MCCHS FRIDAY FOCUS
144th EDITION: February 7, 2020
From the Desk of Rev. Jared Twenty
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Less than 20 days from now, we will all hear these words as we are marked with ashes on our foreheads in the form of a cross. We do this to remind us what Lent is all about.
Lent is about the basics. It’s about the Gospel. But we’ve heard that word so often, we can sometimes forget its meaning and power. What is the Gospel? Well, it’s Good News, but it’s also bad news. So, let’s talk about the bad news first.
All of us, good as we are, are also deeply wounded. We’re not who God made us to be. We are often proud, selfish, and disobedient. And one day, each of us will die.
Yikes. That’s a hard pill to swallow.
However, when we accept the bad news we can truly appreciate the Good News. The Good News is that God did not abandon us. Rather, “Where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more,” (Romans 5:20). God didn’t reject us, no matter how many times we rejected Him. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,” (John 3:16). This Son, Jesus Christ, “having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end,” (John 13:1). To save you and I from our sinfulness, “He humbled himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8).
So, while the cross of ashes on our foreheads might to many seem sad or dark, it’s in fact a sign of love. It’s a reminder of the deep, even crazy love that God has for us. That’s Good News. That’s the Gospel.
In response to this love that God has shown us, we must regularly renew our love for Him. And during Lent, we do that in three ways: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
This Lent, pray, because He loves you so much and can’t wait to talk to you.
This Lent, fast, because sometimes normal everyday pleasures can become distractions that dull our awareness of His love.
This Lent, give alms, because “if someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him?” (1 John 3:17).
Do those three things seem like bad news right now? Don’t worry. If you do them, I promise, you’ll appreciate the Good News on Easter a lot more.
God bless,
Fr. 20
Pilgrimage Opportunity for Juniors and Seniors
Registration - Discounted Fee Deadline Approaching
DON'T FORGET TO PAY YOUR REGISTRATION FEE FOR 2020-2021
Is your student ready to sign up for next year's courses?
Don't forget to pay the $200 per student registration fee so their course selections can be completed. The deadline for the discounted rate is just a week away. After February 14th the registration fee is $275 -- get your payment in now to avoid paying more.
Late Start Added
Marian Central students and staff will be participating in an all-school retreat on Wednesday and Thursday, March 4th and 5th. As part of the retreat, we will be adding a late start day to the calendar for Wednesday, March 4th. We will follow our regular late start bell schedule with the retreat beginning promptly at 9:45 am. The late start bus schedule will apply. On Thursday, March 5th, regular bell times of 8:05 - 2:30 will be in place. Watch for more information about this exciting retreat in future editions of the Friday Focus.
Practice ACT in the Library
The Marian Central Catholic H. S. Library is offering an opportunity for Sophomores and Juniors to take a complete practice ACT test, spread out over two after-school sessions. The testing will take place on February 19 (2:30 - 5:00) and February 20 (2:30 - 4:00). These are official practice tests from ACT, and students will receive scaled scores for each test section and subsection.
This is an opportunity for Marian students to get an idea of the types of questions they will be seeing on the real test. They will also experience the ACT testing environment, complete with proctored instructions, ACT rules, and more than one test in one sitting.
Test seating is limited to the first 25 students to register. If you are interested, please print the form linked below, complete the signature block, and return it to the Marian library no later than February 18. You will be notified by e-mail once your form has been received. Watch the Marian website for up-to-date information on the number of seats available.
Athletic Booster Meeting Cancelled
The girls will play at Wheaton Academy on Wednesday, the 12th. Come out and cheer on your Canes!
Senior Baby Pictures
ATTENTION ALL SENIORS!!!!
It’s that time of the year! BABY PICTURE TIME!
1. Bring in an actual photo (size 8x10): please have your FULL NAME and your English teacher’s name marked on the back. (Use masking tape to write on if you don’t want to write on the actual photo back!) GIVE TO YOUR ENGLISH TEACHER! He/She will have a folder to collect photos, and we will return the photo through your English class once we have it scanned and saved.
2. Email a .jpg formatted directly to publicationsmc@gmail.com. In the title of the email, please include your full name. Make sure you notify your English teacher, and we will verify with him or her that the image was downloaded successfully.
3. Send in a .jpg copy on a recordable cd. Give to your English teacher, and we will return the disc promptly.
What type of photo works best? The BEST type of baby photo is when you were 6 months – 3 yrs. PLEASE do NOT send in newborn photos (taken in the hospital.) All newborns look the same – and have that same scrunchy-faced angry look. At about 6 months, however, we can see hints of your unique personality! Don’t be left out! We are striving to have 100% of our senior class represented!
ALSO! Since we have an ENTIRE section of the yearbook dedicated to US – we are calling for any great photos taken from our Freshman, Sophomore and Junior years! We are hoping to create a great collage of our entire four years – so please share your favorite photos. Submissions are accepted in the same manner as the baby photos!
ALL PHOTOS ARE DUE TO YOUR ENGLISH TEACHER NO LATER THAN MARCH 1ST!
60th Anniversary Auction
College “Check In Meetings” with the Class of 2021
I’m inviting all students in the Class of 2021 to schedule individual “College Check In” meetings with me between Monday, February 17th and Friday, March 13th. In addition to touching base with each student about where she/he is at regarding her/his college search, I’ll also review each student’s course selections with them to discuss how those courses would impact admission to specific colleges and/or more selective academic programs, such as nursing, business majors, or engineering majors.
Each junior will be invited to schedule a meeting with me through Mrs. Diamond in the Guidance Office. Additionally, I’d be happy to schedule a meeting after school (2:30 PM) to accommodate those parents who’d like to join their students at this meeting. Any parents who’d like to schedule a joint student/parent meeting can do that online at: http://bit.ly/31ywpmw.
As always, please call or E-mail with any college-related questions you have! I look forward to working with each of the juniors as they embark on this exciting process!
CollegeStock Update
COLLEGESTOCK 2020 LINEUP
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH: Butler University, Carthage College, Cornell College, Ferris State University, Grand Canyon University, Illinois College, Johnson & Wales University, Kent State University, Northern Illinois University, St. Anthony College of Nursing, Texas Christian University, University of Dayton, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Wabash College
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH: Beloit College, Central College, Central Michigan University, Colorado State University, Dominican University, Drake University, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, George Williams College of Aurora University, Iowa State University, Lawrence Technological University, Loyola University-Chicago, Northern Michigan University, University of Denver, University of Louisville, University of Missouri-Columbia, University of Oregon
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH: Aquinas College (Michigan), Cardinal Stritch University, Creighton University, Holy Cross College, Loras College, Marian University (Indiana), Marian University (Wisconsin), Marquette University, Mount Mercy University, Providence College, Quincy University, Regis University, Saint Mary's College (Indiana), St. Mary's University (Minnesota), St. Ambrose University, St. Norbert College, Viterbo University, Xavier University
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13TH: Arizona State University, College of St. Benedict & St. John's University, Illinois Wesleyan University, Indiana State University, Indiana University/Purdue University Indianapolis, Lake Forest College, Michigan Technological University, Rockford University, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, University of Arizona, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of South Alabama, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
CollegeStock - What is that?
50 years ago, a four-day music festival that took place in Bethel, New York etched its place in history as a pivotal moment in popular music history and a defining event for the counterculture generation.
In February 2020, a small, Catholic high school located in a town that shares a name with that iconic festival will hold its own four-day celebration. But instead of bringing in musicians like Joan Baez, Santana, Jefferson Airplane, and James Marshall Hendrix that school will bring in representatives from nearly 60 colleges and universities to promote their schools to Marian Central Catholic’s entire student body.
Marian Central Catholic High School celebrates our first annual COLLEGESTOCK from Monday, February 10 through Thursday, February 13th! 14 college admission counselors will visit Marian each day that week and be in the Cafeteria during the lunch periods to meet Marian students and answer questions about their respective colleges.
A full listing of colleges visiting each day will be posted in the Friday Focus and on the Guidance Department’s website soon, so stand by for more information!
A special “Thank You” goes out to Marian Central Catholic’s own Aila Reuter (Class of 2022) and Isabel Odahowski (Class of 2022) for designing the official CollegeStock logo!
College Information Night
WHEN: Wednesday, February 26th from 6:30-9:00 PM (Check in begins at 6:00 PM, Program begins at 6:30 PM)
WHERE: Marian Central Catholic Theatre
WHAT: An opportunity to learn about starting a college search, financial aid, the differences between the ACT and the SAT, and to attend a mock college application review. Students and families will also attend a question and answer session about the college admission process with a panel of college admission officers.
Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors and their parents/guardians are invited to attend this program. We strongly encourage juniors and their parents/guardians to attend College Information Night. We’ve put together a comprehensive program that’ll be slightly different than last year’s program. We’re confident students and their families will leave with insight into some of the most complicated and confusing parts of the college search.
We ask that those planning to attend this program please register online at: https://forms.gle/LFhoogdgc5aJcPYn6
Fr. Twenty will also be providing an Ashes Service from 5:30-6:00 PM for any families that wish to observe Ash Wednesday before the evening’s program.
Please direct any questions about College Information Night to Mr. Stamatakos (jstamatakos@marian.com) or Mrs. Diamond (guidance@marian.com). We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, February 26th!