MCCHS FRIDAY FOCUS
141st EDITION: January 17, 2020
From the Desk of Mr. Mike Shukis
Since we are half way through this school year I thought this would be a good time to share some of my initial impressions of Marian.
What stands out to me, as the best part of our school is our students. They are happy and exhibit good character and values. I would also add that they certainly demonstrate a very good sense of humor. They often make me laugh and smile.
I am also sincerely impressed by the work ethic of the faculty and staff at Marian. Everyone here works above and beyond all expectations. You should be proud to know that at your school the faculty and staff work unceasingly, often through lunches and well past the end of the workday. It also should be noted that at Marian the student’s are always first and foremost in our minds. Rarely am I involved in a meeting where the best interest of the students is not the center of the discussion.
I have found the guidance and resource departments to be very supportive, helpful, and provide good direction to our students when needed. I feel strongly that our Catholic Identity is going in a very good direction under the guidance of Fr. Twenty. He is an outstanding spiritual mentor not only for our students but also for our faculty and staff. I can’t help but feel truly blessed to work everyday with exceptional students and a very dedicated faculty and staff.
In my opinion Marian does posses some wonderful opportunities for improvement. One area that we have already started to address is the faculty and staff turnover rate. We fully realize the frustration that can come with teacher turnover and we have experienced our fair share. Needless to say this is never a pleasant experience for anyone involved. While it is true that our parents cannot see what we see, know what we know, or are aware of all the work we do to prevent any possible turnover, these things do happen. In a number of discussions I have had with parents who share our concern, the theme is always the same. It is something that we all want, stability. Stability is defined by those extremely important characteristics that make up a stable relationship. These would include respecting rules and individuals, trusting in each other, forgiving, practicing good communication, disagreeing in a civilized manner, sharing in responsibilities, supporting each other, being honest, showing empathy, and finally, having some fun together. We must be a school that holds these characteristics at the core of who we are and who we will become. These are the characteristics that our parents and our community need to hold us accountable to. Teachers may come and go for a variety of reasons, but these characteristics must always remain at the heart of Marian.
Trust and communication require ongoing attention from the administration. We must continue to work to rebuild trust within our faculty and with our parents. It is important to note that I have heard things in this area have improved since the beginning of the school year, however, there will always be work to be done to develop the trust we all deserve. Communication is another area that needs to be regularly assessed and it is something that we are currently working on it. In my opinion, our communication, at times, can sound too “institutionalized”. Obviously, there are things we simply cannot say in regards to certain situations (and many of our parents realize this), however, there tends to be very little from us in regard to our thoughts and feelings. I believe we need to make more of an honest and personal connection with our families in our correspondence. We are trying.
Finally, we need to be mindful of our hiring process. We have currently made changes in this area, which I feel will greatly benefit us all. For example, we have asked a few of our final candidates to substitute for us. In this way we can observe them, they can observe us and we both can see if Marian is a good fit for all. We also have started to ask students for their feedback as we value their opinions. This is one change and there will be a number of others. However, these changes will never guarantee every new hire to be a Golden Apple Award Winner, but I believe it will show better results. I feel strongly that you and your children will see the difference in the new and exciting teachers coming our way.
In conclusion, we must all realize that in a school community walls can easily be built between people. These walls are unnecessary and usually of our own making. They can be a reminder for all of us of how separated we can become. However, as one body (family) in Christ we are comforted by the words of Jesus. “Whatever you did to the least of my brethren, that you did unto me.” We all want the same things, but at times we all fail to say it well nor do we listen as well as we could to what others are saying. At Marian Central Catholic our goal must be to become dedicated to listening to others with sympathy. We must do our best to listen with our ears, with our mind, and with our heart. When we all attempt to do this we will be reminded of our common love for Marian Central. When we do this we will know that Christ lives at Marian.
Mr. Mike Shukis
Assistant Superintendent
2020-2021 Registration and Tuition
Printable version - Registration Information Letter 2020-21
Students will register for next year's courses February 3rd - February 21st. The 2020-21 registration fee is $275, however, families of currently enrolled students who pay the registration fee by February 14th will receive a discount and therefore will pay $200 ($100 of each registration fee will be transferred to the 2020-21 tuition assistance fund for next year's financial aid program). The registration fee can be paid at any time and must be paid by February 14th to take advantage of the discount. The fee may be paid using a credit/debit card (3% surcharge added) by clicking here, or to the Business Manager by check, cash or credit card (3% surcharge added for credit/debit cards). The registration fee is non-refundable since the school depends upon the course selections made during the registration process for hiring staff for the next year. Please click here for the the tuition rates for the 2020-2021 school year
The 2020-21 Curriculum Guide is coming soon to the website. It contains general guidelines for career and college requirements as well as descriptions of the courses that will be offered at Marian in the 2020-21 school year. Parents are encouraged to review the Curriculum Guide, particularly the grade level planning sheets found at the end of the Guide with your students prior to course selections in February. Registration for incoming freshmen will take place on Wednesday, February 19th from 6:30 to 9:00 PM and on Sunday, February 23rd from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The discounted $200 registration fee for incoming freshmen is paid at the time the student is registered in February along with a $500 tuition deposit ($700 total). Beginning March 1st the registration fee will be $275 plus $500 tuition deposit ($775). Further information about the registration of incoming freshmen will be sent in late January to all families of students who took the placement test.
Tuition Assistance Program for 2020-21 - In an effort to provide all families who desire to send their students to Marian Central an opportunity to do so, the school provides a tuition assistance program. As in the past, two forms of assistance will be available next year: 1) the work/job program, and 2) the Fr. Joseph Egan financial aid grant program. Detailed information about the tuition assistance program is available by clicking here. We invite families that may have difficulty meeting the total tuition costs to apply for assistance beginning January 16th.
Should you have any questions about any of this information, please feel free to contact us.
Winter Turnabout Dance
A Starry Night
Saturday, February 1st
6:30 - 9:30 pm
Marian Central Gym
Ticket Sales
January 21 - 27 in the Main Office during lunches
$10 each
All students are welcome to attend (no date required). If a student plans to bring a guest from another school, a date request form must be completed and turned in at the time the ticket is purchased. Forms are available in the Main Office or can be printed by clicking here.
Please refer to our Dance Dress Code and respect our policies regarding appropriate attire. Students who are in violation of our reasonable attire guidelines (or whose date is in violation) will be issued detention, and may be denied entry into the dance.
Parents Association Happenings
We need your help with Teacher Appreciation Week and Winter Formal! The Parent Association is looking for food and beverage donations for the two upcoming events, as well as volunteers to help. To see a list of items needed and sign up to help, click here.
The next meeting is on Tuesday, February 4 at 6:30 pm in the Annex.
Athletic Boosters Meeting
Tuesday, January 21st
7:30 pm
Marian Central Cafeteria
Attend the meeting and learn how you can support your student athlete!
Freshmen Dental Exam Documentation
Please keep in mind we are required by the State of Illinois to have proof of a dental examination for all Freshmen. If you have not submitted your student's yet, we will need documentation of the dental visit by May 15, 2020. Please note there is an updated form, which is linked here. Thank you!
Celebrating Achievement
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!
St. Mary, Woodstock Welcomes...
Eric Scheidler
Executive Director of the Pro-Life Action League
February 3rd
6:30 pm Mime for Life Presentation
7:00 pm Keynote Speaker
Please click the photo for additional information.