Skyline. 

 

·   Our annual Spring Concert will take place on Thursday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. in our auditorium.

At the Spring Concert the drawing of the Education Raffle will take place.  There is still time to purchase a Raffle ticket:  Education Raffle

 

·         The Athletic Banquet will also be taking place soon on Saturday, May 18 at 2:00 p.m.  This banquet is for all Mercy students and their families who participated in or managed a sport during this year.  To purchase those tickets go to:  Athletic Banquet 

•  Please follow the following link for a "Call to Action" regarding funding for Catholic School bussing:  Call to Action

Here are a few pics of tennis, lacrosse and golf! We’ve had some beautiful Spring days to compete and enjoy sports!

 

 

 

Be Well.