Dates: February 27 - March 2, 2012

Leaders: Ms. McLaughlin

Cost: $150-200

Included: Course materials, dance lesson fees, recipe ingredients, entry fees, one restaurant meal, transportation

Excluded: 3 daily lunches

Course Description

The title of this Intersession adventure is taken from One Thousand and One Nights and the stories of Scheherazade, Alladin and his Wonderful Lamp, Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves and the Voyages of Sinbad, among the many other tales.  These enchanting tales will lure us into a magical, joyful, and eye-opening journey through many aspects of the cultures of the Arab world.  Lounging on Moroccan carpets while mint tea is poured from several feet above your glasses, sampling briouettes and other sweet delicacies, learning about and taking a few spins at belly dancing are some of the festive activities included during our week. 

Each day will begin with learning a few key phrases in Arabic and by the end of the week, you will have the beginnings of a conversation in this beautiful language spoken by over 150 million people.  By the end of the week you will also be able to write your name in Arabic script and will create a striking calligraphic representation of your name.  Creating beautiful mosaics will take up some of our time, and we will engage in the ancient tradition of painting elaborate henna designs on our hands and feet, a ritual repeated all over the Arab world for weddings and other festivities.  We will learn about belly dancing, its origins, where its place is in authentic Arab culture, and will learn some moves to impress all our friends.  We will listen to both traditional and popular Arab music from different countries and will experience Arab cinema, viewing perhaps The Silences of the Palace, a lovely Tunisian movie, and/or another selection.  If at the time of Intersession, there is an Arab movie playing in the City, we will include this in our series of activities.  Please join us.    

Dates: February 27 - March 2, 2012

Leaders: Ms. Mathews & Mr. Stering 

Cost: $230-$270

Included: Activities, transportation

Excluded: Lunches

Course Description

Are you tired of the same old daily routine?  Would you like to escape the stress of all that school work?  Engage both your mind and body, and discover the simple pleasures of gliding peacefully through a quiet cove, the complex demands of responding to a rock wall, and the physical and mental challenges of a ropes course.  Enjoy walking some of the most scenic trails in the Bay Area, including the Golden Gate Bridge.  These adventures await you when you sign up for the Bay Area Outdoor Adventures!

This course may include:

* Kayaking - Half Moon Bay (water & kayak provided)

* Indoor Rock Climbing - Planet Granite, Belmont (rocks & ropes provided)

* Ropes Course - (trees, ropes & fresh air provided)

* Hiking - Marin Headlands (provide your own feet... and shoes)

* Bicycling - (bikes provided)

Dates: February 27 - March 2, 2012

Course Leaders: Ms. Chastain & Ms. Howett

Cost: $110 (deposit $50 due 11/30/11)

Included: All course materials

Excluded: Lunches, bus fare

Course Description

Learn how to make necklaces, bracelets and earrings, and even make your own beads.  In this class we will learn many techniques of jewelry making and use our creativity to make works of art.  We will take two jewelry-making classes - "introduction to bead stringing" and "beginning wire work". We will go on a "field trip" to a local bead store and have time to work on our projects for the rest of the week. We will also each make two items which will be sold to raise money for the charity of our choice.  So, exercise your creativity and do something to help girls in underdeveloped countries at the same time. You will come home with tools, beads and ideas to last a lifetime!

Dates: 5 shows between Feb 25 - Mar 4, 2012
Course Leaders: Mrs. Nolfi
Cost: $275
Included: 5 great shows and one fine dining experience
Excluded: Lunches

Course Description

     This course will expose students interested in performing arts to a variety of performance experiences. Students will discover the magic of live performance when they become a member of the audience for a dance concert; two theater performances (dramatic, comedic or musical theater), live music performance, and enjoy the fun improvisational theater of Bay Area Theater Sports (BATS). The week's course will end with a wonderful fine dining experience. Students will be prepped for each performance (content, dress for the occasion, etiquette, etc.) and required to keep a journal in which to reflect, critique and comment. Journals will be returned after their grade is recorded.

Dates: Feb. 27 - March 2, 2012
Course Leaders: Mr. Schaefer
Cost: $75

Included: Food

Excluded: Each student must provide her own boning and 6" to 8" chef's knife

Course Description

Just how difficult is it to boil water?  How can a cook reduce the costs of cooking with meat?  How do chefs use those sharp knives without cutting themselves?  What are some of the short cuts that good chefs use to prepare a fabulous, nutritional, yet inexpensive meal?  These are some of the questions this five day course hopes to answer.  We will visit a farmers market,  shop for and prepare meals, learn how to cut up primal cuts of meat like beef and chicken into basic cuts. We will look at how meat dishes can be changed into vegetarian dishes.  Each student will learn and practice basic kitchen and food preparation skills.  And best of all, we will eat what we prepare.

Dates: Feb 27 - March 2, 2012
Course Leaders: Ms. Baranowski & Ms. Keck
Cost: $100
Included: Brunches and activities
Excluded: Bus fares, lunches
Requirements: Sneakers, workout clothing, and a desire to sweat!

Course Description

Spend Intersession focused on your own fitness and wellness! During Intersession, you will get a great workout daily and also learn about fitness, nutrition, and how to make your body function at its optimal level. We will start each day at Mercy with a healthy, nutritious brunch followed by workouts at these fitness centers: 24 Hour Fitness gym on Ocean Avenue and a Yoga studio (to be determined). Sessions include Step Aerobics, Spin (Cycling), Kickboxing, Water Aerobics, Yoga, Pilates, Dance, Zumba and Weight Training. Students will also meet with a nutritionist and be instructed on weight equipment by a personal physical trainer. Expect to shed a few beads of sweat, burn a few calories and feel great! You will definitely discover new ideas about how to keep healthy for the rest of your life. Come sweat with us!  You'll love it!

Dates: Feb 27 - March 2, 2012
Course Leaders: Ms. Bennett and Mrs. Hontalas.                                
Cost: $175
Included: All admission to museums and tours, bus fares, and off-campus meals.
Excluded: Personal expenses.
Requirements:  Comfortable walking shoes and dress in layers of clothes.

Course Description

This class is designed to explore the different cultures in San Francisco through their art and food.  We will uncover all of our senses by seeing, hearing, and touching the unique neighborhoods and smelling the wonderful aromas of foods being prepared and tasting these ethnic cuisines.  The class will include visits to North Beach, which includes the Go West Young Woman tour and lunch at Ristorante Franchino on Columbus Street; learning the fine art of cake decorating; taking a tour and making a flip book at the Walt Disney Museum in the Presidio; touring a chocolate factory and getting freshly baked sour dough bread down at Fisherman's Wharf; and visiting AT&T Park and eating at Pete's Tavern, a hangout for before and after Giants games!  Students will learn about the individual cultures that co-exist in their city, San Francisco.  Each student will work on a photo journal to document our week's activities.

Dates: February 27 - March 2, 2012

Course leader: Ms Miner 
Cost: Approximately $180 (final amount to be determined in January)

Included: Includes tour fees, transportation (local and charter) and three lunches (paid in full), and one lunch purchase (up to $10) at  the Sonoma cheese factory deli.

Excluded: Two lunches, personal spending money

Course Description

Have you ever spread delicious cheese on a cracker and wondered, "Where did this cheese come from?"Maybe you love to melt chocolate on your tongue - how did they DO that - make lovely melt-in-your mouth chocolate from those bitter cocoa beans?  How does San Francisco's sourdough  bread get that way?  We will be exploring venues such as a Sonoma County cheese factory, a chocolate factory, and possibly a brewery! The highlight of our trip  (planned) is a walking tour of Chintown markets and then a Chinese banquet, prepared just for us! 

Dates: February 27 - March 2, 2012

Course Leader: Ms. Mattson

Cost:  $165 (Due 11/30/11)

Included: sewing machine, patterns, sewing supplies, fees, transportation, one lunch

Excluded: lunches on other four days

Course Description 

Will you be the new designer that turns heads in the fashion world?  Will your talented designs start new trends?  Before you translate your designs into wearable garments, you need to learn the basics of sewing.  This class will focus on the ABCs of sewing.  You will learn the following skills: selection of fabrics -- how to use a pattern -- how to use a sewing machine -- how to sew a straight seam -- how to make a drawstring waistband - how to finish a hem. Students will use a basic sewing machine designed for beginners.  Each student will receive her own machine which she will own during and after the course.

Dates: Feb. 27 - March 2, 2012

Course Leaders: Ms. Dearborn; Ms. Petrini

Cost: $80 - 100

Included: Admission to theatres, bus fare and one group lunch

Excluded: daily lunch and movie snacks

Course Description

Learn how to be an international movie critic!  Great films are made all over the world.  It's cool to be cosmopolitan and internationally aware!  The best non-English movies have subtitles - therefore we will "read" the movies.  We will try to see movies from five different countries, perhaps in five different languages.  The choices will be determined when we see what is in the theatres in February.

Dates: Feb 27 - March 2, 2012
Course Leader: Ms. Belonogoff
Cost: $0
Requirement: Ability to get to the assigned school each day

Course Description

Want to find out if a teaching career is in your future? Do you like helping younger students? Have a fun and rewarding experience as a teacher's aide. Students will work for about four hours per day at an assigned school in grades K-5. This experience could be the start of something big! Attendance at a training session and a daily journal are required. Additionally, each Mercy student will receive an evaluation from the school which could help in future job searches. Community service hours will be given for this course.

Dates: Feb. 27 - March 2, 2012
Course Leaders: Mrs. Nurisso,
Cost: $75
Included: All course materials and class fee (public transportation)
Excluded: Lunches

Course Description:

Wouldn't you love to make something that you could hug? "Teddy Bears Galore" is a course in which you will make your own Teddy Bear, complete with movable arms, legs, and head.   Learn how to crochet when we visit Beverly's Fabrics at Westlake.  We will decorate another teddy bear to donate to the "Get on the Bus" program. Join us and learn the basics of hand sewing and crocheting.

Course Leader: Ms. Hsiao
Cost: $150-$200

Included: Tickets, food and lodging

Excluded: Bus fare

Requirements: Comfortable walking shoes

Course Description

San Francisco is a lively city with tons of things to do! Sometimes the weekend is not long enough to enjoy the city or its surrounding neighbors. Not only does the city include an urban environment, but also the natural habitat. Activities may include the following: visiting the American Conservatory Theater and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, trekking across Golden Gate Bridge, picnicking at Rodeo Lagoon, staying overnight at a local Hostel (San Francisco or Marin Headlands), hiking from Marin Headlands to Sausalito, and taking a ferry back from Sausalito to San Francisco.