MCCHS FRIDAY FOCUS
195th EDITION: May 21, 2021
From the Desk of Mr. Curtis Price
Throughout the school year, I have been given the opportunity to share my thoughts and ideas as the athletic director at Marian Central through the Friday Focus. My job is only a small part of the work that is done at Marian Central. There is one department that should be recognized for all the hard work and dedication they put into making Marian Central a great place to learn. The Development Office is where everything begins for the Marian Central experience. The Development team consists of Lori Hirsch, Director of Alumni Relations, and Kaitlin Bordeaux, Director of Admissions and Development. I yield my final Friday Focus entry to Mrs. Kaitlin Bordeaux.
Marian Central Catholic High School’s Development Office works with the entire school community to further the school’s mission. The focus of the Development team is to support activities that ensure the continued growth and longevity at Marian Central. From admissions to fundraising and alumni relations, we assist the Marian Central community in helping make a difference in the lives of our students.
As an alumna of Marian Central, I have a deep passion for this school. When I think back on my years of high school, they are the foundation of who I am today. After having a positive experience and receiving a college-preparatory education, I am honored to afford others the same opportunities. Maya Angelou said it best, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” During my time as a student at Marian Central, the faculty and staff made me feel important and cared about, and I am blessed to do the same.
Class of 2021, as you prepare to graduate and become alumni, remember.. once a Hurricane, always a Hurricane. As you move on to the next phase of your life, we hope you never forget that Marian Central will always be your home, and we will welcome you back with open arms. Your Marian Central Catholic family will always be your biggest cheerleaders and we wish you the best!
2021-22 Calendar
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!
2021 INCubatoredu "Pitch Night"
Marian Alum, John McFadden, Ordination June 5th
Seminarian John A. McFadden will be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rockford on Saturday, June 5, 2021. John is the son of John B. and Patty McFadden, of Crystal Lake. John has a younger sister, Megan.
John attended St. Thomas the Apostle School in Crystal Lake, Marian Central Catholic High School in Woodstock, St. John Vianney College University of St. Thomas, and School of Divinity St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.
A spiritual bouquet is a gift of prayer for an individual and their intentions. Please help us make a glorious beautiful bouquet to offer Deacon John McFadden as he takes his final steps to his priestly ordination on June 5th. To participate log on to the link below and register to say a rosary for the priest elect in the coming weeks.
https://stthomascl.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/85 7735.
John’s ordination at St. Peter Cathedral in Rockford will be live streamed on Saturday, June 5, at 11:00 am – www.rockforddiocese.org.
All are invited to congratulate John and receive his priestly blessing on Saturday afternoon, June 5, from 3:00 pm to 4:15 pm, in the Community Room at St. Thomas the Apostle Church (451 W. Terra Cotta Avenue -- Route 176 and Oak St.).
Biking For Babies
St. Mary parishioner, Lucca Kenyon, invites all parishioners and the Marian community to participate in this year’s FIRST local Biking for Babies ride! Biking for Babies is a national nonprofit that works with pregnancy resource centers around the nation. Our mission is to transform the culture by sharing the life-saving stories from pregnancy resource centers, raising financial and spiritual support for these centers and forming pro-life missionaries.
Every year, young adults participate in a six-day National Ride with starting points in Colorado, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Mississippi. All routes meet in St. Louis, forming a cross which stretches throughout the nation, making for a total of roughly 2,600 miles.
This summer the local ride will take place Saturday, June 5th, 7:15-10:30 A.M. at Emricson Park Main Pavilion. This is the first-ever Woodstock Local Ride! This event is a ride, not a race, meaning it will not be timed and it is a family-friendly event. The event will consist of three routes: 3 miles, 9 miles, and 15 miles. These routes have been designed with the help of The Bike Haven, for which we are very appreciative.
Come out and bike for the babies! If you have any questions, please contact Lucca Kenyon, italylmk@icloud.com.