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MERCY MEMO PARENT E-NEWSLETTER
- March 27, 2018
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Message from Mrs. Sattler
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Dear Mercy Families,
At last we rounded the corner to spring and anticipate new beginnings! Registration for the next academic school year is well underway, spring season sports are in session and planning continues for programs that will continue to enhance experiences for our Mercy girls.
Academic News
NHS Inductees
:
Last week over 75 students were inducted into Mercy's Mother Carmelita Manning Chapter of the National Honor Society. We are proud to have so many students meet the required standards of academic excellence along with demonstrated traits of Character, Scholarship, Leadership, and Service.
Driver's Education
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We are pleased to share that we plan to offer on-site Drivers Education sessions for our Mercy students! We have begun the process with a third party and hope to have a partnership finalized for classes to start at the end of April. Watch for details to be communicated after Easter break.
Health and Safety
Drugs101:
Last month freshwomen and sophomores attended a Drugs101 workshop in partnership with St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. We look forward to extending this educational awareness opportunity in April to our upper-classwomen. Topics covered will include the dangers of stimulants, inhalants and depressants; as well as the effects of alcohol and smoking, whether through traditional cigarettes or vaping. This interactive workshop generated much awareness with our younger students, and we are grateful to St Joseph Mercy for their willingness to continue this conversation for all of our students.
Prayer for Safe Schools:
Our student body unified on March 14 to pray for safe schools, honor the victims of Parkland, FL and provide awareness for how to contact lawmakers to voice concerns for school safety should they choose to do so. We are proud of the leadership, respect and thoughtfulness shown by all of our students in planning and participating in this event. Through the day's activities, students raised $757 to send to Parkland victim fundraising efforts.
Willing to Wait:
Our 10th grade Health class was not only enhanced this year with CPR training, but students recently completed the Willing to Wait health program facilitated by the Lennon Pregnancy Center. This Catholic based curriculum is comprised of 5 units teaching students to avoid sexual risk until marriage as a positive and realistic lifestyle, promoting self-control, respect, responsibility, and optimal health. This program provides an awareness of current sexual issues and gives teens the necessary skills for managing their sexual decisions responsibly.
Catholic Identity
Mercy Education System of Americas Update:
Mercy High School is part of MESA (Mercy Education System of the Americas). This Mercy organization of 57 schools boasts members from the Philippines, Central America, South America and throughout the United States.
Each year this international organization sponsors leadership training opportunities, secondary school educational conferences, a leadership forum, a Stewardship Review and a new accreditation process based on Catholic Identity and Mercy Charism.
Earlier this month, Mercy High School presidents, principals and board chairs gathered in Atlanta, GA for the annual MESA Leadership forum. Dr. Cheryl Kreger, Board Chair Mrs. Nancy Auffenberg and I joined school leaders from all Mercy secondary school educational ministries. This was a wonderful opportunity to participate in conversations facilitated by the Sisters of Mercy leadership team focusing on Catholic Identity and best practices in making decisions based on the Gospel teachings of the Church and the charism of the Sisters of Mercy.
#lMakeLentReal:
Our students and staff have many opportunities to support their spiritual Lenten journey. A traditional Lenten event at Mercy is Fasting Friday where soup and bread are sold to raise funds for Queen of All Saints Church, an Appalachian mission in Beattyville, Kentucky. This year, we raised $320 to help restock their food pantry which gets daily inquiries for supplies.
12 Mercy students are preparing for Alternative Spring Break in Madison and Clark Counties in Kentucky. These students will spend Easter vacation in outreach to others and will help to build a new house for a struggling family. Please keep these students and their chaperones in your prayers for a safe and spiritually fulfilling trip.
Heart of Mercy Mass:
Our annual Heart of Mercy Mass is a beautiful celebration of the charism of Mercy, and an acknowledgement to those members of our family who truly inspire and make a difference through their kindness and spirituality. This year's Heart of Mercy recipients, Senior Annie Acho Tartoni and Math Department Chair Mrs. Vicky Kowalski are overwhelmingly deserving of this honor for their seamless sharing of the Mercy values each day.
We embrace various ways to engage our students at mass, and we were joined at the Heart of Mercy celebration by John Thorne the music minister at Sacred Heart in Detroit. Our talented students Elon Payne and Ghable Bell joined in to complete the beautiful harmony.
As you can see, there are many reasons to be proud of our school. As our Mercy students remind us during daily announcements, "it's not what it is, but what it can become". Thank you for allowing us to support your daughter as she becomes a woman who makes a difference!
May the miracle of Easter bring you love, joy and happiness to last a lifetime,
Patricia Sattler
Principal
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Join us for our next General Meeting
Monday, April 9th at 6:30pm. Agenda for the meeting includes: recap on blanket service project and March meeting; upcoming events; Teacher Appreciation week ideas; and Orin Jewelers. If you'd like to
help provide light dinner and refreshments for the meeting, please use
this sign-up genius link. Feel free to reach out to the MMC with any questions at
[email protected].
NEWSLETTER
Please
click here to read the latest MMC April Newsletter with upcoming event info and more!
MOTHER DAUGHTER EVENING OF REFLECTION
Bloom. Grow. Blossom.
Sunday, April 15, 2018
The Inn at St. John
44045 Five Mile Road, Plymouth
Mass:
2:00 pm at St. John Chapel
Dinner immediately following Mass
$35 per person ($70 Mother & Daughter)
$15 for each additional daughter or important woman in your life
Reservations are limited so please register early
here!
Special Note to Mercy Moms:
It is a tradition to present a "Then and Now" slideshow as part of the event. Please email 3-4 photographs of your daughter at various ages and a recent mother-daughter photo to [email protected].
We are pleased to offer complimentary portraits for Mothers & Daughters courtesy of Christy Bunge from Christy Bunge Photography. If you have any questions, please call Michelle Joyner at 313-743-1831 or Wendy Griest 810-355-6967.
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MERCY DADS CLUB MONTHLY EVENT
 Strong Arms of Mercy
The Mercy Dads Club Executive Board invites you to the 1st Annual
Strong Arms of Mercy Initiative.
Thursday April 12, 2018
7:00PM - 10:00 PM
John Cowley & Sons Irish Pub
33338 Grand River
Farmington, MI 48336
$25 Dinner, Cash Bar
Funds collected at this event will equally support:
Yearly Scholarships
Awarded to students under the discretion of the Mercy Tuition Assistance Program.
MDC Endowment
Creation of a $1000 annual scholarship.
Emergency Fund
Supporting a student or family when circumstance warrants the need for the support of Strong Arms.
Unable to attend?
Donate today here and select "Other" in the designation category and include "Strong Arms of Mercy" upon making your contribution.
SAVE THE DATES - Father / Daughter Events
Sunday, April 29 - Detroit Archers
Join us for a fun filled afternoon of archery at the Detroit Archers located in West Bloomfield. No experience is required and equipment will be available. Beginners are encouraged to attend. There is a large indoor range that will be available. Plan on staying around after to eat and socialize. Watch for further details on the event and how to register. If you have any questions or are interested in participating please email Bob Sauer at
[email protected].
Sunday, June 10 - Fox Hills Strategic Fox
One of the highlights of the year is the Father/Daughter Scramble Golf Outing held at the Par 3 Strategic Fox. This a challenging course for the beginner to experienced golfer. We will play 9 holes of golf and then meet back in the clubhouse for drinks and snacks. Prizes will be awarded for low score and other games. Watch for further details on the event and how to register. If you have any questions or are interested in participating please email Tom Pegler at
[email protected].
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We rejoice for the 2018 Heart of Mercy Award recipients Annie Acho Tartoni '18 and Math Teacher Mrs. Vicky Kowalski who live out the values of Human Dignity, Mercy, Justice, Service and Option for the Poor. Thank you for being faithful and compassionate people of God who make a difference to everyone in our Mercy family!
Here are just a few comments of what students had to say about these inspirational school leaders: "Annie remembers people in prayer and her concern is genuine. Love and mercy pour out of her. She has the gift of presence. She has a heart that seeks others and a smile to greet all those she meets." Mrs. Kowalski changed my life. She always takes time to help. Her patience and love for her students gives them confidence. She looks for students who need help in math, making friends, or participating in extracurricular events at Mercy."
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Student & School Successes
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Val Sal 2018 - We are proud to announce the Class of 2018
Valedictorian is Anastasia Warner and Salutatorian is Abigail Hembree. CONGRATULATIONS to all the Val Sal finalists
Rebecca Heaman; Lauren Hunter; Megan Hutter; Lauren Isaacson; Caroline McLaren; Katherine Minnich; Supreet Nirman and Alexandra Thomas. This distinction considers not only academic record but also leadership, service and extracurricular involvement. God bless the Class of 2018!
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 National Scholastic Art Award Winner - We are pleased to announce that
Clarisa Russenberger '18, and her teacher, Ms. Susan Smith, have earned national recognition in the 2018 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards by winning a silver medal for Clarisa's photograph called 42nd Street. Clarisa has been identified by panels of creative professionals as one of the most talented young artists and writers in the nation. This year, nearly 350,000 works of art and writing were submitted. Only the top 1% were recognized at the national level. Wow!
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Lea Caldwell Selected as Detroit PAL Ambassador
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Congratulations to
Lea Caldwell '21 on being chosen as the Detroit Police Athletic League 2018 Youth of the Year! What an accomplishment to be recognized as a student, athlete and individual of high integrity. This is a huge honor, the highest that Detroit PAL offers for youth participants and Lea will represent the over 14,000 youth that PAL serves annually. As the Youth of the Year, Lea will have many great opportunities that will involve community engagement, public speaking, education and leadership exposure, and much more! Lea attended the grand opening, ribbon-cutting for new Detroit PAL field at old Tiger Stadium on March 24th and remarked to WDIV, "Being in the Detroit PAL gives you a sense of building character, how to accept constructive criticism, and how to be a leader. Children can come and play however they please, and come get off the streets and actually have a sense of pride that this is our home."
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Farmington Area Arts Commission Student Art Awards 2018 Winners
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Farmington Area Arts Commission Student Art Awards 2018 Winners - Congratulations to the following Mercy students who won four of the seven awards in the Farmington Area Arts Commission Student Art Awards 2018 Competition.
Sojourner Posch '19, The Sculptor at Work 2, photography - Best in Show - $100
Clarisa Russenberger '18, Emerging, photography, Honorable Mention - $75
Olivia Gibaratz '18, Baseball Mitt, painting, Honorable Mention - $75
Mayssa Fakih '18, Syrian Refugee, painting, Honorable Mention - $75. Awards will be presented at the Festival of the Arts Awards Ceremony held at the Costick Center on Friday, April 13 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM. Winning art works will be displayed in a special exhibition as part of the Festival of the Arts and in the Farmington Hills City Gallery until May 4, 2018. This ceremony is part of a three-day celebration of the arts in the Farmington community. Read more at this link -
Festival of the Arts.
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Bravo Concert Choir - The Mercy Concert Choir performed at the MSVMA District Choral Festival and earned a First Division Rating and advanced to the State Level. Enjoy one of their performances
here.
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AXA Achievement Scholarship - Congratulations to
Olivia Hintz '18 who
was selected to receive a $2,500 AXA Achievement Scholarship. As a result, Mercy High School will also receive a $1,000 grant to be used for professional development activities.
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State Solo and Ensemble - Congratulations to these students and their top ratings at the State Solo and Ensemble held March 17th.
Cinya Hou and Sophia Tesic Division II rating violin duet,
Sophie Vanderweele Division II rating cello solo,
Sophia Tesic Division II rating violin solo, and
Mackenzie Farrow and Aisling Heaphy Division I rating viola duet.
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Spanish Honor Society Cardz for Kids
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Last month, the Spanish Honor Society gathered to make over 80 cards in Spanish for an organization called Cardz for Kids (
http://cardzforkidz.org). Cardz for Kids sends get well wishes to children who are sick in the hospital. The cards in Spanish will go to some U.S. hospitals and also some in Mexico.
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On March 24th, Mercy Latin students attended the 68th annual Junior Classical League Spring Conference. Students participated in and took home a plethora of state awards in academics (derivatives, vocabulary, Roman life, mythology, and grammar), athletics, costuming, and creative arts.
Lydia Walsh '21
won 3rd place in the Mythology Exam, and tied for 2nd place in the Derivatives Exam.
Sophia Tesic '21 won 3rd place in the Vocabulary Exam, 2nd place in the Grammar Exam, tied for 2nd place in the Derivatives Exam, and took 3rd place in the Latin Oratory competition.
Very special congratulations go to
Maria Cafeo '19, who was reelected Michigan
JCL
President, and
Hannah Juday '19, who was elected
JCL
TAEDA Editor. Mercy is proud to have such outstanding representatives from our school overseeing MJCL.
Gratulamur celebramusque vos, Maria et Hannah! You can see pictures and watch video at
Mercy JCL's facebook page.
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Mercy's Robotics Team, The Riveters, competed in their second competition of the season at the Belleville District Event on March 23rd and 24th. After weeks of dedicated effort and collaboration, the team was able to see their hard work pay off. These ladies performed remarkably well through 12 qualification matches, ranking 15th out of 41 teams! Their impressive robot also advanced to the playoffs as a member of the 5th alliance team, competing in two well-fought matches in the quarter-finals.
The team delivered in all areas: coding, mechanics, business, and driving. The robot successfully scored a multitude of points during auton, the area of competition that relies solely on pre-programmed code. The Riveter's drive team also maneuvered the robot expertly, managing the first climb of the season. Minor adjustments and issues with mechanics were efficiently solved by the team between matches. During the awards ceremony, the Riveters were also honored with the Entrepreneurship Award for impressing the judges with an insightful business plan. Congratulations on these impressive achievements ladies! We are so proud of every single Riveter on this team as well as the mentors who dedicated their time and effort to making this experience possible. For more information about the team, please check out the Riveter's website:
http://1481riveters.com.
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Class of 2018 College Scholarship Opportunities
Senior Parents: Scholarships for college come from a variety of sources. Many scholarships are college-specific awards, meaning they are awarded directly by the institution. However, a significant portion of scholarship offerings come from private organizations, corporations, religious organizations, unions, the military, and your local chamber of commerce. The key questions is:
How do students find the 1.5 million scholarship opportunities that are out there?
 Any scholarship notification that comes into the Counseling Office is posted in
Naviance. On the homepage, click on to the "Colleges" tab. Scroll down to the section titled "Scholarships and Money." All scholarships are posted in the section titled "scholarship list." You can also link to a "national scholarship search" database powered by SallieMae.
Outside of scholarships posted in
Naviance, there are a number of other online scholarship search databases. The
Fastweb scholarship search database is the largest. The student creates a profile in order to personalize the search process. Fastweb then compares the student's background with a database of scholarship opportunities. The scholarships that fit the student's profile are identified as matches. Additional information regarding Financial Aid & Scholarships can be found
here.
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Wishes Granted
Thanks to contributions from parents and alumnae, Department wishes have been granted. Check out the photos from Science using planting trays, new jump ropes in Physical Education and new music stand lights in Performing Arts. If you would like to grant a department wish, make a gift at
mhsmi.org/donate today!
Scholarship
Mrs. Carolyn Witte, former Mercy High School Principal, recently wrote a post-Valentine's Day love letter to Mercy. The Robert and Carolyn Witte Endowed Scholarship will provide a lasting tribute to Carolyn's many years of service at Mercy. Support the Carolyn and Robert Witte Endowed Scholarship with a gift today!
Read letter from Mrs. Carolyn Witte here and donate here.
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Senior All Night Party Help Needed!
We need your help! It is a tradition at Mercy to provide a Senior All Night Party for the graduating class. It is a fun, safe and celebratory evening for the girls and the last time they will all be together as the Class of 2018. This year's SANP will be on
Sunday, June 3, 2018 after graduation at Joe Dumar's Fieldhouse in Shelby Township.
Though a small portion of senior dues are allocated towards this event, additional resources are still needed to make it enjoyable and fulfilling for the newly graduated class. Monetary donations are welcome and much appreciated!
Donations may be mailed in or accepted at the Reception Area. Please make checks payable to: Mercy High School, Memo: SANP. Many thanks! Contact Val Mitchell Lowe and Denise Moore, SANP Co-Chairs for any questions.
Memory Flash Drive
As you may know, instead of DVDs, the students will be purchasing memory flash drives. These flash drives will come in a commemorative decorated box and give the students more versatility to view, download and share the memories with loved ones and friends. The price for the flash drive will remain at $25. We hope you are excited about this new upgrade and please download order form here. All orders are due by April 30th.
The Class of 2018 receives a lot of information in regards to upcoming activities, events, and deadlines. Stay connected to the Class of 2018 web page for all the info: mhsmi.org/mercy-life/student-activities/class-2018.
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Sweepstakes Drive Day Off Earned! Please be advised there will be
no school Friday, May 25th as part of reaching an incentive goal day off for the Sweepstakes Drive! Keep selling and buying Sweepstakes Drive raffle tickets for a chance to win big. Students can earn another day off, out of uniform privileges and more fun prizes. The next potential incentive day off is
Friday, May 18 if the $150,000 goal is reached by Wednesday, April 11th. Let's go Mercy!
Each student is responsible to sell a minimum of 6 books of tickets and detailed
student selling information and incentives can be found here.
All drawings will be held at Mercy on May 15, 2018 and the grand prize is $10,000! Be sure to take a look at the tickets with the prize information. Tickets are also available at the Mercy Reception Area, or contact Olivia Hanna at
[email protected].
All proceeds benefit the Mercy Annual Fund which enables us to cover expenses beyond what tuition allows; including crucial building improvements and educational program enhancements.
Thank you for supporting Mercy High School and our largest student driven fundraiser of the year.
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Mercy High School 14th Annual
Sunday, April 22, 2018
2:00pm-4:30pm
All Mercy moms are invited to
Tea for Tuition! Please join us for a lovely afternoon with delicious food, enticing hot and cold teas, and Mercy spirit. Of special note will be the
Distinguished Alumna Award Presentation to Valerie Hebel McNeece '66. We will offer silent auction and raffle items, a table decorating contest, and an opportunity to make a gift to support tuition assistance.
Ways to Participate
GIFT BASKET DONATIONS NEEDED! Dining, shopping, entertainment, home and garden, fashion, and beauty items are always popular!
Details here!
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College Bound Senior Athlete Event
Class of 2018
Athletes and Parents - Are you signing a National Letter of Intent or committing to play a sport in college?
The Mercy
Athletics Department will be hosting a spring group signing day to celebrate all
Class of 2018 athletes committing to play a sport next year at the college level.
If you attended the fall signing event, you don't need to be present.
2:45pm - 3:30pm
Mercy Gymnasium
You're welcome to invite your family and coaches. Please wear your college shirt. We will take individual and group photos. Light refreshments will be served. Notify Ms. Kate Scalzi at
[email protected] if you will attend. Include your name, sport, and college.
Henry Ford Health System MHSAA physicals will be offered to current and incoming Mercy High School athletes. They will be held in the gymnasium at Mercy on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 from 5pm-7pm. The cost for each physical is $20 or $25 with ECG, payable by cash or check made out to Henry Ford Health System. All incoming 9th graders, transfer students, athletes, and those taking a PE class will need a physical performed and signed (by an MD, DO, PA, or NP) on or after 4/15/2018. Physicals performed at Mercy will be scanned and uploaded to your Privit account after you create.
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Detroit Tigers Catholic High School League Night
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The Detroit Tigers are having a Catholic High School League night on
April 30, 2018 vs. Tampa Bay Rays at 7:10 p.m.
For only $21,
you receive a game ticket, a Detroit Tigers CHSL/High School hat and a donation to the Catholic League Athletics. The hat is maroon, with a gold English D, Mercy Marlins on the back, our logo on one side and the CHSL logo on the other.
Click here for more info and to purchase tickets.
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Michigan Seal of Biliteracy
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Madame Joyce Campbell attended a workshop at Oakland Schools to learn that Michigan will soon join more than half of the nation in awarding a Seal of Biliteracy to graduating seniors, an award in recognition of students who have attained proficiency in English and one or more world languages by high school graduation. As other states have recognized, the language skills of students who complete extended sequences of world language study as well as those native language is other than English, increase their marketability in the workplace and are a valuable economic resource to the state.
Students who are interested in receiving this digital badge here at Mercy must have met graduation requirements and demonstrated Intermediate High proficiency, (at the time of graduation) on an acceptable world language assessment, with results sent to the state for approval and verification. For the purpose of awarding the Seal, the Michigan Department of Education recommends that a student's proficiency be tested beginning her second semester of the junior year through the end of the first semester of the senior year. Note that students tested in their senior year may not receive results until summer of their graduating year.
The Michigan Seal of Biliteracy is designed to provide potential future employers with a method of identifying people with language and biliteracy skills and to provide colleges and universities with a method to recognize and give credit to applicants for attainment of high level skills in multiple languages.
The Seal of Biliteracy will prepare students with 21st century skills that will benefit them in the labor market and the global society. It is an endorsement to employers that a high school graduate enters the workforce with highly-desirable skills in more than one language. Mercy will start to assess interested students for the Seal of Biliteracy beginning in the fall of 2018.
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Daddy Daughter Dance Fun!
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Mercy dads and daughters danced the night away at the Daddy Daughter Dance last month hosted by the junior class. A new highlight from this year included many alumnae and their dads who also attended to share fond Mercy memories and plenty of fun!
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2018-19 Financial Aid Program
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The Mercy High School Financial Aid program for the 2018-2019 school year is now in progress. To be considered for
financial
aid, you must complete and submit the application requirements by the
April 30, 2018 deadline.
Please note that Tuition Assistance is awarded on the basis of
financial need as determined by the successful completion of a FACTS Grant and
Aid Assessment
financial
aid application. The application may be found at the following website
https://factsmgt.com.
In addition to the FACTS application, an essay and cover sheet must be submitted to Mercy High School, Office of the President. Please visit Mercy's website
mhsmi.org/admissions/financial-aid for further information and detailed documentation.
The total amount of tuition assistance distributed each year by Mercy High School is based upon the availability of funds and the number of qualified applicants who have submitted their application
by the April 30, 2018 deadline. Applications submitted after this date will be placed on a waiting list and considered if and when funds become available.
Please note, if you have received any type of
financial
aid from Mercy High School in the past,
you must reapply each year in order to be considered for the upcoming school year.
ARCHDIOCESE OF DETROIT (AOD) ASSISTANCE
The Archdiocese of Detroit, as a result of the Stewards for Tomorrow Fund, will award tuition assistance grants again this year to Catholic families who qualify. We are grateful to Archbishop Allen Vigneron for continuing this program in support of Catholic Education. When a family completes the FACTS Management Grant & Aid Assessment application, and checks the box, their information is forwarded to the Archdiocese for review and determination. See the Archdiocese website at
aod.org for applications and details. Archdiocese grant award notifications are sent to families directly from the Archdiocese office. Mercy High School also receives notification of these awards and if the student is registered, the tuition account will be credited accordingly.
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MNotes...Miscellaneous Info you Need to Know
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Yearbook - If you haven't yet reserved what is sure to be another prize-winning yearbook, do it today. We have reserved a few extra copies so make sure your daughter is guaranteed one. Not sure you've purchased a copy?
Check this list. Yearbooks are $70 and available online at
yearbookordercenter.com. Type in code 13826 to be directed to Mercy's page. Yearbooks can also be purchased through
Mrs. Hallie Smith.
AmazonSmile Program - You can contribute to Mercy every time you shop at Amazon. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to
Mercy High School whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.
Click here to get started.
Student Directory - Please note that the student directory of Mercy families is available for parents in
PowerSchool. After login, please see the line link at top which reads, "
Click here to access the student directory."
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Mercy united to promote strength of voice for healing and resolution for the powerful issue of violence in schools. Our students organized a thoughtful assembly on March 14th to include prayer, memorialization of the Parkland victims at our peace pole, and awareness for how to voice concerns for school safety if they so choose. Through exper
iences that are based in prayer and designed to process their concerns, our students practice the skills needed to form, support and express their own personal position on issues of social justice. We are Mercy!
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Download Mercy Mobile App!
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Stay up to date this school year with Mercy on the go! The
Mercy High School MI App allows students, staff, parents, alumnae and supporters quick access to the latest Mercy news, events, activities and announcements. Receive notifications, sign-up for e-newsletters, upload a photo, submit a prayer request, view calendars and connect to Mercy social media.
Please note the older App version is no longer compatible and should be deleted from your device. Be sure to download this version of the Mercy App today! You can also search Mercy High School MI in the App store.
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