BUILDING
THE DREAM
BUILDING EXCELLENCE We are at a breakthrough moment in the history of Mercy High School, Burlingame that will impact generations to come. Although we have one of the most beautiful campuses on the Peninsula, we remain the only school within our local Catholic school system without an onsite gymnasium. Our current indoor spaces are not suitable to accommodate school-wide events and are not conducive to comprehensive wellness, athletics, and student life programming, limiting our on campus offerings. It is time to create a new campus facility that supports these programs through which our young women will grow.
our mission.
We, the community of Mercy High School, a Catholic College Preparatory school sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, educate young women of diverse religious, ethnic, social and economic backgrounds to reverence and foster the dignity of each person; to create a community of hospitality; to lead with integrity and compassion; to strive for excellence; and to proclaim Gospel values in word and action.
We are proud to launch the Building the Dream Capital Campaign to build an Athletic and Student Life Center. This campaign is a defining moment for Mercy. It will secure our legacy of educating young women while enabling them to reach new heights beyond the classroom. In fulfilling this mission, the Athletic and Student Life Center will allow us to further empower women leaders who will be the problem solvers and forward thinkers of tomorrow. The support of our entire community is needed to build on the success of the past and achieve our vision for the future. We need your support in this historic endeavor to transform and enrich Mercy in the same positive ways it has changed the lives of so many young women over the past 92 years.
Natalie Cirigliano Brosnan ‘02, Ed.D
Penny Stack Alexander ‘78
Head of School
Board Chair
Mercy High School, Burlingame
Mercy High School, Burlingame
the why.
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY CANNOT BE
underscored.
Since 1931 Mercy High School has been educating young women who have grown into powerful, contributing leaders in society. For 91 years we have flourished despite not having a school gym, a home-court advantage, and an indoor gathering space large enough to accommodate our entire school of over 400 students, staff, and faculty. In addition to lacking a school gymnasium, our current pool does not meet regulation standards. These facility deficiencies have led our student-athletes to have to travel between San Francisco and Woodside for decades to find basketball, volleyball, swimming, and water polo facilities to call their home each season. Despite these challenges, our student-athletes have competed at the highest levels and brought home championships throughout the years- all without the excitement and motivation that a “home-court advantage” brings. Just this year, our girls Varsity Volleyball team competed in the Northern California Championship- the furthest a volleyball team has gone in our school’s history. Our students and community deserve a gymnasium, student life center, and regulation pool, and the future of Mercy deserves the stability such a facility would bring. The time has come to address our community’s needs. Mercy High School, Burlingame is in the quiet phase of the Building the Dream Capital Campaign. Mercy is committed to raising $27 million to fund the creation of a gymnasium, pool expansion, and an indoor space that will accommodate school-wide events and comprehensive wellness and athletic programs. The campaign is a defining moment for Mercy. It will secure our legacy of educating young women while enabling them to reach new heights beyond the classroom. In fulfilling this mission, the Athletic and Student Life Center will allow us to further empower women leaders to be the problem solvers and change makers of tomorrow.
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for GIRLS IS with GIRLS.”
“WE BELIEVE A SCHOOL BETTER THAN A SCHOOL
—International Coalition of Girls’ Schools
At Mercy, each student is known by her teachers, coaches, and classmates, challenged to reach her greatest potential, and transformed into a young woman ready to make a difference in the world. Mercy prepares students spiritually, academically, socially, creatively, and physically to not only succeed, but to excel. The strong foundation Mercy students acquire is invaluable to them as they navigate their future endeavors. Year after year various universities study the impact an all girls education can have on the lives of young women compared to the coeducational experience. Data continues to confirm that there is a significant advantage to receiving an all-girls education.
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Nearly 87% of girls’ school students feel their opinions are respected at their school compared to only 58% of girls at coeducational schools
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93% of girls’ school grads say they were offered greater leadership opportunities than peers at coed schools, and 80% have held leadership positions since graduating from high school
empower women.
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A Majority of girls’ school grads report higher self-confidence over their coed peers
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Young women who attend all girls schools when compared to coed schools are 6 times more likely to explore a STEM career
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Girls will ignore gender stereotypes and develop their competitive side more fully in a single-sex academic setting
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THE MERCY experience. 42%
OF STUDENTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL SUPPORT
99%
COLLEGE
MATRICULATION
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AP AND HONORS COURSES
400
STUDENTS
$2 MILLION
AWARDED IN FINANCIAL AID
PATHWAY
24 TEAMS
6 PROGRAMS
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DIFFERENT
DIFFERENT
SPORTS
CREATIVE
COURSES
100% EXTRACURRICULAR PARTICIPATION
THE MERCY OF tomorrow.
We look forward to building a space that reflects the beauty of our historic “oak-clad acres” and honors the deep sense of community of Mercy High School, Burlingame. Mercy offers 14 sports and 70% of all students participate on one of our 24 teams. While our Athletics Department is committed to creating a studentcentered environment where student athletes are focused on sportsmanship, pride, commitment, and teamwork, we lack a dedicated space to grow. An indoor space for athletics would allow our students to try new sports free from travel logistics and would finally give Mercy a real home court advantage. FACT: Mercy is the only Bay Area Catholic high school within the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Diocese of San Jose, Diocese of Santa Rosa and Diocese of Oakland without a gymnasium and an indoor space that can accommodate school-wide events. Having a home for collaboration, creativity, and innovation would provide additional opportunities for growth. Having a home facility will have a positive impact on enrollment and retention as we know families want and look for on-campus facilities when choosing a school. This campaign will secure our legacy of educating young women while enabling them to reach new heights beyond the classroom.
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future impact.
THE GOAL In order to ensure a strong future, Mercy is committed to making our vision for a new Athletic and Student Life Center a reality. The future Athletic and Student Life Center includes a gym, pool expansion, a larger strength and conditioning room, a sprint track, and a student life space that can house our entire student body, something our school has never had. The cost of this facility is $27 million.
$27 MILLION $19.6 COMMITTED $7.4 TO BE RAISED
Seating for 500 to accommodate sporting events, liturgies, assemblies, and school-wide events while enhancing the sense of community and school spirit– a place to call “Home”
Increased enrollment and retention
Home court advantage and regulation pool for practices, games, and meets
Facilities for health and wellness classes, conditioning, practices, and games and increased participation in athletics, student activities, and health and wellness
Increased class time, less student/parent travel, and a safe hub for students to gather after school hours
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“I believe the Student Life and Athletic Center will further unify our Mercy sisterhood through easier access in hosting rallies and sporting events. It will also provide more opportunities to become more active, not only physically but as a community as well. This facility will help Mercy build a greater sense of pride as we don’t have a designated active area to truly call our “home court”. As a Mercy athlete, traveling from place to place to various gyms is remarkably diffcult and leaves little for personal time and studies.”
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RAQUEL CALDERON ‘23 (Nor. Cal Volleyball Runner Up ‘22)
BUILDING
THE DREAM A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO BUILD AN ATHLETIC AND STUDENT LIFE CENTER AT MERCY HIGH SCHOOL, BURLINGAME 9/2023