May 3, 2017                                                                                              PARENT ENEWS

Celebrate the Arts in May!  
Please join us for the following events:

ALL SCHOOL

*Dear Parents,

We wanted to let you know about a new series on Netflix called "13 Reasons Why" which is based on a novel of the same title.  The show depicts the distress and eventual death by suicide of a teenage girl.  

This letter is not intended to recommend viewing this series.  Our intention is to provide you with information we think is relevant to the health and wellbeing of our students.  We are notifying you of this show so that you can make informed decisions about the viewing of this series.  If your daughter chooses to view this series, you may wish to discuss some of the issues raised.  Some of the topics covered in this show include bullying, rejection, sexual assault, abuse, and revenge.  It is important for parents to be aware that this show is about very serious topics.  There are a range of potential impacts it could have on teens, including risks to emotionally vulnerable viewers.

We wanted to provide you with some resources for having conversations
about this series:

• Blog post from SAVE.org a suicide awareness and prevention organization. This post details talking points that can help viewers make sense of this show.  It can also be a healthy tool to help parents discuss this show with teens. 
• Preventing Youth Suicide: Brief Facts and Tips
• Preventing Youth Suicide: Tips for Parents and Educators
• National Association of School Psychologists: 13 Reasons Why

If you have any concerns about your daughter or if she has any concerns about friends who may be at risk of suicide, San Francisco Suicide Prevention and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline are invaluable resources.  

As always, please contact Mercy's Wellness Counselor, Joy Phillips, LMFT, if you want to discuss any concerns regarding your daughter's wellness.  Joy is available during regular school hours when school is in session.

Sincerely,

Mercy Counseling

*Navigating the Tides of Adolescence
Thursday, May 11 - 7:00pm
Serra High School

Dear Mercy Parents,

Serra High School has warmly invited us to join them for an event they are offering to their parent community: "Navigating the Tides of Adolescence", a panel discussion on the unprecedented challenges facing adolescents today. I was fortunate to attend the event last year and I cannot speak highly enough about the expert panelists, the thought-provoking conversation, and the useful resources provided. If you are available the evening of May 11th I encourage you to attend. For more information about the event and to obtain your tickets, please CLICK HERE.

Best,

Joy Phillips, LMFT

Wellness Counselor

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.

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. 

  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. It can be returned to the Mercy Library with a check for the appropriate amount. *The due date for the return for book orders has been extended to this Friday - May 5.

HELP NEEDED

SENIOR PARENTS UPCOMING EVENTS

*Senior Transition Night

May 11th at 6:30 PM in The Great Hall

College Counselor, Francesca Ohanessian, and Wellness Counselor, Joy Phillips, invite Seniors and their parents/guardians to an evening of reflection and conversation about the end of high school and transition to college. We will discuss common challenges students and families face during this time and provide helpful strategies for a healthy and successful transition from Mercy.
To RSVP for this event, please CLICK HERE.

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

*Please RSVP to Carol Fraher at cfraher@mercyhsb.com

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

*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
May 4 - 10

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
• 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.
• *Be sure to accept any financial aid offers in addition to submitting your deposit. The financial aid will not automatically transfer to your account. Follow the instructions in your financial aid award letter for the most accurate way to accept College financial aid.
  

*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.  Last day to register for the June test is May 4th!
  
  
• *REGISTER FOR THE ACT: Log on to www.actstudent.org for more information on how to register. Last day to register for the June 10th exam is
  May 5th!
  
  
• 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.
  
  

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

Thursday 5/4: Our Homemade Mac and cheese  Our gourmet cheese sauce over Italian Pasta with  Broccoli OR Homemade loose Sausage and a green Salad

Friday 5/5: *FRIDAY (Switch): 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. 

*NEXT WEEK's Menu - Please see Schoology

MUSIC AT KOHL

Mercy High School

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

www.mercyhsb.com