LIFECHANGING CONFIDENCE • COMPETENCE • COMPASSION 2017-2018 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY The President’s Message Mercy certainly is a life changing experience! I am fortunate to on developing her moral compass as part of her journey to excel have personally experienced Mercy’s impact throughout my life. as a world-class learner. Allyson is happy to have developed First, as a student who graduated in 1958, then as a member of team-building skills which have helped her create a bond of the Board of Trustees, and now as Interim President. Through sisterhood among her classmates. Both stories speak to the all these years, I have stayed involved in many other ways as Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy. well. It has been, and continues to be, an honor and a privilege to serve my wonderful alma mater. Of course, without the generosity of our donors, Isabelle, Allyson, and thousands of other young women would not have the Sitting in the President’s chair is a humbling experience. I do opportunity to be transformed into world class leaders through not presume to know everything there is about serving as this a Mercy education. By contributing to the Mercy Fund, scholarship school’s leader. The good news is, I don’t have to know it all. funds, capital campaigns, and endowments, our donors help We are blessed to have a very active student body, a dedicated welcome so many bright, young minds into the Circle of Mercy. faculty and staff, a talented new Principal, and a brilliant Board of Trustees. Working side-by-side, we make decisions that We would like to introduce you to Mercy alumna Brenda Calihan keep our school a world-class institution, much loved by the and her husband Joe — amazing friends of Mercy and life-long students, parents, donors, alumnae, and friends. donors. Their inspiring journey through the Circle of Mercy Sister Pat has been marked by incredible generosity. Their most recent Prinzing, RSM ’58 Mercy education has a long and rich history, with its roots gift created the Suzanne Klingler Johnston ’61 Honorary Fund, Interim President entrenched in the ministry of Catherine McAuley, the Foundress acknowledging the accomplishments of the incredible Mercy Girl of the Sisters of Mercy. Beginning in Ireland, and then extending who sat in this President’s chair for the past 14 years. Brenda into America with Frances Warde, the ministries of the Sisters of and Joe, along with countless other supporters like you, form the Mercy have made a positive impact on millions of people around bedrock on which Mercy stands. We thank you from the bottom the globe. It makes me smile to know our students are part of of our hearts. that Mercy family. Yours in Mercy, As I walk the halls, I am proud to see and experience the enthusiasm, laughter, and leadership potential of 800 young women who call Mercy home. In this Annual Report, we explore the experiences of Isabelle and Allyson. Both are bright and energetic, and both have unique stories to tell. Isabelle reflects 2 Mission Statement We, the community of Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women, are animated by the charism of Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy and by our motto: Via, Veritas et Vita (I am the Way, the Truth and the Life). The school, opened in 1928, remains a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Mercy. We are a sixth through twelfth grade all women’s college preparatory school. We are guided by the values of our Catholic identity while respecting and welcoming students of diverse backgrounds. We empower young women to unleash their potential through a vigorous pursuit of knowledge, service to others, a global perspective, and leadership opportunities. This pursuit is guided by a commitment to the virtues of hospitality, compassion, integrity, and respect for the inherent dignity of all. Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women encourages students to be pioneers of change. Our mission is to provide an enriching balance of learning, serving, and loving that creates a community of care and sisterhood. 3 Leadership BOARD OF TRUSTEES ADMINISTRATION ADVANCEMENT Trustees Interim President Director of Marketing and Communications Noveera Tahir Ahmed, Ph.D. ’96 P’20 Patricia Prinzing, RSM ’58 Dave Carro Megan Bell ’99 President-Elect Director of Corporate Relations and Special Events Terri Cubiotti Colleen Davis, M.D. P’12 P’15 P’18 Pamela Fennell Baker ’74 P’12 Kelly Conlan P’20 Heather Hanson Goodbody ’87 Principal Database Administrator and Prospect Researcher Thomas Huber P’20 Martin Kilbridge, Ed.D. Amy Hentschke ’90 P’18 P’19 Timothy Jones P’16 P’17 Richard Laudisi Vice President of Finance Director of Alumnae Relations Raymond F. LeChase II P’17 Peggy Kenrick Karen Ralph ’72 Christine Licata, Ed.D. Assistant Principal for Individual Giving Associate Patricia Prinzing, RSM ’58 Curriculum and Instruction Stephanie Wallace ’89 Helen Root Scalia ’01 Donna Horn Kathryn Ziarko Snyder ’01 Caroline Whelan Tolbert ‘02 Assistant Principal/ Dina Gugino Vazzana ’84 P’13 International Program Coordinator Dana Whipple Honorary Trustees Interim Director, Middle School Kathleen A. Murray P’02 Nancy Wunder Kathleen Bonsignore Walgreen ’61 Margaret Finigan Wegman ’46 P’70 P’72 P’78 Athletic Director Anthony Yandek Ex-Officio Pamela Fennell Baker ’74 P’12 President-Elect 4 Mercy 8th grader Isabelle Sakmyster ’23 excelled in her studies when she attended public school; she was nearly always at the top of her class in her subjects. Because of this, Belle struggled to find ways to challenge herself academically. She wanted to be pushed, and she needed inspiration. Belle and her family knew it was time for a change. So, she enrolled at Mercy as a 7th grader. Immediately, Belle noticed something. At Mercy, she needed to study longer and with more enthusiasm. She embraced this challenge and pushed herself in all of her subjects. She leaned heavily on her teachers who continue to serve as her biggest advocates. A tight-knit relationship flourished and inspiration flowed naturally. Belle now views her teachers as mentors — trained educators who can not only teach her math and science, but who can also help her forge her way through middle school and beyond. A critical component of Belle’s growth, and the growth of all Mercy Girls, is the development of each student’s moral compass. It is one of six elements that make up Mercy’s new World Class Learner approach to academics. In addition to a moral compass, Belle will be a risk taker, problem solver, and communicator. She will be globally ready and demonstrate a growth mindset. Belle has only been a member of the Circle of Mercy for one year, but she is well on her way to excelling as a world-class learner. WORLD-CLASS LEARNERS MERCY 5 Communities We Serve IRONDEQUOIT Serving our regional community and beyond GREECE WEBSTER REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS 590 Avon Kendall Batavia Livonia ROCHESTER Bloomfield Manchester-Shortsville Brighton Mount Morris PENFIELD Brockport Naples SPENCERPORT Byron-Bergen Newark Caledonia-Mumford Palmyra-Macedon 490 MERCY Canandaigua Penfield EAST Churchville-Chili Pittsford ROCHESTER East Bloomfield Rochester East Irondequoit Rush-Henrietta GATES 590 East Rochester Sodus 390 Fairport Spencerport Gananda Victor CHILI Gates-Chili Wayne 390 VICTOR Geneseo Webster BRIGHTON 490 Gorham-Middlesex West Irondequoit Greece Wheaton-Chili AVON Hilton Williamson CANANDAIGUA Honeoye Falls-Lima York INTERNATIONAL Botswana Ireland Cambodia Nepal China Philippines Columbia Poland Cuba Romania Eritrea Russia Germany South Korea Greece Spain Guatemala Sudan India Thailand Iraq 6 As a self-described introvert, Allyson Farnand ’21 was the quintessential shy middle schooler, keeping mostly to herself with only a few friends. Whether this shyness emanated from herself or from her experience at her previous school, she decided it was time for a new academic environment — so she enrolled at Mercy as a sixth grader. On the very first day of classes, Ally’s life changed. She wasn’t sure how it happened, but despite not knowing anyone at the school, an alliance formed among herself and her new classmates. In just a short time, she had more friends than she ever did before. “I surprised myself,” said 10th grader Ally. “I came out of my shell and was able to be me. There is a definite aura at Mercy… everyone shows respect and is friendly.” One of the benefits of attending an all-girls school is the freedom for our students to express themselves without the added pressures that are often present in a co-educational setting. In addition, the faculty are skilled instructors in a single-gender environment and excel at developing team-building skills that help create the bond of sisterhood that exists long after graduation. “I would have never dreamed I would be who I am today,” said Ally. “I am so happy to be a Mercy Girl.” 7 Find out more about Mercy! INFORMATION SESSIONS AND STUDENT VISITS On most Tuesdays at 8 a.m. See all dates at www.mercyhs.com/calendar. ENTRANCE EXAMS Saturday, February 2 at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 9 at 8 a.m. Register at www.mercyhs.com/register PERSONALIZED TOURS As requested For more information, contact Rose Feor Cooper ’02 Director of Admissions 585-288-7120 x310 or [email protected] Follow us on social media! 8 The phrase ‘life-long friends’ has never rung truer than for Sister Pat “It was great to be friends with someone who already had a year under Prinzing ’58 and Dorothy Pecoraro ’59. Circumstance may have brought her belt at Mercy,” said Dorothy. “Pat helped me learn the ropes, which them together at Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women in the made me feel incredibly comfortable.” 1950s, but it was their affinity for each other that maintained their bond of sisterhood for 60 years.