Parent Paws - 10.01.23

A Message from Your Principal

Dear Parents,

Effective communication is paramount. In order to strengthen the partnership between students, parents, and staff, we will be hosting Parent Teacher Conferences this fall.

In-Person Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Wednesday, October 18th from 1:30pm until 6:00pm at Gross Catholic

Conferences will be held in each individual teacher's classroom.
The in-person conferences will not be scheduled but follow a first come first served format.
Parents will receive a brief overview of their child's current academic progress. Conferences with each teacher should last no more than approximately 5 minutes.
If parents believe that more than five minutes are needed for a conference, they are asked to make arrangements for another date/time with the individual teacher.

We would also like to cordially invite our parents to attend a special presentation on the same evening.

A Human Dignity and Integrity parent presentation will be held on Wednesday, October 18th from * 5:30pm - 6:30pm in our auditorium.

(* Updated time- presentation will start at 5:30pm)

The presentation is designed to connect with parents to facilitate a conversation of affirmation and encouragement regarding human sexuality and dignity. Parents will receive an overview of sexual integrity, human dignity, and social media informing parents of exactly what their student will hear from us in the classroom so as to feel empowered to continue the conversation at home. We offer parents the hope that young people desire authentic love, and they can make a difference through witness and conversation.

Please place these important events on your calendars. We hope to see you all on October 18th.

With Blessings-

Stephen P. Eubanks

Office Notes

DRESS CODE:

This picture is showing approved quarter zips for uniform dress code. The two on the left have been available in the Spirit Store all year. Through student avocation of warmer clothing, the two quarter zips on the right have been added to the approved list. Both sweatshirt quarter zips are a warmer material and already have a collar on them.

Sweatshirts, pullovers and quarter zips beyond what is picture have not been approved.

If you would like to purchase one or both of the quarter zip sweatshirts, the order form is attached HERE. Additional order forms are available in the school office.

TECHNOLOGY REMINDERS:

Please remind your students to charge their devices every night. Running their batteries down to less than 10% routinely will result in their laptop requiring a minimum of 60 minutes to charge to reach above a 60% charge.

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9th grade parents:

--If students have lost their 1:1 device charger, they may purchase one from the school for $45.

-- Updates are pushed out to 9th grade student's 1:1 device laptops every Tuesday, and unless their devices are plugged in and turned on, the updates will not run. Please help remind your students to set their devices up to run updates before they go to bed on Tuesdays.

ATTENDANCE:

If your student will be absent from school for all or part of a school day, please communicate this information with the front desk. Also, if your student needs to leave for an appointment during the school day you may call or send an email. You can reach the front desk by phone at 402-734-2000 or you can send an email to attendance@gcgmail.org

National Honor Society - Tutoring available

National Honor Society has restarted peer tutoring in the media center.

Any student that would like help on homework or help studying for a test, we have peer tutors waiting to assist in almost all subjects. Tutors are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Counselor's Corner

October 19 is a Special Day - Freshmen and Sophomores will be taking the Pre-ACT. Juniors and Seniors will participate in a College and Career Day. The college and career day will include a presentation from EducationQuest for juniors, and a panel discussion with recent Gross graduates for seniors, a college fair, and an opportunity to hear from multiple different professionals in our community. All students need to attend and will be dismissed at 12:00 on this day.

Junior/Senior parent permission needed NOW! - Gross is partnering with Strivescan for the college fair. Strivescan removes the need for students to fill out information cards by hand when visiting with a college rep. Students register for Strivescan via their personal phone and a barcode will be texted and emailed to them immediately. Colleges use the StriveScan app to scan the barcode from a student's phone to access the information students would normally write on an information card. Students can choose which college reps scan their barcode. Please complete this FORM indicating whether or not you give permission for your student to use StriveScan for the college fair.

Reminder: All Students should be checking their school email accounts daily for important information related to college visits, college events and other opportunities. Email is the #1 way the counseling office shares information with students.

Please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Julie McNamara if you have any questions or concerns! jmcnamara@gcgmail.org

Career Day Speakers Needed for October 19th

If you have a colleague who is knowledgeable in the career topics below, please refer him/her to Mr. Dempsey to discuss the option to present to our students for our upcoming career day.

Speech Therapist/Pathologist
Interior Design
Graphic design
Computer Engineer
Programmer
Technology related areas

Email dempsey@gcgmail.org with referrals or questions.

JPII Newman Center is the place for Omaha's college students to meet people and encounter Jesus. Come learn more at their upcoming Open House.

*ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS*

The FAFSA application opens in December 2023

This is a change from previous years

Find SPANISH RESOURCES for College Planning HERE

Campus Ministry

One way you can reduce plastic is by making your own detergent. Our very own Mrs. Rice shared her laundry detergent recipe with us:

2 bars Zote soap - shredded or 1 box flakes

1 box Arm and Hammer washing soda

1 box Borax

1 3lb Oxiclean

1 24oz Downy Unstopables or something similar (Gain , Purex, etc)

I use a large glass container (5 gallon jar, I believe). I do 1/2 of each ingredient. Mix. Then add the rest of the ingredients into the first batch. I use the scoop that is in the Oxi container. Add 1 scoop to your laundry load as you would dry laundry detergent. It smells great!

Cougars Go Green

This year we will dive deeper into Pope Francis's call with the theme, Familia Supra Omnia – McMenamy’s House motto. As a school, we will focus on three initiatives outlined in Pope Francis’s Global Compact on Education: to empower the family, to welcome the vulnerable and marginalized, and to safeguard our common home. Our reflection on family will lead us into discussions on the sacredness of the Eucharistic table and reverence for the real body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Additionally, we will continue to grow in our understanding of Laudato Si.

As a family we encourage you to consider ways you can reduce your plastic consumption. Not only does plastic consumption create a huge carbon footprint, plastic also leaches toxins into our food and water supply which leads to hormone disruptions, cancer, and the destruction of God's creation.

We hope to be inspired by McMenamy House patron saint, St. Teresa of Calcutta: “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

Junior House Service Projects:

Our Juniors are working on various service projects (care for children in hospitals, sobriety support kits, birthday kits for children in shelters, and mental health support kits) to assist our brothers and sisters in Christ.

**REMINDER: They would like to ask all students to consider donating $2-$5 to assist with these projects. Students should begin bringing donations to their House Dean on Monday. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

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Axis is a weekly newsletter that provides parents with a Catholic perspective on the music, movies, and social media trends impacting your student. Check it out here (https://axis.org/resource-category/culture-translator/) . According to the 3 freshmen in my car pool, this week's newsletter is, in fact, what they are discussing.

Parent Talk Information

With great pleasure, we would like to introduce you to a unique opportunity which has been made available for your child(ren). In cooperation with your diocese, The Culture Project International has been invited into your school.