September 7, 2021

Dear Parents,

We are pleased to bring the Young Hearts for Life® (YH4L) Cardiac Screening Program to Joliet Catholic Academy on November 18, 2021. All students whose parents authorize them to be tested will be screened. Please be aware that repeat ECG testing is recommended every two (2) years.

YH4L will provide this Free heart screening called an electrocardiogram (ECG) to identify high school students at risk for sudden cardiac death and to increase the public's awareness of this issue. To date over 265,000 students have been screened as a result of YH4L. More information about the screening can be found on the YH4L website (www.yh4l.org).

A simple ECG, when used to screen young adults can detect certain serious heart conditions. Recording the electrical activity of the heart using electrodes attached to the skin with a mild adhesive, can detect approximately 70% of the abnormalities or “markers” from these heart conditions that are associated with sudden cardiac death that a stethoscope cannot. Please note that ECG screenings result in less than 2% of the tests being falsely positive. This may require additional evaluation and testing by your physician. We believe that the benefit of this potentially lifesaving screening outweighs this concern.

We encourage you to discuss this screening with your child. Your child’s participation in the screening is your decision. We want to assure you that students’ confidentiality, privacy and individual modesty will be respected throughout all aspects of the program. Only female technicians will test girls and they will be screened in an area separate from boys.

The Young Hearts For Life® Cardiac Screening is being provided to your students by TEAM PODZ and Young Hearts for Life donors. To learn more about other programs offered by YH4L and to register your child for this lifesaving screening, please visit our website at http://www.yh4l.org/. If you have questions, please contact us at 630-785-4366.

Sincerely,

Joseph Marek, MD
Founder & Medical Director, Young Hearts for Life® Cardiac Screening Program
Cardiologist, Advocate Medical Group
School Calendar

Friendly reminder, students will be dismissed at noon on Thursday, October 28th due to Parent-Teacher Conferences. In addition, Friday, October 29th will be a live remote day which will conclude at 12 p.m.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Thursday, October 28
2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
 
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 28. Students will be dismissed at noon with conferences being held from 2:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Teachers and counselors will be available for parents/guardians to meet and discuss their student’s academic progress. Conferences will be held in the teachers’ classrooms and the counselors’ offices.

Parents and guardians should enter the school through the main office facing Larkin Avenue. Student schedules and a map of the school will be emailed to parents the week of October 25.

Parents with concerns about their student’s academic progress are highly encouraged to attend. If you are unable to attend, please feel free to contact your student’s teachers and/or counselor via e-mail or call 815.741.0500.

Thank you,

Suzanne Kairis
Assistant to the Administration
815.741.0500, ext. 217
Our school's success is due to many factors. One of the greatest gifts JCA receives is the gift of time that our families donate to us as volunteers. Please complete the following form and think about how you could "give of yourself." We are promising that you will be contacted throughout the school year to fulfill your request. If you need more specific  information about the volunteer opportunities, please contact Chris Voss, Director of Special Events (815-773-0784).
Joliet Catholic Academy celebrates Heritage week this week. JCA sets aside the first week of October, October 4-10, to celebrate the spirituality of the Joliet Franciscans and the Carmelites in a special way. Every day this week students and staff will have a different activity and theme that connects to our founding communities.

Monday is the day of prayer: every period will start with special prayers on Franciscan and Carmelite themes.

Tuesday the day of charity: a collection will be taken up in every Theology class. All the proceeds raised will go support Franciscan and Carmelite missions. Please bring a little extra change on Tuesday.

Wednesday is the day of hospitality: JCA will celebrate with lunch outdoors the entire period. There will be no homeroom periods on Wednesday to give students more time to enjoy the outdoors. Students can bring lunch or purchase through Quest.

Thursday is the day of service and retreat: the freshman, sophomore and junior classes will be on retreat. It is normal school hours and lunch will be provided. Thursday is spirit wear dress day for all students. The seniors are out in the community on their day of service. Please dress appropriately depending on the worksite. All seniors must bring a lunch. 

Friday is the day of celebration: JCA will have an all-school mass to celebrate the end of Heritage Week.

Read more about the Order of Carmelites here >> https://www.jca-online.org/order-of-carmelites/

Read more about the Joliet Franciscans here >> https://www.jca-online.org/joliet-franciscans/

Campus Ministry

This year JCA will be offering the sacrament of Confirmation for any student that is interested. All preparations will be done through the campus ministry office and during the regular school day. The sacrament of confirmation will take place in the spring but the date is still to be determined. If your student is interested or your have any questions, you can stop in to campus ministry or reach Fr. Jeff at 815-741-0500 ext. 263 or frjeff@jca-online.org. 
Important Information from the Health Office 

Per the State of Illinois and JCA policy, students whose medical records are not in compliance will be excluded from school and all school activities, including athletics, starting October 15 and will remain excluded until all health records are compliant. 

There are many students with outstanding required medical records that will be subject to exclusion on October 15. Multiple notifications (letters, emails and telephone calls), have been completed. Please submit your students required health records ASAP.

Seniors 

  • Senior students are to submit documentation for their MENINGOCOCCAL CONJUGATE VACCINE (MCV4). Documentation for the MCV4 vaccine administration must have the providers dated signature. 
  • The immunization requirement consists of: The first dose received on or after the 11th birthday; second dose on or after the 16th birthday. An interval of least eight weeks after the first dose. Only one dose is required if the first dose was received at 16 years of age or older. No proof of immunity allowed.  
  
Freshmen
 
  • Please be advised the Certificate of Child Health Exam (Freshman physical) has a required parent portion on page 2 that must be completed in its entirety including a parents dated signature!!! These forms can be found on the website, under Parents tab, click on Health Office tab.
  • NEW State Law: freshman are now required to have dental exam.  

Flu Season is fast approaching 

Get your and your student's flu vaccine before the flu begins spreading. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body, so make plans to get vaccinated early in fall, before flu season begins. CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October. Getting vaccinated later, however, can still be beneficial and vaccination should continue to be offered throughout flu season, even into January or later. 

COVID:

Refer to the parent handbook, and the following link on JCA’s website for updated COVID-19 information/policy/safety tips @ https://www.jca-online.org/2021/08/covid-19-safety-protocols-for-the-2021-2022-school-year/.
Please refer to the following links to keep update with covid guidelines:
https://www.isbe.net/coronavirus
http://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/school-guidance

All Students 

  • Health Office information is on the school web site under the Parents tab, click on Health Office
  • Medication Administration Authorization (MAA) forms are required at the start of every new school year. Forms are available on the web site.
  • Emergency Action Plans (EAP’s) are requested for those students with asthma, diabetes, epilepsy (seizures) and severe allergies. EAP’s are available on the web site. Medication Authorization forms to self-carry emergency medications and supplies must be submitted at the start of every new school year. Forms are available on the web site.
  • Those that travel internationally to areas of high TB risk (most countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Russia) for greater than 2 weeks are required to have IGRA prior to returning to school. Additional information is on the web site.

Health Office Hours 

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00am-2:30pm Thursday 8:00am -2:30pm 
During school breaks voicemails and emails are checked weekly. 
815-741-0500 Ext 275, 815-741-3015 fax, nurse@jca-online.org 

AND THEY’RE OFF . . . . . . . . . ,

At Bolingbrook Golf Club in Bolingbrook, Illinois, the 37th running of the Jubilate Derby will fly out of the gate on April 2, 2022. The first leg of the Triple Crown races begins at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner, dancing, bidding and betting.
 
Our 2022 Jubilate Chair-couples are:
Nicole & Mike Murray
Katie & Ed Michel
 
These winning jockeys will be “Chomping at the Bit” to show you a winning race and raise tons of money for our JCA students.

Treat yourself and be a part of this winning team by joining the Jubilate Committee. “Hands Down” you will have the time of your life making your JCA track appearance!!!!!

Joliet Catholic Academy’s annual Jubilaté is a celebration of the JCA community and the largest annual fundraising event put on by the school, parents, alumni, and friends.
Please contact Trainer Chris Voss with questions (815-773-0784)
Fall Spirit Raffle

$15,000 GRAND PRIZE
$5,000 2nd PRIZE
$2,500 3rd PRIZE
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Winter Sports Registration

Registration is open for Winter Sports. To register please see the detailed information below. Any athlete trying out for a winter sport must be completely registered, including payment of the $150.00 athletic fee (if the athlete is cut from the team the $150.00 is refundable) and have an updated sports physical on file by October 31, 2021 or they WILL NOT be allowed to attend tryouts.
2021-2022 School Calendar

The online events calendar on JCA's website has been updated. Events in the calendar are able to be sorted by Month, List, and Day. You are also able to Export Events using the + Export Events button below the calendar. Events will export to your smartphone or Outlook. We have also provided a one page PDF events calendar.

Please note, the official school calendar is subject to change at the discretion of the school.
2021-2022 Back to School

JCA is excited to announce The Warning Family Innovation Research Center is in full use to start the 2021-2022 school year, a "soft opening" as small odds and ends are completed before our Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

JCA students now have access to state-of-the-art tools only seen in the finest universities. The IRC encompasses the entire second floor northeast section on campus. It includes Virtual Reality labs, interactive walls, movable furniture for introduction and instruction, a robotics lab, and the "powerhouse lab".

The Warning Family Innovation Research Center allows students access to cutting edge programming in AP Computer Science, Engineering, and Graphic Design. Students also have access to charging stations, 3D printers, robotics, drones, and more. This is JCA, "where tradition meets tomorrow."
Dear Joliet Catholic Academy Community:

Quest Food Management Services is excited to announce that the cafeteria will be re-opening this fall and offering all your favorite meal items! We will be opening all the food station for lunch. The Quest Team is back and busy preparing menus that support our fresh, made from scratch, high quality dining program.

Be assured the staff will be following all the CDC guidelines required by the state of Illinois as we fully reopen. At the time of this letter the Illinois State Board of Education has not issued any guidelines related to foodservice this Fall. Continued communication will be forthcoming as it relates to any changes.

Please see all attached documents related to Quest’s Joliet Catholic Academy dining program attached. The highlights with regard to changes this year include:

Mealtime – Online Payment System

Make deposits directly into student meal accounts
Deposits can be made through ACH payment or credit card (can also setup auto replenish)

This cashless system keeps the lunch lines moving

For Easy Access to Menus download the FDMealPlanner App

Please take time to download the app on your smartphone
FDMealPlanner provides the menu – by month, by day and by food station

Go to: https://www.fdmealplanner.com/ to register or for more information watch this video overview: FDMealPlanner Video Overview

You can also find all these links and more information on JCA website under cafeteria tab by visiting: jca-online.org

If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Quest’s District Manager, Jesus Ortega, at Jortega@questfms.com or Shannon Lauridsen, Food Service Director at jca@questfms.com.

Sincerely,

Nick Saccaro
President              
SAVE THE DATE:

Pop's & Lollies - Annual JCA Father/Daughter Dance

November 23, 2021. More details will be forthcoming from the JCA Parent Association.
JCA SPIRIT SHOP

Very excited to say the Spirit Shop is now OPEN !! No appointments needed. 
You may stop in the Spirit Shop anytime the students are in session (masks required).

A normal school day schedule would be mostly as follows:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - 7:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Thursdays -  7:15 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (shortened school day)

We carry your Uniform Polos, Hoodies, Uniform Approved sweatshirts, T-shirts, hat, tumblers and more!!!
Stop in and take a look at all of our new merchandise.

If you have any questions please contact the Spirit Shop anytime. 

Paula Gorski
 
Paula Gorski, Spirit Shop Coordinator
Joliet Catholic Academy
815-741-0500 x231