MCCHS FRIDAY FOCUS
196th EDITION: May 28, 2021
From the Desk of Mr. Mike Shukis
To the Marian Central Community,
The last two school years have certainly been unusual. We at Marian Central realize that so many school activities had to be changed, canceled, or greatly modified and these changes did have an impact on our students, families, and all of us who work at Marian. We all hoped and prayed that whatever we were able to do for our students would in some small way bring fond memories to all who participated. This was a daily goal we set for ourselves. Now that instruction has concluded for the year, we will be working diligently through the summer to prepare Marian Central for whatever we will encounter in the fall.
At this time, we feel strongly that Marian Central will open for in-person learning in the fall for all students. We still will await more specific guidelines from the Governor’s office, the Health Department, and the Diocese of Rockford. I am sure we will need to make plans for all the possibilities that may come our way, however, we will be working toward our goal of bringing all of our students back to Marian Central in August. Whenever we hear about any guidelines or policy changes, we will quickly inform our school community.
COVID-19 has changed so much for all of us and this summer will not be typical either. On Tuesday we will begin the summer long work of preparing for the fall. As always, we will look forward to seeing the beautiful faces of your children in a school where Jesus Christ is the center of our each and every day. Currently, I do not know exactly what our school days will look like in the fall or how our buildings will have to adapt, but this will become much clearer over time.
I do share a request to our families, faculty and staff, and all members of our school community. Please help us by remaining positively engaged, so all our efforts can be directed toward our work for the fall. Life is uncertain right now. Through the pandemic, with death, loss, and financial distress, it should remind those of faith to put their full trust in God. Together, we can show a world that needs hope, that Marian Central Catholic High School can be a light that helps show the way.
Mike Shukis
Superintendent
Book Lists, Parking, Bus Info & More
Financial assistance letters and tuition packets will be mailed to your home during mid June. Included in this packet is the book list, Participating Parish Form and information regarding yearbooks, parking, buses and other fees.
Class of 2022 - Meningitis Vaccination Documentation
Please make sure the office has documentation of your second meningococcal vaccine by October 15, 2021. If you have not yet received your second vaccine, summer is the perfect time to get that scheduled. Please contact kjohnson@marian.com with any questions.
2021-22 Calendar
Parents Association Needs YOU!
The Marian Central Parents Association (MCPA) is looking for enthusiastic volunteers! As you know, it takes many hands behind the scenes to make every school event a success. Whether you can make a regular time commitment or only have an hour or two to spare, you truly can make a positive impact on our beloved school!
We will meet on a monthly basis (at a time we all decide works best for the group) and will do most of our planning via email. Please consider being a part of this dynamic group and help us turn a "wish list" into a DONE list!
We are looking forward to a successful school year and can't wait to make wonderful things happen at Marian Central with you all!
Golf Outing - 50% Sold Out
NEW This Year!
Choose your golf location:
Play 18 Holes at Bull Valley Golf Club
Shotgun Start at 11:00 am
OR
Play 9 Holes at Woodstock Country Club
Shotgun Start at 1:30 pm
Monday, July 26, 2021
Dinner event will begin at 5:00 pm
To register or sponsor the 49th Marian Central Golf Outing, visit mariangolf.givesmart.com
From Mr. Stamatakos - College Search Info for Juniors
Juniors & Junior Parents,
As we approach the end of the school year, I’d like to offer a few updates and reminders about the college search process.
Individual junior meetings: This past spring, I met individually with nearly every student in the junior class to learn about and help them start each of their unique college searches. These meetings have been informative, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with this rising senior class. During these meetings, I reminded each student that my entire job is connected to the college search, and I’m here to be a resource whenever they need throughout the next year. I’d like to invite any juniors and junior parents who didn’t meet with me this spring to meet with me over the next two weeks to check in and see what I can assist with college-wise.
I will teach a College Essay Writing Workshop this summer here at Marian Central. This course is designed to help rising seniors better understand how to produce an effective, personalized, and compelling personal essay for college admission. The course consists of a thorough lecture series, continuous instruction on strategies and techniques, and daily individual writing conferences with me on each and every draft of the essay – from topic ideas through the finished product. While a student’s academic record, course selection, and co-curricular activities are still central to college acceptance, standardized testing is losing importance. As a result, essays are becoming more important; they allow admission counselors to connect with applicants on a personal level and learn about the individuals applying to their schools. The workshop will be held from Monday August 2nd – Friday, August 6th. Please watch the Friday Focus and your E-mail account for more information about how to register for this workshop.
Mark your calendar for COLLEGE APPLICATION NIGHT. All seniors and senior parents are strongly encouraged to attend. College Application Night has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 17th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and will be held virtually. This program will outline the logistics of applying to college as a Marian Central student so that we all have a great fall semester!
Also, mark your calendar for FINANCIAL AID Q&A NIGHT. This program is designed to give parents of seniors an understanding of how the application process for need-based financial aid works using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile. Our presenter will be Susan Teerink, Director of Student Financial Services at Marquette University. This program is scheduled for Tuesday, September 21st from 6:30-7:30 p.m. As we did this year, Susan will record a presentation (roughly ½ hour long) explaining the financial aid application process that can be viewed before the program. Anyone who has questions about the presentation, or about financial aid topics not covered in the presentation, is welcome to attend the Q&A session on September 21st to ask Susan questions. Like College Application Night, Financial Aid Q&A Night will also be a virtual program.
Summer availability for college advising: While I will not be at school during the summer months, I am regularly available via E-mail to answer questions and to schedule meetings via Zoom. I encourage both students and parents to E-mail me as questions as concerns arise. I am more than happy to schedule meetings with both students individually and with parents during the summer as needed.
Remember to use the summer months wisely! This can be a convenient time to visit college campuses (both near and far), and it is the ideal time for students to start finalizing the list of colleges which they will apply to. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions or things I can help you with!