MCCHS FRIDAY FOCUS
Pilgrims on the Way of Truth
15th Edition January 6, 2017
We hope you all had a joyous, restful holiday break! January may feel like a bleak, cold month outside - but there are so many wonderful events happening here at Marian, it's hard not to have a SPRING in our step! Please check out the Highlights & News section below!
From the Superintendent
Before the Christmas break, Fr. Max Streidl (president of Marian's Council of Administration), Mr. Mike Kagan (diocesan superintendent of schools), and I met with representatives from Gonser Gerber, a search firm based in Naperville that will be conducting our superintendent search. The meeting was extremely productive. We provided them with information on our school, a basic picture of the position, and a tour of the building.
They gave us a tentative timeline of the search process. With the information that we provided, they would develop a job announcement that would go out on their network during January and February, both in print and electronically. The company said that, due to the great qualities of our school, we might expect a solid number of well-qualified candidates.
After receiving the candidates' resumes, the Executive Committee of the Council of Administration would then act as the school's first vetting committee, narrowing the number of candidates to a more manageable number. The candidates who pass the first vetting would then be interviewed by a second committee made up of school stakeholders, including teachers and parents. Based on those interviews, the committee would make a recommendation to the bishop, who would then interview the candidate/s and make a decision.
The hope is that the vetting and interview process will take place during late February and March, with a candidate chosen and hired by April. Of course, this is tentative and dependent on many factors outside of our control. But, I will keep you updated as the progress that we are making in finding our next leader for Catholic education in McHenry County. In the meantime, let us pray for the process and the candidate that God ultimately has in mind for us.
Week At-A-Glance: January 7 - 13, 2017
Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017
- 8:15 am - Incoming Freshman Placement Exam in the Cafeteria
- 8:00 am - Saturday Detention in Room 130 (please use Theatre Commons entrance)
- 9:00 am - Spring Musical Set Building in Auditorium
Monday, Jan. 9, 2017 - Tuition Payments Due today!
- 7:30 am - CIA (Catholics in Action) meeting in room 229
- 2:35 pm - Math Club meeting in room 126
- 2:45 pm - Club Med meeting in room 123
Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017 - SEMESTER 1 EXAMS: 10:35 am dismissal
- 8:05 am - 10:35 am - Periods 8 & 9 Exams
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 - SEMESTER 1 EXAMS: 11:50 am dismissal
- 8:05 am - 11:50 am - Periods 3, 4/5/6, 7 Exams
- 6:00 pm - Grade School Championship Basketball Games in Landers Pavillion
Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 - SEMESTER 1 EXAMS: 10:35 am dismissal
- 8:05 am - 10:35 am - Periods 1 & 2 Exams
Friday, Jan. 13, 2017 - NO SCHOOL, Teacher Institute
Rest! Relax! Recover!
- 3:00 pm - Girls & Boys Basketball team dinners in cafeteria
- 4:30 pm - Girls FR Basketball vs Marian Catholic in Aux Gym
- 6:00 pm - Girls SOPH Basketball vs Marian Catholic in Landers Pavillion
- 7:30 pm - Girls VARSITY Basketball vs Marian Catholic in Landers Pavillion
These are just the highlights of the activities happening this week at Marian. For a more detailed calendar, including all away games and practices, please visit our 8to18 Athletics Calendar. Or, click here for a more detailed look at the Marian Central school calendar (non-athletic.)
Highlights & News
A Perfect Score on the ACT!
We extend a HUGE congratulations to our very own Jacob Fiedler for scoring a 36 on his ACT! Did you know that only 0.108% of all ACT test-takers are able to achieve this perfect score? (prepscholar.com) Check out this wonderful article in the Northwest Herald about this talented and genuinely kind scholar!
Welcome 8th Graders!
We are hosting the Freshman Placement exams tomorrow morning - and it's always such a wonderful opportunity to greet our future Marian students and see them take this important step in their academic careers. Please plan to arrive by 8 am. Testing begins at 8:15 am and concludes by 11:15 am. No appointment or pre-registration is necessary! Bring your $15 testing fee; pencils are provided; calculators are not allowed. Please print the registration form and bring to the test.
Building, Painting, and Singing!
The Spring Musical, The Pajama Game, will be holding its first set-building tomorrow (Saturday) as well. Every amazing production set starts the same way: a set of blueprints, a stack of wood and set-flats, and dozens of eager students ready to build! We wish the crew and cast all the best during these early rehearsals!
Dance Team to Compete at Huntley!
Come out and support our talented dance team as they compete at the Huntley Invitational. They are scheduled to dance around 5:30 pm on Sunday, Jan. 8th and we wish them all the best as they officially launch their competition season!
Arranging Brain Space with NHS Tutoring!
Semester exams are also finally here! The classes have been filled with crucial review time, and our amazing NHS students have once again opened study sessions for all students. Walk-in tutoring is available January 6th and January 9th after school in room 218. Flyers have been posted throughout the school all week, so please encourage your student to take advantage of this opportunity!
Cafeteria will be OPEN during Exams!
The cafeteria will be OPEN before and during all semester exams, selling items from their snack bar. Students who have a study hall 4-6 on Wednesday will be required to report to the cafeteria in between their exams. Students who have study hall during any other period are asked to also report to the cafeteria should they arrive early, or need to remain after their other exams. Our wonderful cafeteria staff will also be serving made-to-order sub sandwiches EVERY DAY after the final dismissal bell each day of exams! We always appreciate how they take care of our students!
Attention Chilly Students! Help is on its way!
We are pleased to introduce two new items to our uniform selection! Available now, through Lands' End online, students may purchase a uniform fleece jacket or uniform fleece pull-over. Students are allowed to wear the jacket or pull-over OVER their Marian sweater or polo (both "seasons"!) These items are completely OPTIONAL for purchase - but are approved for use throughout the school day. We realize our beloved school has varying temperatures from class to class, so we hope this option helps our students remain comfortable and ready to learn! AND - for the month of January, Lands' End is offering FREE LOGOS! See the sales information and link below for more information and a peek at the items!
As soon as you receive your jacket/pullover, please make sure you clearly mark your student's name on the inside tag of these items. If a student leaves his/her jacket somewhere, it will be very difficult to return the item when it is turned into the office.
Epi-Pens & Inhalers Reminder:
Students who have up-to-date prescriptions on file in the school office for either Epi-pens or Inhalers are allowed to carry them throughout the school day. If your student is taking gym, please encourage them to take their pen/inhaler with them if they go outside. Our wonderful P.E. staff will help support this effort to keep your students safe by holding the material during gym activities, and keeping these life-saving medications close at hand.
Attention Senior Parents:
It's time to order DIPLOMAS! Please watch your mail for a letter asking for confirmation of your graduate's name as it should be printed on the diploma and respond as soon as you can. Thank you!
Do you live in McHenry? Can you help with a carpool next year?
We still are in need of a family to help with a carpool for a family new to Marian! The Admissions Office has an incoming freshman family for the 2017-2018 school year that would like to connect with a carpool to provide a ride to and from school. The family lives just off Rt. 31 in McHenry. Please contact Mike Maloney at (815) 338-4220 ext. 108, or email at mmaloney@marian.com if you may be able to help. Thank you!
Midweight Fleece Jacket - $45.00
Sample sizes for jacket/pullover for both men and women are now available in the school office. (Sizing for jacket and pullover are the same!)
Logo Embroidery FREE for the month of January!
At checkout, simply use Code: LOGOTIME and PIN: 2744
Visit Lands' End online to place order!
Fleece 1/2 Zip Pullover - $35.00
Sample sizes for jacket/pullover for both men and women are now available in the school office. (Sizing for jacket and pullover are the same!)
Winter Months Information
What's the weather forecast? Click here for Winter Storm Watch information.
Do we have a "Snow Day?" If we do, we will activate our automated phone messaging system, update our school website, and list in the Emergency Closing Center.
What if my student is running late due to the weather? Please call our Attendance Hotline # is (815) 338-4220 ext. 299.
Photo credit: Ken Farver