September 2023 Parent Pride Newsletter

Hello JCA Parents & Guardians,   Welcome to the start of a new school year! I will serve as your 2023-2024 President for the JCA Parent Association. My years at JCA started in Fall of 2016, when my daughter became an Angel and we, as a family, began our journey to what would become more like family than just a school where we send our kids. Our daughter graduated in May of 2020 and our son is currently a Junior Hilltopper. I hope you will find the same warmth and fellowship that we have found in the community of Angel and Hilltopper parents and students.   Whether you are just beginning or are on your way out, high school is a time to make memories and from bonds that will last a lifetime.   Your sons and daughters will repeatedly hear about the “family atmosphere” that resonates throughout all areas of the JCA experience. They are now part of a very special family with life-long friendships and bonds – a family that expands from their peers to their teachers and even our proud alumni. The JCA experience and feeling of family is not exclusive to the students. Parents, too, are an integral part of the JCA fabric. Supporting your child’s academic efforts, being present at their award ceremonies, attending performing art shows, and sporting events are just a few ways to be active in the JCA community.    One of the most productive ways to get involved as a parent at JCA is through volunteering. I found this was a great way to form a connection to the school. The Parent Association is tasked with planning and implementing events and activities throughout the school year. We work with the Administration to ensure the students, and their families, have a positive high school experience at JCA.   Last year was a very successful year for the Parent Board. The following events are planned by the Parent Association, and are a place where you may want to get involved: Homecoming Week Activities, Hospitality at Open Houses, our Springtime Mass and Family Breakfast, Catholic Schools Week and Teacher Appreciation Recognition.   Every year our events get better because of parents like you. You are an integral part of the success of these events. Not only do we want your participation in these activities, but we also often need extra hands to make these events prosperous. By getting involved, you can get to know other JCA families. We invite you to share your time and talents with us by volunteering for one of our events. Whether your talent includes decorating, managing concessions, flipping pancakes, tallying results from our Spirit Raffle, or selling a 50/50 ticket at football games…there is a spot for you.   My promise as your Parent Board President, will be to involve each of you in an event that is sure to enhance your experience as a JCA parent. Our students will always remember the efforts you gave as a parent during their time at JCA and you will be enhancing your own experience along the way. Here is to an amazing year!   Much love,   Mandy Kubinski with Kathy Hibner JCA Parent Board President mandykubinski@yahoo.com

Dean's Office

How do I get ahold of the Dean’s Office?  Dean’s Office Attendance Line: 815.741.0585 Dean’s Office: Mrs. Borio is the Dean’s Office Secretary her extension is 223  How do I call my student in sick?  If your student won’t be at school, call 815.741.0500 ext. 223 and leave a message for Mrs. Borio include the student’s name, grade level and reason for the absence. If your child visited a health care professional bring the note upon his/her return to school.   What do I do if I need to pick my student up early from school?  Please call as soon as possible to let the dean’s office know you must pick up your student. Your student will receive a pass indicating the time they will be leaving. If it is an emergency, please be patient, it will take a while to contact your student’s classroom and for him/her to gather their belongings. The student will sign out in the dean’s office, parents do not need to come into the school to sign them out.  What do I do if my student will be late to school?  If your child will be late, call the attendance line ext. 223. Leave a message with the student’s name, grade level, estimated time of arrival and reason for tardiness.  My student forgot something and needed it today, what do I do?  You can drop something off for your student. It is the student’s responsibility to pick the item up in the dean’s office.  My student has a detention, what should he/she do?  If your student gets a detention, they will receive a hard copy detention slip and an email. You will also receive an email indicating the reason for the detention and the serve by date. Students may serve detentions before the serve by date. Detentions may be served in the Dean’s Office any morning at 7am or immediately after school Monday – Thursday. Students need to bring a pen and paper to the detention.

Counseling Department

Greetings from the Counseling Department! As the school year gets into full swing, we want to remind our families of the resources available to them through our Counseling Department and share some important dates and events. We look forward to working with your family! We will focus on the wholistic development of our students. Mission Driven! Faith in Action – Every Day. +Spiritual +Social/Emotional +Academic +College/Career Readiness  Counselor Roles Mr. Mickey Palmasani – 9th and 10th Grade (A – K) Mrs. Kris Horn – 9th and 10th Grade (L – Z) Mrs. Kerri Voltz – 11th and 12th Grade (A - K) Mrs. Jackie Pullara – 11th and 12th Grade (L - Z) Advisory Schedule for this School Year: Mrs. Kris Horn – 9th Grade Advisory Mr. Mickey Palmasani – 10th Grade Advisory Mrs. Kerri Voltz – 11th Grade Advisory Mrs. Jackie Pullara – 12th Grade Advisory

September is Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month. Together we can educate and prevent! The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is 988 - 24/7 Crisis Support. 988lifeline.org Don’t Miss Out! Virtual Financial Aid 101 Parent Seminar September 20 at 7:00 p.m. Sophomore/Junior Parent Coffee Sept 28 at 7:30 a.m. Looking ahead: FAFSA opens December 1. October 12 is testing day for 10th and 11th graders! Sophomores – PreACT and PSAT (for Honors Program Sophomores) Juniors – PSAT JJC College Fair – Coming soon… October 18, 2023 100+ Colleges will be in attendance Follow the Counseling Department on Social Media: Twitter: @jcacounseling Instagram: jca.counseling (JCA Counseling Department) Facebook: Joliet Catholic Academy Counseling Department

Campus Ministry

Every other year, Campus Ministry provides confirmation preparation classes to our students interested in receiving the sacrament. Confirmation preparation classes take place during homeroom periods throughout the school year, and students seeking to receive the sacrament can do so in the spring along with the students from a local parish. Any costs that are incurred come from the parish and are typically under $50. We will begin this process again next school year, and we have begun to build a list of interested parties. If you have a student who would like to be confirmed in the Catholic church, or you would like more information on the process, please reach out to Campus Ministry by email jca-ministry@jca-online.org or phone (815-741-0500, ext. 262-Mrs. Ferro, or ext. 263-Dr. Bailey).  Reminder: The deadline to sign up is Tuesday September 12th.  A parent or student can reach out to campus ministry with their interest.

Christian Service Hours

All students are to complete Christian Service hours every year. Ideas and opportunities will be shared on daily announcements and posted on Teams. The expectations are as follows: Freshmen will complete 5 hours total by May 10, 2024. Sophomores will complete 10 hours total by May 10, 2024. Juniors will complete 15 hours total by May 10, 2024. Seniors will complete 30 hours total by May 1, 2024. Questions? Contact Ms. Pahl lpahl@jca-online.org or stop by her office. Click Here to download the form

Athletics

Joliet Catholic Academy athletics winter online registration is open for all levels of winter sports. Registration (including having a current sports physical on file – a sports physical is current for 13 months per the IHSA) needs to be completed before the first day of winter tryouts, or the athlete will not be able to try out.   Reminder that registration is required online each sport season. If you registered your athlete online for a fall sport, and they are trying out for a winter sport, you must register online again for the winter sport.  For more information or to register: Joliet Catholic Academy - Official Athletics Website (snap.app)

Clubs & Activities

Last week our students attended our Annual Club Fair. The fair displayed plenty of options for students with diverse interests. These options ranged from drama, pickle ball, empowerment, broadcasting, and graphic design, to ones like medical science, psychology and robotics. If these types of clubs aren’t their passion, the school also offers athletic avenues for students; they can participate in one of our upcoming winter and spring sports like basketball, wrestling, track, baseball, softball and many more. Students also have the opportunity to talk to Mrs. Arnett about starting their own club, if those that are currently offered don’t pique their interests.

Special Events & Alumni Relations

Hall of Champions JCA’s Hall of Champions pays tribute to the boys and girls athletes, coaches and contributors from the three schools that make up JCA: De La Salle (1920-1933), Joliet Catholic High School (1933-1989) and St. Francis Academy (1869-1989). JCA was established July 1, 1990. JCA President/Principal Dr. Jeffrey Budz is pleased to announce the 9th Hall of Champions- Athletics: Kathy (Mondrella ’74) Major, Cory McLaughlin, Leo “Count” Michalak, Lindsey Major ’07, James L. Randle II ’07, Rick Thayer ’77, Maggie (Karges ’04) Watson and the 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 JCHS Football State Champions. The Hall of Champions has become a staple in the JCA community, honoring past Angels and Hilltoppers for their accomplishments in business, industry, and athletics. Read More

Register here

Purchase Tickets

Parent Volunteer Forms JCA Families: Don’t forget to fill out your Parent Volunteer Form and return to JCA!  We need volunteers to help do the best job we can for our students.

JCA Students (16 and over), JCA Parents and Staff are able to register: https://donate.illinois.versiti.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/5605164

Class of 2024 Events

Health Office

Joliet Catholic Academy Free ECG Screening Tuesday, September 26, 2023 TO REGISTER YOUR STUDENT FOR THIS FREE SCREENING: Go to Student Registration for YH4L ECG screening OR scan the QR code with your phone’s camera Use your student’s Date of Birth instead of their student ID #.   Sign-up to VOLUNTEER: Thank you for your interest in helping us provide ECG screenings to the students at JCA on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. Over 45 volunteers are needed for this event! New volunteers must attend one of the full training sessions held on Monday, 9/25. You do not need to attend training if you volunteered with YH4L in 2021-2023. 1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on SignUp.com: https://signup.com/go/OHNusGi 2.      Enter your email address (You do NOT need to create an account) 3.      Sign up for your training session AND your screening day shift! SignUp.com will send you an automated confirmation and reminders.   Thank you! If you have any questions, please contact: INSERT A NAME/CONTACT *For more information about YH4L, please visit our website, YH4L.org

Upcoming Events

School Calendar

1200 N. Larkin Avenue Joliet, IL 60435 P - (815) 741-0500 F - (815) 741-8825

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