November/ December 2010

Editor: Merciette Karly Buntich & Victoria Dedloff The Voice of Mercy

Junior Editor: Around Buffalo: Winter Wonders Lee Haggerty By: Karly Buntich 2011 Moderator: When it is winter in shops to keep warm, business during the Buffalo, the simple maybe even spend the winter, offering a rare Miss Nuttle act of getting out of day wandering the Al- chance to see the zoo your house can be- bright-Knox or the without its usual come a stressful and Burchfield Penny art crowds. To me, the tiring adventure. How galleries. Throughout thrill of Buffalo in win- can you traipse about the winter, tours of ter is the feeling you Inside this issue: town when it takes Buffalo neighbor- get when you step twenty minutes and hoods, like the historic outside into our grand two shovels to get of Allentown are offered. snow-covered city and Senior Trip 2 your driveway? The These tours are far nothing looks the key to enjoying Buf- from boring affairs, same. For a couple of Kissmas Bash 2 falo in the winter is and usually include a months, it’s like we flexibility and a good multitude of interest- get a whole new town Student Gov’t Corner 3 sense of humor. If ing stories and anec- to explore and wander you’re looking for the dotes about one of through. In the snow Harry Potter Review 3 perfect snowy Buffalo Buffalo’s most eclectic drifts, even a walk afternoon, bundle up areas. The winter is through Delaware Park Holiday Shopping 4 and hit the Elmwood also the best time to becomes a trek into a Village. Not only is it catch a concert at one winter wonderland. Willy Wonka 4 the perfect place to of the great indoor The key to enjoying buy quirky and venues Buffalo has to your winter is to not Student Spotlight 5 unique gifts, you can offer. Smaller scale complain about the stop in the many res- concert halls like the weather, and the cold MMA Basketball 5 taurants and coffee Town Ballroom and and the bad roads, but the Tralf offer a more to stop and smell the Class Perspectives 6 intimate concert set- roses, or in our case, ting and they have the snow banks. Take Picture Page 7 concerts nearly every some week. If one wants to time to venture outside into enjoy all the cold, there are the plenty of skiing oppor- things tunities. Even the Buf- Buffalo has to offer in falo Zoo is open for the winter. Page 2 Merciette

The Seniors Visit The Big Apple By: Victoria Dedloff 2011 Defying Gravity! This past No- the city. The girls were Hollywood and went to vember Mount Mercy’s able to see the sights of “The Top of the Rock”, senior class boarded a Greenwich Village, which is the top of the bus and traveled to the Ground Zero, and Wall Rockefeller Center. It Big Apple, New York Street. Later that day was possible to see the City. Many of the girls many shopped in SoHo. entire city and all of the could not wait to get to Then that night the girls beautiful lights. the city. There was an ate at Dallas BBQ res- exciting trip ahead of taurant in Times On the last day, them. Square, and after they the girls were able to shopped and saw the tour NBC Studios and The trip to New sights in Times Square. got to see the set of York City was very The seniors also at- Saturday Night Live. planned out, which tended the play Wicked Overall the experience worked out well be- which was an excellent was amazing, filled with cause the seniors were play. The second day many beautiful sights able to see many sights the seniors were able to and fun activities. Eve- and participate in many “Anticipat shop on Fifth Avenue ryone had a great and activities. On the first and the Rockefeller memorable time. ion grew day, the seniors had a Center. Later that night guided tour on the bus as the the girls ate at Planet around the lower half of crowd waited Merry Kissmas Bash! for the The most antici- By: Bethany Clancy 2014 Milli”. The crowd went top act, pated concert of the insane when he played winter season has come Girls”, “Dynamite”, “Bad “All I Do Is Win” originally Maroon 5 and gone. On December Romance”, and “DJ Got Us sung by DJ Khaled. 4th, five great artists Fallin’ in Love”. to come The next act was rocked the stage at HSBC Next up was Neon Miranda Cosgrove who is on.” Arena. Trees from Provo, Utah. the star on the hit T.V. Starting off the They played a total of four show “ICarly”. She played show was pop singer songs including “1983”, a total of five songs in- Charice from the Philip- “Wish list”, “Sins of My cluding “About You Now” pines. She was discov- Youth”, and “Animal”. All and “Kissin U” which had ered on Youtube and was of their songs had the the crowd singing along noted by Oprah as the crowd dancing and jump- with her. Her songs most talented girl in the ing around. You could defi- “Disgusting”, Students at world. Some of you may nitely tell that the crowd “Shakespeare”, and “Bam” know Charice as was enjoying the show. also had the arena excited. Breakfast with Santa! “Sunshine” on the T.V. Kevin Rudolf origi- Anticipation grew series nates from Miami, Florida as the crowd waited for “Glee”. She and really got the audience the top act, Maroon 5 to performed dancing. One of Kevin’s’ come on. The fans sang her hit previous performances was along to every one of their “Pyramid” at “Kiss the Summer Hello” songs including “Misery”, along with also sponsored by Kiss “If I Never See Your Face”, “Jingle Bell 98.5. He played all of his “Give A Little More” “She Rock” and a hit songs including “I Made Will Be Loved” and eight medley of It”, “Welcome to the others. Once again Kiss popular World”, “In the City” and 98.5 brought us a great songs includ- “Let It Rock”. He sup- show! ing ported his friend, rapper Lil “California Wayne by covering “A Page 3 Merciette Nov/ Dec 2010 Student Government Corner: Happy Fridays and Town Halls By: Bridget Jackson 2011 “Happy Friday!” the current status of feedback in regards to was the greeting MMA stu- school spirit. Mrs. Staszak Spirit Week specifically. dents received as they also stopped into the Be on the look out for AP Scholars entered school a few Fri- meeting and students were some new changes in days ago. The activity was allowed to ask her any Spirit Week this year, es- set up by Student Govern- questions they had on pecially aimed towards ment and achieved exactly school spirit, in particular SCHOOL spirit, not just what officers intended it dances and Spirit week class spirit. to, surprise students, liven procedures. Overall, the things up, break up the SG officers found the All other Student monotony of going to event to be extremely suc- Government committees school each day. Who cessful and another Town are functioning quite well. doesn’t love a piece of Hall meeting is in the Special thanks to the candy in the morning on a works. The purpose of the chairs of each committee Friday? The feedback from Town Hall meeting was to for holding meetings and the act was great and get feedback from YOU, getting all the behind the kicked off what Student the students at Mercy, so scenes work completed. Government hopes to do a that we can take your Special thanks to Student lot more often throughout feedback, ideas and con- Government moderators the year. “Happy Friday” cerns and work as a Stu- Ms. Barblock and Ms. Leo- was the first of many dent Government to put nard for their efforts in all “blender” events that Stu- those ideas into action. SG activities, including “Be on the dent Government plans to moderating all committee do every once in a while And finally: Spirit meetings. look out for Week. Although the week when students least expect In a final note, SG it. full of spirit is still a few some new weeks away, Spirit Week hopes you all are enjoying SG also held the takes months of prepara- the events we have changes in planned. As mentioned, first ever MMA Town Hall tion to plan. SG is begin- Spirit Week meeting, with an over- ning to plan Spirit Week our main goal for the year whelming turnout. All the ’11 in the upcoming weeks is to improve school spirit. this year, desks in room 6 were filled and is looking for your We’ve begun to do this on a Monday afternoon as help. Feedback from the through “Happy Friday” especially an open forum allowed all Town Hall meeting in- and the Town Hall meet- students to express what cluded possibly having a ings, however, we are AL- aimed towards WAYS looking for more they thought of school student committee help SCHOOL spirit, spirit. A questionnaire was plan certain aspects of suggestions. Please don’t filled out by everyone at Spirit Week, other than the hesitate to drop a sugges- not just class tion in our mailbox on the the meeting so the SG SG officers. A Town Hall rd officers have written meeting may also be held 3 floor or stop us in the spirit.” thoughts by students on to get general student hallway to mention any ideas you have!

Harry Potter Stars on Set On Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows By: Megan Sheehan and Lee Haggerty 2013

Part One of Harry Pot- fan favorites such as followed the series will ter and the Deathly Dan Radcliffe, Emma be able to appreciate Hallows has captivated Watson and Rupert the movie with its people of all ages who Grint. It focuses on the twists and turns. went the past few trio’s journey to hunt weeks to view the first down Voldemort and The three stars part of the end of the his Horcruxes, which will be back on July Harry Potter saga. This are parts of his soul 15th, 2011 to conclude action-packed thriller hidden in random ob- the series with Part 2 of closely followed the jects. People who have Harry Potter and the events of the book, grown up with the nov- Deathly Hallows. written by J.K. Rowl- els will appreciate the ing. All of the previ- accuracy of this ously seen English ac- movie. Even people tors returned, including who have not closely Holiday Shopping Advice By: Erin Bender and Lee Haggerty 2013 MMA Merciette November December 2010

As the gift-giving season of other easy thing to make is a Christmas quickly ap- photo album of your family us- proaches, many students are ing pictures that might still be represents a funny time or an in- going to face the struggle of on your computer or just laying side joke; it will be more meaning- buying presents for everyone around your house. Making ful. Don’t waste money on gift- on their list. We have com- your own presents not only wrapping or bags. Instead, go piled a few ideas for how to saves you money, but also green and use old newspapers. reduce the cost and the shows that you care about the stress of finding the perfect person you are giving your gift Give food instead of present for anyone and eve- to. gifts. When someone hosts a ryone. party, usually guests will bring a Shop smart. Inevita- thank-you gift. Instead of going to Make your own bly, you will have to brave the the store and buying something presents. Parents and crowds at the malls and stores expensive, bake a batch of brown- grandparents often appreci- to find some holiday ies or cookies so everyone can en- ate homemade gifts that gifts. Many stores at this time joy the gift. The host will probably take much more time and of year will have sales or re- appreciate not having to make effort than store bought gifts duced prices. If what you are dessert, and who doesn’t like free that only require money. If looking for is easy to find, save brownies or cookies? you have extra time in art yourself time and money by Buying presents during the class, after school in art club, pricing out different stores and or during advisement or a knowing exactly what you are holiday season doesn’t have to be study hall, you can make looking for. Although you might stressful. If you follow these tips something cute like be tempted to go for something and use some creativity, you will “coupons” for free hugs or big, sometimes smaller is bet- have no problem finding the per- complimentary chores. An- ter. Go for something that fect gifts for everyone on your list.

Willy Wonka and The Crew By: Evania Santiano 2013

This school year, Bishop friends almost every day, it has scene, constructing new Timon St. Jude High also placed a great amount of props, or making videos. How- School and Mount Mercy pressure for us teenagers. ever, both are each credited Academy have chosen When joining, most students 50/50 in making it a wonderful “Willy Wonka” for their must juggle their school work, musical; their roles are only annual musical in the fall. a job, a sport, or other activi- combined in the tech week in Directed by Bob Maggio ties they have committed to; which they perform dress re- and Jerry Kegler, with ad- for some, all of these were too hearsals. The directors are ditional alumnae volun- much to handle and there have open to the input of the cast teers, they have made been times when students have and crew to make the musical these wonderful perform- gotten quite stressed out. How- better, so it really is the stu- ances filled with fun, ex- ever, the directors are also dents putting on the show. citement, and special ef- there to guide us in our every- During tech week, Students make fects. With much prepara- day life; if needed, they will Bishop Timon was our home; Cupcakes for tion, practices and meet- open up a classroom and let we stayed there every night ings started in the second students do their homework or from 6:30 till 11:00. Even Catherine! week of school and have give you advice on problems. though we were exhausted continued three hours a The cast and the crew and drained, tech week still day, four times a week, for have very different roles to be continues to be one of the the next two months. played in ensuring the musical most enjoyable weeks of the Along with being able to is smoothly performed. After club. It is a time when every- experience this with your two months, cast members are one who joined becomes your peers, Drama Club has tired of singing the same second family; you go through taught us how to be unsel- songs, dancing the same the same hardships together fish, to work as a team, to moves, and acting the same and they are the people you be responsible, and to just words every single day. Unlike turn to. Even when the musi- have fun as long as work these actors and actresses, cal is over, we still remain is being done on time. crew members always have connected with each other and Although Drama something interesting and new maintain the relationship of a Club presents all these to do each and every day, family. qualities and you see your whether it be painting a new Page 5 Merciette Nov/Dec 2010 Student Spotlight on: Lulu Helliwell By: Karly Buntich 2011 This interesting and well- feel like a bit of an month’s thought ideas to the underachiever. Lulu Student table, ideas that also is also an accom- Spotlight spur fierce debates plished photographer focuses among everyone, whose work hangs in on a dedi- which the interviewer the art room, al- cated really enjoys and ap- though she says she Student Government preciates. As far as loves art of all kinds. representative, a school activities go, Her self-confessed skilled photographer Lulu is a student gov- dream school is Cor- and formidable oppo- ernment representa- nell, and she wants nent on the Varsity tive and a student to major in psychol- soccer team, junior ambassador, so she ogy, media or archi- Lulu Helliwell. The plays a big role in tecture. Somehow, interviewer would like representing Mercy the interviewer thinks to note from the start and portraying it as that if anyone could that the pictures of the positive and pull off a triple major Lulu featured in the bright environment it from Cornell Univer- new Mount Mercy is. Lulu is also a sity, it would be Lulu. “Lulu plays a video are a pretty member of Mercy In the end, all joking realistic portrayal. It Speaks, a club run by aside, it is wonderful big role in might be hard to Mrs. Penepent that is that people like this representing imagine that students geared to spread the exist at Mercy, peo- do this, but Lulu ac- good works of Mercy ple who try to be in- Mercy and tually does smile and in the surrounding volved and help the portraying it as greet people she community. As the school, whether the positive knows in the hallway, list of activities and they’re on student always looking like involvement continue government or Mercy and bright she’s genuinely en- (soccer team, Ora- Speaks, or just the environment it thusiastic. In class, tory and Debate, person that smiles at is.” she is constantly in- Mercy Charism and people in the hall. In volved in discussions, Peer Ministers), the Lulu’s case, she is all and brings a lot of interviewer begins to three.

MMA Basketball! By: Marissa Stack and Megan Sheehan 2013 On November 8th, many Dorazio. The new With all teams Mount Mercy girls coach works very well being very young, there showed up after school with the returning is great promise and to try-out for the Mercy coach, John Glose and potential for the up- basketball team. There together they are unify- coming season. The was a great turn out ing the Varsity team. first home game is and there is now a Var- John Glose also serves scheduled for January sity, Junior Varsity, and as the JV coach and has 7th against Holy Angels. Freshman team. done a great job intro- The teams hope to ducing the many fresh- have a big turnout from The biggest men to high school bas- the Spirit Club and all change for MMA bas- ketball in unison with other supportive stu- ketball is the new Var- the returning players. dents. sity head coach, Jackie Page 6 Student Perspectives: Fundraising at MMA

The Right Ticket By: Isabella Spann 2014 Fundraising provides vital resources for the school Fundraising is sell, while others find it school’s goal. essential for Mount difficult to find buyers The Magic Mercy to function, who are willing to pay Money fundraiser was a something the fresh- the higher cost. Several way for us to partner men are well aware of. students used to sell with our family and This understanding items from catalogues, friends to raise money helped them to earn which they believed for the school. With the second place this year contained things no one rising costs of educa- in selling magic money wanted to buy and they tion, it is vital for Mount tickets. The magic liked selling the tickets Mercy students and money tickets cost better. Many liked the families to assist with more than what most extra vacation day as a fundraising which in girls are used to, which reward for selling the turn also provides a has received both good tickets. Others were widened public aware- and bad criticism. forced to buy unsold ness of the importance tickets in their previous Some like the of a high school educa- schools, and prefer the higher costs because it tion at our school. reward for reaching the “Also means fewer tickets to provides a widened public Vital To Our School By: Lisa Panek 2013

awareness Schools all over the ryone and the school. because it helps keep of the world use fundraising. Some people don’t the tuition low and it importance Fundraising is used to think it is important enables students to go help schools raise though. In our school, on field trips or other of a high money. If Mount Mercy when we are fundrais- events. Are you going school Academy raises money, ing, it is for different to help fundraise this it is usually for some- events like the McAuley school year? education at thing like a fieldtrip or Gala. Also, the tuition our school.” cause. People will sell could be more expen- candy bars, books etc. sive if we did not fund- through the school. raise. Many people Fundraising helps eve- want to help the school

The Incentives! By: Karly Buntich 2011 sell The seniors held a large fundraising. Everyone because of this, and because I lead in the race to sell understands that the realize the importance of the Magic Money tickets for Magic Money fundraiser fundraiser, I think steps this year’s fundraiser. is important, and most should most definitely be To be fair, however, we give their best effort to taken to find a solution. A had an incentive, as we sell the five tickets they more feasible option may be could not receive one of are allotted. However, to have us sell more tickets, our senior privileges some of my close family for a cheaper price. Selling until we sold our five and friends turned ten tickets for five dollars tickets. This little incen- down tickets because of each is much easier than sell- tive certainly gave the the price. In today’s ing five for twenty five each. senior class a little economy, it is a lot to Whatever the solution ends Students enjoy a field more determination in ask someone to spend up being, this problem should trip to Mercy Flight selling the tickets, as twenty five dollars on a definitely be looked into, be- we are never exactly raffle ticket. Tickets cause it is too important not over-enthusiastic about were much harder to to. Page 7 Picture Page!

Volleyball Athlete! Catherine Kasianowicz Student Field Trip to Mercy Flight

New Peer Ministers

Freshmen enjoy the Honors Assembly

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! ~ the Merciette Staff

Freshmen Officers Leah Rennie and Amelia Greenan