MOUNT MERCY ACADEMY. `tç [ á _Éäx ux Ç çéâü {xtüà à{ á V{Ü áàåtá tçw tää à{üéâz{éâà à{x çxtü. December 2009 Newsletter VOLUME 7, ISSUE 65

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1 MOUNT MERCY ACADEMY December 2009 Newsletter gé bâü `àa `xüvç TvtwxÅç YtÅ Ä xá? YÜ xçwá? tçw ax z{uéüá j á{ Çz léâ t `xüüç V{Ü áàåtá TÇw t cxtvxyâä tçw cüéáñxüéâá axã lxtü YÜÉÅ g{x TwÅ Ç áàütà ÉÇ? YtvâÄàç? fàtyy? tçw fàâwxçàá Éy `àa `xüvç TvtwxÅç VOLUME 7, ISSUE 65 `tç [ á _Éäx ux Ç çéâü {xtüà à{ á V{Ü áàåtá tçw tää à{üéâz{éâà à{x çxtü

2 A Message from our President Dear Parents and Friends, Thanksgiving is over and the wonderful season of Advent is here with all those memories and emotions that well up within us when we have a quiet moment to reflect. That s the very thing I m thinking about as I write do we have the moments that are quiet enough to allow the inner joy of childlike trust and expectation to surface? Simply lighting a candle and whispering a prayer can change the quality of this hectic season and transform it into the season of our faith in God s abiding love. With all the suffering, pain and fear in our world coupled with the consumerism that gears up the economy even a little bit, we who believe are called to pause, keep hopeful vigil and believe enough to see the signs of God s presence within us and all around us. O Come, O Come Emmanuel! Blessed Advent and Merry Christmas to all, Sr. Mary Ellen Twist President Mt. Mercy Academy S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T : Dec. 5: 10:00 AM MMA Alumnae Breakfast With Santa Dec. 5: 7:00-10:00 PM Holiday Dance at MMA Dec. 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass at 1:18 PM Dec. 12: Sisters of Mercy Foundation Day Dec. 15: 7:30 PM MMA Christmas Concert and Art Show (6:00 PM) Dec. 22: Early Dismissal 12:42 PM Dec. 23-Jan. 1: Christmas Break Dec : Building Open Jan. 4: School Resumes A Message from our Principal December, 2009 Dear Parents and Guardians, Sometimes it is so hard to come up with something new, inspirational and profound for these monthly newsletters. This is my sixth year writing the December message and the muse was not coming through for me. I went back in my computer files to read messages from previous newsletters and reread one from December I really liked the message in this letter and hope you don t mind a recycled letter. This is one of my better attempts, if I do say so myself! I recently reviewed the music we will be using at my parish this Advent. As a cantor at St. Bernadette Parish, I need to practice the music that will be sung in order to adequately lead the parish in the joyful ministry of song. The liturgy committee selected Christ Be Our Light. I was happy with that selection since the words are beautiful and the congregation is familiar with it and therefore more inclined to join in. Christ be our light. Shine in our hearts, shine through the darkness. Light is an important symbol of the season. The light reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world that comes into the darkness of our lives to bring newness, life and hope. It also reminds us that we are called to be a light to the world as we reflect the light of God s grace to others. (Isa 42:6). (Dennis Brachter, Copyright 2004, Christian Resource Institute) What a wonderful sentiment for a world that at times seems bent on darkness! The news is filled with stories of darkness. Sometimes we feel as if we just can t listen to one more story of war, hatred or death. Just as the Israelite slaves yearned for deliverance from their Egyptian captors, we long for deliverance from the darkness of the world. The season of Advent gives us respite from the darkness, an opportunity to hope and ultimately to rejoice. We here at Mount Mercy Academy wish you all an Advent filled with peace, light and joyful expectation. May we all contribute more to the light in the world than the darkness and may you and all of your loved ones be together, if not physically, than at least in spirit as you celebrate the joys of the blessed Christmas season. Joyful Advent and Merry Christmas to you all! Sincerely, Paulette C. Gaske Principal MMA Principal Mrs. Gaske presents Assistant Principal Mrs. Staszak with a Spirit of Mercy award at the 1st Quarter Honors Assembly.

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4 Mt. Mercy Academy Department of Fine Arts Mount Mercy Academy Christmas Concert Tuesday December 15, 2009 at 7:30 pm Mercy Center Auditorium Featuring: Pure Magic Show Choir Magic Belles Handbell Choir Women s Choir Freshman Chorus With Special Guests: The Bishop Timon-St. Jude Band Brendan s Journey from St. Ambrose Tickets: $ adults $ students & senior citizens Student Artwork on display beginning at 6:00 in the MMA Dining Hall! Refreshments will be served Notes from the Music Department: Mt. Mercy s annual Christmas Concert will be held on Tuesday, December 15 at 7:30 pm in the Mercy Center Auditorium. In addition to Pure Magic Show Choir, Magic Belles Handbell Choir, Women s Choir, and Freshman Chorus, special guests Brendan s Voyage from St. Ambrose, under the direction of Lyn Rezabek, and the Bishop Timon-St. Jude Band, under the direction of Joe Head, will perform several numbers. Tickets are $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for students and senior citizens. Presale tickets will be available from the Mt. Mercy bookstore beginning Wednesday, December 9, or at the door the night of the concert. All seats are reserved. For more information, call Fred Kirisits at ext In addition to the Christmas Concert, Pure Magic will be performing at the following places open to the public: Wednesday, December 9 M&T Bank Downtown 12:00 1:00 Saturday, December 12 Barnes & Noble (Amherst) 7:00 8:00 pm (2 shows) Monday, December 14 Bishop Timon-St. Jude 7:00 pm Magic Belles will also be performing at the following places open to the public: Friday, December 11 Barnes and Noble (McKinley) 7:00 8:00 pm (2 performances) Friday, December 18 HSBC Center Downtown 12:30 pm 1:30 pm Friday, December 18 Buffalo Museum of Science 7:00 pm Saturday, December 19 St. Casmir s (Christmas in Kaisertown) 6:30 pm

5 Mt. Mercy Academy of Science And Technology MMA STUDENTS ATTEND MASH CAMP AT ST. JOSEPH S HOSPITAL Group photo of one class of MMA students who attended a MASH Camp at St. Joe s Hospital. As part of the MMA collaboration with Catholic Health, our students have had the opportunity to learn more about the Health Sciences with actual hands-on experiences. Smiling under their masks during a MASH Camp at St. Joe s Hospital are MMA students Rachel Suchocki, Brittany Wolf, Tania Khoury and Stephanie Khoury. An Update on the MMA Catholic Health Collaboration The partnership between Mt. Mercy Academy and Catholic Health is moving ahead rapidly. The program is only in its infancy, less than four months old, and already, we can report numerous happenings! The collaborative efforts, based on the knowledge that in less than ten years, the Health Science career field will experience a 45% vacancy, and the opportunity Mt. Mercy Academy has to raise student and parent awareness and to best prepare students to fill those vacancies, has incorporated the following initiatives in this undertaking: Christian Service Opportunities, M*A*S*H Camps, Tours of CHS Facilities; Shadowing at CHS Facility Mentoring Program with CHS Facility, Internships with CHS Associates. IMPLEMENTATION AT MT. MERCY ACADEMY THUS FAR: A key component at Mercy is the Science Academy wherein there is an advanced track for students interested in health/science professions. This track provides a variety of advanced studies, both as Advanced Placement courses and concurrent enrollment with local colleges. Block scheduling enhances this type of advanced curriculum. The University of Albany is soon to be added to the college articulation agreements. The Invisionit Program and Career Seminar 1 for freshmen and Career Seminar 2, an elective for upper classes, provide the opportunity for students to be mentored in careers of their choice. The teacher is in touch with CHS volunteer coordinators for setting up particular mentoring opportunities, i.e. 10 hours per semester. Made possible through the ongoing collaborative partnership between Mt. Mercy Academy and Catholic Health, students in MMA Science classes have been learning about the possibilities that exist as future career choices in the Health Sciences through visits and tours at various Catholic Health facilities. Aside from the MASH CAMP experience (see photo above), three groups of students have toured various laboratories, operating rooms and the maternity ward at Mercy Hospital, learning from actual technicians, and nurses, interesting aspects of these careers. MMA Student Melina Punturiero is presently mentoring in the Mercy Hospital Maternity Ward with Ms. Joy (Carney, MMA `87 ) Kent, RN, and MMA Senior Paige Wesolowski, whose interest in biomedical engineering has resulted with a scheduled observation of a cardiac robotic surgery with Dr. Serrie Licco, M.D. This was personally arranged by C.J. Urlaub, Mercy Hospital CEO. These are only two examples of individual progress being made with this collaboration. Presently, Mercy Hospital is processing 35 MMA student applications for volunteer opportunities at the facility. In the Spring of 2010 MMA Senior Rachel Smith will participate in an internship with CHS in the area of pathology and genetics. MMA Senior, Margaret Marinaro is seeking an internship with CHS in the area of nursing. Mary Taberski, RN at Mercy Hospital will be mentoring her. The program is off to an excellent start! We will keep you informed of its advancements as they happen! Environmental Youth Summit Update: Contributed by MMA Students Stephanie Khoury, Michele Domes, Nicole Tombolesi and Rylie Schreiber Five Mt. Mercy students went to the Park School to attend an environmental convention for many high school students. There, Dave Bauer was our speaker and spoke to us about making a difference in our own school facilities. We worked with professionals to decide on our topic: building a composter. One of our first tasks was to measure the amount of garbage in just one day at our school. 150 cubic feet of waste is generated just from our cafeteria per week. About 26% was plastic. 35% was paper. 2% was Styrofoam. 13% was foil and cans. 24% was food, and of that food, 33% was compostable. So, a third of the food that students throw out can be used for composting. Over the summer, a few of us built the composter with the help of a few of our dads. We debated about where to put it, and finally decided on building it behind the McAuley Wing next to the parking lot. Currently, the Mercy Center convent is working to collect degradable foods to support our project. We also have leaves and other various plants in our three bins. We re hoping to bring the school and students closer to this cause and put our own foods in our three-bin composter. Pretty soon, you ll be seeing signs above the trash cans in the cafeteria stating what you can and cannot compost. We want you all to help us by throwing your foods out in accordance with the signs. We expect about 7 cubic feet of compost per week. We re also looking at different ways to use the compost and further make our school environmentally friendly by recycling and other such activities. Other 15% Food 24% Plastic 26% Paper 35%

6 Counseling Center Room 201 Phone: Fax: ** CEEB Code: Counselors: Grade 9 and 10 Mrs. Katie LoTempio ext klotempio@mtmercy. Grade 11 and 12 Ms. Christina Davidson ext cdavidson@mtmercy.org Office Assistant: Mrs. Christine Zeitler ext czeitler@mtmercy.org U.S. SAT Registration Deadlines Test Dates Test Regular Registration Deadline (postmark/submit by) 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 Merry Christmas from the MMA Guidance Department! Call the MMA Counselor s Office at ext. 213 for more information regarding the SAT s or ACT s. ACT Test Date ACT Registration (Late Fee Required) Dec. 12, 2009 Nov. 6, 2009 Nov. 7 20, 2009 Feb. 6, 2010** Jan. 5, 2010 Jan. 6 15, 2010 April 10, 2010 Mar. 5, 2010 Mar. 6 19, 2010 June 12, 2010 May 7, 2010 May 8 21, 2010 MMA SCHOLARSHIPS! Its Essay Scholarship Time! The MMA essay scholarship process is now beginning. MMA Students may be eligible for MMA Tuition Scholarships based on certain criteria and a written essay. A list of available essay scholarships is available NOW. Students may obtain the list from the Main Office. Please refer to the Essay Scholarship form, included with the list of scholarships, for all directions and other important information. All essays are due no later than December 21, 2009! If you have any questions, please contact Renee Joldos at ext. 324 or rjoldos@mtmermcy.org

7 PARENTS/ SENIORS & JUNIORS Need help understanding & planning your COLLEGE FINANCIAL NEEDS? Join us at the FINANCIAL AID NIGHT Wednesday, Dec. 2nd, 7:00 PM Mt. Mercy Academy Dining Hall Curtis Guame, Mercy Sophomores and Juniors Bring Your Parents to the SAT/ACT INFORMATION NIGHT Learn all you need to know about the College Standardized Testing Process Thursday, January 21 st 7 PM Bishop Timon Cafeteria Presented by Jacob Christensen, Atlas Test Prep JUNIOR PARENTS! MARK YOUR CALENDAR! The Junior Class Ring Ceremony will be held on the evening of Thursday, February 11, 2010 in the Mercy Center Auditorium. A small reception will be held in the MMA Dining Hall following the ceremony. All final ring payments were due by November 30th. Please call Tom McGrath at Josten s Jewelers to make arrangements if you have a balance due. Financial Aid Director at Canisius College will speak on the Financial Aid Process for college: FAFSA, Scholarships, Loans, etc. Highly informative, highly useful, highly recommended! CASTLE LEARNING ONLINE MOUNT MERCY ACADEMY INTRODUCES ONLINE LEARNING FOR YOUR DAUGHTER. CASTLE ONLINE LEARNING WILL HELP HER REACH HER ACADEMIC GOALS IN EVERY SUBJECT AND ACHIEVE MASTERY ON HER REGENTS EXAMS! MMA teachers have just received training on Castle Learning Online and soon your daughters will be able to log into this webbased learning tool. The uses of this program are myriad and will help your daughter better prepare for her classes and her exams. During the first two weeks in December we will have girls log-in for the first time and we will give each student a brochure about the program. Be sure to ask your daughter about Castle Learning Online or call the Main Office at extension 109. We will be happy to mail a brochure to you with additional information. DOD TO AWARD SMART SCHOLARSHIPS WORTH $45 MILLION The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) employs more scientists and engineers than any other government agency. But here's a more worrisome fact: America's national security workforce is rapidly aging, and many defense researchers are expected to soon retire. Filling those vacancies won't be easy because the U.S. isn't graduating enough students from the so-called STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). To help offset that problem, Congress in 2005 created a highly lucrative DOD scholarship aimed at bolstering the Pentagon's science and engineering talent pool. And this year, that program is bigger than ever. DOD's Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship program's overarching goal is promoting the education, recruitment, and retention of outstanding undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in STEM disciplines. Since 2005, the Program has awarded 576 SMART scholarships worth $96.5 million. DOD expects to award 300 scholarships this year worth a total of $45 million. Just how generous are the SMART scholarships? Students not only get their full tuition and fees paid, but are given allowances for books and health care. On top of that, they receive an annual cash stipend ranging from $25,000 to $41,000. In exchange for receiving the award, students must agree to work for a DOD laboratory for a specified period of time. Students who are at least 18 years of age, enrolled or planning to be enrolled in a STEM discipline program, and are U.S. citizens are eligible to apply for a SMART Scholarship. Applications must be received by December 15, The SMART Program is administered by Triangle Coalition member, the American Society for Engineering Education, and the Naval Postgraduate School. For more information, or to apply online, visit < HOLIDAY DANCE INFORMATION Junior/Senior Holiday dance will be held Saturday, December 5th from 7-10pm at MMA and the tickets will be going on sale Monday, November 16th. Be sure that all bookstore fees are all paid up before you buy your ticket! MMA FOOTBALL TEE SHIRTS FOR SALE A reminder that there are hot pink MMA football t-shirts available for $10 they make a great Christmas gift Contact Ms. Luhr. Shirts read: MMA FOOTBALL - MAGICALLY UNDEFEATED FOR 105 YEARS!

8 MMA ALL-CATHOLIC TEAM MEMBERS MMA Fall Sports All Catholic Selections: Back Row: Catherine Kasianowicz, Rachel Schroeder, Katie Purcell, Molly Gasuik Front Row: Amber Martin, Alexis Martin, Susan Muldoon, Emily Williams, Rebecca Alvira. Missing: Katelyn Grimm Mount Mercy Academy Basketball Camp Open to 5 th, 6 th and 7 th grade girls SPACE IS LIMITED! All Applications due Tuesday, January 5, 2010! Camp Sessions to be held Saturdays January 9, 16 and 23, :00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. MMA Gymnasium $25 per participant Expert instruction from Mt. Mercy Academy Basketball Team Alumnae, Current Players and Coach! For more information, contact MMA Athletic Director Mr. Doug Webster at x 108 dwebster@mtmercy.org. Mount Mercy Health Office Have a HAPPY and HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON! Nurse Kathy 9-2pm at ext.104 or kburns@mtmercy.org It has been a rough fall with the early flu season hitting the area. Please be aware that we are still experiencing flu like symptoms cough, sore throat, fever, body aches. If you are lucky enough to find the flu shot, please consider getting one! There are some situations in which it is best to plan on keeping your daughter home for a day to rest or to arrange for an appointment with your health care provider. The following are a few such situations that warrant watching and possibly conferring with your health care provider: Persistent fever greater than 99.5 orally, including a fever that requires control with medication, like Tylenol Child is too sleepy or ill from an illness, like vomiting and/or diarrhea, to profit from sitting in class all day Significant cough that makes a child feel uncomfortable or disrupts the class Sore throat that is severe, accompanied by fever and/or feeling ill, that persists longer than 48 hours, OR after known exposure to a confirmed case of Streptococcal throat infection These are only a few recommended reasons to stay home. Please remember to call the school when your daughter is staying home. If you don t call us, we will call you!

9 Mt. Mercy Sports News Contributed by Ms. Pat Burns, MMA English Department MMA Cross Country Teammates receive awards at the Honors Assembly MT. MERCY ACADEMY RECOGNIZES ITS ALL-CATHOLIC SELECTIONS Ten Mount Mercy Academy athletes achieved All-Catholic honors during the fall season. Senior Amber Martin concluded her golf career at Mount Mercy as the league MVP for the second year. She was also MVP as a sophomore and was an All-Catholic golfer all four years. She won the state Catholic individual golf title as a sophomore and will compete for the title again this spring. Joining Martin as an All-Catholic golfer was her sophomore sister Alexis Martin. Last year s MVP, Alexis placed fifth at the AllCatholic Championship match. She will also compete at the state Catholic golf championships. Senior soccer player Kate Purcell was named a first team North Division All-Catholic for the second straight year. A mid-fielder, Purcell was recognized for her outstanding defensive play. Sophomore forward Rebecca Alvira and senior defender Rachel Schroeder were both selected Second Team North Division All-Catholics. Mount Mercy placed fourth in the division. Junior Susan Muldoon was named the South Division MVP in volleyball. An outside hitter, Muldoon helped the Magic to a first place finish in the South Division with a league record of 9-4. Joining Muldoon on the first team were senior setter Molly Gasuik and junior outside hitter Catherine Kasianowicz. Senior middle hitter Emily Williams was voted a second team All-Catholic. Senior Katelyn Grimm placed second in the 50 meter freestyle at the All-Catholics. Grimm has been a member of the Mount Mercy swim team for four years. Mt. Mercy Honors Fall Athletes Mt. Mercy Announces Scholar-Athletes Mount Mercy Academy recognized its fall athletes at a recent school-wide assembly. All of the student athletes received their letters and pins. Each varsity team also recognized a most valuable player, a most improved player and awarded a coach s award to the athlete for their contributions to the team s success. The junior varsity teams honor a most improved player and also give a coach s award. Coach Jeff Conrad named freshman Meaghan Cullen and sophomore Stephanie Newman as the co-mvps of the varsity cross country team. Senior Alison Hadley was tabbed as the most improved runner and junior Bridget Jackson was selected as the coach s award winner. Freshman Katie Shea was chosen as the winner of the coach s award for the JV cross country team and sophomore Emily Nostrant was named the most improved runner. Coaches John Glose and Lindsey Fitzgerald selected four year varsity soccer player Katherine Purcell as the MVP. The senior midfielder was an All-Catholic honoree the past two seasons. Freshman Megan Sheehan was chosen the most improved player and four year varsity team member Rachel Schroeder earned the coach s award. JV soccer award winners were sophomores Katherine Donovan (most improved) and Emily Anderson and Ellen Calmes who shared the coach s award. Angie Wendling, coach of both the varsity and junior varsity volleyball team honored five players. Junior middle hitter and Monsignor Martin League North Division MVP Susan Muldoon was also selected as the varsity team s MVP. Junior Kaitlyn Murphy was named the varsity s most improved player and sophomore Victoria Riso earned the coach s award. For the junior varsity, junior Jillian Rybczynski was chosen as the winner of the coach s award and sophomore Shannon O Connell was named the most improved player. Senior Amber Martin, a two time Monsignor Martin League golf MVP, was chosen by Coach Kate Lynch as the team s MVP. Martin was a four year varsity golfer and a four time All-Catholic. Senior Alexis Martinez was named as the coach s award winner and junior Molly Krug earned the most improved golfer honors. Mary Colby, the coach of the swim team named senior Katelyn Grimm as the team s MVP. A four year member of the team, Grimm placed second in the 50 meter freestyle at the All-Catholic championships. Senior Meghan McCormick was selected as the coach s award winner. Junior Simone Howard and freshman Kristen Ando were both named as the most improved swimmers. Fifty-eight Mount Mercy students were recently honored by athletic director Doug Webster for achieving scholar-athlete status during the fall sports season. A student is designated a scholar athlete if she attains an overall average of 90.0 or above for the first marking quarter while participating on a Mount Mercy athletic team. Athletes from both the junior varsity and varsity teams are eligible. Five varsity and four junior varsity volleyball athletes achieved scholar athlete status. Seniors Molly Gasuik, Karen Straub and Emily Williams, along with junior Katherine Marren and sophomore Victoria Riso were honored from the varsity team. Sophomores Megan Cheney, Kayla Larson and Shannon O Connell as well as junior Jillian Rybczynski were recognized from the JV team. Twenty-five members of the soccer teams had averages of at least Sixteen varsity soccer players including ten seniors, one junior, three sophomores and two freshmen were honored. Seniors attaining the necessary average were: Melissa Borodzik, Connie Evaniak, Maggie Higgins, Kathleen Kamien, Alena Musso, Kate Purcell, Rachel Schroeder, Alana Stempien, Chelsea Ulrich and Kelly Webster. Junior Carly Andriaccio, sophomores Abigail Helliwell, Isobel Johnston and Jackie Kane and freshmen Megan Sheehan and Marissa Stack also were scholar-athletes. Sophomores Rachel Bellis, Kristi Casey, Colleen Garvin, Tania Khoury, Elizabeth Krug, Janelle Lauciello, Ashley Skipper and Emily Walsh and freshman Erin Friedman represented the JV soccer team as scholar-athletes. Three seniors, one junior, three sophomores and three freshmen from the cross country team earned the appropriate average. They are: seniors Sarah Bevilacqua, Alison Hadley, Hannah Rosolowski; junior Bridget Jackson; sophomores Stephanie Newman, Kelsie Sullivan and Clare Walsh and freshmen Jenna Dasta, Lee Haggerty and Mariah Maund. The swim team was represented by seven girls. Senior Katelyn Grimm, juniors Victoria Dedloff, Rachel Suchocki, and Brittany Wolf and freshmen Kristen Ando, Erin Bender and Paige Ogden were named scholar-athletes. Eight golfers attained scholar-athlete status. Seniors Margaret Bender, Amber Martin and Elizabeth Rozeski; juniors Quinn Cassidy and Molly Krug; sophomore Alison Benz and freshmen Amanda Benes and Morgan Haettich were recognized for their academic accomplishments.

10 PHOTO ALBUM Mt. Mercy Academy Drawing & Painting Class Project ~ Ms. Jacqueline Welch ~ Creek Stone Prayer Circle Two of MMA s favorite people, Learning Lab Volunteer Sister Joan Benoit, and School Nurse Kathy Burns were surprised with bouquets and Spirit of Mercy certificates of appreciation at the Honors Assembly on November 24th. We discussed the various uses of natural materials in the creation of Land Art and looked at some large installations that artists have made. Then we walked Cazenovia Creek and selected large stones rounded by the water. Using Wassily Kandinsky s Expressionist paintings as inspiration, we used acrylics to paint organic designs on our stones in a limited color palette. Each stone has a continuous line signifying the continuity of life. Each also has a golden line or shape that symbolizes the divine. My class hopes this prayer circle might for even a moment connect us again with the beauty that is around us in art as well as in nature. Ms. Jacqueline Welch s Art Students painted Cazenovia Creek rocks to create a Prayer Circle, which was on display in the reception room of the Mercy Center throughout the month of November. MMA Geometry Teacher Mrs. Mary Zubek congratulates two of her sophomores for earning 100% on the new NYS Geometry Regents Exam first administered last June. Congratulations to Isobel Johnston and Victoria Riso! Well done, Mercy girls! SENIOR YEARBOOK MMA YEARBOOK GIFT IDEA Mt. Mercy Alumnae Association Distinguished Alumnae and Spirit of Mercy Awardees share a smile at the Honors Dinner on November 12th. Congratulations to Marianne (Matuzic) Myles, (represented by friend Terry O Dea Michalak) Class of 1971, Julia Hall, Class of 1981, Deanna (Kwiatkowski) Russo, Class of 1993, Sr. Mary Bendyna RSM, Ph.D, Class of 1979, Joanne M. Schwartzott, Class of Thank you for your outstanding contributions to MMA and to the community. Are you or any of your family members looking for a gift idea for your Mercy student? Have you considered buying her a 2010 Mercienne, the school yearbook? Avoid the extra expense of buying your 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 $55 to Pat Burns at Mount Mercy Academy and a note that includes who the book is for and where to send the gift certificate. I will mail you a certificate that can be given to the student. If you have any questions you can contact Ms. Pat Burns at pburns@mtmercy.org or at ext 313. Dear Senior Parents and Friends: It is tradition at Mount Mercy for senior parents to place a message in the yearbook for their daughter. This year, for the third time, 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 I will create it. Please do not cut the pictures; this makes the task much more difficult. I can crop them. 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 deadline for submission is January 22, If you have any questions, you may call me, Pat Burns, at ext 313 or me at pburns@mtmercy.org. 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 as follows: 1/8 page: ¼ page: ½ page: Full page: $40 $60 $ 110 $200 (3 H by W) (6 H by 4 1/4 W) (6 H by 8 ½ W) (12 H by 8 ½ W)

11 MMA Alumnae News Thank you to all the alumnae who have supported all the fall events and reunions. From reunions, golf, wine tours and Mercy Honors we had hundreds of alums and guests attend and enjoy our MMA alumnae fall functions! A special thanks to MMA students: Alexis Martin, Sarah Bevilacqua and Colleen Webster. These students represented the student body so well and shared their MMA experiences with our alumnae guests. Save the Date: Young Alum New Year Celebration Friday, January 8th, 7-9 The Hop Inn McAuley Gala Alumnae Gift Gathering Saturday, January 12:00 Curly s MMA Holiday Gift Ideas Don t know what to get that MMA student or alum on your list?? Consider a Doors of Mercy watercolor print. The details are located in this newsletter. Having a holiday get together with your alumnae friends? Send us some photos and updates! Will you see your classmates over the holidays and you are a graduate from the classes ending in zero or five? Contact the Alumnae Office to start planning your reunion! We help you with the mailings and reservations, you plan when and where to celebrate. May your Christmas be bright and your New Years even brighter! Grace Gannon-Jackson 82 Alumnae Director ext. 306 The Doors of Mount Mercy Perhaps you have see artistic renditions of the doors of area high schools and colleges available for purchase in various upscale shops or at recent art shows. Local artist Bob Gregg has captured the Mount Mercy Academy doors in a lovely watercolor. The Doors of Mercy prints are available for sale just in time for the holidays. *Double Matted Print ($40) * Print Only ($25) *Mounted Plaques ($32.50) *Magnets ($3) Visit or contact the Institutional Advancement Office at ext. 321 to purchase the above prints. Please allow 2 weeks for delivery. This is a perfect gift for those special people in your lives who have ties to our Mercy Community. Supplies are limited. Order yours today! For more information call Brittany at x 321! Shop Barnes & Noble Support MMA! Mount Mercy Academy is once again teaming up with Barnes & Noble for a holiday bookfair. Shop at any Barnes & Noble location from December 7 th -12 th and Barnes & Noble will donate up to 20% back to MMA. Get your holiday shopping done and help MMA at the same time. The voucher can be turned in at any Barnes & Noble location throughout the country, so pass it on to friends and family. Stop by the McKinley Mall location on Friday, December 11 th for a performance by the Magic Belles or the Amherst location on Saturday, December 12 th to see Pure Magic Perform. (reprints of this coupon accepted :))

12 CHRISTMAS SHOPPING??? CHECK OUT THE MOUNT MERCY BOOKSTORE!!! Great Gifts for M.M.A. Students AND Alumnae!!! Mount Mercy Fleece Jackets $33.00 MAY BE WORN AS PART OF SCHOOL UNIFORM Navy w/school Name in white; zip front; pockets Available in: XS (limited), S, M, L, XL Mount Mercy Sweatpants $20.00 Navy w/school Name in gold; elasticized ankles; pockets Available in: S, M, L, XL Mount Mercy Mesh Shorts $15.00 Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Light Blue, Royal Blue, Purple School Name printed in complementary color Holiday Special! 2 for $25.00 Available in: S, M, L, XL MMA + Short-sleeve T-Shirts $ 5.00 Gray w/blue Lettering: School Name on FRONT Be Part of the Magic and Wizard on BACK Available in: S, M, L MMA + Nylon Backpack $ 5.00 Navy w/school Name in white lettering Mt. Mercy Holiday CD (2004) $ 5.00 Christmas Carols as performed by MMA s own Choral Groups, Hand Bell Choirs, and Pure Magic Christmas Beverage Mugs $ 3.00 Two Designs Snowman or Christmas Bulbs Mt. Mercy Window Decals (Nice STOCKING STUFFER!) $.75 GIFT CERTIFICATES ALSO AVAILABLE ANY AMOUNT For more information on items or hours, call , X 106 or ckisiel@mtmercy.org