SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018

Mercy Education System of the America's: Advent Series

The holy season of Advent begins on Sunday, December 2. This year we are grateful to share reflections from students in our MESA schools on the four themes of Advent: hope, peace, joy and love.

Our first reflection on hope comes from Josefina Calapeña Pacheco and María Luz Christie Newbery, two sixth-year students at Colegio Santa Ethnea in Bella Vista, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

During this week of Advent, we are preparing to renew our souls and to be reborn in the shelter of God. We cultivate hope in ourselves and in those who surround us, so that we can reflect on our lives in 2018 and plan with faith and hope for new accomplishments for 2019.

There is no need to close doors; rather, we invite simplicity to transform us, just like the simpleness and humility of the manger in Bethlehem. We want to open our hearts to let the Christ child transform us and encourage us to accept our fragility and to embrace with mercy the fragility of others. Christ's birth renews the hope that God always chooses to walk with us.

In Argentina, the beginning of Advent comes at the end of the school year. We pray that Mary, our Hope, will help us to focus on what is important amidst the weariness of this time of the year.

A Prayer for Peace 

Let the rain come and wash away the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds held and nurtured over generations.

Let the rain wash away the memory of the hurt, the neglect.

Then let the sun come out and fill the sky with rainbows.

Let the warmth of the sun heal us wherever we are broken.

Let it burn away the fog so that we can see each other clearly.

So that we can see beyond labels, beyond accents, gender or skin color.

Let the warmth and brightness of the sun melt our selfishness. 

So that we can share the joys and feel the sorrows of our neighbors.

And let the light of the sun be so strong that we will see all people as our neighbors.

Let the earth, nourished by rain, bring forth flowers to surround us with beauty.

And let the mountains teach our hearts to reach upward to heaven.

- Rabbi Harold Kushner

CANDLELIGHT TRADITION- DECEMBER 20

The Candlelight ceremony is one of our beautiful traditions at Gwynedd.  It is a signature event which includes a procession, concert and live tableau that helps us prepare for the birth of our Savior.

This year we have made a schedule change to bring our community together for a single night of Candlelight on December 20 at 7pm.  In previous years we had two nights of Candlelight. 

For the December 20, 2018 Candlelight, Junior and Senior participation is mandatory. While Freshman and Sophomore attendance is optional, participation is strongly encouraged. The musicians and singers in the production, of course, are required to attend. 

Seating is limited, so we will need your help in preparing for this event, in order to plan for any overflow.

Please complete the linked form below by December 10. We look forward to sharing this Season with you.

STUDENTS AND STUDIES

Social Studies

Mrs. Newton's History class spent some time painting while learning about culture from the 1950's.

Students were studying the influence of abstract expressionism on Western Europe when inspiration hit and they created their own abstract expressionism paintings in true "action painting" style!

Music

We are pleased to announce that the Gwynedd Mercy Chorale will be singing with The Orpheus Club of Philadelphia, an 80-member all male chorus, during the Club's Christmas Concert on Wed., December 12, 8:30 pm at the Academy of Music.

Complimentary tickets are available through Gwynedd's Front Office. 

Gwynedd's first ever Coffee House will be held on December 14 from 4:30-6:00. This will be exclusively for Gwynedd students and staff. Admission for the event is $5 and there will be a Christmas bake sale as well. Students can enter a contest and/or perform as part of the live entertainment. The three contests being offered are Best Baked Good, Best Christmas Joke, and Ugliest Christmas Sweater (prizes will be awarded).

All proceeds from the event and any other donations will be sent to an organization called "Play On, Philly". Promoting Music Education for Philadelphia youth in need, founder Stanford Thompson has created an environment where kids can learn and grow musically!

Last week,  Midshipman Sam Teplov, currently a senior at the US Naval Academy, met with 4 Gwynedd students to share his experience and information about how to apply.

Pictured from left to right are Aileen Murray '20, Jessica DiBricida '20 and Ella Gross '20.

SAVE THE DATES: 

Junior College Counseling Kickoff (11th Grade Parents/Guardians and Students). Thursday, January 24th at 7:00pm

Junior students and their parents/guardians are encouraged to attend this event. We will discuss the college counseling timeline for the year ahead, the process for organizing college applications, and how to utilize Naviance.

Demystifying College Admissions Testing (10th, 11th Grade Parents/Guardians)  Wednesday, March 27th at 7:00pm

Presented by Daniel Ascher, M.Ed., President of A+ Test Prep and Tutoring. The program will cover everything you need to know about college admissions exams -- PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP, and more. This event is geared for 10th grade families but 11th grade families are welcome to attend if they would like to learn more!

Reminders to all Senior Mothers: You should have received an invitation in the mail to attend a special evening decorating our school's Christmas tree with your daughter's Christmas ornament. Please join us at 7PM on Wednesday, December 4 in the school lobby to enjoy appetizers, cocktails and conversation with the senior class moms.

Please send in your senior photos by Thursday, January 31 to the attention of Mothers' Club, Lisa Kerr. We need to request 2 photos from senior families:

1) Mother and Daughter digital photo, preferably in a jpeg file, emailed to Lisa Kerr at lbkerr@verizon.net

2) 3" x 5" baby photo of your senior daughter, sent into school to the attention of Mothers' Club, Lisa Kerr.

Junior families are invited to a reception hosted by the Mothers' Club in the gym after the Junior Ring Mass on Thursday, December 6.

Thank you to our event chair, Sheryl Hearn. Any sophomore moms who would like to help with this event can contact Sheryl at elevenman@msn.com.

The Mercy Hospice Dinner will be held on Thursday evening, December 13. A SignUp Genius was sent out for food donations and volunteers.

Any questions, please contact Maria Saxon rizzsax@comcast.net or Meg Caputo, megnmike@comcast.net our co-chairs. 

We have selected our book for our annual Book Talk meeting which will be held on Thursday, February 21 at 7PM. It is titled "A Fall of Marigolds" by Susan Meissner. Start reading! More information to come.

Any questions, please contact Megan Keaton at megankeaton@verizon.net.

ATHLETICS

GMAHS celebrated the following Senior student-athletes on National Signing Day!

Cailin Panacek '19, (left), a GMAHS soccer player, will be attending American University!

Annie O'Dare '19, (right), a GMAHS swimmer, will be attending Auburn University!

Congratulations Athletes!!

SHE IS THE FUTURE.

©2018 Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
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