MCCHS FRIDAY FOCUS
101st EDITION: January 25, 2019
Pilgrims on the Way of Truth
Celebrating National Catholic Schools Week!
As mentioned, we are keeping a close eye on the weather! It was funny to see how quickly so many teenagers turned into scholarly meteorologists this past week! We hope you all had a chance to read our email sent yesterday (if not - here's a COPY for your convenience) that details what we are facing, and how we will communicate to our families.
To our students joining us tomorrow night for the Winter Dance - we can't wait to see you! Remember, the dance begins at 6:30 pm and ends promptly at 9:30 pm. PLEASE WEAR YOUR COATS! There's plenty of room to store them in the gym!
We hope you all have a safe, WARM, and restful weekend!
Marian Central Students Join the March for Life 2019 in Washington, D.C.!
WEEK AT-A-GLANCE January 26 - February 1, 2019
Click on date below for daily Scripture Readings!
9:00 am - 5:00 pm: Musical Rehearsal
12:00 pm: Girls So Basketball vs Benet Academy
1:30 pm: Girls Var Basketball vs Benet Academy
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm: Winter "Snowball" Dance
All-County Mass - Cancelled due to forecasted weather
7:45 am: Daily Mass in Chapel
4th - 6th pm: Confessions in Chapel
2:30 pm: Confessions in Chapel
7:00 pm: Senior Breakfast Planning Meeting in Annex
7:45 am: Daily Mass in Chapel
4th - 6th Pds: Adoration in Chapel
2:30 pm: Confessions in Chapel
7:00 pm: MC Auction PLANNING MEETING in the Annex - All Welcome!
Extended Homeroom Schedule
7:45 am: Daily Mass in Chapel
2:30 pm: Confessions in Chapel
7:45 am: Daily Mass in Chapel
4th - 6th pd: Adoration in Chapel
2:30 pm: Confessions in Chapel
2:35 pm: Detention in Room 231 (O Herron)
Friday, February 1, 2019 - SPIRIT DRESS DOWN DAY!
7:45 am: Daily Mass in Chapel
2:30 pm: Confessions
Check out our detailed Athletic Calendar for all practice times, team dinners, and "Away" games for this week!
For a detailed calendar of all MCCHS Clubs & Organizations meetings and events, please see our Clubs & Organizations Website!
A Message from Fr. Twenty: Follow-Up to our Last Conversations that Matter
At our “Conversations That Matter” on vaping, we had an insightful presentation on the dangerous effects of this habit on our teens, as well as a fruitful discussion on the specific tactics that Marian Central is taking to combat this epidemic, and what we all we can do as a community to help our teens avoid it. I myself said a few words from a spiritual, moral, and psychological perspective, and I share them here in hopes it might help.
I am obviously no expert in parenting, but I do have significant experience helping people overcome bad habits. Typically, three aspects are necessary for turning things around and making better choices in life. First, we need to be acutely aware of the dangers of the bad habit we are trying to overcome. Second, we need to have a specific plan of discipline for ourselves to help us avoid it. These two were covered well in the presentation and initial discussion at the “Conversations That Matter.” The third aspect, which I believe is the most important, is to have a clear positive image of the type of person you could be if you let go of this or that particular sin or harmful practice in your life. This provides the proper motivation and inspiration we need to help us move toward our goal. We all need to be reminded of our great dignity as being created in the image and likeness of God, and redeemed and destined by Christ to spend eternity with Him.
So my recommendation to parents is this:
First, initiate conversations, early and often, with your children about vaping. They will most likely not come to you about it on their own, and one discussion is not enough. In these talks, first focus on helping them to visualize a positive image of themselves. Help them to recognize that deep within their heart, they do in fact want to be a happy, holy, and healthy person. They do want to have the strength of character to not give in to peer pressure, albeit in a non-judgmental way. By starting the dialogue with this positive outlook, rather than beginning with the fear factor, you are creating a more comfortable environment for them to engage with you and open up to you.
Second, help them come up with a plan on how to avoid vaping and to resist the peer pressure surrounding it. Perhaps your child is vaping, doesn’t know how to stop, and is scared to tell you about it. These first two steps, if repeatedly and regularly taken, will make it easier and easier for them to work on it and maybe even start talking with you about it.
The final part is certainly important, though I would not recommend it until after the above has been adequately emphasized. At this point you can continually remind them of the dangers of vaping. Be informed. Be more informed than your child is. Otherwise, they will likely not listen. Understand that even before the health hazards and strong possibility of long term addiction, vaping is problematic for teens spiritually and morally. When they choose it, a number of things happen: their moral character is weakened, their sense of self-dignity is diminished, their strength in the face of peer pressure fades, they will feel forced to lie to those who love them most, and they become increasingly susceptible to other temptations and bad habits.
To sum up - talk, encourage, plan, and warn. I believe that if this is done consistently, you will greatly help your child not only to turn away from vaping, but also provide them with the spiritual, moral, and psychological tools they need to grow into happy, holy, and healthy people.
Oh, and by the way, don’t forget the most important thing - pray!
God bless,
Fr. 20
Celebrating Academic Achievements!
Quarter 2 Discipleship Award Recipients!
Quarter 2 Academic Excellence/Improvement Award Recipients!
Seeking Baked Goods for Teacher Appreciation Luncheon on Wednesday, January 30th
Please help us spoil our amazing teachers with a great lunch this Wednesday, January 30th!
If you can contribute any baked items - please contact Parent Association President, Mrs. Lori Lee at ll524@comcast.net or give her a call at (847) 309-0702!
Wrestling Team Makes MC HISTORY!
Congratulations to the wrestling team for the first time in school history going undefeated with a 22-0 record. Good luck tonight as they compete in the ESCC Wrestling Tournament held at St. Viator!
MC Musicians Earn Spots in McHenry Co Honors Band
MC Hosted Great Lakes JC Fencing Championships!
MC Annual Dinner Auction PLANNING MEETING: January 29th at 7:00 pm
Marian Central’s Annual Dinner Auction
April 13, 2019
Help plan THE PARTY!
Bring your friends and ideas, and join the fun!
Auction Planning Meeting is on Tuesday, January 29th
at 7pm in the Annex
Please RSVP to Lori at lhirsch@marian.com or 815-338-4220 ext. 124. If you are unable to attend the meeting but still want to help, please contact Lori.
ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS: Come Help Plan the SENIOR BREAKFAST!
Our graduating class will be celebrating their Senior Breakfast on Monday, May 20, 2019. We realize this is still months away - but it takes a lot of planning and coordination to make it memorable for our students!
We are hosting a Senior Breakfast Planning Meeting on MONDAY, JANUARY 28th at 7:00 pm in the ANNEX. Please consider joining us as we brainstorm themes and ideas for this celebration!
PLEASE NOTE THE DATE CHANGE OF THIS MEETING! We are hopeful this meeting will take place as scheduled!
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to our Parent Association President, Mrs. Lori Lee at ll524@comcast.net or give her a call at (847) 309-0702!
We are so excited to work together to make this the best Senior Breakfast!
Suicide Prevention Training Workshop presented at St. Thomas on Wednesday, Jan. 30th
St. Thomas is hosting a Suicide prevention Training Workshop, being put on by the McHenry County Crisis Team / Department of Mental health.
Each day across the US over 3,000 high school students attempt to commit suicide. 4 out of 5 of these students showed warning signs in advance. St. Thomas is offering a QPR Suicide prevention training to help parents and teens recognize the warning signs of suicide in friends and loved ones.
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
7:00 pm
Community Center - St. Thomas the Apostle Oak St. Church - 451 W. Terra Cotta Ave,
2 sessions - one for adults, one for teens
Check out the Facebook Event for More Info!
Open to the community, all are welcome
College Counselor's Corner
SCOIR is GO!
We’ve officially kicked off the “SCOIR Era” at Marian Central Catholic! SCOIR is our new college exploration and application management platform. Parents and members of the Guidance Office staff will be able to collaborate with Marian students on assembling college lists. Students will be able to explore colleges using unique landing pages that include robust school-related data and “walls” that allow students to explore colleges using a social media-like interface. In the near future, SCOIR will also allow students to complete personality inventories through YouScience. This will open up new opportunities for students and guidance counselors to explore students’ aptitudes and strengths as a way of beginning the career exploration process.
Over the past week, the Guidance staff visited with juniors in English classes to discuss PSAT and ACT scores and testing. Afterward, we sent every student in the junior class invitations to register with SCOIR through their Marian E-mail accounts and introduced them to the platform. Since college talk is about to get real for our juniors very, very shortly we decided to bring them on before bringing the sophomores and freshmen on. Our plan is to get students in the Classes of 2021 and 2022 registered later this semester.
I’d like to reinforce how important it is that our juniors get registered with SCOIR and start using the platform sooner rather than later. It’ll help immensely as I begin meeting with the juniors to help them select their senior year courses and as I help them formulate their college lists. I can say with certainty that it’s provided some awesome insight into the college searches of the students that are already using it!
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have about setting up SCOIR from the student or parent side. Exciting times are ahead!
Qapla’!
Jim Stamatakos
College Counselor
815-338-4220 x120
College Information Night
WHEN: Thursday, February 28th from 6:30-9:00 PM (Check in begins at 6:00 PM, Program begins at 6:30 PM)
WHERE: Marian Central Catholic Theatre
WHAT: An opportunity to learn about starting a college search, financial aid, and choosing a major. Students and families will also attend a question and answer session about college admission with a panel of college admission officers.
Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors and their parents/guardians are invited to attend this program. We strongly encourage juniors and their parents/guardians to attend College Information Night. We’ve put together a comprehensive program we’re confident will provide students and their families with insight into some of the most complicated and confusing parts of the college search.
We ask that those planning to attend this program please register online at: https://goo.gl/forms/pgZWJF5z8ye4jaQg1.
Please direct any questions about College Information Night to Mr. Stamatakos (jstamatakos@marian.com) or Mrs. Diamond (guidance@marian.com).
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, February 28th!
Sincerely,
The Marian Central Catholic Guidance Staff
Parents Meeting will be Tuesday, February 19 at 7:00 PM!