We are Grateful

We have had many events and activities already in this month of November.  We are grateful for the parents, faculty, staff and students that participated and helped to make these days great!  Here is a look at our most recent events!

Halloween

Halloween arrived the day before Walk-A-Thon and many students who had permission to be out of uniform could come that day in costume.  Faculty and students alike arrived in very creative attire!

 

 

Here's Mrs. Malafronte as a member of the senior class of 2014 and Ms. Grassi as the "Iron Chef"!

 

Mr. Harley with soccer team as Team USA!

 

 

Walk-a-thon/Dance-a-thon

The walk-a-thon is an event that I have found is anticipated with great joy and eagerness.  Students work hard to collect their contributions and advisor groups have friendly competitions to get that coveted first group walking place.  This year, walk-a-thon day arrived with a deluge of rain!  It was decided, in true Mercy spirit, to dance instead of walk!  Pictures from the day:

 

 

 

 

 

Open House

 

On Sunday, November 3^rd we welcomed potential Mercy students and their families at our Open House.  What was most impressive was the number of Mercy Women who volunteered their time to be Mercy Ambassadors; leading tours and sharing information about their clubs, activities and classes.  There were over 300 Mercy students here and we are still receiving compliments about their presence and helpfulness that day.  We are very pleased with the number of visitors we had at Open House and look forward to the placement test on Saturday, November 16!

 

 

 

It was great to have Mercy Alumnae with us at Open House as well!

 

Jesuit College Fair

 

On Monday, November 4, we hosted a mini Jesuit college fair for our junior class.  Admissions representatives from institutions such as Fordham University, St. Peter’s College, and Loyola University set up in the multipurpose room to give our juniors an opportunity to ask questions and receive information as they begin their college search.  A group of six seniors also spoke to the juniors about their own college search and application process.  It was a great opportunity for the seniors to share with the juniors some recent lessons learned and hopefully pass on a few tips for success.

 

 

Meet Me in St. Louis

The Mercy/Xavier drama production of “Meet Me in St. Louis” was a rousing success!  Both nights saw the auditorium filled with happy theater goers.  Congratulations to Mrs. Dastoli and her cast and crew for such a well-produced show!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Athletics

 

Congratulations to our fall team athletes on seasons well done!  Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country and Swimming/Diving all went on to compete in State level competitions and made us proud!  For results of the state playoffs go to:  CIACTournament Central  



  

Upcoming Events:

 November continues to be filled with activities that we look forward to with great anticipation:

 

·   National Honor Society Induction will take place on Thursday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m.

 

·   The Father-Daughter Dance is Friday, November 15 from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.  Tickets are being sold during lunch periods this week.  Prices are $25 for a daughter and her father. The cost for each additional daughter is $10.

 

·   Class of 2018 Entrance Exam is on Saturday, November 16 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.  If you know of an eighth grade girl who is interested in taking this exam, you may find more information at:  Mercy Entrance Exam

 

 

·        Progress Reports:  The first progress report for the second quarter is scheduled to be posted after 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 22.

 

·        Pie Baking: Please join us on Monday, November 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria to bake delicious Thanksgiving pies for the less fortunate in our local area.  For over 30 years, Mercy students and their parents have participated in this fun-filled evening baking over 300 pies.  The apple and pumpkin pies are donated to the Middletown Community Thanksgiving Project and the Shepard Home.  This evening is a wonderful opportunity to socialize while doing something “good” during the holiday season.  Students may use this time as community service hours!!  Please sign up by contacting Mrs. Maria Bergan at mbergan@mercyhigh.com by Thursday, Nov. 21^st to register.

 

     Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated towards this effort.

Note:  Please bring an apron, measuring spoons, measuring cups – 1, 2 and 4 cup size, knives, large mixing bowls, vegetable peeler, roller pin, and a paring knife.

 

And for those who plan ahead.....

• Home and School is selling poinsettias direct from the grower again this year.  Orders are due by November 26. For more information click:  Poinsettia
 
• The Mercy/Xavier Family Advent Mass and Breakfast is scheduled for Sunday, December 8 with Mass at 10:00 a.m. followed by breakfast at 11:00 a.m.  The RSVP deadline is December 2^nd.  To RSVP please click:  Advent Mass 

Be well.

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

Autumn Days!

What a beautiful Fall we have had!  The temperatures are only now starting to fall and the leaves have been spectacular!  We have had great days to celebrate with our fall sports teams the last games of their seasons and the move into playoffs. 

 

Senior Home Games

 Each of our teams has celebrated their senior members as they participated in their last home games of the season.  While many teams move forward into playoff games, there is something special about the last regular season game played at home.

Cross Country

Volleyball

Soccer

Swimming

Field Hockey

 



Junior Ring Ceremony and Dance

 On Tuesday, October 15^th Bishop Cote presided over the Junior Ring Ceremony. What a special evening to celebrate the class of 2015 becoming upperclasswomen.  The juniors quickly went to work asking those in attendance to “turn their ring” while all enjoyed a lovely reception sponsored by the Home and School Association.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following Saturday the juniors were back to celebrate once again at the Junior Ring Dance.  The theme was “Under the Sea” and it was an enjoyable and memorable evening.

 

 

 

MYARC Halloween Party

 One of the more popular clubs and activities to participate in at Mercy is MYARC (Middlesex Youth Association for Retarded Citizens).  Under the direction of Brother Houlihan, students from both Mercy and Xavier volunteer to work with area adults and children with an intellectual disability.  On October 18^th a Halloween Party was held for this group in the Mercy Multipurpose Room. Here are some pictures of our students setting up for the party!

 

 

 

Teen Safe Driving Week

 

On Monday, October 21^st we were pleased to host a press conference in our gymnasium to kick off National Teen Safe Driving Week .  The state attorney general and other dignitaries came to show the importance of teen safety in driving, especially reminding all to not text and drive.  You can read the article by following the link:  Hartford Courant

 

 

 

Yale Physics Olympics

On Saturday, October 19^th four Mercy seniors participated in the Yale Physics Olympics.  The event takes place at Yale and is designed to increase student interest in Physics.  Read about their experience here:  Yale Physics

 

Cross Country Team Competes in CIAC State Competition

 

Congratulations to the Mercy Cross Country team which finished as the runner-up in Class L State competition on Saturday, October 26!

 

 

 

 



Yellow Rose Auction

 

The annual Yellow Rose Auction which took place on Saturday, October 26 was a great success!  The number of items offered for auction was quite numerous and the quality impressive.  The evening promised great food, company and fun and it was delivered! Thank you to all who helped to organize and plan this event.  It was wonderful! Here are a few pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Events:

·         The end of the First Quarter is today, October 30.  You will receive an e-mail from Sr. Peggy next week once the report cards are ready to be viewed.  She anticipates it will be after 5 p.m. on November 6.

 

·         The annual Walk-a-thon will be this Friday, November 1^st.  Students have been busy preparing and bringing in their donations for this event.  We will start the day with Mass as it is a Holy Day of Obligation.  The walk ends with pizza in the cafeteria and students should be finished between 12 noon and 12:30 p.m.

·         Please invite your friends with daughters in Middle or High School to attend Mercy High School’s Open House which will occur on Sunday, November 3^rd at 1:00 p.m.  It is a great opportunity for families to come and see what being a Woman of Mercy is all about!

 

• “Meet Me in St. Louis” is this year’s drama production and will take place on Wednesday, November 6 and Thursday, November 7 at 7:00 p.m.  For more information click

         “Meet Me in St. Louis” 

 

·         This is a reminder that there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, November 11 in honor of Veteran’s Day.

 

Be Well.

 

 

 

 

 

Mercy Tigers Roar!

 

We have had an amazing few weeks and much of the excitement involves our Mercy Roar video.  I can’t imagine that you haven’t yet seen our Mercy Tigers video by now, but if not, you will want to take a few minutes to watch at:  Mercy Tigers Roar

 

The feedback from our parents, alumnae and the community at large has been wonderful!  We have had students interviewed for the Middletown Press, Hartford Courant, Fox News and Channel 8 News.  We are still waiting to hear if we will be finalists for the Good Morning America contest but clips from our video were used in one of their promotions!  We are so proud of our Mercy women and Mercy High School!

 

Here are a few pictures from the taping of “Mercy Tigers Roar”:

 

 

Mini Class Night

We welcomed all parents on September 19^th for our mini class night.  Parents followed their daughters' schedules and had an opportunity to meet their teachers.  The highlight of the evening was a talk by Sr. Patricia McCarthy, CND (Sr. Mary’s sister!) Wonderful insights were shared and we are still hearing from parents about how much they enjoyed her words.

 

 

Mercy Day

 

We celebrated the founding of the Sisters of Mercy on September 24^th with a prayer service for the entire student body which ended with a viewing of the Mercy Tigers Roar video and then sharing of tea and cookies.  Thank you to Nancy Schempf, one of our Mercy parents, who baked and then donated the tea pot shaped cookies! It was a truly wonderful tribute to the Sisters of Mercy who helped to found Mercy High School 50 years ago!

 

 

 

 

 

Tech Tigers

Congratulations to our Tech Tigers who won the Spirit Award at the Bash at the Beach competition on Saturday, October 5^th.  Many comments were offered as to their helpfulness to others and enthusiasm.  Here is a pic of the Tech Tigers with their award:

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Athletics:

 Our teams are continuuing to have competitive seasons and we have had some beautiful days to watch!  Congratulations to the girls cross country team that won the SCC Quinipiac Division Championship. 

 

Our volleyball team is also doing well and was featured in the Middletown Press this past week!

 

 

Early Dismissal

We are finding that a number of parents are arriving to pick up their daughters early without the office having prior knowledge that the student is being dismissed.  In order to minimize classroom interruptions, please submit a note to the main office the morning of the dismissal by 8:00 a.m.  A pass may then be given to your daughter so that she may leave class and be ready for you when you arrive to pick her up.  Please refer to the Parent-Student Handbook on p. 15 if you have any other questions and thank you for your cooperation.

 

Upcoming Events:

·         Progress Reports will be posted after 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 10.  Sr. Peggy will notify parents when the reports are ready to be viewed.

 

    

·         The Junior Ring Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m. .  The Junior Ring Dance follows on Saturday, October 19^th.  The Juniors have wonderful plans for each event and both promise to be great celebrations.

 

·         PLAN/PSAT Testing will take place on Wednesday, October 16 for the Freshwomen, Sophomores and Juniors.  Seniors are not expected in school on that day and are encouraged to use the day for college visits.

 

·         Walk-a-thon collections begin on Thursday, October 10 and will end with our annual Walk-a-thon on Friday, November 1^st.  This is a much loved event for our students and an important fundraiser for Mercy High School.  Please read the letter posted on our website from Sr. Mary:

 

·         The Yellow Rose Auction is the premier event run by our Home and School Association and will take place on Saturday, October 26^th at 6:00 p.m.  Donations are being accepted now.  It promises to be quite an enjoyable evening so please plan to attend with your friends!

For more information on donations and tickets clickhere

 

·         REMINDER:  There is no school on Friday, October 11 and Monday October 14^th.

Be Well.

 

 

 

Principal’s Blog 

9-18-13

 

What a Beginning!

We have certainly had quite a kick off to our new school year!  I am extremely impressed by our young Mercy Women as they have fully participated in every activity.  The upperclasswomen are setting a great example for our new freshwomen who are having a great start!

Activity and Service Fairs

In these first weeks back, students have had the opportunity to attend activity and service fairs in our multi-purpose room to review many clubs they may join and organizations they may connect with to offer service.  There are over 30 clubs that our Mercy Women may join from cooking to robotics!  Many community organizations also came to discuss the ways we may be of help to them.  Thank you to Emily Hall who organized the service fair!

 

 

 



Opening of School Mass and Freshwomen Pin Ceremony

On Tuesday, September 10th we welcomed Bishop Cote as he came to celebrate with us the opening of the school year.  At that Mass we also welcomed the freshwomen as new members of our Mercy Community.  They received Junior “Big Sisters” who gave them their Mercy pins and will watch over them in these next two years.  What a wonderful day and start to this new year.

 

 

 

 

 



Hear us “Roar”!

I am sure that you have heard we had two days with the excitement of taping a promotional video that we will use in many ways, most especially recruitment of new students.  Throughout the summer Mrs. Leary, our communications director, worked with teachers and others to plan the sequencing of a video which would include the entire student body.  We used the new song by Katy Perry “Roar” as it was a perfect fit for the “Mercy Tigers”!  You will be able to see the video soon!  Here are some photos taken while we were filming –

 

 



 

Mercy/Xavier Class of 2017 Social

On Friday, September 13^th  Mercy hosted a social for the Xavier freshmen and Mercy freshwomen from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Pizza was served in the cafeteria with a DJ playing music in the multi-purpose room.  This is a longstanding tradition and was very well attended.  Everyone really seemed to enjoy their time getting to know each other!

 

 

 

 



Athletics

 Our athletic teams have begun to compete and are doing quite well.  With teams in cross country, field hockey, soccer, volleyball, swimming and cheerleading at all levels, there is nearly an event a day that can be watched.  With these beautiful fall days it’s a great way to spend an afternoon. 

 Here is a picture of our Cross Country team as they hosted their annual Mercy Invitational.  The team did quite well, winning at both the JV and Varsity levels!

 

Academics

Congratulations to Senior, Emily Hall, who has been named as a National Merit Semifinalist.  Emily is one of approximately 16,000 students across the nation to earn this distinction.  For more information on this award please click here:  NationalMerit Semifinalist

 

Upcoming Events

·         Our Magazine Drive is now underway.  Students have been faithfully bringing in their subscription orders and winning some great prizes while they do so.  For more information on this important fundraiser please go to:  http://www.mercyhigh.com/page/student-fundraisers

·         Mini Class Night:  On Thursday, September 19th we will be hosting our Mini Class Night from 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.  Parents will have the opportunity to follow their daughter’s class schedule and meet her teachers.  We are also privileged to have with us again this year, Sr. Patricia McCarthy, CND who will speak to the entire assembly.   Your daughter should be bringing home a pink copy of her schedule today (September 18th) so that you may bring it with you Thursday evening. The school store will be open all evening for your convenience.  We look forward to seeing you!

 

·        The visiting team for our NEASC reaccreditation process will be here beginning Sunday, October 6th and continuing to Wednesday, October 9^th.  The self-study process in preparation for this visit has been quite rewarding and we look forward to sharing our findings as well as our Mercy Spirit with the NEASC team.

 

·  The first Progress Report will be posted to MMS on Tuesday, September 24.  If you have not yet created your MMS parent account, see directives below:

 

 

    The MMS Parent Portal enables parents to view their daughter’s schedule, her attendance activity, her two progress reports during each quarter, her report card at the end of each quarter, and also biographical data including parent contact information.  The first progress report will be posted on September 24.

 

If you have an MMS Parent account, go to the Mercy High website www.mercyhigh.com and click on the icon for MMS Parent Portal.  Enter your Username and Password.

 

 If you do not have an MMS Parent account, go to the Mercy High website www.mercyhigh.com and click on the icon for MMS Parent Portal.  Click on Click Here to create an account, and then enter the following information:

·  Your First Name and Last Name must be entered exactly as it appears in one of your daughter’s contact records.

 

·  A Login Name that you will use to access the MMS Grade Book.  We recommend that you use your first and last name.  (e.g. JaneDoe)

 

·  The ID Number of your daughter.  If you have more than one daughter at Mercy, they can be added after your account is created.

 

When the above information is entered, click on the Create Account button.  An email is automatically sent to the email address that is on file for this contact record.  You should check your email and look for an email with a subject line of “Parental Access for.”  The email includes the temporary password that you will use to access the MMS Parent Portal.  The first time that you log into the MMS Parent Portal, you will be asked to change your password.  If you need assistance, please call the main office.

 

·         Edline Account:  We have begun to use Edline as the site for our teacher webpages where student homework can be found.  Teachers have been asked to have information on their webpages by Monday, September 23.  Each student and parent has been given an activation code to set up their Edline accounts.  If you have misplaced your activation code letter, we will have copies of the parent letter at Mini Class Night.  If you are unable to attend, please send me an e-mail at mbullock@mercyhigh.com and I will send you your activation code by    e-mail.

 

Be well.