On December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we celebrated Mass and the commitment ceremony of our Youth Mercy Associates. The Youth Mercy Associate Chapters provide a link between young people and the Mercy Congregation, and the Sisters of Mercy. They serve to uphold Catherine McAuley’s vision of faith, joy and mercy. God Bless the new members and those who made their recommitment!

New YMA

Sienna Aprilliano

Grace Cretu

Allie Cyrek

Ava Evangelista

Owynn Evans

Nahil Fakhoury

Nora Gerzema

Kathryn Kizy

Chandravadana Koneru

Jenna Matigian

Mackenzie McDaniel

Olivia Murphy

Tess O'Donnell

Lupita Ortega

Julia Rossi

Shannah Schall

Addison Schwarzenberger

Ana Spanopoulos

Liliana Sturgis

Evelyn Thebault

Hailey Thostenson

Recommitment YMA

Priscilla Agarye

Sydney Augustine

Emily Capatina

Isabella Casab

Maeve Casey

Mackenzie Conway

Shaila Cranson

Grace DeKlerk

Ava Eliya

Holdyn Fulkerson

Carson Kecskes

Annabel Kristensen

Faith Lapham

Macey McDaniel

Keira McNutt

Maura McSweeney

Marta Meehan

Camilla Mendoza

Sydney Meyer

Evelyn Miller

Amari Nwamba

Claire Rogan

Lily Rozum

Marie Schueueman

Campbell Smith

Isabelle Van Hoof

Zoe Vlahadamis

HOSA Regional Competition Success

Congratulations to the following students who who were finalists and/or placed at the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Regional Competition. And...they all qualified for the States!

Harshitha Arvapalli: Pathophysiology Finalist

Layan Ayad/Andrea Chuang: Health Care Display 1st Place

Abby Bores/Ava Eliya/Norah Boyle: Finalist

April Butler: Medical Spelling 2nd Place

Grace Eliya/Morgan Sarafa: Health Care Display Finalist

Grace Kim/Kailey Tisch: Medical Innovation Finalist

Chandu Koneru: Research Poster 1st Place

Camila Mendoza: Finalist

Claire Rogan: Finalist

NHS Warm Detroit Winter Drive

The National Honor Society had a successful Warm Detroit Winter Drive. Thank you to students and staff who donated and helped fill boxes with hats, gloves, boots and 68 coats! These donations will benefit some of the 5,500 homeless children of Detroit. Shout out to the NHS Officers for their organization: Naomi Piasecki, Eve Lanni, Anika Lopes, Alexis Rounds, Megan Windham and Maura McSweeney.

OFFICE OF MISSION & MINISTRY

Exam Week Activities

The Office of Mission and Ministry is praying for our students as they prepare for exams and wrap up the Fall semester! We are cheering you on and we got your back these next few weeks and hope you enjoy some study snacks and therapy dog visits. Special thanks to the Mercy Dads' Club for partnering with us and sponsoring our study snacks this year!

Therapy Dog Visits

Wednesday, December 13 and Friday, December 15

11:00am - 12:30pm in the Lobby

Study Snacks Sponsored by the Mercy Dads' Club

Monday, December 18 - Wednesday, December 20

Office of Mission & Ministry

Advent Taize Prayer Service with University of Detroit Jesuit Campus Ministry

Originating in the Christian community of Taize, France; Taize Prayer is a meditative and ecumenical form of prayer which calls us to dwell in Christ's presence. This Thursday, December 14, Mercy High School and University of Detroit Jesuit Student Ministry teams invite you to a student-led Taize Prayer Service at Mercy's Chapel beginning at 6:30pm.

Mercy students and their families are invited to join us for this prayer service during the Advent season. Cost is $15/person and includes an Advent meal of soup and a donation to Sanctum House. Learn more and register here.

45TH ANNUAL MERCY AUCTION

Please save the date for the Mercy Annual Auction on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at Saint John's Resort! 

Volunteer

We depend on the amazing service of volunteers to make our Annual Auction a success. Volunteer opportunities begin as early as next week and run through event day. Please check out our Signup Genius to find a role that works for you, and if you don't see a time listed but would like to volunteer please email auction@mhsmi.org. 

Sponsorship

Become a sponsor today! This is our largest fundraising event of the year with great exposure for our sponsors, and we invite your sponsorship at any level. For more information on our sponsorship offerings, click here. We accept payment online here as well as via check with the enclosed Sponsorship Form.

Acquisitions

Auction acquisitions are underway! Successful auctions always depend on fabulous gifts. Take advantage of the holiday sales and give a gift to the auction - see our wish list here. Click here for item donation form. Please note while we cannot accept used items nor clothing for the auction at this time, we are collecting new or gently used baskets, for the packaging of all our auction items.

ADVENT SEASON

This is a reminder of the 12/6 communication in regard to an upcoming dual enrollment opportunity with University of Detroit Mercy College of Business Administration. We are excited about this partnership and pleased to offer the UDM Business Leaders Accelerated Start (BLAST) program to Mercy Juniors and Seniors beginning in January 2024.

Attention Juniors & Seniors

Do you plan to pursue Business in college? If yes, this opportunity might be for you. 

Mercy is working in partnership with the University of Detroit Mercy's Business School to provide Mercy Juniors* and Seniors* a dual enrollment opportunity in the BLAST program (Business Leaders Accelerated Start) beginning in January 2024. *High school seniors need a 3.25 GPA; juniors need a 3.50 GPA

Not only are the classes offered for FREE, but enrollment also grants you access to an academic advisor, to the Executive-In-Residence which provides summer internships, and if five specified courses are taken, a Certificate in Business Administration before you graduate from high school.

UDM's Business School is nationally ranked by US News and World Report and has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for more than 70 years which makes the courses transferable to any AACSB accredited business school in the world. ALL COURSES ARE FREE TO MERCY STUDENTS!

Please see the information linked below for courses available in January. All classes are held on UDM's campus and begin the week of January 7 so ENROLL SOON! You'll also find linked here an Investment Summer Camp opportunity. (More details forthcoming.)

The application materials are available at https://www.udmercy.edu/admission/dual-enrollment.php. Please contact Ms. McMaster (cmcmaster@mhsmi.org) or your Counselor if you have questions.

SERVICE PROJECT FOR FAMILIES

SERVICE PROJECT FOR FAMILIES

The Mercy Dads' Club has arranged two service projects for parents and daughters to help out at the Pope Francis Center in Detroit. This is a Mercy approved volunteer opportunity open to all students where they can earn three hours of service. The time will be spent helping sort and organize donations to help them prepare for the holidays. Please sign-up using the link below.

• Saturday, December 16th from 10:00am to 1:00pm

Pope Francis Center Volunteer Sign-Up Here

From the Pope Francis Center website: Faithful volunteers are the heartbeat of our work at the Pope Francis Center. We are blessed with individuals and groups who recognize that wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness…and we can always use more helping hands. You can see what the Pope Francis Center is all about by visiting their website: Pope Francis Center.

ADVENT SEASON

I am Here Advent Challenge

You are invited to spend a few minutes each day during the Advent season preparing to celebrate Christmas and the gift of Jesus by joining the I AM HERE Advent challenge. 

• Receive a daily text message with an article, video, or quote to inspire you 
• Spend a few minutes completing the short daily Advent prayer challenge
• Joyfully arrive at the celebration of Christmas ready to receive Jesus

To join, text “ADVENT” to 84576 to join or sign up here!

Carols at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament

All are welcome to join many other voices and hearts at 7:00 p.m. on December 15 for an evening of scripture, prayer, and song in preparation for our Lord’s nativity!  Bishop Gerard Battersby will lead reflection on the joy of Christ’s birth. The evening will feature over 70 voices from our Cathedral Choir Academy, the St. Aloysius Choir, the Schola Cantorum Detroit, and our Archdiocesan Singers. Admission is free, however donations are welcome. Parking behind the cathedral is also free.

GIFT GATHERING PARTY

You won't want to miss this party!

Thursday, January 18, 2024

6:00pm - 8:00pm

RSVP HERE

You are invited to enjoy a private Happy Hour exclusively for the Mercy Community at the Neiman Marcus Café with complimentary cocktails and canapés. This is a fabulous opportunity to support the 45th Annual Mercy Auction: Celebrating the Mercy Spirit, and mix and mingle with other Mercy supporters! Learn more and RSVP here.

ROAD READY DRIVING SCHOOL

Road Ready is offering Segment 1 and Segment 2 driving classes at Mercy in January. Classes are open to Mercy and non-Mercy students.

Segment 1

January 8 - February 1, 2024

Classes will be Monday, Wednesday & Thursday, 3-5pm in S-4

• Mon, 1/8 class is moved to Tue, 1/9 due to No School
• Mon, 1/15 class is moved to Tue, 1/16 due to No School

Segment 2

January 9 - January 11, 2024

Classes will be Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 3-5pm in S-6 or 5:15-7:15pm in S-4 (two separate sessions)

*Note: The schedule will be adjusted for holidays, half days, no school, or other special schedules. 

For more information and to register visit roadreadyschool.com, email roadreadydrivingschool@yahoo.com or call 248-308-1048.

Save the Date for the 2nd Annual Trivia Night

All Mercy parents/guardians, alumnae, staff and friends are welcome (21+) for a fun-filled evening.

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Doors Open 6pm

Cash Bar Opens 6:30pm

Trivia Begins 7:00pm

Mercy Gymnasium

$25 each or Table of 8 $200

• Decorate and dress up to represent your favorite College/University sports team!
• Bring snacks for your table and buy drink tickets at the door.
• Plenty of prizes and contests: 50/50 (arm-to-arm $20); buy answers (3 for $5); heads or tails (3 beads for $25)

TICKETS HERE

HELP NEEDED

Event volunteers and donations are needed in all areas. Please consider lending a hand and sign-up here. Students can receive service hours!

END OF SEMESTER DATES

December 11-15

The five days prior to exams should be assessment-free for students to prepare for final exams, complete final projects/presentations, and prepare for world language orals. Students can be assigned classwork but not extensive homework these days.

Friday, December 15 - All Final English papers are due by this date. 

Friday, December 15 - All class assignments should be graded and posted by midnight for ALL Courses, except for Final Exams, Essays, Projects, and Presentations.

Final Exams Dates

Final exams are scheduled to last one (1) hour and 20 minutes and are given on the assigned test day and time.

Monday, December 18, 2023

1st hour 8:30am - 9:50am

2nd hour 10:00am - 11:20am

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

3rd hour 8:30am - 9:50am

4th hour 10:00am - 11:20am

5th hour 11:30am - 12:50pm

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

6th hour 8:30am - 9:50am

7th hour 10:00am - 11:20am

Thursday, December 21 - Thursday, January 4 - PowerSchool will be turned off on Thursday, December 21, and turned back on Thursday, January 4. The purpose of turning off PowerSchool is to give students and staff a true break over the holiday.

Please note: Emails can be sent over the Christmas holiday, however staff are not expected to respond until staff return to school on Monday, January 8, 2024.

Thursday, January 11 - First semester grades will be reviewed, double-checked, and posted by 9 a.m.

Final Exam/Essays/Project/Presentation Policy

Final Exams/Essays/Projects/Presentations will be weighted 20% of the final grade in ALL classes except for some courses in the Performing Arts and Art departments. All Final exams/Essays/Projects/Presentations will be a common final assessment (exam, project, paper). This will be implemented in ALL courses. Exams need to be at least 75% the same for all students taking the course. The other 25% can be determined by each individual teacher.

DO YOU FOLLOW MERCY ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Connect to @mercyhighmi, @mercyathletics and @mercyperformingarts on Instagram. Plus, show your own Marlin pride and use the Marlin giphy stickers available on Instagram by searching @mercymarlins when you post to stories! Don't forget to follow @MercyHighSchoolMI, @MercyMarlinsAthletics and @MHSMIPerformingArts on Facebook. Check out list of social media accounts here.

Compelled by our Catholic faith and the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy High School is a premier college preparatory school that educates and nurtures young women of diverse backgrounds to excel academically, serve compassionately, and lead courageously.