Before and After School Activities

Before and After School Activities

“You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.”

In the Suscipe, St. Ignatius of Loyola invites us to see everything that the Lord has given to us as a gift and, therefore, that we might glorify God through proper use of that gift. At Divine Mercy Academy, our students learn to recognize and cultivate the many gifts that God has given each of them and how, in turn, they might use them for His greater glory. To that end, we do not see any activity as “extra-curricular” rather these activities are part of the overall curriculum and educational purpose of the school: namely, such activities are part of our school mission of cultivating virtue and forming saints and scholars.

Choir

The Divine Mercy Academy choir brings together all students in grades 6-8 who wish to challenge themselves and perform beautiful music. Along with our annual school concerts, our talented choir has performed at venues such as the Pueri Cantores festival in Washington, DC, and at Bowie Bay Sox games. Singers grow in confidence, self-mastery, and collaboration, all in service of glorifying the Lord through song.

Cross Country

The DMA Cross Country team is open to all and meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:40 to 4:30. The purpose of the team is to carry out DMA’s mission of making saints by helping the runners to grow in fortitude and self-discipline.

Math Counts

Calling all mathletes in the logic cohort! Math Counts is an after school math club for students of all math ability levels in grades 6-8 who enjoy math and competition. Students meet with their “coach” Mr. Lawson on Monday afternoons from 3:30-4:30 pm in Mrs. Lawson’s room, where they participate as part of the nationwide Math Counts program. Math Counts is a multi-level competition where teams of students compete against other teams in math and problem solving. Each competition consists of four rounds: Sprint, Target, Team, and Countdown. Divine Mercy Academy has their school competition in early winter, with the top four qualifiers earning spots on the official Divine Mercy Academy team. But don’t worry – up to ten additional students can compete as individuals! In February all Divine Mercy Academy mathletes compete in the Annapolis Chapter Regional competition, with a chance to continue onto the State and possibly National levels! Students can sign up by reaching out to Mr. Lawson at [email protected] , or through their respective math teachers. See you at math club!

Self Defense

The self-defense system taught is called Meta Mu Do.  It’s a custom/hybrid system of personal protection utilizing several martial arts styles blended together intelligently.  This system draws from Tae Kwon Do for moving nimbly and striking powerfully, Hapkido-based techniques for standing struggle and weapon defenses, and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu-based techniques for ground grappling and assault protection. 

This is a modern, practical, comprehensive, and highly effective training program for ordinary people.  MMD has 3 major training goals:  it is an effective self-defense training against potential violence, it emphasizes character development and empowerment, and promotes overall physical and mental health through persistent training.

Dance Troupe