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20 April 2020
Dear Families,
Yesterday was the Feast of the Divine Mercy, which the Church has celebrated on the Octave of Easter since 2000. In her diary, the Polish nun St. Faustina Kowalska reported her many conversations with Jesus, who asked her to portray a vision of the mercy that flows from Him to the world. St. Faustina wrote that her prayer, the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy, serves three purposes: to obtain mercy, to trust in Jesus’s mercy, and to bring mercy to others. Like the Rosary, the Chaplet repeats this clear prayer:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
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Although we are still virtual, all of us at Mercy hope that you and your family had a restful Easter break. As you know, Maryland schools will remain closed until May 15, and we will continue with Mercy Online 2.0. The schedule and calendar are attached. We have been especially concerned over the amount of screen time that has been necessary for both our Mercy Girls and our faculty, so we will have two days of respite – tech-free days, time to step away from our screens with no direct instruction, but time to relax and reflect. These days will be held on Friday, May 1 and Friday, May 15; they are listed as R & R.
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You will notice that Mercy Online 2.0 includes daily Magic Time at the end of the day, and this is devoted to celebrating our community and addressing the health and wellness of our Mercy Girls. Before the current pandemic hit, adolescents were already feeling a good deal of stress, and now they and we are feeling even more. The American Psychological Association is a very good resource for families, and provides tips to help us help them manage stressful lives.
Mindfulness is another way that parents can approach the stress we are feeling during the pandemic. This link includes a number of helpful hints for parents to approach mindfulness in families – and be sure to notice that adolescents are addressed at the very end!
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As all those in our community know, the environment is one of the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy. On Friday, April 24, students in Law and Social Action will meet with Caryn Brookman, Owner/Principal, and Bob Maimone, AICP, P'19, Senior Environmental Specialist, Blackwater Environmental, which specializes in compliance with the National Environmental Protection Act for companies and institutions offering environmental planning services. Blackwater Environmental Group's clients include several State of Maryland agencies, including Baltimore City. More information can be found here. It is important that Ms. Brookman and Mr. Maimone talk with the students this week, as we celebrate Earth Day on April 22.
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Let's not forget our artistic outlets! Show us your art is back this week with an Earth Day theme! Send us photos of your photos, knitting or crocheting, paintings, drawings, mixed media, and more! Make some music! Dance in your living room! Write a poem! Please submit to showusyourart@mercyhighschool.com to be shared! Parents, faculty, alumnae, and of course students--we can't wait to see what you're working on!
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Just announced! Mercy High School will host a NEW Dance Camp this summer for rising 6th-9th graders. Read more and help us spread the word!
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Please join freshman Eva Cahill to write letters to nurses, doctors, technicians, environmental services workers, nutrition providers, social workers, and all those on the front lines of this pandemic to thank them for their service. Letters can begin with “Dear Healthcare Provider.” You can offer a “Thank you!” and “Please keep going!” For more information, please read Eva’s explanation.
Letters should be sent to:
Johns Hopkins Medicine Unified Incident Command
Attention: Operation Thank You
600 North Wolfe Street
Billings Administration Building
4th floor, suite 411
Baltimore MD, 21287
If you have any questions about this project, please email Ms. Marion at memarion@mercyhighschool.com.
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Ms. Kristy Cummings, Director of College Counseling, and I have prepared a two-part presentation for parents and guardians of sophomores. The first is on course planning for junior and senior years and the second is focused on your daughter’s upcoming college planning process. These presentations and supporting documents can be found at:
Sophomore Parent Night Part 1 Video
Sophomore Parent Night Part 2 Video
College Planning Reference Sheet
We know that there is no better way than to meet in person, but right now our best option to give you the information that you need in virtual meetings. If you have any questions, please be in touch with your daughter’s adviser or with either one of us.
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Finally . . .
On this Divine Mercy Sunday, we are grateful for the final prayer that St. Faustina presents to us:
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.
Please be in touch with your daughter’s adviser, her teachers, Ms. Marion, or me if you have any concerns or questions. We will be sending out a survey at the end of the week for both parents and for students, so please look out for it.
Have a good week! Pray, keep structure, love your children, and stay healthy.
Warmest regards,
Jeanne A. Blakeslee
Principal
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