Week at a Glance
Marian Central Catholic High School Faculty Newsletter
January 25, 2020
Reflecting on the past week...
Well, it was a short week, but certainly a good one! We are fully staffed, students are learning, and staff members are continuously raising the bar through lesson planning and delivery! Work is also continuing on next year's curriculum offerings, student placement, and staffing decisions. Please continue prayers for our school that our enrollment continues to improve, allowing us to preserve the integrity of our curriculum offerings, classroom environments, and staff.
Another key activity that we are immersed in is working on our strategic plan, including developing common definitions on key terminology within our school's priority statements. Each of you received an email this past week reminding you of the three priority statements and asking you to help further develop these statements with clear objectives and initiatives that will drive our school through the next several years. Please take the time, if you haven't already, to step into the faculty lounge, look at these statements and the butcher papers on the wall with the keywords on them, and contribute to defining these words. Without your contribution, we as a staffulty will not be able to reach our school's full potential... together. The sheets will be up until the end of day Monday, and then the Department Chairs will be reviewing them. Thank you for your help in this matter.
Thanks to Mrs. Hilton for sharing the exciting news that we are transitioning to online student course selection. This will truly streamline the process, allowing us to have a better handle on course enrollment predictions earlier and the ability to make clearer, more definitive decisions earlier. Once course selection is completed, administration will be pushing out letters of intent to all faculty to complete.
Finally, Mr. Shukis shared our first steps as we dive into the book study on Discipline with Dignity. As he outlined on Friday, please anticipate reading one chapter per week and responding to several questions. Mr. Shukis and Mr. J Price will be pushing out the Google Classroom log in early next week, which will be the platform in which to participate in these discussions. When we work together to understand, define, and enact a common discipline policy, our school culture will continue to strengthen and thrive.
What's coming up?
Welcome to Catholic Schools Week! This week is a great opportunity to remember why we chose the amazing vocation of being Catholic educators. That being said, if given the opportunity, please also find time within your classrooms to discuss the privilege they have in being a student in a Catholic high school. Some of those include...
- Grounded in our faith, morals, & values
- Service-oriented
- Rigorous curriculum
- High expectations
- Supportive parents/families/community
- Effective pathway to higher education, including the percentage of students going to college and the number of scholarship opportunities
Catholic Schools Week brings two other special events... the McHenry Deanery County-Wide mass Thursday, January 29 and NHS's annual drive. Every year we invite students from all of our Deanery feeder schools to participate in this special mass. Please be aware of both the special bell schedule (All-county mass schedule) and the mass seating chart, as it is different than our normal all-school mass. In addition, as they have done in the past, NHS sponsors a Deanery drive... and this year it will be a children's book drive. All this week students and staff can deposit gently used children's books into boxes in our Theology classes. Please look through your home and be part of this wonderful drive! On the day of the all-county mass, the Deanery elementary students coming to participate in the mass will also be bringing collections from their schools... it will be a beautiful presentation on the day of the mass.
In addition, our wonderful Parent's Association is celebrating you, the faculty and staff of Marian, recognizing all of the wonderful things you do. The Parent's Association has laid out a plan to recognize you throughout the week. Please click here for all of the wonderful ways they intend on appreciating all you do. Enjoy!
We are also cheering out a couple of Fine Arts stand-outs this week Wednesday! Emily Ostrowski will be recognized for being part of the All-State Theater Production of Aida during this January's Theaterfest and Hannah Paulsen will be recognized as she participates in the Illinois Music Education Association State Chorus! The Cheer-Out will be Wednesday at 2:20 pm starting by the Chapel and continuing down the main hallway, accompanied by our Marian Pep Band. If you have classes upstairs, please feel free to bring your students downstairs to recognize these accomplished students! We will be dismissing students directly after the cheer-out.
Finally, don't forget that we have another Extended Mentor Homeroom Wednesday as well. This homeroom will have our student mentors helping our freshmen understand how to choose course for next year. Thanks for supporting the Mentor program throughout the year.
It will be a wonderful week!
MARCH FOR LIFE
Did You Forget your GCN Training?
As shared back in August, all trainings must be completed no later than April 1, 2020.
If you have already completed your trainings, thank you for being so pro-active! If you have not, please print out the Certificate of Completion once you have completed all of your designated trainings.
If you need assistance logging into your account, please contact Ms. Novy.
Catechist Certification Opportunities
DeKalb Deanery Offers:
February 1, 2020
Level 1 Part 2
St. Mary's in DeKalb
Click here for more information
TECHNOLOGY CORNER
Upcoming Technology PD:
IDEAcon, formerly the ICE Conference
February 24 - 27, 2020
Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Conference Center
Great Ways to use Technology in your classrooms!
Professional Development Opportunities & Resources
Teacher's Teacher : A wide variety of online courses are offered, designed to meet the changing needs of teachers.
Reading & Writing Seminars & Podcasts
ASCD Webinars: A variety of online webinars. Here you can access recent or archived professional learning.
Remember that you have this resource available to you!
Your SchoolShelf URL: http://www.schoolshelf.com/981085-marian
This Week's Schedule
As you work through your plans this week, please note these events. For a more detailed list, check out our school calendar, 8to18 Athletics Calendar or Clubs/Organizations Page
Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020
March for Life
9:00 am ~ Spring Production Set/Costume Work, Auditorium
1:00 pm ~ McHenry County Honors Band Performance, Woodstock North HS
Monday, Jan. 27, 2020
Catholic Schools Week
9:00 am ~ Facilities/Director's Meeting, rm 145
2:35 pm ~ Confessions, Chapel
2:45 pm ~ Mass, Chapel
2:50 pm ~ Department Chair Meeting, rm 145
3:00 pm ~ Musical Rehearsal, Auditorium
Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020
Catholic Schools Week
7:15 am ~ Academic Breakfast, Cafeteria
2:35 pm ~ Confessions, Chapel
2:45 pm ~ Mass, Chapel
3:00 pm ~ Musical Rehearsal, Auditorium
7:30 pm ~ Athletic Booster Club Meeting, Annex
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020
Catholic Schools Week
Extended Homeroom Schedule # 5
2:20 pm ~ State Cheer Out for Theater & ILMEA participants, first-floor hallway
2:35 pm ~ Confessions, Chapel
2:45 pm ~ Mass, Chapel
3:00 pm ~ Musical Rehearsal, Auditorium
Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020
Catholic Schools Week Special Bell Schedule
10:00 am ~ CSW All Deanery Mass, Landers Pavilion
3:00 pm ~ Musical Rehearsal, Auditorium
Friday, Jan. 31, 2020
Catholic Schools Week
Spirit Dress Down Day
Lead Conference
2:35 pm ~ Confessions, Chapel
2:45 pm ~ Mass, Chapel
3:00 pm ~ Musical Rehearsal, Auditorium
Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020
Lead Conference
9:00 am ~ Spring Production Set/Costume Work, Auditorium
6:30 pm ~ Winter Formal, Aux Gym
Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020
Lead Conference