Anchors Aweigh Masthead
October 2014

 

Our Fall play, Kids Called Crazy, directed by Liz McAninch and written by Mercy grandparent Ron Jones, takes on the difficult subject of young teens who are struggling with life circumstances. The true story, as experienced by Ron as a worker in this setting, reflects the difficult situations teenagers faced in the 1970's and how they come to grips with finding some direction in their lives. 

As a school community, we have traditionally embraced many serious issues and social justice causes through the arts. This play, as well, is an opportunity for us to learn more and to see life through the eyes of young boys and girls who are struggling with their circumstances. At Mercy, we see this as a "teaching opportunity" about mental health issues and hope we can share empathy and understanding about a difficult topic. In addition, we expect to have a "talk back" session after each performance so that the audience can participate fully in the experience.

We encourage parents and guardians to attend this performance with their daughters and have open and honest conversations about the play and its content.

Our students are working every day after school in rehearsals and production design, and our hope is that this will be a significant learning experience for all involved. Stay tuned, more to follow.

Sincerely,
Dorothy J. McCrea, Ed.D.
Principal, Mercy High School
3250 Nineteenth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132
415.334.9932
In This Issue
Alumnae
Announcements
School News
Upcoming Events
 Alumnae
Class of -77 Reunion
A few members from the Class of '77 enjoyed a reunion dinner with Sister Beatrice Marie Garcia, who was a homeroom and religion teacher for them back in the day.
Seated L-R are: Joanne Scanlon Driscoll, Lori Boscacci Rittweger, and Sister Bea.
Standing L-R are: Jacqueline Warda Laskey, Annette Lai, Cecilia Fitzgerald Barros.


MERCY ALUM WINS ZIMMERMANN'S JERSEY
Alum Helen Gonzales Wins Zimmermann's Jersey 
Mercy alumna, Helen Gonzales, who resides in Washington, D.C. and is now an avid Nationals fan, had the week of her life. Upon returning to D.C., after her Mercy Class of '64 reunion, Helen attended the first no-hitter in Nationals' history, pitched by Jordan Zimmerman, and won the jersey off his back! (See the Washington Post story.)  Will Helen now be cheering on the SF Giants as they have advanced in the playoffs?


RECONNECT: 2014/2015 Reunions and Events
 

Class of 2004 (10 Years)
Date:
Time:
Location:
Coordinator:
Saturday, November 8, 2014
11:00 am -- 3:00 pm
Rist Hall, Mercy High School, SF
Jasmine Suguitan
Please help us find your classmates:
Naula Barance
Ayn Gilmore
Julianne Margate
Cynthia Abdul Massih
Trina Joy Noriega
Priya Patel
Rafaela Ramirez

Katriz Villar
Email [email protected]

Class of 2009 (5 Years)
Date:
Time:
Location:
Coordinator: 
TBA
TBA
TBA
Sydney Dow 

Women's Leadership Conference (Formerly known as "Career Day")
Friday, February 27, 2015
9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Rist Hall

Calling All Alumnae!

We are looking for presenters for our Women's Leadership Conference

Help inspire our young women to seek their highest level of development by providing information, perspectives and strategies leaving our students motivated and with a renewed sense of how they can lead in their lives through a wealth of resources and support from alumnae and the Mercy community.

If you are interested in being a presenter or know someone who might be, please click here, complete the form and submit as soon as possible.

 
All School Reunion 
Saturday, May 2, 2015
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
McAuley Pavilion
 
We are looking for reunion coordinators for the following classes:
Class of 1969 (45 years)
Class of 1979 (35 years)
Class of 1989 (25 years)
Class of 1999 (15 years)

Please take a moment to Update Your Contact Info
.
 
For more information or if you are interested in organizing your class reunion, please email Audrey Magnusen or call her at the Alumnae Relations office 415-337-7218. 
 
 
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 Announcements


Mercy Launches Parent Giving Campaign: Take Your Seat!

Parent Giving Campaign for New Theatre Seats
Support Mercy High School's campaign to replace all the existing seats in the theatre.

Our goal is for 100% parent participation with a one-time payment of $200 or 8 payments of $25.00 a month. Payments can be made online at www.mercyhs.org. For questions, contact Carole Touye at 415.334-0525 ext. 233 or [email protected].




Audrey Magnusen We welcome our new Director of Advancement and Alumnae Relations, Audrey Magnusen

Audrey comes to Mercy with a wealth of experience in development and grant writing at organizations that include United Religions Initiative, Hillsborough Schools Foundation, Archbishop Riordan High School, and Sequoia Hospital Foundation.  

We are blessed to work with Audrey who is excited to be part of the Mercy community.



Congratulations to the winners of our school raffle!

Samar Musleh               $1000
Trish Reilly                     $500
Jacqueline Wong '18      $250
Gina Antonoglou '15       $200
Roberta Lai                     $150



Dolce CDRing in the holiday season with some of the most loved Christmas classics of all time performed by the Mercy High School Show Choir Dolce. Pre-order your own Sounds of Christmas holiday CD today on sale for $15. Scheduled release date for the CD is November 10, 2014.

For information and to place an order, please call music director Laura Flaviani (415-386-2722), and an order form will be sent to you.


Recycling Image


The Technology Department recycles used cell phones, laser toner and inkjet cartridges throughout the school year. Please have students drop off items in the Computer Lab, room 319. Proceeds will be used for the 14th Annual WAVTEC (Technology Club) Raffle on Spring Day (May 1st). Help us make the Spring Day raffle a huge success.

 


From the Business Office:

It is now time to file for tuition assistance for the 2015-2016 school term.  Please go to the Mercy website www.mercyhs.org and under the Parent link - choose Tuition Assistance.  Please review the page and hit the red TADS link to apply. Please file sooner than later so the committee can review your completed application.


 

If you have any questions, please contact Lorelei Zermani at [email protected].


You Are Invited...

Circles of Mercy Celebrating...SVdP's Catherines' Center
A fundraising dinner to support formerly incarcerated women.
Thursday, October 23, 2014 | 5:30-9:00 pm
Kohl Mansion
2750 Adeline Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010
Click here for more information.
 School News
SENIOR ELAINE HSU GARNERS AN HONOR

Elaine Hsu '15
 
Elaine Hsu '15 has been named a Commended Student in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program. Elaine placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship qualifying exam.

 

Congratulations Elaine!

 

 


LITTLE ANCHORS INTRODUCED TO THE STUDENT BODY
Little Anchors
We celebrated the Class of 2018 Little Anchors and their mothers at our Mercy Day Liturgy on Monday, September 23. The legacy of a strong Mercy education continues!


DANCE ENSEMBLE HOLDS TEAM-BUILDING SLEEPOVER
Dance Ensemble Sleepover  
The Dance Ensemble held a recent sleepover from 4:30 pm until 10:00 am the following morning. The purpose of this sleepover was team building and just to have fun as a group. The members train after school to learn the choreography that will be showcased in the Winter Dance Concert Imagine That, which opens January 23, 2015 with performances on January 24th, 30, and 31st. Break a leg ladies!


JUNIORS AND SENIORS TAKE TIME TO REFLECT
Junior and Senior Retreats

During the fall semester, both the seniors and the juniors have participated in day-long retreats with their Religious Studies classes. These retreats, integrated with the Religious Studies curriculum and led by upperclass Retreat Team members and faculty/staff, provide students an opportunity to step away from their ordinary routines, to engage in personal reflection, and to rest in the presence of God and one another.

 

The Senior Retreat revisited, on a deeper level, the same topics that the seniors had explored three years earlier on their Frosh Retreat; namely, self-love, their relationships with other people, and their relationship with God. Through art, film, prayer, ritual, games, and both student and adult talks, the seniors grew in faith, gained new perspectives, and drew closer to one another. As Mauricia Marigmen '15 stated, "It was so meaningful to me to be able to have a connection with my classmates in our last year together...being together for the day was special to me as we prepare to say goodbye to each other."

 

Juniors experienced a retreat day at Pt. Bonita in the Marin Headlands, focusing on the theme "The Journey of Life."  Senior Retreat Team members, with the support of adult leaders, directed this retreat, guiding the juniors in reflecting on significant companions who accompany them on their journey, risks or "leaps of faith" they have taken, and the ways in which they are sustained and nourished along the way. In this beautiful location, students enjoyed both sunshine and fog, as well as resident wildlife--including three raccoons who had to be escorted off the bus! Evidently, the raccoons wanted to visit Mercy!  



GIANTS DAY AT MERCY

SF Giants Day at Mercy
Mercy students join in the excitement of having the SF Giants move closer to another World Series title. Go Giants!


BLUE ANGELS' PHIL HARPER SPEAKS AT MERCY

Blue Angels Phil Harper Speaks at Mercy

On Wednesday, October 8th, Mercy's "Flight Club" hosted a guest speaker, Lieutenant Phil Harper, from the Navy's Blue Angels. This unique visit was a special favor arranged by one of our Spanish teachers, Ms. Ovares, who actually served with Lt. Harper when they were both on active duty over 10 years ago. Ms. Ovares is a former Navy jet engine mechanic and worked on the same F/A-18s the Blue Angels fly today. It was an honor to have Lt. Harper speak to our girls on various topics such as responsible social media use and how you should always give 110% no matter what you're involved with in life. The Blue Angels are in San Francisco for Fleet Week 2014.
 

 



REMEMBERING...

Sport Column in honor of Debbie Mathews
 


 

In memory of Ms. Debbie Lagomarsino Mathews, a sports column designed by Gail Bennett, our Women in the Arts Director and art teacher, has been placed in front of the McAuley Pavilion. Ms. Bennett worked with several of her ceramics students to sculpt this collection of symbols. Debbie, our longtime Athletic Director passed away last October. 

 Upcoming Events

October 2014

 

Tuesday, October 21: 3:30 pm

Pack the Pavilion Pink
 
Volleyball Game vs Sacred Heart Prep 

Wednesday, October 22
Booster Club Dinner Night Out

Friday, October 24
Red Flip Minimum Day

Saturday, October 25: 10:00 am
Open House

Friday, October 31
Happy Halloween

 

November 2014

Monday, November 3: 9:45 am

All Souls' Liturgy of the Word

Friday, November 7
Red Minimum Day

Wednesday, November 12: 6:00 pm
Parent Guild Meeting

November 14, 15, 21, 22: 7:00 pm
Fall Play: Kids Called Crazy

Wednesday, November 19: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
 
Freshmen Retreat (Foundations of Religious Studies, periods 5, 6, 7)

Thursday, November 20: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Freshmen Retreat (Foundations of Religious Studies, periods 1, 4)

Saturday, November 22: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Holiday Boutique

Tuesday, November 25: 9:45 am to 11:10 am
Thanksgiving Eucharistic Liturgy

November 26, 27, 28
Thanksgiving Holiday

 

December 2014

Tuesday, December 2: 9:45 am

Advent Liturgy of the Word

Wednesday, December 3: 6:00 pm

Financial Aid Night for Families of Seniors

Thursday, December 4: 7:00 pm

Winter Pops Concert: We Need A Little Christmas

Monday, December 8: 9:45 am

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Eucharistic Liturgy

Wednesday, December 10: 9:45 am

Christmas Assembly

Friday, December 12

Red Flip Minimum Day

December 15-17

Final Exams, Special Schedule

December 18-19

Alternate Exam Day

December 22-January 5

Christmas Vacation



Open House


OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Presentation begins at 10:00 am 

3250 Nineteenth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132

Welcome to the families interested in having their girls attend Mercy.

____________________________________________________________________

Cast of Kids Called Crazy
FALL PLAY
Kids Called Crazy
November 14, 15, 21 and 22
7:00 pm
Theatre

This play deals with important social and mental health issues.It is designed for a mature audience and therefore may be unsuitable for younger children.
  

Holiday Boutique  

HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

Saturday, November 22

10:00 am -- 3:00 pm

McAuley Pavilion

 

Variety of unique vendors, food for sale, performances by grammar school choirs and Mercy's Dolce, silent auction and raffle 

 

 


Winter Pops Concert

WINTER POPS CONCERT

We Need A Little Christmas

Thursday, December 4, 2014
7:00 pm

Theatre

 

Featuring: Mercy Chorus A, Dolce Show Choir,

Riordan Men's Glee Club, St. Gabriel

School "Crooners"

 



ALL SCHOOL REUNION
Saturday, May 2, 2015
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
McAuley Pavilion