Lifelong Learner . We have heard the phrase, and very likely used the phrase, but what does it really mean? If we consider it a reality for ourselves, then we should be able to list the results. What have you learned already today? Better yet, name something you learned yesterday. It might be harder than you think. I am not asking you to recite something you did yesterday. Rather, name something that you learned . In other words, you have to come up with something that was unknown by you on Saturday and newly learned by the end of the day yesterday. Still thinking? Frankly so am I, and I have the benefit of knowing where I am going in all of this.

Like you, I DO consider myself a lifelong learner . I value learning, but I have probably not considered my own learning on a consistent basis. Yes, at the end of longer, focused periods of time, I can identify specific things I have just learned. That has been especially true if I have just taken a class or watched a documentary or finished reading a book that held my attention. Day to day learning? It almost seems to stump me, and yet I know if I think very hard about it, I can name new pieces of information.

Well today, I choose to share a new piece of information, something I did not know yesterday and do know today. As a frame of reference, today is actually October 17th, 2016 and I am writing this column which will be published in the next few days. Today's date is important because today is a special day of observance, identified as such by the United Nations. On October 17, 1987, more than 100,000 people gathered at the Trocadero, an area near Paris, at the site of the Palais de Chaillot. They were there to honor the victims of poverty, violence, and hunger around the globe. It was there in 1948 that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights had been signed and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Beginning in 1987, the UN established that this date, October 17th, would be designated as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty .

This, for me, is a new piece of learning. As much as I might hope that such a day would no longer need to be recognized, sadly, that hope cannot be satisfied. What can be done, however, is once again bringing such a problem to light. Each day and each year, we can do something to improve the plight of another human being who walks this Earth. To that end, I thought it useful to share some new found information regarding the work of the United Nations and the meaning of this particular day.

Just last year in 2015, the United Nations spearheaded a project involving all 193 of its Member States. It set forth seventeen (17) very specific and very lofty goals known as "Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". Today, almost one year later, we focus on one of those very important realities: poverty. The Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon had this to say in his 2016 message for today:

"We are approaching the end of the first year of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the 2030 Agenda is a universal vision for peace, prosperity and dignity for all people on a healthy planet. Achieving this objective is inconceivable without fulfilling the mandate of SDG 1 to end poverty in all its forms.

Today, some 1 billion people live in extreme poverty and more than 800 million endure hunger and malnutrition. But poverty is not simply measured by inadequate income. It is manifested in restricted access to health, education and other essential services and, too often, by the denial or abuse of other fundamental human rights.  

Poverty is both a cause and consequence of marginalization and social exclusion. To fulfill the promise of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind, we must address the humiliation and exclusion of people living in poverty.

Humiliation and exclusion are powerful drivers of social unrest and, in extreme cases, the violent extremism that is troubling so many parts of our world. But, in most instances, people living in poverty respond to these societal ills with stoic resilience as they work to escape the degrading reality of their daily lives.

The duty of all Governments and societies is to address systemic socio-economic inequalities and facilitate the engagement of all people living in extreme poverty so they can help themselves, their families and their communities to build a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous future for all.

The message of today's observance is 'Moving from Humiliation and Exclusion to Participation: Ending Poverty in All its Forms'. We must break down the walls of poverty and exclusion that plague so many people in every region of the world. We must build inclusive societies that promote participation by all. We must ensure the voices of all those living in poverty are heard.

On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, let us listen to and heed the voices of people living in poverty. Let us commit to respect and defend the human rights of all people and end the humiliation and social exclusion that people living in poverty face every day by promoting their involvement in global efforts to end extreme poverty once and for all." *

So, the lesson plan for today, for each lifelong learner within the reach of these words, is this: resolve to make this piece of new information something that will reside within you for days to come. Read and re-read the words of Ban Ki-moon. Eradication of poverty can happen and it will happen if we accept a personal responsibility to make things better.

"Educating women who make a difference" . . . not only a catchy motto for this school, but also a commitment to action. Do something today that you will have no trouble remembering tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Carolyn Witte, Principal

* http://www.un.org/en/events/povertyday/messages.shtml

Our Octoberfest meeting was fantastic! Over 75 women gathered and enjoyed Slow's BBQ chili and cider and donuts. We were able to meet with our mentors to discuss upcoming events and Mercy opportunities for our daughters. Thank you to all who came, it was a great evening to gather with other Mercy moms and gather information.

The Mother Daughter Evening of Spiritual Reflection, "The Angels Whispering One to Another," will be held on Monday, December 12th at St. Edith Catholic Church. Registration is at 6:15pm Mass at 6:30pm. More event details coming soon!
 

MDC 500 Raffle

Mercy Dads Club would like to congratulate Annie and Scott Syke, parents of a 2020 graduate, for winning the 1st MDC 500 Early Bird Drawing.

The next drawing will be held on November 1, 2016.  Be sure to purchase your ticket today!

 

The Mercy Dads Club supports many activities throughout the year like Father/Daughter Social Events, Family Functions, Scholarships, School Social and Service Activities, Mercy Athletics, and Mercy Clubs and Organizations. Great odds...only 500 tickets will be sold!

Ticket Price: $100.00

 

1st Prize: $10,000

2nd Prize $3,000

3rd Prize: $1,000

 

Drawing to be held Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at MDC Monthly Meeting

Early Bird Drawings to win $500: Nov 1, Nov 21, Dec 6

 

Early Bird Drawings will take place at Mercy High School and winners are still eligible for all remaining drawings. Click here to complete the order form to purchase raffle tickets by cash or check. You may also purchase by credit card online at mhsmi.org/ecommerce/mdcraffle-16. Ticket stubs will be mailed to you. Good luck!

Meet, greet and eat with Mercy Dads at the next Dads Club meeting Tuesday, November 1 at 6:30pm in the cafeteria.

Mercy High School Presents
"You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"
November 4 and 5 at 7:30pm
November 6 at 2:00pm
Tickets $13

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Revised) is based on Charles Schultz' popular comic strip with the characters we all know and love: Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Sally, Snoopy and all their friends. The show centers on a typical day in the life of Charlie Brown and his friends as they move through little moments in life from Valentine's Day to the baseball season, from wild optimism to utter despair. The show boasts such songs as You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Book Report, My New Philosophy, The Baseball Game, Suppertime, and Happiness.

Tickets will be on sale at school or available for purchase at the Box Office before the performance.

Congratulations to Religious Studies Teacher Alison Kline-Kator '97 who received her doctorate in education (Ed.D.) from University of Michigan-Dearborn. Her focus was Educational Leadership and she defended her dissertation "Mercy Charism and Professional Development" in June 2016 and will be hooded at the commencement ceremonies to be held in December.

The Mercy iWizards are attempting a global collaboration with other student tech teams. The project is just getting underway, but groups from all over the world have expressed interest. Check it out here: http://techteamhub.weebly.com/.

Attention sophomore and senior parents: A representative from Jostens will be here on October 28 from 7:45am-10:00am and November 1 during the school day to take class ring orders and senior announcement orders. Students will receive information at class meetings on October 25.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans gather in Washington, D.C. to peacefully protest the 1973 Supreme Court decisions that legalized abortion in  all 50 states, for any reason.  

 

We have already filled up our first bus with 40 people, and we can get a second bus to attend  IF we have another 40 people (students, parents, and friends of Mercy) sign-up on the waiting list. This is what you need to do to get on the  waiting   list :

Use the Email Notification Icon in PowerSchool to schedule weekly, bimonthly, monthly or daily reports from PowerSchool. Reports can include Summary of Current Grades, Detailed Assignment Scores and/or Attendance. If you need help with your parent account in PowerSchool, please contact Colleen Rozman, cmrozman@mhsmi.org, the Admissions Office, or your daughter's counselor.

Do you have a product or service not conducive for bidding? Advertise! From business card to full page color sizes we have a spot for all. Advertising contracts are available online here.
 

Please join us for Mass to celebrate the lives of Mercy's deceased alumnae, staff, family, and friends on Sunday, November 6 at 12pm in the school chapel. If unable to attend, you may contact the Alumnae Office with the names of those you would like included in our prayers and book of remembrance.

Fall Sports Recap

Swim and Dive won the Oakland County Championship for the 12th year in a row! Golf had a successful season winning the Catholic League title! Volleyball is heading into CHSL play-offs with only one loss and will begin Districts at the end of the month. Equestrian had a solid season and Field Hockey has notched some big wins while Cross Country is finishing up strong.

Winter Sports Registration

Winter sports registration ends October 21. All students must email kmscalzi@mhsmi.org and have a current MHSAA physical on file as well as submit athletic forms. Click here for the  MHSAA Physical and Mercy Athletic Forms.
 
Check the athletics calendar and even get driving directions. Our athletes are always making headlines. Read some sports features here.