Bishop McGann-Mercy Diocesan High School

Bishop McGann-Mercy Diocesan High School (formerly Mercy High School) was a Roman Catholic high school in Riverhead, New York on Long Island. It was operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre. The Diocese closed the school in 2018.

Bishop McGann-Mercy Diocesan High School
Address
1225 Ostrander Avenue Riverhead , Suffolk County , New York 11901 United States
Coordinates	40°56′8″N 72°40′19″W
Information
Type	Private, Coeducational
Motto	Serve the Lord with Gladness.
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic
Established	1956
Founder	Sisters of Mercy
Closed	2018
Dean	Charles Bender
Principal	Deacon John Hogan
Campus Director	Mr. Prochilo (ministry)
Faculty	53
Grades	7-12
Enrollment	435 (2008)
Average class size	20
Color(s)	Green and Gold
Song	Mercy Fight Song
Team name	Monarchs
School roll	500
Tuition	$9,400 (2015-16)
Website	www.mcgann-mercy.org

History

Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1956, five sisters were sent from their Brooklyn convent to create and staff a co-educational high school on the East End of Long Island to be named Mercy High School. In the first year of operation, there were 47 students, using excess classrooms of the nearby St. John the Evangelist parish. In October 1962, a new building was dedicated by Bishop Walter Kellenberg of the newly formed Diocese of Rockville Centre which still serves as the present building. In 1992, it was decided that a junior high school was to be added to the already ninth through twelfth grades. In 2002, the Diocese of Rockville Centre and the Sisters of Mercy created a partnership to better enhance the needs of the school. In September 2003, the school's name officially changed to Bishop McGann-Mercy Diocesan High School, after Bishop John McGann, the Diocese's longtime leader, and the Sisters of Mercy signifying the partnership. The school's numbers swelled over the course of the next five years, following a time when some thought the school might close. The Diocese takeover saved the school from debt. Mr. Carl Semmler was the school's principal at that time. However, the school went on to close at the end of the 2018 school year. Deacon John Hogan served as the school's last principal during the 2017-2018 school year. Mr. Charles Bender continued on as the Dean of Students until the school's closure. Lisa Navarra served as the school's Assistant Principal until the school's closure, and was a former teacher at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School.[1] On March 12, 2018, the Diocese of Rockville Centre announced the school would close at the end of the 2017-2018 school year.[2]

Performing arts

Bishop McGann-Mercy Diocesan High School's theatre department was recognized by the Teeny Awards on an annual basis in recent years, both for performances by student actors and the innovation of the director, Bob Kelly.[3][4][5][6] Recent productions by the theatre department include The Music Man and The Diary of Anne Frank. The school's choral department was also highly praised, with the chamber choir having performed at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center in 2013, and Carnegie Hall in 2014.[7]

External links

• Official site
• ShopForMercy.com
• SectionXI.org (Athletics)

Notes and references

1. BMMDHS. "McGann-Mercy High School History". McGann-Mercy High School website. Archived from the original on April 27, 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-11.
2. TelecareTV (2018-03-12), Diocese of Rockville Centre announces school consolidation and closing, retrieved 2018-03-12
3. Hamptons.com. Hamptons.com website http://www.hamptons.com/Community/Neighborhood/11028/Teeny-Awards-Announced-At-Gala-Ceremony-At.html#.UxTg2fldXy0. Retrieved 2014-03-03. Missing or empty |title= (help)
4. Riverhead Local. Riverhead Local website http://riverheadlocal.com/community-news/local-students-win-teeny-awards. Retrieved 2014-03-03. Missing or empty |title= (help)
5. East End Arts. East End Arts website http://www.eastendarts.org/programs/teeny-2012-winners.html. Retrieved 2014-03-03. Missing or empty |title= (help)
6. East End Arts. East End Arts website http://www.eastendarts.org/programs/teeny-2013-nominees.html. Retrieved 2014-03-03. Missing or empty |title= (help)
7. Rachel Young. Suffolk Times website http://suffolktimes.timesreview.com/2013/04/39304/bishop-mcgann-mercy-chamber-choir-performs-at-lincoln-center/. Retrieved 2014-03-03. Missing or empty |title= (help)