Dear Parents & Guardians:
I want to take this opportunity to welcome your family to our family – Joliet Catholic Academy. It is our hope and prayer that the experience you and your children have in our school is one filled with excellent education, real enrichment and a sense of caring and compassion that springs from our Faith.
My title is the Director of Special Events & Fundraising. I realize that so many things in our lives have recently changed but I need help, “how do I fundraise and hold special events in the midst of this coronavirus?” I realize that fundraising is an essential way for most nonprofits to bring in revenue for their organization’s mission but I believe that fundraising is about so much more than just asking for money. I have experienced this fundraiser demonstrate and teach humility, gratefulness, confidence, self-discipline, persistence and communication.
JCA’s Spirit Raffle begins next week. Tickets are ready to go in our homerooms and our students will receive their packet of tickets by October 1. Each ticket sells for $10 (1st prize - $15,000, 2nd prize - $5,000 & 3rd prize $2,500) and our students are asked to sell $450 (if one student at JCA) or $650 (if more than one student at JCA). All sold tickets and money are to be returned on October 20 (in their raffle packet) during the student’s homeroom. Please note that any unsold tickets (below the student’s quota) will be added to the student’s tuition.
Student incentives are spirit dress days in December, free day in second semester, cash prizes for the top sellers and (a new incentive) the student selling the 1st prize ticket will receive one semester paid tuition. EXTRA incentive tickets are available at the front desk. The Spirit Raffle Drawing is Friday, October 23, 2020 at JCA. Now is your student’s time to shine and help their school. Your support is essential to their success but they should sell their own raffle tickets. Who knows that this “sales job might be a stepping stone to something bigger for them.”
I will do my best to let you know what is happing at JCA in our Special Events Circle. Please contact me if you have any questions about the Spirit Raffle, would like to help with Special Events or any new ideas that JCA could use in the area of Special Events.
May grace & blessings be in your path,
|
|
Christine M. Voss
Director of Special Events & Fundraising
|
|
JCA to Host Outdoor Mass for all families this Sunday, October 4 |
|
This Sunday October 4, is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. We will be holding an outdoor mass on our fields for our entire JCA community. All our students are their families are invited to attend as are all faculty and staff and families. Please bring your own lawn chairs or blankets and celebrate the Eucharist together at 2 p.m.
God Bless,
Fr. Jeff
Rev. Jeffery Smialek, O.Carm.
Campus Minister
Chair of the Division of Theology, Fine Arts and Physical Education
Assistant Boys Lacrosse Coach
Joliet Catholic Academy
(815)741-0500
|
|
Calendar Updates
Below is an updated calendar for next week and the month of October. The JCA Events Calendar has also been updated to reflect these changes. Until further notice, all Live Remote E-Learning days will follow the Half-Day Schedule to reduce screen time.
Also, beginning Monday, September 28 free lunch will be offered to all students, yes free lunch. The USDA free lunch program has been extended to private schools until December. A lunch calendar is posted online at https://www.jca-online.org/cafeteria/ and in the hallways. Lunches will be passed out in the cafeteria and gym area. To receive a lunch, students will line up 6 feet apart in the cafeteria or concession stand during their assigned lunch period. Students can still bring their own lunch.
Week of September 28
Monday, Sept. 28 A-L
Tuesday, Sept. 29 - M-Z
Wednesday Sept. 30 - Live Remote Learning: Half-Day Schedule
Thursday, Oct. 1- A-L
Friday, Oct. 2 - M-Z
Week of October 5
Monday, Oct. 5 A-L
Tuesday, Oct. 6 - Live Remote Learning: Half-Day Schedule; Juniors, Sophomores and Freshmen, ACT at JCA for registered Seniors only, no classes for Seniors
Wednesday Oct. 7 - M-Z
Thursday, Oct. 8 - A-L
Friday, Oct. 9 - M-Z
Week of October 12
Monday, Oct. 12 No School
Tuesday, Oct. 13 - Teacher Institute Day – no school for students
Wednesday Oct. 14 - National Testing Day; Pre ACT, Practice ACT, PSAT – Sophomores and Junior on campus testing, Freshmen and Seniors No School
Thursday, Oct. 15 - A-L
Friday, Oct. 16 - M-Z
Week of October 19
Monday, Oct. 19 A-L
Tuesday, Oct. 20 - M-Z
Wednesday Oct. 21- Live Remote Learning Day- Half Day Schedule
Thursday, Oct. 22 - A-L
Friday, Oct. 23- M-Z
Week of October 26
Monday, Oct. 26 A-L
Tuesday, Oct. 27 - M-Z
Wednesday Oct. 28- A-L
Thursday, Oct. 29 - Remote Learning Day - posted online assignments / Practice ACT and Pre ACT-Make-up Day / Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences (schedule TBA)
Friday, Oct. 30- M-Z
Also to clarify, students learning full-time remotely, will still be on the regular 7:50 am-2:40 pm daily schedule on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Lastly, with the Half-Day schedule, freshman and sophomores do not have 4th period, juniors and seniors do not have 5th period. Half-Day schedules eliminate lunch/homeroom periods. The complete Half-Day schedule is included below, as well as the most recent calendar updates. More information concerning Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences will be emailed to parents shortly.
Half-Day Schedule:
Utilized for Wednesday Live E-Learning Days as of 9.30.20 unless otherwise specified.
- Period 1: 7:50 a.m. – 8:20 a.m.
- Period 2: 8:25 a.m. – 8:57 a.m.
- Period 3: 9:02 a.m. – 9:34 a.m.
- Period 4/5: 9:39 a.m. – 10:11 a.m.
- Period 6: 10:16 a.m. – 10:48 a.m.
- Period 7: 10:53 a.m. – 11:24 a.m.
- Period 8: 11:29 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Regards,
Joliet Catholic Academy – Director of Admissions and Communications
Office: 815.741.0500, ext. 214
|
|
Counseling Corner
Wellness Wednesday is coming… Be on the lookout for ideas and opportunities for social/emotional, physical, spiritual, and academic support and connection. During the month of October, we will be addressing social media in Advisory.
Also coming soon… Peer Mentoring!
Freshmen – Join our “Get to Know You” Group. Please contact your counselor to join.
This is a brief article offering supportive tips for parents that are navigating the tricky waters of hybrid learning. While there are several points that are of value, one that really stood to me, was the importance of not only acknowledging how you feel, but also accepting it. This pandemic is a new experience for us all and it is not “crazy” to have feelings of anxiety or fear at this time. Find time to engage in activities that you enjoy such as watching a comedy special on Netflix or taking a walk, YOUR self care as a parent is important too!! While you are taking care of yourself, you are also modelling that same valuable behavior to your student. Encourage your child to find time to disconnect from the computer and do something that they are genuinely interested in for a few minutes or do something as simple as walking the dog. Remember, there is no handbook on how to handle everything that is happening right now so please, be kind to yourself.
While social media can be fun and does have some benefits, it can also quickly become more complex and even dangerous in some situations. This link has specific feedback for several social media platforms including, SnapChat, Instagram, and TikTok. It also covers topics such as cyberbullying and online hate speech. Please continue to have open and honest dialogue with your student about social media and utilizing it in an appropriate, respectful, and mindful way.
College Connections
“Reminder for Senior Parents: Now is the time to submit the FAFSA for your fall 2021 college bound student. To submit the FAFSA, visit studentaid.gov.
Reminder for Senior and Junior Parents: College representatives are virtually visiting with JCA students every week! This is a great opportunity for your son or daughter to hear from a representative and get their college questions answered. Students should check Naviance to find a list of representatives who will be available to JCA students and to register for the visit. Students can take part in the virtual visit from home or at school. New colleges are still being added to the list so make sure your student keeps checking!”
Please see the attached flyer below for more information.
|
|
JCA Spirit Shop
Good News, I am excited to announce we will now be able to offer In Person shopping in the JCA Spirit Shop. There are a few protocols we need to follow to make this successful.
· Limited to 1 person at a time
· By appointment only
·15-minute maximum appointments
To make an appointment, you can do so by using link below:
Up
If you have any questions, please contact me at the Spirit Shop.
Paula Gorski
Spirit Shop Coordinator
(815) 741-0500 ext. 231
Spiritshop@jca-online.org
|
|
Dress Code Reminder
Per the JCA Dean's Office: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday are school uniforms or JCA Spirit Wear. Please remember Spirit Wear guidelines: shirts and sweatshirts must be JCA apparel. No ripped jeans allowed.
Wednesday Remote Learning - JCA uniform polo
|
|
JCA Families,
Please help promote the following JCA Admissions event to any local 8th graders, friends, or family members. Please don't hesitate to contact Mr. Quigley in the Admissions office if you have any questions or need to refer a family.
The Practice HSPT will give 8th graders the opportunity to become familiar with the exam. The Practice HSPT is not mandatory, but prospective students must take the December 5 Entrance Exam at JCA to be eligible for merit-based scholarships including the Franciscan/Carmelite Top Scorer Scholarships and the JCA Heritage Award. These merit-based scholarships range from $500 to $5,000 off tuition.
Students will need to bring two #2 pencils. Calculators are not allowed. Students must wear a mask and social distancing guidelines will be followed.
There is no charge for students to take the Practice HSPT at JCA, but registration is required. The deadline to register is Thursday, October 8. All students attending will also receive a free JCA t-shirt.
Go Angels! Go Hilltoppers
Ryan Quigley '03
|
|
Joliet Catholic Academy – Director of Admissions and Communications
Office: 815.741.0500, ext. 214
|
|
Class of 2025 Admissions Timeline
7th and 8th Grade Shadow Days
Fridays, September through April – 7:50 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.
*UPDATE: Friday Shadow Visits for area 7th and 8th graders have currently been suspended until further notice.
Private Tours
The JCA Admissions Office is open Monday-Friday when school is in session from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. We are currently giving socially distanced, private family tours. All indoor masking and IDPH/ISBE guidelines must be followed.
The JCA Admissions Team is also available for online private tours via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Monday, October 12, 2020 (Columbus Day)
8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
*For current 8th graders only.
Applications available September 1-December 5, 2020
Sunday, November 1, 2020
Time and format TBA
Thursday, November 12, 2020 “Competitive Advantage Night”
Time and format TBA
Entrance Exam
Saturday, December 5, 2020
8:00 a.m.
Incoming Freshman JCA Leveraged Financial Aid Application Deadline
December 31, 2020
* Financial Aid deadlines will differ for JCA, the Catholic Education Foundation, and Empower Illinois.
7th Grade Step Up Day
Thursday, March 4, 2020
Class of 2025 Celebration and Registration Night
TBD
Check back for information regarding extra-curricular camps or clinics announced in the near future.
Questions? Contact the JCA Admissions Staff:
Admissions Office Staff
-
Ryan Quigley, Director of Admissions and Communications 815.741.0500, ext. 214
-
Mary Ragusa, Assistant Director of Admissions 815.741.0500, ext. 274
|
|
|
|
1200 N. Larkin Avenue
Joliet, IL 60435
P - (815) 741-0500
F - (815) 741-8825
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
