CENTRAL CATHOLIC CONNECTIONS
This newsletter is starting to transition to information specifically for registered students and families; however, if you haven't registered, keep reading so that once you fill out the Application Form you'll be up to speed :)

For those of you who haven't decided, I invite your student to experience a Shadow Day with one of our Student Ambassadors. Shadow Days can be full or half days and will give your student the chance to experience life as a Saint. Many of your students attended Great To Be A Saint Day earlier in the year; a Shadow Day is more of a classroom experience. If you have questions, or need more information, feel free to call/text me at (309) 533-2200 any time - my phone is always on.  
What's New For The Class of 2022?
Learn More About Bring Your Own Device On April 17
Graduation is right around the corner and some of you may be considering the purchase of a laptop or other technology as a gift for your graduate. With that in mind, our technology director Jim Henehan and I are hosting two "Bring Your Own Device" information sessions on Tuesday, April 17. One at 3:30 and a second at 5:30; they are the same presentation, so just choose the one that works best with your schedule.

We'll discuss the requirements for a device, how they are used in the classroom, insurance, care, etc. and answer any questions you may have. In the mean time, you can  review this document for an overview of the program. If you plan to come, please  e-mail me and let me know which session you'll attend so we know how many to expect.
Junior High Dance is May 5
The next big event for students is our Junior High Dance on Saturday, May 5 from 6-8 PM in our Commons. All 6th - 8th graders are welcome to attend this dance hosted by our Student Ambassadors. We'll have more information soon, but be sure to mark your calendars. 

Tuition Assistance Deadline is April 15
If you plan on seeking tuition assistance, the deadline for completing the FACTS Grant and Aid application is Sunday, April 15. To be eligible for financial assistance to attend Central Catholic, families must fill out this application. Here is information from the Diocese regarding the process that also includes a link to the FACTS application.

Many families continue the process of applying for scholarships through the Invest In Kids Act. You can apply through www.empowerillinois.org, which is also your first stop for any updates.

This document explains additional financial assistance opportunities, including our work program.

Get Your Saints Alive Tickets Today
Saints Alive is less than three weeks away on Saturday, April 21 at the Bloomington Country Club. You can purchase your event tickets, reserve your spot in our Jack Lewis Jewelers Champagne Raffle to win the beautiful ring pictured to the right, and make an early gift to the Fund-A-Need to help renovate our gynasium floor and band area all with  one click . This is a great opportuinity to meet other Central Catholic families. We look forward to seeing you at our largest and most important fundraising event of the year!

Central Catholic @ A Glance
Several of you may already be receiving our weekly "Central Catholic @ A Glance" newsletter. If so you will continue to do so, if not, all registered families will start receiving it next week. This is a weekly newsletter to current parents informing them of what is going on at Central Catholic each week. This newsletter as well as our monthly student magazine, "Herald of the Saints" are available online under the CCHS Publications Quick Link on our website.
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Why Should Your Family Choose
Central Catholic?
Here are a few of our Points of Pride . . .

FAITH
  • Every class and event begins in prayer. Each school year, students participate in at least one retreat and attend Mass more than 13 times.
  • Students attend a daily Theology Class during all four years at CCHS.
  • Every student participates in Eucharistic Adoration throughout the year.
  • Our students offer over 11,000 hours of service to our local community every year through the Living the Faith program.
  • Our students donate over $10,000 annually to a charity.
  • We teach the values that you teach at home.

ACADEMICS
  • We are a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School! This is the highest academic honor awarded by the United States Government and we are the only high school in the Bloomington-Normal area to hold this honor.
  • The Washington Post ranked Central Catholic the #1 most challenging high school in Bloomington-Normal, in the Top 5% in Illinois and in the Top 7% nationally.
  • Our students’ 2017 average ACT score is 25.5 compared to a 21.5 reported local average and a 20.8 reported state average.
  • Nearly 99% of our graduating seniors attend a 4-year or 2-year college.
  • Over the past five years our graduates have averaged over $2 million annually in scholarships and tuition assistance for their college of choice.
  • We offered nearly $300,000 in financial assistance to families in need in 2017.
  • Over half of our faculty have advanced degrees of a Masters or higher.
  • We offer college preparatory, honors level and advanced placement courses to prepare students to excel in their college of choice.
  • Our student-teacher ratio is 14-1.

ATHLETICS & THE ARTS
  • Eighty-three percent of our students participate in an athletic program.
  • 75% of our students participate in one or more of our clubs.
  • 97% of our students are involved in some type of school-sponsored extracurricular activity.
  • Nearly half of our school is involved in Band, Choir, our Play or Musical.
  • We offer 17 different athletic programs for our students.
  • Our athletic programs have won eight team and nine individual State Championships.
How Does That Work?
I'm often asked, "Why does Central Catholic do that?" or "How does that work?" Think of this section as a way of getting you and your student a bit more ready for Central Catholic and our traditions. We'll cover different topics each week so stay tuned.
Dress Code
Notice that I didn't title this section "Uniform." It's a subtle difference, but to paraphrase Pirates of the Caribbean, our Dress Code is "more like guidelines." Don't get me wrong, students still have to follow those guidelines but when you look at our halls and classrooms, you'll see a variety of styles and looks.

Dress Code is probably the weakest part of my "game" as Director of Enrollment, specifically the girls' dress code. I'm pretty sure our older son got through four years weariong approxomately four navy polos and and a few pairs of khaki shorts and pants. Our freshman throws on a white polo every once in awhile to change it up.

The girls' dress code can be a bit more involved, so before I try to go there, this seems like a good time to link to our dress code in our Student Handbook.

Seriously, though, if you have any questions about the dress code or anything else, please call or e-mail me and we'll figure it out together.
Feedback, Please
Let me know topics and questions that are important to you and we'll address them here. As I stated earlier, my phone is always on (309-533-2200) so call/text/ e-mail me with your thoughts, questions and concerns.