Friday Focus Newsletter

As we continue our journey through the school year, I am excited to highlight some of the events and celebrations that took place this past week. We began by celebrating the Feast of St. Blaise, a meaningful occasion in our Catholic faith. St. Blaise, known for his kindness and devotion to helping others, is the patron saint of those suffering from ailments of the throat. We honored St. Blaise with Mass followed by the blessing of throats, symbolizing both physical and spiritual healing. This celebration reminded us of the strength of faith, compassion, and the power of community as we came together to pray for the well-being of those in need.

Our amazing teaching staff continues to deliver engaging lessons that spark excitement in the classroom. As a parent myself, I often ask my daughter, “What did you do or learn today?” only to hear the typical teenage response of “Nothing.” However, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the dedication and creativity of our teachers as they inspire students with meaningful and impactful lessons. A recent highlight was the Catholic Identity Lesson, where Fr. Warren gave an inspirational talk to the entire student body about the importance of living a more virtuous life.

In the evening, we gathered to honor our Senior Boys and Girls Basketball athletes and Dance Team members, each of whom has dedicated four years to the continued success of their programs. It was a night full of energy and excitement, especially with both teams securing victories in their games!

Finally, our students continue to shine through their involvement and commitment to our various clubs. Mr. Shukis has started a Sign Language Club, while Ms. Hess continues to build the Outdoor Club, Scholastic Bowl, and Chess teams, just to name a few. Clubs are an essential part of the high school experience because they offer students the opportunity to explore their interests, develop new skills, and form meaningful friendships outside of the classroom. Clubs also provide leadership opportunities, helping students build confidence, teamwork, and responsibility. Ultimately, they create a space for students to grow socially, emotionally, and intellectually, making them a vital aspect of high school life.

As you can see, it has been a busy and productive week. Thank you for your continued support as we make the most of this school year!

Sincerely,

Benjamin Winkelman

Due to an unforeseen scheduling conflict, we have had to reschedule the Winter Formal Dance. The event, originally planned for Saturday February 8th, will now take place on Saturday, March 1st, 2025.

If you have heard, last week a sophomore student from Wheaton Academy had a tragic car accident on his way home from practice. Due to this tragedy the girls’ basketball game vs. Wheaton Academy, originally scheduled for tonight, has been moved to Friday, February 7th. The outcome of this game and other contingencies will determine if we must host additional basketball games on Saturday the 8th, at the same time as the Winter Dance.

We understand that this change may require adjustments to your plans, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience it may cause.

All previously purchased tickets will remain valid for the new date. If you were not able to attend the original date, but now you can attend, tickets will be on sale in the school office for an additional week. Should you have any questions or concerns, or if this change poses a significant issue, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Dean’s office.

Please join us in praying for the family and the entire Wheaton Academy community during this tragic time. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to celebrating with everyone on March 1st!

Sincerely,

Marian Central Administration

Course selections for the 25-26 school year will be made by our current students between Monday, February 3 - Friday, February 21 on PlusPortals. All of the information you and your student need to navigate the online course selection process is available on our website at: https://www.marian.com/academics/curriculum-guide/.

Parents, it is critical that you play an active role in this process by discussing and reviewing your student's course selections. It will be helpful to have your student fill out the grade-specific Course Selection Worksheet before they select their courses online. The counselors are available for you and your students to assist in this process, as needed. Please contact Mr. Fearn (afearn@marian.com) for current freshmen and juniors and Mrs. Hilton (khilton@marian.com) for current sophomores.

Online Course Registration Timeline:

Week of 1/27/25

Mrs. Hilton, Mr. Fearn and the mentors reviewed the course selection and online course registration process with current students during Advisory

Monday, February 3 - Friday, February 21

Online Course Registration open for students in PlusPortals

Monday, March 3

Tentative Course Selection Verification Forms mailed - if a student wishes to adjust his/her course selections after this mailing, they should bring in that form with the change indicated and a parent signature

Friday, March 21

Course Recommendation Forms due - for students who were not initially recommended for a course OR for students who did not meet the prerequisites for a course

Last day to change course selections (after 3/21 there will be a $30 fee to change courses)

Deadline to pay Advanced Placement (AP) course fees

Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors may attend these visits. Students must receive permission from their teachers to attend each visit and must sign up for all visits in SCOIR.

Wednesday 2/12: St. Anthony College of Nursing-1st Period, Oakland University-3rd Period

Thursday 2/13: McHenry County College-4th Period

Higher Focus Photography is offering Open Studio sessions on Wednesday, February 12 for students and athletes requiring a make-up photo for school or individual sport photos. There is no charge for make-up photos on this date, but they do require advance registration at the link below:

https://calendly.com/vicky-higherfocusphotography/open-studio-walk-in-sessions

Anyone also wanting a retake can register for a session on this date. However, a $15 retake sitting fee will apply.

They will also be at Marian on Wednesday, March 12 for Spring Sports Team photos. Some make-up photos can be pre-arranged for this date by contacting them.

Attention Families of Juniors:

Huntington Learning Center in Lake in the Hills is offering a FREE ACT practice test opportunity on February 14, 2025 at 1:00 PM. Please see the flyer below for sign up information. Sign up will be on a first come first serve basis.

It’s time to make your 2025-2026 Registration Fee payment.

The non-refundable registration fee is $325. However, if you submit payment before February 14, 2025, you receive a $75 discount making the amount due $250. Payment can be made by clicking here (a 4% fee will be applied) or by sending to the office. All returning students will register for courses online.

All student athletes who plan to participate in a spring sport need to register through the Athletics website prior to the start of the season.

Registration is available by clicking here.

Seniors

Seniors who would like to be exempt from Semester 2 exams, the process starts now. Please review the form below to make sure you understand what you will need to accomplish regarding academics, discipline and attendance over the next 2 quarters in order to be exempt from your second semester exams. Senior Exam Exemption Form 2024-25

AP Classes

All students (grades 9-12) who are enrolled in, paid the fee for, and eventually take the College Board test for any AP class have the option to be exempt from taking their end of semester 2 final exam for that class. Students qualify by earning at least an 87% in the class by May 17 AND have taken the AP College Board test. Please use the form below to submit your request to the main office no later than end of day Monday, May 16. AP Exam Exemption Form 2024-25

Dear Marian Community,

For years, the "Marian Cares" program has been a cornerstone of our Key Club’s mission to serve those in need. In partnership with local food banks, we’ve worked to provide vital resources to families in our community. However, this year, as we reached out to our trusted food banks, we discovered that they are facing shortages like never before.

In response, we decided to pivot our efforts and host food drives within our school, aiming to fill the gap and ensure that no family goes without a meal. It’s a small shift with a big goal: to continue the work of Marian Cares by putting food on the table for those who need it most.

We understand that we are continually asking for non-perishable donations, but every item - no matter how small - makes a difference. A single can of food or a single bag of rice can be the difference between a family going hungry or having a meal to share.

We are so blessed to have a generous and compassionate Marian community, always willing to band together and help. Your kindness inspires us every day and reminds us of the power we have when we come together for a common cause. We ask that next time you attend a basketball game, you prayerfully consider bringing in any non-perishable food items to donate. There should be a ‘Key Club Food Donation’ box at the admissions table, and you could give any donations to anyone there. Additionally, if you cannot make a donation at a game, you can always send in food items with your child to school, who can then drop them off in Mrs. Bolman’s room.

Let’s continue to care, to give, and to lift up those who need us most. Thank you for being a part of this mission. Together, we can make a real difference.

God Bless,

Marian Central’s Key Club

The Athletic Booster Club is excited to rock the night away with your headliner, Mike & Joe! Mike & Joe is a modern rock cover band widely regarded by its audiences, and peers as one of the best sounding cover bands in the nation.

With opener, Justin Wallace, a talented Johnsburg native, who is now sharing the stage with renowned artists like David Cook, winner of American Idol, and AGT’s very own Mitch Rossell, this concert is sure to be a good time.

Join us on Saturday, February 15 at The Vixen in McHenry at 7:00pm as we enjoy a night filled with music, food, energy, and good vibes – all to support a great cause. All proceeds go to the Athletic Booster Club, which helps support the needs of our athletic teams and student-athletes. Both general admission and VIP tickets are available!