SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020
PARADE OF SENIORS Saturday, May 30 was originally scheduled to be graduation day for our Class of 2020. While Covid-19 postponed those plans until July 18, Seniors and their families were invited to return to campus for a spirited parade with vehicles adorned in red and gold. Faculty and staff, decked out in Gwynedd Mercy and Monarchs apparel – and Dr. Kuyat and Mr. Hopkins in jacket and their Gwynedd ties – lined the Circle of Mercy and campus roadways as they cheered for our Senior Monarchs. In commemoration of the special day, each Senior received her graduation tassle as well as a surprise gift: the traditional Gwynedd graduation bouquet of a dozen red roses.
Cheers and smiles were lauded in abundance upon our students, and perhaps a few tears were shed. Some girls, participating in the senior of tie-dying their polo shirts and painting of their kilts, donned their works of art, while others sported their college gear proudly.
As Ms. Kirby shared following the event, "Our Mercy spirit is alive and well!" Thank you to all who participated. It was wonderful to see our families in person once again. Please join us in prayer, that Montgomery County continues to emerge from the pandemic and moves to the green phase in July, so that our school community may safely gather in person for the Class of 2020's graduation ceremony.
FLYNN OHARA & FLOCCO'S FlynnOHara and Flocco's are offering free shipping on orders while their stores are closed. Information regarding summer orders can be found on the flyers attached.
SENIOR UNIFORM DONATIONS For any Senior who is no longer in need of her uniform, we are hoping that your family would be willing to donate it for use by a future Gwynedd Girl. Uniforms can be dropped off at the front of school, under the portico, between May 19th and June 15th (Monday - Friday between 7AM and 2:30PM). Please have your uniforms in a bag so that they can be collected and cleaned. We are in the process of gathering names on a waiting list and will be matching donations with requests on a first come, first served basis. Please email Mrs. Scott with any questions.
MERCY BEGINS WITH ME As another means to connect our community and continue to be a source of hope and optimism, we have created a feature on our website to promote small businesses within our Gwynedd community, share stories of inspiration and mercy, and encourage support. We encourage you to visit this page, share your stories, and remember that in Mercy, we can do extraordinary things. Visit gmahs.org/mercyinaction.
VIRTUAL ARTS FESTIVAL The arts are thriving at Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School. Students have worked and adjusted to keep their skills and creativity strong. Their dynamic abilities and talents are represented in our Virtual Arts Exhibit and Performance 2020. Please enjoy the work of the visual and performing arts students.
ACTIVITIES
MERCY EFFECT For the past year, Gwynedd's own Mercy Effect team, along with Mercy schools around the globe, has been raising money for the Laudato Tree Project, also known as the Great Green Wall. This initiative is now receiving recognition from Mercy International Association and Pope Francis! On May 10, 2020 Pope Francis made specific mention of the Laudato Tree Project. "Today, I congratulate the group of young people for the launch of the initiative Laudato Trees". "The aim is to plant at least one million trees throughout the region of the Sahel, which will become part of the "Great Green Wall of Africa". Click on the photo above to hear Sr. Christi share the good news!
HOBBIT HOUSE Gwynedd Mercy students were able to brighten spirits and bring smiles to the little faces of the students of Hobbit House by planning a "virtual" carnival in lieu of the Hobbit House Family Carnival. Gwynedd students read "If I Ran the Circus" by Dr. Seuss and led an art project making a clown toss game that each kid could play!
ADVANCEMENT
As our community and world face unprecedented challenges, Gwynedd's mission remains unchanged and more relevant than ever. We educate, inspire, and empower future women leaders who are merciful in spirit, innovative in thought, and courageous in leadership.
Each year, gifts to the Mercy Fund help to fulfill our mission and meet the greatest needs of our school community. Today, our top fundraising priority is tuition assistance for students whose families face significant financial hardship due to the pandemic. Gifts also will enhance academic, leadership, and wellness programs for all our girls.
Beginning now through June 9—when we will celebrate the generosity of the GMA Community—you can help to unlock $70,000 in challenge gifts and more than double the impact of your gift. Current parents alone are the key to unlocking one challenge from Blue Bell Private Wealth Management. When GMA reaches 50% current parent participation this year, the school will receive $10,000.
A high parent participation rate also is the key to helping Gwynedd secure foundation support. Currently, GMA is seeking grants from several foundations that make funding decisions based, in part, on the school's annual giving participation rates. We recently learned that our current parent participation rate of 30% is less than half the average of similar independent all-girls schools at 62%. Our goal is to boost our rate to give all our girls a better chance of benefiting from foundation funds.
Make your gift today and thank you for your support! SHE IS THE FUTURE. ©2020 Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School |