Goemaere '13 Signs with Reinhardt

Senior Russell Goemaere has signed to play tennis at Reinhardt University. He is the first Mercy tennis player to sign to play in college. During his tenure as a 4-year member of the Mercy Varsity Tennis Team, Russell garnered every accolade including Most Improved, MVP, and the Bobcat Award. At Baccaulaureate, Russell was also awarded the top prize in Mercy Athletics, the Top 'Cat Award, for being a true representative of OLM on and off the court.

He is pictured here with his parents Renee and Tony Goemaere, sister Paige '11, Reinhardt Tennis Coach Jennifer Sackman, Mercy Tennis Coach Monica Haaland, Mercy Athletic Director Bill Schmitz and Mercy Principal Brian Newhall.

Congratulations!

Griffith '13 Signs with Morehouse

Senior Christian Griffith will continue his baseball career and education at Morehouse College where he received both an athletic and academic scholarship. At Baccalaureate, Christian was named as one of the Top 12 academically in his class, a testimony to his excellence in the classroom.

He is pictured here with his parents Drs. Chris and Jeana Griffith, coaches, Mercy Athletic Director Bill Schmitz and Mercy Principal Brian Newhall. This opportunity for Christian is a result of his hard work both on and off the field at Our Lady of Mercy.

Congratulations Christian!

Girls Track & Field Wins State Title!

The Lady Bobcats Track & Field team has been crowned the 2013 Class A STATE CHAMPIONS! This is the 3rd state title for the girls track program at Our Lady of Mercy.

Placing at State:
State Champs: 4x100 (Teona Myles, Morgan McClure, Anike Thomas, Leah Banks)
State Champs: 4x400 (Landy Thomas, Pauline Cobb, Morgan McClure, Leah Banks) and school record 4:02
State Champ: Leah Banks, 200 Meters
State Runner Up: Leah Banks, 100 Meters
State Runner Up: Morgan McClure, 800 Meters
State Runner Up: Morgan McClure, 400 Meters
State Runner Up: Leah Banks, Long Jump
Margaret Tafanji: 6th in the Discus Throw
Anike Thomas: 4th in the High Jump

This title is the 8th state title for Mercy running. The Cross Country program has 5 state titles and the Track & Field program has 3.

CONGRATULATIONS BOBCATS!

MK Schmitz signs with LaGrange College

Senior Setter, Mary Katherine Schmitz, signs letter of intent to play volleyball for the Panthers at LaGrange College. After setting numerous records for Mercy Volleyball, Schmitz is excited to play for an up and coming college program that is close to home. Schmitz is excited to play for 2nd year Head coach, Julie Moses. "Coach Moses convinced me that she is building the program with the intent of winning the conference every year", said Mary Katherine Schmitz. Mary Katherine is the 8th Mercy volleyball player to sign to play in college since 2009. Her sister Olivia is finishing her freshmen year playing at Birmingham Southern College.

Zenteno '14 Grabs All-Star Soccer Game Selection

Mercy Varsity Soccer Junior Jesus Zenteno was selected by Columbus State University to play in the 3rd Annual Southwest Georgia High School All Star Game.

Congratulations!

Mercy Soccer Moves on to Elite Eight!

Mercy Boys Soccer recorded a hard fought 4-1 win over Savannah Country Day at home on Wednesday afternoon in the State Tournament round of 16.

Led by two goals from Sophomore Minh Bui and goals from Juniors Nick Wells and Jesus Zenteno, the Bobcats make it back to the Elite Eight for the second year in a row!

The Bobcats will face First Presbyterian Day School at 7:00 pm at home this Saturday, May 11th.

Tickets for students will be on pre-sale for $5 during lunches on Thursday and Friday. All tickets are $7 at the gate.

Good luck Bobcats!!

Boys Track Finishes 4th at State Meet

The Mercy Boys Track team finished 4^th overall this weekend at the State Track Meet in Jefferson, Georgia.

Top finishers were:

Christian Coleman - 1st Long Jump, 1st 200M, 2nd 100M

Louis Jourdan - 3^rd 300M Hurdles

Jervon Kyles, Jordan Thomas, Delfayeo Matthews, and Christian Coleman - 3^rd place 4x100

Chib Emefo, Will Rohling, Delfayeo Matthews and Christian Coleman - 4^th place 4x400

Jervon Kyles - 6^th place Long Jump

Delfayeo Matthews - 6^th place 400M

Christian was the top point earner among all Class A athletes. Christian was a standout performer who represented the Mercy community very well!

For the full state meet results: http://ga.milesplit.com/meets/131342-georgia-olympics

Congratulations Bobcats!

Coleman Takes Long Jump Title at State Meet

Mercy junior Christian Coleman is the newly crowned state champion in the long jump. He competed alongside Mercy sophomore Jervon Kyles, who earned a 6th place finish, yesterday at the State Track & Field Championships in Jefferson, GA.

Congratulations Bobcats!

Fine Arts Banquet Tuesday, May 7th 5-7pm

The Fine Arts Banquet is a night when we recognize outstanding students from all of the fine arts classes. If you were in a drama, dance, music, or art class at any time this year, you are invited to join us, Included in the banquet will be the National Art Honors Society induction ceremony, Thespian Honors Society pinning, and Dance Honorary pinning.

It will in the Mercy cafeteria potluck style and free of charge. Please bring the following items for our fine arts banquet (you will earn parent service hours for every dish you bring!)

If your last name begin with A-D please bring paper plates, napkins, and utensils –enough for 20.

If your last name begin with E – K please bring fruit or dessert—enough for 20

If your last name begin with L – P please bring heavy hors d’oeuvres—enough for 20

If your last name begin with Q – Z please bring cups, lemonade, and iced tea –enough for 20

Advanced Placement Exams begin Monday, May 6

AP (Advanced Placement) exams begin on May 6th.

For the full schedule: http://www.mercycatholic.org/upload/Guidance/APExamDates2013.pdf

Students are to report 10 - 15 minutes before their scheduled exam time.

All exams will be taken in the Band room except for the French and Spanish exams which will be given in the Student Support room in the Foreign Language hallway.

Rachelle Brown '13 named State Finalist in 'Doodle 4 Google' Competition

Rachelle Brown '13 competed with over 130,000 artists and was one of only 250 selected from the state of Georgia.

This is a major accomplishment. You may view her winning artwork here.

To view other winning artwork from around the country, check out the Doodle 4 Google online gallery beginning May 1, 2013.

Congratulations, Rachelle!

TONIGHT! Spring Concert - April 26th @ 6:30pm

Join us for the Spring Concert on Friday, April 26th at 6:30 PM which will highlight the talents of students in music and dance.

Kick Start the Heart 5K & Fun Run THIS SATURDAY

Join us for the "Kick Start the Heart" 5K race and 1 mile Fun Run at Our Lady of Mercy this Saturday, April 20th

It's not too late to register! Only $15 (includes a shirt). You can register the day of the race as well for $25.

The 1 mile fun run starts at 8 AM and the competitive 5K race starts at 8:30 AM. Participants of all ages are welcome!

For more information, please call the school or see the links below. We look forward to seeing you Saturday!

Kick Start the Heart Registration Form

Kick Start the Heart Flier

Region Tennis Tournament starts Tuesday, April 16

Both the OLM Varsity Boys and Varsity Girls Tennis teams will travel to compete in the Region 5 Tournament which starts tomorrow, Tuesday, April 16th at Blackburn Tennis Center.

The boys made the quarterfinal round of the tournament after an exciting come from behind victory over region rival Landmark Christian School last week in the play-in round. The Bobcats, who had lost to Landmark twice during the regular season, overcame an 0-2 deficit to defeat Landmark 3-2. Each of the three matches Mercy won went to 3 sets, with the Line 2 Doubles match won by Pham/Shupenus going to a tiebreak. Congrats to entire boys team on their great victory that sent them on in the tournament.

The girls team finished 2nd in the subregion earning them a spot in the quarterfinals to face 3rd ranked Galloway. The girls are looking to make it into the state tournament for the 3rd year in a row.

Congratulations to the tennis teams and good luck in the post-season!

The 2013 Car Raffle Winner is...

Congratulations to Ann Consolino, winner of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School’s car raffle! Ann won a brand new 2013 Ford Focus from Gene Evans Ford in Union City.

This year’s raffle was Mercy’s most successful yet as all 2,000 tickets sold in record time.

Thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket and supported our school!

We hope you will participate in next year’s raffle which will roll out in January 2014!

Archbishop Gregory urges GRACE participation

Watch Archbishop Gregory's recent video about GRACE, the remaining funds, and how you can help:

http://youtu.be/Nkeirxucr2U

For more information on GRACE, please visit www.gracescholars.org or contact Monica Haaland, Director of Advancement.

"The King And I" opens to rave reviews

Mercy's production of "The King And I" opened last night to rave reviews!

From Mrs. DeMello: "This is one of the best shows Mercy has ever produced!!!!!!"
From Mrs. Shaw: "The show is fantastic—a must see!!!! All the cast is great."
From Mr. Beno: "Congratulations to Brooke and the entire Fine Arts Department…a fantastic performance! You have to see this show!"
From Mr. Wojcik: "The Small House of Uncle Thomas scene is very impressive."
From Mrs. Cawley: "The level of acting and singing is superb! ...It's the best show we've EVER done. Seriously folks, a must see, please don't miss it."

There are two performances left - tonight, Friday, March 22 and tomorrow, Saturday, March 23.
Both shows start at 6:30 PM in the OLM auditorium.

**Tickets:
$8 for adults
$5 for non- Mercy students, senior citizens, and college students with current college ID
**Free tickets for current Mercy students only available Thursday and Friday nights.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Baseball Game today moved to Landmark at 5 PM

Due to field conditions, today's (March 20th) varsity baseball game vs. Landmark at 5 PM has been moved to Landmark Christian School.

Pre-Registration Process for 2013-2014 Classes

Please visit this website for details and important dates regarding pre-registration for classes for the 2013-2014 school year:

http://www.mercycatholic.org/Pre-Registration2013

Test Drive a Ford fundraiser at Mercy this Saturday

Mercy has teamed up with Gene Evans Ford of Union City for the "Drive One 4UR School" program. On Saturday, March 16th from 10 AM - 3 PM, we need people to come out to the Mercy Parking Lot to take a FREE test drive of a Ford vehicle.

For every person who test drives a car that day, Ford Motor Company will donate $20 to OLM up to $6,000! This means that we need 300 people to come out and take a test drive that day.

What’s even better: You can designate where $10 of that $20 goes! There’s a form you will complete that day where you can designate which OLM team/club/activity gets $10.

Requirements: Driver must be at least 18 years of age with a valid driver’s license. Only 1 person per household. No purchase necessary.

Email Mrs. Haaland at mhaaland@mercycatholic.org if you have questions.

Please invite friends, neighbors, & relatives to come out to test-drive a Ford on March 16th. The more people that participate, the more $ for Mercy!

Drive One 4UR School Info Flier

Get Your Green On Dance is this Saturday Night!

Join us for our annual St. Patrick's Day party at OLM! Mercy's Get Your Green On Dance (GYGO) is a fun evening full of great food, dancing, and fellowship for our community. Come out and join us for this great Mercy tradition!

Date: Saturday, March 16, 2013

Time: 6:30 - 10:30 PM

Location: OLM

Ticket price: $20 ($25 at the door) - includes a traditional Irish dinner, water/tea/lemonade, and dessert

Other details:
- 21 and up only event
- BYOB (bring your own adult beverage)
- Video DJ for dancing and entertainment
- 50/50 raffles
- Winner of the 2013 Ford Focus car raffle will be selected at 9:30 pm

Tickets can be purchased in the front office or online here: https://www.myowngiving.com/Default.aspx?cid=297

For questions or more info, please contact Monica Haaland.

See you on March 16th!

JV Baseball Opens Season with Win

The JV baseball team opened their season with a 5-3 win over Riverdale last night, holding off the Raiders big 7^th inning rally and getting the final bases loaded out with a popup to second base. Keegan Jordan, Kenny Smith, and Brian Freeman pitched well for the Bobcats and Bryce Griffin led the offensive charge, going 2 for 3.

Students to Participate in Model UN Conference

The Kennesaw State University Model United Nations Conference is scheduled to take place next Monday and Tuesday, March 4^th and 5^th. This conference is a simulation of United Nations's General Assembly and committee meetings, where students debate & vote on topics of world concern.

Mercy students will be representing two countries, Finland & Mali. The student-delegates participating are:

Nastasia Buckley
Justin Cates
Chitra Das
Charlie Faber
Mary Catherine Gagliano
Billie Goolsby
Rachel Jinks
Meghan Lowther
Darrielle McCray
Ann Nguyen
Jennifer Nguyen
Nneoma Njoku

Good luck delegates!

Varsity Baseball Still Perfect

Congratulations to the Varsity Baseball team who improved to a 4-0 start with a 7-6 home win last night over Mt. Zion. The team will travel to Temple today to take on the Tigers at 5:30. GO BOBCATS!

Baseball Improves to 3-0

The Mercy baseball team traveled to New Manchester to take on the Jaguars Monday afternoon. The temperature was cold and the wind was fierce, but the boys battled the elements to secure a victory. Christian Griffith made his debut on the hill and pitched 5 1/3 solid innings, allowing only 2 unearned runs. Austin Loper recorded the save. Offensively, Mercy went up 2-0 in the first inning on a Chris Wesley single and then made it 3-1 on Justin Larkin's sacrifice fly in the 2nd. The score would not change until an RBI double by Kevin Walker in the 6th. Mercy would add two more runs in the sixth and another in the final frame on a Matt Frank single.

Defensively, the Bobcats were solid, highlighted by the inning ending double play by Aaron Ushery, Loper and Frank in the 4th inning when the Jags were threatening to score. Just one inning before, Mercy escaped danger as well when Kenny Smith gunned out a runner at home from left field to end the inning.

Mercy will host Mt. Zion Thursday at 4:00.

JV Baseball Game (2/26) POSTPONED

Due to basketball state playoffs involving Greenforest Christian, the JV baseball game schedule for Tuesday(2/26) will be postponed until a later date.

JV Girls and Boys Soccer Matches POSTPONED

Both of the home JV soccer matches today have been postponed due to weather. The new date is TBD.

Baseball Pictures - Wednesday Feb 27th

Junior Varsity and Varsity baseball players need to bring their uniforms to school on Wednesday February 27th for pictures. Pictures will be taken after school either before or during practice.

Girls Tennis Wins Home Opener

The Mercy Girls Varsity Tennis Team played a solid match against region opponent Mt. Vernon resulting in the team's first win 3-2. Great wins by Jenny Bui, and the doubles teams of Gagliano/Meeks and Batiste/Moran.

The boys team played tough, but was edged out by Mt. Vernon in the end. Congrats to the doubles team of Craig/Morris on their first win on the season! 3 Singles player Malcolm McKnight also had a breakout match despite a loss 4-8.

The team will travel to Blackburn Park tomorrow to take on another region opponent, Holy Innocents' Episcopal School at 4 PM.

Varsity Girls and Boys soccer matches CANCELLED for today 2/19

Today’s spccer match cancellation with Langston Hughes will be made up on Wednesday, Feb. 27^th at the same times 5:30 and 7:30 PM, for girls and boys respectively.

Bobcats Baseball Win Home Opener

The Mercy Baseball team scored 11 runs in the first inning of 2013 to erase a 1-0 deficit and cruise to victory over visiting New Manchester. Austin Loper (1-0) recorded the win and Matthew Frank threw a shutout inning in the top of the fifth to slam the door on the Jaguars. The final tally was 16-3. The Bobcats host Forest Park Thursday at 4pm as the aim to improve to 2-0.

Students Honored for Fall Achievement

Each semester, students are recognized for their academic achievement the previous semester. Excellence Honors students are students who earned a semester average of 96 or higher. Honors students are students who earned a semester average of 90 to 95.9.

Fall 2012 honorees were presented at today's Ash Wednesday School Mass. They will receive their certificates personally from Mr. Newhall and will be treated to an Honors Celebration during the school day on Friday.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Full list of Excellence Honors and Honors students for Fall 2012

JV & Varsity girls soccer games CANCELLED

Car Raffle - Only 5 weeks left!

Car Raffle Update:

If you have any ticket payments and stubs, please turn them in to Mrs. Consolino in the front office as soon as possible. Also, if you have tickets that you will not be able to sell, please return them to the office ASAP so they can be sold at upcoming church dates.

We are coming down the home stretch and doing extremely well! Sales at the various churches have gone very well - last weekend, we sold $6,350 in 2 days at Holy Trinity in Peachtree City! Help us reach our goal of selling all 2,000 tickets! Thank you all for your help!

Save the Date: Get Your Green On Dance – Saturday, March 16th from 6:30 – 10:30 PM at OLM.
Dinner, BYOB, DJ, and the car raffle winner will be announced! Tickets will be sold in the front office and online soon. Please come out for this great adult social event for our community!

Christian Outreach travels to 1st Archdiocesan Justice & Peace Exposition!

The Christian Outreach class is excited to participate in the first Archdiocesan Justice & Peace Exposition
at the Chancery in Smyrna! The trip is open to any students who wish to learn more about living out the call of their faith to work for a more just world. Click here for more information about the expo!

Spring Preview TONIGHT,Tuesday, Feb. 5th

Join us for our Spring Preview (mini open house) event on Tuesday, February 5th from 4 - 6 PM. Prospective students and families are invited to take a campus tour, learn about our academic and extracurricular programs, and inquire about the admissions application and financial assistance processes.

All attendees will also receive free admission to the home varsity basketball games that evening against Eagles' Landing Christian Academy.

If you have any questions, please contact Sandra Livsey-Martin, Director of Admissions and College Guidance, at (770) 461-2202 ext. 418.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

All Spring Sports Practices & 9th Grade Boys Basketball Game CANCELLED

All spring sports practices are cancelled for today. This includes: baseball, soccer, tennis, and track.

Also, the 9th grade boys basketball game at Paideia has been cancelled.

All spring sports athletes have been informed to check in with their coach before leaving school today.

Valentine's Cabaret to benefit Fine Arts - Fri, Feb. 1st

Support Our Lady of Mercy's fine arts department on Friday, February 1st at 7 PM in the cafeteria, for our annual fundraiser, The Valentine's Cabaret, Off-Broadway.

Our fine arts students will delight you in song, dance, and comedy, as we serve homemade gourmet dessert and hot drinks to you and your family. The event was met with rave reviews last year; it is a great date night and a family event in one! In addition to the performances and desserts, there will be a photo booth, a raffle, and a 50/50 raffle.

Price: $15 for adults, $8 for students and staff. All proceeds go toward the spring musical “The King & I”.

Come on out and help your fine arts community!!!

College Rep Visit - Date Change

Winston-Salem State University has had to change their OLM College visit scheduled for tomorrow January 25th. The rescheduled date is Wednesday, January 30th at 10:25 AM.

Celebrating the Legacy of a Hometown Hero

Mrs. Katherine Savage, our music director, and select musicians from our chorus and band added to the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration which took place at St. Peter Claver Regional Catholic School on Sunday, January 20th. They joined students from several Catholic schools from the Archdiocese. Archbishop Gregory was in attendance for the celebration.

ALUMNI BASKETBALL NIGHT - Friday, January 4th

Calling all Mercy Alumni:

Join us for ALUMNI NIGHT at the basketball home games!!

All alumni are welcome back to OLM for the home basketball games on Friday, January 4, 2013. Girls Varsity tips off at 5:30 PM and the Boys Varsity is at 7 PM. Alumni get free admission to both games.

A small reception for alumni in the library follows the boys' game (approx. 9:15 PM). Come by and see your friends and former teachers back home at OLM!

Participate in the Mercy Annual Fund

Participate in the 2012-2013 Mercy Annual Fund

Mercy families, alumni, faculty, friends and supporters are encouraged to support our school and students through financial gifts to the Annual Fund. These unrestricted gifts to Mercy are used for financial assistance, educational resources, and improvement of facilities and equipment including our buses which are now a decade old.

Please return the envelope with your gift enclosed from the mailing last week.

You may also give online here: https://www.myowngiving.com/Default.aspx?cid=297

Every gift counts so please consider participating in the Annual Fund this year.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support of our students!

Gifts to the Annual Fund are fully tax deductible as allowed by law. All gifts received by December 31st are tax deductible for 2012. All gifts must be received by the school by June 30, 2013 to count toward the 2012-2013 Annual Fund.

Lady Bobcat Basketball Claims 3rd in Local Tourney

Congratulations to the Girls Varsity Basketball Team and their third place finish in the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Basketball Tournament held at Strong Rock Christian School from December 20 - 22.

On the first day of the tournament, the Lady Bobcats defeated Coretta Scott King High School 53-38. The next day, the Bobcats fought hard but lost to ELCA 41-25. On the last day of the tournament, the girls were able to regroup and defeated North Cobb Christian School 37-22 to earn third place overall.

Deja Barthell was named to the All-Tournament Team. Congratulations to the Lady Bobcats!

AMA Choir Advent Prayer Service - TONIGHT - 12/20 at 6:30 PM

Celebrate the reason for the season!

All are invited to the AMA Choir Advent Prayer service Thursday, Dec. 20th from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM in the OLM Chapel. Current and alumni AMA choir members join together for this annual event - a beautiful way to reflect and celebrate during Advent.

The prayer service will take place in the chapel with light refreshments served afterward.

For AMA alumni who would like to participate, please contact Mrs. Launay-Fallasse.

Sports Conditioning over Christmas break

Sports conditioning over Christmas break:

Wed, December 26

Fri, December 28

Wed, January 2, 2013

Fri, January 4, 2013

Time: 9 AM - 11 AM each day

Location: Please report to the fieldhouse for conditioning.

For questions, please contact Coach Tolcher or Coach Griffin.

Coca-Cola Fundraiser until Dec. 17

The Basketball teams are participating in a Coca-Cola products sale fundraiser. Products for sale include:

20 oz. Coke classic, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Fanta, Mr. Pibb, Mellow Yellow
12 oz. Coke classic, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite
Dasani Water
PowerAde
Minute Maid Juices
Tum-E Yummies
Vitamin Water

To see all the products for sale or to make a purchase, please fill out the order form below and remit with payment to the front office by Monday, December 17th. Orders will be delivered on Friday, December 21st. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Caruso.

Order Form and List of Coca-Cola Products for sale

Mercy Teacher Jennifer Cawley's Artwork Currently on Exhibit

Jennifer Cawley is not only Mercy's Fine Arts Department chair and art teacher, she is also a working artist whose latest works are on exhibit at the Emily Amy Gallery in downtown Atlanta.

The exhibit titled "You Can't Get There From Here" is free and open to the public on Saturdays from 11 am - 5 pm until
December 31st. Mercy is proud to have such a phenomenal artist and educator as part of the Mercy family!

Mrs. Cawley's exhibit was recently reviewed in Creative Loafing. To read the article visit:
http://clatl.com/atlanta/jennifer-cawley-paints-alternate-realities/Content?oid=7070810

For directions or to learn more about Emily Amy Gallery: http://www.emilyamygallery.com/

Swim Team with Top 10 Finishers at Clayton Invitational

The Mercy Swim Team competed at the Clayton County December Invitational and placed 11th out of 25 schools last weekend. Our "Top Ten" finishers were:

For the men’s team, Danny Dwyer got 1st place in both the 200 Free and the 100 Fly! The 200 Medley Relay Team of Ortiz, Faber, Dwyer, and Faber finished 10th.

For the women's team, Margot Farnet finished 7th in the 50 Free and 6th in the 100 Free, and Chantel Chandonia finished 8th in the 200 IM.

It was an excellent meet for the team with lots of points earned in quite a few events!

Please come out and cheer for us at our next meet Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 at the Jonesboro pool at 5:30 PM. Go Bobcats!

Final Exam Schedule next week

Fall 2012 Final Exam Schedule

Tuesday, December 18 8:00 English
10:00 Theology

Wednesday, December 19 8:00 Math
10:00 Foreign Language

Thursday, December 20 8:00 Science
10:00 Social Studies

On final exam days, students are advised to arrive by 7:45 AM. There is a half hour break from 9:30 - 10 AM each day of exams. Students must exit the building by 12 noon unless they are in an approved, supervised activity.

Make-up exams: Students must make arrangements for make-up exams with their teachers.

If you have any questions about Final Exams, please contact JoAnn McPherson, Dean of Studies.

Last Scrip Gift Card Order before Christmas due 12/12

Dear Mercy Community,

Last week's order was a great success! "Thank you" to all who placed orders! This week's SCRIP Order will be the FINAL ORDER BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY!

As stated last week, many SCRIP vendors are offering added bonuses with a purchase of their SCRIP Cards. Staples and Lands End were added this week, along with an extra 1% from Walmart, LL Bean and Stage Stores.

A new Holiday Specials Flyer - Check it out for all the bonuses!

With holiday gift-giving and shopping needs, Please remember: Buy SCRIP Cards - Use as Cash!!!You can help OLM with the shopping that you do – at no extra cost to you!
Help Mercy earn FREE MONEY during the holidays!

SCRIP Order – due THIS WEDNESDAY, 12/12 in the front office by 9 AM (order form here – payment
duewith form)

You may also order online: www.scripzone.com - Mercy Group ID: 770461OLM

SPECIAL NOTE: Please consider whether your employer has gift card needs. If so, have them place their order through OLM as an added bonus to our school’s fundraising efforts!

If you have any questions about SCRIP, please contact our OLM Scrip coordinator: Nancy Buchieri buchpandt@msn.com

SCRIP information is also available on the Mercy website. http://www.mercycatholic.org/Scrip

Thank you for your support of OLM's SCRIP Program!

Bobcats make 2012 All Region Football Team

Congratulations to the following Bobcats who made the 2012 All Region Football Team!:

Chauncey Laboo - Coaches Award
Rashard Fant - Special Team Player of the Year
Matthew Frank - Offensive Line
Lynix Branch - Defensive Line

Honorable Mention: Chris Wesley - Offensive Line; Anthony Proffit –Defensive Back ; Kalon Anthony – Running Back

Mercy's First High Q Team Emerges Victorious

The Bobcats took their knowledge on the road to the WSB-TV studios in Atlanta today in its first appearance on the long-running TV quiz show "High Q" against Atlanta International School (AIS). After four rounds of back and forth quizzing, Mercy emerged with the win, 490 to AIS's 370.

This is the first year that Mercy has been selected in the lottery for schools that are allowed to compete on the show. Once OLM was selected, Tim Wojcik, the team's sponsor and coach, employed a careful process to find the students who would compete. The team members have been preparing for the last two months and their preparation has been met with success!

The Mercy High Q team includes: Dwayne Flores, Steven Johnston, Chauncey Laboo, Nneoma Njoku, Will Rheingrover (captain), Katy Sage, Tori Shurman, and Katie Wilczynski. Marcy Barbour is the team manager. Johnston, Laboo, Rheingrover, and Shurman comprised the team that competed at the taping this evening.

The episode will be aired this Sunday, December 9th on WSB-TV (Channel 2) at 12:30 PM.

Stay tuned for details on a possible MERCY VIEWING PARTY in Fayetteville on Sunday. Watch how the Bobcats got the win!

More pictures from tonight's taping can be found on Mercy's Facebook page. Click the Facebook link at the bottom of this page. "Like" us!

Professional Black & White photos of your student available for purchase

The remaining professional black & white photos taken of all of our students that were sold the night of the Gala will be sold tonight at the Arts & Crafts fair at OLM.

Each photo is $20. Please consider purchasing your child's photo as a way to support OLM. Thank you!

If you'd like to see the proof of your child's photo:

Visit smapix.com. Click on WEBSITE. Then click on PROOFING. The password is OLM2012.
(The shopping cart is not on, it's just for viewing.)

Christmas Shop tonight at OLM Arts & Crafts Show!

Mercy is hosting an Arts & Crafts Show tonight, Wednesday, December 5th from 4 PM - 8:30 PM in the cafeteria and lobby. Come out to do some early Christmas shopping while supporting our local business owners who will be selling
food, coffee, cider, jams & jellies, tote bags, jewelry, and other home goods!

The Craft Show will be held in conjunction with the Fall Fine Arts Festival showcasing our dance, drama, art, and music students. All student performances will start at 6:30 PM in the auditorium.

Come out and support Mercy Fine Arts!

Tennis Conditioning starts Monday, Dec. 3rd

Conditioning for Tennis will begin on Monday, December 3rd from 3:45 - 4:30 PM.

Conditioning will be held every Monday and Thursday.

All students interested in trying out for the team are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to attend all conditioning days.

A physical form MUST be on file to participate in the tennis conditioning.

For questions, please contact Coach Haaland.

Spring Musical Auditions TODAY, Wednesday, Nov. 28th!

The Spring Musical is The King and I and auditions will be held in the Auditorium on Wednesday, November 28th from 3:15pm until 6pm.

There will be a sign-up sheet on Mrs. Hamilton's door beginning on Tuesday, November 20th. Choose your time slot wisely. Make sure you have no other conflicts as we expect you to arrive promptly during your time slot. It will affect your audition if you are unable to keep your appointment.

Bring your song and dance and best of luck!

Call Backs will be on Thursday, November 29th beginning at 3:30pm in the Auditorium.

Boys Basketball Opens Season With a Win

The varsity boys basketball team opened the season with a convincing win over AIS. It was a good start to the season considering the football players on the team had only one practice to get ready for the season.

The Bobcats won by a score of 57 - 38. It was a total team effort with all 12 players seeing action. The Bobcats travel to Providence Christian for a game on Friday and return home on Saturday to face Pinecrest Academy.

Cheer on the Bobcats at the Football Playoff Game this Friday, 11/23

The Bobcats take on ELCA this Friday, November 23rd in the first round of the GHSA Class A Football Playoffs. This is only the 2nd time in school history that the football team has made the playoffs. The last time was in 2004. We need a great Mercy crowd out there Friday night!

The game will be played at ELCA. Kickoff is at 7:30 PM.

Since this is a GHSA sanctioned playoff game, tickets for all attendees are $12 each.

Come out and cheer the Bobcats on to victory!

Directions to ELCA from OLM:
Take I-75 S to Exit 224 (Eagles Landing Pkwy/Hudson Bridge Rd.).
Turn left onto Eagles Landing Pkwy and go approximately 4 to 5 miles.
Turn right onto Hwy 42 (a gas station is on your right and CVS Pharmacy is on adjacent corner) and go about 1.5 miles. ELCA is on your left. Go to the 3rd entrance.

Use the Replay It app for Droid, iPhone

Our Lady of Mercy's Yearbook staff is happy to announce an exciting new way for students and parents to be involved in creating this year's book.

Replay It is a free app you can download to your Droid or iPhone to share pictures you've taken with the Yearbook! Mercy's password is BOBCATS, all caps. Simply go to the website, find OLM, create a username and share your stuff!

Click here to begin!

Mercy to host Arts & Crafts Fair for the Holidays on Dec. 5

Mercy is hosting an Arts & Craft Show on Wednesday, December 5th from 4 PM - 8:30 PM!

The Craft Show will be held in conjunction with the Fall Fine Arts Festival showcasing our dance, drama, art, and music students. All performances will start at 6:30 PM. Come out and support Mercy Fine Arts!

Poster art by Adrean Andrews, 9th grade

Governor's Honors Nominees Announced

Mercy has nominated 4 students to the state level interviews for the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program.

The Governor’s Honors Program, known as GHP, is a residential summer program for gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors. A function of the Georgia Department of Education, it takes place on the campus of Valdosta State University. The 2013 program will be the 50^th summer, making it the longest continually running program of its kind in the nation.

Mercy's nominees for the 2013 Georgia Governor’s Honors Program are:

Nastasia Buckley - French
Ijeoma Emefo - Dance

Rachel Jinks - Biology

Caleb Lewis - French

Swim Team Takes First Place

On Wednesday, the Mercy swim team was in action versus Lovejoy, Forest Park, North Clayton, Charles Drew, and Mt. Zion. The Bobcat swimmers dominated the field and won the meet.

Mercy had numerous first place finishes as the Bobcats performed at the top of their game. Please join us for our next meet: December 8th at the Jonesboro pool.

Go Bobcats!

Bobcats Earn a Spot in 2012 Football Playoffs

It's been a season of big wins, close losses, and exciting games for the Mercy Bobcats, but all the hard work has paid off. They are in the football playoffs for the second time in Mercy history (their first appearance was back in 2004).

The Bobcats will face Eagles Landing Christian Academy (ELCA) on Friday, November 23 at 7:30 PM. The game will be at ELCA.

This is the Friday after Thanksgiving, but we are hoping for a big crowd to come out and cheer the Bobcats on to a playoff victory!

GO BOBCATS!

New National Honor Society Members Inducted

Congratulations to the following juniors and seniors who were inducted into the National Honor Society yesterday.

Adams, Lauren

Amara, Bockarie

Andrews, Michael

Barfield, Rachel

Buckley, Nastasia

Dunphy, Emma

Dwyer, Daniel

Emefo, Ijeoma

Engram, Nykia

File, Brianna

Flores, Essai

Givens, Eric

Hampton, Dariyah

Iyahen, Violet

Jalajel, Nahyo

James, David

Jinks, Rachel

Lowther, Meghan

McDonald, Jeanine

Moncayo-Sanchez, Jorge

Njoku, Nneoma

Rheingrover, Gary

Salamanca, Rocio

Schwahn, Kendal

Shurman, Jessica

Terrell, Dylan

Todd, Tyler

Turnipseed, Torri

Vicioso, Giovanna

Wanton, Darryl

Wilczynski, Katie

Announcing Replay It!

Our Lady of Mercy's Yearbook is proud to announce an exciting new way for parents & students to be involved with this year's book.

Download the ReplayIt app on any Droid or Iphone to share your pictures with the yearbook staff.

OLM's password is BOBCATS ( all caps).

Click here to explore!

PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Basketball Season

Mercy is seeking parent volunteers for the following:

Official varsity basketball clock operator for home games
Backup clock keeper
Backup book keeper

Preference would be for volunteers to have a working knowledge of the game of basketball. However, volunteers need not have experience and will be trained.

Every Mercy parent is asked to give 20 hours of service to OLM over the school year. This is a great way to earn these Parent Service hours.

If you or someone you know can help us in any way, please contact Bill Schmitz, Athletic Director, at (770)461-2202, ext. 402 as soon as possible.

Thank you for your help in advance!

Canned Food & Clothing Drive to Benefit Hurricane Sandy Victims

Mercy for Life is sponsoring a drive to benefit those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Please bring in canned goods and gently used clothing (for all ages) starting Tuesday, Nov. 13 to Friday, Nov. 16 in the lobby before school.

For questions, please contact Mr. Tolcher.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Record Number attend Open House last Sunday

Mercy hosted its annual Open House on Sunday, November 11th to a record crowd. The morning started with Mass in the auditorium celebrated by Mercy chaplain, Fr. Jimmy Adams, who talked about service in his homily and how Mercy's faculty and staff are called to serve the students who are placed in their care.

Prospective students, parents, and family members were then invited to take a guided tour of the campus led by Mercy student ambassadors, learn about the application process, meet with faculty members, and watch performances from various student groups like the AMA Choir, Dance team, and Drama.

Brian Newhall, Mercy's principal, addressed the Open House guests throughout the day, emphasizing the personalized attention attention and individualized instruction that students at Mercy receive. With small class sizes and a faculty-to-student ratio of 9:1, Mercy is able to reach students where they are in a supportive, familial environment.

With the record number of families who attended the Open House, Our Lady of Mercy is planning for a freshman class of 120 for the 2013-2014 school year which would be the largest class in Mercy history.

Thank you to all the parents and students who volunteered to help at Open House and made it the special event that it was for all of our guests.

We are now accepting applications for January 2013 and the 2013-2014 school year. For more information about applying to Mercy, please contact:

Sandra Livsey-Martin, Director of Admissions & College Guidance
(770)461-2202, ext. 418
smartin@mercycatholic.org

How to Afford a Catholic Education Seminar this Thursday

This seminar is for prospective families who are applying to OLM. It will be led by Mark Beno, Mercy's Director of Finance and Administrator of Tuition Assistance. The seminar will take place in the Mercy Media Center. The following topics will be addressed:

-Why a Mercy education?
-Overview of the Financial Aid process

-Fitting educational costs into your budget

Note: This seminar is aimed at prospective Mercy families. If you are interested in attending Mercy and have questions on tuition costs, financial aid, etc., this seminar is for you.

Please call 678-833-2203 for more information and to RSVP.

Seminar flier

Mercy Hosts Annual Open House this Sunday, Nov. 11th

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School will hold its annual Open House this Sunday, November 11 from 11 AM – 2 PM. Mass will precede in the auditorium at 10 AM. Prospective high school students and their families are invited to learn about the application process and take a guided campus tour. Guests are also able to ask questions about financial aid and meet Mercy teachers, staff, and coaches as well as current students and parents.

"Mercy has been blessed with tremendous growth over recent years, and had its largest freshmen class to date this school year, resulting waiting isn't class with a waiting list," said Sandra Livsey-Martin, Mercy's Director of Admissions and College Guidance. "We offer a well-rounded education for the formation of the entire child: mind, body, and spirit. Attending our Open House is a great way to get a feel for our community, learn about our offerings, and discover whether Mercy is a good environment for your child to grow and be successful."

Our Lady of Mercy is a co-educational college preparatory school guided by the Archdiocese of Atlanta for students in grades 9 through 12. Mercy currently serves more than 370 students from several counties, mainly on the south side of Atlanta, including Fayette, Coweta, Henry, Clayton, Douglas, and Fulton counties.

For more information about Mercy or its Open House, please contact Sandra Livsey-Martin, Director of Admissions, at (770) 461-2202, ext. 418, or visit www.mercycatholic.org. Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School is located at 861 Highway 279, Fayetteville, 30214

Gala 2012: A Great Night for a Great Cause

The school was transformed into an autumn wonderland as Mercy hosted its second annual Gala on Saturday night to a great crowd comprised of current and alumni families, current and former staff and faculty and their families, alumni, friends and honored guests. The theme for the 2012 Gala was "A Bountiful Harvest" and that's exactly what the guests enjoyed! Attendees were treated to a full Thanksgiving feast prepared by Rick Hilley and Brad Anderson which was served at each table, complete with a whole turkey which was carved by a guest at each table. That person was given a commemorative Gala 2012 apron to wear as he/she carved the turkey for the table. The apron became the carver's to keep as a memento of the night. Guests also had the opportunity to bid on three different sets of silent auction tables with items including autographed sports and movie memorabilia, student artwork, golf packages, spa days, and stay-cation packages with hotel stays and restaurant gift cards in the city. There were also great live items that gave winning bidders great deals on vacation rentals, family outings, and Mercy-specific experiences and privileges like front-row graduation seats, dinner from Mrs. DeMello and Mr. Franck Launay-Fallasse and golf with Mr. Newhall. Many thanks to the Gala planning committee and the parents, students, staff, faculty, friends, and local businesses who gave so generously of their time, talent, and treasure to make this event - which united the community for fun and fellowship to benefit the students at Our Lady of Mercy - such a great success.

Raville finishes 3rd at State Meet

Junior, John Raville finished 3rd at the Class A State Cross Country Meet in Macon on Saturday.

In a very tough field, Raville completed the course in one of the fastest times in Mercy Cross Country history. Finishing in 3rd in a very competitive field on a new course that he had never run, raville capped off a fantastic year. Congrats to John on a great year and a great finish!

Parent volunteers needed for Basketball Season

Parents: We need parent volunteers to run the shot clock for our home basketball games.

This is a great way to help OLM and earn your service hours!

Please contact Bill Schmitz (ext. 402) if you are available to help.

Not too late to buy Gala Tickets!

It's not too late to buy tickets to Mercy's biggest fundraiser of the year!

Buy tickets today in the front office or at the door tomorrow night!

OLM Gala 2012: A Bountiful Harvest
THIS Saturday, November 3, 2012
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School Gymnasium (861 Hwy 279, Fayetteville, GA 30214)

Dress: Business/Dress Casual

Schedule of events:
5:45 pm - Mass in the Chapel
6:30 pm - Gym opens for Gala (cocktails served)
7:30 pm - Dinner
Live & Silent Auctions throughout the evening

Price (includes seated dinner, unlimited beer/wine, signature cocktail, dessert bar & coffee):
$40 per person/$80 per couple
$320 to reserve a Table of 8
$400 to reserve a Table of 10

To buy tickets, please send cash or check (payable to OLM) to the front office or mail payment to:
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic HS
Attn: GALA 2012
861 Hwy 279, Fayetteville, GA 30214

Updated listing of silent & live auction items!!!!

Details:

A full Thanksgiving feast will be served family style at every table. One lucky seat at every table will have the honor of carving the turkey for their tablemates! Beer and wine are included in the meal as well as a signature cocktail and full dessert bar with coffee & beignets.

We are selling tickets to fill tables of 8, and tables of 10. Tables are going fast so be sure to reserve yours soon!

We will also be selling the professional black & white photos of each Mercy student taken by Sara Anthony Photography the night of the Gala. To see examples of these photos, please visit the Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School Facebook page.

We will post Gala updates and new auction items on the OLM Facebook page, so be sure to "Like" us! Search for "Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School".

For questions or more information:
Please contact Sarah Feldner (Gala Chair) or Monica Haaland.

Hope to see you Saturday night for a great evening to benefit OLM and our students!

Schmitz named to All Star Team

Senior Mary Katherine Schmitz will play in the Georgia Volleyball Coaches Association (GVCA) Senior All Star Match on November 10th at Woodward Academy at 4:45 pm. She will play with the top seniors from all classifications in this match.

Schmitz's older sister Olivia Schmitz '12 is the only other Mercy Volleyball player to recieve this high honor.

Mary Katherine ends her Mercy Volleyball career with 2,518 assists, 297 aces, 395 kills, 154 blocks and 173 digs.

Congratulations to Mary Katherine!

AJC Highlights Coach Earwood's 200th Win

The AJC High School sports website recently features Mercy's very own Head Football Coach Mike Earwood and his 200th win.

Read the full article here.

Congratulations Coach!

National Portfolio Day is Nov. 17th

There will be a National Portfolio Day at the Cobb Galleria on November 17, 2012. Here is the link with more details:

National Portfolio Day

Students have an opportunity for college representatives to view their portfolio and give advice about how to make it stronger for college applications. It’s also a great opportunity to find out about art colleges you aren’t aware of. Top notch art schools will be in attendance. The complete list is on the link above.

Please consider pulling together about 12 – 20 pieces, bring your sketchbooks, and try it out!

Please make an after school appointment with Mrs. Cawley for advice. jcawley@mercycatholic.org

Girls Cross Country Finishes 3rd in Region

Our Lady of Mercy’s Boys and Girls Cross Country teams competed in their Regional Meet yesterday at home. Leah Banks, medaled, finishing 10th overall. The Girls Cross Country team was led by sophomore Leah Banks, who was followed closely by senior Jade Grier who ran tough despite an injury. The Girls team finished in 3rd place by only one point, and qualified for the Georgia State Cross Country Championships next weekend!

Despite their best efforts, the boys team unfortunately, missed qualifying by one spot, coming in 5th place. Junior, John Raville finished 2nd overall in the Varsity race, qualifying for the State Meet as an individual.

From Cross Country Coach Bernadette O'Neill: “Our girls team focused intensely for this race, and ran tough which was exactly what we needed from them to get 3rd place! This is a very strong girls team, and each girl played a part in qualifying for the state meet. We would not have been able to finish where we did without the solid effort put forth by all of our girls through the entirety of the race. I am very proud of this team’s hard work, and clear focus yesterday!”

Gala Donations by Monday, 10/22 Earn Free Dress Down Day

The Gala is only TWO WEEKS AWAY on Saturday, November 3rd! Don't wait to buy tickets!

We received some great auction items recently including:

- 1 week stay at Mountain Lake Cabin in North Carolina
- Coach purse

- Wine baskets
- Gift cards to various stores and restaurants

If you haven't turned in your Gala donation, it's not too late! Your student will get a DRESS DOWN DAY if you turn in any donation by this Monday, Oct. 22. Also, House points!

Need ideas on what to donate? Check out this list:

http://www.mercycatholic.org/upload/Gala_2012/Gala2012-BasketThemesforSilentAuction_FINAL.pdf

Thank you for your help and support of Gala 2012! :)

Softball Banquet

The Softball Awards Banquet will be held in the Mercy Cafeteria from 6:30 - 8:30pm.

Dress is casual chic. Please follow the Mercy Student Handbook rules for dress down.

Varsity Volleyball at North Cobb Christian for 1st Rd of State Tourney

Come out and support the Lady Bobcats Varsity Volleyball team as they compete in the first round of the GHSA State Volleyball Tournament.

OLM will face North Cobb Christian at North Cobb Christian, today, October 18th at 4:30 pm.

Good luck ladies!

Region One Act Play Competition at OLM - Saturday, Oct. 20

Come out and support Our Lady of Mercy drama and tech students at the Region One Act Play Competition this Saturday, Oct.ober 20th.

The Mercy Players will perform a shortened version of the play "You Can't Take it With You" at 9 AM. We need people in the audience to support our students!

The competition will take place in the Mercy auditorium. The awards ceremony will be at 1 PM.

Good luck Mercy Players!

Winter Clothing & Toiletry Drive for the Homeless!

Mercy for Life & Christian Outreach are teaming up to help some of our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

Starting monday, we will be collecting blankets, coats, and winter clothes for Atlanta’s homeless population.

We are also acceping toiletries- shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, etc.

We will be delivering all the supplies to the Open Door Community in Atlanta.

Thanks for your generosity!

Winter Clothing Drive for the Homeless

Mercy for Life & Christian Outreach are teaming up to help some of our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

Starting today, we are collecting:

Blankets, coats, and winter clothes, as well as any toiletries - shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, etc. - for Atlanta’s homeless population.

Please help by bringing any of the items above to the front office marked "Open Door Drive".

We will be delivering all the supplies to the Open Door Community in Atlanta.

If you have any questions, please contact Bernadette O'Neill.

Thanks for your generosity!

Fall Play Performances THIS WEEKEND

Please join us for Mercy's Fall Drama production "You Can't Take It With You."

OLM students in free, adults are $8 and non-Mercy students are $5. Come out and support the Fine Arts at OLM!

Varsity Volleyball in Area 3 Tournament as 2 seed

After a big win last Thursday over #5 seed in the state Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (ELCA), the Lady Bobccats took over the #2 seed in the Area Tournament.

They will open up against Greenforest Christian at 5:00 pm today at host school Paideia. If the 'Cats win, they will face the winner of the ELCA vs SACA match.

The second round matches will be held at ELCA on Thursday the 11th, with the semifinals/championships to be held Saturday the 13th at Strong Rock Christian School.

Come out and cheer on the Lady Bobcats!

Revised October Cafeteria Menu

Revised October Menu - please note the dates 10/10, 10/15, and 10/17:

http://www.mercycatholic.org/upload/Cafeteria_Services/October2012Menu-REV.pdf

Tonight's Softball Senior Night Game Cancelled

Lady Bobcats vs. North Clayton called off due to weather conditions.

Mercy Celebrates the International Day of Peace

Friday, September 21st was the International Day of Peace & Our Lady of Mercy celebrated along with people and countries all over the world!

Each student wrote commitments to building a more peaceful self, family, school, community and world on a piece of paper which the Christian Outreach class is folding in to 400 peace cranes which will be sent to the Peace Park in Hiroshima, Japan.

Additionally, students raised money to purchase Mercy a Peace Pole which reads: May Peace Prevail on Earth in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and French declaring our school as a place that values and promotes peace.

LAST CHANCE! Senior Formals tomorrow - Tuesday, 9/25

SENIORS:

Tomorrow, Tuesday, 9/25 is your LAST CHANCE to get your formal picture taken for the Mercy Yearbook!

Mark Turner, our photographer, will be taking formal pictures during all 3 lunches in the wrestling room.
There is a $25 sitting fee. You must go during your lunch tomorrow, if you have not already taken your formal picture!

Also, remember your should have already turned in a casual shot and your senior info sheet to Ms. O’Neill. It is now overdue.

You can find the forms on the Yearbook website.

Directions to Friday's football game at Athens Academy

The Fan Bus to the varsity football away game for this Friday has been cancelled due to lack of reserved seats by Wednesday's 2 PM deadline.

But, that can't stop our Bobcat faithful!

Gather your family and friends and meet us at Athens Academy this Friday 9/21 to support the Bobcats as they go for a 4-0 start!

Directions from Mercy to Athens Academy

Bobcats go 3-0 with Homecoming Game Win

Our Lady of Mercy football team had a stellar 42-14 win Friday night for homecoming against Mt. Pisgah Christian Academy from Roswell.

Offensively, the line opened up holes which led to 362 yards rushing. Senior Kalon Anthony led the way running the ball for the Bobcats with 3 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown. Another senior, Rashard Fant also had 2 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown while also returning a punt 40 yards to set up another drive.

Chauncey Laboo and Albert Wilson also tallied 2 touchdowns a piece for the game. On the defensive side, the Bobcats were led by Kyle Wilkins who had two sacks and Chauncey Laboo who had 8 tackles.

Rashard Fant and Delfayeo Matthews also had very critical interceptions to stop drives by the Patriots. Next up for the 3-0 Bobcats will be traveling to Athens Academy to take on the 2-0 Spartans.

Celebrate My Drive at OLM - Saturday, Sept. 15

"Celebrate My Drive" is an event hosted by State Farm to support teens as they get their driver's license and prepare for the road ahead.

This event is FREE to the public and will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School on Saturday, September 15 from 10 am - 3 PM in the parking lot.

By registering online at https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateMyDrive and joining us in person, you can increase your chances to win great prizes - including a brand new car!! - and help your high school win $100,000.

We will have Clayton County PD, Fayette Co Sheriff’s Dept. along with a GDOT HERO Unit and others!

Join us on Saturday September 15 from 10am – 3pm at Our Lady of Mercy!!

Details:

On September 15, 2012, State Farm® will host Celebrate My Drive™ events across the U.S. and Canada, creating one special day for communities to rally around new drivers as they explore the road ahead. Learning to drive is a big first step in life’s journey. State Farm is proud to stand with this year’s new teen drivers, making sure they stay safe as they celebrate this significant milestone.

Learn more here: http://www.celebratemydrive.com/

Alumni Homecoming Events this weekend!

Alumni Homecoming BBQ

This Friday, September 14, 2012

Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Location: Tented area to the right of the Mercy Football Field

Details: All alumni are welcome to bring 1 guest. Join us for a BBQ dinner and catch up with old friends and your favorite Mercy teachers! Stay for the football game as the undefeated Bobcats take on Mt. Pisgah at 7:30 PM!

Alumni Homecoming Mass

This Sunday, September 16, 2012

Time: 10 AM

Location: Mercy Chapel

Details: All alumni and their families are welcome. A reception with light refreshments will follow Mass in the Library.

Please RSVP to Monica Haaland if you will attend either or both events and how many will be attending each event.

We look forward to seeing our Alumni at Homecoming 2012! Go Bobcats!

Evening Custodian Position Available

Our Lady of Mercy has an employment opportunity for an evening custodian. Must be reliable and with a background consistent with working in a Catholic school. Four hours a night (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) for 190 days a year. Pay depending on experience and qualifications. Immediate opening. Apply in person only at Our Lady of Mercyfrom 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Both JV & Varsity Football Games this week CANCELLED

Both the JV football game vs. Mt. Pisgah and the Varsity football game vs. SACA are CANCELLED this week due to extenuating circumstances on the opposing teams.

The next home football game will be the Varsity Bobcats taking on Mt. Pisgah for Homecoming 2012 next Friday night, September 14th at 7:30 PM. We hope to see you there!

Drumming Up a Win!

Congratulations to our music teacher, Mrs. Savage, for a successful debut of the Mercy Drum Line.

Our Mercy musicians drummed up Bobcat spirit for our home game win!

Senior Formals deadline is approaching!

In order to be included in Mercy's yearbook, Seniors must submit a formal picture taken by Mark Turner, and casual picture of their choice.

Seniors MUST be photographed by Wednesday, September 26th.

Mark Turner will be at Mercy taking senior formal portraits for a $25 sitting fee on September 26th during lunches.

Please email Ms. O'Neill at boneill@mercycatholic.org with any questions. Thank you!

Homecoming Week 2012: Sept. 10-16

Homecoming 2012 - FAQs
Dress Down Day Themes, Spirit Package information and more!

Non-Mercy Guest Waiver

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT is THIS THURSDAY, 8/30

Back to School Night is this Thursday, 8/30 from 6:30 PM – 8:45 PM. This is a great opportunity to walk a day in your child’s shoes and meet all of his/her teachers.

o Once you arrive, you can pick up your child’s schedule in the lobby.

o The Mercy Wear store will be open during Back to School Night.

o Attached to your child’s schedule will be information about the OLM Gala and how you can help. Please stop by the Gala table in the lobby during your child’s lunch period on the schedule to learn more.

Due to the Back to School Night, we will have a Late Start on Friday, 8/31 (similar to our typical Monday schedule). Thus, the side doors will open at 8:30 AM. The tardy bell will ring at 8:45 AM.

This Friday, 8/31, Mr. Newhall has given the students a Mercy Dress Down Day so that they will be in the spirit to root the Bobcats on to victory later that evening at the Varsity Football home opener at 7:30 PM vs. Mt. Paran!

Parent Athletic Meeting POSTPONED

The meeting for all parents that have/will have students participating in sports at OLM has been POSTPONED.

The new date for this meeting will be emailed out to all parents and posted on the website when determined.

Thank you for your understanding.

Calling all Actors

The fall play is called "You Can't Take It With You" and auditions will be held on Wednesday, August 22 beginning at 3:00 pm in the Auditorium.

Please sign up on Ms. Hamilton's door in order to participate in the audition.

Note from the Director: All of those interested in auditioning should Google "You Can't Take it With You" to get an idea of the story and characters. While you do not have to prepare specific lines from the show, you will benefit from having some understanding of the context and comedic timing to enhance your audition. Please do not hesitate to ask Ms. Hamilton any questions you may have regarding the audition process.

Mass Recap

The Mass in celebration of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven was held on Wednesday, August 15. The auditorium was filled to just less than capacity, and the spirit and energy of the congregation was a joy to behold. A choir consisting of some of Mercy's faculty and staff, several alumni, and some current students providing instrumental accompaniment truly enhanced the celebration, and everyone joined in singing praises to God and His mighty works. Also during the Mass, twenty-eight of our students were commissioned as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and were presented with their certificates of commission.

Varsity softball opener 8/14 CANCELLED

Today's varsity softball game against Banneker is cancelled. The opposing team had issues with the formation of their team. No make up date has been scheduled as of yet. Please check the Softball webpage for updates.

Softball Game Cancelled

The softball game with Banneker has been cancelled. We will reschedule at a later date.

Varsity Volleyball opens season with win

The Lady Bobcats Varsity Volleyball Team opened up the 2012 season with a win over much improved Gilmer County. The Cats pushed through some nerves and mistakes to secure a 3-0 win.

Led by the setting of senior Mary Katherine Schmitz and passing of seniors Jenny Bui and Emily Longino, the Cats showed that the trek back to the sweet sixteen is indeed a good possibility! Junior Rachel Barfield was also a factor on the attack from the right side.

Although the team has a lot of youth, the mix of youth and veterans looks to be a solid combination as the Lady Bobcats head into their next matches on Wednesday, Aug. 15th where they will face Newnan and McIntosh at Newnan.

Yearbook Photos Rescheduled

Turner Photo Design will now be taking students' Yearbook pictures on Tuesday, August 21 and Wednesday, August 22 during lunch.

Seniors and Freshmen will be photographed on Tuesday, August 21st.

Sophomores and Juniors will be photographed on Wednesday, August 22nd.

Students should wear their regular fall uniform.

Order forms will be sent home Monday, August 20th for those interested in ordering prints.

For more information, please contact Bernadette O'Neill, Yearbook Advisor.

Welcome Back to School!

Welcome Back to School! Mercy faculty returned to school today refreshed and renewed as they had their first of three pre-planning days.

As we head into the new school year, some important dates and reminders:

Thursday, 8/9

Freshman and New Student Orientation
Time: 7:45 AM arrival - 11:45 AM dismissal
Freshman, new students, and seniors report at 7:45 AM

Freshman and New Student Potluck
For all new students and their families
Time: 6:30 PM
Please bring a dish to share!

Friday, 8/10

ALL STUDENTS REPORT
Time: 7:45 AM arrival - 2:45 PM dismissal

Monday, 8/13

ALL STUDENTS REPORT
Time: 8:45 AM arrival (LATE START) - 2:45 PM dismissal

Senior Potluck
For seniors and their families
Time: 6:30 PM
Please bring a dish to share! Guest Speaker: Darryl Watson – GA Student Finance Commission

CORRECTION: Monday, August 13 start is 8:45 AM

Please note: On Monday, August 13th, school will start at 8:45 AM.

The start time was incorrectly listed as 7:45 AM on the calendar sent home in the summer packet.

On Mondays, (unless otherwise noted) classes will always begin at 8:45 AM. This is known as our "late start" day.

Please refer to the school homepage for the most up-to-date information.

Morning Bus Service Information

We are pleased to announce the return of our morning bus routes:

St. Peter Claver Regional School Newnan White Oak Area &

2560 Tilson Road Tyrone Publix Parking Lot

Decatur, GA 30032 Newnan/Tyrone combined

Stockbridge Kroger
1750 Hudson Bridge Road

Stockbridge, GA

We are happy to have filled one St. Peter Claver/Decatur bus and thus, have added a second. There are still a few seats available on all of our routes. Right now, we do not have enough interest in a bus from the Hapeville/St. John the Evangelist (SJE) area. If you are interested in morning transportation from SJE, please send a short e-mail to:

jgagnier@mercycatholic.org

Each bus is able to accommodate a maximum of 14 Mercy students. To participate in this bus service, a family must commit to the entire year. Payment can be made by check or FACTS. We hope to fill all routes while providing you with the lowest cost in morning transportation!

Online Lunch Account Sign Up

You can now sign up for an online lunch account for your child. Please visit the Cafeteria Services website for instructions on account set up and further details.

School lunch price remains $5. Lunch service will start on Friday, August 10^th.

School lunch menus will be posted each month on the above Cafeteria Services website.

FREE Mercy Youth Cheerleading Clinic - Saturday, July 14

MERCY YOUTH CHEERLEADING OFFERS A FREE CHEER CLINIC for girls ages 5 - 14.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

10 AM to 2 PM

Location: Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School

CLICK HERE FOR CHEER CLINIC REGISTRATION

For more information about Mercy Youth Cheerleading and the cheer camp, please visit:

http://mercyyouthfootball.weebly.com/index.html

Summer Tennis Practice Time Change for Wed, July 11 only

For those interested in Summer tennis practice this week:

Tennis practice will be from 9 AM – 11 AM , TOMORROW ONLY, Wednesday, July 11th.

On Friday, July 13th, we will go back to the regular 8 AM – 10 AM time.

Please contact Coach Haaland with any questions.

Summer Packet/Schedule Pick up & Used Uniform Sale - Tomorrow, July 11

Summer Packet & Class Schedule Pick-up will start tomorrow, Wednesday, July 11 from 9 AM - 7 PM in the Mercy Front Office. An email was sent last week with more details regarding the Summer Packet Pick-up process.

To be able to pick up the summer packet and class schedule, the following are required:

1) Your child must be enrolled for the 2012-2013 school year (paid deposit and signed enrollment contract).

2) You must have completed and submitted the Emergency Card Form. (see email sent)

3) You must have completed and submitted the House Shirt Order Form. (see email sent)

The Summer Packet includes important information regarding the upcoming school year including: book ordering information, uniform information, school calendar, bus sign-up, parent volunteering opportunities, and PowerSchool instructions.

If you are not able to pick up the Summer Packet and Class Schedule on July 11, you may pick up the packet anytime after that date during the school's regular summer hours, Monday to Friday, 9 AM - 2 PM, in the front office.

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The Mercy Used Uniform Sale will take place for ONE DAY ONLY tomorrow, Wednesday, July 11 from 4 - 7 PM in the Mercy cafeteria. Please refer to these instructions for more information about the Used Uniform Sale.

For sellers: You must prepare your items accordingly for sale. You may drop off your clothing: Any weekday from 9AM to 1PM through Tuesday, July 10. NO CLOTHING ITEMS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 11 – THE DAY OF THE SALE.

If you do not wish to have your unsold items returned to you, please circle the "N" (No) on the Used Uniform Sale Inventory Sheet. All monies collected may be picked-up at the school office along with all unsold items, requested by the seller to be returned. The daily school office hours are: 9AM - 2 PM, M-F.

All unsold items must be picked up by Friday, July 27, 2012. After Friday, July 27, 2012 "unclaimed items" will be donated to families in need. Please note that we will do everything in our power to protect your property. However, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School and its volunteers are not responsible for misplaced items.

For buyers: FORMS of PAYMENT - **PLEASE BRING ONLY $5.00 & $1.00 BILLS and PERSONAL CHECKS.**

NO LARGER BILLS (ie no $10’S & $20’S)! WE ARE UNABLE TO CHANGE THESE LARGER BILLS.
Checks for payment must be made to the person(s) selling the uniform(s). Please do not make the checks payable to Our Lady of Mercy. All individuals will be responsible for any fees incurred due to Insufficient Funds.

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If you have any questions about Packet Pick-up, class schedules, or the Used Uniform Sale, please contact the front office at (770) 461-2202.

We hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer so far!

Senior Formal Pic for Yearbook - Walk-In Day is Tuesday, July 10

A message from Turner PhotoDesign:

Seniors must have their formal pictures taken by September 1st. Please see below on how you can easily get this done at Turner PhotoDesign.

On Tuesday, July 10, we will be doing the senior yearbook formals only from 9 am until 7 pm in our studio located in Fayetteville.

This is a walk-in day - there are no appointments needed and we will be doing Cap & Gown portraits as time allows.

There will be one day scheduled for formals to be taken at OLM. Complete details will be coming in additional emails.

This is the only remaining walk-in day for formals only that will be done in studio this year. This is a formals only option that is easy and cost effective if you just need to meet the yearbook formal picture requirement.

Extended individual sessions may be booked before August 15th to meet the Sept. 1st deadline. These are NOT formals only sessions, they are full sessions that include multiple poses, make-up/hair, casual poses...etc. depending on the package you choose. Please visit turnerphotodesign.com for more information about packages and rates.

OLM students get a 50% discount on all sessions at Turner PhotoDesign.

Lady Bobcats Earn County Soccer Honors

The following Mercy Girls Varsity Soccer team members were recently honored at the county level:

Jayla Johnson was named to the All-County Second Team for Fayette County.

Hannah Lecesne, Nahyo Jalajel, and Claire Gagliano were recognized as Honorable Mentions.

Congratulations ladies!

Girls Softball Camp: July 16 - 19

SOFTBALL CAMP JULY 16 -19th.

What will we do?

You will participate in customized skills clinics in pitching, catching, fielding, and hitting. You will learn important drills to improve your playing. The coaches are top notch from very successful area programs.

Where will we go?

It will be held at Foundation Sports Complex in Lovejoy.

Who can go?

ANY Mercy student who wants to play softball this season. Even if you have never picked up a softball, you are welcome to join us to see if you like it!

How much is it?

ONLY $125 per player!

(Paid directly to Foundation Sports on the first day of camp.)

Where do I sign up??

Email Coach Cawley

ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT! Annual Fund deadline is Saturday

Help us reach our goal of 100% family participation and make a gift to the Mercy Annual Fund! All gifts to the 2011-2012 Mercy Annual Fund must be received by the school by this Saturday, June 30th.

Any amount you and your family can give would be greatly appreciated as it will help us reach our 100% participation goal. Annual Fund contributions are 100% tax deductible. For those who made a pledge during the May Phone-a-thon, please fulfill your pledge at this time.

You may make your Annual Fund gift via:

1) Cash or check (payable to OLM) - please mail to the school or bring to the front office by June 30th

2) Online here using a credit or debit card - please complete by June 30th

Mercy Annual Fund contributions are unrestricted financial donations to the school which are used for the most important educational needs of the school that are not included in the budget. It costs more than $21,000 to educate each student at Mercy while tuition is at $11,300. Annual Fund gifts also help bridge this gap.

Please contact Monica Haaland in the Advancement Office with any questions.

Thank you in advance for your generosity to our school and students!

Two Mercy Seniors Awarded Knights of Columbus Scholarship

The Knights of Columbus Holy Trinity Council 8081 awarded the 2012 Donald B. Martin Memorial Scholarship to rising Mercy seniors Kathryn Sage and Thomas Smilie at the 5:30 pm Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Peachtree City last Sunday, June 24th.

This scholarship was awarded based on academics, community service, and attendance at a Catholic high school or elementary school. Congratulations to Katy and Thomas!

Katy and Thomas are pictured at right with Tom Hughes, Knights of Columbus Council 8018.

Senior Formal Portraits on June 28 & July 10th!

Turner PhotoDesign is Our Lady of Mercy's choice for professional photography.

A message from Turner PhotoDesign:

We will be doing all sports, clubs, class, and event photography for OLM. Information for viewing and ordering photos will be distributed by email.

Please join our mailing list so you don't miss out on any important dates or news. We will not share your information with anyone, and promise not to bombard you with unnecessary emails. We will do our best to limit emails to one per week.

You may join our email list by clicking here.

Seniors must have their formal pictures taken by September 1st. Please see below on how you can easily get this done at Turner PhotoDesign.

SENIORS, the first dates you need to know are June 28 and July 10. These are the days we will be doing the senior yearbook formals only from 9am until 7pm in our studio located in Fayetteville. These are walk-in days, there are no appointments needed and we will be doing Cap & Gown portraits as time allows.

There will be one day scheduled for formals to be taken at OLM. Complete details will be coming in additional emails.

These are the only two walk-in days for formals only that will be done in studio this year. This is a formals only option that is easy and cost effective if you just need to meet the yearbook formal picture requirement.

OLM students get a 50% discount on all sessions at Turner PhotoDesign.

Join Turner PhotoDesign's Email List (OLM's official photographer)

A message from Turner PhotoDesign, Mercy's Official Photographer:

We will be photographing all sports, clubs, class, and event photography for OLM including action shots of sports contests, Homecoming and Prom.

Information for viewing and ordering photos will be distributed by email.

You may join our email list by clicking here.

Mercy Cheerleaders Take Top Honors

The Mercy JV & Varsity Cheerleading Teams earned several top honors at the UCA Cheer Camp at Auburn University last week.

The Varsity squad won in their division, receiving all blue and gold Superior ribbons,and were named "Camp Cheer Champ". They also took third place in "camp extreme dance routine", third place in home dance, and won the coveted spirit stick.

The Junior Varsity team won in their division red, blue, and gold ribbons, received third place in "camp cheer", third place in "camp extreme dance routine", third place in home dance, and also earned a spirit stick.

There were 28 teams at the UCA camp which were made up of 450 girls and 5 boys. Most teams were from Alabama with one team from Mississippi and Mercy representing the one team from Georgia.

Many of the teams were also competition teams, so we are extremely proud of the performances of both the JV & Varsity squads!

Coach Bush Named All-County Boys Soccer Coach of the Year

Congrats to Mercy Boys Varsity Soccer Head Coach John Bush on being named 2012 Boys Soccer All-County Coach of the year!

Also, the following players made All-County teams:

Adam Rose – 1st Team All-County

Nick Wells – 2nd Team All-County

Josh Woolums – 2nd team All-County

Jarrett Goodly – Honorable mention

Nile Freeman – Honorable mention

Zayd Johnson – Honorable mention

Peyton Cuttino – Honorable mention

Congrats to Coach Bush and his players!

Coach Nix named All-County Coach of the Year

Congratulations to Mercy Varsity Baseball Head Coach Kevin Nix on being named the 2012 All-County Baseball Coach of the year!

Also, the following players made All-County teams:

John Kueler – 1st Team All-County

Christian Griffith – 1st Team All-County

Austin Loper – All-County Honorable Mention

Thomas Smilie - All-County Honorable Mention

Congrats to Coach Nix and his players!

Mercy Youth Cheer & Football Registration - Sunday, June 10th

On-site registration for the Mercy Youth Cheerleading Program and Mercy Youth Football League will take place on the Mercy campus on Sunday, June 10th from 5 - 6 PM in the Bobcat Den (by the soccer field).

The Mercy Youth Football League is for boys ages 7 - 14. The Mercy Youth Cheerleading Program is for girls ages 5 - 14.

For more information on the leagues, please visit the Mercy Youth Leagues website or contact the Mercy Athletics Department at (770) 461-2202, ext. 402.

ONLINE REGISTRATION:

You may also register for either/both programs by:

1) Filling out the appropriate registration forms below

Youth Cheerleading Registration Form
Youth Football Registration Form

2) Emailing your completed registration forms to Clint Browning, Mercy Youth League Coordinator & Coach.

3) Paying the registration fees online here.

No Boys Basketball practice tonight (June 4th)

There will be NO boys basketball practice tonight (Monday, June 4th) due to a gym availability issue.

We will practice as scheduled tomorrow night (Tuesday, June 5th 6pm-8pm)

OLM Alum qualifies for NCAA Track Championships

Megan Malasarte, a 2010 Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School graduate, will compete in the 800 Meter event at the NCAA Track & Field Championships in June.

Malasarte, a track and cross-country phenom at Our Lady of Mercy, is now a sophomore at the University of Georgia. She qualified for the national meet with a time of 2:05.78 at the NCAA East Prelims in Jacksonville, FL last week. At the SEC Championships earlier this month, Malasarte clocked her personal best while breaking a UGA record in the 800 Meters at 2:04.3. The NCAA Championships will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, from June 6-9.

Photo Caption: Megan Malasarte, a 2010 graduate of Our Lady of Mercy, runs in the 800 meter finals at the NCAA East Regional Track Meet in Jacksonville, FL on May 25th. (photo courtesy of Mike Scott)

Mercy Basketball announces Summer schedule

Mercy Basketball announces their summer schedule:

May 31st 6pm -8pm

June 4th and 5th 6pm - 8pm

Boys that are enrolled and have an update physical on file are eligible for the open practice nights

Contact Coach Caruso at tcaruso@mercycatholic.org for more information.

Boys Soccer Summer Practice starts June 5

Boys Summer Soccer training will begin June 5th. We will train Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 - 7:30 PM at OLM.

Summer training is open to both returning and new Mercy students.

However, ALL PLAYERS MUST HAVE PHYSICALS & CONSENT FORMS ON RECORD WITH COACH SHIVERS BEFORE PARTICIPATING IN SUMMER PRACTICES. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS.

For questions about Boys Soccer at Mercy, please contact head coach John Bush.

Summer softball practices begin July 12

All enrolled Mercy students interested in playing softball are welcome to join our practices this summer on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am - 11:30 am beginning Thursday, July 12.

ALL PLAYERS MUST HAVE PHYSICALS ON RECORD WITH COACH SHIVERS BEFORE PARTICIPATING IN SUMMER PRACTICES. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS.

Boys Soccer in Georgia Bulletin Blog

The Mercy Boys Soccer team gets a mention the Georgia Bulletin online blog:

The Month of May Is A Sports Bonanza
by Michael Alexander

March brings the “Madness” of the NCAA basketball tournament, but that’s just one sport. May, on the other hand, is jammed packed with a host of sporting events. The first two legs of horse racing’s Triple Crown, The Kentucky Derby and The Preakness, are run the first Saturday and the third Saturday of May, respectively.

Read the full blog entry at: http://www.georgiabulletin.blogspot.com/2012/05/month-of-may-is-sports-bonanza.html

Girls' Soccer Players Invited to AllStar Game

Congratulations to Jayla Johnson and Meghan Lowther on being selected to represent Our Lady of Mercy in the 2nd Annual Sowega High School All-Star Soccer Game! The game will be played on the campus of Columbus State University on Tuesday, May 22 at 5:30.

Book Buy Back Event - Tuesday, May 22

Follett Virtual Bookstores will be conducting a buyback event at the school. Follett buys back textbooks that will be used again here and at schools across the country to provide money-saving used books in the fall. Follett will also be accepting textbook rental returns at the buyback event.

Details:

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School Buyback Event

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 - THE LAST DAY OF FINALS!

11:00am – 6:00pm

Cafeteria

If you are not able to attend the school buyback event, you can also sell back books online at http://www.olmbobcats.bkstr.com , just click “sell books.”

If you have questions, please call Follett Virtual Bookstores at 877-827-2665.

Bobcats Earn All-Region Honors

Five Mercy baseball players received recognition by the Region 9A baseball coaches this week. Senior John Keuler repeated as a first team selection and juniors Thomas Smilie and Christian Griffith were selected as members of the second team.

Also receiving recognition on the honoarble mention list were junior Justin Larkin and sophomore Austin Loper. Pitcher Kevin Martin of ELCA was a unanimous selection as the Region 9A Player of the Year. Congratulations to our Mercy Bobcats on being named to the 2012 All Region teams.

Physical Exams offered for Current & Prospective Students Tomorrow

On Tuesday May 15th, we will be offering physicals at Our Lady of Mercy High School for all students and prospective students.

Cost: $10

Time: We will start at 3:15 pM and hold them until we get through everyone at approximately 6:00. We will start with upcoming seniors and go in order by class.

Location: OLM Auditorium. There will be three MD’s and a PA helping process students so things should move quickly.

NOTE: Students need to arrive with the first page of this physical form filled out and signed by the parent.

Getting the physical at the school will ensure that your student is able to participate in GHSA athletics for the entire 2012-2013 school year. Physicals are valid for one calendar year.

If you have any questions, please contact Chris Shivers, Athletic Trainer.

Emma Bush '12 featured in Georgia Bulletin

Mercy Senior Relishes Chance To Study Abroad
ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
Published: May 10, 2012

FAYETTEVILLE—While other literature-minded college students may read “The Odyssey,” Emma Bush will have the opportunity to travel to the Greek Isles to explore where it took place, as well as to visit other faraway landmarks and meet people of different cultures.

Spurred by a 10th-grade pilgrimage to France with her high school choir, Bush has enrolled in a college in Europe.

The Our Lady of Mercy High School senior is heading to Lugano, Switzerland, to attend Franklin College, an American liberal arts school with a 4-year program.

To read the full article, please visit: http://www.georgiabulletin.org/local/2012/05/10/seniors_mercy/

RIDE THE MERCY FAN BUS TO THE SOCCER GAME FRIDAY, MAY 11th!

RIDE THE FAN BUS to watch our Boys Soccer Team take on Aquinas High School in Augusta tomorrow, Friday, May 11th!

· We have arranged for a Mercy bus that will leave from OLM tomorrow promptly at 3:00 PM to travel to the game.

· The bus holds 43 people on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.

· The cost to ride is $5 per person (same price for students and adults).

· There is no reservation list - the only way to sign up and ensure a seat on the bus is to bring $5/person to Julie Gagnier in the front office by tomorrow, Friday at 10 AM.

· If we don’t have enough people paid by 10 AM Friday, we will not be able to take the fan bus. You will be notified by email if the bus gets cancelled.

If you have any questions, please email Bill Schmitz at bschmitz@mercycatholic.org.

Come out and root the Bobcats on to victory!

Boys Soccer Advances to Elite 8

The Varsity Boys Soccer Team has advanced to the round of the Elite 8 in the State Soccer Tournament.

OLM will play Aquinas High School in Augusta tomorrow, Friday, May 11th at 6:30 PM for the Elite 8 game.

Aquinas HS is located at 1920 Highland Ave, Augusta, GA 30904 (directions are below)

This is the furthest our soccer program has ever advanced in the State Tournament and we want to make sure you all have the opportunity to come out and support the team.

RIDE THE MERCY FAN BUS!:

· We have arranged for a Mercy bus that will leave from OLM tomorrow promptly at 3:00 PM to travel to the game.

· The bus holds 43 people on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.

· The cost to ride is $5 per person (same price for students and adults).

· There is no reservation list - the only way to sign up and ensure a seat on the bus is to bring $5/person to Julie Gagnier in the front office by tomorrow, Friday at 10 AM.

· If we don’t have enough people paid by 10 AM Friday, we will not be able to take the fan bus. You will be notified by email if the bus gets cancelled.

If you have any questions, please email Bill Schmitz at bschmitz@mercycatholic.org.

Come out and root the Bobcats on to victory!

Directions to Aquinas HS from OLM:

5.1 mi/8.2 km - Head toward Jonesboro Rd (GA-138) on Evander Holyfield Hwy (GA-279).
15.5 mi/25.0 km-Take ramp onto I-285 E toward Macon/Tampa.
128.9 mi/207.5 km-Take exit #46B/I-20 E/Augusta onto Purple Heart Hwy, Southeast Expy (I-20 E).
3.6 mi/5.8 km-Take exit #196A-B/GA-232 W/I-520 E/Bobby Jones Espressway onto Bobby Jones Expy (I-520 E) toward Daniel Field.
1.8 mi/3.0 km-Take exit #3B/US-78 E/US-278 E/GA-10 E/Gordon Hwy onto Gordon Hwy, Jefferson Davis Memorial Hwy (US-278 E, US-78 E).
0.9 mi/1.4 km-Turn left onto Highland Ave.
Your destination on Highland Ave is on the right. The trip takes 155.8 mi/250.8 km and 2:32 h.

Mercy Girls at State Meet

Morgan McClure and Colleen Kelly represented Mercy at the State Meet this weekend in Albany. Although small in numbers as a team, both girls made quite an impression with their standout performances. Morgan ran personal bests in both the 400 meter and 800 meter races. She placed 2nd in both events running 57.31 in the 400 and 2:20 in the 800. Colleen Kelly placed 3rd in the State in the 100 meter hurdles, solidifying a great season as a hurdler.

The boys compete this weekend in Jefferson at the State Meet.

Fine Arts Banquet this Wednesday!

If your fine arts teacher provided you with an invitation to the banquet,

please turn in your money to Mrs. Consolino in the front office

by noon on Tuesday, May 1st.

You do not have to eat to attend.

Mercy Track warming up for State

Members of the Track Team qualified for State Meet competition and prepare to compete on the big stage. On the girls side, Junior Morgan McClure will be doubling up as the goes after state titles in the 400 and 800 meter races. Senior Colleen Kelly leans in as she competes for a top podium spot in the 100 meter hurdles, and she enters as the fastest qualifier in the 300 meter hurdle race.

On the boys side, Freshmen Jordan Thomas will have competitors spinning as he competes in the discus, while Junior Chauncey Laboo pushes forward preparing to throw the shot put. Sophomore Delfayoe Matthews will have one lap around the track to earn a spot on the podium in the 400 meter race, while Senior Jordan Sartor looks to run away with a 100 meter state title and defend his state championship in the 200 meters.

Good luck Bobcats!!

Mercy Youth Football Sign up - Wed, May 2

Registration for the Mercy Bobcat Youth Football League for boys ages 7 - 14 will take place at Our Lady of Mercy on Wednesday, May 2nd at the Bobcat Den on campus from 6 - 8 PM.

For more information or to register for the league online, please visit the official Mercy Bobcat Youth Football and Cheer website.

Baseball Earns 12th Win to end Season

The Bobcats traveled to Temple Friday night to finish the regular season and they did it in style, claiming a convincing 4-2 victory over the Tigers. Mercy jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a successful "delayed steal" by Senior John Keuler which turned into a 2-base error as well to plate the first run of the game.

Temple tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first. Mercy promptly regained the lead on a an RBI single by Senior Kip Darden, bringing home Matt Frank who singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Wesley. Temple would eventually notch the game at two runs apiece until the fifth inning when the Bobcats scored two runs on two hits by Keegan Jordan and Justin Larkin (RBI double).

The 4-2 lead was all pitchers Thomas Smilie and Austin Loper would need to seal the victory. Smilie scattered 4 hits over 5 and 2/3 innings and Loper was perfect in relief, retiring all 4 batters he faced to earn the save. The win pulled Mercy's overall season record to 12-12, a winning season for our departing seniors who we will greatly miss - John Keuler, Kip Darden, Will Dunphy, and Gerardo Vargas. Congratulations Bobcats!

Spring Fine Arts Festival TONIGHT

The Spring Fine Arts Festival highlights each discipline of the fine arts: Band, Chorus, Dance, Drama, and Visual Art.

Let's Live It Up while we celebrate the great jazz and blues tradition from the 1920's to now.

The festival is Friday, April 27th at 6:30 pm in the OLM auditorium. This is a MARQUEE EVENT!

Visual Art display in the lobby includes work from Advanced Placement Art, Art III, and our recent award winners.

The Small Film Festival will include puppet shows, animation shorts and documentary video.

Please join us!

Boys State Soccer Match Set

The Boys Varsity Soccer Team will face Calvary Day School in the Round of 16 of the Class A State Soccer Tournament.

The Bobcats, who are coming off a tremendous win against Landmark on Wednesday to clinch the Area Title, will host the match at Our Lady of Mercy on Tuesday, May 8 at 5:30 PM.

Come out and support the Bobcats as they continue their amazing season and historical run to the state title!

Boys Soccer crowned Area Champions!

The Bobcats Boys Varsity Soccer Team has worked hard and has played consistently well all season. The result? The Bobcats went undefeated in area play leading up to the title match against the Landmark War Eagles last night.

In front of a near-capacity crowd at home, the Bobcats defeated a tough and talented Landmark team to capture the Area 2 Championship title! The elated Mercy student body stormed the field after the exciting victory at the end of the game.

With a hat trick from Adam Rose, an insurance goal from Maddox Caporini, as well as great defensive play, the Bobcats won 4-2 and advanced to the 2012 Class A State Tournament.

The Bobcats will now prepare for their Round of 16 match as a 1 seed in the State Tournament. The game will be played at Mercy on Tuesday, May 8. The time and opponent are to be determined. Please stay tuned for details.

CONGRATULATIONS BOYS SOCCER! Watch the YouTube video of the Mercy Soccer team and fans cheering post-win!

Boys Soccer plays for Area Title tonight

The OLM Varsity Boys Soccer team is on the brink of making Mercy history. They have played well all season and are undefeated in the area.

With a win against rival Landmark tonight, Mercy would be named Area Champions and they would automatically advance to the round of 16 in the State Tournament.

Come out tonight and cheer on the Bobcats to victory! The home game against the Landmark War Eagles starts at 7 PM.

Cowan '15 selected for prestigious Leadership Program

Mercy freshman Simone Cowan has been selected as one of only 70 girls from around the world to attend the Girl’s Leadership Worldwide Summer Program at the Eleanor Roosevelt Center in Hyde Park, New York.

This program honors young ladies who excel academically and who are recognized as leaders in their communities. The girls will receive additional leadership training and spend time with world leaders at United Nations this summer.

Congratulations Simone!

Class ring orders this Wed, 4/25

Herff-Jones Company will be at OLM on Wednesday, April 25 to take class ring orders during all three lunches and after school until approximately 6pm.

Information packets were distributed at the meeting last week. Additional packets are available in the front office.

Rings can be ordered with a $60 deposit.

For more information, please contact the front office (770)461-2202.

Mercy Track has strong showing at Region

The Mercy Track and Field Team turned in a solid performance at the Region Championships on Thursday, April 19th. The boys team placed 4th overall, while the girls team finished an impressive second in the Region. There were many outstanding performances by Mercy athletes:

Leah Banks, Chyna Terrell, Colleen Kelly and Morgan McClure are REGION CHAMPS in the 4x400.

Chyna Terrell, Morgan McClure, Deja Barthell, and Leah Banks finished third in the 4x100.

Colleen Kelly is REGION CHAMP in the 300 meter hurdles, and qualified for the State Sectionals in the 100 Hurldes.

Margaret Tafanji is REGION RUNNER-UP in the Discus.

Leah Banks qualified for the State Sectionals in the 200, 400, Long Jump and both relays.

Morgan McClure qualified for State Sectionals in the 400, 800, and both relays.

Jordan Sartor is REGION CHAMP in the 100 and 200, and part of the 4x100.

Chauncey Laboo is REGION CHAMP in the Shot Put and part of the 4x100.

Jordan Thomas qualified for State Sectionals in the Discus and 4x100 relay.

Delfayeo Matthews qualified for State Sectionals in the 400 and 4x100 relay.

Our team competes again on April 28th at Landmark for the State Sectionals.

Vote for Mercy Art Students at Dogwood Festival this weekend

Two of Mercy's students are in the Atlanta High School Art Exhibit at the Dogwood Festival this weekend, April 20-22 at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. Justin Porteous and Sarah Shupenus are up for the People's Choice Award - please cast your vote!

Details about the People's Choice Award:

Binders Art Supplies & Frames and the Jay Shapiro Art Legacy Foundation have decided to award the People's Choice award winner of the AHSAE in the Atlanta Dogwood Festival with a $500 gift toward furthering the recipient's arts education. The Jay Shapiro Art Legacy Foundation is committed to removing barriers to those in the visual arts community in endeavors to explore and achieve their creative potential: www.jaylovesart.org

Vote for your favorite this weekend! Please tell your friends to enjoy the 76th Atlanta Dogwood Festival and visit the AHSAE. One vote per visit.

AHSAE/Dogwood Festival hours:
FRIDAY: Noon - 10 pm
SATURDAY: 10 am - 11 pm (Awards at Noon -- not People's Choice, AHSAE closes at 7 pm)
SUNDAY: 10 am - 6 pm (Art Throwdown 1 pm - 3 pm, Competition Awards and People's Choice Award announced after 3:00)

AHSAE location in the festival (MODA is next to us under the portico; we share the building with Willy's Mexicana Grill.)

Parking for the AHSAE (street parking is tough, but getting there early helps)

We look forward to seeing you this weekend in the 95 piece AHSAE, outstanding high school art representing APS, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Paulding Counties and more. What an amazing show!

Mercy Baseball Wins Key Region Game

The Bobcats have won their last 4 home games and improve to 10-10 on the year. They currently stand in 4th place in Region9A.

Tuesday afternoon, the rains held off just long enough to allow Mercy's baseball team to take care of business against the visiting Strong Rock Patriots, 10-3. Austin Loper pitched six innings without giving up an earned run and Kip Darden came in to finish things off in the seventh inning. Defensively, Mercy committed a couple of errors to allow the Patriots to take an early lead at 2-1 in the top of the second inning. But the bottom of the 2nd was classic baseball as the Bobcats started with two hits, followed by a sacrifice bunt, and a groundout RBI by Will Dunphy to notch the game at 2 apiece.

From then on, it was all Mercy as they scored in each of their last 4 innings. Leading hitters were Will Dunphy 2 for 4 with 3 RBI's, Kip Darden 3 for 4 with 2 RBI's, and Chris Wesley who was 3 for 4 with an RBI. Justin Larkin added 2 hits and an RBI, and John Keuler had two hits and scored 3 runs.

Next up - Whitefield Friday 5pm at home.

Mercy Records Record Win

The Mercy baseball team beat Temple Monday night 3-2 for the school record breaking 9th win. Thomas Smilie pitched a one-hitter and a complete game. John Keuler scored all three runs, reaching base on a fielder's choice in the first, a single to left in the 3rd, and a beautiful drag bunt base hit in the 5th. He then stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and then scored the game winner on a squeeze bunt off the bat off Austin Loper.

Loper also had the first RBI in inning 1 and Christian Griffith added an RBI single in the third. Thomas Smilie was "lights out" as they say. Our defense was fabulous as well, accentuated by a game ending double play by Keuler.

OLM Community Yard Sale - Reserve your spot today!

Mercy's Home & School Association (HSA) is hosting the first annual Community Yard Sale on Saturday, May 5th from 8 AM - 2 PM.

Anyone can set up to sell that day for a fee of $25 for 2 parking lot spaces. This includes everyone who wants to sell unwanted items from their home to small business owners and direct salespersons and everything in between!

The $25 vendor fee must be paid by April 23 in the Mercy front office. Vendors/sellers are responsible for providing their own set up (tables, chairs, tent, etc.)

Please call (770)461-2202 for more details. OLM reserves the right to cancel this event if we do not have enough vendor participation.

We will also have St. Vincent de Paul or Goodwill pick up any items people would like to donate if unsold after the sale.

Everyone in the community is invited to come out and shop for some great deals at Mercy on May 5th. Please spread the word!

Mercy to host 1st Annual Texas Holdem Tournament

It's tournament time! Join us for the Mercy Me! Texas Holdem Tournament at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School on Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 7 - 10 PM.

The tournament, presented by Casino Party Planners, will include only 100 players. Prizes include an iPad, a 51" television, $2,000 Tuition Voucher for OLM, and more! Top 5 winning players receive prizes.

Cost:
$100 per seat at the poker table
$20 per person for BBQ dinner with beer & wine glass
$350 Table Sponsor - includes 1 seated player, BBQ dinner for 2 and 2 drink glasses. Sponsors also receive advertising.

Reserve your seat by calling the school at (770)461-2202 or emailing Ann Consolino.

You may also pay the $100 player fee or $350 Sponsor fee online here

Only pre-paid seats will be honored at the event.

Come out for this great event that will be lots of fun and will raise funds for Mercy's student programs!

Texas Holdem flier

Varsity Baseball Defeats Forest Park

The Bobcats jumped out to an early 6-1 lead and never trailed from that point on, winning a non-region contest 16-12 over the Panthers. The Mercy pitching staff, weary and worn from the extra inning affair on Tuesday, battled through a slugfest and relied heavily on the hot bats to get the win.

Mercy travels to Paideia today for a 5pm region contest. Go Bobcats!

Baseball with exciting region win

The Bobcats defeated First Presbyterian on Tuesday in an exciting game, 12-11 in 9 innings.

Junior hurler Thomas Smilie earned the win in relief. Offensively, Christian Griffith plated the game winning run in the ninth with a single and added an RBI double in the 6th to put the Bobcats up by 1 run. Other leading hitters include Matt Frank (3 for 4, HBP, 2 runs), John Keuler (3 for 4, BB, HBP) and Austin Loper (2 for 3, Int BB).

Defensively, junior catcher Chris Wesley was instrumental behind the plate with 3 putouts (not including strikeouts), including a double play on a bunt attempt in the 5th inning. Wesley also added an assist on a attempted steal of third in the ninth inning.

The Bobcats host Forest Park at home on Wednesday at 5 PM and travel to Paideia Thursday for another region contest.

Girls Tennis moves on in Region Tourney

Congratulations to the Girls Tennis Team for defeating ELCA at home yesterday 5-0 and advancing to the semifinal round of the Region Tournament.

The boys played a tough match against First Presbyterian in Macon yesterday, losing to the Raiders 0-4. The line 1 doubles team of Chris Donnay & Eric Morris played the match of the day. After dropping the first set 0-6, they made an exciting comeback to take the second set to a tiebreak at 6-6. The tiebreak was highly contested, and even though OLM lost the tiebreak 8-10, it was the best match Donnay & Morris had played this season.

The girls will travel to South Fulton Tennis Center on Thursday, 4/12 to play Paideia at 8:30 AM. Depending on the outcome of that match, they will play for either 1st/2nd or the consolation round (3rd/4th place) at 1 PM.

GO LADY BOBCATS!

Admissions Decisions for 2012-2013 to be Emailed

IMPORTANT NOTE regarding 2012-2013 Prospective Student Admissions Decisions:

On Saturday, April 7, 2012, the Mercy Admissions Office we will be electronically notifying families via email regarding admissions decisions.

Please check the email that we have on file for you for your Admissions Decision. Please also check your spam/junk folder.

The email will be sent from: mailto:mbeno@mercycatholic.org - please add this email to your safe senders list.

For any questions or concerns, families may contact the Mercy Admissions Office at (770)461-2202, ext. 418.

Mercy Photographers Bring Home Awards!

Pace Academy held their Photo Contest Award Ceremony last night and once again, Mercy students won!

Please congratulate the following students for their accomplishments:

2nd Place - Chantel Chandonia

Exceptional Merit - David Pham, Katy Sage, and An Duc Tran

5 first place awards, 3 Second place awards, 3 Third Place awards and 50 Exceptional Merit awards were given out from over 300 photographs submitted by over 30 schools. Cash prizes were awarded to the first, second, and third prize winners.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Mercy Baseball, Tennis & Davis college signing in Citizen Sports Weekly

Mercy received several mentions in one of our local sports papers, The Citizen Sports Weekly.

Mercy Baseball is on page 6; Bolden Davis' signing to Reinhardt is on page 15; and Mercy Tennis is highlighted on page 20.

To view the paper online, visit: http://bit.ly/citizensportsdigital and click on "Digital Edition".

Mercy Baseball Wins a Pair in Chattanooga

The varsity baseball team travelled to Whitwell, Tennessee just north of Chattanooga to play a doubleheader Saturday afternoon, March 31st.

This small, Tennessee town is in the Sequatchie Valley and is nestled in the foothills of two mountain ranges - it was truly breathtaking and the boys really enjoyed the scenery. They also enjoyed the baseball as they won two hard fought games: a 2-1 victory over Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences in Game 1 and 6-5 nailbiter in Game 2 over Whitwell.

Coach Barton of Whitwell, along with the Whitwell fans were great hosts. The Bobcats parents and players are thankful for their hard work to help make this trip possible. Their efforts came in the midst of a school tragedy, as they lost a member of their senior class two days prior to the trip. A BIG thank you to the community of Whitwell - our thoughts and prayers are with them.

Mercy Track is Blazin'

Congratulations to the Mercy Track & Field Team on their amazing performances at Wednesday's Fayette County Championships.

Outstanding individual performances were turned in by: Morgan McClure (400 County Champ), Colleen Kelly, Margaret Tafanji (Discus County Champ), Leah Banks, Jade Grier, Jordan Sartor, Chauncey Laboo, John Raville, and Christian Coleman.

The girls 4x100 team of Chyna Terrell, Morgan McClure, Deja Barthell, and Leah Banks, was second overall, and the girls 4x400 team of Leah Banks, Chyna Terrell, Colleen Kelly, and Morgan McClure are County Champs!

Mercy Track Blazin'

The Mercy Track and Field team had a great performance at the Fayette County Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, March 28th. Competing against 4A and 5A schools, Mercy entered the meet as the little guy. Following the competition, our athletes proved their ability to compete against the highest competition, and walked away with several impressive performances and personal bests. Some of the standout performances were:

GIRLS

Junior, Morgan McClure, was first in the 400 and second in the 800.

Freshmen, Leah Banks, competing in five events, was second in the 400.

Junior, Margaret Tafanji, was first in the discus.

Senior, Colleen Kelly, was third in the 300 Hurdles.

Junior, Jade Grier, was third in the 800.

The girls 4x100(Chyna Terrell, Morgan McClure, Deja Barthell, and Leah Banks) was second overall.

The girls 4x400 (Leah Banks, Colleen Kelly, Cyna Terrell, and Morgan McClure) was first overall.

BOYS

Senior, Jordan Sartor, was second in the 200 and third in the 100.

Junior, Chauncy Laboo, was third in the Shot Put.

Sophomore, Christian Coleman, was second in the triple jump.

Sophomore, John Raville, was third in the 3200.

The boys 4x800 (John Raville, John Lynch, Huy Trinh, and Steven Johnston) was third overall.

The Mercy track team is gearing up for region and state competition in April. Come support this great group of athletes!!

Bill Schmitz named Athletic Director of the Year

Mercy's Athletic Director Bill Schmitz was recently named 2012 Class A Athletic Director of the Year as well as Region 9 Athletic Director of the Year.

Coach Schmitz has served Mercy for 11 years and has coached football and basketball for the Bobcats. He currently coaches the Lady Bobcats Varsity Volleyball Team which has advanced far into the state tournament several years running. During his tenure, the Mercy Athletics Program has earned the GHSA Sportsmanship Award four years in a row.

Congratulations to Coach Schmitz on this tremendous honor!

Beauty & the Beast makes OLM History

Our Lady of Mercy’s Drama Club, Mercy Players, produced Disney's Beauty and the Beast over the March 23-25 weekend and received the first ever sold-out show in Mercy Player history!

This year’s graduating class deserved the accolades, as their talent will surely be missed. The Class of 2012 provided the leads with Robert Gould as Beast for all shows, Olivia Schmitz as Belle the first two performances and Alex Campbell as Belle the last two performances.

The weekend wrapped up with a Disney-style Character Brunch on Sunday, with characters from the play and children dressed as their favorite Disney character sharing a meal and taking pictures prior to the matinee performance.

It was a tremendous family and friend weekend, and we are so proud of our cast, crew, parent volunteers, and faculty members that helped make this memorable production come to light.

2012 Car Raffle Winner

The 2012 Mercy Athletic Association Car Raffle winner was announced in front of a full house at the Saturday night performance of Beauty & the Beast. Charlie Simmons from SouthTowne Motors of Newnan, the dealership that provided the vehicle, was on hand to draw the winning ticket...which belonged to Mr. Tovalind from Morrow, GA. He is the lucky winner of the 2012 Hyundai Accent!

The Mercy Athletic Association wishes to thank the Mercy community, and friends from beyond: mail-in and online purchases came from across the country, even as far as Massachusetts! We are so grateful for your support of this fundraiser for our students. If you didn't win this year, please try again in next year's 2013 raffle!

Please Save the Date: The "Mercy Me Texas Hold 'Em Tournament" will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2012 at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic HS. Please stay tuned for more details online!

Bobcat Baseball Wins 3rd Straight

The Mercy baseball team travelled to Columbus on a beautiful Saturday afternoon to play a Catholic adversary, Pacelli, in a non-region contest. Behind solid pitching from Senior Will Dunphy and great “team” defense, the Bobcats pulled out a decisive 6-2 victory. Freshman Keegan Jordan was a defensive standout in right field along with catcher Chris Wesley.

John Keuler led all hitters going 3 for 3 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. Christian Griffith was 1 for 4 with 3 RBI’s and Kip Darden was 2 and 4 on the day. Justin Larkin drew 2 walks and scored both times to do his part offensively. The Bobcats travel to ELCA Tuesday for region contest. First pitch is 5:55.

Chauncey Laboo selected for prestigious Governors Honors Program

Junior Chauncey LaBoo has been selected for the 2012 Governors Honors Program (GHP) in Biology. This is an extremely presitigious honor as 2,900 students were interviewed but only 700 were selected as finalists.

Chauncey will attend the Georgia GHP which is a 4-week residential instructional program during the summer that is designed to give talented students increased opportunities to learn in a college setting.

Junior Shannon Byrdsell was also selected as an alternate for GHP in the area of Dance.

Congratulations Chauncey and Shannon!

To learn more about the Georgia Governors Honors Program, please visit their website.

Beauty & the Beast Opening Night is TONIGHT!

Tonight is opening night for Mercy's production of Disney's Beauty & The Beast! Showtime is at 6:30 PM.

Tickets:
$8 per adult
$5 per non-Mercy students/senior citizens
Mercy students - FREE

If you can't make it tonight, there are 2 more performances:

Saturday, March 24 - 6:30 PM (2012 Car Raffle winner will be announced at this performance at intermission)
*Sunday, March 25 - 2:30 PM

*Don't forget about our Character Brunch on Sunday, March 25 at 1:00 pm. Dress as your favorite Disney character, meet the Beast characters, have photos taken and eat brunch. Only $5/person.

Come out and support the many students, parents, and faculty members who have worked many months to make this great show a reality!

Car Raffle tickets on sale tonight & tomorrow!

Car raffle tickets will be sold at Friday night's performance and before the start of the Saturday night performance of Beauty & the Beast. Tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100.

If you have UNSOLD tickets or money for sold tickets, please bring them to the front office ASAP or to the play performances.

The Mercy Athletic Association will have the drawing for the 2012 Car Raffle at INTERMISSION of the Saturday, March 24th performance of Mercy's Spring Musical, Beauty and the Beast. The performance starts at 6:30 PM.

Get your chances to win a BRAND NEW CAR before it's too late!!!

Lady Bobcat Tennis makes it 2 in a row

The Varsity Girls Tennis Team played another great match yesterday against Strong Rock Christian on the road, earning themselves a region win at 4-1.

Jordan Hameen took her match at 8-1 and Tayler Murray won 8-4. For a second match in a row, the no. 1 doubles team of Jenny Bui & Alison Nagaj played a clean, strong game to win.

The no. 2 doubles team of Mary Catherine Gagliano & Taylor Meeks played their best match of the season, winning a close match with great net play 8-6.

The Boys Varsity Tennis Team ran into an extremely talented Strong Rock team and, while not pulling out any match wins, played tough throughout.

The Bobcats play their last regular season match at home on Tuesday, March 27th against First Presbyterian at 3:30 PM.

Bobcat Tennis victorious over Landmark

Congratulations to the Bobcats Boys and Girls Tennis teams who defeated their crosstown rival, the Landmark War Eagles, on Tuesday.

The Girls won decisively at 4-1 and the Boys pulled out a big win for their season at 3-2.

The no. 1 doubles team of Chris Donnay & Eric Morris and no. 2 doubles team of Kentez Craig & Emilio Rossello played great, aggressive tennis to earn their wins. Also, a big victory by no. 3 singles Liam Devlin which helped elevate the boys to the win over the War Eagles.

The OLM girls tennis team played solid, consistent tennis to defeat Landmark. No. 1 and No.2 singles players Tayler Murray and Jordan Hameen played cleanly which led to decisive wins. The No. 1 doubles team of Jenny Bui & Alison Nagaj played another great match and the no. 2 doubles team of Mary Catherine Gagliano & Taylor Meeks played their best match to date to pull out the victory.

The Bobcats schedule doesn't let up as they finish out the regular season taking on Strong Rock today on the road and First Presbyterian on Tuesday at home.

Beauty & the Beast Pre-Sale

Get your Beauty & the Beast tickets NOW! Beast is our BEST musical to date and you won't want to miss it.

March 22 Preview (by invitation ONLY)
March 23 Opening Night - 6:30 PM
March 24 Saturday performance - 6:30 PM (2012 Car Raffle winner will be announced at this performance at intermission)
*March 25 Sunday matinee - 2:30 PM

We will be pre-selling in the carpool line or ask in the front office.
$8 per adult
$5 per non-Mercy students

Pre-purchase roses for your favorite actors! GET A BUNCH (3) of ROSES for $5. Please place your order in the carpool line.

*Don't forget about our Character Brunch on Sunday, March 25 at 1:00 pm! (previously 12 noon)
Dress as your favorite Disney character, meet the Beast characters, have photos taken and eat brunch for ONLY $5!

Baseball Earns Region Wins

Mercy's Varsity Baseball Team earned back-to-back region wins against Whitefield Academy and Strong Rock Christian.

Last Friday the Bobcats came back from a 3-run deficit to defeat the Patriots 7-5, behind the solid pitching performance turned in by Thomas Smilie. Christian Griffith, John Keuler, and Austin Loper each had two hits to power the offense.

The Bobcats followed that big night with yet another on Tuesday evening at Whitefield Academy. After a 3-3 stalemate for 3 innings, Mercy began pulling away to earn a 15-6 victory over the Wolfpack.

Austin Loper pitched 6 strong innings to earn the win on the mound. Christian Griffith, John Keuler, and Kip Darden all turned multi-hit performances at the plate to lead the offensive charge for the Bobcats.

Track Meet at Pisgah Thursday

Mercy will be competing in a recently scheduled track meet at Mt. Pisgah this Thursday, March 22nd at 3:30 PM.

Mercy will no longer be participating in the meet at Holy Innocents on Saturday, March 24th.

Tennis match vs. Landmark moved to OLM

Today's varsity tennis match against region opponent Landmark will be played on the OLM courts instead of South Fulton Tennis Center as originally scheduled.

Matches start at 3:30 PM. Come out and support Bobcat Tennis!

Car Raffle Tix still available!

The Mercy Athletic Association Car Raffle tickets are still available! Get your chance to win a brand new Hyundai (car provided by SouthTowne Motors - Newnan).

Tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100. All proceeds benefit OLM.

Tickets will be sold all week during the school day in the front office AND at this Friday and Saturday night's performances of Beauty & the Beast - both start at 6:30 PM.

The winner of the 2012 Car Raffle will be drawn at INTERMISSION of the Saturday, March 24th performance.

Note: Please turn in money for sold tickets as well as any unsold tickets you may have to the front office IMMEDIATELY.
Thank you for your support and good luck!

Countdown to Beauty & the Beast!

Mark your calendars for Mercy's most ambitious production yet!

Beauty & the Beast will be performed on Thursday, March 22 (Preview/Invited Dress), Friday, March 23rd and Saturday, March 24th at 6:30pm with a Sunday (Character brunch and matinee) at 2:30pm.

Meet the cast! Children and families are encouraged to attend the special Sunday matinee including a Character Brunch before the performance. All are encouraged to come dressed as your favorite Disney character.

Character Brunch - Sunday, March 25th at 1:00 pm followed by the matinee at 2:30 pm.

Admissions Interviews for Prospective Students

Admissions interviews for prospective students for the 2012-2013 school year have been scheduled and will take place on Thursday, March 15th from 4 - 7 PM in the Mercy cafeteria.

A Mercy staff or faculty member will conduct the interview with the student. Interviews will last exactly 15 minutes each. Parent/guardians will not be interviewed. This interview process is strictly for the applicant.

Students are encouraged to arrive at least 10 minutes prior to their scheduled interview time. Students do not need to bring anything with them to the interview.

All interview time slots have been filled at this time. However, if you are interested in applying to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School for the 2012-2013 school year, you may still do so.

Please contact Sandra Livsey-Martin, Director of Admissions and College Guidance, at (770)-461-2202, ext. 418 for more information on the application process.

Tennis Match at Home CANCELLED

The home tennis match today vs. First Presbyterian has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for a date later in March. Please check the tennis webpage for the rescheduled date when it has been determined.

Bobcat Youth Football League Sign up - March 15 and April 23

2012 Mercy Youth Football League

Two sign-up dates:

Thursday, March 15th - 6:00 - 8:00 PM at OLM

Monday, April 23rd - 6:00 – 8:00 PM at OLM

(In the cafeteria)

Checks, cash and Debit/Credit cards accepted

Details:

*Age groups we are looking to have: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13/14 year olds
*We will be playing in the Southern Youth Football Conference
*Fee: $175 includes: helmet/shoulder pad usage, home/away jerseys
*All practices will be held at OLM
*Youth camp set for June 4th, 5th and 6th, 9 am - 12 pm - $50 per camper (includes a t-shirt)
*Coaches clinic – Saturday, June 2nd from 8am – 12pm
*Quality coaches trained by Coach Mike Earwood and staff

For more information, please contact the Mercy Athletic Office at (770)461-2202 or
Clint Browning at (404)317-3121.

Mercy Packages 23,520 Meals with Stop Hunger Now

Mercy students packaged 23,520 meals as a part of a school-wide Stop Hunger Now food packaging day and raised $5,800 for the effort. Thank you to all the donors and sponsors who made this such a success.

Working together in assembly lines, every Mercy student and members of the faculty packaged thousands of meals for school- feeding programs in developing countries.

Students did a great job fundraising, setting up, packaging, and cleaning up. We look forward to making this an annual Lenten tradition at OLM!

Junior Justin Porteous receives award for artwork

Justin Porteous has received an Honorable Mention Award from the AHSAE. Only 18 of the 96 artists in the exhibition received this distinction. Over 650 artworks were submitted overall.

As an award winner, Justin's painting will be exhibited at SCAD-Atlanta this Friday where he has been given the opportunity to participate in a complimentary workshop. His work will travel along with the other 18 award winners to The Art Institute and then on to the Dogwood Festival.

Congratulations, Justin!

Tennis falls to Paideia on the road

The Bobcat tennis team went on the road to battle Paideia yesterday. Though the girls lost the overall match 1-4, the no. 1 doubles team of Jenny Bui & Alison Nagaj played an agressive game, winning in definitive fashion 8-2. Emily Longino also won her second match of the seasonin an exhibition, 8-3.

The boys had great play by Justin James who took 4 games in his singles match, and the doubles team of Kentez Craig & Malcolm McKnight played their best match to date!

Today, the Bobcats take on Elite Scholars Academy at home at 3:30 PM. It is the tennis MARQUEE EVENT so come out and support the tennis team!

Baseball Handed Tough Road Loss

Austin Loper gave up only two earned runs in 6 innings of work for the Bobcats baseball team, but Landmark took advantage of some defensive miscues to win by a final score of 8-3. John Keuler led the offense with two hits, including a triple, and Loper was 1 for 3 with single in the first inning. Loper came around to score to give the Bobcats an early 1-0 lead.

Mercy would add another run in the 5th inning when John Keuler scored on Chris Wesley's sacrifice fly to right field. Keegan Jordan added an RBI single to score Thomas Smilie after his single in the 6th inning to close out the scoring for the Bobcats. The Bobcats travel to Macon Friday for another region contest and then return home on Tuesday for date with Paideia.

Mercy Baseball Travels to Allatoona Monday

The Bobcat baseball team will travel to Allatoona HS for a 5:30 game on Monday, 3/5.

Baseball Game for Saturday, March 3rd is cancelled

Game at Fayette County versus Aquinas will not be played today.

Sarah Shupenus & Justin Porteous Selected for High School Art Exhibit!

Congratulations to Sarah Shupenus '12 and Justin Porteous '13 for being 2 of 96 artists selected for the Atlanta High School Art Exhibition (AHSAE) at The Dogwood Festival in Piedmont Park.

Fifty-seven schools submitted over 650 works of art and ONLY 96 total artworks were hand-picked by a jury of art educators and professional artists.

Sarah submitted a photograph of the Mercy flag and Justin submitted a painted self-portrait.

Please visit the annual Dogwood Festival this year and be sure to stop by the AHSAE which is in the building near the pool.

Click here for more information and festival dates.

Well Done!!!!

Girls Tennis Wins at North Cobb Christian

Congratulations to the Lady Bobcats Tennis Team who defeated North Cobb Christian last night 4 – 1.

Great wins by our singles players who all took their matches in straight sets. No. 1 singles Tayler Murray won 6-3, 6-1 and no. 2 singles Jordan Hameen won 6-0, 6-2.

No. 3 singles player Trizna Banos took her first win of the season with consistent play, winning 6-4, 6-4. Newcomer Emily Longino won her exhibition match 6-0, 6-0.

The no. 1 doubles team of Jenny Bui and Alison Nagaj played tough and hung on to win an exciting match in 3 sets, 6-0, 6-7 (3-7), 12-3.

Though the boys didn’t take their match, they played extremely well. It was the best showing by the entire tennis team so far. Way to go Bobcats!

The next match for the tennis team is at Whitefield on Wednesday, 2/29.

'Beauty & the Beast' Build Day this Saturday, March 3

The OLM Theatre Department will conduct two build days from
9am - 4pm this Saturday, March 3 and on Monday, March 12 (Archbishop's Day Off)

WE NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS!

What you can bring: work gloves, eye protection, dust mask, any tools like chop saws, circular saws, jig saws, drills, screwdrivers, tape measures, sanders, extension cords, work clothes that may get paint on them.

What you can donate:

Any scrap-

2X4

2X2

3/4" plywood

1/4" plywood

wood screws 1" - 3"

sandpaper 80 -100 grit

wire

heavy duty fishing line

extension cords 12 - 14 gauge for power tools.

house paints -we'd love any color-especially white, gray, brown, red, yellow, blue

Snacks and drinks for our workers

PLEASE RSVP to Jennifer Cawley (jcawley@mercycatholic.org) so we are prepared adequately for the day.

Parents will receive service hours:)

THANK YOU!!

AFA

Baseball Double-Header Tomorrow - Time Change

The first home varsity baseball game vs. Pinecrest tomorrow, Saturday, 2/25 has been pushed back from 10:30 aM to 12:30 PM. The Bobcats still plan to play two games tomorrow - 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM.

However, if the field looks like it will be playable but the game needs to pushed back more, we will just play a single game with Pinecrest.

Updates will be posted to the website as a news item. Stay tuned...

Baseball home opener moved to Pinecrest

All home baseball games scheduled for Saturday, February 25th have been cancelled, however the baseball team will play at Pinecrest at 12:00pm on Saturday.

Mercy Baseball Wins Big

The Bobcats traveled to Riverdale to take on the Raiders in a non-region contest and came home with a decisive win Thursday evening.

Will Dunphy and John Keuler pitched well with Dunphy getting the win. The Bobcats pounded out 11 hits to take the game by a 12-4 score.

Fayette Charity Classic to Benefit OLM

Support Mercy by registering for the Fayette Charity Classic 2k/5k/10k event on Saturday, March 17th at 8 AM.

OLM is one of the non-profits benefitting from this event. Mercy gets $20 of the $30 registration fee for each person who designates our school. To learn more, please visit: http://fayettecharityclassic.org/

REGISTER online TODAY!

Details from the Fayette Charity Classic website:

When: Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 8 AM
Where: Fayette County Justice Center Complex - 3 Center Drive, Fayetteville GA

ABOUT THE EVENT
In 2012, Fayette Senior Services is looking to put the UNITY back in CommUNITY—reaching out in an effort to raise awareness and money for non-profits countywide. Appropriately re-named the ‘Fayette Charity Classic', we've revamped what would be our 4th annual March For Meals Run/Walk and extended the opportunity to 501.C.3 organizations across the county. The 2012 FAYETTE CHARITY CLASSIC also features a new 10K route which, along with the annual 5K, is USA Track & Field (USATF) certified and a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race.

RAISE YOUR HEART RATE… PARTICIPATE.
The Fayette Charity Classic has something for everyone - it’s healthy, it’s fun, and you can participate at the level of your choice while doing something good for your favorite local charity. The event also features race-day festivities including parking lot parties (see regulations), event-day expo, awards, and a lot of community spirit.

Participating non-profit, 501.c.3 charities will receive $20 of each $30 paid registration fee/completed Official Entry Form. To ensure your favorite charity benefits from the event proceeds, you must designate your charity as a recipient (see Official Entry Form). Corporate sponsors can also designate charities as beneficiaries (see Sponsor Package for more information).

For additional information or to register for the 2K, 5K or 10K click here .

RAISE YOUR HAND… VOLUNTEER.
We’re actively recruiting volunteers to help make the 2012 Fayette Charity Classic our best event yet. Opportunities are available for individuals and groups, and with varying degrees of availability. For additional info or to contact our volunteer coordinator, click here .

RAISE FUNDS… DONATE.
This year we’re making it easier than ever to let all of our runners, volunteers and supporters get involved. We’ve partnered with Crowdrise to encourage all participants to unite and fundraise for charity in 2012. Join the effort – start a team or create your own fundraising page, share it with your friends via email, Facebook, and Twitter, or simply make a donation. Just imagine the impact the entire CommUNITY can have when united to give back in a fun and compelling way. Not familiar? Visit www.crowdrise.com/2012FayetteCharityClassic to learn more.

Boys Defeat Mt. Paran on the Road

Congratulations to the Boys Tennis team for defeating Mt. Paran last night by a score of 3-2. This marks the first Boys team win so far this season.

Mercy boys No. 1 singles player Russell Goemaere won his match 6-4, 6-3. Number 2 singles player Justin James took his match 6-2, 7-5 and No. 3 singles player Liam Devlin won a pro-set 8-2.

The No. 1 doubles team of Chris Donnay and Eric Morris played tough, but fell short at 3-8. The No. 2 doubles team of Kentez Craig and Malcolm McKnight played in difficult conditions; their match was at 1-6 before being pulled off due to darkness.

The Lady Bobcats tennis team played an extremely talented Mt. Paran team. Though the girls lost 0-5, there were some great points and solid effort by the girls players.

The Boys match tomorrow Thursday, 2/23 vs. Galloway has been CANCELLED. However, the girls will still play at 3:15 PM. Come out and support Bobcat Tennis at our first home match of the season!

Help Fine Arts and earn service hours!

Alliance for Fine Arts NEEDS YOU!

Are you handy with a drill? Don't mind using a paint brush? Need service hours? We have JUST the thing for you! We are building some pretty awesome sets for our spring musical Beauty & the Beast and we need help with the castle and other odds and ends.

The Theatre Department will conduct two build days from

9am - 4pm on Saturday, March 3 and Monday, March 12 (our Archbishop's Day Off)

PLEASE RSVP to JCawley@MercyCatholic.org by February 29th so we are prepared adequately for the day.

What you can bring: work gloves, eye protection, dust mask, any tools like chop saws, circular saws, jig saws, drills, screwdrivers, tape measures, sanders, extension cords, work clothes that may get paint on them.

What you can donate:

Any scrap wood such as:

2X4

2X2

3/4" plywood

1/4" plywood

wood screws 1" - 3"

sandpaper 80 -100 grit

wire

heavy duty fishing line

extension cords 12 - 14 gauge for power tools.

house paints -we'd love any color-especially white, gray, brown, red, yellow, blue

Snacks and drinks for our workers

THANK YOU!!

AFA (Alliance for Fine Arts)

Both Basketball Teams Move On in Region Tournament

Congratulations to the Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball Teams - both won their first round region tournament games last night.

The varsity boys defeated First Presbyterian 76 – 57 at home as OLM played host to the first round of the boys bracket. The Bobcats had three players in double figures and Coach Tony Caruso was pleased to see it was a complete team effort.

The boys will play Landmark tonight at 7:00 at Paidiea for a chance to go to the State Tournament.

The Lady Bobcats took on W.D. Mohammed last night as well and won 35-17. The girls will play Strong Rock tomorrow, February 15 at 5:30 PM at Paideia for a chance to go on to the State Tourney.

Mercy hosts Boys Region Basketball Tournament tonight

Our Lady of Mercy will host 4 games in the first round of the 2012 Region 9-A Basketball Tournament tonight. The OLM Boys Varsity Basketball team will compete tonight at 5:30 PM against First Presbyterian.

If the Bobcats win, they will face Landmark tomorrow night at 7 PM at Paideia. Only the top 4 teams in the region advance to the State Tournament. This mean that the Bobcats would need to win tonight and tomorrow to secure a spot in the first round of the State tourney.

Admission to the games tonight is $5 for ALL guests. Since these are GHSA sanctioned games, Mercy family passes will not be valid for tonight. Only coaches with a current GHSA card will be allowed free admission.

Come out to Mercy tonight and root the Bobcats on to victory!

1st Round Boys Basketball Games - 2/13/12

4:00 PM SACA vs. ELCA
5:30 PM OLM vs. First Presbyterian
7:00 PM Hapeville vs. Strong Rock
8:30 PM Tech vs. Paideia

College Fair tomorrow

Our Lady of Mercy in partnership with Landmark Christian and Trinity Christian schools, is hosting a College Fair on Saturday, February 11th from 1- 4 PM.

College representatives from multiple schools across the country will be available for questions. Students in all high school grades are encouraged to attend.

The College Fair will be held at Trinity Christian School located at 8817 Hwy. 54 W in Sharpsburg.

For questions, please call Our Lady of Mercy at (770)-461-2202 or email Sandra Livsey-Martin, Director of Admissions & College Guidance.

Mercy Parent featured on WSB-TV

Find out how Mercy Parent Carolyn Connor helps a stranger and pays it forward (link to video on wsbtv.com):

http://www.wsbtv.com/videos/news/family-pays-it-forward-with-kidney-transplant/vFzf6/

First Valentine's Cabaret a Hit!

Thank you to the AFA (Alliance for the Fine Arts), all of the students who performed and served, and all of those who attended our First Annual Valentine's Cabaret at St. Gabriel's Church last Friday, February 3rd. It was a great success!

The coffee and desserts were truly decadent and the student entertainment was stellar.

We were also privileged to have a special guest for the evening, Mr. Glen Rainey (friend of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton), who has performed in many productions on Broadway including many roles in Beauty and the Beast.

Mr. Rainey sang two songs, one from Guys and Dolls and another from Wicked. Both were STUNNING and he received two standing ovations.

In addition, our very own Mrs. Brooke Hamilton graced the stage and has an amazing voice (even with a sore throat!)

It was truly a spectacular evening and we can't wait to do it again next year!

If you would like to become a member of the AFA, please click here for more information.

Valentine's Cabaret this Friday, Feb. 3

Want to jazz up the Valentine's Day season with some cabaret performances, desserts, and fun for the whole family?

Our Lady of Mercy's first annual Valentine’s Cabaret is this Friday, February 3, at 7:30 PM at the Catholic Church of St. Gabriel in Fayetteville.

Talented performances from over 20 students, and a fantastically fun atmosphere will make your night! There will also be a special performance from Broadway performer Glenn Rainey. Appetizers, desserts, and coffee will be served.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for students. Ticket price includes 1 dessert and 1 drink. There will also be a 50/50 raffle, door prizes and a photo booth. All proceeds from this event supports the upcoming spring musical Beauty and the Beast.

The Catholic Church of St. Gabriel is located at: 152 Antioch Road, Fayetteville, GA 30215. Mrs. Hamilton will be selling tickets at OLM this week in the mornings before school and at the door on Friday night.

This is the only fine arts fundraiser of the year so please come out and support Mercy Arts!

For more information, please call OLM at (770)461-2202 ext. 448 or email Mrs. Hamilton.

Run for Victory 5K/Fun Run this Saturday, Feb. 4

Our Lady of Victory Catholic School in Tyrone is hosting its Run for Victory 5K and 1 mile run/walk on Saturday, February 4th.

There is a group of Mercy students who will be volunteering that morning. The Mercy Athletic Association will also be represented at the race.

It's not too late to help! They are still looking for race participants as well as volunteers.

To learn more, please visit the Run for Victory website or call Our Lady of Victory at (770) 306-9026.

Senior Yearbook Recognition Ads - Deadline Extended!

Senior Parents-

The Yearbook deadline for recognizing your child's accomplishments has been extended to this Friday, February 3rd!

For an additional $20 late fee, you can still purchase an ad celebrating your student's hard work.

For information on the sizes of the ads and pricing, please see the REVISED Senior Ad Form or the Yearbook webpage on the Student Life section of the website.

Remember to submit your check by this Friday, February 3rd! Questions? Please email Ms. O'Neill .

JV Girls Basketball Game on Friday - CANCELLED

The JV Girls Basketball home game on Friday, Feb. 3rd has been cancelled.

The Varsity Girls and Varsity Boys games against First Presbyterian will be played as scheduled.

Honors Breakfast

The Honors Breakfast recognizes the Excellence or Honors academic achievements of students for the Fall 2011 semester.

Respect Life Mass tomorrow

Tomorrow, Thursday, January 19th, we will celebrate our annual Respect Life Mass at 10:15 AM in the auditorium. This is a school-wide Mass and all are welcome.

In addition, students who have earned the distinction of Excellence Honors and Honors from Fall 2012 will be announced. The complete list can be found on the Academic webpage. These students are invited to the Honors Breakfast on Friday morning.

Pastor & Parish Challenge Tonight

Pastors, priests, and religious from our local Catholic parishes will join us tonight, Friday, Janaury 13th, for a basketball shootout to earn OLM tuition vouchers for their parishioners. The parish with the most people in attendance will also win bonus vouchers.

The Basketball Challenge will take place at halftime of the Boys Varsity Basketball game (tip-off is at 8:30 PM).

Parishioners must sign in at the ticket table by halftime to count toward their parish attendance total.

Come out and show your support!

Cheer on your pastor and the Bobcats to victory!

No JV Girls game on 1/13/12

Strong Rock was unable to field a JV team, so the 1/13/12 JV game slated for 4:00 is cancelled.

Tennis Team Tryouts next week

2012 Tennis Team tryouts will be held on the following days:

Boys - Tuesday, January 17 from 3:30 - 5 PM
Girls - Wednesday, January 18 from 3:30 - 5 PM

Students must have the following 3 forms on file prior to trying out:

Updated Physical Evaluation - to be completed by a physician/medical personnel
Consent to Treat Form - to be completed by parent/guardian
Concussion Test - to be completed at home online by the student

Students should bring the following to tryouts: racquet, water/sports drink, towel, etc. and wear appropriate athletic gear (shirt, shorts/skirt, tennis shoes with non-marking soles).

If you are currently participating in a winter sport, you cannot tryout until your sport has completed its season. Please see Coach Haaland for your tryout date.

For questions or more information on the tennis team, please contact Coach Monica Haaland.

Girls Basketball Update - Paideia, Fellowship Christian, Landmark

After a long holiday break the Lady Bobcats were back in action as they traveled to Paideia School last Friday and played their best game of the season only to come up a little short on the scoreboard. The final score was 40 to 34.

The girls played Fellowship Christian the following night and gave a great effort despite having two starters out due to injury. The final score was 50 to 27. Chyna Terrell and Deja Barthell played well and led the team in scoring against Paideia. Kiesha Louis-Charles stepped up against Fellowship and gave her best offensive performance of the year. Deja Barthell also played well Saturday night.

The team traveled to Landmark Tuesday to play a region game and got off to a quick start, leading 13 to 2 at the end of the first quarter and never looked back. The team went on to post an impressive 54 to 25 victory. The team was lead by senior Chyna Terrell and freshman Deja Barthell in scoring. Leah Banks turned in a solid performance offensive and defensively.

The Lady Bobcats are currently 3-1 in the region with an important region game coming up this Friday night versus Strong Rock Christian School at OLM. The team will then travel to Eagles Landing Christian Academy on Saturday.

Landmark to host Bobcats Basketball Tuesday night

The Bobcats Basketball teams will travel to cross-town rival Landmark tomorrow, January 10th. Mercy will be taking students and parents on a Fan Bus to the games. Please contact Coach Schmitz for details.

JV Boys - 4:30 PM
Varsity Girls - 6 PM
Varsity Boys - 7:30 PM

Come out and cheer the Bobcats on to victory!

Reunion Brought Back Class of '06

The OLM Class of 2006 was reunited last Friday night. More than 30 members of the 2006 class came back to Mercy to catch up with old friends and their former teachers.

Boys post win at Pickens County Christmas Tournament

The Boy's varsity defeats tournament host Pickens County 60-48 on Tuesday night (27th). Coach Caruso was concerned that after a 14 day lull between games, his team may not be ready to play at full tilt. He was wrong. The Bobcats came out and controlled the game. Outside of a few blown lay up opportunities, the boy's rolled over the Dragons to win the first game of the 3 day tournament.

The Bobcats take on 5A Cherokee County today (28th) at 4:30 at Pickens County High School (Old Gym).

Food Donations, Other Items Still Needed

12/20/11 Update from Mr. Tolcher on Christmas Eve Dinner serving the homeless:

A week or so ago, we sent out some information regarding an opportunity to feed the VERY needy on Christmas Eve. As some of you know, last Christmas Eve, the Mercy community and family friends made a huge contribution to a homeless shelter that eventually fed over 500 people and provided Christmas gifts and needed clothing.

We are at it again, and here are the newest details:

· If all goes well, and people step up, there is the potential to provide close to 700 meals.

· The original location has been changed. The Gateway Center has a new staff and things got complicated. We are now at The Garden at 7 Bridges. See event website for info.

· We are still in need of cooked hams and turkeys, along with large portion side items. There are other needs posted on the website.

· Please bring any food and other donated items to OLM on the morning of Christmas Eve around 8:30 AM. A Mercy caravan will be leaving Mercy at 9 AM on Saturday, December 24th to take food to the location.

· There are two, potentially three meals being served:

o 11:30 AM - we are taking individually packaged meals to the streets

o 1:00 PM - a Christmas Eve meal will be served at the location

o Later, another meal will be taken to the streets if enough food is collected.

Please check the event website for more information, directions, an online volunteer sign-up log, etc. There are lots of volunteers signed up for later in the day, so I’m suggesting that you all look to serve earlier in the day.

It’s a great event, with really good people involved. More importantly, it’s the real deal as far as providing for those who have real needs.

If you can prepare food and perhaps help get it down there, contact Mark Tolcher at mtolcher@mercycatholic.org.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Bobcats Make All-County Football Team

Congratulations to the Bobcat Varsity Football Players who made the 2011 All-County Football Team!

Read the complete article from the Fayette Daily News online here.

1st Team:
Adam Rose

2nd Team:
Rashard Fant
Matt Frank
Justin James
Chauncey LaBoo

Honorable Mention:
Chris Donnay
Brendan File
Lake McGuffie
John Keuler

Fall 2011 Final Exams

Tuesday, December 20: 8:00 English; 10:00 Theology

Fall 2011 Final Exams

Monday, December 20: 8:00 Science; 10:00 Social Studies

Our Lady of Victory hosts 5K Run/Walk

Our Lady of Victory Catholic School, a K-8 school in Tyrone, is hosting a Run for Victory 5K and 1 mile run/walk on Saturday, February 4, 2012.

To register for the race and find out how you can support their cause please refer to the Registration Form.

Fall 2011 Final Exams

Friday, December 16: 8:00 Math; 10:00 Foreign Language

Mercy Junior featured in AJC Good News Story

Jala White '13 was featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for her involvement in the Warm & Fuzzy Project to help clothe those in need this winter.

Read the full AJC article here.

To get involved with the Warm & Fuzzy Project, visit www.warmandfuzzyproject.com

Catholic Schools Night welcomed OLV, SJE, SPC

Students and families from Our Lady of Victory, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Peter Claver Catholic Schools came out in full force to attend Catholic Schools Night at Mercy's home basketball games last Saturday.

Feeder school students were treated to free admission to the games, a performance from the Mercy Step Team, and were there to cheer on the Varsity Bobcat basketball teams to two victories over Tech High School.

In addition, each school had a representative shoot baskets at halftime of the boys varsity game for a chance to win up to $1,200 in OLM tuition vouchers. Also, for each grade level that was represented by at least 5 students, the school recieved an extra $100 in tuition vouchers.

Congratulations to all our feeder schools for winning vouchers that night! A special thank you to: Dr. Jeanne Rast, Mr. Herman Lum, and Mrs. Karen Vogtner from St. John the Evangelist, Mrs. Pam Moors from St. Peter Claver, and Mrs. Linda Grace from Our Lady of Victory.

It was a great night for Catholic schools - thank you to all who attended and participated!

Pictured (L-R): Mr. Dorsel, Dr. Rast (SJE), Mrs. Grace (OLV), Mrs. Moors (SPC), and Mrs. Vogtner (SJE)

Final Exam Schedule

The 2011 Fall Semester Final Exam Schedule is as follows:

Friday, Dec. 16 8:00 Math

10:00 Foreign Language

*Monday, Dec. 19 8:00 Science

10:00 Social Studies

Tuesday, Dec. 20 8:00 English

10:00 Theology

*Monday, December 19th is NOT a late start. The Science final exam will begin promptly at 8 AM.

On final exam days, students are advised to arrive by 7:45 AM and must be out of the building by 12 noon unless they are in an approved, supervised activity.

Make-up exams: Students must make arrangements for make-up exams with their teachers.

If you have any questions about Final Exams, please contact JoAnn McPherson, Dean of Studies.

Lady Bobcats get Second Win in a Row

The Lady Bobcats continued their winning ways as they defeated Hapeville Charter last night 49 - 32 to get their second consecutive win. The girls are currently tied for first place in the region.

The team was lead by an impressive performance by Chyna Terrell, who scored 30 points in the victory. The team also got good performances from Deja Barthell with 13 points and Kiesha Louis-Charles with 6 points. Both Iyanna Carlies and Leah Banks gave a solid defensive effort.

The Lady Bobcats team has no other games until after the Christmas holidays. Have a great holiday season!

Lady Bobcats Basketball Earns Win

The Lady Bobcats got their first win of the season Saturday night against Tech Charter 60 – 3. Nine varsity players scored in the game, in which the Lady Bobcats had their highest point production in 4 years.

Leading the way was Deja Barthell with 15 points, followed by Leah Banks with 12 points, Chyna Terrell with 9 points, Caylee Wilcox and Keisha Louis- Charles with 6 points each, also scoring was Auriel Oates, Iyanna Carlies with 4 points, Mary O’Connor and Violet Iyahen with 2 points each.

The girls varsity will play Hapeville Charter Tuesday night, December 13th at home at 6:00 PM.

Upcoming Service Opportunities for Students & Parents

Looking for ways to serve others this Christmas season? There are several opportunities to help those in need this month. Please contact Mr. Tolcher for questions or details.

Friday, December 16 & Saturday, December 17 - Missionaries of Charity Christmas Party

Mercy is assisting with this annual party for underprivileged children. There are two opportunities to help:

· Christmas Goodies baking and decorating on Friday, December 16th in the Mercy cafeteria. We need baking items and people.

· Party on Saturday, December 17 from 10 am - 2 pm.

Please see flyer for more information and specific needs. Contact Petra Raville for information regarding Friday and Mr. Tolcher for information regarding Saturday.

Saturday, December 17 - Christmas party for women and children at Pregnancy Center

Mercy for LIFE is helping to provide a Christmas party for the women and children assisted at the Advice and Aid Problem Pregnancy Center in Hapeville. We are helping with this event as our third service day at the Center this semester. We have been asked to provide prizes for games for the moms and their children. We will leave Mercy at 9:30am and return before 1:30. We have a few spots for students looking to help.

If unable to help that day, we really need the following items as prizes:

· Card games for kids

· DVD Movies (G-rated)

· A gift bag or stocking filled with personal items - toothbrush - toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, etc.

· A gift bag filled with boxed foods - Stuffing, instant potatoes, gravy mix, etc.

· A gift bag filled with canned foods - veggies, fruit, etc.

· Hats, gloves

· Crayons & coloring books

· Puzzles

Saturday, December 24 - Gateway Center Christmas Eve Party and Dinner

Mercy was a huge contributor to this event last year. We helped feed well over 500 hundred men, women and children at this awesome event. Mercy has been asked to generously respond with food for 500.

We need large portion side items as well as cooked turkeys and hams.

Last year our community stepped up in an amazing way. Additionally, the organizers are purchasing 100 roller suitcases and 100 MARTA cards for homeless mothers.

For more information about the day and the needs, please contact Mr. Tolcher.

Deadline for Senior Recognition Ads for Yearbook is today

Attention Senior Parents!

The deadline to receive a discounted rate on Senior Recognition Ads has passed, but it is NOT too late to purchase one.

The FINAL deadline to honor your student is today, Monday, December 12th.

The order form can be found on the Yearbook section of the Mercy Website here.

All order forms, pictures, text, and payments MUST be turned in to Ms. O'Neill or the front office by today, December 12th for the ad to be included in the yearbook.

Thanks for your cooperation!

Students & Faculty Volunteer, Run for CdLS 5K

On Saturday, December 3rd, a group of Mercy students, accompanied by faculty members Mr. Hofkes, Ms. O'Neill and Fr. Jimmy, traveled by bus down to Decatur to volunteer for the Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) Foundation 5k fundraiser. The foundation raises awareness about CdLS and provides support to families affected by the condition.

The OLM students were the main volunteers at the event and did everything from race registration to handing out shirts, setting up the course to directing traffic, and even running in the 5K! The Mercy students did a wonderful job and represented our school extremely well. In addition, their presence enabled the event coordinators who have a child with CdLS to be able to participate in the 5K for the first time. It was a great gift that our students were able to give that family.

Also, congratulations to Steven Johnston '13 and Ms. O’Neill who ran the 5k and were top finishers! Steven finished 2nd overall for both men and women and 1st in his age group (15-19) in just under 19 minutes. Ms. O'Neill finished 1st overall for the females in just over 19 minutes.

Thanks again to Mr. Hofkes, Ms. O'Neill, Fr. Jimmy, and the student volunteers who gave up a Saturday morning to serve others so cheerfully!

Catholic Schools Night is Saturday, 12/10

OLM invites students and families from Our Lady of Victory, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Peter Claver Catholic Schools to Catholic Schools Night during our home basketball games tomorrow night, Saturday, December 10th.

Students from OLV, SJE, and SPC receive free admission to the following games:
JV Boys game at 3:30 PM
Girls Varsity game at 5:00 PM
Boys Varsity game at 6:30 PM

As an added treat, at halftime of the Boys Varsity game (around 7 PM), a staff & faculty representatives from each of the 3 feeder schools will be shooting baskets for a chance to win up to $1,200 in tuition vouchers to OLM!

Also, each school earns an extra $100 in OLM tuition vouchers for each class represented by at least 5 students in attendance.

Come out for a fun night at OLM and cheer the Bobcats on to victory on the court!

For more information, please view our Catholic Schools Night flier.

Only 2 Days Left to Buy Coca-Cola Products

Hurry! Only 2 days left to help raise funds for the OLM Boys & Girls Varsity Basketball Programs by participating in our Coca-Cola Fundraiser. Sales end this Friday, Dec. 9.

Order Form & Coca-Cola Product Descriptions (pdf)

Products for sale include a variety of Coca-Cola soft drinks, Dasani water, Powerade, Minute Maid juices, Vitamin Water, and Tum-E Yummies. Cash or checks (payable to OLM) will be accepted.

Payment attached to the order form (link above) are due to OLM Friday, Dec. 9th.

For more information, please contact Coach Tony Caruso

Students serve Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home

Nine current OLM students went to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home last week to prepare the home for the Christmas holidays. Mrs. DeMello and her daughter - OLM alumni Lani DeMello '05 - volunteered as well.

Located near Turner Field, the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home is staffed by the Hawthorne Dominican Sisters, and is dedicated to the care of terminal cancer patients. The home is open to those who cannot afford to pay for care, and does not discriminate based on race, creed or origin.

The students decorated numerous Christmas trees, hallways, and patient rooms. It was a great way to serve those in need and celebrate the true meaning of charity during the Advent season.

All Basketball Games vs Landmark tonight CANCELLED

ALL Boys and Girls JV & Varsity Basketball games against Landmark at home tonight have been cancelled.
They will not be rescheduled for a later date.

Basketball Home Openers Tonight & Tomorrow

Mercy Bobcat Basketball opens up at home tonight, November 29th, against cross-town rivals Whitewater. The Lady Bobcats Varsity team tips off at 6:00 PM and the Boys Varsity team plays at 7:30 PM.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 30th, the Girls JV and Boys Freshman teams host Whitewater at home. Girls JV plays at 5:00 PM and the Freshman Boys tip off at 6:30 PM.

The Mercy concessions stand by the gym will be offering hot food as well as snacks and drinks and will be open both nights and at all home basketball games throughout the season.

Senior Olivia Schmitz named Athlete of the week

Female Athlete of the Week

Olivia Schmitz -- OUR LADY OF MERCY

By Maurice Dixon
mdixon@neighbornewspapers.com

Even though her high school volleyball career has ended, Our Lady of Mercy’s Olivia Schmitz is still making history.

On Nov. 5 at Blessed Trinity High School, the senior outside hitter was named First Team All-State after participating in the Georgia Volleyball Coaches’ Association Senior All-Star Game.

“It was just a fun time and an honor to be there,” Schmitz said.

“[Being named] All-State is the highest award outside of Player of the Year,” said Olivia Schmitz’s father and OLM volleyball coach Bill Schmitz. “She likes to play it down but that is pretty good.”

Certainly is when it is also the highest honor for a Lady Bobcat in program history.

This past season, Olivia Schmitz helped Our Lady of Mercy earn a 33-12 record and advance to the Sweet 16. She had 651 kills, 86 digs and 62 serving aces.

“We didn’t set any bars for ourselves but we wanted to do the best we could and I think we did better than I thought we ever would,” Olivia Schmitz said.

Next year, Schmitz, who has a 3.4 grade-point average, will attend Birmingham-Southern College and play volleyball there.

She said being a coach like her father is a possibility in the future.

Nayho Jalajel '14 named to ECNLTeam

Congratulations to sophomore Nahyo Jalajel '14 who was named to the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) All Events Soccer Team this fall.

Nahyo played on the Concorde Fire U15 Girls Soccer Team. She and her ECNL team played in Phoenix, Arizona a few weeks aga on October 8-10 where they went 2-0-1 against formidable opponents.

This is a great honor for Nahyo to be named to this team and to have had the opportunity to play at such a high level.
We look forward to Nahyo bringing her skills once again to the Mercy Girls Soccer Program this spring. Congratulations Nahyo!

Read the full ECNL article here. The ECNL is sanctioned by US Club Soccer and sponsored by Nike.

Nayho (#15) is pictured at right. Picture courtesy of Jalajel Family.

Adam Rose '12 is Male Athlete of the Week

Senior Varsity football player Adam Rose was chosen as the Neighbor Newspapers Male Athlete of the Week.

To read the full article, click here.

Schmitz '12 named AVCA Player of the Week

Senior Outside Hitter Olivia Schmitz was named the AVCA (American Volleyball Coaches Association) “Player of the Week” for the week of September 26^th. This award is given nationally to one player in the country each week of the season.

This award is chosen by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and is an exceptional honor. Olivia received a letter and certificate from Maxpreps as well as a commemorative patch for her achievement. See below for more details. Congratulations Olivia!

AVCA Player of the Week: Olivia Schmitz

Congratulations to Olivia Schmitz of Our Lady of Mercy High School. She is the Georgia AVCA Player of the Week!

View Story

Georgia (Week of 9/26/11)

Olivia Schmitz

Our Lady of Mercy (Fairburn): 27-9
Senior, Outside Hitter
Week of September 26- October 2, 2011: 5 Games Played
Stats
Digs: 2
Aces: 6
Kills: 36
Blocks: 2

You can view Olivia’s stats at www.maxpreps.com

Three OLM Musicians Chosen for GISA All-Select Orchestra, Chorus

Three talented Mercy musicians were selected to participate in the Georgia Independent School Association's (GISA) All-Select Orchestra and Chorus groups.

Adriannea Smith '14, viola, and Jeanne Farnet '15, violin, were selected to the All-Select Orchestra. Jason Miller '15 was chosen to participate in the All-Select Chorus. Student selections were based on both academic excellence and musical performance.

The GISA All-Select groups performed this past weekend at Mt. Paran Christian School. The chorus clinician was Dr. Pamela Elrod, Associate Professor of Music at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. The Orchestra clinician was Mr. Tim Aucion, Director of Orchestra and Fine Arts Chair at Northview High School.

Congratulations to these students for representing Mercy and on their musical achievement! Congratulations also to Mrs. Sally Coleman, Mercy faculty sponsor and Director!

Schmitz takes home big prize at GVCA All-Star game

Mercy senior and Lady Bobcats' outside hitter Olivia Schmitz participated in the Georgia Volleyball Coaches Association (GVCA) Senior All-Star Game last Saturday at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School.

Schmitz played well, recording several great passes and serves and had two big kills. At the conclusion of the All-Star match, the GVCA held the ALL State Awards Ceremony where Schmitz was named 1st Team All State.

Only 44 seniors were selected for the All Star Match and Olivia was one of only twelve seniors selected for the All State Award. This is the highest award given to a Mercy volleyball player in program history.

Olivia will head to Birmingham Southern this weekend on an official volleyball visit and hopes to narrow down where she plans to play in college soon.

Congratulations to Olivia on this great achievement!

Craft Show & Fall Fine Arts Fest - Friday, Nov. 18th

On Friday, November 18th at 6:30pm, the Mercy Fine Arts Department will showcase each discipline of art in our annual Fall Fine Arts Festival. This year’s theme, Kaleidoscope, symbolizes the coming together of our Band, Chorus, Dance, Drama, Orchestra, and Visual Arts classes as we travel through a myriad of traditions and cultures to celebrate the diverse ways that we can express ourselves.

The kaleidoscope signifies the fragments that come together to form a whole, perhaps indicating a diversity of something,such as experience, or piecing together the parts of a symbolic puzzle.
-from The Dream Encyclopedia

The audience will learn the various instruments that work together to create the melodious sound of a song, the choreography that flows together to create an expressive dance, the different acting styles that organize a scene, and the array of artist mediums used to create a work of art.

Admission prices to the Fall Fine Arts Festival:

Mercy students, staff & faculty - FREE
Adults - $8
Seniors/Non-Mercy Students - $5

CRAFT SHOW
Mercy will host a Craft Show & Sale from 3:30 pm - 8:30 pm in conjunction with the Fine Arts Festival to raise funds for the OLM Fine Arts Department.

This is a great time to get those homemade pies and breads to freeze for Thanksgiving as well as some unique Christmas gifts such as hand-made jewelry and cigar box purses!

Admission to the Craft show is free and open to the public.

Senior Olivia Schmitz receives All Star Volleyball Honors

Lady Bobcat Volleyball senior outside hitter Olivia Schmitz has been selected by the coaches of Georgia as a Senior All Star. Olivia will play in the 2011 Senior All Star Game at Blessed Trinity High School this Saturday, November 5th at 4 pm.

Olivia ended the 2011 volleyball campaign #1 in the state in kills with 651. She also ended the year #12 in the Nation in kills (Maxpreps.com). She was also given the Most Valuable Offense award at this year's volleyball banquet.

This is the first senior to be asked to the state all star game in Mercy Volleyball program history.

Congratulations to Olivia on a great year and a great volleyball career at Mercy. Good Luck on Saturday!

Senior Adam Rose recognized in AJC Blog

The OLM Varsity Football team rained on Whitefield's senior night parade by defeating the Wolfpack 45 - 0 on Friday night. Senior Adam Rose scored five touchdowns for the Bobcats, two on interceptions. Senior Rashard Fant also returned a punt for a TD.

Read more here: AJC High School sports blog - Week 11

Mercy Drama wins 2nd place in One Act Competition + more awards!!!

Congratulations to Mrs. Hamilton and Mr. Hutcheson and the cast and crew of The Yellow Boat for winning 2nd place in our region!

Additional awards include:

Best Cast Members: Bockarie Amara & Tyler Todd

Best Character Actor: Robert Gould

Best Ensemble: The Yellow Boat

Best Director: Brooke Hamilton

This is a huge accomplishment and we are so proud of our Drama Department!

Junior Proffit wins K of C essay contest

Junior Michael Anthony Proffit was named the winner of the 2011 Public Safety Essay Contest. The contest, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Tara Council # 6352 in Jonesboro, is an annual competition. This year's essay them was: The Integration of 21st Century Technology into Public Safety Jobs.

Proffit's essay was selected from among the 13 finalists. Proffit was awarded a certificate and savings bond at a ceremony honoring local public safety officers on Wednesday. He is pictured above with Grand Knight John Halloran (left) and with his parents Merry and Michael Proffit and Nathan Watts, Mercy social studies faculty member (right).

Congratulations!

Coach Schmitz & Daughters Olivia, Mary Katherine featured in Georgia Bulletin

A Coach Who Balances Multiple Roles
by Michael Alexander, Georgia Bulletin

It’s not unheard of for coaches to coach at least one of their children. Marist School’s Mike Trapani coached his daughter in softball and his son in baseball. Our Lady of Mercy’s Tony Caruso also coached his son in basketball.

However, for the last three seasons, Bill Schmitz, athletic director and head volleyball coach at Our Lady of Mercy School, Fayetteville, has coached his two eldest children, Olivia, 18, and Mary Katherine, 16, in the same sport at the same time. Olivia is the team’s senior outside hitter and Mary Katherine is a junior setter...

To read the full article, please visit the Georgia Bulletin blog.

Picture courtesy of Michael Alexander

Deadline for Gala Donations Extended to 10/31

It's not too late to support the Gala & EARN A FREE DRESS DOWN DAY for your child!

The deadline for basket items and general donations has been extended to Monday, October 31st at the end of the school day. For details, please see below.

If you have other items that you can to donate that do not necessarily fit the themes below, please feel free to donate these also. Some examples include:

- vacation stays at timeshares, condo, etc.
- signed sports memorabilia
- gift cards for restaurants, car maintenance, spa/salon, etc.
- unique religious items

Any donated item to the Gala will earn your child a free dress down day!

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Details for House Basket Donations:

Mercy’s 1st Annual Gala is coming up and we would like to seek your support through donation of items for themed baskets. These baskets will be put up for silent auction during our event and your donation will not only generate funds for our school, but will also give you the opportunity to earn a free dress down day for your child!

Each House is assigned basket themes (listed below). Items are due to the front office by Monday, October 31st.

Please refer to Theme Basket List for sample items for each basket.

Kibeho
Thanksgiving Home Décor Basket
Deck the Halls Christmas Clothings & Accessories; Family Entertainment
Bed/Bath or Beauty/Spa Basket
Emergency Readiness Basket
Ultimate Fan Basket

Lourdes
Thanksgiving Tableware Basket

Deck the Halls Christmas Kitchen & Bakeware; Family Entertainment

Entertainment (Movie/Music) Basket

Jewelry Basket

“Mercy Spirit” Basket

Guadalupe
Thanksgiving Kitchen/Bakeware Basket
Deck the Halls Christmas Tableware; Family Entertainment
Picnic Basket or Tea Party Basket
Baby and/or Toy Basket
Advent/Nativity Creche Basket

Fatima
Thanksgiving Clothing Accessories Basket
Deck the Halls Christmas Home Décor; Family Entertianment
Earth Friendly Basket
Baker’s Dozen Basket
Home & Garden Basket

ALL DONATED ITEMS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A COMPLETED STUDENT/HOUSE DONATION FORM AND SUBMITTED TO THE FRONT OFFICE BY MONDAY, OCTOBER 31st.

For further information, visit the Gala webpage or email the Home & School Association.

Thank you for your support of the Gala 2011!

Art II classes visit Serenbe Photography Center

Mrs. Cawley's Art II classes enjoyed a day out at Serenbe Photography Center near Palmetto, GA. The day was spent with four experts in the field of photography.

Students learned how to print a black and white photograph in a dark room as well as how to compose a photograph. The students took part in several activities including a nature walk photo shoot and a gallery walk where they viewed the photographs of professional artists. At the end of the day, they were able to print their favorite photograph on the latest high tech digital printer.

Printing services and workshops for adults and students are available at the Serenbe Photography Center. It's worth the trip!

Basket Auction Items due Monday Oct. 24th for Gala

SUPPORT the Gala & EARN A FREE DRESS DOWN DAY for your child!

Mercy’s 1st Annual Gala is coming up and we would like to seek your support through donation of items for themed baskets. These baskets will be put up for silent auction during our event and your donation will not only generate funds for our school, but will also give you the opportunity to earn a free dress down day for your child!

Each House is assigned basket themes (listed below). Items are due to the front office by Monday, October 24th.
Please refer to Theme Basket List for sample items for each basket.

Kibeho
Thanksgiving Home Décor Basket
Deck the Halls Christmas Clothings & Accessories; Family Entertainment
Bed/Bath or Beauty/Spa Basket
Emergency Readiness Basket
Ultimate Fan Basket

Lourdes
Thanksgiving Tableware Basket

Deck the Halls Christmas Kitchen & Bakeware; Family Entertainment

Entertainment (Movie/Music) Basket

Jewelry Basket

“Mercy Spirit” Basket

Guadalupe
Thanksgiving Kitchen/Bakeware Basket
Deck the Halls Christmas Tableware; Family Entertainment
Picnic Basket or Tea Party Basket
Baby and/or Toy Basket
Advent/Nativity Creche Basket

Fatima
Thanksgiving Clothing Accessories Basket
Deck the Halls Christmas Home Décor; Family Entertianment
Earth Friendly Basket
Baker’s Dozen Basket
Home & Garden Basket

ALL DONATED ITEMS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A COMPLETED STUDENT/HOUSE DONATION FORM AND SUBMITTED TO THE FRONT OFFICE BY MONDAY, OCTOBER 24th.

Other information:

Scrip cards may be part of any basket. Visit www.scripzone.com to make online purchases. Contact Nancy Buchieri to let her know that your online Scrip order is a Gala donation. The next scrip order is due in the school office on Monday, Oct. 24th.

For further information, visit the Gala webpage or email the Home & School Association.

Thank you for your support of the OLM's Gala 2011!

ATTENTION PARENTS: Senior Yearbook Deadlines!

The yearbook staff is missing a significant amount of senior information. If you would like your students to be covered in the senior section of the yearbook, please make sure that all of their information is turned in on time.

The deadlines are as follows:

Senior Formals: These were due on September 1. If your senior formals are not in yet, please email them Bernadette O’Neill. If you took your formals with Mark Turner, please check his website and then email him the number of the formal that you wish to appear in the book.

Senior Casuals: These were due on October 3. Please email these to Bernadette O’Neill, or if necessary, bring in a hard copy and we can scan it or upload it during class. If you took your casuals with Mark Turner, he can submit your choice to us electronically once you notify him which picture you want.

Senior Info Sheet: These were due on September 22. Please make sure that these are turned into Bernadette O’Neill as soon as possible.

Baby Pictures: The deadline to turn in a baby picture (under 2 years old) is due November 1. You can email this to Ms. O'Neill, or give her a hard copy with your students name written on the back.
Senior ads: THE DEADLINE TO RECEIVE A DISCOUNTED PRICE ON SENIOR ADS IS NOVEMBER 1st.
You do not need to have your ad designed by this date, but we do need to know that you want one and that you have paid. Checks should be turned into Julie Gagnier, and artwork should be turned into Bernadette O’Neill. The next deadline for senior ads is December 11, but you will not receive a discounted price at this date. All artwork should be turned in by December 11 as well to Bernadette O’Neill.

As deadlines approach, it is imperative that we receive all of the senior information so that it can be entered into the book in a timely manner. Your cooperation is very much appreciated.

If you have any questions, email Bernadette O’Neill at boneill@mercycatholic.org.

If you have turned in pictures to be submitted or you are going to, and you need them to be returned, please make sure that your students see Tori Shurman for their pictures.

Homecoming Weekend 2011

Mercy Homecoming 2011 Events:

Friday, October 14

1:45 PM - Powder Puff Game - Junior girls vs. Senior girls
6:30 PM - Alumni BBQ (to the right of the football field)
7:00 PM - Homecoming Court presentation (midfield)
7:30 PM - Kickoff: Bobcats vs. Strong Rock Christian Academy Patriots
Halftime - Senior Night and Alumni presentations (midfield)

Saturday, October 15

7 - 11 PM - Homecoming Dance (Gym)

Sunday, October 16

10 AM - Alumni Family Mass (Chapel)
11 AM - Alumni reception (Library)

Mercy Volleyball reaches Sweet 16!

The Mercy Volleyball program has reached the "Sweet Sixteen" for the second straight year! The Cats defeated North Oconee 3-1 in the State Tournament.

Seniors Olivia Schmitz and Ashlyn Bodkin led the way while junior defensive specialists Emily Longino and Jenny Bui kept the ball alive all night. The Cats will travel to Greater Atlanta Christian on Tuesday, October 18th at 5:00pm for their "sweet sixteen" match.

Note: If you visit Greater Atlanta Christian site's volleyball page, you can see the Lady Bobcats praying with the GACA girls!

Blood Drive Success

A BIG thanks to the students, parents, and staff members who were able to donate blood during our Red Cross Blood Drive on Tuesday. The final tally was 26 pints donated!

Through the process, we learned that for each adult pint, three people can be assisted. For the students, because their blood is so "healthy", their blood is typically used to assist babies and small children. This means that their blood donation can be used for the benefit of several young people. Lots of lives will be helped through the generosity of the Mercy donors.

Again, thanks to students and faculty and to the parents who took time out of their workday to help out.

A humongous thanks to the students who helped work the day and for those instrumental in planning and organizing.

Seniors Alexandria Campbell, Aisling Cleary, and Hannah Lecesne, through their tireless efforts, now know what it takes to organize and run a blood drive!!

Order your Homecoming Dance Pictures Here!

Want to have memories of your Super Nova Homecoming Dance?

Order your picture packages today and bring your payment to the camera at the dance. Please make checks payable to Turner PhotoDesign.

CLick here to print the order forms.

Volleyball Grabs Area Runner Up

Mercy Volleyball repeated as Area3 Runner-Up on Saturday after beating a good Landmark team. Injured junior setter Mary Katherine Schmitz found a way to play in the semifinal match against rival Landmark and led the Lady Bobcats to a 2-0 victory. Schmitz did not play in the championship against ELCA. Junior DS Emily Longino stepped up in the tournament to set for the Bocats and kept pace with all competition.

For the first round of the State Volleyball Tournament, the Lady Bobcats will take on North Oconee at home on Wednesday, October 12th at 5 PM.

Congratulations to the following Lady Bobcats who captured individual Area awards:
(pictures on right are in the following order, names listed L to R)

2011 Area 3 All-Area

Junior Setter Mary Katherine Schmitz and Senior OH Olivia Schmitz

2011 Area 3 All-Area Honorable Mention

Senior RS Ashlyn Bodkin and Junior Libero Jenny Bui

2011 Area 3 All -Tournament

Junior Libero Jenny Bui and Junior DS Emily Longino

Drama students present "The Yellow Boat"

The Yellow Boat is performed by the Mercy Players and supported by the Mercy Drama Club and the Alliance for the Fine Arts.

Performances are this Saturday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 PM, and for the first time ever, a matinee show on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 2:30 PM.

Tickets are FREE for Mercy students, $5 for non-Mercy students, and $8 for adults.

We look forward to seeing you at the show!

Lady Bobcats seek more playoff success

By Maurice Dixon
mdixon@neighbornewspapers.com

With their third successful regular season under wraps, the Our Lady of Mercy Lady Bobcats are prepared and aiming for another deep run into the postseason.

“We definitely want to make the Sweet 16 and knowing that we’re not as powerful of a team as we used to be, getting to the Elite Eight is one of the big goals,” Our Lady of Mercy volleyball coach Bill Schmitz said.

Last year, the Lady Bobcats, who finished with a 33-16 overall record, advanced all the way to the Sweet 16 where it lost to eventual champion Blessed Trinity 3-0. After easily defeating Greenforest Christian 2-0 at home last Thursday, Our Lady of Mercy closed the 2011 regular season with a 28-9 mark despite the graduation of outside hitters Brittany Smith and Amanda Miles.

“We lost a lot of our attack from last year but we have a better defensive team,” Schmitz said. “I think that’s really the key. Defensively, we’ve kept ourselves in games, put ourselves in a position to win, found a way to put games away and it has left us in a good spot.”

As a result, the Lady Bobcats have been able to string together three separate winning streaks of at least five games or more and haven’t lost more than two games in a row, something they did twice in 2010.

“As far as cutting the losses, we’ve played well when we needed to,” Schmitz said. “Our losses have come when we’ve played very well but we played some extremely good competition so we’re okay with those losses.”

“I definitely think that it is because of dedication,” senior right-side hitter Ashlyn Bodkin said. “We’ve been working on this all summer. Every single person on this team has come out over the summer and been dedicated and given it their all.”

The Lady Bobcats are scheduled to begin the Area 3-AA/A tournament today.

“Now, we’re fighting the injury bug at the end of the season,” Schmitz said. “[That’s] going to make things interesting but I have a lot of faith in this team.”

Libero Jenny Bui hurt her tailbone on Sept. 27 and fellow junior setter Mary Katherine Schmitz sprained her ankle on the same day.

Our Lady of Mercy finished 6-2 in its area, falling to Eagle’s Landing Christian 2-0 and Landmark Christian 2-1.

Blood Drive at Mercy Tuesday, Oct. 11th

The American Red Cross and Mercy for LIFE are joining forces again this year to provide a Blood Drive next
Tuesday, October 11 from 7:30 am - 12:30 pm in the Mercy gym.

We REALLY need parents and other adults to help meet our goal of 50 pints. For every pint we donate, at least three lives are assisted.

Appointment times are being taken this week and next. Parents can sign up for an appointment time at the Parent/Teacher conference Thursday night, during lunch on Friday or Monday, or by contacting Mr. Tolcher.

Students interested in giving blood must be at least 16 years old and meet certain requirements. Parental consent is needed for students who are 16.

Donors are asked to set aside one hour for the entire process.

House points will be awarded this year to show our appreciation to the donors; Ten points per person and a winning amount for the House with the most donors.

For more information or to make a donation appointment, please contact Mr. Tolcher.

Respect LIFE Month at OLM

Did you know that October is Respect Life Month around the country? Well, Mercy for Life has plenty of opportunities for students, faculty and parents to participate:

Sunday, October 2nd: Life Chain in Jonesboro at 3pm and Peachtree City at 4pm. These prayer vigils are held throughout the country to peacefully and prayerfully draw awareness to abortion in our country and to pray for an end to abortion. Mercy has participated in these Life Chains for several years. The Mercy community is an important reason why these are so successful in our area! The Jonesboro location is across from the courthouse in downtown Jonesboro in front of the Jonesboro United Methodist Church. The Peachtree City Life Chain is held on the front lawn of Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

Tuesday, October 11th: In coordination with the American Red Cross, Mercy will be offering a Blood Drive from 7:30am-12:30pm in the gym. We REALLY need parents to support this. Our goal this year is 40 pints. We recently learned that for every pint of blood, at least three people can be assisted. We do have a appointment schedule for the day, so if you intend to donate blood, a reservation needs to be set with Mr. Tolcher.

Saturday, October 22nd: A small number of students will be volunteering at the Hapeville Pregnancy Center. Volunteers are needed.

Mercy for Life will also be supporting the Cheerleader Challenge "Change for Change" donation efforts to be collected for the American Cancer Society. Mercy is also joing forces with Wellspring, a local organization that helps victims of human trafficking. We will be offering an educational opportunity at the school, volunteering at the center, and initiating a fundraiser to offer Mercy's support.

Additionally, the group has several prayer and educational opportunities being offered throughout each school day.

Get involved and celebrate life!!

Students Honored for Academic Achievement

Students who achieved high marks in the Spring 2011 Semester were recognized at the school Mass last week with Archbishop Gregory and the Honors Breakfast the following day.

Parent volunteers led by Ms. Janis Miles hosted the semiannual breakfast which had a record turnout. Twenty students achieved Excellence Honors (semester average of 96 or higher) and 75 students achieved Honors (semester average of 90 to 95.9).

Congratulations to our Excellence Honors and Honors students!

New Polos on Sale in the Mercy Store

New gray and red Mercy polos are now available in the Mercy Store!

Sizes available:

Mercy Mom polo: Small - 2X (top picture, top polo)
Women's polo: X-Small - 2X

Mercy Dad polo: Medium - 3X (bottom picture, top polo)
Men's polo: Small - 3X

Price for any of the above polos: $32

The Mercy Store is open every Wednesday at school from 7:30 AM - 5 PM and at all home varsity football games (to the left of the Concessions stand).

Mother/Daughter Softball Game Tuesday, 9/27

The Mercy Softball Team is hosting the first annual Mother/Daughter Softball game on Tuesday, September 27 at 4 pm on the softball/baseball field.

It's a bit of a misnomer as all parents and faculty (grown-ups) are invited to play a slow-pitch game of softball against our softball team. The guys (Dads, coaches, friends) will pitch and catch and bat opposite handed. The female faculty and staff (and wives of faculty/staff) are invited to join the "grown-ups" team. Come cheer on both teams as we conduct a battle of the ages!

Grown-ups, please contact Coach Cawley if you would like to play jcawley@mercycatholic.org

Honors Breakfast

The Honors Breakfast recognizes the Excellence or Honors academic achievements of students for the Spring 2011 semester.

Picture re-take day this Thursday

Your school picture retake day is this Thursday, 9/22/2011 after mass during lunches in the wrestling room off of the gym (next to Coach Caruso's classroom)

If you were not able to be photographed on the regular days you will need to be photographed on Thursday.

This is for students who have not had their picture taken yet due to absence or enrollment after August 10th.

If you are not satisfied with your pictures due a technical photography issue, you can have them retaken on Thursday at no charge. (Technical photography issues include incorrect lighting, blurred image, or crooked composition.)

If you ordered a picture package and want new prints from the retaken picture, you must return the complete package you originally purchased.

We will have retake forms on hand so we can reprint for you.

If you have any questions or concerns about our services or products, please contact the studio directly by email. Include the student name, question or concern, and a contact phone number. We will respond within 24 business hours.

Thank you!

Mark Turner

Mark@TurnerPhotoDesign.com

Turner PhotoDesign

770-460-6115

Family Movie Night - Saturday 9/17

Mercy’s first ever Family Movie Night is Saturday, September 17th!

OLM Family Movie Night flier (pdf)

The Disney movie “Secretariat” will be the featured presentation which will be shown outdoors on a 16-foot movie screen on the Mercy soccer field - think "Screen on the Green" atmosphere!

$10 donation per car. Gates open at 6:30 PM. The movie will start at dark (around 8:30 PM).

Hot dogs, drinks, and other food items will be available for purchase. Bring your blankets and chairs and join us for this fun, family event! (Please see flier for prohibited items).

Payment may be brought in to the front office or at the event. Please make checks out to OLM and write "Movie Night" in the memo line. You can reserve your parking pass through HSA@mercycatholic.org

Please email the Home & School Association at the address above if you have any questions about this event.

We look forward to seeing you on the 17th!

Senior Formals are now ONLINE

OLM Seniors and Parents,

Turner PhotoDesign has uploaded all of your senior formal portraits online at www.turnerphotodesign.com.
Select the PhotoCart, then seniors, and you or your student's name. You will need an access code which is your last name in all lower case. In some cases of duplicate names we have added the first initial and underscore to the last name. Ex: "turner", or "m_turner".

You can choose your yearbook pictures, as well as order any packages you might like to have. All images chosen or purchased will be completely retouched to brighten eyes, remove or soften blemishes, eye bags, stray hairs, background imperfections, etc.

If you have already chosen your picture in the studio, then your images are not online.

Please call the studio at 770-460-6115 with any questions or concerns. I'll be glad to help!

Thank you for your business!

Mark Turner

Turner PhotoDesign

mark@turnerphotodesign.com

770-460-6115

MERCY vs LANDMARK 2011

This Friday night is the MERCY vs LANDMARK Varsity Football game here at OLM. This is our biggest rivalry and after our huge dramatic win last year, you can be assured that the War Eagles are coming to Mercy with revenge on their mind!

This Friday will be a RED-OUT!

We have a limited number of new red “BEAT LANDMARK” t-shirts for sale in the Mercy Store. The shirt is $8.00. They can be purchased at any time. If we sell out, please go to www.mercywear.org where you can purchase the shirt.

Our student body will host a big tailgate with food and music on the soccer field near the football field. They will only have chairs and tents (NO VEHICHLES ARE PERMITTED down the Bobcat Walk). Please keep that area clear for our students.

Space in the stadium will once again be very limited, so make plans to arrive early to get a seat. REMEMBER: our students (the Mercy Maniacs) need to be in the student section and they will be standing the entire game.

As for all games, the area behind the hurdles near the end zone will be available for spill-over from the stands. While Landmark is our rival, please be respectful of our guests and always show why we have received the GHSA sportsmanship award for the last two years in a row.

We want as many people as possible to wear the BEAT LANDMARK shirt on Friday! Send $8.00 with your student to purchase a shirt. Again, you can order from www.mercywear.org as well.

Come out Friday night for the game and wear RED as we cheer the Bobcats to victory!

Bobcats Win against St. Francis

The Bobcats put together a strong performance on Friday night against the Knights of St. Francis en route to a 42-14 victory. Special teams dominated the game early when the opening kickoff was returned 95 yards for a touchdown, and the offense did not see the field until the end of the first quarter. Behind a solid run game and a stout defense, the Bobcats held St. Francis scoreless through the third quarter while posting 42 points in the first half.

The second team stepped up and played well in the second half, and the Bobcat JV defense gave up two touchdowns in the 4^th quarter. It was an all-around good game for the Bobcats that the team will look to build upon this week in preparation for their first Region match up on Friday, September 16^th at home against Landmark. Kickoff will be at 7:30.

For game highlights, click here!

Each week, Bobcat football players are recognized for their contributions both during the game and in preparation. The following players and their contributions are for the week of September 5th and the game against St. Francis:

Offensive Player of the Week: Adam Rose

Defensive Player of the Week: John Keuler

Offensive Lineman of the Week: Brendan File, Chris Donnay, Matt Frank, Chris Wesley, Justin James

Special Teams Player of the Week: Jarrett Goodly

Big Hit of the Week: Kyle Wilkins

Leading Tackler of the Week: John Keuler

Hustle: Chris Wesley

Scout Team Player of the Week: Leighton Batiste

Senior In-School Formals Sept. 7th & 8th

Click here for the schedule for senior formals. Scroll down for full schedule for both September 7th and 8th.

Turner PhotoDesign WILL have a Cap & Gown picture Day to be announced soon!!!!!

Softball Game Rained-Out today

The home game against Fellowship Christian School has been cancelled due to weather conditions. We will notify you if we are able to reschedule.

Join the Men's Basketball League

Did you know that there is a Catholic Men's League (CML) at Mercy again this fall? It is the basketball league for teams from a variety of Catholic parishes in the area who compete each fall in a 10-game season on Sunday afternoons.

The season begins on Sunday, September 11. All games are played in the Mercy gym. The Mercy team, made up of coaches and parents, has 2 or 3 spots available on the team for the upcoming season. Those eligible to play on the Mercy team are men over 30 years old with a Mercy connection (family member, coach, etc.).

If you are interested in contributing to Mercy's CML team and filling the last few roster spots, please contact Paul Schwahn at pschwahn@comcast.net

Bobcats Win Against Glascock Co.

Coming off a disappointing defeat last weekend, the Bobcats were able to pull off a victory against Glascock County on Friday night. Strong performances by key players on both sides of the ball enabled the Bobcats to gain over 450 offensive yards en route to a 48 point effort - all while holding the Panthers to a touchdown. The second team played well to close out the game, posting the final score of the game while preserving the second-half shutout.

While improvements were made on both sides of the ball, the Bobcats still have work to do in preparation for the coming weeks. They will look to repeat their performance at home against the Knights of St. Francis on Friday, September 9th at 7:30 PM.

To see game highlights, click here.

Offensive Player of the Week: Rashard Fant

Defensive Player of the Week: Chauncey LaBoo

Offensive Lineman of the Week: Chris Donnay

Special Teams Player of the Week: Kalon Anthony/Chauncey LaBoo

Big Hit of the Week: Kyle Wilkins

Leading Tackler of the Week: Chauncey LaBoo

Hustle: Adam Rose

Scout Team Player of the Week: Alex Willard

Softball Team Clinches First Win!

In a contest against St. Francis School on Wednesday, the Lady Bobcats Softball team began the game with a comfortable 15 - 3 lead in the 1st inning. However, the game took a turn in the 3rd inning where things went significantly downhill as the Bobcats lost their lead after a string of defensive errors.

Mercy entered the 4th inning behind 16 - 26, but the girls never gave up. The offense took charge and used smart base-running skills and a few hits to clinch the 28 - 27 victory in an unprecedented three-hour contest. Every Lady Bobcat softball player played in this memorable game.

Congratulations to the entire Mercy softball team on their first victory of the season!

Get Your Senior Formals Made In-School

Seniors GET Your Formals Done AT SCHOOL!

New Deadline October 3rd.

September 6^th and 7^th from 2:45pm – 5pm.

Turner PhotoDesign will set up their photo studio in the wrestling room next to Coach Caruso’s classroom.

There is a $25 sit fee with NO obligation to purchase a package.

Turner PhotoDesign provides:

Tux shirt, jacket, and tie for the men.

Black tank top, drape, and necklace for the women. (Bring your own necklace if you like)

Use locker rooms to change.

Athletes get first priority between 2:45pm – 3:30pm. We will assign each athlete a time slot for efficiency. We will send out the schedule by Friday.

Thanks!

Yearbook Staff

Tough Loss for Bobcats vs. Temple

The Bobcats were confronted by a stiff obstacle Friday night in the Division 2A Temple Tigers. Despite falling behind early due to turnovers, the Bobcats were able to regroup at halftime and claw their way back by the midway point in the fourth quarter. Multiple injuries in the backfield and defensive secondary, however, forced the Bobcats to turn to their younger players in crunch time. Combined with a special teams miscue and a failed two point conversion, the Bobcats missed their opportunity to tie the game with four minutes remaining and Temple was able to run out the clock on the ensuing possession.

In spite of the 33-35 loss, the Bobcats varsity football team showed vast improvement over last year's finale, and are looking to regroup and come out strong this Friday night, September 2nd, against Glascock County. Kickoff is at 7:30 PM at OLM.

To see game highlights, click here.

Each week, Bobcat football players are recognized for their contributions both during the game and in preparation. The following players and their contributions are for the week of August 22:

Offensive Player of the Week: Adam Rose

Defensive Player of the Week: Michael Anidi

Offensive Lineman of the Week: Brendan File

Special Teams Player of the Week: Kalon Anthony

Big Hit of the Week: Matt Frank

Leading Tackler of the Week: Lake McGuffie

Hustle: Chauncey LaBoo

Scout Team Player of the Week: Christian Coleman

Project Mercy a Huge Success!

The first annual Project Mercy service date took place on Saturday, August 20th. The day was organized by the Ministries of Mercy service club and received an overwhelming response of support from familes and students.

A total of 92 parents, students, and family members arrived early Saturday morning to improve our school facilities and provide aid to our teacher and coaches. Groups of students and parents worked on projects such as painting hallways, building bookcases, creating admissions packets, and organizing sports uniforms. In all, over 350 work hours were logged by Mercy volunteers during this event.

If a student wishes to become involved with the Ministries of Mercy service club, they should contact Mr. Hofkes for more information.

Big Weekend Kicks Off with Catholic Schools Night

Our Lady of Mercy hosts 2 major sporting events this weekend.

Friday night, August 26th, is Catholic Schools Night at Our Lady of Mercy. There will be free activities for kids including face painting, football throwing contest, Cheer camp, and games from Games2U.

Current students from Our Lady of Victory, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Peter Claver Catholic Schools receive free admission to the football game! And... each feeder school will have a representative to throw a football through the Bobcat Paw: Our Lady of Victory will have history teacher and OLM Girls Basketball Head Coach Doug Crane, St. John the Evangelist will have their principal Karen Vogtner and St. Peter Claver will have Director of Admissions and Development Oree Williams. Come out and cheer on your favorite "quarterback"!

The varsity football home opener has the Bobcats taking on the Temple Tigers. The Bobcats are coming off their best season in school history with a 7-3 finish in 2010. If last year's come-from-behind victory by the Bobcats against Temple was any indication, Friday night's game should be an exciting one! Kickoff is at 7:30 PM.

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On Saturday, August 27th, Mercy hosts one of the biggest cross country meets of the year - the Mercy Invitational. Top teams from the state will be competing at Mercy on Saturday morning. With 5 state titles between the boys and girls squads in recent years, the Bobcats Cross Country team will likely be a contender again this year. Races start at 8 AM. For more information, please visit the Mercy Invitational webpage.

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Buy your Mercy Athletic Association (MAA) Membership tomorrow night at the football game! Support your school and get great perks! The MAA Membership has several levels that includes the Family Pass For more information, please visit the MAA webpage. Go Bobcats!

To learn more about our fall sports programs, please visit the Mercy Athletics webpage.

Pictured at right: To promote Catholic Schools Night, Mercy students and Our Lady of Victory graduates Keagan Jordan and Madison Perniciaro visit Our Lady of Victory with the Bobcat (top); Ms. Henry gets a surprise from former St. John the Evangelist students Jarrett Goodly, Trizna Banos, and the Mercy Bobcat (bottom)

PowerSchool Training and Teens & Tech

PowerSchool Training and Teens & Tech Meeting
Tuesday, August 23rd
6:30 pm in the Mercy Media Center/Library

All parents are encouraged to join us Tuesday night for an informational meeting on PowerSchool and things to watch for as your teens use the technology that is available today. Mark Roshak, IT Director, and Musanna Hoskins, Guidance Counselor will lead the training sessions.

For questions or more information, please contact Musanna Hoskins.

Leadership Discussion for Tomorrow Posted

Visit the new Leadership website to find the discussion questions for tomorrow's Leadership time.

Cross Country Intrasquad-Alumni Classic

On Saturday, August 13, the Mercy Cross Country team took part in its annual Intrasquad-Alumni time trial. In all, 35 athletes and 15 alumni took part in this tuneup race.

The boys' race was taken out early by alumni Kevin Schilling, who led the race for the first 200 meters. Former Mercy State champion runners Thomas Raville and Richard Schrade then quickly made up ground and led for almost 2 miles. Upon enter the final lap of the race current Mercy runners Huy Trinh, Nile Freeman, and John Lynch overtook the leaders and finished 1, 2, 3 in very strong fashion. Nile Freeman outsprinting his teammates for his first victory. Richard Schrade was the first Alumni finisher.

On the girls side, senior Colleen Kelly led the team for the first time in her career and was the top female finisher in a field that included State Champion Sarah Hohenberger and her sister, Lauren Hohenberger, who was the former 2 -mile school record holder.

"A lot of new runners had their first taste of competition today," said Coach Matt Hofkes after the event. "Our older kids ran great today and new runners Maddox Caporini, Minh Bui, Canton Faber, Alex Hennie-Roed, Emma Dunphy, and Megan Lowther all showed promise. We have a long way to go before November, but the work that the runners put in over the summer definitely seems to have paid dividents."

The alumni who returned included former individual State Champions Matt Lethbridge '09, Jake Lethbridge '09, and Sarah Hohenberger '09, former state runner-up Thomas Raville '08, All-State runner Richard Schrade '08, team State Champion Udare Santha, as well as Lauren Hohenberger '07, Shannon Kelly '10, Matthew Maker '10, Joshua Vuong '10, and Kevin Schilling '10.

The Mercy Cross Country team's first competition takes place on Saturday, August 27 at home at the Mercy Invitational. Races start at 8 AM.

Chick-Fil-A breakfast biscuit sales start Monday

On Monday mornings, starting Monday, August 22nd, Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuits and juice will be available for purchase in front of the school starting at approx. 7:15 AM.

Grab breakfast for yourself on your way to work or for your student!

All Sports Parents Info Meeting/College Recruitment - Aug. 24

Next Wednesday, August 24th at 6:30 pm in the auditorium, there will be an All-Sports Parents Informational Meeting. Parents of athletes participating in any sport during the 2011-2012 school year are encouraged to attend.

The meeting will also include college recruiting information for those who would like to learn more about the college recruiting process for their student-athlete.

Please contact the Mercy Athletic Office with any questions at (770)461-2202 ext.402.

Sept. 9th Football Game location changed

Because of a lighting permit issue, the September 9th football game vs St. Francis has been moved to a home game here at Mercy.

The game will be Septmeber 9th at 7:30pm at Mercy

Mercy for LIFE Rockin' and Rollin'

Mercy for LIFE, OLM's pro-life group, has been out and about as the school year begins. With a couple of leadership meetings to start the year, the group is ready for a great year.

On the first day of the year,the group welcomed new students with sidewalk chalk greetings and homemade cookies. The "cookie-baking party" yielded hundreds of cookies that were handed out to new students on their first day of school.

On Saturday, August 13th, over 30 students and parents participated as volunteers for the Tour Of Faith event in Peachtree City. The event benefited Wellspring Living, an organization that assists victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking. Mercy can be proud of these students who showed up at 7 am on Saturday to help where needed.

The Mercy for LIFE group has committed that this year will be a year of prayer, learning and outreach. Co-presidents Hannah Lecesne '12 and Jordan Sartor '12, bring experience and passion to the group.

Our five sub-committees are also being directed by very capable and enthusiastic students:

Prayer and Spirituality: Collen Kelly and Connor Gaede
Education: Trizna Banos, Alex Campbell and Justin Bradshaw
Service and Outreach: Aisling Cleary and Amelia Fitzgerald
Communication: Morgan McClure and Devin Mann
Meeting Preparation: Jordan Sartor, Hannah Lecesne and Emma Bush

Look for more information about upcoming activities and opportunities on the Mercy for LIFE website.

Tour of Faith 2011 pictures (top to bottom): Mercy student volunteers; Class of 2012 volunteers; Mercy table volunteers: Ann Consolino with Lisa & Jon Shupenus who completed the 5K run

Become a Member of the Mercy Athletic Association

With the first home games for Mercy softball, volleyball, and football just around the corner, this is a great time to become a member of the the Mercy Athletic Association (MAA).

Being an MAA member definitely has its privileges which can include admission, reserved parking, exclusive Mercy gear, and more! (The MAA membership replaces the family passes from previous years).

To become a member, simply complete the Membership Form and submit with payment to the front office.

For questions or more information, please visit the MAA website.

Thank you for supporting Mercy Athletics - GO BOBCATS!

Senior Robert Gould performs at Berklee

Mercy senior Robert Gould has been selected to perform at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. You can watch his performance live at 8 PM tonight by visiting www.concertwindow.com/berklee.

He will be on television in several places around the world. This is the third of three concerts he has earned lead roles in. Tune in and support a fellow Bobcat!

Auditions for OLM Fall Drama Production on 8/17

Students may now sign up outside Mrs. Hamilton's room to audition for Mercy's fall drama production of Yellow Boat on Wednesday, August 17th from 3:45 - 6:00 pm.

Please contact Mrs. Hamilton for more information.

Welcome Back to School

Mercy welcomes all new students to school on Monday, August 8th. Students should arrive no later than 8:40 AM. All students should report for the first day of class on Tuesday, August 9th, no later than 7:40 AM.

First Week Reminders & 5 Hints for Academic Success

The OLM Student/Parent Handbook for 2011-2012 will only be online this year. Thus, no agenda will be given out to the students for them to write their homework, test dates, or other reminders in. Please make sure your children come to school prepared with their own agenda book or planner so that they can be as organized as possible.

From Mr. Dorsel: 5 helpful hints on how to start the school year right academically for your student

Back to School Information

Welcome to the start of the 2011-2012 school year! Parents: Please review the entire OLM Student/Parent Handbook for 2011-2012 with your student. Revisions and additions from last year are marked in red so that you can easily find them.

Please print and sign the first page to be returned to the front office or the student’s first period teacher by
Thursday, August 11, 2011.

Calendar items and other back-to-school information:

Color printing and copying is now available!
Students will now be able to make copies or print to a printer at school by establishing a copying/printing account in the Media Center with Mr. Wojcik. The minimum deposit to begin this account will be $10, and funds will be accepted in increments of $10 only. The cost per copy or print is 10 cents for black & white and 15 cents for color. For questions or more info, please email Mr. Wojcik.

A reminder to set up an online account with SLA (cafeteria services). This new online system will enable your child to pay for his/her lunches without needing cash!

Details: SLA Management, the company who provides OLM's cafeteria services in the Bobcat Cafe, has implemented a new system that gives students the option to pay for lunch by inputting a unique pin number linked to an online lunch account.

How to use this service: Parents will need to set up an account and then add their student(s)to it. After completing the one-time set up, parents can then make deposits to their students' accounts using credit cards, debit cards, or personal checks. Parents will also be able to maintain and monitor their student’s account 24 hours a day.

For instructions on how to set up an account, please visit the Mercy Cafeteria Services homepage.

Important note: Our student roster has been sent to SLA and we will update the rosters as new families register. Mercy families can register anytime, however students cannot be added until their student information has been uploaded to SLA. If you cannot successfully add your student(s) to your account, please wait a day and try again.

OLM lunch service begins on Wednesday, August 10^th. The August menu is now posted.

Note: The copying/printing account and lunch service account are different and unrelated accounts. They must be established separately according to the instructions above.

Important calendar items:

Monday, August 8th

New students (all 9^th graders and any transfer 10^th and 11^th graders) report by 8:40AM for orientation starting in the auditorium. Students should be in Mass uniform because yearbook pictures will be taken. New students will be given a tour by a senior and will also have a chance to organize their lockers. Students will be dismissed at 11:45AM.

Seniors will also be taking their yearbook pictures this day so they should also be wearing their Mass uniform.

The New Family Potluck will start promptly at 6:30PM on Monday, August 8^th. All new students and their families are welcome. The school will provide tea and water. We ask that each family bring a dish that will accommodate 5 to 10 people. The evening will consist of good food, great fellowship, and pertinent information by school personnel.

Tuesday, August 9^th

All students report in Summer/Spring uniform by 7:40AM. First period starts promptly at 7:45AM. Students will go to all eight classes. Dismissal will be at 11:45AM. The student government will host an ice cream social following dismissal for the all students.

The Senior Potluck will start promptly at 6:30PM on Tuesday, August 9^th. All seniors and their families are welcome. The school will provide tea and water. We ask that each family bring a dish that will accommodate 5 to 10 people. The evening will consist of good food, great fellowship, and pertinent information by school personnel, in particular college application information. Mrs. Sandy Livsey-Martin will send out further information regarding this evening.

Wednesday, August 10^th

All students report in Summer/Spring uniform by 7:40AM. First period starts promptly at 7:45AM. This day is the beginning of normal class days and will be an A-Day of classes. Dismissal will be at 2:45PM.

Friday, August 12^th

This day is our first school-wide Mass day. Students should be in Mass uniform. Sophomores and Juniors will be taking their yearbook pictures on this day. Later in the day, new students will be inducted into their Houses during our House Induction Party!

Monday, August 15^th

Mondays during the school year are late starts so that our faculty has a chance to meet and plan. Students should arrive by 8:40AM and classes will beginning at 8:45AM.

Thursday, August 18^th

Parents have a chance to meet the faculty that will be teaching their students during our Back to School Night which begins promptly at 6:30PM.

Friday, August 19^th

This day will be a late start day. Students should arrive by 8:40AM and classes will beginning at 8:45AM. There are a few days that are late start days other than Mondays following nights when the entire faculty is required to be at school late.

Volunteers needed for local 5/10K August 13th

The Mercy for Life group is looking for student and parent volunteers to help pass out water next Saturday, August 13 at the Tour of Faith 5k and 10k races in Peachtree City.

The Tour of Faith is sponsored by FFP Promotions as well as several other local companies and churches. It is comprised of several events including a Christian concert on Friday, August 12th, and 5/10k runs and bike rides on Saturday, August 13th aimed at raising funds for two organizations: Wellspring Living and Miles for Smiles.

If you would like to volunteer at the race on August 13th, please contact Mark Tolcher, Mercy for Life faculty sponsor, as soon as possible.

Volunteers will need to arrive at the run/race site, Bicycles Unlimited in Peachtree City, at 7 AM on Saturday, August 13. The races start at 8:30 AM and will be done around 10:30 AM.

For more information:

Tour of Faith 2011 flier (pdf)

Tickets for the Tour of Faith concert at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater ("The Fred") are still available. Also, registration is still open for the bike races and 5 & 10k races on Saturday.

Mercy Discount! Any OLM runners or cyclists on August 13 get a reduced registration fee. Just enter the following discount code at the online registration: OLMXCRUN

For more information or to register for the races, please visit the FFP website.

Save the Date! OLM Gala - Saturday, November 5th

The Mercy Home and School Association will host the 2011 OLM Gala: Inspiring Dreams on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 6 - 10 PM at Our Lady of Mercy.

This inaugural event will include dinner and a live and silent auction to benefit all students and educational programs offered OLM.

Tickets will be sold soon and cost $25 per person (includes dinner and soft beverage). For $10, a "Spirits" cup may also be purchased for the evening.

Please save the date and share the invite with your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers. We need the support of our parents, alumni, and larger community to make this event a huge success!

Check the website often for more details coming soon.

New Cafeteria Online Account System

Starting this school year, Mercy students will no longer have to pay with cash in the lunch line.

SLA Management, the company who provides OLM's cafeteria services in the Bobcat Cafe, has implemented a new system that gives students the option to pay for lunch by inputing a unique pin number linked to an online lunch account. SLA hopes that this new system will provide greater ease and convenience to Mercy families.

To use this service, parents will need to set up an account and then add their student(s)to it. After completing the one-time set up, parents can then make deposits to their students' accounts using credit cards, debit cards, or personal checks. Parents will also be able to maintain and monitor student accounts 24 hours a day.

For instructions on how to set up an account, please visit the Cafeteria Services homepage.

Mercy Welcomes New Coaches

Our Lady Of Mercy Welcomes New Coaches

FAYETTEVILLE—Our Lady of Mercy High School just completed one of its best overall athletic seasons. The boys track team had a top 10 performance as well as an individual state champion, the cross country programs finished in the top 10 during state competition, an individual performance in the state resulted in a top five finish for the swimming program, there were Sweet Sixteen appearances by the girls tennis and girls soccer teams, there was an Elite Eight appearance by the volleyball program and a record-setting football season.

With all the excitement surrounding the school’s 2010-2011 season, last week Mercy announced the following additions to its teaching/coaching staff...

To read more, please visit The Georgia Bulletin online:

http://georgiabulletin.org/local/2011/06/23/newcoachourladyofmercy/

Required "Traveller's Gift" book used for new Leadership Program

We are happy to announce that all Mercy students will be taking part in a new program being developed for the upcoming school year.

It is a leadership program which will be integrated throughout all school activities. One facet of the program involves reading the book The Young Traveller's Gift by Andy Andrews, which will be used for discussion in several of the House family meetings.

If you have not located this required summer reading book yet, it is now available for purchase in Follett's MERCY ONLINE BOOKSTORE.(The link can also be found on the bottom left side of the Mercy homepage).

Once in the online bookstore, select "Summer Reading" under "Department" and "Leadership Forum" under "Course".

Textbooks and other books that will be used during the 2011-2012 school year, both new and used, are also available for purchase at the Mercy Online Bookstore. Simply select the appropriate Department and Course to see the required books for the year.

Cash Raffle & 2011 Ford Focus Winners

The Mercy Athletic Association (MAA) and Mercy Football program sponsored successful fundraisers at the end of the 2010-2011 school year. The MAA drew the winner of its 2011 Car Raffle on May 21st before a large crowd at the 2011 Mercy Football Kick-off held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School.

The second annual football kick-off event included a catered dinner and live auction, and was hosted by Mercy Football coaches and parents. At the end of the dinner, the winners of the exciting $5,000 reverse raffle were drawn. Bill Schmitz, Jon Shupenus, and Doug Sebastian were the lucky ticketholders. Funds raised from the dinner will help support the OLM football program.

In addition, the MAA sold over 1,500 car raffle tickets for the 2011 Ford Focus which was obtained from Gene Evans Ford in Union City, Georgia. The Car Raffle winner was Vincent David from Palmetto, Georgia (pictured at top with his wife and Bill Schmitz, Mercy Athletic Director). The David family has a daughter who attends Our Lady of Victory Catholic School in Tyrone. All funds raised by the Car Raffle will be used to support Mercy Athletics.

The MAA and Mercy Football look forward to the car raffle and kick-off dinner/auction to become long-standing traditions that support the outstanding athletic program at OLM.

Thank you to everyone who supported these events and our student-athletes through their time, talent and treasure this year.

Class Picture Days in August

Individual Picture Days

Class pictures for the yearbook will be taken in the OLM gymnasium on the following days in August:

Monday, August 8, 2011
9am - 10:30am for Seniors
11am - 1pm for Freshmen

Friday, August 12, 2011
7:45am - 10am for Sophomores and Juniors

What to wear:
All students (except seniors) must wear their winter/mass uniform. Sweaters are optional, but they look nice for the photo! Seniors may wear their polos as their pictures are for the student ID’s only.

How to order packages/copies:
Please fill out the picture order form from Turner PhotoDesign (included in the summer packet) and attach payment to the order form. Your child must bring this in on picture day and turn it in at the camera.

Due to time constraints, students may not preview their pictures. Rest assured that the photographer will choose the best one.
If you have questions about ordering pictures, please contact Turner PhotoDesign at mark@turnerphotodesign.com

Make-up Day/Re-takes will be on September 22 during lunch.

Used Uniform Sale - Instructions for preparing items

The Mercy Used Uniform Sale will take place on Wednesday, June 15 from 9AM - 7 PM in the OLM Cafeteria.

If you are selling your used uniform items, please refer to the used uniform instructions below for the specific way you must prepare your items for the sale.

Used Uniform Sale 2011 - Instructions and Inventory Sheet(pdf)

Important note: You may drop-off uniform items for sale in the front office between now and Tuesday, June 14 from 9 AM - 1 PM. No uniform items will be accepted on the day of the sale (June 15).

For more information, please call the school at (770)461-2202 during summer hours (M-F, 9 AM - 2 PM). Thank you!

Book Buy Back with Follett next week

The Book Buy Back with Follett will take place at OLM on Wednesday, June 15 from 11 AM - 7 PM.

Follett is a long established textbook company that has been in existence for over 100 years. Follett offers its customers a “Book Buyback”. Like last year, this “Book Buyback” guarantees parents who participate cash back for their used textbooks.

Follett re-binds and re-conditions the books they buy back from you and puts them in an inventory from which Mercy parents will buy as 'used' in upcoming years. This keeps the textbooks useful for a longer period of time and helps the environment by recycling the books and keeping resource use down to manufacture new books. Students and staff will be mindful to take better care of their books, so as to receive the optimum buyback price from Follett. Also, when you purchase a ‘used book’ from Follett, it will be a better quality book and your satisfaction is guaranteed. If you are not pleased with the ‘used books’ you purchase from Follett, they will gladly exchange it!

The Follett Book Buyback will occur on Wednesday, June 15 in the OLM lobby from 11 AM – 7 PM. If you are not able to attend the school buyback event, you can also sell back books online at http://www.olmbobcats.bkstr.com, just click “sell books.” If you have questions, call Follett Virtual Bookstores at 877-827-2665.

Add yourself to the Follett Virtual Bookstore mailing list to be sure you receive important textbook date information like when the fall booklist becomes available! Go to http://www.olmbobcats.bkstr.com /email, use promo code “WIN” when you sign up to be entered in a drawing for $100 of free books in the fall!

Important Notes:

The buyback does not preclude parents from selling books privately to other Mercy families. However, it is our hope that as many of you as possible will participate is this Book Buyback process to ensure its success!

The 2011-2012 OLM Textbook List will be posted online Thursday, June 23 here: Follett Online Bookstore for OLM

For more information, please contact the school at (770)461-2202 during summer hours (M-F, 9 AM - 2 PM).

Summer Info, Book Buy Back, Used Uniform Sale next week

Hours for the Summer Packet Pick-Up have been extended! The pick up will be on Wednesday, June 15th from 9 AM - 7 PM at Our Lady of Mercy.

This packet includes important information for the 2011-2012 school year including, but not limited to, the following:

Fall class schedule for students
Book ordering information from Follett
House t-shirt orders
Volunteering at Mercy
Bus route info

On the same day, parents will also have the opportunity to:

Sell textbooks back to Follett from 11 AM - 7 PM (also known as the "book buy back" program)
Note: This is a one-day event. Please see related news item for more information.

Participate in the Used Uniform Sale from 9 AM- 7 PM in the cafeteria
Note: Uniforms for sale must be dropped off at Mercy between now and June 14. Please see related news item for more information.

For questions, please call the school at (770)461-2202 during summer hours (Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 2 PM).

Men's Soccer Summer Training Announced

Attention all male students interested in Mercy Men's Soccer:

The Men's Soccer Program will train this summer every Wednesday and Friday from 7 pm - 9 pm starting June 1, 2011.

We will NOT train June 8th or the week of July 3-9. Our last session will be July 29th.

To be eligible to attend the training sessions, you MUST be actively enrolled at OLM (for new students) or re-enrolled (for current students i.e. you must be re-enrolled by July 1st to continue).

For questions, please contact Coach Bush.

Pierce Vincent '11 featured in Georgia Bulletin

OLM Class of 2011 graduate Pierce Vincent is featured in the May 26 issue of the Georgia Bulletin.

Pierce has been co-captain of the football team, recognized as a 2011 Game Day Athlete of Character, and nominated for the Vince Dooley award. He was also the recipient of the 2011 Top Cat award, given to the best all-around student-athlete at Mercy. He will be attending the University of Georgia in the fall and will be running track while pursuing a degree in engineering.

For the full Georgia Bulletin story, please visit: http://www.georgiabulletin.org/local/2011/05/26/seniorsvincent/

Register now for Georgia Tech Softball Camp

Softball summer camp is open to all enrolled Mercy students regardless of whether you have played softball before or not.
All are welcome!

Please click on this link to see more information about camp and our summer practice schedule.

Also, please get your physicals in to Coach Shivers before you start summer practice!

Contact Head Softball Coach Jennifer Cawley for more information.

Emily Conley '11 wins BBB Integrity Award

Last week, Mercy senior Emily Conley received the 2011 Better Business Bureau Student of Integrity Award and Scholarship. The awards ceremony was hosted at Villa Christina in Atlanta where Conley was presented the award and a check for $1,000 from the Better Business Bureau. The keynote speaker for the event was John Sours from the Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection. The afternoon also included the 2011 Torch Awards for local businesses.

Emily recently graduated from Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School where she received the 2011 Christian Leadership Award. She will attend the University of Georgia in the fall.

Congratulations Emily!

Credit recovery & summer school opportunities

Our Lady of Mercy does not offer summer school classes. However, credit recovery is available for any failed course through Seton Home Study School (www.setonhome.org) or through your county’s public high school (where available).

Any classes taken for credit recovery must be passed with a 70 or above and must be completed by the start of the following school year in August.

For questions or more information, please contact Musanna Hoskins, Director of Guidance.

OLM wins GHSA Sportsmanship Award

Our Lady of Mercy has won the 2011 GEMC Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award for the third year in a row!
The award, sponsored by the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) and Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (GEMC), is given to schools selected by region officials based on sportsmanship demonstrated over the course of the year.
The awards program is designed to promote sportsmanship by honoring those who do it well, reinforcing GHSA’s philosophy: “Student athletes, coaches, spectators, and all others associated with high school activities programs should adhere to the fundamental values of respect, fairness, honesty and responsibility.” (from GHSA.net)

We would like to thank all Mercy coaches and student-athletes for competing at a high level while maintaining a positive attitude and upholding our school's core values and mission.

Ford Focus Winner & Reverse Raffle/Dinner & Auction tonight!

The 2nd Annual Reverse Raffle/Auction and Dinner will be held in the OLM gym Saturday, May 21, 2011. Proceeds benefit the OLM football program. All are welcome!

IMPORTANT: The winner of the brand new 2011 Ford Focus car raffle will be announced at tonight's dinner/auction event.

All sold car raffle tickets MUST be turned in at the school by 8 PM tonight, May 21st to make the raffle drawing for the car. Tickets for the car raffle are $25 each or 5 for $100 and will also be available at the door starting at 6:30 PM.

The dinner tonight is catered by Baci Italian Restaurant of Fayetteville. Auction items include a one-week stay at a deluxe time share, a football signed by Urban Meyer, a Mercy Athletic Association Platinum membership, and more!

Tickets to the dinner/auction are $100 each and include dinner for 2 and raffle entry into the $5,000 reverse raffle.

Tickets will be available at the door. For more information, please contact Bill Schmitz, Mercy Athletic Director.

Varsity & JV Cheerleaders selected for 2011-2012

The 2011-2012 Varsity and Junior Varsity OLM Cheerleading squads have been selected for both football and basketball seasons.

Please visit the OLM cheerleading webpage for details.

The Sketchbook Project

This is an opportunity to be included in a traveling exhibition around the world. Check out The Sketchbook Project.

Click here to view more summer opportunities in the arts.

Bobcats Receive Baseball Recognition

Congratulations to Junior John Keuler on his selection as First Team All-Region in Region 9A. John batted .542 for the year, struck out only 5 times in 65 plate appearances, collected 10 RBI's, was 9 for 10 in stolen bases. Also receiving recognition were sophomores Justin Larkin and Christian Griffith, as well as freshman Austin Loper, who were selected for Honorable Mention All Region.

Mercy holds 9th Commencement Exercises Saturday

On Saturday, Our Lady of Mercy graduated the fifty-six students in the Class of 2011 during its ninth commencement exercises. In keeping with tradition, the graduation ceremony was held within the Baccalaureate Mass which was celebrated by Most Reverend Wilton D. Gregory, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Mercy's talented AMA Taize choir sang for the Mass and was augmented by the voices of several Mercy alumni including David Conley '08 and Isis Freeman '10. Other special guests present were Dr. Diane Starkovich, Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese and Tom Campbell, Associate Superintendent.

After the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Mercy Principal Danny Dorsel welcomed all families, visitors, and guests present as well as the graduates. Then several students were honored with the following awards:

Christian Service Award:
Emily Conley and Colin Schmidt

Archbishop John Donoghue Christian Athlete Award (sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 6352):
Brennan Sanders

Atlanta Journal Constitution Cup Award:
Andrea Raville

Following the award presentation, Mercy salutatorian Andrea Raville gave a thoughtful speech remembering her experiences at Mercy and how they parallel the world of Harry Potter. Andrea will be attending the United States Naval Academy. Valedictorian Nicole Gagnier, who will be at MIT in the fall, worked in a few statistics into her speech, ending with a euphoric "We did it!"

After the awarding of diplomas, Archbishop Gregory concluded the Mass with a final blessing and Mr. Dorsel presented the graduates of the Class of 2011 to the crowd for the first time. The Class of 2011 is an impressive class garnering the following accolades:

56 Graduates
Nearly 200 college acceptances
$3.7 Million in scholarship awards (not including the HOPE scholarship)
3 Eagle Scouts
5 playing college athletics
Acceptances to: MIT, UGA, Georgia Tech,Howard, SCAD, Notre Dame, U.S. Naval Academy, and Wake Forest

pictured at right: (top) Class of 2011, (bottom; L-R) Danny Dorsel, Dr. Starkovich, Archbishop Gregory, Mr. Campbell, and Ms. McPherson prior to graduation

Become a Member of the Mercy Athletic Association!

The Mercy Athletic Association (MAA) is starting a fun, new initiative to provide increased support and participation in our Athletic program.

You can now become a member of the Mercy Athletic Association to enjoy great privileges including:

Reserved parking at sporting events
Reserved seats at sporting events
Exclusive Mercy Bobcat gear

The Mercy Family Pass is now also available through MAA membership.

To find out more, visit the Mercy Athletic Association webpage .

Cheerleading Tryouts in May

Our Lady of Mercy will be holding Cheerleading tryouts from Monday, May 16 to Thursday, May 19 from 3:30-6:30 PM in the Mercy gym.

Tryouts are for the 2011-2012 Football and Basketball squads, both varsity and junior varsity levels.

Please visit the Mercy Cheerleading webpage for more information and the required forms.

Girls' Tennis State Run ends at Sweet Sixteen

On Tuesday, the Lady Bobcats Tennis Team was looking to make the round of the Elite Eight when they travelled to the Country Club of Roswell to take on Mt. Pisgah. However, their cinderella run at the State title ended as the #1 state-ranked Pisgah team took the match 4-0.

"Our girls played really well Tuesday, but Pisgah has an extremely talented team and they came up with all the big points. They will definitely be a force to be reckoned with as they progress through the tournament, " said Coach Haaland. "I am so very proud of our girls and all they have accomplished this season. They surpassed their goals for the season and more importantly, they have left a legacy at Mercy by getting to the Sweet Sixteen and making school history."

The Lady Bobcats finished the regular season 6-2 (4-2 in Region play), and 5-3 in the postseason. They ended the season 3rd in Region 9A, but went further than any team in the region in State Tournament play.

The Boys and Girls Tennis Team Banquet will be held on Tuesday, May 17 at 6:30 PM at OLM.

Mercy Goes West!

Please journey westward with us for the Spring Fine Arts Festival this Friday, April 29th at 6:30pm. Featuring performances with a western tilt from band, chorus, dance, drama, and art including animations for The Small Film Festival.

There will be an art display of the Advanced Placement Studio Art students, Olisa Agulue, Anthony Martinelli, and Kyle Sharp.

Bobcats make State Playoffs in multiple sports

Several Bobcat teams are competing in post-season play over the next few weeks.

The Girls Soccer team qualified for the playoffs with a huge victory over Pacelli last week. They will play at Towns County in the first round of the State Soccer Tournament on Thursday, April 28 at 5:30 PM.

The Boys Track & Field team competed in field events at the Region Meet yesterday. Senior Courtney Prevost qualified for the State Meet (held the first weekend in May) with stunning finishes. Prevost became the Region Champion in both the triple jump and long jump and was Region Runner-Up in the high jump.

Senior Pierce Vincent also competed well yesterday, taking third place in the long jump. The boys team finished strong, amassing 34 points collectively.

The Girls Track & Field team will be looking for spots in the State Meet when they compete at Region next week.

The Girls Tennis team continues its historic run in the State Tournament with its second round match against Mount Pisgah today at 3:30 PM at the Country Club of Roswell.

Good luck to all the spring Varsity teams competing in the post-season!

Senior Hadley signs with Point University

Senior Greg Hadley recently signed with Point University (formerly Atlanta Christian College) to play football.
Hadley, a running back and defensive lineman, helped the Bobcats to a stunning 7-3 record in Coach Mike Earwood's inaugural season at OLM.

Back row (L to R): OLM Chaplain - Fr. Jimmy Adams, OLM Athletic Director - Bill Schmitz, Robbie Ridley (Point U. coach), Senia Minter (Aunt), Erasmus Harvey (Point U. Head Coach), Nita Byard (Godmother)

Front row (L to R): Albert Minter (Grandfather), Greg Hadley, Deborah Minter (Mother), Ruby Minter (Grandmother)

Girls Tennis is in the Sweet Sixteen!

The Lady Bobcats Tennis team continued their amazing post-season run on Tuesday by defeating George Walton Academy 3 to 2 in the first round of the State Tournament. The Mercy girls continue to make school history by becoming the first tennis team to reach the round of the "Sweet Sixteen" in the Class A State Tournament.

At George Walton, Brandi Nelson and Tayler Murray, #1 and #2 singles, respectively, won in straight sets for a second consecutive match. The #1 doubles team of Yates/Nagaj lost the first set but came on strong in the second set, rallying from 1-4 down to 3-4. However, George Walton was able to close out the match. The #2 doubles team of Jones/Bui played a close first set that went back and forth. There were many great points, but they lost 6-8 in the tie-breaker and were unable to regroup in the next set. However, #3 singles player Jordan Hameen won her match in straight sets to send the Mercy girls on to the next round.

The girls' 2nd round match will be on Tuesday, April 26 at 3:30 PM. They will be playing Mt. Pisgah Christian School at the Country Club of Roswell for a chance to make it to the "Elite 8" round of the State Tennis Tournament.

Good Friday Pilgrimage in Downtown Atlanta

From the Catholic Charities- Atlanta website:

People of all faiths are invited to participate in this year's 31st Annual Good Friday Pilgrimage to be held on April 22, 2011. The Pilgrimage begins at 9 am at the State Capitol and ends at approximately 1 pm at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Crypt.

On this journey, we will stop at 14 urban Atlanta sites and reflect upon today's social justice issues as they connect with the sufferings endured by Christ in His Passion and death. Walk with us as we pray for the wisdom and courage to act on behalf of the most vulnerable in today's world. Buses will be available at the conclusion of the event to transport individuals from the King Center back to the State Capitol area.

Buses will depart from OLM on Friday at 8:15 AM and will return around 2 PM.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP by Thursday, April 21st to Matt Hofkes.

For more details on the Pilgrimage, please visit: www.catholiccharitiesatlanta.org

Girls Tennis Advances to State Tournament!

At the start of the 2011 season, the Lady Bobcat tennis team had one goal in mind. make it into the state tournament.
They wanted to accomplish this feat which no Mercy tennis team had ever achieved...until now.

Last Thursday, the Mercy girls tennis team made school history by defeating Walker, a school with a talented team and highly decorated tennis program which earned state tennis titles for girls and boys within the last few years.

Singles players Brandi Nelson and Tayler Murray won their matches in straight sets while the two doubles teams struggled to get anything going, dropping their two matches in straight sets. Again, it came down to one match to either send the girls into the tournament or to end the season. #3 Singles player Jordan Hameen pulled out a great victory in straight sets to give Mercy the overall match victory 3-2.

The last time Mercy had a team close to making the tournament was back in 2005. However, this is the first time that a Mercy tennis team has entered the State Tournament Bracket.

The Lady Bobcats will face George Walton Academy on Tuesday, April 19th in the first round of the tournament.

4/17 Rain washes out Soccer matches

The varsity soceer matches scheduled for Saturday the 17th were cancelled due to field conditions from rain.

The matches will be made up on Tuesday the 19th in the stadium.

Varsity BOYS at 5:00pm vs Pacelli

Varsity GIRLS at 7:00pm vs Pacelli

SPARK Celebrates Poetry Month

On Wednesday evening, SPARK, Mercy's own literary & art magazine, celebrated Poetry Month with their second annual Open Mic Night in the courtyard. Poetry and music mixed with perfect weather made for a fantastic evening.Editor, Emma Bush, and associate editors, Jillian Speck and Tyler Todd hosted the evening.

SPARK was delighted to discover future Bobcat talent! Ava Launay-Fallasse read a Bible story and her sister, Sophia, drafted her very own poem and read it with help from her papa, Mr. Launay-Fallasse.

Another future Bobcat, Jackie Sevier (her sister is Amelia class of 2010), did an amazing job singing "I Have a Dream" from the Mamma Mia soundtrack.

Thank you to all who joined us!

Two tough losses with some bright spots

The boys team had a match against Ben Franklin on Monday and both the boys and girls had a match against Strong Rock on Tuesday this week. While all three events were losses there were some bright spots in all three.

On Monday, the boys lost to a much improved Ben Franklin team by two strokes. However, playing on a new course and in windy conditions, Brendan File, Chris Paine, and Marcus Sherman all shot strong rounds. On Tuesday, the boys and girls both played on course that will be home to the region tournament next week, Eagle Brook, against Strong Rock. While the boys and girls lost, Allen Acejas topped all scorers in tough, windy conditions again. Janelle James and Amelia Fitzgerald also showed strong improvement in their first match in a couple of weeks.

Heading into the region, the team will have their work cut out for them but they have been improving all year, so anything can happen.

Go Bobcats!

Lady Bobcat Tennis Finishes 3rd in Region

The Lady Bobcats travelled to South Fulton Tennis Center to compete in the Region 9-A Tournament today. Whitefield, ranked first in the region, was their first opponent. The matches were close and went back and forth throughout the morning. Mercy's #1 singles player Brandi Nelson won her match in straight sets. Unfortunately, Whitefield took both doubles matches and the #3 singles match in straight sets before #2 singles could finish so Whitefield won 3-1.

However, the girls had the opportunity to play for 3rd or 4th place in the afternoon. Their opponent was Paideia - a team they had lost to in the regular season. However, the tables turned in this match as Brandi Nelson, Jordan Hameen, and the doubles duo of Jenny Bui and Lauren Jones won their matches in straight sets to give Mercy the victory, 3-1 and 3rd place in the Region.

The Lady Bobcats have a match tomorrow to give them shot at advancing in the State Tournament. They will play Walker, ranked 4th in Region 6, at 3:30 PM at OLM in the preliminary round of the State Tournament. If the Bobcats win, they will play in the 1st round of the State Tournament for the first time in 7 years.

Bobcat Tennis Competes at Region

Monday marked the beginning of the Region 9-A Tennis Tournament. Both Mercy girls and boys teams competed in first round matches with the girls at home and the boys away.

The #7 seeded Mercy boys team received a tough first round draw playing #2 ranked Eagles Landing Christian Academy. ELCA was dominant yesterday, taking all 5 matches. Though they didn't advance in the tournament, the Mercy boys had a good season and will be returning all but one player next year.

The #4 seeded girls team drew First Presbyterian in their first round match at home. It was back and forth with Mercy taking 2 matches and First Presbyterian taking 2 matches. It came down to one last match - the #2 doubles line. The Mercy team of Bui and Jones played terrific tennis to win 6-1, 6-1 giving the Mercy girls team the go-ahead point to take the match.

Congratulations to Brandi Nelson, Jordan Hameen, Jenny Bui, and Lauren Jones for winning their matches and helping Mercy advance in the region tournament.

Region play continues tomorrow at South Fulton Tennis Center in Fairburn. The girls semifinal match will be against Whitefield at 9 AM. Go Lady Bobcats!

Mercy finishes 3rd in Fox 5 Poll

Thank you for everyone that voted for Mercy this week for the Fox 5 High 5 Field Trip. We unfortunately lost to Tri-Cities High School who received 37,000 votes. However, with your help, we were able to get more than 10,000 votes - amazing for a school of our size!

If we are considered for future dates, we will keep you posted via the website. Thank you again for supporting Mercy with your vote!

Learn more about the High 5 Field Trip

Mercy Family Track Meet is Friday, April 15th

Mercy is hosting is inaugural Mercy Family Track Meet on Friday, April 15th at 5:30 PM. There will be track and field events for all ages and all Mercy families, including upcoming new families, are invited to participate.

The entry fee is only $10 and includes a meet t-shirt. Entries must be received by Monday, April 11th. Please contact Mercy Track Coach Mark Tolcher to sign up!

Mercy Family Track Meet - information flier

Baseball Team Battles Pinecrest

Mercy battled back from an 8-3 deficit to tie the game at 8-8 in the bottom of the 6th inning. Pinecrest then forged their way back into the lead in the top of the seventh and went on to win 10-8. Thomas Smilie started on the mound for the Bobcats and pitched well and he was followed by a gutty relief appearance from Austin Loper on short rest.

The Bobcats will travel to Macon on Tuesday for a 5:00 game at First Presbyterian and then will take the rest of the week off.

Boys Tennis Defeats Galloway

The Mercy boys tennis team hosted Galloway yesterday in their last regular season match for 2011. It was a great day for Bobcat Tennis as the boys took home the overall victory, winning several close matches, 3-2.

Singles players Lake McGuffie and Russell Goemaere played solid tennis, trading games with their opponents before finally taking their matches 8-5 and 9-7 respectively. The doubles teams of Chris Donnay/Justin James and Robert Gould/Demetrious Dabadee played well but fell behind in their matches early, unable to climb all the way out for the win.

The doubles team of Eric Morris & Bockarie Amara were able to adjust to fix early errors to overcome a 0-3 start and win their match 8-5. Morris & Amara end the regular season 2-0 as a doubles team.

Both boys and girls teams will compete in the first round of the Region 9-A tournament the week of April 11th. the girls will host First Presbyterian Day School at OLM while the boys will travel to Eagles Landing Christian Academy.

Congratulations to the tennis team on a great regular season and good luck in the post-season!

2011-12 Yearbook Staff Announced!

Congratulations to the newly selected 2011-2012 Mercy Yearbook Staff!

Tori Shurman-Editor

Katy Sage-Editor

Emma Bush-Photo Editor

Randy Nguyen-Business Manager

Bockarie Amara

Sarah Black

Justin Cates

Cassie Denny

Emma Dunphy

Emily Gomes

Paul Julio

Kristina Loncke

Shelby Reames

Jessica Shurman

Chyna Terrell

Ja’ Tara Turner

Evan-Nicole Williams

Mercy Weight Room

The weight room will be open over Spring Break on Tuesday, April 5th and Thursday, April 7th. Weight room hours will be 9:00am - 11am.

Congratulations to Singin' In The Rain cast & crew

Mercy presented the musical, Singin' In The Rain to a packed house both Friday and Saturday nights. It was a spectacular show featuring real rain and live music. Congratulations to our director, Mrs. Hamilton, theatre production director, Mr. Hutcheson, choreographer, Mrs. Senger along with the volunteer parents, student coaches, cast and crew for putting on an amazing show!

Girls Tennis Sweeps Landmark

Yesterday was a great day for Mercy Tennis as they took on region rival Landmark at South Fulton Tennis Center. The girls played clean, solid tennis and won all five matches! Congratulations to Brandi Nelson, Tayler Murray, Jordan Hameen and the doubles teams of Yates/Nagaj and Jones/Bui.

Though the boys team lost to Landmark 2-3, there were some exciting matches. Congratulations to Lake McGuffie on his great win in the #2 singles spot, 8-7. The match went back and forth with some competitive rallies. Great net play helped Lake take the match after winning the tiebreak 8-6.

The #2 doubles team of Charlie Faber and Demetrious Dabadee was down early in their match 2-6 before rallying back and coming from behind with terrific tennis to tie things up 8-8. The tiebreaker was also close but they pulled off a stunning victory winning the tiebreak 7-5 and taking the match 9-8. This was the first victory for both players. Congratulations!

The next matches for the tennis team (pending weather) is at Paideia today and at home tomorrow against Galloway (boys only).

Art Field Trip Cancelled Thursday

Thursday's Field Trip to the Paper Museum has been cancelled due to mechanical problems with our bus.
'B' Day art class field trip will be rescheduled after Spring Break. I will notify you as soon as we get a good date.
-Mrs. Cawley

2011 Archdiocesan Art Show

Queen of Angels Catholic School hosted this year's Archdiocesan Art Show on Saturday, March 26th. It was another successful exhibition of Mercy's fine arts students! A special thanks to Mercy art student, Meghan Lowther, and her mom, Lisa Lowther, for assisting with the show.

Tennis match, Golf practice cancelled today

The home tennis match vs. Galloway has been cancelled today. Please check the tennis webpage for more updates.

Golf practice has been cancelled today.

Baseball Game (3/29) Location Changed

Due to the weather, the Bobcats will travel to Landmark on Tuesday 3/29 rather than hosting the game. First pitch starts at 4:30 - the April 20th game with Landmark will now be played at Mercy.

Practice SAT at OLM this Saturday, 3/26

KAPLAN, a recognized test preparation company, is hosting a practice test and seminar class on the SAT at Our Lady of Mercy. The KAPLAN informational flyer is here.

The practice test will be held this Saturday, March 26th from 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM.

The scores giveback seminar will be held on Tuesday, April 12th from 6:00 - 7:00 PM.

The practice test/seminar is not mandatory but is being made available to all students in all grades who would like extra preparation for the SAT.

The fee is $20 and includes both the test and the seminar. Please turn in payment to Julie Gagnier by this Thursday, March 24th if you would like participate. Checks payable to OLM.

Please contact Musanna Hoskins, Director of Guidance, for further questions.

Landmark match

The boys and girls team played Landmark on Tuesday and continue to show strong improvement. It was the most consistent effort by the boys this season with 3 players shooting in the 40s. Two players shot their career best for Mercy: Marcus Sherman for the boys and Janelle James for the girls. The boys next match is Monday, March 28 against Ben Franklin Academy at Wolf Creek Golf Club.

Football Parent Meeting

There will be a football parent meeting in the cafeteria on Monday, March 21st. The meeting will begin promptly at 6:30 pm. We will cover information concerning spring and summer practice. We will also discuss our upcoming "Reverse Raffle" which will be held on Saturday, May 21st. All parents are encouraged to attend.

Tennis Marquee Match today

It was a great day for tennis as Mercy travelled to Bitsy Grant Tennis Center in Buckhead to play non-region opponent AIS last Thursday. The Lady Bobcats played well throughout the day. Seeming to have recovered from their last few matches to play solid tennis, the girls took the match 4-1. Congratulations to Brandi Nelson, Tayler Murray, Jordan Hameen, and the doubles team of Trizna Banos and Lauren Jones for logging points in the win column.

The boys team also had solid day, especially from the two doubles teams. The #1 boys team of Chris Donnay and Justin James played a great, aggressive match. Even though the final score was 3-8, the games were close and could have gone either way. Lance McGuffie and Liam Devlin playedtheir second match together as a team and their quick style of play did not disappoint. They both logged their 2nd victory for the season, taking the match 8-5.

Mercy battles Strong Rock Academy today for the last home game of the season for the combined boys and girls teams. Come out and support the Tennis Team's Marquee Event!

Mercy Golf Improving

The golf team played two matches in two days thanks to some inconsiderate weather on Tuesday. The boys played First Presbyterian on Wednesday at Canongate1. While the boys played much better this time around against the Vikings, they were still not able to get a win. Allen Acejas remained the rock of the team shooting consistently and encouraging his teammates. Also playing well against FPD was Brendan File, who continues to work very hard on improving his game. On Thursday, the boys' and girls' teams both played and both notched victories against Heard County. Again, Allen Acejas led all scorers, shooting a 39 and playing solid golf. For the girls, Janelle James led all scorers and won the first match of her career. Congratulations to both teams.

The next match is scheduled for March 22 at Canongate1 against Landmark.

Mercy Football Spring Practice Dates Announced!

Mercy Spring Football practice will begin May 9th and end on May 19th with the annual spring game in the stadium!

Bobcat Tennis falls to Paideia

It was a tough day for the Mercy Tennis Team as they hosted Paideia for a region match. Many Mercy players fell behind early and were not able to make up the deficit. However, great play from #3 girls singles player Jordan Hameen earned her another solid win for the third match in a row, 8-0.

#1 girls singles player Brandi Nelson played a tough match against a talented opponent, falling 2-5 early. However, Nelson was able to rally back to 7-6 playing many close points before falling 7-9. The #2 boys doubles team of Lance McGuffie and Liam Devlin made their debut as a doubles team in stunning fashion, playing aggressive tennis. Though they lost 7-9, the match was exciting to watch and was close throughout.

The Bobcats' next match is against Atlanta International School tomorrow, March 17th, at Bitsy Grant Tennis Center. Their last home match is Monday, March 21st against Strong Rock Christian Academy. This is also a marquee event so come out and cheer on Mercy Tennis!

Mercy Baseball Notches First Victory

The baseball team travelled to west Georgia Wednesday afternoon to battle the Eagles of Mt. Zion High School. The Bobcats jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning only to see Mt. Zion answer with 3 runs in the second inning and 2 more in the third to even the score at 5-5. Still in the third, John Keuler came on in relief of Tevin Tyler and kept the Eagles at bay for the rest of the game.

Mercy added 8 runs in the fourth inning and 2 more in the seventh to seal the victory. Justin Larkin was 4 for 5 for the Bobcats and John Keuler and Christian Griffith were both 3 for 5 with a couple of RBI's. The team will host Whitefield Friday at 4:30 in what will be their first region 9A contest. Congratulations Bobcats!

Football Parent Meeting

March 21st, 2011

2011 Mercy Athletic Association Car Raffle

http://www.mercycatholic.org/upload/Athletics/CarRaffleFlier-Spring2011.pdf

Mercy Falls to Fellowship

The Bobcats traveled to Roswell Monday to take on the Paladins of Fellowship Christian. Thomas Smilie started and pitched well for Mercy but a few defensive miscues allowed the Paladins to score 6 unearned runs in the second inning. They would add 4 more in the third and 3 more in the fifth.

John Keuler had a big day at the plate going 3 for 3. Will Dunphy and Christian Griffith had RBI singles as well for the Bobcats. Mercy will travel to Mt. Zion in Carroll County on Wednesday for a 5:00 start.

Lady Bobcats Hang Tough vs Mt. Paran

The Mercy Tennis team hosted Mt. Paran last week in a non-region match. Both the girls and boys teams played well with a few close matches going into the darkness.

Congratulations to the girls team for winning 3-2 over Mt. Paran with victories from singles player Jordan Hameen and the doubles teams of Bui/Jones and Nagaj/Yates.

The boys doubles team of Davis/Lance McGuffie played a great match and won their match 6-3 (match called due to darkness). Though they fell short of the victory, singles player Lake McGuffie and the doubles team of Donnay/James also played well.

The Bobcats have a big week ahead with 3 matches in 3 days, 2 of which are region games. Come out and support Mercy Tennis as they take on Landmark at S. Fulton Tennis Center on Tuesday, Paideia at home on Wednesday, and AIS at Bitsy Grant Tennis Center on Thursday.

Mercy Golf battles Strong Rock

Both the girls and the boys played in the match against Strong Rock on Monday. The team showed some solid improvement in their second match. Notable improvement came from captain Allen Acejas and junior Brendan File. Also playing well in her first match was Janelle James who was only two strokes from winning. Although the Bobcats did not score a victory, if they continue to improve, those victories will be close behind

Summer opportunities for students in the Arts

Interested in doing something in the fine arts during the summer? Check out some opportunities here.

New opportunities will be posted as they arise so check this website often!

Spark: Open Mic Night II

Help Spark Literary & Art Magazine celebrate Poetry Month by performing in and/or attending our second Open Mic Night on Wednesday, April 13th from 5 - 7pm.

Acoustic music and poetry performed by students and faculty will help launch our 2011 magazine, Perfect Imperfection.

OLM's Moody Mega Math Challenge Team Competes

Congratulations to the Mercy math geniuses: Eric Johnston, Justin James, Justin Bradshaw, Hannah Lecesne, Bryn Ambrose, Allen Acejas, Amelia Fizgerald, Josh Woolums, and Randy Nguyen. They participated all day on Sunday tackling serious drought and water-use issues in math modeling contest and demonstrating outstanding leadership and team work. Their dedication in the cryptic math challenge will hopefully earn them recognition in the competition and maybe even a portion of the $100,000.00 scholarship. Please visit http://m3challenge.siam.org/ for more information. There were 2585 participants in 567 teams from throughout the East Coast. Ana DeMello looks forward to a growing team again next year.

OLM's Model United Nations Team Competes

Our Lady of Mercy’s Model UN team attended their first conference March 7th and 8th at Kennesaw State University. The thirteen member group represented two nations, Argentina and Vietnam. Students had to complete extensive research in order to write position papers and to become “experts” on their country’s stand on multiple global issues such as ensuring rights of refugees, universal food safety programs, the effectiveness of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, insuring the peaceful uses of outer space, the use of narcotics and drugs as a means of funding terrorism, and many others.

The team members are

Seniors: Craig Sage and Tynese St. Cyr

Juniors: Alex Campbell, Robert Gould, Amelia Fitzgerald, Monica Norris, Bryn Ambrose, Jayla Johnson, Will Dunphy, and Nicole Woods

Freshmen: Meghan Lowther, Dwayne Flores, and Karen Calderon

The conference ended Tuesday with an awards ceremony where Robert Gould received an Honorable Mention for his representation of Argentina on the GA3 committee regulating social, cultural, and humanitarian issues. We are very proud of Robert and all our delegates for their hard work and dedication to these issues for our first ever Model UN conference competition. Faculty advisors, Clay Cushman and Rhonda Anderson, look forward to the growth of Model UN at OLM and encourage able students to give consideration to applying for the 2011 – 2012 team which will begin work in August.

Baseball Game Cancelled

Game with Mt. Zion cancelled - there will be no practice as well. The game will be rescheduled at a later date if possible.

Archbishop's Day Off -- School Closed March 11

Boys Tennis Defeats Pinecrest

The Boys tennis team captured its first win with gritty determination, defeating Pinecrest Academy on the road.

It was a great day for the Bobcats boys singles. #2 singles player Russell Goemaere was able to keep calm and stave off a comeback by his opponent to take the match 9-7. #3 singles player Liam Devlin played solid tennis throughout his match to win 8-5.

In the nail-biter of the day, the #2 doubles team of Eric Morris and Bockarie Amara fought back from 2-5 down early to take the match to 8-8. By then, the team of Morris/Amara had regained their confidence and won the tiebreak 7-4.

On the girls side, the Lady Bobcats faced a few tournament players on the singles side and solid players on the doubles side. The girls played well overall, but made a few errors that cost them close games. #3 singles player Jordan Hameen played a great, clean match, winning 8-3.

The team's next match is at home against Mt. Paran Schol on Tuesday, March 8. Come out and support Bobcat Tennis!

Baseball Game For Thursday 3/10 Rescheduled

Thursday's varsity baseball game has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 9th, at Mt. Zion in Carroll County - first pitch is scheduled for 4:00.

Baseball Team Loses to Temple 10-3

The Temple Tigers scored first by putting up 3 runs in the first and another in the second to jump out to an early 4-0 lead.The Bobcats cut into the lead in the 4th inning when Austin Loper delivered on a suicide squeeze, allowing John Keuler and Christian Griffith to score who had both reached on walks.

Up 4-2, the Tigers answered back with 3 runs to extend the lead to 7-2. Loper, who pitched very well for the Bobcats, would surrender one more run before leaving the game in the 6th inning, handing the ball over to reliever Kip Darden. Darden pitched well in relief, despite giving up a couple of unearned runs.

Defensively, John Keuler anchored the Bobcats making several tough plays and cutting down two runners attempting to score from third. Justin Larkin also made several key plays from centerfield. The Bobcats will travel to Pinecrest Tuesday, March 8th, to try to secure their first win of the season, followed by another trip back to west Georgia Wednesday to play Mt. Zion.

Mercy Baseball Falls to Pace

The Bobcats varsity baseball team suffered their second loss of the season as they traveled to play the Pace Academy Knights. Mercy jumped out to a 2-0 lead behind the hitting trio of Christian Griffith, Tevin Tyler and Austin Loper. Griffith roped a single to center followed by doubles from Tyler and Loper. The Knights, however, answered with 2 unearned runs in the first off of starter Thomas Smilie and plated another run in the second.

Pace would add three more in the fourth and 6 more in the fifth to close out the game with 12-2 defeat over the Bobcats. The loss drops Mercy to 0-2 on the season as they prepare to take on Temple this Friday at 5pm in Temple, GA.

Are you ready to G.Y.G.O.?

It's time to Get Your Green On! Our Lady of Mercy hosts its 3rd Annual...

Get Your Green On Old School Dance & Auction

Date: Saturday, March 5, 2011
Time: 8 PM - 12 Midnight (Doors open at 7 PM)
Location: Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School
Attire: Business casual (Wear something green to match the St. Patty's theme)

Tickets are $20 each (tax-deductible donation) for this adult event (21 and up only). Tickets available at the door.

More information can be found here on the Support Mercy homepage.

Rescheduled 2/28 Baseball Game

The baseball game vs. St. Francis that was cancelled on 2/28 will be made up on March 11th with a double header beginning at 1:30 pm at OLM.

For more information, please contact Coach Nix or Coach Schmitz.

Baseball Games vs Pace Cancelled

Baseball game for today, Tuesday, 3/1 is cancelled due to field conditions at Pace Academy. The game has been rescheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, 3/2 at 5 pm.

The baseball team will practice instead today 3/1 at their normal time.

Coach Nix

Bad weather cancels athletic events

Due to possible severe weather, both soccer matches at Chattahoochee County are cancelled.

The home Golf match scheduled for today at Canongate is cancelled as well.

Practice for track and tennis are cancelled

Baseball game has NOT been cancelled.

Please check this website for re-scheduling information.

Mercy Athletic News

Athletics (http://www.mercycatholic.org/athletics.html)

The boys and girls basketball seasons will be in came to an end in the 1^st round of the 9A region tournament. The girls fell to SACA, while the boys lost to Paideia.

The baseball team opened up their season under the direction of new head coach, Kevin Nix. The bobcats hosted Fellowship Christian

The tennis team opened their season on February 17^th at home against Whitefield. While both teams lost the overall match, Brandi nelson and Taylor Murray did have big wins at #1 and #2.

The boys and girls soccer teams opened the 2011 season at 4A East Paulding. The girls fell 2-6 and the boys dropped the opener 0-2. While both teams showed great promise, they also discovered several areas that they could work on for improvement. On Wednesday night, both teams bounced back with wins over WD Mohammed. The girls won 6-0 and the boys won 7-0.

The Track team will open their season at Starr’s Mill on February 26^th at 9:00am.

The golf teams will have their first match on February 28^th at Cannongate vs Ben Franklin Academy.

MERCY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (MAA)

**Please save May 21, 2011 on your calendar** If you joined us for the reverse raffle dinner last year, you will be pleased to know that the date has been set for this year’s event. Where else can you go and enjoy dinner and possibly win twice in one night!! Stay tuned for more information.

BOBCAT ATHLETICS IN THE NEWS:

http://www.ghsa.net/ghsa-announces-cooperative-spirit-sportsmanship-award-winning-high-schools-2010

A reminder that Athletic banquets are now being held by each individual team. Please contact your coach for more information.

Family Passes are still available for the upcoming year for $150.00. Please contact the Athletic Office for more information at 770-461-2202 ext 404.

A few Athletic Department Reminders:

Letter Jackets are now available therough NEFF and through Rick Shrewsbury (the Herff Jones man). Please contact the athletic office with any questions.

If you have any desire to help out with our seasonal sports program (ad sales, photography, admin work to organize), please contact Coach Schmitz at 770-461-2202 ext 402. We are looking for dedicated parents to assist Mrs. Lisa Shupenus as we continue to work on making a great program for Mercy Athletics.

Go Bobcats!

Girls Tennis Wins on the Road

The Mercy Tennis team travelled for its first road match yesterday against First Presbyterian Day School in Macon.

For the boys, singles players Lake McGuffie and Charlie Faber, and doubles teams Devlin/Dabadee, Gould/Morris, and Lance McGuffie/Davis all took games in their matches. However, regardless of the score, the boys all elevated their level of play from the previous week.

On the girls side, singles players Brandi Nelson and Jordan Hameen, and doubles team Jones/Banos won their matches giving the girls the victory, 3-2. Jones/Banos battled hard in a long, first set tie-breaker, eventually winning 8-6. Tayler Murray rallied back from a set down to win the 2nd set before falling in a tough 3rd set tiebreak.

Both the boys and girls team played extremely well, improving from the week before. Their next match is at Eagles Landing Christian Academy on Thursday, March 4th.

Lady Bobcats Battle 1 Seed in Region Basketball Tourney

Beating region-rival Landmark in the region play-in game to get a shot at the #1 seeded Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy in the Region Tournament was a great accomplishment for the Lady Bobcat basketball team.

The girls fought hard and were perhaps the most aggressive girls team that we have seen at OLM thus far. However, the Warriors proved too much as the Bobcats' season ended Wednesday night at Paideia.

Congratulations to Coach Crane, Coach walker and the girls for a great season. This season's team has created a new expectation and brand of play for our Lady Bobcats. We are excited to see what happens next season!

Mercy Track Alumna is Athlete of the Week for Army

Clark Earns AAA and PL Athlete of the Week Honors

Courtesy: Army Athletic Communications

Release: 02/15/2011 08:58:24(ET)

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Two days after lengthening the Academy pole vault record, Army track and field senior Kaci Clark was named Army Athletic Association Athlete of the Week and Patriot League Female Field Athlete of the Week. It marks her first career AAA citation and second career indoor PL award, after being recognized on Jan. 31, 2011.

Competing at The Armory on Saturday night, Clark won the pole vault title with a height of 3.80 meters. The Patriot League-best mark extended the Academy pole vault record by .10 meters, which Clark previously set at the The Armory on Jan. 29 of this season. The Fayetteville, Ga., native also owns the outdoor record as well (3.70 meters), which she set on April 25, 2010.

The senior is one of two Black Knights to qualify for the ECAC Championships in 2011, alongside sophomore McKenzie Majchrzak who met the standard in the high jump.

Clark will be in search of her first Patriot League pole vault title this weekend when the Army indoor track and field teams travel to Annapolis, Md., for the 2011 Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Championships. The men's heptathlon and women's pentathlon will begin Friday, Feb. 18 at noon, with field and running events beginning Saturday, Feb. 19 at 10:30 a.m., and continuing through Sunday, Feb. 20.

Course Registration 2011-2012

Course Registration Schedule 2011-2012

February 15 Course Registration Information Letter mailed to parents.

February 15 Course registration sheets issued to freshman class.

February 16 Course registration sheets issued to sophomore and junior classes.

February 23 All parent-signed course registration sheets due.

February 28 On-line registration begins.

March 5 On-line registration ends.

Gagnier signs with MIT

Congratulations to Mercy Volleyball Senior Nicole Gagnier. On Friday, February 11th, Nicole signed to play for the Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology next fall.

Gagnier helped lead the Bobcats to their first ever "Elite Eight" appearance. She is also Our Lady of Mercy's valedictorian for the Class of 2011.

Gagnier Makes National Volleyball List

Congrats to Mercy Volleyball senior, Nicole Gagnier for being named to Prepvolleyball.com's 3rd team Academic All American.

Here is the write up on Nicole in the national press release:

Nicole Gagnier, 5-10 S/RS, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic (Fayetteville, Georgia) – A four-year member of Student Government, Yearbook editor for two years and an active leader in Our Lady of Mercy’s “House” system (akin to the “schools within schools” concept), Gagnier is an unquestioned leader among her peers. She is the school’s valedictorian, boasting a perfect 4.0 GPA and is President of the Student Government. “She frequently offers creative ideas for new ways to involve and motivate our student body,” said Cynthia Launay-Fallasse: French teacher, Head of the House system and Student Government moderator. “She listens to her peers and is diplomatic when discussing divisive topics. Her leadership abilities were so impressive that she was chosen by the faculty to be the president of her House.” On the court, Gagnier is an ace-serving machine who used her athletic frame and big arm to hold down the right side early in the 2010 season, then transitioned to setter after the starter became injured and finished with 580 helpers. An All Area pick and Honorable Mention All County, Gagnier will continue her academic and volleyball career at M.I.T. in Boston.

Lady Bobcats Make Basketball Play-In Game

The Our Lady of Mercy Girls Basketball team will travel to Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (ELCA) for the play-in game of the Region 9A Basketball Tournament on Monday, February 14th. The Lady Bobcats will play Landmark Christian School at 6 PM at ELCA.

6 PM - #8 OLM vs #9 Landmark

7:30 PM - #7 ELCA vs #10 WD Mohammed

OLM Boys Basketball Makes Play-In Game

Our Lady of Mercy will host both Boys' play-in games for the Region 9A Basketball Tournament on Monday, February 14.
The Bobcats will play at 7:30 PM against First Presbyterian Day School at OLM.

6 PM - #8 Greenforest vs #9 Strong Rock

7:30 PM - #7 OLM vs #10 First Presbyterian

OLM Business Expo is Saturday, Feb. 12th

Support our local businesses while you shop!

In an effort to continually grow and support the Mercy community, we are excited to host our
2nd Annual Mercy Community Business Expo this Saturday, February 12, 2011 from 4 – 8 PM.

In conjunction with our home basketball games against AIS and Winter Sports Senior Night, members of the Mercy community and local churches who own businesses or want to market their trade are invited to set up a table at the Expo.

Advanced table reservation is $10 by Tuesday, February 8, or $20 on Saturday, February 12. Checks are payable to OLM (with “Business Expo” in the memo line) and can be mailed or delivered to the school directly. Tables and electricity access are based on availability. If you or someone you know are interested in participating in the Mercy Business Expo, please contact Kyna Jackson.

All members of the community are invited to come to Our Lady of Mercy on February 12th to shop and learn more about the businesses of the Mercy community.

We look forward to seeing you at the Expo!

Dance students see Alvin Ailey dancers

Mrs. Kathy Senger treated her Dance II class to a professional dance performance by the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater at The Fox Theater last week. The Ailey dance troupe was amazing to watch and our dance students went home inspired!

Please click here to read a review of the Atlanta performance.

Success of Catholic Schools

Click here to listen and read a recent report on the great job that Catholic Schools do across the nation in educating well-rounded young men and women who are academically prepared to meet the rigors of college and spiritually prepared to conquer the challenges of life.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/02/08/educating-children-catholic-schools-doing/

SJE Students, Families Support Basketball Night

Students and families from St. John the Evangelist Catholic School (SJE) in Hapeville came out in record numbers for Mercy's annual SJE Night during the Bobcats' home basketball games against Pinecrest on Saturday.

Prior to the event, SJE was notified that for every grade represented by at least five students,the school would receive $100 in tuition vouchers to Mercy. They more than surpassed the requirement with 100 SJE students in attendance, representing all grades from Pre-Kindergarten to 8th grade. With this, SJE earned $1,000 in Mercy tuition vouchers for the 2011-2012 school year.

Then, Dr. Jeanne Rast, science teacher at SJE, was given an opportunity to shoot baskets for even more tuition dollars. With tips from St. John's basketball coach Herman Lum, Dr. Rast sank both lay-ups and a free-throw to secure $800 more in vouchers. That gave St. John's a total of $1,800 in Mercy tuition vouchers - the best outcome for any church or school participating in our halftime competitions to date!

In addition, Mercy, St. John's and Pinecrest fans alike were treated to a halftime show performed by the SJE Dance Team of young boys and girls, led by Elisa Yates, Mercy's Step Team coach and OLM and SJE parent. It was truly a great night for Catholic schools.

Thank you to Karen Vogtner, SJE Principal, and all of the SJE families, staff, and students who supported our event!

pictured above: Mercy basketball cheerleaders with Herman Lum and Dr. Jeanne Rast who won SJE $800 in OLM tuition vouchers

Mercy Athletics Tops Amongst Class A

DIRECTORS CUP

Current Standings

ank

CombinedSchoolID

Overall

Points

BoysSchoolID

Boys

Points

GirlsSchoolID

Girls

Points


1	1243	Wesleyan	341.0	1243	Wesleyan	183.0	1165	Savannah Christian	187.5
2	1165	Savannah Christian	317.5	1165	Savannah Christian	130.0	938	Darlington	187.5
3	938	Darlington	309.5	938	Darlington	122.0	1142	Providence Christian	187.0
4	858	Athens Academy	257.0	1094	Mt. Paran Christian	110.0	988	Gordon Lee	184.5
5	1275	First Presbyterian	215.0	858	Athens Academy	104.0	1243	Wesleyan	158.0
6	1124	Our Lady of Mercy	205.0	1278	George Walton Academy	101.0	858	Athens Academy	153.0
7	1278	George Walton Academy	202.0	920	Clinch County	100.0	1124	Our Lady of Mercy	145.0
8	859	Athens Christian	200.0	1125	Pace Academy	100.0	1275	First Presbyterian	143.0
9	1142	Providence Christian	187.0	859	Athens Christian	90.0	885	Bryan County	121.0
10	988	Gordon Lee	184.5	1258	Wilkinson County	83.0	882	Brookstone	113.0

Congratulations to Vince Antonich

Congratulation to Vince Antonich: On Saturday night at the Archbishop’s Banquet for Catholic Education, Vince Antonich, our Director of Maintenance, will be honored, along with a representative from each of the Catholic schools in the archdiocese, for his dedication and commitment to OLM during all of its years of existence. Congratulations to Vince! OLM’s previous honorees have been JoAnn McPherson, Cynthia Launay-Fallasse and Ana DeMello.

Bobcat Sports Update

College Signing

Senior Jonathan Bridier signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to run Cross Country at The Citadel. He is pictured at right with his parents James and Colleen as well as (from L to R) Athletic Director Bill Schmitz, Cross Country coaches Mark Tolcher and Matt Hofkes, and Principal Danny Dorsel.

Swimming

Senior James "JT" Talley made the state cut in the 200 IM and 500 Free. And, for the first time in program history, TWO relay teams have qualified for state - the Boys 200 Medley Relay and the Boys 200 Free Relay. Going to State are Seniors Craig Sage and JT Talley, Juniors Allen Acejas and Paco Pagsisihan, and Freshman Danny Dwyer.

Please join us on Friday, February 11 at 6pm at the Georgia Tech Swimming Pool for the Preliminary Round of the State Championship Meet.

Basketball

The boys and girls basketball programs will battle in the last week and a half before the region tournament to grab a tournament spot or a “play-in" spot in the tournament. Both teams have been playing hard and battling every team they have faced. The girls lost to a tough Whitefield team on Tuesday, while the boys nearly pulled off the upset of the season in the region and the state as they held #1 ranked Whitefield to within a few points the majority of the game before falling to the Wolfpack.

The next games are Friday, Feb. 4th at First Presbyterian in Macon with the girls at 6 pm and the boys at 7:30 pm and at home on Friday, February 5th against Pinecrest Academy. Varsity girls are at 4 pm and Varsity boys are at 5:30 pm. It is also St. John the Evangelist Catholic School Night - SJE families get into the games for FREE!

The make-up games against Landmark will occur on Tuesday, February 8 at home with the JV Boys at 4:30 pm, Varsity girls at 6 pm and varsity Boys at 7:30 pm. This is a Marquee Event so Mercy students can earn House points for attending!

Spring Sports

The tennis, soccer, track, baseball and golf teams all started up their practices this week. Games and matches will begin as early as next week. Pocket schedules will be out soon.

Mercy Athletic Association (MAA)

Look for news about a great new fundraiser coming from the MAA soon!

Other Reminders from the Athletic Department

Sports team banquets are now being held by each individual team. Please contact your coach for more information.

Family Passes are still available for the upcoming year for $150.00. Please contact the Athletic Office for more information at (770)461-2202 ext. 404.

Letter jackets are now available therough NEFF and through Rick Shrewsbury (the Herff Jones representative).
Please contact the athletic office with any questions.

If you can help with our seasonal sports program (ad sales, photography, admin work to organize), please contact Coach Schmitz at (770)461-2202 ext. 402. We are looking for dedicated parents to assist Lisa Shupenus as we continue to work on making a great program for Mercy Athletics.

Go Bobcats!

Students Initiated into Thespians Honors Society

The International Thespian Honors Society honors students who not only show talent in the dramatic arts, but show commitment as well. The initiates wore all black, as stagehand technicians do in the theatre, to honor their contribution to the process. The ceremony is secret, but the ending of the ceremony can be seen on the Stage Left wall of the theatre. This class of initiates began a tradition of leaving a hand print on the wall of the theatre to which they have contributed so much.

Congratulations to the new members of the Thespian Honors Society: Lauren Forrester, Olivia Schmitz, Alexandria Campbell, Josh Woolums, Allen Acejas, Charles Collier, Emma Bush, Sarah Shupenus, and Colin Schmidt.

Five Mercy Swimmers Qualify for State

The Mercy Swim Team finished strong last Saturday at their final meet of the season. Out of 13 teams, the Girls took 8th, the Boys took 4th, and the combined team finished 6th overall.

Congratulations to Senior James "JT" Talley for making the state cut in the 200 IM and 500 Free. And, for the first time, TWO relay teams have qualified - the Boys 200 Medley Relay AND the Boys 200 Free Relay. Going to State are Seniors Craig Sage and JT Talley, Juniors Allen Acejas and Paco Pagsisihan, and Freshman Danny Dwyer. Congratulations!

We honor our Seniors who will be missed greatly next year: Captain Emily Conley, Captain Craig Sage, State Medalist James JT Talley, Team Chaplain Colin Schmidt and Team Member Renee Wright. We wish them the best of luck.

Please join us on Friday, February 11th at 6pm at the Georgia Tech Swimming Pool for the Preliminary Round of the State Championship Meet. Go Bobcats!

Mercy Students Honored as Athletes of Character

Six Mercy athletes were recently named Athletes of Character for Fayette County. This new program, sponsored by Game Day Youth Sports Magazine, featured fall athletes from all Fayette County high schools. The students were nominated by their coaches based on strength of character and high moral standards and values. The selected student-athletes were recognized at a banquet held at New Hope Baptist Church on January 24th.

Congratulations to the following Mercy students named "Athletes of Character":

Paige Goemaere - Football Cheerleading
Kristin McClure - Football Cheerleading

Greg Hadley - Football
Brennan Sanders - Football
Cameron Singletary - Football
Pierce Vincent - Football

St. John the Evangelist School Night is this Saturday

This Saturday, February 5, 2011, students and families from St. John the Evangelist Catholic School in Hapeville will receive free admission to the basketball games against Pinecrest Academy that evening. The Girls Varsity game tips off at 4 PM and the Boys Varsity game is at 5:30 PM.

During halftime of the Boys Varsity game, catch the SJE Dance Team performance and cheer on an SJE staff member as she shoots baskets to win up to $1,600 in Mercy tuition vouchers for SJE students!

In addition, for every five SJE students from each grade (K-8) that attend the games on February 5th, St. John's will receive an additional $200 in Mercy tuition vouchers.

We look forward to seeing our St. John the Evangelist School families this Saturday!

3rd Annual Fine Arts at Mercy Expo

On January 27th, the 3rd annual Fine Arts at Mercy Expo (F.A.M.E.) was hosted by the faculty, staff, and students of the Fine Arts Department at OLM. Students nominated in the areas of Visual Arts, Dance, Drama, Chorus, and Band from Our Lady of Victory, St. John the Evangelist, St. Peter Claver, Kipp South Fulton Academy, and The Bedford School were involved in master classes specific to their recognized talents and had the opportunity to work with Mercy teachers and students.

This year, they were treated to a performance of “Romeo and Juliet” from The Georgia Shakespeare Company’s touring troupe, Will on Wheels. At the end of the day, all of the students came together to share their Romeo & Juliet themed presentations in dance, dramatic monologues, music, and computer animation. We are already looking forward to the opportunity to work with many of these future students in the Fine Arts!

Basketball Schedule Changes

Below are changes to the Boys and Girls Basketball schedules:

ALL home games vs. Mt. Paran on Saturday, January 29th have been CANCELLED.

The make-up games against Strong Rock will occur on January 31st at Strong Rock.
JV Girls will play at 4:15 PM, Varsity Girls at 5:30 PM and the Varsity Boys at 7:00 PM.

The make-up games against Landmark will occur on February 8th at home with the JV Boys at 4:30 PM,
Varsity Girls at 6 PM and Varsity Boys at 7:30 PM.

It is also Pastor Challenge/Parish Night for St. John the Evangelist, Most Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady of Vietnam, and Mission de San Felipe churches.

Hammonds House Museum Field Trip

The Art III and Advanced Placement art classes went on a field trip to The Hammonds House Museum to view No Crystal Stair an exhibition of paintings by Charlotte Riley-Webb. The students were treated to an artist talk by Mrs. Webb and the curator of the museum, Mr. Kevin Sipp. It was a unique opportunity for them to have a one-on-one conversation with an artist who has exhibited in museums and galleries world wide.

There will be a closing reception for the artist this Sunday. It is from 3pm - 5pm and is free and open to the public.

Students, Staff March for Life in Atlanta and DC

Representing a new Pro-Life generation Mercy students at the Cathedral of St. Matthew in D.C.

Mercy students joined thousands of others from across the state of Georgia and the entire nation as they participated in the March for Life activities over the past few days.

With over 100 student members, Mercy For Life, organizes and supports activities that support life from birth to natural death. Many Mercy for Life members participated in the March For Life both in Atlanta last Friday, and in Washington D.C. on Monday and Tuesday.

Atlanta's Memorial Walk, organized by Georgia Right to Life, began with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in downtown. After the Mass, participants walked to the Georgia Capitol's steps to listen to representatives as well as the keynote speaker, Rebecca Keissling, who was conceived by rape and nearly aborted by her mother.

The March for Life in D.C. consisted of a rally at the National Mall followed by a march which travels down Constitution Avenue and ends on the steps of the Supreme Court. Mercy students also attended a Youth Rally for Life, visited the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle and toured the Holocaust Memorial Museum. The students who travelled to D.C. were also joined by several Mercy faculty members including Mark Tolcher, Theology teacher and Mercy for Life sponsor, as well as Danny Dorsel, Mercy's principal, and Father Jimmy Adams, the school's chaplain.

Find out more about the Pro-Life Movement here:

Mercy for Life

Georgia Right to Life

March for Life

Rebecca Keissling's story

Fall Semester Achievement

Congratulations to the students who earned the distinction of Excellence Honors (GPA of 96 or above) and Honors (GPA of 90 or above) for the Fall 2010 Semester:

Excellence Honors - All grade levels

Nicole Gagnier

Justin James

Jenny Bui

Steven Johnston

Mario Lund

Kathryn Sage

Jillian Speck

Victoria Shurman

Natasia Buckley

Emily Gomes

Rachel Jinks

Meghan Lowther

Katie Wilczynski

Honors - Seniors

Olisa Agulue

Jonathan Bridier

Emily Conley

Lauren Forrester

Paige Goemaere

Anthony Martinelli

Kristin McClure

Andrea Raville

Craig Sage

Tynese St. Cyr

Jessica St. Julien

Calen Sutton

Honors - Juniors
Allen Acejas Alyssa Maker

Bryn Ambrose Divad Miles

Trizna Banos Randy Nguyen

Justin Bradshaw Monica Norris

Emma Bush Kiela Pagsisihan

Alexandria Campbell Kenneth Revoredo

Max Capezzuto Alexander Rodgers

Aisling Cleary Jalynn Sandolph

Cassandra Denny Jordan Sartor-Francis

Mignon Farnet Gerardo Vargas

Amelia Fitzgerald Joshua Woolums

Nile Freeman

Connor Gaede

Amber Guidry

Jayla Johnson

John Keuler

Hannah Lecesne

Kristina Loncke

Katelyn Longino

Honors - Sophomores

Lauren Adams Huy Trinh

Sarah Black Jala White

Emma Dunphy

Charles Faber

Margot Farnet

Matthew Frank

Jarrett Goodly

Christian Griffith

Janelle James

Chauncey LaBoo

Mike Le

Emily Longino

Elysa McBean

Morgan McClure

Jamie Morgan

John Nguyen

Nadia Ponder

Will Rheingrover

Rocio Salamanca

Nicholas Sapp

An Tran

Honors - Freshman

Michael Andrews, Jr. Patrick Schwartz

Rachel Barfield Jessica Shurman

Daniel Dwyer Dylan Terrell

Rachel Emefo Akil Tindal

Nykia Engram Tyler Todd

Brianna File Imani Winston

Dwayne Flores

Violet Iyahen

Nahyo Jalajel

David James

Myles Joseph

Lesley Le Platte

Michael Loper

Jeanine McDonald

Jorge Moncayo-Sanchez

Thienan Nguyen

Nneoma Njoku

Auriel Oates

John Raville

Shelby Reames

Kendall Schwahn

Swim Team Makes Splash at Fayette Co. Championships

Congratulations to the Mercy Swim Team for a phenomenal finish at the Fayette County Championships on Saturday in Jonesboro. Overall, they came in 4th, beating Sandy Creek High School and Fayette County High School.

Senior James "JT" Talley earned medals for two 1st place finishes and qualified for the State meet in the 100 Butterfly and the 100 Backstroke.

For personal records, freshman Liam Devlin dropped 13 seconds in his 500 Free, freshman Chris Thrailkill dropped 9 seconds in his 100 Free, and sophomore Sarah Black dropped 20 seconds in her 100 Breaststroke. Making significant best times included junior Paco Pagsisihan and freshman Danny Dwyer.

Please join us at our last meet of the season Saturday, January 29th at the Newnan YMCA at 2 pm. Cheer on the Boys' 200 Medley and 200 Free relays, which are both within one second of qualifying for state.

'07 Alum on National Newscast

Mercy graduate Josh Delaney was interviewed for ABC World News which is news show hosted by Diane Sawyer. Delaney, a 2007 alumnus, is currently the student council president at the Universityof Georgia.

The ABC interview features Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the first black student admitted to the University of Georgia in 1961. The original broadcast aired on Monday, January 17, 2011 and .

Click here to view the news segment entitled "Celebrating Desegregation: a Student Returns"

Josh's comments are near the 2:00 mark.

MLK Celebration

Come and gather with the rest of the Catholic School community as we celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. This year's theme is "Your kindness should be known to all". Music will be provided by Mercy Praise and other catholic school groups.

Classes Resume Tuesday, January 4

Classes resume for all students on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 7:40 AM (no late start). It is an "A" Day.

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Annual Fund for 2010-2011 underway

The Annual Fund is the first and most important financial campaign for Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School. It is integral to advancing the mission of our school and provides revenues that have an immediate impact on the diverse programs that are the hallmark of the Mercy experience.

To continue to provide our students with an excellent, faith-based, college-preparatory education, we are asking for support from the entire Mercy community and beyond. Your help is vital to our success.

Making a commmitment is easy! To make a commitment online, visit the Online Giving Webpage.

You may also fill out the Commitment Form and mail/drop off to:
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School
Attn: Office of Advancement
861 Evander Holyfield Hwy
Fayetteville, GA 30214
(Checks payable to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School)

To learn more about the Annual Fund:
Letter from Steve Wilczynski, current Mercy parent
2009-2010 Annual Report

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support of Our Lady of Mercy and its students.

Sage Places in Equestrian Competition

Sophomore Katy Sage competed at the Georgia Hunter Jumper Association Finals at Wills Park. With her horse, Chelestino, Katy received the overall Reserve Champion in the Open Hunter division and two 3rd-place ribbons in the Junior/Senior Division. Katy trains with Nancy Greene at Meadow Wood Farm in Sharpsburg, GA. Congratulations Katy!

Final Exams

Final Exams will be held on December 14, 15, and 16. Make-up Exams will be given on December 17.

SPARK: Open Mic Night Debut

Spark, Mercy's own literary and art magazine hosted its first ever "Open Mic Night" last Wednesday, December 8th. The editor of Spark, junior Emma Bush, came up with the idea to allow our poets and musicians a unique opportunity to display their talents. Students along with faculty shared poetry and song to a packed house. Spark Club converted the library to the "Mercy Coffeehouse" complete with coffee, teas, hot cocoa, and baked goods. Spontaneity was the vibe of the night as poets wandered up to the microphone to honor Mother Mary, John Lennon, and John F. Kennedy and musicians jammed to tunes from Beyonce to The Maine along with original lyrics and music.

There are plans to celebrate Poetry Month in April with another open mic night-stay tuned for more exciting news from Spark!

The 2011 Small Film Festival Seeks Submissions

2011 Small Film Festival accepting submissions through February 23, 2011

Films may be live action, stop action, animation, puppets...etc.
All films should be no shorter than one minute and no longer than five minutes.
Submit DVD's to Mrs. Cawley in the art room.
Submissions will be accepted until February 23, 2011. Films will be juried by a panel of judges.
Notification of entry to the film festival will be announced on March 4th.
Selected films will be presented at the Spring Fine Arts Festival on April 29, 2011

The 2011 Small Film Festival Seeks Submissions

2011 Small Film Festival accepting submissions through February 23, 2011

Films may be live action, stop action, animation, puppets...etc.
All films should be no shorter than one minute and no longer than five minutes.
Submit DVD's to Mrs. Cawley in the art room.
Submissions will be accepted until February 21, 2011. Films will be juried by a panel of judges.
Notification of entry to the film festival will be announced on March 4th.
Selected films will be presented at the Spring Fine Arts Festival on April 29, 2011

Students Nominated to Governor's Honors Program

It is with great pleasure that Our Lady of Mercy announces its nomination of two students from the Junior class to advance in the state nomination process for Governor’s Honors.

This year’s nominees are Justin James for Mathematics, nominated by Mrs. Sharon Shaw, and Erica Hobbs for Dance, nominated by Mrs. Kathy Senger. We wish these students well as they advance in the nomination process and to state interviews in January and February 2011.

Two Mercy Seniors Receive Wendy's Honor

Seniors Nicole Gagnier and Eric Johnston were named the 2010 Wendy's High School Heisman winners from Our Lady of Mercy. Many applications were submitted for this award, but only two were selected. Criteria for selection included Scholarship, Athletics and Citizenship. Congratulations to Nicole and Eric on a great recognition!

Gagnier named Commended Student

Mercy senior Nicole Gagnier has been named a Commended Student by the National Merit Scholarship Program. Nicole's selection index score on the PSAT placed her among the top 50,000 of over 1.5 million students who entered the 2011 National Merit Program. She was one of only 34,000 to receive the distinction of being named a Commended Student. Congratulations Nicole!

Schmitz named AD of the Year

Mercy's Athletic Director Bill Schmitz was named GHSA's 2010 Athletic Director of the Year for Region 9A. This honor is voted on by all of the athletic directors in the region.

Congratulations to Coach Schmitz on this great honor!

Mercy Girls fall to Mt. Paran

The Varsity girls lost to Mount Paran last night 57 to 35, despite 27 points from Chyna Terrell, The team made several runs to cut the lead to 8 points several times but Mt. Paran pulled away in the 4^th quarter. Yarahi Castillo and Kristin McClure had 3 points each and Iyanna Carlies made several good defensive plays. Nadia Ponder continues to improve and scored 2 points.

Final Exam Schedule Posted

Students should arrive by 7:45 AM each morning. Dismissal will be at 11:30 AM.

Tuesday, December 14	8:00	Science
	10:00	Social Studies
Wednesday, December 15	8:00	English
	10:00	Theology
Thursday, December 16	8:00	Math

	10:00	Foreign Language
Firday, December 17	8:00	Make-up Exams -by prior Arrangement W/ instructor

High Museum Field Trips

Students from the Arts I and II classes experienced surrealism at its best while visiting The High Museum's show of Salvador Dali. We also had the opportunity to view the contemporary collection which baffled some and interested most!

Boys Basketball Captures First Win

The Boys Varsity Basketball team won their first game of the season Tuesday night with a second half come from behind victory over rival Landmark Christian. The 'Cats came back from 11 points down in the 3rd quarter to get the win.

The Bobcats were led by senior Courtney Prevost (18 points) and sophomore Rashard Fant (14 points). It was a total team effort as the team forced 36 turnovers in the game.

The boys play Friday at AIS and then have their home opener on Saturday against Walker on Saturday at 5:30. Come out and support our teams this weekend and enjoy some fast-paced exciting Mercy basketball.

Lady Bobcats Post First Win

The Varsity Girls Basketball Team defeated Landmark 43 - 11 and captured their first win ever in the Landmark gym!

The team had the most balanced scoring so far this season as 7 girls scored for the team. The team was led by Chyna Terrell with 12 points, followed by Nadia Ponder and Morgan McClure with 7 each. Yarahi Castillo scored 5 points, Kristin McClure, Paige Goemaere and Keisha Louis-Charles each scored 4 points.

The team will travel to AIS on Friday before coming home to play their first home game on Saturday with Walker.

Error on Pocket Schedule

The 2010 - 2011 Pocket schedules have an error in the varsity game times for the December 11th home games vs Starr's Mill.

The correct schedule is:

Freshmen Boys - 11:00am

JV Girls - 12:00

JV Boys - 1:30

Varsity Girls - 3:00

Varsity Boys - 4:30

Varsity Girls Basketball competes in Local Thanksgiving Tournament

Last week, the varsity girls basketball team played in the Locust Grove Thanksgiving Tournament. While the Lady Bobcats did not come away with any wins, the team played very hard and showed their will to compete. In the first game, the girls lost to Ola High School 30 - 17 as they had a difficult time scoring, but battled the entire game. The team was led by Yarahi Castillo and Chyna Terrell with 6 points each.

The Bobcats dropped the second game to Locust Grove 40 - 25. The game remained close as the girls trailed by only 6 points going into the fourth quarter. Chyna Terrell led the team in scoring with 11 points and Yarahi Castillo followed with 6 points. In the final game, Strong Rock jumped out early and Mercy fell 38 - 27.

The girls played great defense throughout the tournament and in the final game, the Lady Bobcats had more people involved in scoring. Yarahi Castillo led the team with 7 points with Kiesha Louis-Charles and Paige Goemaere each added 6 points. Morgan McClure had her best game of the tournament, adding 4 points. Chyna Terrell and Kristin McClure each added 2 points. Nadia Ponder and Iyanna Carlies both contributed well defensively.

The varsity girls look for the first win if the season against Landmark on Tuesday, Nov. 30th. They then play at AIS Friday before their first home game on Saturday, December 4th against Walker. Come out and support the Lady Bobcats!

Error on Pocket Schedule

The 2010 - 2011 Pocket schedules have an error in the varsity game times for the December 11th home games against Starr's Mill.

The correct schedule is:

Freshmen Boys - 11:00am

JV Girls - 12:00

JV Boys - 1:30

Varsity Girls - 3:00

Varsity Boys - 4:30

By the 'Grace' of a tax credit

by Jeanine McDonald, OLM 9th grader
(Published on AJC.com - Opinion section on Nov. 29, 2010)

Life in school is a lot like vegetables: You might not like it, but it the end it’s good for you. I’m only 14, but I’ve spent enough time in school to know that if you work hard, in the end you can achieve bigger, better things.

I don’t mind going to school because I want to go to college. I want to do something around interior design or architecture. It’s reassuring to be in a school where I have a really good chance of getting into a prestigious college. I am in the ninth grade at Our Lady of Mercy in Fayetteville. It’s not a school my mom and dad can easily afford. After I was admitted this fall, they applied for a Grace scholarship that covers a portion of my tuition at the school.

[The Georgia Legislature created a state tax credit option in 2008 allowing taxpayers to contribute to faith-based or private education and earn a 100 percent state tax credit for their contribution. The Atlanta and Savannah dioceses formed the nonprofit Grace Scholars, Georgia Residents Assisting Children’s Education, to help Catholics take advantage of the tax credit.]

Between the Grace scholarship and the financial aid offered by Our Lady of Mercy, my parents were able to make the small payments to send me to this school that has made a real difference in my life.

I attended elementary and middle schools in Clayton and Henry counties. My parents moved me to several different schools to try to get me the best education possible.

I was supposed to attend a school near our house, but I wanted to go to a high school where most kids go to college and earn large scholarships. My mom wanted me to have a choice of colleges because I am an “A” student.

That’s when a friend pointed me to Our Lady of Mercy. The counselors at Our Lady of Mercy informed us about the Grace Scholars program.

Before Our Lady of Mercy, I was a bit nervous when it came to high school. I knew classes at my old school would be large and students could be talkative and distracting. I didn’t hear many good things about scholarship opportunities at nearby schools. I just wanted to go somewhere that would really prepare me for college. I definitely want to go to college.

At my new school, 100 percent of the graduates have been accepted to a college, university or service academy, and the average scholarship award is $100,000 for college. The guidance counselors really work with you. And it’s truly like a community here.

At my last school there were about 1,000 students going to the high school.

At Our Lady of Mercy there fewer students, but there are many more students who are ambitious and want to go to college. And that motivates me.

There are fewer discipline issues. Here you get detention for small things, and in the end it impacts the teams at school and nobody wants that.

The smaller classes help us focus more, and the teachers have less to deal with. Most of my teachers are very helpful, and you can go to them during study hall or after school.

If I was still in public school, I would probably be getting more sleep. I have a lot more homework now. But that’s OK because I want to be successful.

Thanks to the Grace Scholarship, I have an opportunity that I would have never had before.

My mom feels when I make an “A” or a “B” it really means something. The grading system is tough.

I know that I am more challenged. I can say that I am truly blessed.

Jeanine McDonald of Stockbridge is a freshman at Our Lady of Mercy in Fayetteville utilizing a Grace Scholarship funded through Georgia’s new Tuition Tax Credit Program.

Christmas Shopping Benefits OLM

What if Our Lady of Mercy earned a donation every time you searched the internet?

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Simply go to www.Goodshop.com and designate Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School as who you GoodShop for.
Sign up for the GoodShop email newsletter to get deals and coupons - just in time for the holidays!

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Start searching and shopping for OLM today!

Photosteam Photography Contest

The AP Studio Art, Art III, and Art II classes were invited to participate in a photography contest by visiting artist and Mercy parent, Stan Jinks. Mr. Jinks is a professional photographer who owns and operates Photosteam, a studio that restores old photographs among other photo-related services.Mr. Jinks treated the art classes to a photography lesson and then the students used that knowledge to take their own photographs. AP and Art III were challenged to make photographs that dealt with color and Art II was challenged to make photographs of people.

The winners of the contest are:

AP and Art III - Runner-Up, Kyle Sharp, "Untitled 2" and the Grand-Prize winner, Olisa Agulue, "Indigo"(top right)

Art II - Runner-Up, Bryn Ambrose, "Dynamic" and the Grand-Prize winner, Mignon Farnet, "Swing" (right)

Please see the Photo Gallery on the Art page to view the runners-up.

Bobcats Come Up Short In Season Opener

The Bobcats took on AAAA Starr's Mill in the season opener. While Mercy's girls and boys teams came up short, there we many positive points to build on. The Girls Varsity team is competing in a Thanksgiving Tournament this week while the Boys Varsity team is off until November 30th when they travel to cross-town rival, Landmark Christian.

Fall Fine Arts Festival

Mercy wins GHSA Sportsmanship Award

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School wins Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award
by The Citizen

Coweta-Fayette Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) recently honored Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School in Fairburn (north Fayette County) with the 2010 Georgia High School Association’s Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award.

Mary Ann Bell, the electric co-op’s Vice President of Marketing, presented the sportsmanship trophy, which represents good conduct exhibited during the 2009-10 school year, to the school’s athletic director and athletes on Nov. 5.

“We are pleased to award the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award to Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School,” said Bell. “This school’s students, spectators and teammates have continually exhibited good sportsmanship and character, both on the field and in the stands.Introduced in 2006 and sponsored by Georgia’s electric cooperatives and the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), the Cooperative Spirit Sportsmanship Award promotes sportsmanship at competitive events. The award honors the sportsmanship of student athletes, as well as that of fellow students, parents, coaches and spectators, making the trophy a tribute to the entire school community.

“The attributes of good sportsmanship fall in line with the principles by which cooperatives operate and live by, therefore Coweta-Fayette EMC is proud to support this initiative,” said CEO Anthony “Tony” Sinclair. “Our EMC principles stress important values, such as cooperation and teamwork, which are just as relevant on the high school playing field as they are to co-op employees in the workplace,” said Sinclair.

Georgia’s electric cooperatives have sponsored GHSA championship events for eleven years and look forward to promoting sportsmanship at all GHSA competitive events.

Coweta-Fayette EMC is a consumer-owned cooperative providing electricity and related services to over 74,000 member accounts in Coweta, Fayette, Heard, South Fulton, Clayton, Spalding, Troup and Meriwether counties.

OLM Freshman Appeals to City Council

Tyrone boy asks council to OK skateboard park
By Adrienne Leon, Fayette Daily News

The Tyrone Town Council was noticeably tickled, but more so impressed with the amount of research a 14-year-old resident offered in his presentation, which proposed the construction of a skateboard park in the town.

Liam Devlin fielded a slew of seemingly tough questions for a boy his age at the Thursday night meeting. However, the Our Lady of Mercy freshman eloquently answered each one, addressing topics ranging from liability terms, funding sources as well as a good location, which he shared would be somewhere in Shamrock Park.

Liam began with a slide show, explaining he explained to the council how the skateboard park would benefit kids in Tyrone and throughout Fayette County. “Skateboarding offers an alternative for all kids who aren’t attracted to team-oriented sports in a healthy and enjoyable way,” he told the council. He said the convenience of a skateboard park would also offer kids a productive outlet, contrary to video games and gadgets.

Liam, an avid skateboarder, said he has been skateboarding for four years. He helped build ramps and 28-foot kickers at his home, since the nearest skateboard park is more than one hour away in Canton, Ga., he said. He shared that a growing interest in the sport has piqued the interest of his peers, as well as eight children in his cul de sac of ten homes.

“Skateboarding has grown to be a popular sport with over 18 million participants of which 11 million live in the United States,” Liam said. “The first park costs $300,000 while the second park costs $50,000,” Liam said, showing various estimates for designs.

Outside funding sources can be advantageous for the endeavor due to the economic times, he told the council. He recommended the Tony Hawk Foundation as one of the options, saying the foundation, formed in the world-renowned skateboarder’s namesake, gives hundreds of thousands of dollars to skateboard parks every year. “We are applicable for all the criteria to receive a grant up to $25,000 if the park is open to the public year round, has no existing skate parks or in use parks within the area, and is non-for-profit.”

Liam also encouraged the council to consider the American Ramp Company to build the skateboard park, particularly because all of its parks come with a 20-year insurance policy for the ramps. Therefore, the ramps will be taken care of by the company at full cost, if any issues should arise.Liam was commended by Post 1 Councilman Tracy Young, along with his fellow councilmembers and Tyrone Mayor Don Rehwaldt.

(picture by Tim Wojcik)

Students Experience Jewish Culture, History

The sophomore class went on a field trip in early November, visiting the Jewish Temple downtown and The Breman Holocaust Museum. The morning began with an hour-long discussion and tour of the Temple, led by Rabbi Loren Lapidus. The Temple, located on Peachtree in midtown, is Atlanta's oldest synogogue and the home of the Hebrew Benevolent Congregation.

Students were fascinated to see the similarities between Christianity and Judaism, and could suddenly see the origins of many of the Catholic traditions. They were especially excited to see the Torah scrolls and the main sanctuary.

After lunch, students then went on a tour at the Breman Holocaust Museum. At the Breman, students toured the artifacts and pictures and listened to stories of Holocaust survivors and their family members.

Students were privileged to hear Mariella Crea, the daughter of Jacqueline Garascia who, at the age of 12, began helping Jews escape in France from trains heading to the death camps. was fortunate to hear Henry Friedman, a Holocaust survivor from Hungary.

(picture of main sanctuary from Temple website: http://the-temple.org/)

Mercy Seniors Sign Letters of Intent

Two Mercy senior volleyball players - Senior Outside Hitter, Brittany Smith, and Senior Middle Hitter, Amanda Miles - both signed letters of intent to play at the next level on Monday.

Smith has signed to play at Valdosta State while Miles has signed to play at the University of West Georgia.

Both girls were instrumental in Mercy’s record breaking season that led them to the Elite Eight. Congratulations!

Mercy Volleyball girls named to "All County" teams

Congratulations to Brittany Smith and Olivia Schmitz for being named to the "ALL Fayette County" second team. Nicole Gagnier, Amanda Miles and Jenny Bui were named to the honorable mention list.

Congrats ladies!!

OLM Football makes Region 5 Playoffs

The Bobcats finished the 2010 season as a #2 seed in the Region 5A South play-in game. With a season record of 7-2, the Bobcats entered the region playoff game with the hopes of making the state playoffs. Although the Bobcats fell to Holy Innocents, the season was successful and the excitement remains high for the 2011 campaign.

Rashard Fant led the offensive categories with 778 yds rushing on 79 attempts. He scored 8 TD's with the longest run being 91 yds. Fant also led the receiving stats with 18 receptions for 388 yds and 6 TD's. Pierce Vincent led the team in total tackles with 46 while recording 2 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery. Cam Singletary and Lake McGuffie led the defense with 3 interceptions each and 43 and 41 total tackles, respectively. Other notable tackle leaders were linebacker Greg Hadley at 41 and Justin James with 34.

The Bobcats will begin their off-season workouts immediately to prepare for the 2011 season.

Clayton County Quint Meet Results

Congratulations to the Mercy Swim Team for WINNING their first meet last night in Jonesboro! They defeated three other schools by a significant margin and took first place in 18 out of 22 events. Great job to our new swimmers who made their debut in the water: Freshmen Caleb Lewis, Chris Thrailkill, Liam Devlin, John Nguyen and Danny Dwyer, Sophomore Sarah Black and Junior Aisling Cleary. A special congrats to Senior Craig Sage, who returned with a vengeance, breaking his all-time 50 Free personal record at 25 seconds. Please join us on Saturday the 13th at the Lundquist Aquatic Center on Tara Blvd. in Jonesboro for our 2nd Meet, where we are sure to make a splash! Gooooo Bobcats!!!

Mercy Shines at Cross Country State Meet

In Carrollton on Saturday morning, the Mercy cross country team competed in near freezing temperatures at the Class A state meet. Despite the cold and blustery conditions, the boys ran to a 10th place finish and the girls competed well to finish 5th. Coaches Matt Hofkes and Mark Tolcher were extremely pleased with the performances that their athletes turned out.

Coach Hofkes noted that the girls were ranked 10th entering the meet and few people thought they had a chance to end up on the podium. "The girls however thought differently," and when five of their seven girls competing ran season bests. The Lady Bobcats ran past five of their competitors and surprised a lot of schools. Andrea Raville led the team with a 17th place finish and was followed closely by her teammate Yarahi Castillo in 18th. Colleen Kelly also turned in a strong performance finishing 36th , and Nicole Gagnier and Melanie Hackney both ran lifetime bests finishing 56th and 73rd to round out the top five. Mignon Farnet and Jamie Morgan competed as well; Mignon ran a personal best time of 23:55. The Bobcats ended the year with 7 girls under 24:00, which is a testament to their hard work and depth.

The Mercy boys were equally as impressive as the girls. Their 10th place finish in class A was a solid showing in a year in which Class A cross country runs very deep. The Bobcats scored over 200 points better than last season and finished the year with their top five all under 19:10 and top seven under 20:00. Jonathan Bridier led the boys with a 6th place finish in a blazing time of 16:32. In addition to medalling in Class A, Jonathan's time ranked him 35th All Class. John Raville ran well finishing 43rd. He was followed by teammates Andrew Walker in 65th, Nile Freeman in 79th, Zayd Johnson in 91st, Huy Trinh in 104th, and Steven Johnston in 129th. Zayd Johnson and Huy Trinh each ran lifetime bests.

Coach Hofkes said overall he was very pleased with the results of the meet: "As a team, we peaked at just the right time and came together to accomplish our goals." When asked about next year Coach Hofkes commented, "The team will be returning five of its top seven boys and four of its top eight girls next year, so the future looks bright. We also have a number of young runners who are in position to fill spots on the varsity roster."

Mercy Alum Goes Live

OLM alumna Addie Haney made her live news broadcast debut on Elon University's Phoenix14 News. This weekly student newscast recently garnered top awards including Best Student Newscast in the Carolinas.

Haney, a Class of 2010 graduate of Our Lady of Mercy, was awarded a prestigious Communications Fellowship at Elon University in North Carolina where she is a freshman this year.

To view the news broadcast, visit http://phoenix14news.wordpress.com/2010/10/14/downtown-plans-force-the-pendulum-to-move/".

Mercy Football Wins On Senior Night

By Michael Boylan
The Citizen

The seniors on the Our Lady of Mercy Bobcats varsity football team had never won a game on a senior night in their years on the team. It seems only fitting that on their senior night, they got it done.

The Bobcats improved to 7-2 on the year, a school record for wins in a season, with a heart-pounding 33-27 overtime win over Whitefield Academy. The Wolfpack gave Mercy a game and the two teams gave the fans in the stands enough excitement to keep them warm as the game headed to an extra period.

Mercy scored first after Courage Jacobs intercepted a pass and Greg Hadley ran six yards for a touchdown. With just under two minutes remaining in the first quarter, Mercy nearly picked off another pass but the bounce landed right in a nearby Whitefield receiver’s hands. In the second quarter, the Wolfpack went on a nine minute drive and capped it off with a one yard touchdown run. They led at the half 14-7.

Read more at The Citizen Sports Online.

Mercy Celebrates Respect Life Month

Our Lady of Mercy participated in Respect Life Month in a variety of ways during October, joining in an awareness effort recognized annually throughout the country. Mercy students began by joining in two of the area Life Chains. While the presence in Jonesboro was a small, over 50 students, teachers, and family members were present at this silent prayer vigil held in Peachtree City.

Mercy also participated in a shoe collection drive in partnership with the Soles4Souls international aid organization. Students and staff collected over 300 pairs of shoes to be donated to people in need. Then, the Mercy community teamed up with The American Red Cross for a blood drive on October 18^th, yielding over 40 pints of blood.

On October 19th, Ryan Bomberger from the Radiance Foundation led an assembly that focused on the truth and reality of abortion, the history of Planned Parenthood, and the impact of abortion on the African-American community. Throughout October, student leaders also incorporated statistics and prayers into daily school life to educate and pray for a variety of issues that reflected weekly themes.

The Mercy For Life pro-life group and the Mercy community continue to be a voice for life. Mercy for Life might be one of the largest pro-life groups in the state of Georgia, with over 115 students. The group's next big push will be in late January as we commemorate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the court case that legalized abortion in the United States. Mercywill be taking groups to both the national March for Life in D.C. and Atlanta’s March for Life. Please continue to pray for greater respect for all human life.

Mercy for LIFE t-shirts are available for $15. Contact Mr. Tolcher if you are interested.

2010 Volleyball Banquet Announced

The 2010 Mercy Volleyball Banquet (Varsity and JV) will be on Thursday, November 18th in the school cafeteria at 6:30p.m. It will be a potluck event to celebrate the team's banner season as well as to honor the graduating seniors in the class of 2011. Mrs. Barfield will contact with parents about what food to bring. Please contact Coach Schmitz with any questions.

Dream Season comes to an end for Mercy Volleyball

The Mercy Volleyball team ended the best season in program history at the Elite Eight. The #1 ranked Blessed Trinity Titans proved too much on Saturday as the Cats fell 0-3. Blessed Trinity came into the match at 54-7 and were as advertised. "BT had many weapons and were solid all the way around the court", said Coach Schmitz. "We never really got our attack going and BT made it tough for our passers."

Through this storied run at a possible state championship, Mercy earned its long due respect from the high school volleyball community. Playing top ranked teams throughout the season helped the Cats prepare for the state tournament. Seniors Brittany Smith, Amanda Miles and Nicole Gagnier will be missed and their contributions are well noted and appreciated.

Don't be surprised to see next year's team in the state tournament hunt next October - Mercy returns five starters and there is some great talent in the JV and feeder program.

Congratulations to the Mercy Volleyball team on a fantastic season!

Pastor/Parish Football Challenge Friday Night

Mercy hosts the Pastor & Parish Football Challenge 2010 Friday, October 22nd during the Mercy vs. Eagles' Landing Christian Academy home football game.

Participating parishes include Holy Trinity, Sts. Peter and Paul, St. Philip Benizi, St. John the Evangelist, and St. Matthew. The church with the most parishioners in attendance at the football game on October 22nd will automatically win $500 in Mercy tuition vouchers.

At halftime, clergy and religious from the participating churches will be invited onto the football field to throw 5 football passes at a target. Each successful pass earns that parish $200 in tuition vouchers, and the last pass is worth double at $400.

Come out, cheer on your pastor and the Bobcats, have fun, AND help your parish earn to earn up to $1,700 in Mercy tuition vouchers all at the same time!

Details:
Parishioners must check in at the Mercy ticket gate by halftime to be included in the count.
Tuition vouchers are given to parishioners at the discretion of the priest/pastor of that parish.
For more information, please contact Danny Dorsel.

Details set for Elite 8 Volleyball Match

The Mercy Volleyball team will travel to sister school Blessed Trinity for their "Elite Eight" match up. The match will be this Saturday, October 23rd at 4:00 pm.

After a re-seeding of the final Eight teams, Mercy drew the #8 seed which places them against the #1 seed, Blessed Trinity. A possible fan bus is in the works. Information regarding a fan bus will be given to the student body on Thursday at school.

Mercy Volleyball storms into Elite Eight

The Mercy Volleyball team once again broke program records by advancing to the "Elite Eight" in the GHSA State Volleyball Tournament. After a long trip up to Gordon Lee (on the Chattanooga, TN line), the Lady Bobcats went to work defeating the Trojans 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 26-24). Enduring several failed intimidation tactics such as the scoreboard reading Home 25, Visitors 0 upon walking in the gym and a hostile crowd, the girls stepped up and fought through some errors to get the job done. Senior Brittany Smith led the attack with 17 kills while senior Amanda Miles and junior Olivia Schmitz had 13 and 10 respectively. Sophomore Jenny Bui led the team defensively with 26 digs. Senior Nicole Gagnier paved the way with 33 assists.

The Cats will have to wait until late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning to find out their opponent and match location for this Saturday's "Elite Eight" match, as the process for the volleyball state tournament is to re-seed at the "Elite Eight" stage.

This is the first time the Mercy Volleyball program has been to the "Sweet Sixteen" as well as the "Elite Eight". In sports like volleyball and basketball, this is no easy feat. The entire Mercy team has worked very hard to get to this point and continues to work hard to achieve the team's self-given motto: Exceed Expectations!

OLM Junior wins Essay Contest

Mercy Junior Robert Gould has been chosen as the 2010 Knights of Columbus Public Safety Essay Contest winner. The topic for this year's contest was: "What can students do to contribute to Public Safety?" Robert will be awarded a $100 bond during the 39th Annual Public Safety Appreciation Day sponsored by the Knights. This event honors local service men and women including firefighters, police officers, and EMTs. Congratulations Robert!

OLM Volleyball advances to Sweet Sixteen

The Mercy Volleyball team defeated Walker on Saturday in front of a great crowd to advance to the "Sweet Sixteen" in the GHSA State Volleyball Tournament. The win marks the first time in Mercy history that the volleyball team has advanced to this round in the state playoffs.

After a slow start and dropping a close Game One (23-25), the Lady Bobcats woke up and began playing their game. Walker did not go quietly though, as they pushed the Cats into a 5th and deciding game. Mercy came out swinging with 4 quick kills to take a 4-0 lead. After a string of unforced errors, the game was tight to the end before Mercy emerged victorious, 15-13.

Mercy will play Gordon Lee at Gordon Lee High School in Chickamaugua, GA (Near Chattanooga, TN) this Tuesday, October 19th at 5:30 pm.

Change in Location & Time - Yard Sale for Mercy Swim

(Note change in time & location)

The Mercy Swim Team will be holding a yard sale from 9 AM to 1 PM on Saturday, October 16th.

The yard sale location has moved from the Hobby Lobby and will now be held at the following address:

30 Legacy Lane

Newnan, GA 30265

If you have items you can donate to the sale, the swim team would greatly appreciate it. You can drop off your items at the sale site starting at 8 AM on Saturday the 16th.

Our swimmers would appreciate any help you can provide. Monetary donations to the Mercy swim program are also welcome.

For questions or more information, please contact Ben Eidson, Head Swim Coach.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on October 14 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Beginning on October 12, please call Mrs. Ann Consolino at ext. 405 to make an appointment.

Mercy Welcomes Alumni Back With A Victory

By Michael Alexander, The Georgia Bulletin

When Our Lady of Mercy High School defeated Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy 35-26 on homecoming night, Oct. 8, it reached a historic milestone by capturing more than four victories in a single season. Sophomore running back Rashard Fant led the offensive attack as he scored a touchdown in each quarter. Fant ran from six yards out in the first quarter, caught a pass from Mercy quarterback Lance McGuffie and ran for a 66-yard score in the second, ran back a kickoff return in the third for 86 yards and ran in a l3-yard reception from McGuffie in the fourth. Senior running back Greg Hadley led Mercy in rushing with 16 carries for 82 yards and one touchdown. On defense Cam Singletary had two interceptions, while Lake McGuffie and Pierce Vincent were the leading tacklers with nine and eight, respectively. Mercy (5-1) travels to Locust Grove to face Strong Rock Christian School, Friday, Oct. 15.

Read the full article on The Georgia Bulletin website.

PSAT Testing

PSAT testing will be administered on October 13 from 7:45 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. for grades 9-11. No school for seniors.

Mercy Volleyball is Area Runner-Up, Earn honors

Our Lady of Mercy finishes as the Area 3 Volleyball Runners-up. Mercy will host Walker Saturday, October 16th at 4 pm in the first round of the Class AA/A State Tournament.

Several Mercy players took home honors from the Area tournament and the season overall. Congratulations Lady Bobcats!

AREA 3 AA/A 2010 Senior All-Stars
Collette Richards # 10 L LCS: 3 votes
Lauren Toomer # 16 S LCS: 3 votes
Lauren Teknipp # 7 M ELCA: 3 votes
Brittany Smith # 2 OH OLM: 3 votes
Amanda Miles # 18 M OLM: 3 votes
Nicole Gagnier # 9 S OLM: 3 votes

AREA 3 AA/A All-Area Team
Jim Barlow: AREA COACH OF THE YEAR
Lauren Teknipp # 7 M ELCA: AREA PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Collette Richards # 10 L LCS
Lauren Toomer # 16 S LCS
Nicole Gagnier # 9 S OLM:
Brittany Smith # 2 OH OLM
Olivia Schmitz # 7 OH OLM
Mara Green # 5 M ELCA
Kodi Patterson # 11 S ELCA

AREA 3 AA/A 2010 All-Tournament Team
Amanda Miles # 18 M OLM
Jaclyn Stuart # 1 OH Strong Rock
Tiffany Creamer # 15 OH LCS
Jenny Bui # 5 L OLM
Emily White # 3 ON ELCA
Rachel Tolleson # 10 OH ELCA
Melissa Liston # 44 L ELCA

Mercy to host 1st round of State Volleyball Tourney

Mercy Volleyball will host Walker at 4 pm this Saturday, October 16th for the first round of the Class AA/A State Volleyball Tournament. This will be a best 3-out-of-5 match. The State Tournament is a single-elimination tournament.

We are asking the student body to make plans to attend. Paint up, bring chants, be crazy etc. We are hoping to create a great environment on Saturday. Help cheer on the Lady Bobcats to victory!

Below is the remaining possible schedule for the State Tournament:

Tue., Oct. 19	Round 2 for all classifications (at higher seeded team)
Sat., Oct. 23	Quarterfinal matches for all classifications (at high seeded team)
Wed., Oct. 27	Semifinal matches AAAAA: Kennesaw Mountain H.S. AAAA: Johns Creek H.S. AAA: Woodward Academy AA/A: Blessed Trinity H.S.
Sat., Oct. 30	Championship matches at Marietta High School

Tryout Dates Announced

Tryouts for the boys basketball program will begin on October 25th. If you are participating in a fall sport, a one day tryout will be afforded to you. Please see Coach Caruso to infom him of your interst. At that point, he will let you know when that tryout date will take place.

Mid-Term Grades

Mid-Term grades will be mailed on October 8, 2010.

FLAME 11: Metamorphosis

FLAME 11: Metamorphosis

107 Mercy students attended FLAME 11: Metamorphosis held September 24-26, 2010 at Covecrest in Tiger, GA. The retreat provided an opportunity for students to work together to overcome the obstacles of both the high and low ropes courses and bond with other students while playing in the beautiful waterfall, chatting in small group sessions, and trying to avoid Bosco during meals (the one who ends up with the coin has to entertain everyone else with a song, dance, or joke). Sophomore Maria Cadenhead is new to Mercy this year and loved getting to meet new people. She said, “Everyone was very welcoming, and we all had a blast!” Sophomore Jenny Bui agreed, saying, “I was able to make new friendships, and I grew closer to the friends that I already had.”

The FLAME retreat is hosted every fall by the FLAME team. This team, comprised of 22 Mercy students, works throughout the year to plan small events and prepare for this weekend-long retreat. During the weekend, they led numerous icebreakers, prayers, and talks, which focused on the challenges of avoiding peer pressure, striving to change for God, and allowing God to take away our pains. Danielle Clark, sophomore, said, “I liked the talks, because they helped me grow closer to God.”

While talking about the whole weekend, junior Alyssa Maker commented, “The weekend was great, exciting, and fun. The talks were really meaningful and helped me a lot with my life. The whole theme of the retreat was really good, because it applies to high school students striving to find their identity. I enjoyed this retreat a lot. It was definitely one of the best I have attended!”

The events of the weekend all culminated in Saturday evening’s Mass and later Adoration, both led by Mercy’s Chaplain, Father Jimmy Adams. When asked about the weekend, Senior Anthony Martinelli responded, “The weekend was great! I truly enjoyed the compelling and spiritual time spent in Adoration.”

Director Margarete Smith stated, “The students all loved the weekend. It was a huge success! The senior co-directors, Andrea Raville and Emily Conley, did an amazing job!” Margarete then added, “But there is no time to rest. The team must dive into plans for FLAME 12, coming next fall.”

Book Talk: The Geography of Bliss

Book Talk

Does your sense of place affect your happiness? Book people from the Fayette County Library, the Peachtree City Library and the OLM Library will discuss the book "The Geography of Bliss" by Eric Weiner.

Join the discussion whether or not you’ve read the book. If you seek happiness, you’ve got something to add to the discussion.

Tuesday, October 5th at 6:30pm in the Mercy Library.

Live music will open the evening. Light refreshments will be served.

Extra bonus: View our Homecoming Hallway Decorations!

Mercy Celebrates 10 Years of Excellence

http://www.georgiabulletin.org/local/2010/09/30/highschoolreflection/

Lady Bobcats Make History Against Fayette Powerhouse

By Michael Alexander - The Georgia Bulletin

ATLANTA—Marist School was defeated by Walton High School, the number one–ranked team for Class AAAAA, in four games (29-27, 21-25, 19-25, 19-25) Sept. 23. Marist (18-7) travels to St. Pius X High School, Sept. 30, for the second annual “Claws for a Cause” match pairing varsity, junior varsity and seventh- and eighth-grade teams against one another. All the proceeds will benefit The Freedom Alliance, an educational and charitable organization that sponsors numerous program activities aimed at supporting and honoring military service members and their families.

In the first of two matches Sept. 23, Our Lady of Mercy High School, Fayetteville, defeated Starr’s Mill High School 2-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-16) for the first time in the history of Mercy’s volleyball program. Mercy senior outside hitter Brittany Smith is one of the state leaders in kills for Class AA/A with 258. Her teammates, junior Olivia Schmitz and senior Amanda Miles, have 224 and 179 kills, respectively. Senior Nicole Gagnier leads the team with126 aces and 380 assists. Miles also leads the team in blocks with 51, and sophomore libero Jenny Bui leads the team in digs with 406. In the second game Mercy lost to Sandy Creek High School 2-0 (25-16, 25-15). Mercy (26-11) takes on East Coweta High School and Sandy Creek, Thursday, Sept. 30.

Roswell’s Blessed Trinity High School lost to Class AAA’s Woodward Academy 2-1 (20-25, 25-12, 25-22), but they remain the number one–ranked team in Class AA/A with an overall record of 41-5. Senior Ali McAlvany leads the team with 281 kills and 79 aces. McAlvany was recently honored as the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce Student Athlete of the Month for September. Senior McKenna Smith leads the team with nearly 60 blocks, while seniors Meghan Morillo and Megan Makuck lead the team with 513 assists and 372 digs, respectively. Blessed Trinity is hosting its third annual Serve for the Cure Invitational Volleyball Tournament Oct. 1-2. All proceeds from the tournament go to fund breast cancer research through the American Cancer Society.

Article Title: Marist, Pius To Compete In Volleyball Benefit
MICHAEL ALEXANDER, Staff Photographer
Published: September 30, 2010

Critics Rave about Teacher's Artwork

Mercy's art teacher, Jennifer Cawley, has work currently on view at Emily Amy Gallery on Atlanta's west side. Local art critics, Jerry Cullum and Catherine Fox have written positive reviews of Mrs. Cawley's work. The exhibit runs through October 23, 2010.

Critics Rave about Teacher's Artwork

Mercy outguns War Eagles 42-35

http://www.fayettedailynews.com/article.php?id_news=6458

Mercy beats Landmark! 42-35

The Mercy Football program puts a stamp on the "Earwood Era" with a huge win over rival Landmark 42-35. While Coach Earwood understands and appreciates the past, it was his philosophy from the beginning that Landmark was a team that we could beat if we played well, regardless of the past. While the game was extremely exciting and the Mercy community deserves to enjoy the victory, the Bobcats focus shifts to their game with First Presbyterian on October 1st. Congratulations to Coach Earwood, his staff and the players.

Homecoming Week 2010

Homecoming week is one of the most memorable weeks in high school life. Student government has been working hard to make this year's Homecoming festivities fun events. The theme for this year is “One World, One Night.”

Question #1: What are the various Homecoming Week Events?

Friday, October 1: Save the World Day* (Dress as your favorite hero)

Monday, October 4: Seasons Day* (Dress like your favorite season)

Tuesday, October 5: Hollywood Access Day* (Dress like your favorite hollywood actor, reality TV show personality, etc.)

Hallway decorating contest, 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, October 6: Play'd Out Day* (Dress in "old school" clothes)

Thursday, October 7: No Dress Down Day - Mass with Archbishop Gregory (winter uniform)

Friday, October 8: Spirit Day - Wear your Homecoming shirt or a Mercy shirt

Powder Puff Football game, 2:00 p.m.

Homecoming Court coronation 7:00 p.m.

Homecoming football game, 7:30 p.m. kickoff

Saturday, October 9: Homecoming Dance, 7:00-11:00 p.m., OLM gym*

*denotes paid events

Note: Mercy students must uphold the Dress Code regarding shoes, hairstyles, and jewelry on dress down days.

Question #2: If my child is elected for Homecoming Court, when does he/she have to be at the football game?

This year, the coronation will take place BEFORE the football game. All students who are on the Homecoming Court will need to arrive no later than 6:30 p.m.

Question #3: What is the dress code for the dance?

The dress code is semi-formal. Boys should wear a suit and girls should be in a semi-formal dress.

Question #4: Can my son/daughter bring a date who does not attend OLM?

Yes. However, he/she must receive special permission by filling out the Homecoming Date form which has to be signed by the school administrator of the guest. You may also obtain the form at the front desk.

Question #5: Does my son/daughter have to bring a date in order to attend the dance?

No. Many students choose to come to the dance with a group of friends. However, an OLM student is only allowed to bring one guest from another school.

Question #6: What is the cost of the week?

There are a number of options, depending on the desires of your children.

Premium Spirit Week Package: $30.00: (BEST DEAL)

· T-Shirt

· 5 dress down days

· Dance Ticket

· Homecoming spirit arm band

Spirit Week Package: $20.00:

· T-shirt

· 5 dress down days

· Spirit arm band

T-Shirt Only: $10.00.

Dance Only: $15.00 in advance; $20.00 at the door.

5 dress down days Only: $15.00.

Question #7: Where can I buy tickets to the events?

Pre-paid packages will be on sale during lunch from Wednesday, September 15^th to Friday, September 24^th. We have to turn in our t-shirt order to the company by Saturday, September 25^th. You may send in your payment with your children. Checks should be made payable to OLM.

Question #8: Can I buy an extra t-shirt for myself or my other family members?

Yes. Just include an extra $10.00 per t-shirt and the desired t-shirt size.

Question #9: How can I volunteer to help?

We will need people to donate food and help set up for the dance on Saturday. Please contact Cynthia Launay-Fallasse to help.

Question #10: Who do I contact for more information?

You may contact Cynthia Launay-Fallasse at 770-461-2202 ext. 450.

Mercy improves to 3-0 with road win

By Trey Alverson
Fayette County News

Our Lady of Mercy's school record for wins in a season is four. Three games into Mike Earwood's first season as head coach and the Bobcats are already knocking on that door.

Mercy improved to 3-0 on the young season Friday night, defeating Glascock County on the road by 30 points, 52-22.

The 3-0 start is by far the best in the program's nine year history.

"I felt like from day one we had kids here who could do some great things if they bought into the system," Earwood explained.

"That has happened. We don't quite have everyone onboard, but most of our players are embracing what we do. We're nowhere near reaching our potential and that's the exciting thing. We're going to continue to improve and as long as we do that, it's going to be a lot of fun."

Read the full article on the Fayette County News Website.

Bridier wins Mercy Invite

By Trey Alverson
Fayette County News

About 3,000 athletes and fans descended upon Our Lady of Mercy's campus Saturday morning for the annual Mercy Cross Country Invitational.

One of the young athletes who intimately knows the nuances of Mercy's top-tier home course took home the big prize.

Jonathan Bridier, a Mercy senior, came from behind to lead the 143 runners in the varsity boys field to the finish line.

"Jonathan was a part of a couple of state championship teams for us as a freshman and sophomore," said Mercy head coach Matt Hofkes, who coordinated the meet.

"He's entering the season with some lofty goals and he's coming off of a hard summer of training."

Read the full article on the Fayette County News Website.

Mercy comes back (twice) to stun Temple, improve to 2-0

By Blake Alverson
Fayette County News

TEMPLE -- Late last Friday night in Temple, a small town outside of Villa Rica, the visiting Our Lady of Mercy Bobcats found themselves in a tough situation. With less than half of the fourth quarter remaining, the bigger, stronger Temple Tigers were steadily pushing down the field, getting ever closer and closer to a touchdown which would surely spell the end of a valiant effort made by Coach Earwood's scrappy Bobcats.

With little more than two minutes left, under pressure, Temple's quarterback threw up a jump ball near the front right corner of the end zone, and defensive back Cam Singletary came down with it. Two plays and 95 yards later, the Bobcats had secured their first road victory of the young season and instilled in their team the sort of confidence that High School Football coaches dream of, by somehow finding a way to defeat the Temple Tigers by a score of 32-26.

Read the full article on the Fayette County News Website.

Earwood gets fresh start at Our Lady of Mercy

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Mike Earwood is 17 coaching victories shy of 200. He established the program at Starr’s Mill, made it Fayette County’s first consistent winner in football and gained respect from the vast majority of people he met.

Yet with a career record of 183-86-1 and after 13 years at Starr’s Mill (and 10 with Cartersville), he is driving to the north side of Fayetteville and putting on Our Lady of Mercy’s red colors every day instead of Starr’s Mill’s Columbia blue.

...read the full article on the AJC website.

Mercy Dominates Home Opener, Looks Ahead to Week Two

Fayette Daily News
By Trey Alverson

Our Lady of Mercy's players, students and coaches were hoping to start off new head Coach Mike Earwood's tenure with a bang. On Saturday, speedy sophomore slotback Rashad Fant did just that. On the opening play from scrimmage, Earwood dialed up a buck sweep. Quarterback Lance McGuffie handed the ball off, the line held their blocks and Fant did the rest, zipping 91 yards for the touchdown.

"[Fant] had a great game," Earwood said. "180 rushing yards on five attempts is a pretty good debut. All in all, it was a very postive night for us. I wanted to see our kids play hard and that is what I saw."

...read the full article on the Fayette County News website.

OLM Volleyball Takes Two

The Varsity girls took on Fayette County and Newnan on the 17th. After taking care of Fayette County 2-0, the Cats's faced a good Newnan team that highlighted a heavily recuited middle attacker. After a few line up changes, the Cat's found their rhythm and success followed. After going down 1-0 losing game 1 23-25, we jumped on them with great emotion and physical play, ultimately winning 2-1.

The varsity will be back in action this coming Tuesday in our home opener vs Mt. Paran and Luella. We play at 5pm and 7pm. The JV will also be in action on the next court for their home opener!!

Mercy Celebrates 10 Years

Fayette Daily News
By Martha Barksdale

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School has begun its 10th year by topping the 300 student mark for the first time.

The school started its second decade Friday morning with a special Mass. Students, staff and administrators attended and, for this milestone occasion, special guests were invited, including Archbishop Emeritus John Donaghue, who was Archbishop when Our Lady of Mercy opened, as well as Father Paul Burke, the school's chaplain in its early years.

Other special guests at Mass included parents, alumni, principals from other Catholic schools and officials from the archdiocese. During Mass, OLM's chaplain, Father Jimmy Adams, reflected on the school's beginnings and achievements.

...read the full article on the Fayette Daily News website.

Adams to Play Football at Methodist

George Adams transferred to Our Lady of Mercy following his sophomore year. Due to his transfer, Adams was deemed ineligible for varsity competition. For many, this designation would have been cause for relaxing and an overall poor attitude. For George, this designation created an inner motivation that propelled him to the role of team captain for the varsity football team in one year.

As a player, George was a jack-of-all-trades on offense spending time at half-back, fullback, and starting two games at quarterback due to injuries. However, his true role was on defense at the inside linebacker position. Adams was the second leading tackler on the team while leading the team in tackles-for-loss with twelve and recording seven quarterback sacks. He also caused three fumbles and intercepted one pass. George’s efforts on the field were tremendous, but his sacrifices and putting the team first attitude are what will enable him to be a successful member of the Methodist University Football program in the coming years. Congratulations to George and Methodist, and good luck!

Class of 2010 Athletes to Play in College

The following members from the class of 2010 will continue to play athletics in college this fall:

Dezmond Moore, Baseball at Savannah State University
Najgee Gatson, Basketball at Spring Hill College
Courtland Vickers, Basketball at Concordia College
George Adams, Football at Methodist College
Daniel Wesley, Football at Huntingdon College
Daniel Alexis, Track & Field at Western Carolina University
Megan Malasarte, Track & Field at the University of Georgia
Samantha Morris, Volleyball at Huntingdon College
Kalie Ludvigsen, Volleyball at Agnes Scott College

Mercy Track Ready For State After Region Meet

The Georgia Bulletin
By Michael Alexander

Fairburn—Our Lady of Mercy High School track and field athletes competed in the Region 5-A meet at Landmark Christian School. The girls meet was held April 26-27, and the boys took place May 3-4.

As a result of the region meet, the following athletes competed in various events at the state level.

Girls: Megan Malasarte – 400m, 800m 4x400m relay; D’Arnca Bloodworth – 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay; Kristin McClure – 4x100m relay; Olivia Roche – 4x400m relay; Chyna Terrell – 4x400m relay; Yarahi Castillo – 4x400m relay; Tynese St. Cyr – 4x100m relay, 100m, 200m; Alyssa Maker – shot put; Morgan McClure – 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay.

Boys: Daniel Alexis – shot put, discus; Daniel Wesley – shot put; Pierce Vincent – long jump, 100m; Courtney Prevost – triple jump; Jordan Sartor – 100m.

...read the full article on The Georgia Bulletin website.

Gatson Signs to Spring Hill for College Hoops

Senior Najgee Gatson has signed to play basketball for the Spring Hill College Badgers in Alabama. Gatson, named to the All-Region team this year, averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 3 assists per game as a senior. He also had 13 "double-double" games in which he scored double-digits in points and rebounds. "Najgee's leadership helped lead us back to the state tournament this year, " Mercy Men's Basketball Head Coach Tony Caruso said. "He's a first class individual and a young man of great character. I have no doubt he will succeed at Spring Hill and beyond."

Our Lady Of Mercy Names New Head Football Coach

The Georgia Bulletin

By Michael Alexander

FAYETTEVILLE—Excitement and anticipation surround the football program at Our Lady of Mercy High School with the recent hiring of new head football Mike Earwood. With a career record of 186-62, Coach Earwood leaves neighboring Starr’s Mill High School, where he was the first and only football coach at the Fayette County public school. Starr’s Mill opened in 1997, just three years prior to Mercy.

...read the full article on The Georgia Bulletin website.

Youthful Presence At 2010 Catholic Day At Capitol

The Georgia Bulletin

By Stephen O'Kane

ATLANTA—The bright red colors of Our Lady of Mercy High School stood out in downtown Atlanta on March 10, as the entire junior class of the Fayetteville school attended the fourth annual Catholic Day at the Capitol.

Some 70 students arrived with school principal Danny Dorsel and chaplain Father Jimmy Adams. They attended a legislative briefing at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and then joined other Catholics in visiting sessions of the Georgia House of Representatives and Senate and expressing their positions on bills under consideration.

...Read the full article on The Georgia Bulletin website.

Bobcats Swim to State

Congratulations to the Mercy Swim Team for competing in the State Preliminaries at Westminster. The Boys 200 Medley Relay, consisting of James "JT" Talley, Allen Acejas, Nicholas Goodly, and Chris Dean, swam their fastest race of the season, finishing 28th overall in the event.

Congratulations to Swim Team Captain James "JT" Talley for bringing home a third place medal in the Boys 100 Butterfly at the State Swimming Finals!!! He also placed 5th overall in the Boys 100 Backstroke, 0.03 from All-American Consideration in this event and only 0.04 from All-American Consideration in the Fly.

We are so proud of JT and can't wait to see even more from the Swim Team next year! Gooooooooo Bobcats!!!

Five Seniors Named All Region

Five senior football players from Our Lady of Mercy High School were named to the All Region Team. First team members include offensive lineman Daniel Alexis and defensive lineman Daniel Wesley. Second team members include linebacker George Adams, running back Tracy Daniels and outside linebacker Courtland Vickers.

Source: The Georgia Bulletin

Basketball Rivals Team Up For Haiti Relief

FAYETTEVILLE—Our Lady of Mercy High School will play its local rival Landmark Christian School, Fairburn, in basketball (junior varsity boys at 4:30 p.m., varsity girls at 6 p.m. and varsity boys at 7:30 p.m.) on Friday, Jan. 29.

On that night Our Lady of Mercy will not charge an entrance fee at the gate. Instead a donation/collection box will be available for the Haitian relief effort.

All money collected will be submitted directly to Catholic Relief Services.

...read the full article on The Georgia Bulletin website.

Boys Basketball Update

The boys beat Mt. Paran on Dec. 18 at Mt. Paran by a score of 57 – 55. Najgee Gatson led the way with 23 pts and 11 rebounds and was followed by Isaac Moore who added 15 including 2 big 3 pointers in the 4th quarter.

Then we went to Fort Payne, Alabama and played in the Wills Valley Shootout. We lost the first game to a very good Calloway County team out of Kentucky by a score of 73 – 50. The Bobcats were led by Najgee Gatson with 15 pts. and Courtney Prevost with 12. The following afternoon we played Grissom High out of Huntsville, Alabama which has 3000 students and only down 4 with about 4 minutes to go lost a tough game by a score of 50 – 37 the Bobcats were again let by Najgee Gatson with 17 and Courtney Prevost with 11. We finished the tournament by beating Plainview High School by a score of 57 – 55. We were led by Courtney Prevost with 18 followed by Rashard Fant and Najgee Gatson both with 12. We trailed the entire game until Daniel Alexis hit a 3 pointer with 1 second to give us the exciting win.

On 1/5 The Bobcats defeated Mt. Paran by a score of 51 – 47. It was an exciting game and was highlighted by Najgee Gatsons career high 27 point and 12 rebound night which included 2 power slams with win moves the boys to 6-6 as we go into sub-region play on Friday at SACA. The boys have improved greatly since the beginning of the season and are now ready for sub-region play and are working toward a follow up trip to the state tournament.

Recent Posts on http://www.mercycatholic.org

Goemaere '13 Signs with Reinhardt

Griffith '13 Signs with Morehouse

Girls Track & Field Wins State Title!

MK Schmitz signs with LaGrange College

Zenteno '14 Grabs All-Star Soccer Game Selection

Mercy Soccer Moves on to Elite Eight!

Boys Track Finishes 4th at State Meet

Coleman Takes Long Jump Title at State Meet

Fine Arts Banquet Tuesday, May 7th 5-7pm

Advanced Placement Exams begin Monday, May 6

Rachelle Brown '13 named State Finalist in 'Doodle 4 Google' Competition

TONIGHT! Spring Concert - April 26th @ 6:30pm

Kick Start the Heart 5K & Fun Run THIS SATURDAY

Region Tennis Tournament starts Tuesday, April 16

The 2013 Car Raffle Winner is...

Archbishop Gregory urges GRACE participation

"The King And I" opens to rave reviews

Baseball Game today moved to Landmark at 5 PM

Pre-Registration Process for 2013-2014 Classes

Test Drive a Ford fundraiser at Mercy this Saturday

Get Your Green On Dance is this Saturday Night!

JV Baseball Opens Season with Win

Students to Participate in Model UN Conference

Varsity Baseball Still Perfect

Baseball Improves to 3-0

JV Baseball Game (2/26) POSTPONED

JV Girls and Boys Soccer Matches POSTPONED

Baseball Pictures - Wednesday Feb 27th

Girls Tennis Wins Home Opener

Varsity Girls and Boys soccer matches CANCELLED for today 2/19

Bobcats Baseball Win Home Opener

Students Honored for Fall Achievement

JV & Varsity girls soccer games CANCELLED

Car Raffle - Only 5 weeks left!

Christian Outreach travels to 1st Archdiocesan Justice & Peace Exposition!

Spring Preview TONIGHT,Tuesday, Feb. 5th

All Spring Sports Practices & 9th Grade Boys Basketball Game CANCELLED

Valentine's Cabaret to benefit Fine Arts - Fri, Feb. 1st

College Rep Visit - Date Change

Celebrating the Legacy of a Hometown Hero

ALUMNI BASKETBALL NIGHT - Friday, January 4th

Participate in the Mercy Annual Fund

Lady Bobcat Basketball Claims 3rd in Local Tourney

AMA Choir Advent Prayer Service - TONIGHT - 12/20 at 6:30 PM

Sports Conditioning over Christmas break

Coca-Cola Fundraiser until Dec. 17

Mercy Teacher Jennifer Cawley's Artwork Currently on Exhibit

Swim Team with Top 10 Finishers at Clayton Invitational

Final Exam Schedule next week

Last Scrip Gift Card Order before Christmas due 12/12

Bobcats make 2012 All Region Football Team

Mercy's First High Q Team Emerges Victorious

Professional Black & White photos of your student available for purchase

Christmas Shop tonight at OLM Arts & Crafts Show!

Tennis Conditioning starts Monday, Dec. 3rd

Spring Musical Auditions TODAY, Wednesday, Nov. 28th!

Boys Basketball Opens Season With a Win

Cheer on the Bobcats at the Football Playoff Game this Friday, 11/23

Use the Replay It app for Droid, iPhone

Mercy to host Arts & Crafts Fair for the Holidays on Dec. 5

Governor's Honors Nominees Announced

Swim Team Takes First Place

Bobcats Earn a Spot in 2012 Football Playoffs

New National Honor Society Members Inducted

Announcing Replay It!

PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for Basketball Season

Canned Food & Clothing Drive to Benefit Hurricane Sandy Victims

Record Number attend Open House last Sunday

How to Afford a Catholic Education Seminar this Thursday

Mercy Hosts Annual Open House this Sunday, Nov. 11th

Gala 2012: A Great Night for a Great Cause

Raville finishes 3rd at State Meet

Parent volunteers needed for Basketball Season

Not too late to buy Gala Tickets!

Schmitz named to All Star Team

AJC Highlights Coach Earwood's 200th Win

National Portfolio Day is Nov. 17th

Girls Cross Country Finishes 3rd in Region

Gala Donations by Monday, 10/22 Earn Free Dress Down Day