April 27, 2017                                                                                            PARENT ENEWS

ALL SCHOOL

*Urgent Parking Update

Dear Parents,

Please take a few minutes to review the school rules for dropping off and picking up students at school.  We have noticed an increase of unsafe practices and need to correct them so that our students can arrive safely and on time.  We need your continued help and cooperation.  Please follow these rules to ensure that you can get in and out of the parking lot quickly.

• You may only enter the campus through the school entrance at Adeline and Alvarado- this is the only high school entrance.  The other entrances to the campus are for the Sisters of Mercy and Mercy Center; therefore, drop off or pick up is never permitted at these other entrances. For safety purposes we have an agreement with the City of Burlingame that all students will be dropped off and picked up inside of the campus. Parents are not allowed to pick up their daughters at Mercy Center, and may not park on the streets while waiting for a student after school. 
  
• I have noticed many people are not using blinkers when entering our main gate.  This makes it extremely difficult for our traffic supervisor to do her job.
  
• Never pass a car on the left (in the loop), especially while a student is getting out.  This can easily result in knocked off car doors, or even worse, student toes.
  
• Please, watch and/or listen to the traffic supervisor at all times.  Your safety is her goal.
  
• Consider dropping your daughter off between 7:20 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. when the traffic is lighter.
  
• After school, we'd recommend that you wait and pickup 15 minutes after the school day has ended. With the juniors and seniors leaving campus, it is very congested immediately after school.
• Remember-our Burlingame streets are very narrow.  We have witnessed a few near-misses.  Stay in your lane at all times. Drive slowly and courteously while entering or exiting the campus.

Please note that Mercy High School has a Conditional Use Permit with the City of Burlingame that states that Mercy High School students may not be picked up or dropped off outside the school gates. This permit also prohibits Mercy students from parking on surrounding streets. Any student found going against the permit will face immediate disciplinary consequences.

If you witness a dangerous situation, or a blatant disregard of the rules listed above, please contact me immediately at Sdittmer@mercyhsb.com.  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.  Our goal is your daughter's safety.

Summer Dittmer

Assistant Head of School for Student Life

*Summer School: 

Students and parents, if you are planning to take a summer school class to ADVANCE (not remediate), you must send your counselor proof of registration for this course as soon as possible. 

We also need to receive the transcript from the online or summer school by Aug. 1 (or contact Mrs. Conklin if you are unable to send it by then) in order to register you for the advanced class in the fall. If we do not have this information we will be unable to schedule you for the class in the fall and you will need to take that class at Mercy. Click HERE for The Summer School Request form.

*Honors, AP, Tri-School Classes

Students, as we enter the last few weeks of the semester, please be sure to check in regularly with your teachers and counselors in order to maintain your grades. It's easy to get distracted by the end-of-the year events! Students who plan to take an Honors, AP, or Tri-School class next year, it is especially important that you maintain your grades, as you will be removed from these classes in June if your final grade is not at the expected level. Please discuss this with your current teacher, counselor, or the department chair if you have questions. If we do need to remove you from an Honors, AP, or Tri-School class, your entire schedule could be changed and you may not receive the courses you selected.

*AP exams will take place May 1 - May 12. The library will be closed during this time. Students, please make sure you eat and sleep well, and arrive 20 minutes before the scheduled time of your exam. Chemistry, Chinese, Spanish, and French tests will take place in alternate classrooms. Please check with your instructor. Students, all cell phones must be turned off and put in your bag or locker before the exam. Students are strongly encouraged to attend classes before and after their exams, however, it is not required.  If a student is planning to miss the first part of the day prior to a 12:00 exam, the parent needs to call the main office.  

Tri-School Orientation
Tri-School Orientation is May 16, 7:00PM at Serra High School. All students requesting a Tri-School class are required to attend. Parents are also required to attend. 

Host an International Student with gphomestay!

Do you have a loving family and a spare room available in your home? You might consider hosting an international student spending her high school year(s) at Mercy High School. Gphomestay is currently seeking qualified host families to provide a safe and nurturing home environment for such students this August. If you have the kind of home and family environment that would be a good fit for a bright, eager, and highly motivated international student, we would love to hear from you. Host families are provided a generous stipend of $1,500 a month and all necessary training. Please contact Jaryce Nobela at jnobela@gphomestay.com for more information. www.gphomestay.com

  FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES

*"Fierce Reads" Young Adult Author Panel visiting Mercy May 12

Mercy has some exciting visitors in May - During collaboration on May 12, Freshmen and Sophomores are invited to a panel discussion by three Young Adult authors.  These three authors have recently published books of high adventure and with strong female protagonists.  All three are getting great reviews.  Fun reads just in time for summer vacation!  The authors will be talking about life as a writer, their books,and their inspirations.  There will be an opportunity at the end of the talk to have copies of their books signed.  If your family would like to purchase any of the books, click HERE for the form, and can be returned to the Mercy Library with a check for the appropriate amount. To ensure we have enough books available the form should be
returned by May 2.

  UPCOMING EVENTS

HELP NEEDED

SENIOR PARENTS UPCOMING EVENTS

*SAVE THE DATE
Pinning Ceremony Class of 2017
Seniors Welcomed into the Mercy High School Alumnae Association

Friday, May 12, 2017
1:30 p.m. – Mercy Chapel

Click HERE for invitation

SAVE THE DATE

Senior Mother Daughter Mass & Brunch
Sunday, May 21
10:00 a.m.
Formal invitation to follow. Questions? Please contact Jennifer Munsey, Mercy Advancement Events Coordinator jmunsey@mercyhsb.com.

*Classic Event Rentals

Let us help you celebrate! Call today to start your rental order of tables, chairs, linens, tabletop, and more! Receive Upgraded Linens! Ask for Lisa or Bobby and mention the Promo Code:ClassOf2017 - Click HERE for coupon.

ATHLETICS

*Volleyball Players: Any girl interested in playing volleyball this upcoming fall season, there will be an informational meeting this Wednesday May 3 immediately after school (2:30pm) in the Grassilli Center dance room. Coaches will be present to go over the summer "Open Gym" program, conditioning and tryout dates. If you are unable to attend, you can check with Mr. Dougherty for more information.

*Mercy Athletics will be holding a Sports Physical Night at Mercy on May 23 from 5-6:30pm. Dr Berger and Pacific THERx will be present to conduct sports physicals to ensure you are cleared to participate in sports at Mercy for the 2017/18 season. Utilize this time to get your clearance. *Please contact Mr. Dougherty to sign up for a select time within the time period the physicals will be given.

*Cheer and Dance dates: Clinics will be on May 22 and 23 with the auditions on May 24. Questions, contact Mr. Ferguson.

Fall Sport Start Dates:

• VOLLEYBALL Tryouts: August 8-11. Please note that no returning player is guaranteed a spot on a roster. Every player is expected to be at all days of the tryout sessions. Once teams are set, practice for the season will begin immediately in days following. Get your vacations in before August 8.

•  August 14: Water Polo, Golf, Tennis and Cross Country will start their practices/tryouts.

•  We will be having OPEN GYM during the summer starting on June 13-July 24. Basketball will be held on Tuesday from 7-9pm. Volleyball will be held on Wednesday from 7-9pm. Sessions will be held at Our Lady of Angels gym.

Conditioning sessions will start the week of June 12 and run thru July 27 –Held at Mercy

• Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday-Conditioning will take place from
  9:30-11am. Coach Sunny Diaz will oversee
• Monday/Wednesday-Conditioning will take place from 3:30-5pm. Pacific THERx trainer Mallory will oversee
• There will be no conditioning on July 3 or 4.

All results of each team can be found in the Mercy scoreboard-
https://www.mercyhsb.com/athletics/scoreboard-enews

*Click HERE for the schedule for team events for the upcoming week of  April 27 - May 3

If you ever have any concerns/comments, please feel free to contact me at anytime.
I can be reached at my office at Mercy at 650-762-1107. I am looking forward to a great 2017
with Mercy athletics.   -Charlie Dougherty, Athletic Director

COLLEGE COUNSELING

Senior Parents:

• Update your Naviance: Please make sure your Naviance is accurate with the schools your daughters have applied to and with the final decisions from the schools
  
  
• Scholarship Information: Please send Mrs. Ohanessian any scholarships that your daughter has received.  We include this in the program for graduation.  
   
• Waitlists: If your daughter has been placed on a waitlist and she would like to see where it goes, we strongly encourage you to claim a spot for her at another college on/before May 1st. 
  
  
• Submit your deposit: Students have until May 1st to decide where they will be going to school.  Please check with your daughter's school of choice to see what specific information is needed in order to claim your daughter's spot in the class.  
  
  
• Register for college placement exams: Once students have decided on where they are going to school, make sure they sign up for any placement testing they might have to complete.  Placement testing is usually done during orientation or before school starts.  Please contact Mrs. Ohanessian with any questions regarding placement testing.  

*Junior Parents:  

• College meeting:  Please email Francesca at fohanessian@mercyhsb.com to schedule your appointment today.
  
  
• REGISTER FOR THE SAT: Log on to www.collegeboard.org to register for upcoming exams.  
  
  
• REGISTER FOR THE ACT: Log on to www.actstudent.org for more information on how to register. 
  
  
• JUNIOR CASE STUDIES
  May 10th at 6:30pm
  Serra High School
  Serra Counseling is hosting the annual Tri-school case studies program. This program is designed to help juniors and their parents learn more about the college admissions process through studying simulated students' application cases and then making admissions decisions for a fictitious college. Participants will read student files, evaluate transcripts, and review test scores, essays and recommendations, and will act as the Admissions Committee to decide which applicants will be admitted. Regardless of where you are planning to apply, this exercise will put you in the shoes of an admissions officer while exposing you to the complexities of the admissions process. We believe this exercise will be extremely valuable in helping both parents and students better understand the complexity of college admissions decisions. Participants must arrive no later than 6:30 p.m. to check in. Introductions will begin at 6:45 pm followed by the case study session lasting until 8:10 p.m. A mini College Fair from 8:15  -8:45pm where students and parents may meet and talk with the college admissions officers. Please RSVP HERE by 5/3/2017 include parent(s)and student name. Spaces are limited
  
  
• Spring WACAC College Fairs: Register online for the local area college fair. There are fairs at Dominican, Sonoma State, St. Mary's and CSU East Bay.  
  
  
• NACAC College Fair: April 29th at 1:30 p.m. at the Cow Palace
  Register online by clicking here.  
   

Helpful Links:

• Scholarship searches: www.fastweb.com \
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA:) www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Collegeboard - Register and Send SAT scores: www.collegeboard.com
• ACT - Register and Send ACT scores: www.actstudent.org

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Juniors, Sophomores & Freshmen!

Service Hours!

Due Date: Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Please take note that all hours should be completed before the due date. This means all hours must be entered and approved by May 10! Failure to do so will result in a low grade for service. Reminder, service hours are required for graduation so they must be completed. You have close to two months to complete any remaining hours. Please email, pdiaz@mercyhsb.com or see me if you need assistance.

CAFETERIA SPECIALS

Lunch Order Form - to save time, students may fill out this form and drop off at the Cafeteria in the morning. Please Visit the cafeteria for our daily salad selections

*NEXT WEEK's Menu - May 1- 5

Monday:  Provolone and Pesto Focaccia Melts ( New and Exciting )  Our home made Focaccia bread with our Pesto Spread and Melted Provolone cheese, served with Field of Greens and a light Buttermilk dressing

Tuesday:  Greek Style Chicken with Vermicelli Rice and Vegetables  Our own blend of Greek seasoning marinated Chicken breast, grilled to perfection, served with Vermicelli Rice and Vegetable blend if you haven't tried this dish yet...this is your chance to add it to your favorites list :=)

Wednesday:  All Beef Taquitos  Fresh 92%/8% Mexican seasoned ground beef, rolled in flour tortillas and baked to perfect crispiness. Served with Spanish Rice and shredded salad blend with Queso Fresco cheese...options of Salsa, Sour Cream and Guacamole will be available to you as well.

Thursday:  Our Homemade Mac and cheese  Our gourmet cheese sauce over Italian Pasta with  Broccoli OR Homemade loose Sausage and a green Salad

Friday:  Our Own Hot Dog Croissant with a side of Chili An all beef lean Hot Dog wrapped with our home made Pizza dough ,baked to golden brown, served with a side of beef and beans chili...This is a "to die for special " , limited quantity will be made , SO PLEASE Pre-Order :=) 

Don't forget to check out the variety of specialty Salads daily changing to fit your taste and busy schedule....and if you ask the day before for a specialty Salad, we will gladly prepare it for you.

Feed back is greatly appreciated on menu and new items, we are here thriving to please your taste buds :=)

Mercy High School

2750 Adeline Drive • Burlingame, CA 94010  •  Phone 650.343.3631 • Fax 650.343.2316 

www.mercyhsb.com