Memos & MemoriesVol. 28, No. 1, Fall 2009Memos & Memories <strong>is</strong> publ<strong>is</strong>hed threetimes a year for alumnae <strong>and</strong> friends ofMother of Mercy High School by theDevelopment <strong>and</strong> Alumnae Office.Admin<strong>is</strong>trationKirsten MacDougalPresidentSr. Nancy Merkle, RSM ‘62PrincipalDiane LaakeAss<strong>is</strong>tant PrincipalHeather WagnerAss<strong>is</strong>tant PrincipalRalph BradburnBusiness ManagerEdi<strong>to</strong>rL<strong>is</strong>a Mahon Fluegeman ‘78fluegeman_l@motherofmercy.orgDesign <strong>and</strong> La<strong>you</strong>tAimee Wolf Reilly ‘80DevelopmentCasey Conner Betz ‘69Direc<strong>to</strong>rDonna Eddingfield,Development Ass<strong>is</strong>tantNancy Conway Jam<strong>is</strong>on ‘85Donor Relations Coordina<strong>to</strong>rBarb Cruse Baker ‘73Mercy Gras Coordina<strong>to</strong>rMother of Mercy High School3036 Werk RoadCincinnati, OH 45<strong>21</strong>1Phone: 513.661.2740Fax: 513.661.1842www.motherofmercy.orge-mail: alum@motherofmercy.orgPlease direct all address changes orcorrespondence <strong>to</strong> the above address.2|memos & memoriesBoard ofTrusteesContents3 Message From The President6 Student Activities9 From the Principal14 Reunion News15 New Arrivals17 Born <strong>to</strong> Eternal Life18 Alumnae NewsBonnie Perrino-Badinghaus ‘69Mary Jo BarnettEric ChermelyAnne Flanagan ‘69Sr. Dor<strong>is</strong> Gottemoeller, RSMRichard KellyPatrick KowalskiMichael LaRosaMaggie LundKirsten MacDougalMichael McKennaRoberta Baechle Michel ‘61Sr. Nancy Merkle, RSM ‘62Thomas Scheid
message from the presidentSeveral years ago, when she was three, my eight-year-old daughter started attendinga Montessori school, as an alternative <strong>to</strong> full-time dayc<strong>are</strong>. Combinedwith her Catholic Religious Education classes every weekend plus Mass, we feltconfident she was receiving the best of both worlds: a terrific education that fostersindependent learning, plus the cons<strong>is</strong>tent opportunity <strong>to</strong> learn about our Catholicfaith through classes at our par<strong>is</strong>h. Year-<strong>to</strong>-year we would consider again if it was time <strong>to</strong>switch <strong>to</strong> a Catholic elementary school, but every year, certain things were working so well,we would renew our commitment <strong>to</strong> th<strong>is</strong> kind of hybrid-model of “Catholic education.”It was during second grade, shortly after her First Communion, that our daughter camehome from school one day <strong>and</strong> said, “Mom, Dad – I want <strong>to</strong> go <strong>to</strong> a school where I can talkabout God with my friends.” Well – time <strong>to</strong> go! I was thrilled <strong>and</strong> I was proud. So th<strong>is</strong> currentthird grade year <strong>is</strong> her first in a Catholic school <strong>and</strong> the experience has been wonderfulfor her <strong>and</strong> eye-opening for us as p<strong>are</strong>nts.The practice of our faith <strong>is</strong> not a “weekend activity” for children like intramural soccerwhere they can practice a few hours <strong>and</strong> ab<strong>and</strong>on the activity the rest of the week. Certainl<strong>you</strong>r daughter was learning Catholic values <strong>and</strong> passages from the Bible, but one class onSunday was not the same as having faith integrated in<strong>to</strong> her school day, sh<strong>are</strong>d in with herclassmates, <strong>and</strong> celebrated with her teachers. Our daughter has blossomed in a way thatI believe only comes from the trust <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>ing that God <strong>is</strong> with each of us in ourdaily lives, <strong>and</strong> it <strong>is</strong> her school that has made th<strong>is</strong> difference – her Catholic school.It wasn’t until our daughter was actually attending her new school did we truly d<strong>is</strong>coverwhat we’d been m<strong>is</strong>sing. That’s Mercy. It’s a school that has <strong>to</strong> be experienced; it’s a schoolthat quietly goes about achieving excellence in every way; <strong>and</strong> it’s a community that wrapsits arms around <strong>you</strong> <strong>and</strong> leads <strong>you</strong>ng women <strong>to</strong> become more than they ever thought theycould be. Mercy <strong>is</strong> a school that should not be m<strong>is</strong>sed, <strong>and</strong> it <strong>is</strong> my job as President <strong>to</strong> makesure more families d<strong>is</strong>cover Mercy <strong>and</strong> all that it has <strong>to</strong> offer.Kirsten MacDougalPresidentMother of Mercy High School3036 Werk RoadCincinnati, OH 45<strong>21</strong>1513.661.2740So, why a President?As most of <strong>you</strong> <strong>are</strong> aw<strong>are</strong>, Mercy’s Board of Trustees elected <strong>to</strong> move <strong>to</strong> a new model ofleadership as of September 1, 2009. Mercy has adopted the President – Principal organizationwhich <strong>is</strong> now in place at more than half the high schools in the Archdiocese ofCincinnati. More <strong>and</strong> more Catholic schools <strong>are</strong> seeing th<strong>is</strong> model as the answer <strong>to</strong> theever-growing dem<strong>and</strong>s on a principal in recruiting, finances, fund ra<strong>is</strong>ing, public relations<strong>and</strong> business management. With my attention given <strong>to</strong> the leadership of these critical<strong>are</strong>as, our principal, S<strong>is</strong>ter Nancy Merkle, <strong>is</strong> once again able <strong>to</strong> focus her attention <strong>to</strong> academics,p<strong>are</strong>nt relations <strong>and</strong> professional development of teachers. The daily operation ofthe school remains the principal’s priority while that of the President <strong>is</strong> more v<strong>is</strong>ionary <strong>and</strong>strategic. Operating much like a CEO (Chief Executive Officer) <strong>and</strong> COO (Chief OperatingOfficer) of a corporation, the President <strong>and</strong> Principal work collaboratively <strong>to</strong> continuallyimprove our educational product <strong>and</strong> strengthen Mercy for the years ahead.FALL/WINTER 2009| 3
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