MCCHS FRIDAY FOCUS
99th Edition: January 11, 2019
Pilgrims on the Way of Truth
We hit the ground running this semester with our Junior Kairos Retreat - and we have all been praying for the students, chaperones, student-leaders, and facilitators as they experience this wonderful opportunity to press pause in their very busy lives and focus on their spiritual health.
This week also was a time for our teachers to finalize grades from Semester 1 exams. We were able to open the Parent Grade Portals today as planned, and even printed and mailed out all report cards today as well!
Please consider joining us this Tuesday evening in the Cafeteria for our next Conversations that Matter discussion series. This session focuses on vaping and e-cigarette use amongst teens and even pre-teens. We have invited outside health-care professionals to present the most up-to-date evidence and information for our families - so please consider bringing anyone you feel would benefit from this evening! This session is not limited to just Marian families - so if you have friends outside of Marian that are interested in this session, please bring them along! Walk-ins are always welcome - but if you know you're coming, please fill out the invite below (so we know how many cookies to order!)
A new semester can be a new beginning for our students. It's a fresh, empty gradebook page for teachers and students alike. What a great opportunity to start over - or remain on a successful path. We wish everyone a joyful new year and successful second semester!
WEEK AT-A-GLANCE January 12 - 18, 2019
Click on date below for daily Scripture Readings!
BOOK DRIVE ALL WEEK - Bring a new book to donate to Lurie's Children's Hospital!
9:00 am: Musical Set, Costume, Dance
1:00 pm: Girls So Basketball vs Indian Creek
2:30 pm: Girls Var Basketball vs Indian Creek
8:55 am: ALL SCHOOL MASS in Landers Pavilion - ALL ARE WELCOME!
4th - 6th Pds: Confessions in Chapel
2:30 pm: Confessions in Chapel
2:30 pm: ACT Practice Session in Library (pre-registration required)
Tuesday, January 15, 2019 - LATE START - School Begins at 9:45 am
9:25 am: Daily Mass in Chapel
9:40 am: WARNING BELL
9:45 am: 1st Period begins
4th - 6th Pds: Adoration in Chapel
2:30 pm: Confessions in Chapel
2:30 pm: ACT Practice Session in Library (pre-registration required)
7:00 pm: CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER: Vaping and E-Cig in Cafeteria (see below)
7:45 am: Daily Mass in Chapel
2:30 pm: Confessions in Chapel
5:00 pm: JV/Var Wrestling vs Prairie Ridge - SENIOR NIGHT!
March for Life - Washington, DC (no chapel services)
2:35 pm: Detention in Room 132
Friday, January 18, 2019 - Spirit Dress Down Day!
March for Life - Washington, DC (no chapel services)
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!
JANUARY 15th 7:00 PM CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER: Vaping & E-Cigarettes
Please JOIN US for this very important Conversations that Matter! As you've probably seen reported in the news recently, vaping amongst teens has DOUBLED in the past year! As medical research catches up to usage (and longer-range data is collected) there is clear evidence of not only grave health consequences but also behavioral and developmental side-effects as well!
Bring your family to learn what to look for, what the most updated medical findings report about this highly addictive behavior, and how to best promote the health and well-being of our students.
In a previous Friday Focus, we shared photos/signs of what to look for regarding e-cigarettes. If you find packaging or anything suspicious - please have that conversation with your student! Even if a student is 18, any vaping or related paraphernalia on school property is against school policy and will result in an immediate out-of-school suspension plus a Saturday detention.
Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program: An Opportunity for ALL!
In 2017, Illinois lawmakers passed the Invest in Kids Act, which has the potential to provide students from low-income and working-class families an opportunity to qualify for scholarship money to help fund the children’s tuition at a K -12 school of their choice.
There are two parts to this program…
Individual or corporate donors make contributions to the scholarship program, and in turn, they are eligible to receive a 75% state tax credit
Based on funds available, scholarships are then awarded to families who meet certain income requirements (click here for info in Spanish.)
How does a family apply?
There are two steps to this application process.
Visit the Empower Illinois website beginning Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at 7:00 pm Central Time to “reserve your place in line.” Soon after, you will receive an email providing instructions about setting up your student portal.
Starting Friday, January 18, 2019 families can then access the application through your student portal.
Empower Illinois will begin awarding scholarships as early as January 28, 2019 and will continue through the beginning of the 2019-20 school year, or until the available funds are depleted.
Please reference the attached paperwork for further details on either donating or applying for the scholarship. (English and Spanish versions available)
Empower Illinois: Donation Information
Empower Illinois: Tax Credit Scholarship Program
Empower Illinois: El Programa de Becas de Credito Tributario
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
College Counselor's Corner
There’s a word that begins with the letter “D” that strikes fear and uncertainty into the hearts of every high school senior who sees it when reading admission decisions from colleges they’ve applied to. It’s a word young people today don’t usually hear. It’s meaning is nebulous and often misunderstood. That word is deferred.
Read more about it here...
See you next week!
Parents Meeting will be Tuesday, February 19 at 7:00 PM!
WINTER DANCE: January 26, 2019 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Our Winter Dance is coming up at the end of this month!
Ticket sales ($10 per ticket) will take place during all lunch periods from Monday, January 14th through Thursday, January 17th in the school office. Please purchase tickets early to avoid last-minute lines, as the office staff will not issue hall-passes.
Please refer to our Dance Dress Code and respect our policies regarding appropriate attire. Students who are in violation of our reasonable attire guidelines (or whose date is in violation) will be issued detention, and may be denied entry into the dance.
SENIOR SEMESTER 2 EXAM EXEMPTIONS
At the beginning of the year, we shared with all seniors during a class assembly the new exam exemption program we began with last year's class. We want to encourage our seniors to finish their high school career strong, reward students who have been working so hard to be a great student in every aspect, and perhaps even ease a little exam anxiety towards the end of the year. Last year was a great success and we received positive feedback from students, teachers, and parents.
Please read through the 2018-2019 Senior Exam Exemption form. Seniors will be responsible for printing, completing, and submitting this form for consideration.
Here are the general criteria that we will be able to measure:
SENIOR FINAL EXEMPTION CRITERIA
Academics:
Senior students must be passing their course BOTH Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 with a minimum 91% (rounded) B+, in order to waive out of that respective final exam.
Senior Students have the option of taking their final exam, if doing so increases the chances of earning a better grade.
Discipline:
Senior students must have accumulated NO MORE THAN three (3) detention hours over the course of the entire 2018-2019 school year.
Attendance:
Senior students must have a minimum of 94% attendance rate (no more than 5 excused absences) for second semester.
Senior students must have no more than 5 excused absences for the class during second semester.
Extended medical situations approved by the administration and/or medical emergencies supported by medical documentation will not count towards the excused absences, tardies, or early dismissals.
Off-site college visits will not count toward the attendance criteria if the visit is pre-approved by administration and is verified upon return with a letter from the college visit
School-sponsored absences, such as spiritual retreats, administrative-approved field trips, and school-sports early releases will not count toward the attendance criteria.
APPEAL PROCESS:
We did have several students appeal exemption decisions last year since they knew a grade was in progress. This worked out very well - and we were able to approve a few more exemptions as a result. Students may appeal if they do not receive preliminary approval for an exemption- or know in advance that a grade needs a second look (for pending grade change.) We review all appeals and watch those grades closely. Appeals were mostly regarding grade-update issues and a few unique attendance situations. Discipline appeals, however, will not be considered. For the sake of clear, advanced communication to students and teachers, the appeal deadlines are firm and all appeal decisions are final.
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 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23rd 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! Originally scheduled for Jan. 16th - it has been moved to JANUARY 23rd!
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!
Rockin' the Hill: Steven Tyler & The Loving Mary Band
Marian Central has received an exclusive invitation to be part of a private, invitation-only concert in Woodstock. Tickets for 2019’s hottest concert of the year at Bunker Hill Farms are now on sale. Don’t wait and miss a chance to see Steven Tyler & The Loving Mary Band at Rockin' The Hill on July 27th, 2019! Get your tickets now and start planning for what’s going to be the most talked about night of 2019!
Please note this is a private event and we ask that you not share this broadly with your network, but rather with key people who you feel will support Marian Central and would enjoy this exclusive event. Bunker Hill Farms strictly prohibits any mention on ANY social media platform.
Bunker Hill Charities is granting 100% of all ticket proceeds to local charities so make sure to type in Marian Central when you are prompted to answer how you were invited.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, July 27th, 2019
Location: Bunker Hill Farms in Woodstock, IL
Time: Doors Open at 5pm
Due to the popularity of the event, tickets are selling quickly! Make sure to purchase your tickets ASAP. Purchase tickets now
For more information, click here.