JCA Parents,
I’d like to start by wishing all of our families in the JCA community a Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year. It is our hope that you will have time to relax and spend time with family and friends over break. It’s hard at times to put aside the commercialism of this holiday and reflect on the actual “reason for the season”. With the presence of Advent and the birth of Jesus, we are called to prepare and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
Our first semester of school is just about over, and it goes without saying that we’ve had a very exciting first semester! With three of our teams making it to the State Finals (cross country, volleyball, football), an individual making it to the State Finals and a State Championship we have been truly blessed. Also, we are excited to report that we had a
large number of testers for our first entrance exam and are expecting a good (make-up) second day. Plus, historically, we get a huge number of additional testers between now and the start of next year. Last year, 52 students tested after the initial day. If you know of any student (who hasn’t tested) wishing to be a part of the JCA family, please direct them to our Admissions team.
As we near the end of the first semester, as a reminder, the second quarter ends on December 17
th with midterm exams to follow on the 18
th, 19
th, and 20
th. Any make-up exams are scheduled for the 21
st. Please talk with your child on the importance of studying for these exams, especially our freshmen who most would be experiencing a semester exam for the first time.
Our holiday break lasts from December 22
nd to January 6
th. Please remember that on Monday, January 7
th we will be on a 12:00 dismissal schedule.
We hope that the second semester brings just as much energy, optimism, excitement, and hard work as our first semester!
May the Lord bring you Peace this Christmas Season!
Dr. Jeffrey Budz
JCA President/Principal
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Semester Exam Schedule
Tuesday, December 18
Period A (1) Classes
7:50 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 19
Period D/E (4/5) Classes
7:50 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 20
Period G (7) Classes
7:50 a.m. – 8:50 a.m.
Announcements
8:50 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 21
Makeup Exams
7:50 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.
Semester Exam Bus Schedule
Tuesday, December 18
Buses schedule to depart JCA at 11:25 a.m.
Wednesday, December 19
Buses schedule to depart JCA at 10:15 a.m.
Thursday, December 20
Buses schedule to depart JCA at 10:15 a.m.
Friday, December 21
Buses service is not available. Transportation for makeup exams, if applicable, is the student’s responsibility.
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Saturday, December 8, 2018
, Joliet Catholic Academy will host its
Makeup Entrance Exam
for current 8th grade students considering JCA as their choice for high school next fall. Eighth grade students should arrive no later than
7:50 a.m.
and enter through the main entrance off of Larkin Avenue. The exam will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. Students will exit the building at approximately 11:30 a.m. through the south doors, on Ingalls Avenue.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What do I bring? Two #2 pencils; completed JCA application for admission (students may also drop off or mail in the application before the exam date or fill out the application and payment online at the below link). Students who register online do not need to bring a receipt. We will have record and a list for check-in of online registrants.
- Calculators are not allowed; scratch paper will be provided for the exam.
- Pre-registration is recommended, but not mandatory. Walk-up registration will be available the day of the exam.
- What if I don't take the test at JCA? Students who have already taken the HSPT at another High School DO NOT need to take the test again at JCA. However, students still must Register Online and send a copy of their HSPT score to the JCA Admissions Office in order to be considered for admission into JCA. Students who do not apply to JCA and do not fill out an online FACTS financial aid profile are ineligible to receive need-based financial aid offers to JCA. Please note that students who test on the December 1, 2018 date receive priority for admission, top scorer scholarships, and financial aid. Students who test during the make-up exam or schedule an exam at a later date are ineligible for top scorer scholarships, but are still eligible to receive need-based scholarships through the JCA Leveraged Financial Aid program. To learn more about tuition and financial aid options Click Here.
- What is the Financial Aid Deadline? Applications through FACTS for early need-based tuition assistance is due by December 31, 2018 for incoming freshmen.
- Are there any other scholarships available? Merit-based scholarships are available in the form of Carmelite/Franciscan Top Scorer Scholarships on the Entrance Exam and the Frank Golf Scholarship in Mathematics. Also, the application deadline for the JCA Heritage Award Program ($1,000-$5,000 yearly scholarships) is due December 1, 2018. To learn more about these types of scholarships Click Here.
Questions? Contact the JCA Admissions Office. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Go Angels! Go Hill!
Ryan Quigley ’03,
Joliet Catholic Academy – Director of Admissions and Communications
Head Freshman Football Coach
Varsity Baseball Pitching Coach
Office: 815.741.0500, ext. 214
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JCA Christmas Concert
When?
Tuesday, December 11, 2018; 7 p.m.
Where?
JCA Student Activity Center
Admission is Free of Charge. All JCA music groups will perform.
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Attention Senior Parents:
First Senior Prom and Senior Night
PLANNING MEETING
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
6 pm at JCA
Please join us as we plan Prom and Senior Night.
We will meet monthly to make Senior Prom and Senior Night
AMAZING for the Class of 2019
Planning Meetings:
Wednesday, January 9, 2019 6 pm
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 6 pm
Wednesday, March 6, 2019 6 pm (Ash Wednesday)
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 6 pm
Wednesday, May 8, 2019 6 pm
Decorating Schedule:
Wednesday, May 1, 2019 3 pm decorate Gym for Prom
Thursday, May 2, 2019 decorate and clean after Prom walk
Thursday, May 16, 2018 decorate, volunteer at event, clean
Important Dates to remember:
Wednesday, April 17, Lads and Ladies
Prom Thursday, May 2, 2019
Mother’s Day Mass Friday, May 10, 2019
Baccalaureate Mass Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Senior Night Thursday, May 16, 2019 (students only)
Graduation Sunday, May 19, 2019
Questions:
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Student Health Data Notification
Parents, teachers, employee organizations, and other relevant groups: Please be advised that the State of Illinois Student Health Data for JCA, as required by law, is available for inspection during normal business hours by the public -including teachers, other school personnel, representatives, and parents at 1200 N. Larkin Avenue, Joliet, Illinois 60435 within five working days after receipt of a written request for inspection. The school may charge the reasonable cost of making any copies requested.
Thank you,
Jill Batusich, R.N.
Joliet Catholic Academy
Health Office
815-741-0500 ext 275
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Christian Service Hours
What a great time of year to be People for Others!
A reminder to all JCA students that half of the total Service Hours are due before Christmas Break.
Christian Service Hours Overview
Freshmen Year – 5 hours (min. of 3 People In Need Hours by end of year)
Sophomore Year – 10 hours (min. of 5 People In Need Hours by end of year)
Junior Year – 15 Hours (min. of 8 People In Need Hours by end of year)
Senior Year – 30 hours (min. of 15 People in Need Hours by end of year)
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Spirit Shop
Stop in the Spirit Shop today for any of your Christmas Gift Giving needs!! Available now – Sweatshirts,, ¼ Zips, Popsockets, coffee mugs & tumblers, JCA Blanket, ornaments, New Long Sleeve Shirts.
State Football Gear arriving any day now! STATE HOODIES, SHORT SLEEVE AND LONG SLEEVE options will be available.
Please remember , when you purchase anything in the Spirit Shop , all proceeds go directly to JCA to help offset our costs.
Spirit Shop Daily Hours of Operation - When School is in Session
Monday - 7:15am – 3:00pm
Tuesday - 7:15am – 3:00pm
Wednesday – 7:15am – 3:00pm
Thursday - 7:15am – 2:00pm
Friday - 7:15am – 3:00pm
*
Please remember we are OPEN when school is in session *
If JCA is Closed so is the Spirit Shop , Shortened Schedule, Finals Week , etc. etc.
For more information on JCA’s Spirit Shop, contact
Paula Gorski
, Spirit Shop Coordinator, at 815.741.0500, ext. 231.
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Christmas Adopt a Family Program
This holiday season, JCA carries on its tradition of adopting families. This year, twenty-five families will receive gifts from the students, faculty, and staff at Joliet Catholic. As many of these mothers are expecting or have recently had a child, the wish-lists consist heavily of baby products: i.e. diapers, formula, blankets, toys, etc. In the coming weeks, our Hilltopper family will be shopping for all of the essentials that these mothers and their babies need. We will be accepting gifts up to the last week of school leading up to final exams. If you are interested in giving to the Adopt a Family program, please ask your son or daughter how you can donate, or contact Edward DeBartolo (
[email protected]
).
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Hilltopper Football captures their IHSA record 14th State Championship
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Joliet Catholic Academy Hilltopper Football
scored 14 fourth-quarter points and then turned away a last-ditch Montini drive that ended at the Hilltoppers’ 7-yard line with an interception as Joliet Catholic earned a 35-27 victory over Montini.
The Hilltoppers tacked onto a state record for football titles as they won their 14th big trophy.
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Angel Volleyball Captures 3rd Place at IHSA State!
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On Saturday November 17, the Angels (28-14) bounced back from their semifinal loss to eventual state champion Sterling by beating Chicago’s Latin School, 25-13, 25-18, to claim third place.
It was the ninth trophy for the Angels (28-14) in the past 16 seasons, all under coach Christine Scheibe. During her 19 years as coach, every Angel player has been on a team that has placed in the state’s final four, a feat that Scheibe did not realize.
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JCA Fall Play a Rousing Success
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Congratulations to the JCA Drama Department and the entire cast and crew of this year's Fall Play: Neil Simon's "Rumors". What an incredible run this past weekend. Bravo!
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JCA Students volunteer for Will County Children's Advocacy Center
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Joliet Catholic Academy
Student Council members, under the direction of Senior Class President Madeline Buss, made 20 fleece blankets to distribute to children who have endured sexual and/or physical abuse and who are receiving forensic interview, advocacy and trauma-focused therapy services at the Will County Children's Advocacy Center.
(Pictured: Zora Mihelich, Avery Resendiz, Kellen McLeod, Katie Jorgensen, Emma McSteen, Taylor Shelby, Sydney Pucel, Madie Buss, Sophie Krzysciak, Grace Bannon. Not pictured: Kylie Weis, Megan Ortinau, Julie Reyes, Cordelia Wagner)
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JCA announces November
Students of the Month
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Congratulations to JCA’s November Students of the Month:
Conor Klump
(Kiwanis Club),
Max Cullen
(Rotary Club), and
Peyton Buss
(Lions Club). JCA is proud of the success these students have exhibited both in the classroom and out in the community. November Students of the Month will be announced shortly.
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JCA community supports local food pantries with 12th Annual Food Drive
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In it's 12th year, Joliet Catholic Academy's annual Fall Food Drive donated 6,681 pounds of food to the local food pantries of St. Patrick's and St. John the Baptist.
The Food Drive was held during November, with students bringing donations to their homerooms. The senior class ended up with the most pounds, bringing in 2,328 total.
JCA students helped deliver food under the supervision of teachers Celeste Mackey and Suzi Arnett. JCA teachers, students, and members of the Varsity Club helped deliver the food to the local pantries on Monday, November 19. The St. Patrick's food pantry is open on a weekly basis providing food for approximately 300 families per month. Mackey said, "we would like to thank the entire JCA community for their generosity in donating to the Food Drive. The collective effort of this community has once again filled the pantries of St. Pat's and St. John's parishes."
“It’s a great first-hand experience for our students,” Arnett said. “They have the chance to interact with the people, talk to them and hear the thank yous, and it’s something that clearly needs to be done.”
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JCA makes Will County's top high school education affordable
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JCA saw a 16% increase in freshmen enrollment and a 30% increase in applications for the 2018-2019 school year thanks in large part to our Leveraged Financial Aid program.
Why JCA?
- “Inspiring Growth in Knowledge and Faith” since 1869, the Joliet Catholic Academy family creates an environment that cultivates opportunities for academic excellence, meaningful service, Christian respect, and Catholic values in the traditions of the Carmelites and Franciscans.
- The Class of 2018 earned over $12 million in college scholarships, averaging over $92,000 per student through four years of college.
- The mean ACT score was 30.1 for Honors Program students and 27.1 for the top 50% of the Class of 2018, well above Illinois’ public school state average ACT of 21.2 from 2017.
- Angels and Hilltopper can earn Advanced Placement and Junior College credits while attending JCA. 70% of the Class of 2018 scored a “3” or higher on A.P. Examinations earning college credit, well above the state and local public school averages (65.6% and 37.6%) from 2017.
- 100% of 2018 graduates accepted into college, 99% pursuing higher education.
- 30 State or National Championships in Athletics; 24 varsity sports offered: 62 former/current professional athletes; 65 student-athletes currently competing in college athletics.
- 93% of students participate in extra-curricular activities; 40+ clubs and after-school programs offered.
- The Class of 2018 completed over 15,000 hours of community service; weekly/monthly Masses and Retreat programs also offered.
Want to see how we make the Will County area's top high school education affordable?
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1200 N. Larkin Avenue
Joliet, IL 60435
P - (815) 741-0500
F - (815) 741-8825
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