A monthly newsletter for parents and guardians of Joliet Catholic Academy students.Parent PrideJCA’s

2015-2016 Parent Association

The primary objective of this association, a service organization, is to build a community

of spirit and involvement and to promote communication between parents/guardians

of JCA students and the JCA administration. But most importantly, to assist the school in

fundraising, social events, and activities.

Executive Committee

PresidentJane & Mark Karner

(815)741-3991

Vice PresidentKelly & Greg Gould

(815) 521-9231

SecretaryDenise & ArnGrashoff

(815) 254-2046

TreasurerBarb & Mike Scudder

(815) 436-2717

Class Representatives

SeniorsLaura Paramo(815) 603-8534

Kathy & Jamie Hibner (815) 573-4941

JuniorsLori & Tom Sherman

(815) 254-4432Bonnie & Bob Babich

(815) 521-0321

SophomoresJulieta & Ray Meyer

(815) 254-6174Jennifer and Marc Smith

(815) 382-9133

FreshmenLyn & Mike Melnick

312-330-6290Sheri and Jonathan Voss

(815) 579-4224

Dear JCA Families,

The first semester has flown by with semester exams quickly approaching. This is a critical time 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 students and 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 money in pledges ($1.2 million) to make this dream a reality. There are a few minor details to be finished off around the quad, but information will be forthcoming on an official ribbon cutting ceremony, celebrating the completion of the Victory Light and Heritage Quad, in addition 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 Phase I in this all important initiative. The new windows at the front of the school provide an aesthetic upgrade, as well as increasing energy efficiency in the building. The Heritage Quad is already becoming a focal point for gatherings (athletic teams after victories, re-unions, etc.). It is a wonderful space for our students, parents, alumni, and friends of JCA to gather and feel the spirit of not only our school, but of the schools that make up our great Tradition. It truly is an exciting time to be an Angel and a Hilltopper!

As we begin Phase II of our Capital Initiative, we look once again towards the vision of our Joliet Catholic Academy community:

Dr. Jeffrey Budz, our President/Principal, eloquently stated, “Joliet Catholic Academy is a school of opportunity…a beacon of light for all. We live Carmelite and Franciscan values, think critically, partner with families, engage the community, and champion Christian Servant leadership, while igniting passion and enthusiasm for life’s journey.”

We have set a goal of $1.5 million dollars for Phase II, which would cover the expenses for 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 class-rooms and offices contain the ductless units), and large scale improvements to our Wi-Fi infrastructure, which includes Wi-Fi hotspots in every classroom, preparing for our 1:1 technology initiative beginning in the 2016-2017 school year.

If you would like more information on getting involved with Phase II in some capac-ity, please contact Director of Development John Horn at jhorn@jca-online.org or 815.741.0500, ext. 276

Lastly, the office of Communications and Marketing is always open to suggestions and ideas to spread the message about Joliet Catholic Academy. Our greatest asset in the Joliet Catholic 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 be newsworthy, however big or small you may think it to be.

Respectfully, Ryan QuigleyDirector of Communications815.741.0500, ext. 285

December 2015

JCA Communications Office

JCA Communications Director Ryan Quigley is looking to connect with any winter or spring sport parents who wish to provide in-game or event photography. The communications department attends many atheltic events, but can not attend them all. The more video, photos, and first hand accounts we have of extra-curricular activities, the more content we can pro-vide on teh JCA website and our social media accounts. E-mail rquigley@jca-

online.org to connect.

JCA Admissions/Open HouseCommercial

The JCA Communications department, Admissions team, and Derrek Matichak Videography recently produced a :30 sec-ond commercial to advertise JCA’s 2015 Open Houses

The commerical is still airing throughout December in AT&T UVerse and Comcast households, broadcasting across 12 chan-nels includeing ESPN, CNN, Nickelodeon, E! Network, ABC Family, Golf Channel, and more. The commercial is also available on the JCA YouTube channel, the main page of the website, and on the XFinity.com and ESPN mobile apps.

The commercial will become the basis for the 2016-2017 JCA Admissions video, which will be a documentary on the “Making of the Commercial”. All of the students shown in the commercial will be included in the documentary, giving their first hand account of their positive experi-ences at JCA.

* visit www.jca-online.org

for the complete JCA Events Calendar

JCA Christmas ConcertThe 2015 JCA Christmas concert will be held on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 7 p.m. in the JCA Activity Center presented by the JCA Music Department.

Performing will be band, Tapestry, Vocal Ensemble and all handbell classes.

Admission is free. Please come out and join us for an evening of Christmas music.

Semester Exam ScheduleTuesday, December 15

Period A (1) Classes7:50 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.Period B (2) Classes

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.Period C (3) Classes

10:10 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.Announcements

11:10 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Wednesday, December 16

Period D/E (4/5) Classes7:50 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.Period F (6) Classes

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.Announcements

10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.Make-Up Exams

10:10 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.

Thursday, December 17

Period G (7) Classes7:50 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.

Announcements8:50 a.m. – 8:55 a.m.Period H (8) Classes

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.Make-Up Exams

10:05 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.

Friday, December 18

Make-Up Exams7:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.

Stay Connected

Don’t miss the latest news about JCA, Angels and Hilltoppers, events, and more; visit our website or download the Joliet Catholic Academy app, available on iTunes and Google Play.

Stay connected through social me-dia. “Like” Joliet Catholic Academy on Facebook, “Follow” @JCAOnline on Twitter, and check out Joliet Catholic on Instagram. Spread the word!

Please be sure to follow many of our clubs, athletic teams, and academic departments who are also putting our specific content on their Twitter pages.

ACT Preparation Course

Joliet Catholic Academy is offering an eight week course for students wishing to formally prepare for the April 2016 ACT Test.

Location/Time: JCA, Saturdays 9:00-11:00 a.m., starting January 16, 2016 ending March 19, 2016

Sessions: Eight Saturday Classes

Fees: $200 – handouts, professional instruction and manual

Enrollment: 25 students/class Registration: First come, first served! Please include form below and check payable to JCA. No refunds after December 11.

* See Attached Flyer on Page 6 for more more information and to reg-

ister.

* ACT Testing Dates are listed on Page 4 and 5 of the Newsletter.

Post to JCA’s Parent Pride

Want to post to the Parent Newsletter? E-mail JCA Director of Communications Ryan Quigley at:

rquigley@jca-online.org

Submissions for the upcoming month must be submitted by the 20th of the preceding month. (ie December 20th for

the January Newsletter).

Past Editions of the Parent Pride Newsletter can be found under the “Par-ents tab on the JCA website.

Nurses CornerThe Health Office is pushing for record compliance from our student body. We have a large number of incomplete re-cords for the Class of 2016.

From the State of Illinois:

Effective this school year, for the first time for 12th graders: 2 doses of Menin-gitis, MCV, are required. One dose after age 11 and the second on or after the 16th birthday and at least 8 weeks after the first dose. Please note that if the first dose is given on or after their 16th birthday, only one dose is needed.

We are currently in the process of sending letters to parents and to medical provid-ers. The Deadline for compliance, set by the State, is October 15.

Illinois law [105 ILCS 5/27-8.1] requires schools to exclude students from school until they present proof of meeting the health exam and immunization require-ments.

*Class of 2019- Health Records have a parent portion that the parent/guardian must completed by the parent/guardian and include both signature and date. This is required by the State of Illinois.

Please submit all required documents to the Health Office or fax directly to the Health Office @ 815-741-3015.

Please call, 815-741-0500 ext 275, if you have any questions or concerns.

JCA Photos/Videos

Parents, students, and alumns who wish to share photos with the JCA Communi-cations office can e-mail them to rquigley@jca-online.org. We encourage you to share photos and videos from events.

We are also in the process of setting up a Google Drive Share for any parents and students who wish to view photos that we gather.

- JCA Communications Office

Placement Exam for Incoming Freshmen

Joliet Catholic Academy’s Placement Exam will take place on Saturday, Janu-ary 9 from 8:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. A pre-exam workshop will be held on Wednesday, January 6 from 6:30 p.m. un-til 8:00 p.m. Please encourage all eighth graders you know to take this very im-portant exam and become part of the JCA family! For more information, contact the Admissions Office at 815.741.0500 or admissions@jca-online.org.

JCA Art DepartmentThe following students have art work ex-hibited in the 2015 Joliet Junior College

Area High School Art Exhibit:

Erin Egizio - soldered nickel and brass sculpture - “Coral Reef”

Jamie Stolfo - pen & ink drawing - “The Heart of a Family Tree”

Taylor Isaac - riveted nickel and nu-gold key ring

The exhibition is at the Laura A. Sprague Art Gallery. It runs from November

30-December 11, 2015.

In conjunction with this exhibition, an Awards Ceremony was scheduled on November 19, 2015 where the above

students were honored.

JCA Spirit Shop Needs Volunteers

The Spirit Shop is looking for vol-unteers to help in the Spirit Shop on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Each day will be divided into 2 shifts, morning and afternoon, and volunteers would be able to select which day and which shift would work best for them. Our goal is to schedule each volunteer once a month through the school year for the shift of their choice. All volunteers will receive training and plenty of support! Please note that all volunteers must complete a back-ground check and have completed the Protecting God’s Children workshop prior to their first scheduled shift.

Please contact Carolyn Lemke at 815-741-0500 ext 231 or email spiritshop@jca-online.org for more information or to sign up. Thank you!

Quest MenuThe December lunch menu has beenposted on page seven of the newsletter.You can also find the lunch menu online along with more information on Quest under the “Students” tab on the main page of the JCA Website.

Open HouseJCA’s final Open House will take place this Thursday night, December 3, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Please help spread the word to interested families in your respective parishes or communities.

Tours of the school will be available. Faculty, staff, and students will be on hand to answer questions. Informa-tion on academics, athletics, clubs, and organizations will be available as well as tuition assistance information, Franciscan/Carmelite scholarship ap-plications, and much more.

For more information, contact the Admissions Office at 815.741.0500 or admissions@jca-online.org.

ACT PREPARATION COURSE For

April 2016 ACT Test

Joliet Catholic Academy is offering an eight week course for students wishing to formally prepare for the April 2016 ACT Test. Location/Time: JCA Saturdays 9:00-11:00 a.m. Sessions: Eight Saturday Classes Fees: $200 – handouts, professional instruction and manual Enrollment: 25 students/class

Registration: First come, first served! Please include form below and check payable to JCA. No refunds after December 11. Return to: JCA, Mrs. Jeannie Bell (Rm. 120)

Days/Dates: January 16 – Math/Sci February 20 – Math/Sci January 23 – English February 27 – English January 30 – Math/Sci March 12 – Math/Sci February 6 – English March 19 – English

April 9 – ACT Test @ JCA ACT Registration Deadline: 3/4/16

ACT Late Registration Deadline: 3/11/16

Registration for ACT Prep Course – 2016 Registration deadline: December 11, 2015

Name _____________________________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________________________ Telephone _________________________________________________________ Homeroom _________________________________________________________ Current English Teacher: ____________ Current Math Teacher: _______________ (Return registration with fee in an envelope to Mrs. Bell or Mrs. Osburn)

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1/4lb 100% Beef Burgers & Cheeseburgers, Chicken Sandwiches & Specialty Grilled & Panini Sandwiches

Fresh Baked in house Pizza served daily- Cheese, Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, and daily specials. Homemade Calzones & Personal Pan Pizza featured.

Made to order Deli Sandwiches & Chopped Salads, featured with Homemade Soup Daily.

Daily Lunch Specials featuring a wide variety of Homemade comfort dishes. Daily specials made with care and tradition.

Who is Quest Food Management Service?

Quest is a family owned contract management company providing food and services to schools, universities and businesses since 1985. Quest Food Management Services has for the past 30 years provided food service to many private and public schools in the Chicagoland area. Our reputation is for the high quality food & service provided to students, staff and community of our partnered schools & businesses. What can students expect this month? BREAKFAST! Wake up with us. We offer breakfast sandwiches, fresh baked goods, coffee and more. At Quest we are committed to making sure that we offer a variety of choices. Where can I find the menu? The monthly menu will be posted on the JCA website, as well as posted throughout the school. Soon to be on twitter- watch for details.

BREAKFAST SERVED DAILY:

7:00 -8:00am DAILY

Fresh Baked Giant Cinnamon Rolls & Baked in House Jumbo Muffins

Donuts, Bagels, Breakfast Sandwiches, French Toast Sticks Fresh Brewed Coffee, Juice, Milk Yogurt Parfaits, Fresh Fruit Cups

And more….

LUNCH OPTIONS DAILY:

10:00-12:30pm

DAILY LUNCH SPECIAL- featured on monthly lunch menu, as well as

many daily served entrée choices: ¼ lb Burgers/Cheeseburgers

Chicken Sandwiches Fresh Baked Pizza- variety

Made to order Deli & Chopped Salad Station

ENTRÉE ALA CARTE $3.75

LUNCH COMBO MEAL $4.75

Combo includes: ala carte entrée choice with choice of sides: salad,

fries, vegetable or soup

Fresh Baked Jumbo Cookie $1.00 Cookie Stack $1.50

Homemade Rice Crispie Treat $1.00 Big Grab Chips $1.00

Soda: Bottle $2.00/Canned $1.00 Bottled Juice $2.00 Milk Chugs $2.00 Gatorade $2.50

Premium Beverages $2.50 Fries: $1.75/$2.25

Homemade Soup $1.50 Variety of Grab & Go Choices $3.75

DAILY MENU OPTIONS

Shannon Lauridsen Cafeteria Manager jca@questfms.com

Returning JCA team members Nancy Kim Sue

Joan Daina

Meet the team:

MealTime Online – Meal Account Deposits, enables you to make prepay deposits and payments on balances for your student’s school lunch account, conveniently, safely and securely.

You can also view your student’s account activity, including onsite payments, online payments, current balance and a detailed history of meal and food item purchases.

Deposits can be made with any Discover, VISA, or MasterCard credit or debit card.

Credit card processing is completed through a secure authorization process. MealTime Online does not retain or store Credit Card information and will never share your information with a third party.

Online payments are processed immediately and will be reflected in the student’s cafeteria account automatically, according to the district’s scheduled transfer process.

All student data that is transmitted is encrypted and authenticated every time you use the website.

You can associate multiple students, from multiple schools, with one parent profile.

MealTime Online can also be used to make payments for other school fees See School Fee Payments .

MealTime Online can be used to make deposits into a student’s cafeteria account, or any additional accounts set up by the school district.

Get started in 3 easy steps!

For more information about The CLM Group, Inc, and our payment processing partners, please see our About Us page.

MEALTIME ONLINE https://www.mymealtime.com/

Starting this fall, we will be using a computerized cash register program which will be linked to the student’s id card. Students can choose to pre-deposit money on their account and use their student id card similar to a bank debit card or they can continue to use cash at breakfast and lunch. We will not accept credit cards in the cafeteria, credit cards can only be used for online pre-payments. Students can make account deposits in the cafeteria using cash or checks. All checks must be made payable to “Quest Food Management”.

Below is the link to Mealtime Online.

ANNOUNCING JCA’S JUBILATÉ 2016

“UNDER THE BOARDWALK”

MARCH 12, 2016 BOLINGBROOK GOLF CLUB

JCA’S ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT

EVENT CHAIRS -- MARIA & FELIPE ACOSTA

AUDREY & WAYNE SMITH LULU & JIM ROTH

WE’LL BE HAVING SOME FUN! SILENT & LIVE AUCTIONS

CARNIVAL GAMES CRAFT BEVERAGES & COTTON CANDY

CASUAL & COMFY – ELEGANT & EXCITING

ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS GREAT EVENT BENEFIT

OUR JCA ANGELS & HILLMEN

PLEASE CONSIDER ATTENDING

CONTACT: CHRIS VOSS, DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS, 815-773-0784

“From the park you hear the happy sound of a carousel Mm-mm, you can almost taste the hot dogs and French fries they sell Under the boardwalk, down by the sea”