From the Principal

Well, it certainly has been an eventful year at Waldron Mercy Academy! We recreated and reimagined a school year during a pandemic, using in-person and virtual learning from September to June, while also working steadily behind the scenes to plan for WMA’ s future.

Our teachers showed how caring and nurturing Mercy educators are, as they simultaneously taught students who learned from home all year, learned in the building all year, or moved between the two options as their parents ’ comfort level changed. Our staff created new opportunities to replace the old, giving the students a much-needed sense of normalcy.

Meanwhile, a dedicated group has been working for more than a year to thoughtfully and carefully construct a Strategic Plan that will guide Waldron Mercy for the next five years. It was an exciting opportunity to collaborate with new and old friends; you can learn more about this process and how the COVID-19 pandemic shaped the experience on page 12! The process is ongoing, but we look forward to unveiling the draft plan to you soon.

Also this year, our governing organization, Mercy Education (formerly called Mercy Education System of the Americas), released their enhanced brand identity. This exciting news strengthens the existing connection between Mercy schools around the world and helps differentiate us from other Catholic schools. As part of Mercy Education

’ s branding efforts, all Mercy schools are committed to embracing five Mercy Core Values:

Compelled By Mercy

Educational Courage

Inspired By Faith

Principled Leadership

A Voice For Dignity and Respect

The Waldron Mercy Mission Statement will continue to remain the same and our commitment to excellence will not waiver, as these core values define who we already are. Learn more about our Core Values on the next page.

I also invite you to check out our new Mercy Mindset video series that features our alumni, a preview of which can be found on page 9. I hope you are as excited as we are to grow with one another as we enhance our Mercy mission through our new Core Values and Strategic Plan!

In Mercy,

INTRODUCING OUR MERCY CORE VALUES

We are happy to introduce you to our Core Values! These values support our current mission statement, define who we are, and connect us to all the Mercy schools that share them. Our Core Values are the hallmarks of a Mercy Education. These are the ideals we stand up for and strive to live up to. We hold ourselves to these standards as an institution, as a community and as individuals. Each value is interconnected and necessary as we take Mercy into the world. Compelled By Mercy: Mercy students, in the spirit of our foundress Catherine McAuley, are steadfastly determined to take Mercy into an interconnected world. Our shared sense of social consciousness is fortified by universal empathy and a conviction that all are worthy of God’ s mercy. This deep awareness and compassion move us to take principled action and serve the needs of others. Educational Courage: Mercy students welcome the challenge of pursuing their full potential in a culture of excellence, critical thinking and curiosity. Their multifaceted journey builds character while it builds essential skills. Our holistic program expects engagement, a thirst for knowledge and personal responsibility, while preparing students to thrive for a lifetime. Inspired By Faith: Mercy students become living models of faith and forceful advocates for Gospel values. Grounded in our Catholic identity in the Mercy tradition, we welcome all faiths and are strengthened and shaped by these relationships. As we pursue a personal relationship with God, we strenuously follow Jesus Christ’ s example of social justice, love and service. Principled Leadership: Mercy students are poised to lead with their unique gifts. Prepared with an ethical and moral compass, we put Mercy values into action and work assertively for what is right. We ’ re equipped to make difficult choices, learn from our mistakes and develop high emotional intelligence. As an international community, we ’ re confident in our ability to make a positive difference and push for systemic change. A Voice For Dignity and Respect: Mercy students honor the intrinsic value of the individual and recognize God’ s presence in each person. We embrace a global vision and value differences of opinion, and are unafraid to confront hostile or hurtful attitudes. By standing up for those who can ’t, we go beyond acceptance to help make sure everyone feels recognized and heard.

JOIN OUR TABLE OF MERCY

Our steady stream of facility improvements has moved into the front of the building as we renovate our cafeteria area and front faculty workroom into a community hub that will fulfill our Mercy mission of hospitality while providing an updated dining space for our students and faculty. It will also enhance the experience of the Waldron Mercy community at large. We plan on using the space for gatherings for our alumni family in addition to our current students and parents.

The project design aligns with the Mercy focus of Care of the Earth. Students and faculty will utilize a water bottle refill station, eat with eco-friendly dishware, and dispose of waste at a new trash and recycling station. The kitchen will feature more energy efficient equipment.

Why Now?

Students are always our top priority. Over the years, philanthropic support from parents, alumni, faculty and staff has been strategically invested in the student experience, including our award-winning service learning program, STEM program, foreign language and curricula improvements, and so much more. Investing in the cafeteria wing is the next necessary step to improve the daily experience for WMA students and enable the Mercy Mission to continue to grow.

We are nearly there, but we still need your support!

Contact us today to Join our Table of Mercy and discuss your gift. waldronmercy.org/joinourtable Peg Flynn mflynn@waldronmercy.org 610-664-9847 x 131