2025 FOCUS: HOPE FOOD DRIVE

Now through November 17, 2025

Mercy values in action! As we enter into this season of thanks, one of the ways that Mercy High School expresses gratitude is by giving back to the community. For decades we have been an important partner to the Focus: HOPE Food Program. Focus: HOPE provides assistance to over 53,000 low income residents every year through monthly food assistance, health screenings and so much more.

Mercy is directly supporting the Focus: HOPE Senior Holiday Meal Delivery Program where they safely deliver 1,500+ holiday meal boxes!

All students and staff are asked to bring in select food items to donate along with a $5 contribution toward perishable items. Food donations will be collected in Adviser Group until Friday, November 14 along with Monday, November 17 for produce brought in by 8:00am. Mercy is proud to be one of Focus: HOPE's largest donors. THANK YOU for helping us make this a successful food drive!

MARLINS MAKING HEADLINES

District Champions

Let's hear it for Varsity Volleyball who won the District Championship on Friday defeating Livonia Stevenson!

Bravo Cast & Crew of "The Giver"

A standing ovation to the cast and crew of the extraordinary production of "The Giver." View performance photo gallery by Kristina Sikora here.

Marlin Volleyball Players are U17 National Team Champions

Congratulations to Marlin Volleyball players McKenzie Andrews '28 and Kaelyn Easton '29 who were named to the USA Volleyball U17 National Team and captured the gold medal at the NORCECA Continental Championships!

Celebrating National French Week

National French Week (La Semaine Nationale du Français) is an annual celebration sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF). This national event highlights the many ways the study of French enriches students’ lives and connects them to the world. Students in all levels of French participated in a weeklong celebration of culture, creativity, and community spirit.

The week began each morning with a prayer in French, setting a reflective tone of gratitude and unity. During daily announcements, the entire school joined in a lively French trivia contest that tested everyone’s knowledge of Francophone culture.

Students showcased their creativity by designing National French Week T-shirts inspired by this year’s theme, “Design Your Future with French.” Each class voted on a favorite design, and Sydney Wilker earned top honors in the school-wide competition after receiving the most faculty votes.

Music played a special role in this year’s festivities. Throughout the week, students walked to their next classes to the sound of lively French music echoing through the hallways, creating a joyful atmosphere across the school. Under the direction of music teacher Mrs. Abha Dearing, students also learned about the legendary French chanteuse Édith Piaf and performed three of her most iconic songs: “La Vie en Rose,” “Je ne regrette rien,” and “Padam Padam.”

Art also met language learning as students painted their vision of a future career and illustrated how their chosen profession could connect to a French-speaking country. A school-wide scavenger hunt further engaged students with French culture, highlighting how the language intersects with fields such as fashion, cuisine, art, science, and international relations.

Of course, no French celebration would be complete without food! Madame Joyce Campbell, French teacher, assisted by Mrs. Megan Newman and Mrs. Marylou Waineo, treated students to homemade crêpes. Throughout the week, Chef Joe prepared special French-inspired lunches in the school café, bringing the tastes of France to Mercy.

A special highlight was a macaron-making demonstration by Mercy Alumna Mrs. Tina Aiello Sturgis '90 who studied French pastry-making in Paris. Students had the opportunity to fill and taste their own macarons, gaining both culinary and cultural appreciation in this delicious hands-on experience.

The week concluded with a memorable French dinner at Cuisine, where Chef Paul Grosz delighted fifty students and their parents with a gourmet French meal. The evening offered a wonderful opportunity for students to experience authentic French dining in the Detroit community.

As one student shared in reflection, “It was the best French Week ever!” If you would like more detailed information about the activities of French Week or if you have questions regarding the French program at Mercy, please contact Madame Joyce Campbell at jacampbell@mhsmi.org.

Pro-Life Club Attend Michigan March for Life

Mercy students Krisztina Barnes, Hannah Emerson, and Charlotte Moscone joined thousands at the Michigan March for Life at the State Capitol in Lansing on Thursday, November 6. The mile-long march emphasized compassion and support for women facing unplanned pregnancies and coincided with the anniversary of Proposal 3.

Before the march, participants gathered for a rally on the Capitol steps featuring speakers, personal testimonies, and representatives from pregnancy help centers. Among the presenters was Mayra Rodriguez, a former Planned Parenthood employee who shared her journey and advocacy for women’s health and safety.

Special thanks to Mrs. Brenda Bagazinski for organizing this meaningful experience. Thank you for being women who make a difference and embodying Mercy values of dignity and respect.

Mercyaires Share the Gift of Song

Our talented Mercyaires recently brought joy to residents at American House with a heartfelt performance of song and dance. Audience members shared that the group’s “beautiful smiles, talent, and uplifting music” made them “smile the entire time." We’re so proud of our Mercyaires for sharing their gifts and touching so many hearts! 

MSVMA Solo & Ensemble Festival

Eight Mercy singers competed in the Michigan School Vocal Music Association Music Theatre Solo and Ensemble Festival last week at Oxford HS. They ALL earned Excellent ratings, the highest and some qualified to audition for All State Musical Theatre experience. Congrats!

Arya Agulto

Laura Blase

Hope Carmona

Jamesyn Douglas 

Sydney Marchak

Aniba Raza

London Smith

Rosemary Stork

MAROON & GOLD RAFFLE - WE DID IT TOGETHER

THANK YOU to all of our students, families, staff, and alumnae in our Mercy community who supported this year’s Maroon & Gold Raffle Family Fundraiser. Together we raised over $175,000 and earned the following days off school: Monday, November 24; Tuesday, November 25; Wednesday, April 1, 2026; Monday, February 9, 2026. In case you missed it, see our community update here.

Please note that the first semester out of uniform days are December 1, 2025 through the end of the semester and the second semester out of uniform days are May 5, 2026 through the end of the school year. Another round of applause for our top school sellers and congrats to the winning ticket holders!

• Top Student Seller - Emily Thompson ‘29
• Top Staff Seller - Dr. Kristine Daley
• Top Selling Senior - Ava Falcon
• Top Selling Junior - Hope Carmona
• Top Selling Sophomore - Sarah Ragheb
• Top Selling Freshwoman - Alexandra Olson
• Top Selling Class - Freshwomen
• Top Adviser Group - Mr. Ramon Kryzhan & Mrs. Patricia Perry

MISSION & MINISTRY

Mercy Morning Rosary

Starting November 17, join us for the Most Holy Rosary every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday before school. We’ll gather in our beautiful Chapel at 7:30am — rosaries and prayer cards will be provided. Students, staff, parents are welcome! It’s a peaceful, faith-filled way to start your day and come together as a Mercy community. If you’d like to help lead prayer one morning, sign up here.

Advent Reconciliation Offered December 3

Mark your calendar! The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered in the Mercy Chapel on Tuesday, December 3 from 7:30am - 2:30pm. Advent invites us to prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming — this beautiful sacrament offers renewal, healing, and peace. All students, staff, and parents are invited. 

Ladies of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul Christmas Basket Project

Share the Spirit of Giving! If you’re out shopping this holiday season, please consider purchasing a gift for a young girl in need (ages 3–8). Mercy is supporting the Ladies of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul’s Annual Christmas Basket Project, which provides food, supplies, and gifts to families in need across Oakland County.

Suggested gifts include puzzles, dolls, Fisher-Price grocery carts, pretend food, princess goodies, and other toys for young girls. Please bring donations to the boxes at the Reception Area by December 9. Thank you for helping make Christmas morning brighter for so many children.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SISTERHOOD SUMMIT THIS SATURDAY

Hosted by Mercy Alumnae Association & Mothers' Club

We are in need of two additional volunteers to help with the coffee and yogurt bar from 10:30am - 12:00pm for the upcoming Sisterhood Summit this Saturday, November 15th. Sign-up here. Thank you for your support!

80TH ANNIVERSARY GALA & AUCTION

Save the Date to Celebrate

Join us as we celebrate Mercy High School’s 80th Anniversary Gala & Auction — our biggest fundraiser and most unforgettable night of the year! Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 28, 2026 at Saint John’s Resort. Together, we’ll honor 80 years of Mercy while supporting the future of young women who will lead with courage, compassion, and faith. Stay tuned for more details — you won’t want to miss this milestone celebration!

Mercy Parents, Volunteer with Us!

Be a part of the magic behind the scenes and help create an unforgettable night at Mercy High School’s 80th Anniversary Gala. Volunteering on the Committee is a great way to get involved, meet other parents, and contribute to the success of this event. Whether you have experience in floral design, enjoying reaching out to local businesses for donations, love hosting parties, or simply want to lend a helping hand, your participation would be greatly appreciated.

MERCY MOTHERS' CLUB

Mothers' Club Meeting TOMORROW

All Mercy moms are invited to join us for our next meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, November 12 at 6:30pm in the Mercy Cafe.

Sponsor a Christmas Tree at Mercy

We are decking the halls at Mercy!

The Mercy Mothers' Club is excited to continue the Sponsor a Christmas Tree program again this year. The look of joy on the faces of students, staff and visitors while the trees were going up the past few years has been priceless! Sponsor a Christmas tree, wreath or ornament on behalf of a family, student, alumna, Mercy club/team, or business. All sponsors will be commemorated in a framed standing plaque next to their tree or wreath for this upcoming holiday season. 

Last year, in collaboration with the Office of Mission & Ministry, we are added a Jesse Tree in the Reception Area. The Jesse Tree tradition is rooted in Isaiah 11:1: “A shoot shall come out of the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” There will be 25 ornaments on the tree, with each displaying a symbol and bible verse documenting the timeline leading up to the birth of Jesus. Each of the 25 ornaments will be a sponsorship opportunity. 

Jesse Tree Ornaments

• Sponsor one or more of 25 ornaments
• Suggested donation: $100 each
• Proceeds will directly benefit the KAIROS Retreat

Trees & Wreaths

• 9' Trees are SOLD OUT
• Three 7' Trees: $350 each
• Two 30” Wreaths: $250 each 
• Proceeds from trees and wreaths will benefit Mercy High School

Your generosity helps our students grow in faith while making our Advent celebrations truly special. Thank you for supporting this tradition! Please contact Mercy Mothers’ Board member Lisa Kolb at lisakolb824@hotmail.com if you are interested.

Holiday Sip & Shop

Thursday, December 4, 2025

Get into the holiday spirit at the Mercy Mothers’ Club Sip & Shop! This festive evening is the perfect opportunity to browse unique gifts, support local vendors, and enjoy time with the Mercy community. The event is open to the public, and students are welcome to shop, too!

Ticket Incentives

• Purchase your tickets by November 15 to receive a FREE Raffle Basket Ticket.
• For every 3 event tickets purchased, you’ll earn 1 additional free raffle ticket (distributed at check-in).
• When purchasing tickets, be sure to list your favorite Marlin — the grade with the most ticket sales earns Spirit Points, and the two Advisers with the most sales win a Crumbl Cookie Party! UPDATE: Currently the Freshman Class has the most Sip & Shop tickets and is winning spirit points. The two Adviser Groups that are in the lead for the Crumbl Party are: 1st Place - Garcia/Smith, T 2nd place - Barnes/Faunce.
• Purchase your tickets here.

Vendor Opportunities

If you know of any Vendors that may be interested in participating in our event, they can sign-up at the link below. Mercy Students who are interested in promoting their own business and selling their own items, can reserve a vendor table for Free, please reach out to mgiroux1979@gmail.com to secure your spot.

• Vendor Sign-Up

Ways to Help

• Donate Refreshments & Items for the Event
• Volunteer at Sip & Shop

Join us for an evening of shopping, community, and holiday cheer — all in support of Mercy!

MARLIN ATHLETICS

Senior College Bound Athlete Event

Attention Class of 2026! Are you planning to play a sport in college? The Mercy Athletics Department will be hosting a group signing day to celebrate Senior Athletes committing to play a sport next year at the college level. 

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

2:45pm - 3:45pm

Mercy Gymnasium

You're welcome to invite your family and coaches. Please wear your college shirt. We will take individual and group photos. Kindly RSVP and complete one form per athlete/family online here. Contact Kate Scalzi at kmscalzi@mhsmi.org with any questions. Go Marlins!

Follow Marlins on Social Media

Be sure to follow Mercy Athletics on Instagram @mercyathletics, Facebook @mercymarlinsathletics and Twitter @mhsmiathletics. GO MARLINS!

FALL 2025 END OF SEMESTER DATES & POLICIES

All students were emailed the following end of semester dates and policies to help plan in preparation for final exams, papers, projects and presentations.

Monday, December 8 - Test day for any last test/quiz/formal assessment in ANY Social Studies, Computer Science, or Art course. 

Monday, December 8 - World Language Orals begin.

Tuesday, December 9 - Test day for any last test/quiz/formal assessment in ANY Science, World Language, or Physical Education course.

Wednesday, December 10 - Test day for any last test/quiz/formal assessment in ANY Math, Religious Studies, or Performing Arts course.

Tuesday, December 16 - All final English papers are due by this date. 

Tuesday, December 16 - All class assignments should be graded and posted by midnight for ALL courses, except for Final Exams, Essays, Projects, and Presentations.

December 11-16

The five days before exams should be assessment free for students to prepare for final exams, complete final projects/presentations, and prepare for world language orals. Students can be assigned classwork but not extensive homework these days.

Final Exam Dates

Wednesday, December 17

1st hour: 8:30 am - 9:50 am

2nd hour: 10:00 am - 11:20 am

Thursday, December 18

3rd hour: 8:30 am - 9:50 am

4th hour: 10:00 am - 11:20 am

5th hour: 11:30 am - 12:50 pm

Friday, December 19

6th hour: 8:30 am - 9:50 am

7th hour: 10:00 am - 11:20 am

Final exams are given on the assigned test day and time unless, for serious reasons and under rare circumstances, other arrangements have been made with Administration. Students must initiate that request two weeks before the date by completing and submitting this form to be signed by the parent, verifying the need for a change in test time, accompanied by appropriate documentation (i.e. medical documentation, airline tickets, etc.). The request must be approved by the Associate Principal of Academic Affairs, the Dean of Students, and the teacher involved.

Students can rearrange their final exams to ease their load on the 3,4,5 day or two hard finals on one day by changing the day/hour (but not to finish earlier). Please work with your teachers and request that they send an email notification approving this arrangement to Ms. McMaster. Make sure to thank your teacher for accommodating this request.

Saturday, December 20 - Friday, January 2 - PowerSchool will be turned off on Saturday, December 20, and turned back on Friday, January 2. The purpose of turning off PowerSchool is to give students and staff a true break over the holiday.

Please note: Staff are not expected to answer emails over the Christmas Holiday. Emails can be sent, but staff are not expected to respond until we return to school on Monday, January 5, 2026.

Thursday, January 8 - First semester grades will be posted.

Final Exam/Essays/Project/Presentation Policy

Final Exams/Essays/Projects/Presentations will be weighted 20% of the final grade in ALL classes except for some courses in the Performing Arts and Art departments. All Final exams/Essays/Projects/Presentations will be a common final assessment (exam, project, paper). This will be implemented in ALL courses. Exams need to be at least 75% the same for all students taking the course. The other 25% can be determined by each individual teacher.

CLASS OF 2026

Beat the Price Increase: Yearbook Senior Ads!

Within Lore every year, the families of the graduating class have the opportunity to purchase ads to celebrate their students with a personalized message and photo(s). 

After December 8th, prices will increase, so purchase your ad today. Space is limited, and sales will be closed once our designated Ad pages run out.

To design and purchase an ad for your graduating senior, please visit the order website (job number: 13826) and follow these instructions:

1. Choose the size ad you would like to create.
2. Select student when prompted for whom to buy the ad.
3. Enter your student’s name. Please use her full name as it appears on PowerSchool, not a nickname.
4. Choose whether you would like to create the ad online or send the message and photos to the Lore staff to make the ad. 
5. Follow all of the prompts and instructions to complete the ad.

Please feel free to contact the Lore Yearbook staff with any questions at mercylore@mhsmi.org.

ROAD READY DRIVING SCHOOL

Segment 1 Classes at Mercy

Road Ready is offering a Segment 1 session at Mercy, Monday, December 1 - Tuesday, December 16. Classes are open to Mercy and non-Mercy students. Classes are Monday - Friday, 3:30-5:30pm in S-4.

There will also be a Segment 1 session offered in January 2026.

*Note: The schedule will be adjusted for holidays, half days, no school, or other special schedules. 

For more information and to register, visit roadreadyschool.com, email roadreadydrivingschool@yahoo.com or call 248-308-1048.

TALK WITH TARPS

Talk with Tarps is open to all students and staff members. Come chat with Dean of Student Affairs Mrs. Tarplin during 2nd hour in the Lobby on the following days and ask questions, express concerns, complaints, compliments, or just have a casual conversation. Snacks will be provided!

Upcoming Talk with Tarps, 3rd hour:

• Thursday, 12/4, D3
• Thursday, 12/11, D2
• Monday, 12/15, D4

CONNECT TO MERCY MEDIA

Photo Gallery Webpage

Check out the photo gallery webpage featuring Google Photo albums from a variety of school events! Relive the memories and catch highlights from recent activities, celebrations, and more.

Visit mhsmi.org/photo-gallery to explore the moments that make Mercy special! Keep checking back as we continue to add new albums. (Photo Credits: Kristina Sikora, KMS Photography and other contributors.)

Social Media

Connect to @mercyhighmi, @mercyathletics, @mercyperformingarts and @missionandministry_mhsmi on Instagram. Plus, show your own Marlin pride and use the Marlin giphy stickers available on Instagram by searching @mercymarlins when you post to stories! Don't forget to follow @MercyHighSchoolMI, @MercyMarlinsAthletics and @MHSMIPerformingArts on Facebook. Check out list of social media accounts here.

Mobile App

Use the Mercy mobile app designed to enhance communication and engagement between our school, parents, students and community! You’ll find quick access and links to resources with the click of an icon. 

• Visit the App Store or Google Play
• Search for "Mercy High School - MI"

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.