Merion Mercy Academy

Merion Mercy Academy Mater Misericordiae Academy
Merion Mercy Academy
Address
511 Montgomery Avenue Merion, Pennsylvania, (Montgomery County), 19066  United States
Coordinates	40°0′34″N 75°15′1″W / 40.00944°N 75.25028°W / 40.00944; -75.25028Coordinates: 40°0′34″N 75°15′1″W / 40.00944°N 75.25028°W / 40.00944; -75.25028
Information
Type	Private, All-Female
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic; Sisters of Mercy
Established	1884
Principal	Sr. Barbara Buckley
Faculty	41
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	485 [1]  (2008-09)
Student to teacher ratio	12:1
Campus	Suburban
Color(s)	Blue and Gold
Mascot	Golden Bear
Accreditation(s)	Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools[1]
Publication	Image Explosion (literary magazine)
Newspaper	'Ricordia'
Yearbook	'Meriannal'
Athletic Director	Barbara Clarke
Website	www.merion-mercy.com

Merion Mercy Academy is a female, private, independent, Catholic, college preparatory school, teaching grades 9 through 12, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. It is located in Merion, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia. Known by the Latin name "Mater Misericordiae Academy" prior to 1968, the school curriculum has traditionally emphasized mercy spirituality, global awareness, and social responsibility. A dedication to service of the poor and unfortunate, in the spirit of Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, continues today.

Significant changes have taken place from 1987 to the present. Recent events include the merger of the lower school with Waldron Academy for Boys next door in 1987, thereby giving the entire 72,000-square-foot (6,700 m²) Merion Mercy building, built in 1954, to the education of high school girls. The new grade school was named Waldron Mercy Academy. A 27,000-square-foot (2,500 m²) addition to the MMA building in 2003 added a new chapel, administrative offices, classrooms and meeting rooms, new athletic facilities, and a study center for students. Some other significant renovations took place in the summer of 2004.

Academically, the school earned a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award in 1996 as recognition from the United States Department of Education.

The school's principal since 2007 is Sister Barbara Buckley, who is also an alumna.

Recently, Merion-Mercy won the 92.5 WXTU radio station contest in each of two consecutive years. On December 19, 2007, country artist Kellie Pickler performed for the student body, and on December 2, 2008, Dancing with the Stars' winner Julianna Hough performed on the school's stage.

Mission

Merion Mercy Academy, an independent, Catholic, college preparatory school sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, offers an education which encourages academic and personal excellence. Its curriculum stresses mercy spirituality, global awareness, social responsibility and academics. Within a nurturing community, Merion Mercy Academy educates leaders: young women who live mercy and seek justice (which is part of the mantra the girls zealously chant at all school functions).

Athletics

Merion Mercy joined the The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) in 1994 for scholastic athletic competition. The very next year the basketball team won the state PIAA Class AA championship. Continuing their success, the track and field team won the PIAA state championship in 1998 and in 2001, and the volleyball team won the PIAA state championship in 2001. The volleyball team earned back-to-back-to-back-to-back state championships in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Notable Alumnae

• Patricia McGuire, president, Trinity Washington University

Alyse Wojciechowski (Alyse Alan Louis) currently stars on Broadway's "Mamma Mia" as bride-to-be Sophie Sheridan.

External links

• The Merion Mercy Academy
• @ Private School Review
• Search Committee Posting

Notes and references

1. ^ MSA-CSS. "MSA-Commission on Secondary Schools". http://www.css-msa.org/search.php/. Retrieved 2009-05-26.