MOUNT MERCY ACADEMY November 2010 NewsletterNovember 2010 NewsletterNovember 2010 NewsletterNovember 2010 Newsletter

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 76VOLUME 8, ISSUE 76VOLUME 8, ISSUE 76VOLUME 8, ISSUE 76

Nov. 1: All Saints Day-School Mass

Nov. 2: All Souls Day-School Prayer

Service

Nov. 3: Early Dismissal- 12:42 PM–

Faculty Meeting

Nov. 4: 6:15 PM Mercy Honors Dinner

– Romanello’s South Restaurant

Nov. 5: END OF FIRST QUARTER

Nov. 5: 6:00 PM MMA Dining Hall-Fall

Sports Banquet

Nov. 8th: Winter Sports Practices

Begin

Nov. 10: 7:00 PM MMA Dining Hall-

Parent Guild Social

Nov. 11: NO SCHOOL in observance of

Veteran’s Day

Nov. 17: Senior’s Cap and Gown

Measurement Day

Nov. 19: Magic Money Sweepstakes

Party– Details Inside

Nov. 20: 8:00 AM-MMA Entrance Exam

for 8th Grade Students

Nov. 23: 6:00-8:00 PM-

Parent—Teacher Conferences

A Message from our Principal

November, 2010

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Every once in a while I like to dust off my Social Studies teacher hat and try to take an historical perspective in my monthly letter. It becomes increasingly difficult to find fresh and interesting ideas for these monthly letters so I Googled “November” to try to get some ideas.

One of the first things that came up on Google was the Diversity Calendar from the University of Kansas Medical Center. It listed the religious observances for the month of November. Heading the list for November first was, of course, All Saints’ Day which is a celebration for Catholics as well as other Christian denominations. (We will celebrate the Holy Day of Obligation with Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.) Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1 in Mexico and Latin America. The Feast of All Saints was listed next and that is a dis-tinctly Roman Catholic celebration based in part because of the Catholic belief in purgatory. (We will have a prayer service to commemorate all our family and friends who have passed away.)

As I continued down the list of religious celebrations I encountered a few that I was not familiar with - - Diwali (Buddhist, Hindu) on November 5, Birthday of Baha'u'llah (Baha'i) on November 12 and Eid al-adha (Islamic, Muslim) on November 16. These are very unfamiliar to most of us yet there are many within the United States who will be celebrating these religious holidays this month. The theme at Mount Mercy this year is Reverencing the Dignity Within Each Person – Celebrating Life and respect-ing the diversity of religious tradition certainly falls under this theme. There is a need for our students to know, understand and celebrate our Catholic faith, heritage and traditions and it the responsibility of the school and family to make sure that happens. Beyond that we are obligated to make them aware of the wider world and respectful of the diversity that we encounter. For example, Eid al-adha of the Feast of Sacrifice is the most important feast in the Muslim calendar. It lasts for three days and commemorates Abraham’s sacrificing his son. God stops him and then Abraham sacrifices an animal in his son’s place. The feast re-enacts Abraham’s obedience. The family will eat about a third of the meal from the feast and donate the rest to the poor. In the Catholic tradition we are all familiar with this story found within the Old Testament. It points out one small link we have to both the Judaic and Islamic traditions. The story of course deals with obedience to God but in the Islamic tradition also portrays the need to reverence the poor. This is a theme that crosses all religious boundaries and it can be a focal point for how we choose to interpret our theme.

Though not strictly a religious holiday, we celebrate Thanksgiving in November. We all remember the stories we learned in elementary school about the “first” Thanksgiving (Check out www. history.com for excellent historical information about this holiday. I think you will find some surprising information.) Whatever the origins, it is always an excellent opportunity to give thanks for our many blessings – as a nation, as a Mercy Community, as a family and as an individual. I thank God for all of you and for the opportunity to be a part of your daughter’s education. Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely, Paulette Gaske Principal

Items of Special Interest

Mt. Mercy Photo Album Mother-Daughter

Mass and Breakfast

MMA Freshman Genevieve Clifford and her mom enjoyed spending time together at the annual MMA Mother-

Daughter Mass and Breakfast.

Sophomore Jennifer Nochjaski shares a smile with her mom.

Senior Victoria Riso and her mom enjoy this favored annual event one last time.

Fifty-Seven Mt. Mercy Academy Students Inducted into the MMA McAuley Scholars Program

The Mercy Center Chapel was the setting for the eighth annual Mount Mercy Academy McAuley Scholar Induction Ceremony held on Tuesday, October 26 2010. McAuley Scholars and Candidates, along with families and friends were welcomed by MMA Principal Mrs. Paulette Gaske. Sister Mary Ellen Twist, RSM, President of the Academy opened the ceremony with a special invocation. Mrs. Nancy (Wutz `74) Ware, founder and President of EduKids, Inc., offered congratulations and words of encourage-ment to the students and their parents. Mrs. Gaske presented certificates to fifty students who were inducted as McAuley Scholars and presented sunflower bouquets to seven McAuley Scholar candidates. Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors are inducted into the McAuley Scholar program by maintaining a 94% or better grade average each quarter of the academic year. The desig-nation lasts one year and students must reapply to the program the following school year. A ninth grade student is considered for special recognition as a candidate if she scores 600 or better on the Mount Mercy Academy/High School Placement Exam and receives two positive letters of recommendation from her teachers.

McAuley Scholars Class of 2011

Carly Andriaccio, Rebecca Fink, Emily Fose, Krista Ganis, Bridget Jackson, Stephanie Khoury, Sarah Kraus, Kathryn Loops, Leah Moran, Rylie Schreiber, Amanda Stachowski, Rachel Suchocki, Nicole Tombolesi, BrittanyAnn Wolf

McAuley Scholars Class of 2012 Emily Anderson, Cara Barnes, Rachel Bellis, Alison Benz, Heather Buck,

Megan Cheney, Emily Diaz, Meghan Fitzgerald, Jenna Gleason, Kaitlyn Griffin, Jordan Hawkins, Kelly Hess, Isobel Johnston, Tania Khoury, Kayla Larson, Janelle Lauciello, Alexandra Lenk, Lynnmarie Miller, Stephanie Newman,

Victoria Riso, Ashley Skipper, Charlene Takacs, Samantha Ventura

McAuley Scholars Class of 2013 Erin Bender, Marjorie Bishop, Kaylee Cedri, Madeline Greene, Erin Friedman,

Lee Haggerty, Jenna Kersten, Jillian Miazga, Evania Paz Santiano, Megan Sheehan, Rachel Singer, Marissa Stack, Taylor Weed

McAuley Scholar Candidates Class of 2014 Mary Bamrick, Sarah Emmerling, Emma English, Caitlin Matuszak,

Julia O’Sullivan, Emily Prendergast, Lauren Szymanski

MT. MERCY ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT EXAM INFORMATION

THE MT. MERCY ACADEMY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST (ENTRANCE EXAM)

WILL BE ADMINISTERED AT 8:00 am ON NOVEMBER 20, 2010 AT MMA.

ANY INTERESTED STUDENT SHOULD REGISTER WITH MT. MERCY ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR MRS. JEANNE BURVID

PRIOR TO THE EXAM DATE.

MT. MERCY ACADEMY AWARDS ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS BASED ON EXAM RESULTS AND OTHER CRITERIA.

Dear Lord, On this Thanksgiving Day,

we are thankful for all that You give us,

for all that You do for us, for all that You teach us. Thank You for guiding us

to live our lives in Your will,

in Your purpose, in Your plan for us.

Thank You for Your protection from worldly influence and danger. Thank You for bringing us gently

to a deeper knowledge of You and what You want from us,

with Your love, mercy, compassion and grace.

And thank you, Lord, for the blessings

we are experiencing right now at this very moment--

the food, and the precious people

who are with us to enjoy this meal

and this day. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

By Joanna Fuchs

Mt. Mercy Students Lee Haggerty,

Meaghan Cullen and Megan Sheehan

experience the inside of the Mercy Flight

helicopter on a recent field trip with the

MMA Health Care Career Club sponsored

by Mercy Hospital professionals.

Meghan Sheehan, Jillian Miazga, Victoria Siracuse, Connor Orcutt, Alexis Manuel, Lee Haggerty and Erika Jurek had a won-derful time learning more about this specialized air medical service provider directly from professional emergency care providers.

Mt. Mercy Academy’s partnership with Catholic

Health provides MMA students with hands-on

experiences to assist them in making college and

career choices.

MMA STUDENTS VISIT MERCY FLIGHT

For All That You Give Us

Cast

Midge Bishop Emma English Sara Gangell

Jordan Hawkins Katie Hayes

Jenna Kersten Michaela Lee

Simona Lukasik Sara Marinaro Erin Pappas

Kaitlin Pinterpe Brianna Rine

Vanessa Rosenthal Dominique Smith Ashley Tombolesi

Nicole Vertino

MMA SPOTLIGHT ON: THE CAST AND CREW OF THE

MT. MERCY ACADEMY– BISHOP TIMON PRODUCTION OF “WILLY WONKA!

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TALENTED MMA CAST AND CREW!

WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!

Crew

Kristen Ando Rachel Bellis

Katie Donovan Katie Farr

Erin Friedman Krista Ganis

Colleen Garvin Olga Gultschenko

Marissa Kelley Tania Khoury Sarah Kraus

Janelle Lauciello Brittany Lawson Amanda Leney

Katie Loops Sarah Lopian Jill Miazga

Alexis Manuel Meghan McCarthy Jennifer Nochajski

Emily Nostrant Paige Ogden Kaylin Parker

Lia Prine Nia Santiano

Jessica Sawyer Cassie Schaefer

Performances of Willy Wonka take place on November 4th, 5th, and 6th at 7:30 p.m.

in the Bishop Timon-St. Jude Auditorium. Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for Students and Senior Citizens at the door.

Mt. Mercy Photo Album Student Government

Fall Back Dance

Lee, Megan, Carly and Marissa know how to have fun!

Kelly, Emily, Clare and Felicia know how to host a great party!

Officers Rebecca, Bridget, Quinn and Charlene, with Student Gov’t Moderators

Mrs. Barblock and Mrs. Leonard

Beautiful smiles from Lee, Jillian and Kayla are coming your way!

Happy Halloween at MMA!

MMA Freshwomen as THE INCREDIBLES!

Is it Mrs. Leonard

or Cruella Deville?

Tele-Tubby Freshies! Tinky, Winky and Dipsy!

Hello, Flo! I mean, Bridget!

SENIOR PARENT YEARBOOK NEWS:

Dear Senior Parents and Friends:

Believe it or not, your daughter is scheduled to graduate in June! This is a once in a lifetime event and it is tradition at Mount Mercy for senior parents to place a message in the yearbook for their daughter. Once again the messages will be in color!

You may create the ad yourself and send it in ready to be printed, or you may send in the message and pictures and the year-book advisor will create it. Please do not cut the pictures; this makes the task much more difficult. I can crop them with a cropping pencil to show what part of the picture goes in. There is no harm to your photograph. Looking at your daughter’s old yearbooks will give you an idea of what to do. All pictures will be returned, uncut, in May.

The more pictures you send, the less room you have for a message and vice versa. If you would like to request a particular ink color for your message, please make a note of that. The sizes and prices are: 1/8 page: $40 (3” H by 4 1’4” W) ¼ page: $60 (6”H by 4 1/4” W) ½ page: $ 110 (6” H by 8 ½” W) Full page: $200 (12” H by 8 ½” W)

The deadline for submission is January 24, 2011

but early submissions are most welcome!! If you have any questions, you may call me, Pat Burns, at 825-8796 ext 205 or email me at

pburns@mtmercy.org.

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR ANY MT. MERCY GIRL?

Are you or any of your family mem-bers looking for a gift idea for your Mercy student? Have you considered buying her a 2011 Mercienne, the school yearbook? Avoid the extra expense of buying a yearbook in the spring and give a Christmas gift that lasts a lifetime. If you want to keep the gift a secret until Christmas that can easily be done. All you need to do is send a check for $60 to Pat Burns at Mount Mercy Academy and a note that includes who the book is for and where to send the gift certificate. A certificate will be mailed to you that can be given to the student. If you have any questions contact Pat Burns at pburns@mtmercy.org or at 825-8796 ext 205.

From the Office of Campus Ministry: It was about 5:00p.m. on November 11, 1841 when Mother McAuley, spoke to the sisters gathered around her bed, “The scene is drawing to a close”. She in-structed them to light a candle and place her special crucifix in her hand. She had already said her good-bye’s to each of them in private and was now ready to join in the final prayers before she closed her eyes for the last time. One sister, started to pray in a very loud voice because she thought the dying Mother Catherine might be losing her hearing, was interrupted by Catherine saying in a soft voice, “No occasion, my darling, to speak so loud. I hear distinctly”. A few minutes later Catherine McAuley looked at Sister Teresa and said “with tender concern and regard, “The Sisters are tired. Be sure to have a comfortable cup of tea for them when I am gone. You can have it in the parlor.” Mother Catherine died in great peace that evening. Her legacy, our Mercy Mission, lives on in our lives. We remember our school’s foundress with a special prayer as well as all who have died in this past year.

God of Mercy, in this special time of remembrance, we call upon Mother Mary Catherine McAuley, Servant of God, to intercede for us in your presence. We women and men of Mercy seek the grace to continue your mis-sion of living mercy in our world today. We are grateful for the example of all who have gone before us in faith and trust that you strengthen us and bless our work and service in your name. AMEN

All Saint’s Day- November 1 Mount Mercy walked to St. Thomas Aquinas church on a brisk Monday morning to attend the All Saints Day Mass. Students served in various lay ministries such as Ministers of the Word and Ministers of Communion. Mr. Kirisits’ women’s choir added to the beauty of the Mass by leading the singing during the liturgy. Mount Mercy will also celebrate the Ascension Thursday Mass in May at St. Thomas Aquinas. All Soul’s Day- November 2 A prayer service was conducted in memory of loved ones who have died. Students and faculty were invited to submit names to the school chapel to be read during the service. Prayers of Comfort Every Friday morning a prayer of comfort is offered for names that are submitted. Students and faculty use prayer slips found in the school chapel to write names that are then placed into a basket. The people are prayed for with a special prayer. MINISTER OF COMMUNION TRAINING SESSION Students interested in becoming a Minister of Communion may obtain an application from the Campus Ministry Office. We will travel to Holy Angels Academy on November 30th from 6:30PM-9:00PM for a training session that is for high school students only. Campus Ministry will pay the cost of training. Students must either be confirmed OR be in a confirmation program during this aca-demic year to attend. Contact Mrs. Melonson, Campus Minister with questions. APPLICATIONS DUE NOVEMBER 23.

Fall Features in the MMA Library

Check out the Library catalog for great reads for (almost) all ages. If you would like to borrow a book, ask your daughter to visit the library and check out the book for you. It may be surprising to you that we have a nice collection of cook books that may bring new ideas for the up-coming holidays.

We also have craft books if you are feeling creative.

Encourage your daughter to read for pleasure and visit the library for suggestions. We have a student Library Crew who also can recommend some of their favorites. It is a fact that students who habitually read score much better on SAT’s. The context vocabulary of a book helps students decipher meaning. Thinking skills and cross curricular knowledge transfers will be necessary for their fast paced technological future.

Sister Margaret Ann Coughlin, RSM

MMA Seniors speak with College Representatives on WNY College

Consortium Day at MMA.

FALL SPORTS BANQUET

2010 Mt. Mercy Fall Sports Banquet and Booster Raffle

Friday, November 5th at 6:00 p.m. in the Mt. Mercy Dining Hall Admission $5 per person—

Pizza and Pop will be served

PARENT GUILD SOCIAL MEETING

ALL MMA PARENTS ARE INVITED TO THE UP-

COMING SOCIAL GATHERING ON WEDNESDAY,

NOVEMBER 10, 2010 AT 7:00 PM

IN THE MT. MERCY DINING HALL.

COME FOR A RELAXING EVENING!

MEET OTHER MMA PARENTS!

FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AT MMA!

BEER AND WINE WILL BE SERVED.

MMA SPORTS SCHEDULES AVAILABLE ON

THE MMA WEBSITE www.mtmercy.org

Please check the MMA Website for schedules,

including dates, times and venues for Mercy Magic

Sports Teams. Results will be posted following all matches.

SENIOR TRIP NEWS: The senior trip to New York City departs around 3.00 on Wednesday afternoon, 10 November (after the regular, full day of classes), and returns approximately nine o’clock on Saturday evening, 13 November. Parents may look to receive their own copy of the itinerary this week. Mr. Tremblay must receive signed and completed medical forms—with any significant history—by Tuesday, 09 November, in order for students to travel. Also, the bus driver asks parents not to park on the Mt Mercy side of Red Jacket so that he can do so on Saturday evening. Please contact <dtremblay@mtmercy.org> with any questions.

IMPORTANT PARENT REMINDERS

PARENTS:

Dr. Karen Huffman holds

Living Environment (Biology) Review Classes every Monday

in Room 18 from 2:50 - 3:20 PM. All Living Environment

Students are welcome to attend.

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES WILL BE HELD FROM 6:00 p.m. — 8:00 p.m.

ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2010 at MMA.

NO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY.

MORE INFORMATION INCLUDED IN YOUR DAUGHTER’S REPORT

CARD ENVELOPE.