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Welcome to the 2017-18 school year!
This edition of Laker Life is longer than usual since it contains important information for current MPS families. To our alumni and other friends, please enjoy the Laker news that is also included.
IMPORTANT MESSAGES
From the principal: Mrs. Deborah Laughlin
UPCOMING WEEK
Sunday, August 20
2:00 — 4:00 Freshman Welcome Get Together (for freshmen and their parents)
Wednesday, August 23
9:00 — 2:30 International student orientation
Thursday, August 24
9:00 — 11:00 a.m. Senior orientation
11:00 — 1:00 p.m. Junior orientation
1:00 — 3:00 p.m. Sophomore orientation
Friday, August 25
8:20 — 3:00 p.m. Freshman orientation — Wear your uniforms and bring a bag lunch. Drinks will be sold in the cafeteria.
iPad training for transfer students in the DREAM Lab — choose one session from among the following: 8:55 — 10:20 a.m., 10:25 — 11:50 a.m., 12:25 — 1:50 p.m.
Both groups above should bring your fully charged iPads!
Monday, August 28 - All students report
First full day — A day schedule
Full uniforms required
9:45 a.m. — Prayer Service
All students are expected to wear uniforms beginning August 28. Dismissal will be at 3:00 p.m. on that date.
Tuesday, August 29
B day schedule
FRESHMAN ORIENTATION
Freshmen report to school Friday, August 25 from 8:20 a.m. — 3:00 p.m. As the cafeteria will not be serving lunch on this day, students should bring a packed lunch. Drinks will be sold in the cafeteria. Students should wear uniforms; however, if uniform pieces have not yet arrived, students may wear dress clothes similar in style to the uniform. Students should also bring a notebook and pen or pencil.
On this day, freshmen will receive locker assignments and learn how to operate their locks, they will learn a bit about our school culture, they will attend a class meeting, and they will participate in iPad training. Ninth graders will also follow a mock schedule so that they may meet their teachers and locate their classrooms.
NOTABLES
SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSED SEPTEMBER 4 FOR LABOR DAY.
STUDENT HANDBOOK
The student handbook explains school policies regarding all aspects of student life. Its purpose is to help us to maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning, allow a positive school culture to flourish, and to foster the growth of self-discipline. All MPS students will have access to the student handbook on their iPads, and it will also be posted on the school website (www.mpslakers.com). We encourage parents and students to read it together, familiarizing themselves with the contents. Go to Student & Parent Resources, Handbooks & Policies.
COURSE INFORMATION & SYLLABI
In an effort to conserve paper, we have asked our teachers to post their course syllabi online. In addition to the major topics covered in the class, the syllabus includes information regarding course materials, grading and any policies unique to that course. Parents, while students will become familiar with the course syllabi in their classes, it will be valuable for you to review these documents as well. You can access them at Student & Parent Resources/Teacher Websites/Teacher Name.
HEALTH INFORMATION
 IMMUNIZATIONS: In March 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (Department) amended its regulations to school immunizations. These regulations are effective Aug. 1, 2017 and include the following properly spaced vaccines: 4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis, 4 doses of polio, 3 doses of hepatitis B, 2 doses of MMR, and 2 doses of varicella. Required for entry into 7th grade are 1 dose of Tdap and 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV). Required for entry into 12th grade is an additional dose of MCV. If the child has not received a previous dose on or after the child's 16th birthday, a dose of MCV received at 16 years of age or older shall count as the 12th grade dose. Student(s) who do not have their immunizations upon school entry risk exclusion on the first day of school. Exemptions for medical, religious/philosophical reasons are allowed by law.
HEALTH SCREENINGS: Health screenings are scheduled throughout the year. Each student’s height, weight and vision are screened annually. Students in eleventh grade also have a hearing screen. Screening results are mailed home for each student. As part of the school health program, we are required to record the outcome of any referral sent during the screening process. If you receive a screening referral for your son/daughter, please return the completed referral form to the school nurse.
PHYSICAL EXAMS: Pennsylvania school code requires a physical exam in eleventh grade. This exam is best completed by your child’s own health care provider. Eleventh grade students who have not returned a physical exam report by October 15th will be scheduled for an exam by the school doctor. An exam completed during tenth grade (not the summer before tenth grade) satisfies the exam requirement for eleventh grade. If your son/daughter has a physical exam done for any reason during the tenth grade school year (routine exam, sports physical, driver’s permit), please provide a copy to the school nurse; your child will not need another exam in eleventh grade.
MEDICATION POLICY: For the safety of all students, students are not permitted to carry any medication in school, either on their person or stored in their locker. If you would like to have an over-the-counter medication available to your son/daughter during the school day (pain reliever, antacid, allergy medication, etc.), you may do so by completing the written authorization form (available on the MPS website under Parent Downloads – go to Student and Parent Resources / Student and Parent Downloads / Medical Authorizations) and providing the medication, in its original container, to the principal’s office. Medications will be secured in, and dispensed from, the office of the principal’s secretary. All prescription medications must be accompanied by a written health care provider’s order (see Parent Downloads). Prescription medications are to be kept in a correctly labeled pharmacy container. You may ask your pharmacist for an extra labeled container for school use. Prescription medications are also secured in, and dispensed from, the office of the principal’s secretary. EXCEPTION: With a health care provider’s written order, students may carry an asthma inhaler or epinephrine auto-injector (see Parent Downloads).
SPECIAL HEALTH CONDITIONS: If your child has been diagnosed with a health condition (asthma, seizures, diabetes, heart problems, etc.), please keep the nurse/school updated on your child’s care and treatment. This information is held confidential in your child’s health record, but it is important for providing appropriate care for your child if a medical event occurs in school—which can happen unexpectedly. Parents are asked to complete an updated care plan each year. Your child’s teachers are notified of health conditions that may create an emergency situation in school so that they can recognize early symptoms of a potentially serious problem and init
TUITION
It is most important that 2017-18 FACTS tuition payments be up to date as we depend upon them to pay our bills. All financial arrangements should already have been made with the business office. If you have not made arrangements, please do so immediately by calling 814.824.2315. Reminder: FACTS tuition payments must be current in order for the student to start each term.
CAFETERIA
The cafeteria will begin serving lunch on Monday, August 28. If you would like to add money to your student’s account, you can do so in person or online. You will need your student’s ID number, which can be found on his or her schedule. For the online option, go to: myschoolbucks.com, located on the MPS website, mpslakers.com. Mercyhurst Prep is the school district. The parent help number is 800.479.3531.
If you prefer, you can bring in a check or cash to the cafeteria manager, and it can be put directly into your student’s account. Checks should be made payable to Metz/MPS.
If you need assistance, please call Mrs. Diane McCullough, food service director, at 814.824.2645.
BUSSING
CITY OF ERIE PARENTS: A letter via e-mail was sent to you to inform you of changes in the City of Erie bussing protocol. Please be sure to follow the instructions in the email and go to the Erie Public School web site: www.eriesd.org , click on Back to School Info and look for the link that is underlined, click on that and it will take you to information regarding the new school year. Keep scrolling down until you find Transportation and read through the new changes for bussing. ALL STUDENTS WHO LIVE 2 MILES OR MORE FROM SCHOOL WILL HAVE TO FILL OUT A NEW BUS CARD. THIS CAN BE DONE AT THE FRONT OFFICE AT MPS. Bus Routes and times have changed. Students will be able to ride the bus without a pass until SEPTEMBER 11, 2017, AND THEY WILL START CHECKING FOR THE PASSES AFTER THAT DATE. IF A STUDENT DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR A FREE PASS, HE OR SHE WILL HAVE TO PAY A FEE. Parents can contact Mrs. Paula Dworakowski (824.2210) or they can contact Melissa at EMTA 452.2801 EXT. 113. Mrs. Dworakowski will do her best to get information out to parents as this new system gets started.
MILLCREEK PARENTS: a letter was emailed to all Millcreek parents regarding bussing and schedule information. If you did not receive that e-mail, please contact Mrs. Paula Dworakowski with your e-mail address, and the information will be e-mailed to you. There is a form that you must complete in order to receive your bussing information.
PARKING AND TRAFFIC FLOW REMINDERS
Welcome to Mercyhurst Prep! I hope you had a restful summer and are ready to have a great school year. On the first day of school you may notice that we utilize four staff members each afternoon from 3:00-3:20 in the front of the building to help direct traffic. This time of day can be hectic in the front of the building so I am providing a few reminders.
A.M. Drop-off – each day the students need to be in homeroom by 8:20 a.m. There are two lanes in front of the building. The lane closest to the school is for buses to drop off students. Car drop-off should use the outside lane. As long as there are no buses in the inside lane, you can use both lanes, but please use caution when crossing a lane of traffic to get to the building, and if you see buses, stay in the outside lane.
Early Dismissal – on early dismissal days the students are dismissed at 12:06 and many more students get rides in cars than on normal dismissal days. Please plan to pick students up at 12:10 to give students time to go to their locker and get outside.
For your information, any day of the week:
P.M. Dismissal – on a normal 3:00 dismissal day, the lane closest to the building is reserved for school buses. The buses come from many different districts and arrive at various times from 2:45 until 3:20, so please keep that lane clear. The outside lane is the lane that I help keep moving by standing by the edge of the parking lot. In the outside lane there is a yellow “yield to pedestrians” sign in front of the gym doors. I recommend that the first car in that lane pull up to that sign but not beyond until they have loaded their student and are ready to exit. This works well from 3:00-3:20 as it allows newly arriving vehicles to pass stationary cars and exit in a timely fashion. I generally will not ask anyone to move a vehicle unless traffic flow is impeded.
The faculty parking lot has two lanes. The one closest to East Grandview is used for exiting cars; no one should ever park there. The lane next to that can be used to stop and wait for students. Please pull forward when you are able so that cars behind you can pull forward as well.
General Information – the south side of East Grandview Boulevard is a no parking zone, and the Millcreek police have indicated that they will ticket cars that park there. The Sisters of Mercy parking lot begins at the yellow double lines between their parking lot and our student parking lot. Please do not park in the Sisters of Mercy parking lot.
We have three staff members on East Grandview Boulevard directing cars and buses in and out of our pick-up area. Please use caution on the street and in our pick-up area since nearly 600 people will use that area to exit school property between 3:00 and 3:20.
Thank you in advance of the start of the year!
Mr. Tom Rinke, Assistant Principal
ORDERING OR RETURNING UNIFORMS
Representatives from Flynn and O'Hara will be in the gym foyer of Mercyhurst Prep School on Tuesday, September 12, from 10:00 AM-12:30 PM. You will be able to return uniform pieces in need of exchange and place orders for replacement or new items, although you will not be able to obtain new uniform items to take with you on that day. Please download the order form for this specific event. Orders can also be placed by calling 800.441.4122 or you can order online. Convenient links for ordering can be found at www.mpslakers.com.
Please be sure that your female students try on their skirts to ensure that the length is no shorter than 4 inches above the knee, front and back. Necessary alterations should be made or new skirts purchased prior to the start of school. In addition, please check the condition of the hems of trousers; if seams are split or hems are frayed, new trousers should be purchased. Please note also that the optional uniform shorts must be purchased through Flynn & O’Hara to ensure compliance with MPS dress code. If your child does not own an optional uniform sweater or approved MPS crew neck or quarter zip sweatshirt, consider purchasing one before the cold winter months arrive. Remember, however, that the uniform sweater is the only one that can be worn on a dress uniform day. The school spirit store has sweatshirts in stock, and sweaters can be purchased from Flynn & O’Hara.
If you placed a uniform order this summer and the items have not arrived by the start of school, please send a note to that effect for your student’s homeroom teacher and have your child wear dress clothing as close in design to the uniform as possible. Black, navy or gray dress pants and a dress shirt or polo would be appropriate for boys, and ladies could wear the same or a uniform length skirt and dress blouse.
If you have uniforms that are in good condition that your student can no longer wear, they can be donated to Campus Ministry. Any questions may be addressed to Mr. Paul Cancilla at 824.2317.
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Students Attended MASH
Showing off their diplomas are l to r: Hannah Perfetto ’18, Tyler Kloss ’18, Courtney Jung ’19, Tatiana Yurchak ’19, Jackie Gainnelli ’18, Rachel Praetzel ’19, Lauren Fletcher ’19, Ashley McWilliams ’17, Kaitlyn Klein ’18, Abbey Nixon ’17, Gianluca Ianiro ’17 and Amanda Barbale ‘18
MPS graduates and current junior and seniors who were interested in pursuing a career as a health care professional, attended the LECOM MASH (Mobile Application for Science & Health) program in June. They were able to experience various hands-on labs related to a health care career.
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Kudos to Artists
Courtlynn Stuckey and Dr. Jamie Borowicz at the awards ceremony
Courtlynn Stuckey and Freya Zhang, graduates from the class of 2017, were two of the three winners of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Artist’s Association art scholarship awards. Courtlynn is pictured here with MPS art teacher Dr. Jamie Borowicz.
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A Hike at Allegheny State Park
L to r front: Becca Swanson ’18 and Katie DeDionisio ’18; l to r back: Jon Reddinger ’18, Alex Simpson ’19, Mike Deutsch ’19, Ben Rosenthal ’19, Mitchell Razanaukas ’19, Jake Zimmerman ’18, Matt Ahrens ’19, David Rathburn ’20, Will Iamuzzella ’20, Mason Baganski ’18, Ashley Cyparski ’20, Noah Habursky ’21, Nick Walters ’20, John Bauman ’18, Nate Habursky ’21, Tyler Hansen ’21, Lauren Habursky ’19, Brooke Talbot ’19, Rachel Praetzel ’19, Claire Razanaukas ’21 and Grace Talbot ‘21
Students and chaperones traveled to Allegany State Park on July 18th. They climbed Thunder Rocks, had afternoon prayer, lunch and ice cream sundaes with assistant principal Tom Rinke and his family at his cabin, and ended the day with a three mile hike through one of the trails in the park. There were 23 students from all grade levels including incoming 9th graders. Chaperones were Fr. Steve Schreiber, Fr. Kyle Adamczyk from OLP, Mrs. Hannah Tatar, Ms. Ameliarose Wagner, and Ms. Sarah Gdaniec ‘05.
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The MPS Alumni Road Show is heading your way. You are invited to a free MPS Alumni Happy Hour at Irish Pub, 2007 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. The event is Thursday, August 31 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Lisa at 
All current Laker parents are invited to a back to school party at MPS. This is a free event to welcome you back, and in the case of our freshman and transfer student parents, to welcome you to the Laker Family! Meet other MPS families and find out what’s happening for parents this school year. You can also take a chance to win an MPS prize basket valued at $1,200!
