WIXLIB

JCA’sParent PrideA monthly newsletter for parents and guardians of Joliet Catholic Academy students.2015-2016 Parent AssociationThe primary objective of this association, aservice organization, is to build a communityof spirit and involvement and to promotecommunication between parents/guardiansof JCA students and the JCA administration.But most importantly, to assist the school infundraising, social events, and activities.Executive CommitteePresidentJane & Mark Karner(815)741-3991Vice PresidentKelly & Greg Gould(815) 521-9231SecretaryDenise & ArnGrashoff(815) 254-2046Dear JCA Families,The first semester has flown by with semester exams quickly approaching. This is a criticaltime for our young students, so we here at JCA want parents to know that the administration,staff, and teachers are all here to aid during what can be a stressful time period for studentsand parents alike. The detailed semester exam schedule is enclosed in the newsletter.On another note, the Heritage Quad project and the first Phase of our Capital Initiative:Honoring our Past, Building our Future has been completed. We have raised the moneyin pledges ( 1.2 million) to make this dream a reality. There are a few minor details to befinished off around the quad, but information will be forthcoming on an official ribboncutting ceremony, celebrating the completion of the Victory Light and Heritage Quad, inaddition to celebrating our 25th year anniversary as Joliet Catholic Academy.We can not thank you enough for partnering with us to raise the necessary funds for PhaseI in this all important initiative. The new windows at the front of the school provide anaesthetic upgrade, as well as increasing energy efficiency in the building. The HeritageQuad is already becoming a focal point for gatherings (athletic teams after victories, reunions, etc.). It is a wonderful space for our students, parents, alumni, and friends of JCAto gather and feel the spirit of not only our school, but of the schools that make up ourgreat Tradition. It truly is an exciting time to be an Angel and a Hilltopper!TreasurerBarb & Mike Scudder(815) 436-2717As we begin Phase II of our Capital Initiative, we look once again towards the vision ofour Joliet Catholic Academy community:Class RepresentativesDr. Jeffrey Budz, our President/Principal, eloquently stated, “Joliet Catholic Academy is aschool of opportunity a beacon of light for all. We live Carmelite and Franciscan values,think critically, partner with families, engage the community, and champion ChristianServant leadership, while igniting passion and enthusiasm for life’s journey.”SeniorsLaura Paramo(815) 603-8534Kathy & Jamie Hibner(815) 573-4941JuniorsLori & Tom Sherman(815) 254-4432Bonnie & Bob Babich(815) 521-0321SophomoresJulieta & Ray Meyer(815) 254-6174Jennifer and Marc Smith(815) 382-9133FreshmenLyn & Mike Melnick312-330-6290Sheri and Jonathan Voss(815) 579-4224We have set a goal of 1.5 million dollars for Phase II, which would cover the expensesfor our improvements. Phase II consists of new windows for the back of the building,ductless air conditioning throughout the entire building (currently only a handful of classrooms and offices contain the ductless units), and large scale improvements to our Wi-Fiinfrastructure, which includes Wi-Fi hotspots in every classroom, preparing for our 1:1technology initiative beginning in the 2016-2017 school year.If you would like more information on getting involved with Phase II in some capacity, please contact Director of Development John Horn at jhorn@jca-online.org or815.741.0500, ext. 276Lastly, the office of Communications and Marketing is always open to suggestions andideas to spread the message about Joliet Catholic Academy. Our greatest asset in the JolietCatholic Academy community is ourselves: our current students, our staff, our families,and our alumni. Please keep me up to date on anything I may have missed that may benewsworthy, however big or small you may think it to be.Respectfully,Ryan QuigleyDirector of Communications815.741.0500, ext. 285December 2015

Stay ConnectedDon’t miss the latest news aboutJCA, Angels and Hilltoppers, events,and more; visit our website ordownload the Joliet CatholicAcademy app, available on iTunesand Google Play.Stay connected through social media. “Like” Joliet Catholic Academyon Facebook, “Follow”@JCAOnline on Twitter, and checkout Joliet Catholic on Instagram.Spread the word!Please be sure to follow many of ourclubs, athletic teams, and academicdepartments who are also puttingour specific content on their Twitterpages.ACT PreparationCourseJoliet Catholic Academy is offeringan eight week course for studentswishing to formally prepare for theApril 2016 ACT Test.Location/Time: JCA, Saturdays9:00-11:00 a.m., starting January16, 2016 ending March 19, 2016Sessions: Eight Saturday ClassesFees: 200 – handouts, professionalinstruction and manualEnrollment: 25 students/classRegistration: First come, first served!Please include form below and checkpayable to JCA. No refunds afterDecember 11.JCA CommunicationsOfficeJCA Communications Director RyanQuigley is looking to connect with anywinter or spring sport parents who wishto provide in-game or event photography.The communications department attendsmany atheltic events, but can not attendthem all. The more video, photos, and firsthand accounts we have of extra-curricularactivities, the more content we can provide on teh JCA website and our socialmedia accounts. E-mail rquigley@jcaonline.org to connect.JCA Admissions/Open HouseCommercialThe JCA Communications department,Admissions team, and Derrek MatichakVideography recently produced a :30 second commercial to advertise JCA’s 2015Open HousesThe commerical is still airing throughoutDecember in AT&T UVerse and Comcasthouseholds, broadcasting across 12 channels includeing ESPN, CNN, Nickelodeon,E! Network, ABC Family, Golf Channel,and more. The commercial is also availableon the JCA YouTube channel, the mainpage of the website, and on the XFinity.com and ESPN mobile apps.The commercial will become the basisfor the 2016-2017 JCA Admissionsvideo, which will be a documentary on the“Making of the Commercial”. All of thestudents shown in the commercial will beincluded in the documentary, giving theirfirst hand account of their positive experiences at JCA.* See Attached Flyer on Page 6 formore more information and to register.* ACT Testing Dates are listed onPage 4 and 5 of the Newsletter.JCA Christmas ConcertThe 2015 JCA Christmas concert will beheld on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at7 p.m. in the JCAActivity Center presentedby the JCA Music Department.Performing will be band, Tapestry, VocalEnsemble and all handbell classes.Admission is free. Please come out andjoin us for an evening of Christmas music.Semester Exam ScheduleTuesday, December 15Period A (1) Classes7:50 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.Period B (2) Classes9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.Period C (3) Classes10:10 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.Announcements11:10 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.Wednesday, December 16Period D/E (4/5) Classes7:50 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.Period F (6) Classes9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.Announcements10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.Make-Up Exams10:10 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.Thursday, December 17Period G (7) Classes7:50 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.Announcements8:50 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.Period H (8) Classes9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.Make-Up Exams10:05 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.Friday, December 18* visitwww.jca-online.orgfor the complete JCA Events CalendarMake-Up Exams7:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.

JCA Spirit Shop NeedsVolunteersThe Spirit Shop is looking for volunteers to help in the Spirit Shop onWednesdays and Thursdays. Each daywill be divided into 2 shifts, morningand afternoon, and volunteers wouldbe able to select which day and whichshift would work best for them. Ourgoal is to schedule eachvolunteer once a month through theschool year for the shift of their choice.All volunteers will receive trainingand plenty of support! Please note thatall volunteers must complete a background check and have completed theProtecting God’s Children workshopprior to their first scheduled shift.Please contact Carolyn Lemke at815-741-0500 ext 231 or emailspiritshop@jca-online.org for moreinformation or to sign up. Thank you!Post to JCA’s Parent PrideJCA Photos/VideosWant to post to the Parent Newsletter?E-mail JCA Director ofCommunications Ryan Quigley at:Parents, students, and alumns who wishto share photos with the JCA Communications office can e-mail them torquigley@jca-online.org. We encourageyou to share photos and videos fromevents.rquigley@jca-online.orgSubmissions for the upcoming monthmust be submitted by the 20th of thepreceding month. (ie December 20th forthe January Newsletter).Past Editions of the Parent PrideNewsletter can be found under the “Parents tab on the JCA website.Nurses CornerThe Health Office is pushing for recordcompliance from our student body. Wehave a large number of incomplete records for the Class of 2016.From the State of Illinois:Quest MenuThe December lunch menu has beenposted on page seven of the newsletter.You can also find the lunch menuonline along with more information onQuest under the “Students” tab on themain page of the JCA Website.Open HouseJCA’s final Open House will takeplace this Thursday night, December3, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00p.m. Please help spread the word tointerested families in your respectiveparishes or communities.Tours of the school will be available.Faculty, staff, and students will be onhand to answer questions. Information on academics, athletics, clubs,and organizations will be available aswell as tuition assistance information,Franciscan/Carmelite scholarship applications, and much more.For more information, contact theAdmissions Office at 815.741.0500or admissions@jca-online.org.Effective this school year, for the firsttime for 12th graders: 2 doses of Meningitis, MCV, are required. One dose afterage 11 and the second on or after the 16thbirthday and at least 8 weeks after the firstdose. Please note that if the first dose isgiven on or after their 16th birthday, onlyone dose is needed.We are currently in the process of sendingletters to parents and to medical providers. The Deadline for compliance, set bythe State, is October 15.Illinois law [105 ILCS 5/27-8.1] requiresschools to exclude students from schooluntil they present proof of meeting thehealth exam and immunization requirements.*Class of 2019- Health Records have aparent portion that the parent/guardianmust completed by the parent/guardianand include both signature and date. Thisis required by the State of Illinois.Please submit all required documents tothe Health Office or fax directly to theHealth Office @ 815-741-3015.Please call, 815-741-0500 ext 275, if youhave any questions or concerns.We are also in the process of setting up aGoogle Drive Share for any parents andstudents who wish to view photos thatwe gather.- JCA Communications OfficePlacement Exam forIncoming FreshmenJoliet Catholic Academy’s PlacementExam will take place on Saturday, January 9 from 8:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Apre-exam workshop will be held onWednesday, January 6 from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Please encourage all eighthgraders you know to take this very important exam and become part of the JCAfamily! For more information, contactthe Admissions Office at 815.741.0500or admissions@jca-online.org.JCA Art DepartmentThe following students have art work exhibited in the 2015 Joliet Junior CollegeArea High School Art Exhibit:Erin Egizio - soldered nickel and brasssculpture - “Coral Reef”Jamie Stolfo - pen & ink drawing - “TheHeart of a Family Tree”Taylor Isaac - riveted nickel and nu-goldkey ringThe exhibition is at the Laura A. SpragueArt Gallery. It runs from November30-December 11, 2015.In conjunction with this exhibition, anAwards Ceremony was scheduled onNovember 19, 2015 where the abovestudents were honored.