Merion Mercy Academy
Encyclopedia
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 72000 square feet (6,689 m²) Merion Mercy building, built in 1954, to the education of high school girls. The new grade school was named Waldron Mercy Academy
. A 27000 square feet (2,508.4 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.
(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.
Alyse Wojciechowski (Alyse Alan Louis) currently stars on Broadway's "Mamma Mia" as bride-to-be Sophie Sheridan.
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
. It is located in Merion, Pennsylvania
Merion, Pennsylvania
Merion Station is an unincorporated community in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is contiguous to Philadelphia and is also bordered by Wynnewood, Narberth, and Bala Cynwyd...
, just outside Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. 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
Catherine McAuley
The Venerable Mother Catherine Elizabeth McAuley was an Irish nun, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831...
, 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 72000 square feet (6,689 m²) Merion Mercy building, built in 1954, to the education of high school girls. The new grade school was named Waldron Mercy Academy
Waldron Mercy Academy
Waldron Mercy Academy is a K-8 Catholic private elementary school, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, located in Merion Station, Pennsylvania, USA...
. A 27000 square feet (2,508.4 m²) addition to the MMA building in 2003 added a new chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, 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
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
.
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 AssociationPennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. is one of the governing bodies of high school and junior high school sports for the state of Pennsylvania, United States....
(PIAA) in 1994 for scholastic athletic competition. The very next year the basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team won the state PIAA Class AA championship. Continuing their success, the track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
team won the PIAA state championship in 1998 and in 2001, and the volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
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 McGuirePatricia McGuirePatricia McGuire, is the 14th president of Trinity Washington University in Washington D.C.; she was appointed president in 1989.-Early life and career:A native of Philadelphia, McGuire graduated from Merion Mercy Academy, in Merion, Pennsylvania...
, president, Trinity Washington UniversityTrinity Washington UniversityTrinity Washington University, founded in 1897 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, is a Roman Catholic university located in Washington, D.C. across from Catholic University of America and the Dominican House of Studies...
Alyse Wojciechowski (Alyse Alan Louis) currently stars on Broadway's "Mamma Mia" as bride-to-be Sophie Sheridan.