MCCHS FRIDAY FOCUS

23rd Edition: March 3, 2017

Pilgrims on the Way of Truth

From the Superintendent


The Council of Administration met this past Tuesday for its quarterly meeting. At the meeting, the members received an update to our superintendent search. We have received resumes from local and national candidates. Four of those candidates will be coming to the school in the next week or so to meet with the school's Executive Committee and get a tour of the building. Then, not long after, the strongest candidates from that pool will again be interviewed by a larger group consisting of representatives from Marian's constituencies. Each week, we take another step toward selecting our new superintendent.


The council also voted to approve several changes for our school. One was the name of our school chapel. Our chapel acts as the heart of our community, a place where students, teachers, sports teams, and families have gathered to pray and dedicate themselves to Jesus. This past December, we reaffirmed that belief by consecrating our entire school to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and placing pictures of the Sacred Hearts in the hallway outside of the chapel. Thus, based on these facts, and at the suggestion of the school spiritual director, the council approved officially to name our chapel the Sacred Hearts Chapel.


The other major change concerned the school calendar. For years, we have received suggestions from teachers and families to alter our schedule so that 1st semester exams take place before Christmas. This change would not only allow our students and families to rest easier during the Christmas holiday, but would also bring our schedule closer into alignment with most colleges and area high schools. Ms. Novy has spent many weeks trying to sketch out what kind of changes our calendar would need to undergo in order to make it happen, and developed a draft schedule that was presented to the council this past week. The council unanimously approved the draft schedule.


Therefore, at this time, we are announcing some of the basic dates for next year's school calendar. A more detailed calendar summary will be released after spring break, but we wished to share key start and end dates with you know for your planning purposes:


August 16 -- Freshmen Orientation

August 17 -- First full day for all students

October 19-20 -- 1st Quarter Exams

December 19-21 -- 1st Semester Exams

December 22-January 5 -- Christmas Holiday

January 8 -- Beginning of 2nd Semester

March 14-15 -- 3rd Quarter Exams

March 26-30 -- Spring Break

May 22-24 -- 2nd Semester Exams

May 25 -- Graduation


Finally, a reminder about student illness: students who feel ill during the school day must go to the office in order to be excused from school. No student will be allowed to leave unless one of our school secretaries has contacted a parent or guardian directly first. Having a student contact a parent independently of the office will not be enough to dismiss them, nor will the office pull a student out of class if a parent arrives to pick up a student without the office knowing in advance. Please, remind your students that, if they feel ill, they must see Mrs. Carlton in the office so that she can contact a parent.

March 7th Late Start CANCELLED!

March 7th Late Start CANCELLED!

Please be aware that this week's late start (March 7th) has been cancelled. All bus schedules will follow the normal start time of 8:05am, so please plan for your students to be at their stops at the regular time. Also, if your student is driving, please remind them that there is no late start, and they are required to report to their 1st period classes by 8:05am as usual.
"Laissez les bons temps rouler!" at this year's Dinner Auction March 11th!

"Laissez les bons temps rouler!" at this year's Dinner Auction March 11th!

"Let the good times roll!" with friends, food, dancing, and music AND help support our beloved school!


Click HERE to order your Dinner/Dance Tickets


A Night in New Orleans MCCHS Dinner Auction Welcomes Donations!

You can help make it a night to remember by donating special items for the silent and/or live auctions! Check out this idea page for Auction Baskets! Please contact the Marian Central Development Office at (815) 338-4220, ext. 124 or 126, or email devoffice@marian.com for additional assistance! See you all on March 11th for this wonderful celebration that supports our dear school!

Week At-A-Glance: March 4 - March 10, 2017

Sunday, March 5, 2017

  • 12:00 - 2:00pm - Junior Canes Girls Basketball TRYOUTS in Landers Pavilion and Aux Gym


Monday, Mar. 6, 2017

  • 1st pd- Hope for Haitians charity drive begins!
  • 8:15am - Soph. Girls Retreat leaves for Church of Holy Apostles, McHenry (return by 2:30pm)
  • 3:00 pm: RAFFLE TICKET SALES CONTEST ENDS!

Tuesday, Mar. 7, 2017 - Late Start CANCELLED! School begins at 8:05am!

  • 8:15am - Soph. Boys retreatents leave for Church of Holy Apostles, McHenry (return by 2:30pm)
  • 7:00 pm - Parent Association Meeting in Annex (all are welcome!!!)


Wednesday, Mar. 8, 2017

  • Senior Overnight Retreat leaves (returning Thursday)
  • 2:30 - 5:30pm - Practice ACT Part 1 in Library


Thursday, Mar. 9, 2017

  • 1st pd - Bradley University college rep in Guidance
  • 2:30 - 4:15pm - Practice ACT Part II in Library
  • 7:00 - 9:00pm - Grade School Championships in Landers Pavilion
  • 7:30 - 9:00pm - Floor Hockey in Aux Gym

Friday, Mar. 10, 2017 - SPIRIT DRESS DOWN DAY!

  • 10:41am - 11:55am - Herff Jones Grad Orders distributed during lunches


SATURDAY, March 11, 2017 6:00 pm DINNER/DANCE AUCTION!!!!


These are just the highlights of the major events happening this week at Marian.


Detailed ATHLETIC CALENDAR (practices/away games): 8to18 Athletics Calendar.

Detailed CLUBS CALENDAR (meetings/events): Clubs/Organizations Page

Grade-Level Jeep Raffle Sales Contest Feb. 21st through Mar. 6th!

Grade-Level Jeep Raffle Sales Contest Feb. 21st through Mar. 6th!

WHO WANTS A DAY OFF FROM SCHOOL?


WHAT: Winning grade level gets FRIDAY, APRIL 28th OFF! (yes...PROM DAY!)

WHO: Each Grade Level

WHEN: February 21st - March 6th (3pm)

WHY: Ticket sales benefit MC Financial Aid Program

HOW: drop sold ticket stubs & money collected in your grade-level collection box every day of the competition:

MAIN COMMONS - Before School

CAFETERIA - During Lunch Periods

SCHOOL OFFICE - All Other Times


All tickets are marked with the student's grade level to keep track of the competition!


Tickets (envelopes containing 10 tickets per student) will be distributed during 9th period on Tuesday, Feb. 21st. Unsold tickets may be returned to the school office - or PICK UP MORE TO SELL! This is a completely voluntary sales event - and we offer this in the spirit of friendly competition while raising funds to help support our financial aide program here at Marian Central.


Any questions, please contact our wonderful Development Team at (815) 338-4220 ext. 124 or 126, or email devoffice@marian.com. Thank you for your support!
FEELING SICK AT SCHOOL? Here's what to do!

FEELING SICK AT SCHOOL? Here's what to do!

Dear families - please help us support this necessary school policy by talking to your students about this procedure:


If your student becomes ill during the school-day, the first thing the student should do is COME TO THE OFFICE and report the illness. We must follow the proper protocol to then contact the parent to ensure the safety of the student. Students have been told not to text parents from class. We end up receiving phone calls from concerned parents who received a text from their child, but we have no child in the office, nor knowledge of the child's illness. You can understand the concern and confusion this causes in the front office, as well as the additional disruption to classes this creates.

So, here are the proper steps to take when feeling ill during school:


Feeling sick?

Come to the front office immediately!

Our staff must call your parent/guardian.

Our office staff MUST receive approval from your parent/guardian to release you (either being picked up/drive self home.)


According to the school handbook (page 15): Students becoming ill during the school day should report to the school office receptionist. The parents will be notified of this and appropriate procedures will be followed.
Hope for Haitians Charity Drive March 6th - March 23rd!

Hope for Haitians Charity Drive March 6th - March 23rd!

Our very own Catholics in Action (CIA) has taken on the challenge of providing hope to a country that has suffered many challenges in the past few years. They have decided to collaborate with Hope for Haitians to help provide accessible homes and resources for families in need. This is an organization that works towards building villages in Haiti and providing proper living conditions. CIA will be hosting a school-wide money drive to raise donations for the construction of such villages. During our Lenten Season, please consider sharing our many blessings with those who are in need. If every student donates $10, enough money will be raised to construct a home for a family! Imagine being able to provide this stability and safety to a family in need!
PARENTS' ASSOCIATION MEETING - March 7th at 7:00pm in the Annex!

PARENTS' ASSOCIATION MEETING - March 7th at 7:00pm in the Annex!

Want to get involved and help support Marian Central? The MCCHS Parent Association will be hosting a meeting TUESDAY, March 7th at 7:00 pm in the Annex building (next to the chapel) and ALL ARE WELCOME to attend!


Interested in helping, but can't make this meeting? Please email Parent Association President, Patti Corn at mccpa@marian.com


The Association will be discussing end-of-year events, as well as begin planning next year! We have projects that fit every schedule - whether you can only help with one event or all - we appreciate EVERY minute of support!

C.I.A.: Catholics in Action - Living Our Faith Every Day!

MCCHS Math Team Launches Competition Season!

Moody Math Challenge February 26th at Marian Central

Moody Math Challenge February 26th at Marian Central

The M3 Challenge spotlights applied mathematics as a powerful problem-solving tool and as a viable and exciting profession. Participating students are encouraged to explore and bolster their mathematical modeling know-how to position themselves for success. The specific real-world problem that is posed each year is entirely unknown to participants until they login during Challenge weekend. The Challenge is entirely Internet-based with no registration or participation fees. High schools in the U.S. (including US territories and DoDEA schools) may enter up to two teams of three to five junior and/or senior students; homeschool and cyber school students may also participate. Winners receive scholarship prizes totaling $150,000!



The top six prize-winning teams receive scholarship awards ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, which are divided equally among team members and paid directly to the colleges or universities at which they enroll. Semi-finalist and honorable mention winners (more than 80 awards) receive team prizes of $1,500 and $1,000, respectively.


  • Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Teams making it through triage judging into Round 2 are notified.
  • Wednesday, March 22, 2017 Top six, semi-finalist, and honorable mention teams are notified.
  • Monday, April 24, 2017 Confirmation judging with presentations by top six teams, followed by awards ceremony at Moody's Corporation headquarters in Manhattan. Details to be announced.

Students on the team.

Jacob Fiedler

Mathew Snell

Jayson Wieczorek

Sierra Teeter

News & Announcements:

Attenion SENIORS! Your Graduation Announcements are IN (March 10th)

Herff Jones will deliver graduation announcements and senior products on Friday, March 10th during lunch periods in the Cafeteria. Bring your balance due to pick up your order. Personal checks will NOT be accepted for final payment. You may bring cash on delivery or pay online at www.highschool.herffjones.com. For more information, please call Herff Jones at (815) 756-4743. Extra announcements will be available for purchase!


Calling all SENIORS - It's BABY PHOTO TIME!

The Yearbook Staff is collecting your baby photos for inclusion in this year's Memorare. Detailed postcards are mailing out to all seniors, but here's the info:

WHAT: your baby photo (preferred 6 months - 2 years)

HOW: turn in the photo to your English instructor, making sure you have clearly printed your FULL NAME and English instructor's name on the back.

WHEN: all photos must be turned in by March 9th. The staff will carefully scan all photos and return them through your English class soon after that! Questions? Please email s. Gallagher at kgallagher@marian.com

MCCHS Clubs & Organizations Page

Click here for information regarding all the different clubs and organizations here at Marian! Also included is a calendar exclusively showing meeting/activity dates!

Visit the Marian Central Website!

All announcements, schedules, and forms are published on our Marian website for your convenience! After any new announcements are broadcast via email, we make sure we post a permanent link to the information on our website for your reference.