COUNSELING CORNER

End of First Semester: Your daughter will complete her first semester as a Mercy Girl in December! The last day of classes is Tuesday, December 16. Final exams begin Wednesday, December 17 and conclude on Friday, December 19, 2025, preceding Christmas break. As a reminder, end of the semester dates and policies can be found here.

Final Exam Study Tips: Preparing for finals can be a stressful time. Here are a few tips which may be beneficial in alleviating stress in preparation for exams. Implement a study plan. Students can achieve this by compiling a list of exams, projects, papers etc. Once all exam dates and deadlines are noted; students should work on creating a study schedule. Take breaks when feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Practice breathing techniques. Inhaling while counting to three and exhaling counting to five. Provide a Good Study Environment. Quiet space, good lighting, and minimal distractions go a long way. Healthy Habits Matter. Sleep, balanced meals, and breaks can improve performance. The “Pomodoro Technique” Study for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat four times, then take a longer 15-minute break. This helps students stay focused and avoid burnout. Lastly, support is available for students who prefer to speak with someone, regarding how they are feeling. Students should always feel free to speak with their counselor, adviser, teacher or any trusted adult. Processing thoughts and feelings with a trusted adult, can provide comfort and encouragement.

Ask Your Daughter About: How did she enjoy her first Halloween at Mercy? Did she have fun during the Maroon & Gold Raffle? Was she able to catch the fall play "The Giver" or cheer on our Marlins at any sporting events? Encourage her to provide details as to what stood out to her and what they enjoyed most.

Counseling Office Staff

Holly Markiecki-Bennetts (hbennetts@mhsmi.org): Last name A-E 

Arpna Hessler (abhessler@mhsmi.org): Last name F-N 

Kristen Casey (kkcasey@mhsmi.org): Last name O-Z 

Tosha Willis (twillis@mhsmi.org): Support Specialist

DID YOU KNOW?

Cafeteria: Students have access to heat up food in the microwaves located behind the Cafeteria snack bar. The Cafe is open and available to students beginning at 7:30am until 3:00pm; with the exception of Adviser Group. Check out the Cafe menu here.

Maroon & Gold Raffle Out of Uniform Incentive: If your family sold 20 tickets during the Maroon & Gold Raffle, your student achieved the out of uniform incentive and may dress down after Thanksgiving Break (12/1/25 - 12/19/25), and after Spring Break (5/5/26 - end of the school year).

Foundation Day December 12: Foundation Day marks a significant moment in the history of the Mercy Community. On December 12, 1831, in Dublin, Ireland, Catherine McAuley, Mary Ann Doyle, and Elizabeth Harley made their vows as the first Sisters of Mercy. From their commitment to serve the poor, sick, and uneducated, the Mercy mission spread globally, reaching the United States in 1843 with a foundation in Pittsburgh. Today, the Sisters of Mercy continue to inspire and serve worldwide.

MERCY TRADITIONS

Ethnic Bazaar: Mercy Human Relations Council is proud to present Ethnic Bazaar 2025 this Friday, November 21 in the Drama Studio 2nd-6th hours. Ethnic Bazaar is a long standing Mercy tradition which highlights our diversity and unity through song, dance, poetry, prayer, food and fashion. Come enjoy this enriching cultural extravaganza with vibrant performances that celebrate our Mercy community. Check out highlights from last year's Ethnic Bazaar here. HRC is a group of elected student representatives from each class responsible for promoting positive human relations amongst our Mercy family.

Immaculate Conception Day Mass & Youth Mercy Associate Induction: You're warmly invited to join us at Mercy High School for our Immaculate Conception Holy Day Mass & Youth Mercy Associate Induction on Monday, December 8 at 10:15 AM in the Auditorium. The Youth Mercy Associate Chapters connect young people with the Mercy Congregation, fostering a living legacy of Catherine McAuley’s vision of faith, joy, and mercy.

Red & Green Dress Up Day: In the spirit of the Christmas season, students and staff dress in festive red and green attire to celebrate with a joyful all-school assembly on Friday, December 12. We enjoy a performance by the Mercyaires singing holiday classics, staff do a surprise Christmas skit, our lively Mercy Mimes enact a Silent Night and we close together in prayer. It’s a time to come together in faithful, festive cheer to celebrate the season with our Mercy community.

LINK CREW

Cocoa & Cram: Link Crew is excited to host the Cocoa and Cram study event on Thursday, December 11. Link Leaders will be offering review sessions for many 9th grade classes to help them prepare for their final exams. Sessions will run from 3:00pm - 4:00pm. Delicious hot chocolate will be served. Ninth graders will be sent additional info and an email to sign-up closer to the date. Top secret: some teachers offer extra credit for attending this event!



Monthly Meet Up Reminder: Link Leaders will be connecting with their Crew on Tuesday, December 2, during Adviser Group.  These meet-ups are a fantastic opportunity for students to discuss upcoming end of the semester activities and bond over some quality sisterhood time. Be sure to ask your daughter about her monthly meet up experiences!

Wishing you and your family a warm and blessed Thanksgiving!

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