MOUNT MERCY ACADEMY October 2009 NewsletterOctober 2009 NewsletterOctober 2009 NewsletterOctober 2009 Newsletter

VOLUME 7, ISSUE 63VOLUME 7, ISSUE 63VOLUME 7, ISSUE 63VOLUME 7, ISSUE 63

S P E C I A L P O I N T S S P E C I A L P O I N T S S P E C I A L P O I N T S S P E C I A L P O I N T S

O F I N T E R E S T :O F I N T E R E S T :O F I N T E R E S T :O F I N T E R E S T :

♦ October 1: 8:15-10:15 AM

Invisionit Program for

Freshmen

♦ October 2: 7:00 PM

MMA Gym– Fall Back

Dance

♦ October 6: 7:00 PM

Benefactor Scholarship

Awards Presentation

♦ October 7: Picture Re-take

Day

♦ October 12: NO SCHOOL—

Columbus Day

♦ October 14: 11:30 AM-Early

Dismissal– Faculty Meeting

♦ October 15: 7:00 PM -MMA

Dining Hall: – Invisionit

Parent Meeting and Internet

Safety Presentation by

Pattie McLain

♦ October 18: 8:00 AM

St. Martin of Tours Church

Mother– Daughter Mass

and Breakfast (see inside)

♦ October 20: 7:00 PM –

Mercy Center Chapel–

McAuley Scholars Induction

♦ October 21: WNY College

Consortium Fair at MMA

A Message from our Principal October, 2009 Dear Parents and Guardians, Mercy is truly an amazing place! We recently received a phone call from the Principal of St. Joseph’s School in Gowanda. They suffered damage to their building as a result of the floods in the southern tier last summer. The principal asked if any of our students could come for a few hours to help clean up the lower level of the parish center that serves as the school cafeteria. The water damage was extensive. Our Campus Minister, Teresa Melonson, put out a call to students and adults. The response we over-whelming! On Saturday, September 12 over 30 students, faculty, staff and parents drove down to Gowanda to scrub tables, wash windows, remove rust, and do whatever it took to make the space habitable. Many of those who went expressed the desire to return again. It was a moving outpouring of the Mercy spirit. I truly believe that this is what a Mercy education is all about. Yes, we want our students to be the best they can academically, to achieve mastery in their courses and to win scholarships and all types of academic honors. All schools want that for their students. Mount Mercy also teaches the intangi-bles, the life lessons that make this school the caring and nurturing place that it is. It is not enough to be called a Catholic school. It is more impor-tant is to live out that Catholicity and for us here at MMA how we respond to those in need is just one of the many examples of how we live out the teachings of the Catholic Church and our mission as a Mercy school. Throughout the school year many groups will be reaching out to us and we reach out in turn to our students, faculty and staff. We would love parents to join us just as the parents who went to Gowanda did. Your presence at these and other school related occasions means more to your daughter than you would ever realize. Thank you for all you do to give your daughter a Mercy education. Sincerely, Paulette C. Gaske Principal

Attention Mothers and Daughters

The Mother –Daughter Mass and Breakfast for all MMA students and their mothers will be held on

Sunday, October 18th at St. Martin of Tours Church on Abbott Rd, at (8:00 am) and

Lucarelli's Banquet Center (9:30). We hope all will attend this very special event. Tickets are $25 for 2 / plus $10 for an extra guest and

may be purchased at the MMA Bookstore. Buy now!

Mount Mercy News ATTENTION ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!

On October 21, 2009, Mt. Mercy Academy will host a workshop that enables high school students to become commissioned Ministers of Holy Communion. The evening will begin at 6:30 and end at 9:00. Students who have been Con-firmed (or are currently in a Confir-mation program) are eligible to take this workshop. Interested students must complete the application form and return it to their high school Campus Minister or Chaplain by Oct. 16th. Completion of this train-ing date will enable students to distribute Holy Communion in their school liturgical events and par-ishes. Bring a Bible to this class. Those with questions may contact Mrs. Teresa Melonson, MMA Cam-pus Minister – 825-8796 ext. 320.

MT. MERCY OPEN HOUSE A GREAT SUCCESS

Mount Mercy Academy held a hugely success-ful Open House on Wednesday, September 23 and Thursday September 24, 2009. Prospective students and their families were able to tour the school facilities, ask questions of MMA faculty members, and collect information regarding the curriculum, academic programs, sports, clubs, and school activities. Staff members were on hand to offer facts concerning the tuition and scholarship opportunities. The MMA Administra-tion, alumnae, parents and friends were available to provide ancillary information requested of them and to proudly substantiate the benefits of a Mercy education. Mount Mercy Student Ambas-sadors and McAuley Scholars served as tour guides over the two day event. Parents were impressed not only by the won-derful faculty and students, but by the new initia-tives established this year, such as the Invisionit program for freshmen, which aligns with Mt. Mercy’s emphasis on creating a personal-ized educational and career path for stu-dents. INVISIONIT: Becoming You, is a program which will let students learn their individual and unique personality profile, their natural career inclinations, and resources for career exploration. At the conclusion of this program, students will have gained a clearer direction for school and career paths, an expanded world of possibilities, and a greater sense of self esteem.

The Open House also showcased the Mt. Mercy Women’s Choir, Pure Magic Show Choir and the Magic Belles, our award winning handbell choir. Visitors were impressed by the confidence of MMA students who performed ex-periments in the updated MMA science labs, the art students who demonstrated their talents with digital photography and drawing and painting, and the athletes who shared knowledge of their sport and en thus iasm fo r the i r schoo l . The 2009 Mt. Mercy Open House proved to be another triumphant event and excellent presenta-tion of the outstanding academic and co-curricular offerings to potential students and parents.

REMINDER TO PARENTS

GUEST SPEAKER ON INTERNET SAFETY TO PRESENT AT MMA

Ms. Patti McLain from the Center for Missing and Exploited Children will speak to parents and anyone interested on the subject of Internet Safety on Thursday, October 15th at 7:00 pm in the Mercy Center Audito-rium. All are welcome to attend. If you need to learn more about keeping your children safe as they venture into cyberspace, Ms. McLain has the information you need to hear.

Ready for Open House visitors! MMA Board member Mr. Tom Sellers, Freshman Kristen Ando, BOT member Sister Sheila Walsh RSM, Main Office Co-ordinator Mrs. Colleen Shanahan

and Principal Mrs. Paulette Gaske await guests at the annual MMA Open House.

A huge thank you to all who assisted in making the MMA Open House a great success! We could not do it without you!

MMA Freshmen pass along the Mercy spirit at the end of the Open House tours.

Rachel, Shannon and Katie lead the singing of the “Suscipe of Catherine

McAuley” on Mercy Day

Living the Mt. Mercy Mission

Notes from the Music Department:

The MMA Pure Magic and Magic Belles have been invited have been invited to provide the entertainment for the kick-off luncheon for the National Religious Retirement Fund hosted by Judge Ed Cosgrove at the Hyatt on Dec. 4. Congratulations, Mr. Kirisits, Pure Magic and Magic Belles!

Rehearsals are now under way for the Bishop Timon St. Jude-Mt. Mercy production of “My Fair Lady”. The show will be presented at Timon on November 6, 7, 8, 2009. Watch for more information!

The inaugural rehearsal for the “Wedding Belles of Mt. Mercy” will be held October 10. The group is dedicated to playing weddings, and is comprised of alumna from Mt. Mercy. The members are: Jaime Boeheim (’02), Cheryl Ward Clifford (’81), Kim Cuddy (’05), Jessica Hudack (’05), Sue Schwing Johnson (’96), Eileen Crowley Kubiak (’95), Jeanne Kujawa (’07), Maggie Henesey Kull (’94), Erin Sabia Slazak (’96), April Hayes Sroka (’00), Heather Wedgwood (’08), Anna Hejmanowski (’02), and Suzanne Perry (Guidance 07 – 09). The group will be available beginning April, 2010. Money earned will fund a music scholarship at Mt. Mercy. Contact Fred Kirisits at 681-4945 or kdogg181@Juno.com for booking or more info.

Mt. Mercy’s “Pure Magic” Show Choir and “Magic Belles’ Handbell Choir are now accepting bookings for the Christmas season. If you are interested in 20–30 minutes of entertainment for your club, business, or social organization, call Fred Kirisits at 825-8796 ext. 513.

Thank you to all parents and friends of “Pure Magic”, “Magic Belles”, and Women’s Choir who are working stand #315 at Ralph Wilson Stadium for the Buffalo Bills home games. Your dedication and hard work will help the groups attend the Heritage Music Festival in New Orleans in April, 2010.

Many thanks to Ralph Breutzmann for his very generous donation to the Music Department. Because of his gift, four wall mount speakers were recently installed in the Choral Room, setting the stage for surround sound capabilities.

MMA students Emily Diaz (above) and Margaret Marinaro (below) scrub rust from cafeteria tables at

St. Joseph’s school in Gowanda

MERCY STUDENTS VOLUNTEER IN FLOOD RAVAGED GOWANDA

Mt. Mercy students again demonstrated compassionate service as they, along with MMA faculty and staff, took time to help out residents in flood-torn Gowanda on Saturday, September 19th. St. Joseph's Elementary School in Gowanda was heavily damaged in the flooding last month. The cafeteria was rendered unusable. Now, it's in much better condition than it was only weeks ago. "We lost our kitchen and our cafeteria basically. The water was coming down, like a waterfall down the steps and through windows," said St. Joseph's Principal Patrick Brady. MMA students, along with teams of Catholic high school students from all across Western New York spent the day scrubbing, sanding and painting tables that were found floating in the flooded basement. Mt. Mercy senior Molly Walsh said, "There's just so much rust on the tables, and they can't use the tables because they have so much rust on them...We had to sandpaper them so the rust would come off, and that took forever." "If something like this was to happen in my community, to my friends and family, I would want people to come and help me," Mt. Mercy senior Margaret Marinaro said. A thank you note from St. Joseph’s Principal Patrick Brady stated: “Being with these young peo-ple and their chaperones, experiencing their joy and enthusiasm as they worked on our behalf and the behalf of others in our community, was exhilarating. It was one of the most rewarding days of my life. I told my wife when I got home, that if I was rich enough to have my own tropical island, I could not be more happy than I was on my ride home on Saturday. Truly the Lord has commanded us to love thy neighbor as ourselves, not only so that we get into Heaven, but also so that we get to experience real happiness in this life.”

Smiling through a grimy window, MMA students Rachel Borelli and Anna Voorhees scrub away the dirty residue at St. Joseph’s

School in Gowanda.

MOUNT MERCY HEALTH OFFICEMOUNT MERCY HEALTH OFFICEMOUNT MERCY HEALTH OFFICEMOUNT MERCY HEALTH OFFICE

NY State requires that each new student and 10th grade student have a current physical on file and requests a dental certificate. A current physical is one that was administered one year after the start of the current

school year. (So if your daughter had a physical on or after September 4, 2008, it is considered current for this school year.) A note should have come home with your daughter, if they are in need of an update. All forms can be downloaded from the school web site.

The Health Office is open 9 am till 2pm everyday. It is my responsibility to maintain the health records of each and every student here at Mt. Mercy. It is important that these records be up to date to ensure your daughter’s ability to fully participate in the Mercy experience.

The health office is open to the students for first aid, health advice or forms needed. Any medications taken at school by law should have a doctor’s script on file.

With the flu season just around the corner, it is a good time to think about getting a flu shot. Mount Mercy will be offering the seasonal flu vaccine to all students and staff this year. Students must have a parent or guardian with them to receive the vaccine, if under the age of 18.

The flu shot clinic is open to the WHOLE family. The date is November 17TH 2:30-5:00

Please feel free to contact me at any time. 825-8796 ext.104or email: kburns@mtmercy.org Kathy Burns, R.N.

Attention Parents!

New York State mandates all students entering 9th, 10th and all transfer students in any grade have a current physical exam on file at the school. Please be sure we have this information on file for your daughter. Health forms may be obtained from the school nurse, Mrs. Burns, in the health office, or downloaded from our website under Students. On the bottom right-click Student Athletic Physical Forms. Download and print page 1-Mount Mercy Academy Health Appraisal Form. This form must be completed, signed and dated by the physician. Please feel free to call the health office if you have any questions at 825-8796 x 104.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Dear Parents: the form below has been issued by the Department of Health to Mt. Mercy Academy, to be used by all parents and guardians as the excuse form needed to submit to our Attendance Office upon a student’s return to school after an absence. Please cut this form out and keep it in the event that your daughter is ill and must remain home from school. The Department of Health is monitoring all absentees for symptoms of swine-flu or other contagious illnesses and requires all schools to keep these records. Mt. Mercy Academy keeps very accurate records and we greatly appreciate your support and coopera-tion in this matter. Thank you.

“The first wealth

is health.”

Ralph Waldo

Emerson

Mercy and Timon BOT Members Continue Dialogue

The Boards of Trustees of Mt. Mercy Academy and Bishop Timon High School will continue to meet as they explore how best to serve their respective families effectively and efficiently. The major purpose of the joint meetings of the boards is an endeavor to eliminate duplication of services while enhancing each other’s gifts.

It is important for constituents be aware that each school is dedicated to its mission of single gender education.

A sweet smile from Senior Caitlin Keane greeted everyone who visited the Donate Life table at MMA’s Open House

RUMOR CONTROLRUMOR CONTROLRUMOR CONTROLRUMOR CONTROL

It has come to our attention that many rumors have been circulating regarding the future of Mt. Mercy Academy. Please contact us at any time if you are confronted with a story that sounds as if it cannot be true. We will be happy to set the record straight!

If you have heard: Mercy Hospital has purchased Trocaire College and will use that property for offices or parking: UNTRUE Mt. Mercy Academy has been bought by Trocaire College and the college will be moving into our building: UNTRUE Mt. Mercy and Bishop Timon High School are merging: UNTRUE

This type of gossipy story-telling can be damaging to the extraor-dinary and outstanding reputation Mt. Mercy Academy has main-tained for the 105 years of its existence. We plan to be here, educating young women for another 105 years, with your support! PLEASE-CALL THE SCHOOL if you have any concerns about such nonsensical chitchat that seems to be buzzing about. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!!

Mt. Mercy Academy Celebrates Mercy Day!

Mercy Day, September 24th, is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mercy. It is also the anniversary of the establishment and opening of the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland in 1827. On this day, we gather as a community to honor Mother Catherine McAuley and Our Lady of Mercy. The day is cele-brated with over forty other Mercy high schools across the United States and throughout the world.

A prayer service and presentation took place at MMA on Mercy Day. Sister Mary Ellen Twist and Campus Minister Mrs. Teresa Melonson introduced the students to the story of Francis Warde, who brought the Sisters of Mercy to the United States and was instrumental in spreading Catholi-cism across the country.

Sister Mary Ellen Twist and Campus Minister Mrs. Teresa Melonson portray Catherine McAuley and Frances Warde on Mercy Day.

MMA freshmen

enjoy their retreat at Harvest House

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Mercy Freshmen are happy to be taking part in the Invisionit Program!

Invisionit Parent Meeting for freshman parents will be held in the MMA Dining Hall at 7:00 PM on October 15th! Be sure to attend to learn about your daughter’s person-ality assessment!

MT. MERCY ALUMNAE HONORS The Mt. Mercy Academy Alumnae Association proudly announces the 2009 Mercy Honors honorees. The awards recognize distinguished Mount Mercy Academy graduates and affiliates. Awards in two categories will be presented at a gala dinner to be held at Romanello’s South Restaurant on Thursday, November, 12, 2009 at 6:15 PM. The Catherine McAuley Distinguished Alumna Award is presented in the name of the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. The award honors alumnae who have distinguished themselves in the areas of faith, family, community and career. The Spirit of Mercy Award honors persons who exhibit the Spirit of Mercy in their professional and personal lives, most notably for their commitment and dedication to their community.

The 2009 Honors recipients are as follows:

Distinguished Alumna – Marianne (Matuzic) Myles, Class of 1971 is the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Cape Verde. She joined the Foreign Service in 1975 and during her 30+ year career has served in a wide variety of positions both overseas and in Washington. Ms. Myles' most recent overseas assignments were as Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay, and Principal Officer of the US Consulate in Naples, Italy. She has also served in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Rome, and Bogota. In Washington, Ms. Myles most recently was the Director of the State Department’s Office of Recruitment, Examination and Employment. Prior to that, she served as Director of the Office of Aviation Negotiations, Director of Policy Coordination for the Director General of the Foreign Service, as an Interna-

tional Economist in the Office of Business Practices and earlier as an Economist in the Office of East-West Trade. Ms. Myles holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics from the State University of New York at Oswego, a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University, and a Masters of Science in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University. She is fluent in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese and is a multiple recipient of the Department of State's Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards. Ms. Myles is a native of Lackawanna, New York and is married to retired FSO Stanley T. Myles. They have one daughter.

Distinguished Alumna – Julia Hall, Class of 1981 is an attorney with Amnesty International’s International Secretariat in London, England. As a researcher on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights in Europe, she specializes in the human rights implications of counter-terrorism laws, policies and practices in Europe and North America. Julia earned her B.A. Degree phi beta kappa from Fordham University in Political Science and English and was then a Fulbright / ITT International Fellow in Middle East Studies at American University in Cairo, Egypt. Additional studies followed with an M.A. Degree in Sociology from SUNY at Buffalo, obtaining her Certificate in Public International Law as a Ford Foundation Fellow from Hague Academy of International Law, The Netherlands and receiving her J.D. Degree magna cum laude from SUNY at Buffalo School of Law.

Julia is an active advocate with respect to the protection of human rights and civil liberties of individuals with extensive work before the United Nations and European Court of Human Rights. She has traveled throughout Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. Julia works from her home office in Buffalo, telecommutes daily and travels frequently to her London office. She lives in the Allentown area with her husband of 16 years, Patrick Mahoney, and her children, Liam, age 9, and Katie, age 7.

Distinguished Alumna – Sr. Mary Bendyna RSM, Ph.D, Class of 1979 is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas (New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Community). She holds a B.A. (magna cum laude) in history and political science from Canisius College (1983) and an M.A. and Ph.D. in government from George-town University (1993 and 2000, respectively). She has also completed graduate work in theology at Christ the King Seminary and in education at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Sister Mary currently serves as Executive Director and Senior Research Associate at the Center for Applied Research in the Apos-tolate (CARA) at Georgetown University, specializing in survey research, focus group facilitation, and both quantitative and qualitative data analysis. She has led numerous studies on ministry, education, faith forma-tion, priesthood, and religious life and is particularly interested in generational continuity and change among

Catholics. Her academic research focuses on the relationships between religious values and political orientations and es-pecially on the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of American Catholics. In addition to reports of CARA research, she has authored or co-authored numerous articles, book chapters, and academic papers. She is a frequent presenter at academic conferences as well as at meetings of Catholic organizations at the local, regional, and national levels. In 2004, she received a Constant H. Jacquet Research Award from the Religious Research Association. During her tenure as Executive Director, CARA has been awarded the Lumen Gentium Award from the Conference for Pastoral Planning and Council Development (2004) and the Gaudium et Spes Award from the National Association for Lay Ministry (2008).

Spirit of Mercy – Joanne M. Schwartzott, Class of 1954, received her B.A. Degree from Canisius College magna cum laude after 7½ years of night classes. Such perseverance and commitment are qualities of char-acter that Joanne not only personified during her career in human relations at National Fuel, but continue with her involvement in a number of capacities within the community. Joanne is a former President of the Alumnae Association for Canisius College, a Board of Regents Member, a recipient of the LaSalle Medal and

an Officer and Director of Canisius College Scholarship Associates. She established the Schwartzott Family Scholarship Fund for children of City of Buffalo Firefighters and/or Mt. Mercy graduates at Canisius, and also established a Schwartzott Family Scholarship Fund at Mt. Mercy for incoming freshman from St. Teresa’s Parish, Trinity Catholic Academy and Notre Dame Academy. Joanne was a past Officer and Director of the Mt. Mercy Alumnae Association for 7 years who continues to selflessly dedicate her time to numerous volunteer events and activities for the benefit of MMA. Just as with Catherine McAuley’s vision, Joanne’s self-less giving is further exemplified through her participation in the Many Faces of Mercy Giv-ing Circle that provides financial support for local groups providing services for women and children in the community and is also active on the Spirit of Mercy Committee participating in the “Meet Catherine” sessions with freshmen students.

Joanne not only serves as a Director and Officer of the Western New York Gluten Free Support Group, but was elected National Recording Secretary of the Celiac Sprue Association/USA, Inc. in 2009 and is also a member of the Governing Board and Executive Committee. As an alumna of Mt. Mercy, Joanne truly exem-plifies Catherine McAuley’s mission of community service and remains deeply committed to MMA’s mission and values. Spirit of Mercy – Deanna (Kwiatkowski) Russo, Class of 1993, is currently an Online Interactive Manager for The Buffalo News and was part of the successful launch of Buffalo.com/YourHub, one of the first citizen journalism web sites in Western New York on Buffalo.com, the #1 local media site in the area. After graduat-

ing from Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Broadcasting, Deanna has held production positions with R News in Rochester, New York, WSPA-TV in Spartanburgh, South Carolina and WKBW-TV in Buffalo, New York, among other media outlets. An outstanding commitment in Deanna’s life, however, is her dedication to the Crusade Against Impaired Driving. Deanna founded Crusade Against Impaired Driving in her sister Karen’s memory, with a mission to prevent drunk driving from dev-astating other families. Deanna is deeply committed to such work in the community through educational presentations, advocacy programs, awareness and victim services. Additionally, she has been involved with STOP DWI of Erie and Mon-roe Counties, as well as MADD in Greenville, South Carolina as a victim advocate and “Life Is a Choice” Producer. Ironi-cally, Deanna was a member of the Franciscan Mystery Players and Students Against Drunk Driving during her Mercy high school years prior to her sister’s death. Deanna’s faith remains strong and is a driving force in her life; such faith truly com-plements her ongoing dedication to these causes and steadfast community involvement.

Alumnae, family and friends are invited. Please join us for the Mercy Honors Dinner to honor these wonderful Mercy award recipients. For further information or to make reservations or be a patron sponsor, kindly call Grace Gannon-Jackson, Alumnae Director for Mt. Mercy, at 825-8796, ext. 306. Anne Marie Kuwik, Class of 1984, is the Chairperson of this year’s 2009 Mercy Honors celebration.

* All proceeds benefit the Academy Scholarship Fund.

Mt. Mercy Academy Receives Generous Grant

Mt. Mercy Academy Religion teacher Mrs. Paula Penepent, along with Sister Pat Prinzing, Vice President of the Sisters of Mercy NYPPAW, MMA President Sister Mary Ellen Twist and MMA students Alexxa Brown, Sarah Bevilacqua and Margaret Bender were on hand to receive a grant from “The Many Faces of Mercy Giving Circle.”

The award will be used to continue the “Meet Catherine McAuley” program, which introduces students at the freshman level to the life and times of the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. The program this year adds a focus on the life of Catherine McAuley’s best friend, Frances Warde, who brought the mission of the Sisters of Mercy to educate young women to the United States.

Call the MMA Counselor’s Office at 825-8796 ext. 213 for more information

regarding the SAT’s or ACT’s.

Introducing Ms. Christina Davidson, MMA’s New Junior/Senior Guidance Counselor

Ms. Christina Davidson begins this year as the new School Counselor for the junior and senior classes at Mt. Mercy Academy. Ms. Davidson comes to MMA with college admis-sions experience, and is looking forward to an exciting year working with our 11th and 12th grade students. She will be meeting with them on a regular basis to cover topics such as career exploration and the college application process, as well as addressing any other issues or concerns that may arise. She may be reached at 825-8796 x 212 or at cdavid-son@mtmercy.org.

1st Quarter Progress Reports will be available on the Edline site at the end of the second week of October. Parents are encouraged to contact teachers if a problem arises concerning your daughter’s academic progress. Please e-mail a teacher or leave a voice mail message at any time. All MMA teacher e-mail addresses are the teacher’s first name initial and last name (without a space) @mtmercy.org. Please check our website if you are unsure of a teacher’s name.

Counseling Center – Room 201

Phone: 825-8796 Fax: 825-0976 ** CEEB Code: 331-065 Counselors: Grade 9 and 10– Mrs. Katie LoTempio ext. 211 e-mail – klotempio@mtmercy.org

Grade 11 and 12– Ms. Christina Davidson ext. 212 e-mail – cdavidson@mtmercy.org Office Assistant: Mrs. Christine Zeitler ext. 201 e-mail – czeitler@mtmercy.org

IOWA AND PSAT TESTING DAY SCHEDULED

On Wednesday, October 14, 2009, all MMA Freshmen will be administered the IOWA standardized test, and all

Sophomores and Juniors will take the PSAT exam. Dismissal is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.

NO SCHOOL FOR SENIORS ON OCTOBER 14TH!

Bring Your Apps!

The college application process can be stressful, over-

whelming, confusing… And FUN!!! That’s right, FUN!!!

Announcing “Bring Your Apps”, an after-school pro-

gram sponsored by the Counselors at MMA. Once a

week, the Counselors will be staying after school to host

sessions with “Applications and Appetizers”. All

seniors are invited to bring their college applications to

work on, get essay-writing help, ask questions, chat with

other seniors who are experiencing similar feelings, etc.

And did we mention there will be food?! The Counselors

are ready, willing, and able to help the students through

the process. All the students have to do is show up for

the fun! Sessions will begin on October 1st. Program

dates will vary and will be advertised via school email

and afternoon announcements.

U.S. SAT Registration Deadlines

2009-10 Test Dates

Test Regular Registration Dead-line

(postmark/submit by)

October 10, 2009 SAT September 9, 2009

November 7, 2009 SAT October 1, 2009

December 5, 2009 SAT October 31, 2009

January 23, 2010 SAT December 15, 2009

March 13, 2010 SAT February 4, 2010

May 1, 2010 SAT March 25, 2010

June 5, 2010 SAT April 29, 2010

ACT Test Date ACT Registra-tion Deadline

(Late Fee Required)

October 24, 2009 September 18, 2009 Sept 19 – Oct 2, 2009

December 12, 2009 November 6, 2009 November 7 – 20, 2009

February 6, 2010** January 5, 2010 January 6 – 15, 2010

April 10, 2010 March 5, 2010 March 6 – 19, 2010

June 12, 2010 May 7, 2010 May 8 – 21, 2010

Alumnae Corner Grace Gannon-Jackson ‘82

The alumnae office never closes and we have been quite busy with events and reunions. If you graduated in a year ending in a 5 or 0 we are planning now for your reunion. Be a part of your reunion committee. (Word has it that the planning meetings are as much fun as the reunion.)

Mercy Girl Golf Outing

The August Mercy Girl Golf Outing at South Park Lake and Doc Sullivan’s gathered alums and friends for a fun afternoon of golf and socializing. The golfers were greeted by sophomore, Alexis Martin who impressed the golfers with her ranking as an All Catholic champion and state qualifier.

Harvest Wine Tour

The beautiful September weather was a backdrop for our Harvest Wine Tour enjoyed by over 50 alumnae, staff and guests. The tour featured the wineries of the Niagara Wine Trail and a chicken barbeque. Save the date for next fall where we plan to try a new region to tour… Chautauqua or Finger Lakes.

Mercy Honors Dinner November 12th

The Alumnae Board will feature their Mercy Honors Dinner on November 12th at Romanello’s South. The Catherine McAuley Distinguished Alumnae Award will be bestowed upon the following Mount Mercy Academy graduates Sister Mary Bendyna, RSM ’79, Julia Hall ’81 and Ambassador Marianne Matuzic Myles ‘71. The 2009 Spirit of Mercy Honorees are Deanna Kwiatkowski Russo ’93 and Joanne M. Schwartzott ’54. Business First and Channel 7 reporter, Elizabeth Carey ‘87, will emcee the evening’s program. Please contact the Alumnae Office at the extension or e-mail address below, if you would like to receive an invitation or a patron form.

Save the Date and “Hop Inn” to the

Young Alum Holiday Party on January 8th

The holiday get together is planned for January 8th at the Hop Inn on Hopkins St. between Tifft St. and Crys-tal in South Buffalo. The Young Alumnae Association consists of all MMA grads from the Classes of 1994-2009. “Hop Inn” for a mini reunion and share some cheer with your classmates and friends. Postcard invites will be sent around thanksgiving. Call or e-mail the alumnae office with your current address so you are included on our invitation list. We are also seeking young alum support of the MMA 5K Race and other events. Consider getting involved and share your energy and creativity while connecting with some MMA friends.

Are a former MMA Athlete???

Help us with our Alumnae Events with a Sports Twist! We are looking for some alumnae and friends to assist us with next year’s golf outing and MMA 5K Race. Both events and the planning meetings are always a combination of fun and socializing. Join us at 6:00 PM on October 19th to help plan for the MMA 5K or 7:00 also on the 19th for the Mercy Girl Golf Outing. Many of us work on both sporting Alumnae Events … feel free to stay for both meetings. Refreshments will be served. The Alumnae Office is located on the third floor of the Academy. You may contact Alumnae Director Grace Gannon-

Jackson at 825-8796 ext. 306 or via e-mail at gjackson@mtmercy.org.

The 2010 McAuley Gala plans are underway!

We are very pleased to announce the Co-chair couples

of our most exciting event of the year!

Mary and Tim McDonald– Parents of MMA Junior Margaret McDonald

Sharon and Doug McCormick-Parents of Senior Meghan McCormick

Cindy and Gary Johnson– Cindy also serves on the MMA Alumnae Board

A huge thank you to these wonderful people for the efforts they will put forth

in the coming months to ensure a successful Gala!

Please consider hosting a gift gathering party!

What is a McAuley Gift Gathering Party? A Gift Gathering Party is a social get together, at which parents, alumnae and friends of Mt. Mercy Academy come together to collect cash donations and/or gather gifts which will be auctioned off the night of our McAuley GALA on March 27, 2010. Attending a gift gath-ering party does not commit you to attend the GALA – many people attend both, some only attend a party or parties. Cash and gifts are gathered at the parties, in all different price ranges from $50.00 and up. Some guests join together to purchase a gift of larger value. Gifts range from small appliances, handcrafts, home furnishings, toys, sports apparel, tools and gardening supplies, bottles of cheer, vacation packages, tickets for sporting events or plays, artwork, and gift certificates from malls, restaurants, salons…All gifts are tax deductible and your generosity is your contribution to the continuation of Mercy education and tradition.

Who hosts a McAuley Gift Gathering Party and Where? Individuals host parties or groups of people such as Board members, school adminis-trators, parents, alumnae, alumnae parents and friends of the academy host parties. WITHOUT THE GIFT GATHERING PARTIES, THE GALA WOULD NOT BE

POSSIBLE.. Parties are held in homes, country clubs, churches, and backyards, anywhere! The hosts determine their guest list. Now is the time to think about hosting a party for the McAuley GALA. For information, please call the Institutional Advance-ment Office at 825-8796 ext 321.

What happens to gifts collected at the Gift Gathering Parties? Gifts that are gathered at the parties are donated directly to the academy are recorded and prepared for the night of the GALA. The McAuley Catalog will contain descriptions of items to be auctioned on March 27, 2010. A copy of the catalog will be posted on the MMA website prior to the auction for your perusal. What happens the night of the McAuley Gala? Guests of the GALA will enjoy delicious food and drink and have the opportunity to participate in both a silent and a live auction. The evening begins at 5:00 P.M. and ends at approximately 11:00 P.M. Reservations are limited and treated on first come, first served basis. Invitations will be mailed the last week of February 2010.

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities!

Last year, over 20 businesses generously supported the McAuley GALA through

corporate sponsorships.

This a great way to support the McAuley GALA and give high visibility to your

business’ name.

If you or someone you know maybe interested in becoming a corporate

sponsor, please contact Renee Joldos

at 825-8796 ext. 324.

We are looking for individuals to serve on our Corporate Committee!

The Corporate Committee is responsible for securing donations from businesses and

corporations to help underwrite the expenses of the Dinner-GALA.

Committee members make contact with potential donors during the months

October—March

Please contact Renee at 825-8796 ext. 324 if you are interested in sitting on the

Corporate Committee!

McAuley Gala 2010McAuley Gala 2010McAuley Gala 2010McAuley Gala 2010

Viva Las Vegas!Viva Las Vegas!Viva Las Vegas!Viva Las Vegas!

REMEMBER!

• Sell your 4 Magic Money Sweepstakes Tickets

• Remind your daughter

to bring in her $5 basket raffle donation to her advisement room teacher

If 1600 Magic Money

Tickets are sold, Students will have an extra

day off for Easter vacation!

Tickets are on sale for the 2009 Magic Money Sweepstakes to be held on Friday, November 6th

at the Ironworkers Hall in West Seneca. Tickets are $25 each and include pizza, beer, wine, pop, and snacks. $11,000 in prizes, split club, and basket raffle. New this year, you can purchase a

reserved table of 10 for $50.

Magic Money is our student fundraiser. Students are responsible for selling their

Magic Money tickets. We need 100% participation from our families.

For tickets or event

information please contact Brittany at 825-8796 ext. 321.

Thank you and we hope to see you there!

Parents, if your daughter receives a financial assistance award you must volunteer to work at

the Magic Money Sweepstakes.

Tips for Selling Magic Money Tickets:

*Ask Your Coach * Ask Your Dance Teacher * Ask the neighbor for whom you babysit *Ask Any MMA Alumna (ask them to support their Alma Mater!) *Ask 5 people to chip in on 1 ticket and split the

winnings 5 ways! *Mention all that comes with the price of a ticket -entrance to the party, pizza, beer, wine, snacks-and the chance to win big prizes! (costs less than dinner and a movie!) * Explain how the proceeds help

keep MMA tuition costs low! * Send out an E-mail or Text Blast to everyone you know! *Better odds than the NY State Lottery!

Awwww-who wouldn’t want to buy a Magic Money ticket from one of these smiling faces? Remember– all proceeds from the Magic Money Event help to keep the tuition down, the scholarships up and the academic programs excellent! Contact the Main Office at 825-8796 if you would like to purchase a Magic Money ticket!

Reserve Your Tickets for

THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW Call the Ghostlight Theatre at 743-1614 to reserve tickets for "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Tickets are $12.00 General, $10.00 for Senior Citizens & Students. $1.00 from

each ticket sold will be donated to Catholic Education. Reserve your tickets today!!! * Mention you saw this advertisement in the Mercy Newsletter *

The Ghostlight Theatre Company was founded in 1972 by Father Louis

Dolinic as the NT Summer Theatre Workshop. The GTC has produced

over100 mainstage productions including musicals, classics, dramas,

comedies, children's theatre and world premieres.

The GTC has launched 18 new plays that have been published and

produced in 42 states, Guam and British Columbia.

The GTC is a ten time winner of arts & humanities awards on the local,

regional and national level.

Ghostlight Theater 170 Schenck St. North Tonawanda, NY 14120-7209 (716) 743-1614