MCCHS FRIDAY FOCUS
135th EDITION: November 15, 2019
From the Desk of Mr. Joe Price
An Attitude of Gratitude:
Over the course of the last two years, I have had the great fortune of participating in a program called That Man is You (TMIY). We meet on Saturday mornings at 6:00 am and it is truly an uplifting program that helps us grow our relationships with God and with the people in our lives. A brilliant aspect of TMIY is that Steve Bollman, the founder of the program, combines the teachings of the Bible with applied scientific principles to help further expand the truth. It has greatly assisted me in my spiritual growth - especially as it relates to my spiritual goals here at Marian Central.
One of my primary goals for this year is the practice of Gratitude. “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” - Psalm 9:1. As a practitioner and a scholar, I have learned a great deal about the benefits of gratitude and in the spirit of TMIY, I have also done some research and applied scientific studies to deepen my faith and understanding of this practice.
In recent years, there have been numerous psychological studies on how our brain development, thoughts, and emotions are shaped on a daily basis. With the many pressures we face in life, our society is experiencing a critical state when it comes to mental health issues. According to statistics published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI, 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year. While these numbers are staggering, there are proactive steps we can take to address this growing trend. One of them is the practice of gratitude.
Research in the practice of gratitude has demonstrated significant results as it relates to stress, anxiety, and depression. In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships (Harvard Health Publishing).
What I find truly amazing is that the Bible encourages us to cultivate a spirit of gratitude. “Show yourselves thankful,” wrote the apostle Paul, who set a fine example himself. He ‘thanked God unceasingly’ for the positive response of others toward the message he shared with them. (Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:13) Lasting happiness comes not from merely saying thank you occasionally but from having a grateful disposition. That, in turn, protects us from feelings of entitlement, envy, and resentment, which would alienate people from us and rob us of joy in life.
It is amazing that we are only now “discovering” that which was revealed to us over 2,000 years ago through the word of God. As we enter this season of thanksgiving, I encourage you to embrace the practice of gratitude - practiced regularly over time I assure you that you will experience a dramatic change in attitude.
Open House
We will be opening our doors this Sunday to all families interested in learning more about what we have to offer. Spread the word! All are invited to see what life is like as a Hurricane!
Open House
Sunday, November 17th
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Hurricane Day
Hurricane Day, November 19, 2019, is a day to celebrate Marian Central Catholic High School! It’s a day to share Hurricane pride and give back with a gift to one of the three designated projects: tuition assistance, athletic facilities improvements, and fine arts renovation in theater. With your support, you can help ensure that the tradition of a Marian Central Catholic education remains strong. Thank you for bringing all that Marian has to offer to the next generation of Hurricanes.
Learn more about Hurricane Day here: www.marian.com/hurricaneday.
Students will be permitted to dress down that day in their most spirited red and columbia blue (jeans or khaki pants are allowed and must not contain rips or holes) to show their Hurricane pride. Please encourage your child to get involved in this special day!
Building Availability
Just a Reminder...
On most days there are a number of sporting events and/or club activities that take
place throughout the evening hours with adults present. However, there are
occasions when the school has no planned activities. This usually happens on
Fridays and recently we have had students left in the building waiting for their rides
well past 3:30. On these occasions the only supervision for those students would be
the administration and office staff. We ask that all students be picked up no later
than 3:30 on Fridays and no later than 4pm Monday through Thursday unless of
course they are on a team or in a club waiting for their activity to start. If there are
any problems or extenuating circumstances with pick up please contact the school
office.
Office Hours
Monday – Thursday 7:30am to 4pm
Fridays 7:30am to 3:30pm
Auction Planning Meeting
It's time to start planning for our Annual Dinner Auction! We need YOUR help to plan the party and make it a prosperous event. The first meeting is Wednesday, November 20 at 6 pm in the Annex. Bring your friends and ideas, and join the fun!
This fundraising event raises tuition assistance money for our students in need so we want to make it a resounding success! One in eight Marian Central students receive financial assistance. We awarded more than $184,000 in financial assistance during the 2019-2020 school year.
Freshmen Dental Forms - State of Illinois Requirement
Please keep sending in your freshman's dental forms. All forms need to be dated between 6/1/19 and 5/15/20--and must be received no later than 5/15/20. If you submitted a dental form dated prior to 6/1/19, we will need updated forms. Please click here for the form. Please call Kris Johnson at 815-338-4220 ext. 100 with any questions.
Senior Parents and Students - College Application Deadline Season is Upon Us!
Please reference the following schedule to submit Transcript Request Forms to Guidance:
Application Deadline...........................Transcript Request Form due to Guidance
..........................................................(If a school requires a Counselor Rec)
Sunday, December 1 ..............................Monday, November 18
Wednesday, January 1 .......................... Monday, December 9
Information regarding each college/university’s application deadlines, and requirements for applying (including whether or not a counselor recommendation is required) can be found in SCOIR and/or on the institutions’ website. Of course, if any questions arise parents and students should not hesitate to contact us here in Guidance at 815-338-4220, ext. 115.
Free, full-length ACT Practice Exam for Marian Central Students!
Saturday, December 7th
9:00am-1:00pm (check-in begins at 8:30am)
Deadline to Register: Friday, 11/29/2019
To set yourself up for success in your college admission process, we have partnered with Revolution Prep, a nationwide leader in academic and test preparation tutoring, to provide a full-length ACT practice exam for Marian Central students. This is a great chance to get started on your testing plan, or if you’ve already started, to get some additional practice. Taking practice tests under timed conditions can help you improve your score! You will receive your score and a score report that same day. Plus, every exam comes with a free 30-minute score report review with Revolution Prep’s testing experts to assess specific strengths and areas of improvement. We highly recommend you take advantage of this opportunity.
Register today! Registration is required and seats are limited.
Step 1:
To enroll, please visit www.revolutionprep.com/partners/6911.
Step 2:
Schedule a Time with Your Testing Expert: www.revolutionprep.com/jeanette-brink
Schedule a time after the exam to review the score report with our school’s dedicated Revolution Prep testing expert, Jeanette Brink. She will help you understand the Score Report and develop a custom plan to prepare for the official exam.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Jeanette Brink at 708-300-9276 or email her at jeanette.brink@revolutionprep.com.