Morgan Reid, Class Of 2015 - Mount Mercy Academy

Dear Future Mount Mercy Academy Parents and Students,I am so pleased that you have chosen to consider Mount Mercy Academy for your high school experience! MountMercy Academy is a premier high school for young women sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, meeting the needsof parents and students interested in acquiring an education of the highest quality. I assure you that the MMAAdministration and Faculty constantly strive to maintain a nurturing atmosphere where Mercy students are calledto be women of faith, knowledge, integrity, and compassion.As an Administrator at Mount Mercy for ten years, I have witnessed the academic achievement, social development,and spiritual growth of hundreds of young women who have experienced the advantage of a Mercy education.The accomplishments of our graduates are truly remarkable, as they advance in life to become the women leadersin our communities.Today’s MMA student has access to the best in technology, efficiently designed classrooms and labs, individualattention and small class sizes, a Woman’s Leadership Academy, an Academy of Science and Healthcare, serviceand student ministry opportunities, available online courses, articulation agreements with local colleges, an excellentsports and co-curricular program, Advanced Placement courses, award winning handbell, vocal, and show choirs,and so much more!I am sure you will find exactly what you are searching for in an outstanding educational experience at Mount MercyAcademy. Our seasoned professional staff is here to guide you through this important process and will work tomake your transition to high school as seamless as possible! God bless you as you make key decisions in the comingmonths. I look forward to welcoming you to Mount Mercy Academy very soon!Sincerely,Margaret Cuthbert Staszak ’75Principal

masteringknow

ledgeOne of our academic goals is for all Mercy graduates to earn a diploma with Advanced Designation.The academic programsavailable at Mount MercyAcademy are second to none– the core curriculum, justthe starting point. Challengingcourses and classroom rigorare trademarks of our programas we strive to educate thewhole student in accordancewith our mission.“Every student at Mount MercyAcademy is given the tools andopportunity to increase herconfidence and be successful.We will be the leaders of thefuture. I truly believe that.”– laura pantano, Class of 2013President Sister Mary Ellen Twist RSM ’60and Principal Margaret Staszak ’75

Mount Mercy Academy offers a unique career internship program for students toexperience various professions first hand. Students have the opportunity to interactwith professionals in the medical or healthcare field of their choice as well as gainexposure to many other careers.MMA teamed up with administration and staff at Mercy Hospital to create a vividlearning experience. Students begin interacting with the professional communityas freshmen through the Healthcare Career Club. As juniors, students have theopportunity to complete 6-8 shadow rotations within the Hospital. Seniors selectan area of concentration and complete a hands-on internship in the field of theirchoice, not necessarily healthcare specific.“How many high school juniorshave had the opportunityin a hospital? That’s what I gotto do in my pathology rotationlast year through the Academyof Science and Healthcare.”– Janelle Lauciello, Class of 2012Our unique block schedule simulates that of the college environment and preparesstudents for the organizational and time management demands they will face afterhigh school. The schedule also provides a collaboration period where teachers areavailable for one-on-one tutoring assistance.mMount Mercy Academy currently offers 11 Advanced Placement courses forpotential college credit. Academically qualified students may register for the APprogram in a variety of different subjects. College credit is awarded through criteriaspecific to each college/university.

The MMA Academy of Science and Healthcare in collaboration with Bishop TimonHigh School is the only one of its kind in WNY that is partnered with the Catholic Health System.ore thanjust a classroom

Last year, Mercy graduates were each awarded, on average, $110,000 in college scholarships or merit-based financial aid.college bound

“The college application process can beoverwhelming. Working with the MMACounselor, our daughter was able to calmlyand methodically get through it all, takingresponsibility for the work that was requiredof her. The Counseling Center helps createa balance of guiding the process, whileensuring our daughter’s essays and applicationswere stellar and deadlines were met.Mount Mercy Academy’s College Counseling Center offers comprehensive collegecounseling services for our students. Our focus in the college counseling process isto educate and empower, as we guide our students to a post-high school educationsearch that fits the individual student both academically and socially.Our College Counseling Center offers the following assistance and guidance:• Assistance with college research and college list development• Evaluation of personal strengths for effective college admission• Assistance in completion and review of college applications• Assistance with obtaining quality letters of recommendation• Financial aid and scholarship research• Essay development and review• Interview preparation as needed• Assistance with evaluation for final enrollment decisionThe end result is she got into her firstchoice of college, early decision!”-Parent of a 2012 MMA GraduateAlfred State CollegeAlfred UniversityArizona State UniversityBoston UniversityBuffalo State CollegeCanisius CollegeCapital UniversityCazenovia CollegeClarion UniversityClarkson UniversityCurry CollegeDaemen CollegeDelaware Valley CollegeDenison UniversityDillard UniversityDrexel UniversityDuquesne UniversityD’Youville CollegeEdinboro UniversityElmira CollegeFairfield UniversityFashion Institute of TechnologyFordham UniversityGannon UniversityGrove City CollegeHilbert CollegeHofstra UniversityHoly Family UniversityHope Medical InstituteIona CollegeIthaca CollegeJohn Carroll UniversityJohnson & Wales UniversityLaSalle UniversityLeMoyne CollegeLoyola College MarylandLoyola College ChicagoLycoming CollegeMansfield UniversityMarietta CollegeMarymount Manhattan CollegeMedaille CollegeMercyhurst CollegeMitchell CollegeNew York UniversityNewbury CollegeNiagara UniversityNortheastern UniversityNYU Polytechnic InstitutePace UniversityPaul Smith’s CollegePratt InstituteQuinnipiac UniversityRhode Island UniversityRipon CollegeRober Morris UniversityRochester Institute of TechnologyRussell Sage CollegeSage College of AlbanySaint John UniversitySavanna College of Art & DesignScranton UniversitySiena CollegeSlippery Rock UniversitySt. Bonaventure UniversitySt. John Fisher CollegeSt. Michael’s CollegeStony Brook UniversitySUNY BrockportSUNY CortlandSUNY FredoniaSUNY GeneseoSUNY OswegoSUNY PlattsburgSyracuse UniversityTemple UniversityThe Airline AcademyThe King’s CollegeThe University of TampaTrocaire CollegeUniversity of AlbanyUniversity of BuffaloUniversity of DaytonUniversity of HartfordUniversity of MassachusettsUniversity of PittsburgUniversity of Pittsburg at TitusvilleUniversity of RochesterUniversity of TampaUtica CollegeVilla Maria CollegeWest Virginia UniversityWidener CollegeWilson CollegeXavier University at Louisiana

“Playing a sport at Mercyis a great way to get involved inand contribute to life at MMA.Even as a freshman, being involvedin team sports gave me anotherMount Mercy Academy is committed to excellence in girls’ athletics. Through experiencesin our athletic program, girls challenge themselves to attain relevant goals and to take theirtalents to the highest possible level of personal performance.Mercy girls are dedicated and motivated role models who recognize the privilege of beinga part of the athletic program. Coaches are devoted to shaping good character and personalgrowth in each and every athlete. Win or lose, Mercy supports and appreciates thecontributions our student athletes and coaches make to the Mercy community.”- Lauren Muscato, Class of 2015MMA is a proud member of the Monsignor Martin League. Many of our students continueon to become Scholar Athletes (maintaining a 90% average and above) and are membersof the All-Catholic teams in their sport. Mercy athletes are recruited by many colleges anduniversities to join their teams.

e strongon & off the field

leaders with passion

“I am a Mercy studentbut I will graduate a– Shannon Moran, Class of 2014”MMA’s Leadership Academy is committed to helping each student tap into her potentialto be a positive, powerful, engaging leader.Students have opportunities each day to demonstrate their leadership skills through strongcharacter and good decision-making in everyday situations. In addition, students have the opportunityto run for elected positions, where they are able to make a positive impact in their school community:McAuley Scholars, National Honor Society, Class Officers, Student Government and Mercy Speaks.These organizational offices provide an opportunity for student officers and committee membersto build leadership skills, identify their own values, foster school spirit, improve communication andlearn the elements of successful team building.Students are also encouraged, through Leadership Academy, to find non-traditional roles of leadershipwithin the walls of MMA as well. There are opportunities to become sports team captains, managea fundraiser, start a new club, organize a school event or navigate her own path to leadership – all ofwhich are vital to the school community. Students create leadership portfolios which can becomevaluable content for their college and scholarship applications.

At MMA, the Arts are an essential partof the curriculum, incorporating anopportunity for creative expressionthrough music, drama, painting, sculpture,ceramics, photography, computergraphics and design.“I never consideredmyself an artist untilI became a Mercystudent and I wasexposed to so manydifferent art forms.Each of us haswhether we realize itfrom the start or not.”– dominique smith,Class of 2013

We welcome all 7th and 8th grade students and their families to be our special guests at all of our Art Shows and Musical Performances. Please contact the Director of Admissions for more information.lightingthe creative spark

alance it allwith fun & friendship

Mount Mercy Academy offers a vibrant, opportunity-filled environment— challenging academics, a wide variety of activities, and students whobring a diverse range of ideas and opinions to the community. To be aMercy girl is to work hard, to learn from others in a positive, supportiveenvironment, to become involved in the life of the school, to make lastingfriendships and have a lot of fun along the way. We believe in theimportance of balance between work, prayer and fun.mercy karaoke, food fights and photo boothsThis may not make any sense to you now... but just wait, it will!The competition of Spirit Week, peer ministry, hallway chatter,prom and dances, supporting and attending sports games, StudentGovernment, the Suscipe, philanthropic and “Because I’m a Senior”dress down days, receiving your unique Mercy ring, contests in theDining Hall, peer tutoring, “Food Fight” food drive for Spirit Points,dinner and dancing with your Dad, sleeping over in the gymnasium,being inducted into the Alumnae Association, meeting a new friendand four years later... you flip your tassles at graduation, standingrose-to-rose and side-by-side... with your friend for life.“exclusive memberThe moment when a girl decides to become a Mercy student is when the “doors of Mercy” open up to her. She is now anof an over 100 year history with over 10,000 living Alumnae and manynew friendships to beShe will forever be known as a ‘Mercy Girl’ and enjoy the unique opportunities that will bemade. presented to her throughout her lifetime.– Mary M. McCafferty, Class of 1980”

“The halls of Mercy create aspecial sister-like bond amongstudents. From the first dayyou walk through the bluedoors, you will feel at home.”– Maia Johnson, Class of 2015welcome

my mma admissions checklistwe want to make your high school selection process easy:c I attended Mount Mercy Academy’s Open House.c I visited Mount Mercy Academy as a shadow.c I submitted my application to take the Mount MercyAcademy Entrance Exam.c I took the Mount Mercy Academy Entrance Exam.c I made sure my parent/guardian completed the(required) FACTS assessment for financial aid.c I completed all (optional) scholarship applications.c I received my Mount Mercy Academy acceptance letter.c I made sure my parent/guardian completed the registrationform so I am officially enrolled as a Mercy Girl.call our admissions office anytimeat 825-8796 or text us at 909-2586

10,000+living Mercy Alumnae11Varsity sports available$110,000on average, in college scholarships ormerit-based financial aid, received byeach Mercy graduates last year90%of Mercy athletes are “Scholar Athletes”with an academic average of over 9070stairs from theground floor tothe third floor100%of Mercy graduates are accepted into college67handbells in theMagic Belle choir56choir chimes as wellfunFACTS& interestingPlacementcoursesavailable atMount Mercy11AdvancedAcademy9 : 1student to faculty ratioMount Mercy Academy | 88 Red Jacket Parkway | Buffalo NY 14220 | (716) 825-8796 | www.mtmercy.org |