Head of School

Dear Merion Mercy Community,

One of the phrases I find myself using when I speak or write about this pandemic is that we're living in "uncertain times." As our Merion Opening School Task Force (MOST) plans to welcome your daughters back to school, we realize that we are opening school in a completely different environment than any of us have ever experienced. 

We know for sure, though, that our school-parent partnership is more important now than ever before. Communication is the foundation of all good relationships, and we're happy to share a few communication updates with you to better meet your needs as parents.

 

Opening Updates 2020-2021 Page

We have created an Opening Updates 2020-2021 page on our website. This page will serve as a central resource for Merion Mercy community members on opening for the 2020-2021 school year. Links to school emails and other information will be posted here. 

Log in Now to Your MyMMA Account

We are pleased to roll out MyMMA, a password-protected education management system that will house all information related to academics, advisory, activities, athletics, school events, and other community areas. You will also use MyMMA to access course assignments, calendars, athletic scoreboards, gradebook, report cards, and the school directory.

Parents, click below for a guide to log into your account, complete profile setup, and navigate through the main areas of the MyMMA system.

MyMMA First-Time Guide for Parents

Please note: When you log into your MyMMA account, you will be alerted to complete forms for your daughter(s), some of which must be filled out prior to the start of classes.

Students, please click below for steps to access your new account, complete profile setup, and navigate through your student pages of the MyMMA system. Your course pages and schedule will be available in MyMMA in the coming week.

MyMMA First-Time Guide for Students

The first 20 members of the community (parents/students) to log in will receive 20% off their next Spirit Shop purchase.

 

Coming Soon: A New Look for MMA

 

As we embark on the journey of a new school year, we will update our visual brand as we prepare to launch a new, more dynamic website later in the fall. You will see a new version of our MMA logo when you access MyMMA and in a variety of other places in the weeks to come!

Our logo continues to reflect all of the beloved elements of Mercy identity. The addition of a spark in the center symbolizes the spark that is acquired through a Merion Mercy education!

The reimagined Mercy cross at the center is a reminder of our Mercy mission and our commitment to nurturing generations of young women to—as our tagline proclaims—Live Mercy. Seek Justice. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and be well,

 

Laura Farrell

Academics

New Faculty/Staff

 

We are proud to introduce our new faculty and staff members. We know they will bring new energy, ideas, perspectives, and partnerships to our community. 

 

Meet the newest members of our team.

Blue/Gold Groups

 

We will share which groups students are in next week via email to students and parents/caregivers.   

Several factors go into these groups, among them: approved safety protocols, student-selected electives, keeping MMA siblings together, and MMA-sponsored transportation, to name a few. Groups cannot be changed unless there are extraordinary needs/circumstances. 

The Blue group will be physically in school Mondays and Tuesdays; the Gold group will be physically in school Wednesdays and Thursdays. Please note: Occasionally these days will change if students have a day off during the week. If there is a day off during the week, the adjustments will be noted on the calendar.

FERPA Notification

 

We have established a hybrid learning model to maximize safety for students and staff while supporting an experience that will engage students in deep learning throughout the week, both on and off campus. Additionally, some students will attend on-campus sessions remotely. Click the link below for some important reminders regarding virtual sessions.

 

Video Communication and Distance-Learning Policy

Student Life

Calendar

 

Our major dates calendar can be found on MyMMA or in the Calendar section of the school website.

Arrival Protocol

 

There will be four doors for arrivals—each earmarked for different transportation groups.

1. All township buses will drop off at the West doors (doors facing the convent).
2. Students who request and receive parking passes to drive themselves to school will use the North doors (Lyceum entrance).
3. The East doors (doors facing the sports fields) are reserved for faculty and staff. (Please note: faculty and staff may use any door that is most convenient for them.)
4. Car drop offs go to the South doors (front entrance of the building). Car drop offs may also use the North doors (Lyceum entrance).

Arrival times will be in groups: 7 a.m.-7:30 a.m.; 7:30 a.m.-8 a.m.; 8 a.m.-8:30 a.m.

We would like to stagger arrival times. Once students know their cohorts (Blue or Gold), they should fill out the form below to select their estimated daily arrival time.

 

Arrival Bands for Car Drop-offs

Students arriving before 8 a.m. should report to the Dining Commons. Students should not go to their classrooms before 8 a.m. From 8 a.m. onwards, students may go directly to class.

Ruvna QR codes will be scanned before any student enters the building (see below for more details).

As a reminder: Students will not have lockers this year, and masks are required on campus.

Ruvna

Students who are attending place-based instruction on any given day—or coming to campus for an athletic or other reason—must complete the Ruvna health screening questionnaire prior to coming to school.  It will be texted by the Ruvna software and will generate a QR code that will be scanned upon arrival for verification. We will share online training modules for how to use this platform prior to the start of school.

Faculty and staff will also complete the Ruvna health screening questionnaire prior to coming to school.

Health Services

Health Forms 

 

Health Forms are available on the Student Health Center Resource Board on MyMMA. Links to some of these important forms can be found below.  

• Please note that it is required that every incoming freshman, junior, and transfer student have a physical on file by the first day of school. (Physical Form)
• Any student who has allergies and requires an EpiPen and/or Benadryl must have the FARE Emergency Care Plan completed by a doctor and submitted to the Nurse's Office annually. (FARE Emergency Care Plan) 
• Any student who self carries an inhaler must have the Asthma Action Plan completed by a doctor and submitted to the Nurse's Office annually. (Asthma Action Plan)
• Any student who has seizures must have the Seizure Action Plan completed by a doctor and submitted to the Nurse's Office annually. (Seizure Action Plan) 

Athletics

With the "pause" to the fall season from the PIAA, we will hold voluntary workouts for some teams the week of August 17. The teams that will be participating at this time are cross country, field hockey, soccer, and volleyball.  We will continue to communicate with our tennis and golf teams as more information is available.  

The first official day of the fall season (except for the crew team) will be on Monday, August 24. Each team will be limited to one session per day during that week. Student-athletes and families will receive training-session schedules.   

The crew team will begin voluntary workouts the week of August 31. The first official mandatory practice will be Tuesday, September 8.  

In order for athletes to participate, they must have completed their Fall Registration paperwork in FamilyID, and they must complete a Daily Screening check every day prior to arriving on campus. The daily screening questionnaire can be found on FamilyID and is labeled by sport.