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Mercy in the News

2010-2011

CNA Program Returns to Mercy
August 7 , 2010
Omaha World Herald

RETURN PROGRAM: Last school year, six girls from Omaha Mercy High School attended classes and passed the exam to be certified nurse aides in Nebraska. Mercy plans to offer the course again during the 2010-11 school year. Students will receive information about the program on Aug. 18, during book-buying day.

Driving For Excellence Golf Fest Raises Funds for Negotiated Tuition
July 31, 2010
Omaha World Herald

The greens brought in green for Mercy High School at its annual Driving for Excellence Golf Fest Monday at the Players Club at Deer Creek.

The 19th annual outing drew 168 golfers and raised $51,000. Since the first tournament in 1992, the event has raised more $500,000 to support negotiated tuition at Mercy.

A Burger 'n Brats lunch and a Ladder Drop Contest won by Nathan Sprunk preceded the tournament. Entertainment was provided by DJ Craig Estudillo.

Flight winners were:

Gold Flight first place — Bob Bertsch, John Fullenkamp, Bob Gonderinger and Mark Roseland.

Blue Flight first place — Geoff Hall, Ed Rider, Gaile Shaffer and Tim Wees.

Women's Flight first place — Mary Beveridge, Lou Digilio, Ginger Rehmann and Nancy Veys.

A barbecue buffet, raffle drawing and prizes followed play.

James B. Skinner Baking Co. was title sponsor, and Larry B. Good was event chairman.

Committee members were Richard Anzalone, Ron Boner, Brad Mount, Deb Peterson, Katie Hansen and Ingrid Borghoff.

“I am always humbled by the generosity of so many who support Mercy's negotiated tuition,” said Sister Delores Hannon, Mercy's president. “An enthusiastic committee created a fun-filled event for golfers, which supports all the young women at Mercy High School.”

 

2009-2010

Birthday Girl Gives Precious Gift
March 23 , 2010
Omaha World Herald

Turning 16 wasn't just about candles for Ashley Neary it was also about needles and blood.

The idea to donate blood on her March 16 birthday, when she became old enough to donate, arose when Neary heard a speaker a few weeks ago who said that every unit of blood donated to the American Red Cross saves the lives of three people.

Neary also was motivated by a friend of the family who had frequent blood transfusions before he died of cancer.

“I was really excited about it,” Neary said. “More excited than nervous. I'm not a big needle fan, but it wasn't that bad.”

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In her passion, Neary, a Mercy High School student, also brought along two friends to give blood, Ashlee Melies and Emily Garcia. It turned out Melies couldn't donate because she was underweight, but Garcia donated alongside Neary.

Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood, according to the Red Cross.

While it was Neary's first time donating blood, giving to the Red Cross is nothing new for her. She's been on the Red Cross Youth Council since she was 14.

Her mom, Deborah Neary, used to work for the Red Cross, and suggested her daughter join the group.

Ashley Neary said she's enjoyed volunteering with the group, which is involved in activities such as raising money at Omaha Beef games, packing bags and sending letters to soldiers overseas, and dressing up as a mascot for health and safety events.

So is she ready to give blood again?

“Absolutely,” Neary quickly said. “May 11.”

That's the next time she's eligible for another date with the needle.

 

Mentoring Program Creates Bond Between Teams
February 19, 2010
Catholic Voice

Mentoring program creates bond between teams
By LISA MAXSON
Catholic Voice

For Michelle Hall, a senior at Mercy High School in Omaha, playing varsity basketball at the all-girls school means more than just participating in the sport she loves.

It's also about being a good role model to Katie Evans, her "buddy" and a fifth grade basketball player for Our Lady of Lourdes School in Omaha.

For the past two years, varsity basketball players at Mercy have become mentors to members of the fifth grade girls' basketball team at Our Lady of Lourdes (OLL).

"Basketball isn't all about the game," Hall said. "It's more about having the heart and the desire to play, and I think these girls make us want to play better and they give us the drive to play better. It's really inspiring to me."

When Julia Brekel, head coach of the OLL fifth grade team, started coaching three years ago, she said she was "brand new and had no idea what I was doing."

Looking for help and guidance, she contacted Nicole Stromgren, the coach of Mercy's varsity team.

And something that started as a small mentoring program between two coaches "grew into something incredible," Brekel said.

Through the "Basketball Buddy Program" each varsity player is paired with one of the fifth-graders. Brekel and her husband, Jared, assistant coach for the fifth grade team, take the fifth grade girls to watch Mercy games and cheer them on, and the Mercy girls come to some of the OLL practices and work with their buddies on basketball drills and fundamentals, Brekel said.

Fifth-grader Julia Manganaro said she likes hanging out with the older girls and watching them play.

"We learn how to play the game and dribble and shoot," she said.

Mercy student Caitlin Boadwee said she's impressed by the improvement of the younger girls' playing skills.

"We go watch their games and you can just tell that by watching us play, the fifth-graders understand so much more of the game," she said. "They know tricks that most fifth grade players aren't supposed to know yet."

Once a year the teams, which have made Basketball Buddy T-shirts, get together to eat pizza and scrimmage.


"The really neat thing is to see these high school teenagers showing up at 8 a.m. games on a Saturday or spending their Friday nights hanging out with a fifth-grader," Brekel said, noting that even seniors who graduated last year still contact their buddies.

Brekel said she is grateful for the commitment of the Mercy coaches and players.

"Coach Stromgren has taught her girls commitment, passion and values that help them on and off the court," she said. "And because of that, these high school girls have spent a lot of free time and energy mentoring these younger girls."

Boadwee said she's learned through the Basketball Buddy Program that it's not just about winning every basketball game, but also about making a difference in the lives of the younger girls who want to play.

"It's a great opportunity for us to realize how much of a role model we are and to give our best for the girls by being there for them and helping them out," she said. "We realize we're making a difference."

Stromgren said she knows her players have gained a different perspective on basketball through the Basketball Buddy Program, and it's because of the effort the younger girls make to support the Mercy team.

"Their girls don't miss a game of ours," she said, noting that many of the girls take stats for all the Mercy players during their games. "They don't really care if the girls win or lose or how good or bad they played. They're just excited and ready to high-five their buddies."

A Sports Story Everyone Will Like to Read
February 19, 2010

Catholic Voice

By DEACON RANDY A. GROSSE

Sports stories seldom make the pages of the Catholic Voice, and it's been that way for years.

Your archdiocesan newspaper traditionally leaves that reporting - even about Catholic high school sports - to the newspapers across Northeast Nebraska, as well as other media outlets that feature sports coverage.

Every so often, however, stories come along that demand attention in the Catholic Voice. Typically, these aren't the stories of winning or losing, team or individual honors, but about people connected to sports. And sometimes, the connection to sports is incidental.

That's the case with our story in this issue on the special mentoring program involving the Mercy High School varsity basketball team and the fifth grade girls team at Our Lady of Lourdes in Omaha.

Lisa Maxson's story (see front page of the Web site) provides the basics on the "Basketball Buddy Program," so no need to go into the details here. While the mentoring program at Mercy and OLL might not be unique, there was no doubt it is a story that should be shared.

Mercy Coach Nicole Stromgren and OLL Coach Julia Brekel started the program two years ago, and while both will admit the Mercy players provide added basketball expertise that makes for better OLL players with a better understanding of the game, basketball isn't necessarily the focus of the program.


Players on both teams learn about relationships, about giving, about sharing. OLL teams members look up to the Mercy players - and not just because they are taller. They look up to them as role models, as "big sisters" and, most important, as special friends.

The Mercy players learn about the "receiving" that comes with "giving." They give up time to be with their OLL friends, they teach and they support, and they get admiration and even love in return.

What a great approach to sports in a day when everything seems focused on being No. 1. News coverage of sports - specifically high school sports - often measures success by state championships, winning streaks, all-state honors and the number of college recruits produced.

You won't find any of that in the Mercy-OLL mentoring program. And you won't find a connection to a national or regional organization. There's no top-heavy administration, no big budget and no on-going fund-raising effort.

It's just a simple program - a program about helping, learning, supporting, caring, giving and receiving. Sounds almost Christian doesn't it?

Well, then again, maybe that's what it's all about.

 

Circle of Mercy Madness comes to Omaha
The Catholic Voice
January 8, 2010



Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, What a Tourney

Omaha World Herald
December 23, 2009

Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, what a tourney

By Marjie Ducey
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

At this holiday tournament, you can't go wrong by picking Mercy to win. Again and again and again.

That's because at 2009 Mercy Madness starting Monday, there are only Mercy schools. Six, to be exact.

Omaha Mercy is hosting the third version of the tournament, which was first held in 2005 in San Francisco and then again in 2007 in Cincinnati.


Teams are arriving Sunday from Mercy High School in San Francisco, Mercy High School in Burlingame, Calif., Mother of Mercy in Cincinnati, Mercy High School in Baltimore and McGann-Mercy High School from Riverhead, N.Y. Three days of competition start Monday, with games scheduled each day at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

“We're all really excited,'' said Omaha Mercy post player Janice Riesberg. “It should be a lot of fun.''

The Omaha team will play each day at 3 p.m., with games scheduled against the New York team on Monday, the Burlingame team on Tuesday and the Baltimore team on Wednesday.

Teams have been matched up by skill level. Each will play three games, but the competition is just half the fun.

The event starts Sunday night with a welcome mass and dinner. A Mercy Jeopardy game is planned afterward as an ice breaker, and teams will exchange socks that have been individually decorated or have a school logo.

Lunches are scheduled after each game to give the athletes a chance to mingle. An awards farewell dinner is planned for Wednesday night.

Each visiting team will have a host, who is helping them schedule activities such as visiting the zoo or attending a Creighton game.

“We've got really good parent support,'' Omaha Mercy Athletic Director Holly McCoy said. “Our kids are really excited about meeting kids from other Mercy schools. The whole concept is that Mercy is worldwide, and they are experiencing that with other Mercy kids from across the United States.''

McCoy said snow and the cold weather likely will be an eye-opener for the players from California.

Riesberg, who played at the Mercy tournament in Cincinnati, said the players all have plenty in common. They play basketball. They attend a Mercy school. So there's plenty to talk about.

“It's fun to see how the different schools work,'' she said. “How it's different and how it's the same.''

Immigration Experiment Educates Students
Omaha World Herald Connections
November 28, 2009

Mercy High School junior Tiffany Anzalone wears a dress that belongs to her great-grandmother Emelie Jonusas. The dress is a traditional Lithuanian ethnic garment. Jonusas immigrated from Lithuania to the United States in 1951 with her two children. The outfit was part of an immigration simulation for a U.S. history class in which Mercy students were funneled through a mock Ellis Island.

Juniors Mentor with Sisters of Mercy
Omaha World Herald Connections

September 26, 2009

GETTING TO KNOW YOU: Mercy High School was abuzz with conversation as 67 juniors and 27 Sisters of Mercy gathered recently for the ninth annual Mercy Mentors program. The juniors met their Sisters of Mercy mentors. The mentoring program began during the 2001-02 school year as a way to provide mentors to the juniors and to give the young women an opportunity to experience Mercy through the eyes of the religious women whose order established the school. Three group meetings are held each year: September, January and April. Other times during the year, they exchange greeting cards and e-mails, and many sisters attend Mercy functions to be involved with their students

Private schools pass tough test
By Julie Anderson
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
September 24, 2009


Bad economic news over the past year had some private school administrators wondering whether the recession, already squeezing many families' budgets and costing jobs, would reduce enrollment numbers.

But a sampling of private schools around the metropolitan area indicates that many appear to be holding their own, with some even gaining.

Enrollment numbers indicate that parents appear committed to keeping their children in the schools. The area's private schools educate 18,000 students in Douglas and Sarpy Counties.

“It doesn't look like there was a huge adjustment of numbers,” said Monsignor James Gilg, superintendent of schools for the Omaha Catholic Archdiocese. “And the economy is brightening. Hopefully, we will have weathered the worst.”

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To be sure, some schools have lost students when parents have lost jobs. Others have had to increase the amount of financial help they're providing.

Overall, though, preliminary counts indicate that the 76 schools within the archdiocese together gained 193 students this year.

A big piece of that gain came through the addition of a grade each at St. Peter Claver Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Omaha and Archbishop Bergan Catholic School in Fremont. St. Peter Claver gained nearly 100 students and Archbishop Bergan about 40.

Omaha Mercy High School added more than 30 students to reach its highest enrollment in 20 years, said Sister Delores Hannon, the school's president.

Melinda Kreher and her husband, Dale, have sent three daughters to Mercy, including their youngest, Elizabeth, a junior. Their son graduated from Omaha Gross High School.

They chose Catholic schools because they wanted a good education for their children and a faculty that supported their values and faith. Their financial position is stable, but “if something would happen we would do whatever we could to continue sending (Elizabeth) there,” Melinda Kreher said.

All four children have gotten older cars to drive, knowing that was the trade-off for their schooling. Elizabeth, 17, drives a 1991 Chevrolet Corsica with more than 100,000 miles. “It's older than me, but it gets me where I'm going,” she said.

For other schools, the good news was no news. Omaha Creighton Prep started the school year with 1,039 students, down just two from the same time last year. Enrollment was nearly 20 more than the school budgeted, anticipating that it might see some losses.

“In the past year, we sweated, from the standpoint of wondering what the economy would do,” said the Rev. Tom Merkel, the school's president. “We have been pleased and delighted that people in Omaha and our parents in particular made the choice to invest in their sons and their futures.”

In Council Bluffs, enrollment also has held fairly steady at St. Albert Catholic Schools, said Jenny Van Soelen, a spokeswoman. Slightly fewer students are enrolled at the high school this year, but that appears to be a result of a natural ebb in class size. The school graduated a large senior class last year and replaced it with a smaller freshman class this year.

For others, the story has been mixed. Joyce Gubbels estimated that St. Pius X-St. Leo School, where she's in her 28th year as principal, lost about nine students to financial difficulties. The school, near 72nd and Blondo Streets, also took in students, leaving enrollment essentially the same.

Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha enrolled about two dozen fewer students this year than last year, said the Rev. Jim Rasmussen, chief executive officer.

The numbers represent a tale of two schools: enrollment at the junior-senior high school was up sharply— an encouraging sign — while numbers dipped at the elementary school.

The difference, he said, may trace to economics. Parents tend to have more resources by the time their children are older. And while the junior-senior high school tuition tends to run a bit less than other area parochial schools, costs at the elementary school are on the higher end of the market.

Some schools were digging deeper to provide financial assistance.

The two churches associated with St. Pius X-St. Leo are launching a campaign to raise funds to increase financial assistance and boost teachers' salaries. The school needs an additional $75,000 a year to meet tuition assistance needs.

More people need help, Gubbels said. “They'll call and say, ‘I can only afford this much,'” she said. “We'll let them stay, because they're doing their best.”

Rasmussen said Concordia distributed more need-based financial aid this year. The school had anticipated the higher need, given its 7 percent tuition increase. A lot of families also tap the $2 million Children's Scholarship Fund, a national program with a strong Omaha affiliate.

Mercy, which pledges to help any girl who wants to attend, saw an increase in tuition assistance. Creighton Prep, on the other hand, held steady. It spreads about $1.5 million in financial help — grants, scholarships and work study — among more than 45 percent of its students.

Private-school administrators agreed that most parents appear committed to giving their children the kind of education they've chosen for them.

“One dad said they're going to figure it out,” said LaVonne Plambeck, who owns seven Montessori locations in the metropolitan area. The schools serve children ages 6 weeks to grade 6.

Plambeck said the schools offered flexible enrollment schedules where possible to help parents reduce costs. Summer enrollment wasn't as high, but they saw an uptick in enrollment in early to mid-August. Some parents appeared to have been holding off before making the commitment.

Gilg said that schools are working hard to be as frugal as possible while still delivering a quality education.

“Everybody's giving a great deal of energy to all of those issues,” he said, “but nobody's panicking.”

 

 

School & Bowling

By John Keenan
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
« Community

On Tuesday, Mockingbird Lanes was calling for Mercy -- as in Mercy High School, where seniors and freshman co-mingled in a “Big Sister-Little Sister” bowling party.

Approximately 220 students were at the bowling alley, including 120 freshmen.

Senior girls always take the freshmen out to start the school year, said Mercy spokeswoman Maureen Falcon, and bowling is a good icebreaker.

“It's a good way for them to be able to intermix while they can still talk,” Falcon said. “It's not like a movie, where they're not having dialogue and enjoying each other's company.”

For most of the students, the Big and Little Sister match up lasts longer than one outing.

“They'll decorate each others locker, celebrate birthdays, and we have a lot of traditions throughout the year they will celebrate together,” Falcon said.

Senior Abby Deats, 17, has two little sisters, Gaby Tripp and Jessica Abels, both 14. Deats can still remember her own big sister from her freshman year welcoming her into the Mercy environment.

“I think that's the main goal, to make them feel more at home, instead of the outsider who's just starting high school. They just help you get more acquainted with the school,” she said.

On the other side of the bowling alley, Brittany Walker, 17, and her little sisters, Cara Fangman, 14, and Megan McAuliffe, 14, already were bowling.

“We just help them throughout the year if they have any questions,” Walker said. “You're there so they know someone when they come in.”

Fangman said Walker had already proved invaluable.

“She's helped me find some of my classes, because I didn't know where they were,” she said.


Golfers drive for excellence
August 18, 2009
Omaha World Herald


What: Golf fundraiser for Mercy High School

When: July 27

Where: Tiburon Golf Course

Participants: 133

Money raised: $45,000

Event chairman: Larry B. Good

Golf highlight: Good sank a hole-in-one, the first time that has happened in the 18-year-old event. Unfortunately, it wasn't on the prize hole.

 

2008-2009

Mercy's 'day of discovery'

April 27, 2009
Omaha World Herald, Online edition

BY JOHN KEENAN
Omaha World-Herald Staff Writer

Mercy High School students took part in a "day of discovery" Monday, some traveling as far away as Chicago to participate in an event designed to showcase learning outside the classroom.

Almost 360 9th- through12th-grade students took part in events, which began over the weekend and included a trip to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, a visit to Lauritzen Gardens, a hike through Fontenelle Forest and other events.

"The goal is for the students to understand that there is more to learning than just takes place in the classroom," said Maureen Falcon, communications director for the school.

"It’s a way for the students to discover different activities, to show them that you’re learning every day of your life. Whatever situation you’re in, there’s always something to be learned."

The biennual event is held alternately with a "Day of Sharing."

Among the other options for the Mercy students on Monday were:

• A tour of the Fort Crook House and a walking tour of Fort Omaha.

• A trip to Lee G. Simmons Safari Park and the Strategic Air and Space Museum.

• A citywide tour focusing on Chinese culture and cuisine.

• A spa day.

• A trip through Whole Foods Market.

"We have them doing all sorts of different things," Falcon said.

- John Keenan

 

Girls pair up to share victories

April 4, 2009
Omaha World Herald

BY JOEL FULTON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

This season was the best two girls basketball teams can remember.

The Omaha Mercy High School varsity team had its best record in 20 years. And the fourth-grade girls team from Our Lady of Lourdes won the Catholic Youth Organization championship.


A mentoring program paired girls basketball players from Mercy High School and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School. Mayor Mike Fahey attended a scrimmage to honor the players and coaches involved in Basketball Buddies.But a lot more than on-the-court success made the year special.

The teams banded together in a mentoring program called Basketball Buddies. Each high school player partnered with a fourth-grader, and together they shared their love of the game.

The Mercy athletes taught the youngsters proper shooting form and layups, and the pairs practiced plays and passing drills together. Mercy players also taught their buddies lessons in sportmanship, character and teamwork.

As the relationship grew, Mercy started announcing the Our Lady of Lourdes players during high school games. When Mercy attended one of the fourth-graders' games, the girls won by a single basket.

Julia Brekel, who coaches the Our Lady of Lourdes team with her husband, Jared, said Mercy's presence motivated her team to play harder.

"They try to imitate them, show them what they got," she said.

The Our Lady of Lourdes players were so grateful that they wrote a letter to Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey, asking him to recognize the Mercy team. It read:

"Mr. Mayor . . . We want to know if you will please come to our end-of-the-year scrimmage and hand Mercy a plaque and say, 'good job.' . . . We know you are busy trying to run the city and fix potholes and stuff, but . . . it would make us happy to be able to do something for our buddies and the coaches."

Fahey said yes. He attended a March 26 scrimmage, where he presented awards to Mercy's president, Sister Johanna Burnell; Mercy's principal, Carolyn Jaworski; Mercy coach Nicole Stromgren; the Brekels; and the players on both teams.

"Basketball Buddies is a great idea that helps build bright futures," Fahey said. "Mentor groups are a particularly important aspect of the after-school program. They create structured relationships that bring people together."

Mercy players Caitlin Boadwee and Beth Meisinger, both juniors, were touched when they read the letter.

"I didn't realize we had that much of an impact," Meisinger said.

Julia Brekel said many of her players now want to go on to play for Mercy, including her daughter, Madilyn, age 10.

Boadwee said basketball allowed the girls to bond.

"My buddy is so much like me," she said. "She has the same number, plays the same position, the same style."

The Mercy athletes' lessons paid off. At the scrimmage, Meisinger saw her buddy, Morgan Hobbs, make a steal on the first play of the game. The fourth-grader scored on a breakaway layup.

"It's crazy," Meisinger said. "I thought we were just hanging out with kids.

 

Mercy High School announces new president

April 2 , 2009
WOWT Website
Omaha.Com

April 3, 2009
Omaha World Herald

Mercy High School is pleased to announce Sister Delores Marie Hannon, RSM as the new president of the school.

Hannon is currently president at St. Edmond Catholic Schools in Fort Dodge, IA.

The Mercy High School Board of Directors hired Hannon because of her experience in the educational field. She has worked as a K-12 school president, principal, and teacher. Hannon has also been the vice-president of the Sisters of Mercy in Cedar Rapids, IA.

“We are very fortunate and blessed to have hired Sr. Delores Hannon, RSM as the next President of Mercy High School. Not only is she a Sister of Mercy but also she is a Sister of Mercy who comes to us with 6 years of experience as a President of a school. Her wealth of knowledge and her first hand understanding of our Charism and mission make her a perfect fit for this position. We are grateful to her that she said “yes” as she is leaving a school that she loves,” said Sr. Corrine Connelly, RSM, head of the search committee.

Sr. Delores Hannon says about her new position at Mercy, "My adult life as a Sister of Mercy has been focused on two passions: the mission of Catherine McAuley and education. Having the opportunity to be part of Mercy High School will allow me to focus on these passions--something I am very excited to do."

Hannon will begin her position as co-leader of the all girls liberal arts high school with Principal Carolyn Jaworski on August, 1, 2009.

 

Longtime administrator says farewell to school
December 19, 2008
The Catholic Voice
Sr. Johanna Burnell, RSM, has announced her retirement from Mercy High School. Burnell will remain president until her replacement is found

 

Mercy High School's president since 1988 resigns
December 6, 2008
Omaha World Herald
Sr. Johanna Burnell, RSM, president of Mercy High School has announced her resignation. Burnell will remain president until her replacement is found.
Under the leadership of Burnell and principal Ms. Carolyn Jaworski the enrollment of Mercy has grown and the building has been renovated on the inside and outside. In addiiton, the negotiated tuition policy was implemented which pledges that no student will be turned away because of her family's financial situation.

 

Spirit Week Celebrated at Mercy High School
November 29, 2008
Omaha World Herald
Mercy High School students celebrated Spirit Week with a variety of activities including: collecting food for the needy, t-shirt day, dress like a rock star day, a guitar hero contest, and more. The junior class earned a half day off for collecting the most food.

 

Mercy High School Wins The Best Event
September 16, 2008
Metro Magazine
Metro Magazine sponsored the second annual awards celebration recognizing and honoring Omaha's charity events. Fiesta 2008: To Mercy With Love, won the education division. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event such a success!

 

Mercy Sophomore Finds Passion for Speech
September 2, 2008
The Omaha World Herald
Columnist Janice Gilmore writes about Sophomore Briar Watson on the Mercy High School Speech Team.

 

New Mercy High Plaza Blessed
August 15, 2008
The Catholic Voice

August 16, 2008
The Omaha World Herald
Photos from our blessing which took place on August, 10, 2008.

 

Mercy High School Plaza Blessing
August 10, 2008
KETV and KPTM
Both of these stations came to the blessing of the Eileen Krebs Ryan Plaza. Mercy served more than 540 dishes of ice cream as we celebrated this new space.


Mercy High School to Unveil New Look, Receive Spirit of Midtown Award
August 5, 2008
Destination Midtown
In recognition of that dedication and in conjunction with the plaza blessing, Jamie Grayson-Berglund, Destination Midtown executive director and Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey will present Mercy with the quarterly “Spirit of Midtown” Award. Sr. Johanna Burnell, president of Mercy High School, said the school is astounded and flattered.

 

Driving for Excellence Golf Classic
July 29, 2008
Omaha World Herald
Mercy's annual golf tournament held at Tiburon Golf Course raised $44,000 for Mercy's negotiated tuition program. There were 164 golfers that participated in the tournament. The event was sponsored by James Skinner Baking Co.

2007-2008

Mercy High School students bring WWII history to life in D.C.
June 27, 2008
Suburban Newspapers
Seniors Katie, Aiello, Roz Parr and Kathryn Wright won the district competition of the National History Day competition and were able to compete in Washington D.C. from June 16-20. They educated their audience on the roll of women during WWII. The girls were all in AP History and were required to compete in the district competition.

Construction to begin on Mercy High Plaza
May 26, 2008
Omaha World Herald
Construction is set to begin on Tuesday, May 27 to create the Eileen Krebs Ryan Plaza at the front of Mercy High School. This renovation will include a new front entryway, multiple terraces with seating for students, a new drop off and pick up site for cars, a back-lit school sign and new planters and retaining walls. The construction is scheduled to be finished by July 22 and the dedication will be August 10.


Mercy students raise funds, build awareness

March 10, 2008
Omaha World Herald
and
KMTV 3 5:00 News
and
WOWT 4:00 News
and
The Catholic Voice, March 21, 2008


Mercy Meets World became the theme for the year after 5 Mercy students went to a leadership conference with 13 other Mercy High Schools from across the country. During this conference they learned about the dire need for school in Cambodia. The 14 schools pledged to raise the $20,000 needed to build a school with running water. This week students will have the opportunity to fast, dance and dress down in order to raise the funds.

Mercy High receives largest donation in school's history
January 25, 2008
Catholic Voice
The donation of Eileen Krebs Ryan, a 1945 graduate of St. Mary high school, will be used to pay for the renovation to the front of our building.

Gift to school sure to make grand entrance
January 3, 2008
Omaha World Herald
Mercy High School announces its largest one-time donation from an individual. Eileen Krebs Ryan, a 1945 graduate of St. Mary High School made the donation which will be used to create an entrance plaza on 48th Street. Ryan made the gift because of all the Mercy Sisters did for her as she was growing up.

Diaper Derby to Help Refugees
Mercy High School was the subject of a story in the December 9, 2007 Omaha World Herald. Students, Faculty and Staff are competing to see which group can bring in the most diapers to help the Sudanese refugees in the Omaha area. The school hopes to collect 6,000 diapers. Donations are being accepted at the school.

Warm Hearts on a Cold Night
Mercy High School senior, Heather McLain, was included in a story in the Omaha World Herald on December 4, 2007, about the Salvation Army's Night Watch program. Heather and her family volunteer to help distribute food and clothing to the homeless.

MercyHigh School Senior Featured in Clinton's New Book
Mercy High School Senior, Symone Sanders, was included in former President Clinton's book on the importance of volunteering. Symone met Clinton when he spoke at the Qwest Center last November. She is also featured in Michael Kelly's column on October 2, 2007 for her service work.

MercyHigh School Honors Sisters of Mercy
The Catholic Voice October 5, 2007
Action 3 News September 23, 2007
The Omaha World Herald September 24, 2007


Seniors Shelve Pranks for Good

The Omaha World Herald August 23, 2007


Mercy Students Travel to Argentina

The Catholic Voice August 10, 2007

2006-2007

Day of Discovery
The Catholic Voice May 18, 2007

Omaha.com May 2, 2007

Day of Discovery Press Release

Prayer and Loss
The Omaha World Herald - April 14, 2007

Sportsmetrics Training Program
The Omaha World Herald - March 5, 2007

Sportsmetrics Press Release

Robotics Team Heads to World Tournament
Omaha World Herald - February 25, 2007

Robotics Press Release

Fiesta Raises Over $275,000
Omaha World Herald - February 25, 2007

Self Defense Club
KETV Channel 7 Julie's Diary - February 23, 2007

Canned Food Drive
The Catholic Voice - December 4, 2006

Canned Food Drive Press Release

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