gclogoGross Catholic
Cougar Connection

December 2009
natbanner
Reaching Higher! 
 
ortman 
99
% of our graduating seniors are continuing with their education and 70% earned scholarships to colleges & universities totaling $6.35 million!
In This Issue
Semester Exams
Holiday Events
Educate for Service, Justice & Peace
College & Career Planning
Senior News
Student News
Student Achievement
8th Grade Scholarship & Placement Test
Annual Fund
Cougar Athletics & Activities 
 
 
Boys Basketball
 
Girls Basketball
 
Swimming
 
Wrestling
 
Speech Team
 
Music
 
Nobody Sleeps
District One-Act
 Competition Dec. 4
Platteview H.S. at 9:00 am
State Competition
December 10
 
Dance Team
 

 
Sports and activity photos by the Gross Catholic journalism students are available for purchase at Smug Mug.
Join our List
Join Our Mailing List
Support Gross Catholic 
 Annual Fund
 
Gross Catholic's Annual Fund is vital to supporting the high-quality programs available to our students. Tuition only covers 80% of our operating costs and we depend on the generosity of our alumni, parents, and friends to sustain the outstanding college-preparatory education benefiting our students.
 
Please make your tax-deductible gift today!
GEO Garden

 

Donate a tree for Christmas to our garden as a living celebration of the season.  You may also purchase bricks, trees, benches or a bird bath for the garden.  This is a nice way to honor someone you love.
Contact Rich Carey for more information.

 
Upcoming Events

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December 2 
Penance Service

December 3
Late Start

December 4
Winter Sports Pep Rally at 2:20 pm in Main Gym 

 December 8 
Immaculate Conception Mass at 9:00 am in Main Gym
 
December 9
Band & Holiday Concert at 7:00 pm in Auditorium  
 
 December 13
Christmas with the Cougars at 6:00 in Student Commons
 
December 14
 
End of First Semester 

December 15-17

 December 18
Exam Make-Up Day
 
December 19 - January 3
Christmas Vacation 
 
January 4
Classes Resume
Send This to a Friend! 
Forward this newsletter to other interested Cougar families and prospective families!
 
Forward this email to a Friend 
Quick Links
Cougars are Environmentally Conscious! 
recycle
The Gross Catholic Environmental Club recycled about 1800 cans and plastic bottles, plus 1200 lbs of paper last month.  Mr. Dan Connelly was named Recycler of the Month and won a free lunch.
 
Seniors Katie Peterson & Rachael Lampe helped the St. Bernadette pre-school students learn about recycling and provided them with a container which they decorated and are using to recycle.
 
The Environmental Club reminds you to please do your part at home and encourage your family members to do the same at school and work.
 
Think Green Thought for the Month:  Each of us uses about one 100 ft. tall Douglas Fir tree each year for paper and lumber.  About 56% of paper consumed is recovered by recycling.
Follow Gross Catholic on Twitter! 

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Merry Christmas!
Beckie 2008 Greetings!

All of us at Gross Catholic take this opportunity to wish your family a wonderful holiday season.  We are grateful for the opportunity to work with the best students and families a high school could possibly have.  
 
We have just completed a comprehensive research project and are developing a new strategic plan to guide Gross Catholic into the future.  Through our research, we learned that people are not always aware of the amount of tuition help we give our families.  You are our best recruiters.  We rely on you to help "get the word out" that Gross Catholic is willing to help families who really want to send their children here.
 
You may begin to hear about our Individual Tuition Plan program.  We are working with families in confidential, one-on-one meetings to arrive at a fair and feasible tuition plan, based on family income.  Every family receives help in the form of a Gross Catholic Foundation Grant to offset the difference between the true cost to educate a student and the amount of tuition.  In addition to the Foundation Grant, a family may receive an academic scholarship, family discount, or financial need grant.
 
Once again, we thank you for the privilege of working with your children.  We wish you and your family a blessed holiday season!
 
Sincerely,
Beckie Cleveland
President
Provide an Integral, Quality Education
examsSemester Exams
examsDecember 15 - 17
Exams Begin at 8:00 am
Students are free to come and go according to their schedule and transportation arrangements and need only be present for exams.  Exams are an important part of the semester grade.  Please encourage your student to study! Students must be in the dress code for semester exams.
 
December 15
Period 1 Exams - 8:00 - 8:55 am
Period 2 Exams - 9:05 - 10:00 am
Period 3 Exams - 10:10 - 11:05 am
December 16
Period 4 Exams - 8:00 - 8:55 am
Period 5 Exams - 9:05 - 10:00 am
Period 6 Exams - 10:10 - 11:05 am
December 17
Period 7 Exams - 8:00 - 8:55 am
Period 8 Exams - 9:05 - 10:00 am

Exam Make-Up Day Dec. 18
Exams will be scheduled on this day in the case of weather-related school closings on the 15th, 16th, or 17th.
Gross Catholic Book Club
alaskaDecember Discussion
Looking for Alaska
Dec. 6 at 7:00 pm
Crane Coffee, 60th & Center 
The December selection is entitled, Looking for Alaska, by John Green and copies are still available in the media center to borrow.  All Gross Catholic students are invited to read the book and attend a discussion group on Sunday, December 6th at 7:00 pm. We will meet at Crane Coffee at 60th and Center St. to discuss themes, characters, style, and teen issues that arise in the novel. For more information contact, Mrs. Julia Reddel, media specialist.

Check out our Fiction Section! 
507 new books have been added this school year!  We extend a special thanks for this donation to former media specialist, Kathy Rosenberg, who shopped and stored books she knew kids would enjoy reading!
Global Outreach Summer Trip
globaloutreachCzech Republic
July 11-30, 2010 
Gross Catholic students, parents & teachers are invited to participate in this summer's Global Outreach trip to the Czech Republic.  The cost of this 19-day trip is $2,750 and will include a six-day youth leadership camp in Brno, Czech Republic.  For more information, email Global Outreach Area Coordinator, Sr. Marie Alice Ostry or phone 402-455-2994 or contact Global Outreach Director, Barbara Tota-Boryczka at 920-734-5967 or 920-540-3085.  Deadline for trip applications is January 1, 2010.
Holiday Events
concertHoliday Concert
chorusWed., Dec. 9
7:00 pm
Auditorium
This festive concert of Christmas favorites features the Band, Choir, BluePrintz Show Choir, and Jazz Band.  Admission is free, however a donation of an item for the food bank is requested.
 
xmascougarsChristmas with the Cougars
Sunday, Dec. 13
6:00 - 7:30 pm
Student Commons
Kindergarteners through 3rd Graders, please join us for some Christmas cheer! Please pre-register online for this event.    
 
Santa's Workshop Activities:
  • Get your picture taken with Santa Claus and let him know what you would like for Christmas!
  • Make your very own special Christmas ornament!
  • Have your face painted with your favorite Christmas character!
  • Decorate your own cookie!
  • Color Christmas pictures and watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman
Admission:  Donate a new toy to benefit the children of the Archdiocesan mission to the Winnebago and Omaha Nation Reservations.
 
Event sponsored by the Gross Catholic student Marianist LIFE Community
Christmas Concert
madonna childSunday, Dec. 13
7:00 pm
Ss. Peter & Paul Church
36th & X Streets
The Cougar Choir will be performing in the annual Ss. Peter and Paul ecumenical Christmas Concert.  Join us for an evening of beautiful music.
'Tis the Season to be Jolly
treemangerNHS Gets Cougars in the Holiday Spirit!
The Gross Catholic National Honor Society is sponsoring a homeroom door decorating contest for a chance to win a cookies and milk party.
 
The NHS members purchased a large nativity for the Office entryway and ornaments for each Gross Catholic student to decorate for our school tree.  This past summer senior NHS members distributed flyers for Boulevard Gardens to raise funds for this project.
Educate for Service, Justice & Peace
Stephen Center Service Project
stephencenterBook & Game Drive
Now until Dec. 11
Gross Catholic's National Honor Society will be collecting new and gently used books, games, puzzles, coloring books, and crayons to donate to the Stephen Center.  The items can be for children and adults.  Please send your donation with your student or drop it off at the school office. 
 
Stephen Center partners with the community, families and individuals to overcome homelessness, addiction and poverty. Stephen Center, Inc. has served the homeless and low-income men, women and children in Omaha since 1984.
Global Outreach
globaloutreachHost Families Wanted for 2010-2011 School Year
Global Outreach, a Catholic exchange program, is looking for a generous family to host an international student from Central/East Europe at Gross Catholic High School for the 2010-2011 school year.  The student arrives in mid-August and stays until mid-June.  Commitment involves providing room & board, food, transportation, support, encouragement and love.  The program seeks to support the Church in Central/East Europe by forming young Catholic servant leaders for the 21st century.  For more information, email Sr. Marie Alice Ostry, Global Outreach Area Coordinator, or phone 402-455-2994.
Educate for Formation in Faith
Adult Education Series
Wednesdays
Jan. 13 - Feb. 10 
7:00 - 8:00 pm
Room 223
Gross Catholic theology teacher, Mr. Dan Connelly, will be offering an adult education seminar focusing on the Old Testament.  All sessions are free and everyone is welcome to attend.  Scheduled topics are:
 
Jan. 13 - Assembly of the Old Testament and Genesis
Jan. 20 - The Torah after Genesis
Jan. 27 - Joshua and Judges
Feb. 3 - David and the Kings
Feb. 10 - Wisdom and Prophetic Books

For more information, contact Dan Connelly or phone 734-2000.
College & Career Planning
Test Results
entrance examPSAT for Juniors & PLAN for Sophomores   
PSAT results were returned to students during the first week of December.
 
Results for the PLAN test will be available after the holidays. 
Schedule Changes
scheduleSecond Semester Classes   
Any schedule adjustments for second semester must be completed before Christmas break.  A note from a parent and a $10 fee are required unless the change is to correct an error, make up a graduation requirement, or is initiated by the school. 
Guidance Care Packages
ScholarshipsPrepare for College & Research Available Scholarships
Care Packages contain descriptions of all scholarships received by Gross Catholic, notices of college, military, tech/trade school representative visits, and other information vital to the future planning process.  This information and much more is always available on the Guidance webpage and the Guidance Edline page
Juniors Looking Ahead
schowPreparing for Your Future
Mrs. Schow recently completed two days working with junior students in their English classes to create resumes and begin online searches for colleges, scholarships, and career opportunities. 
For Our Seniors
College Applications Due
girlgradWhere Are You Headed?   
College-bound seniors should apply to their college choices before Christmas break.  Many deadlines for scholarships (including UNO & UNL) are in early January.  These applications are often included with the application for admission.  All applications should be in the Guidance Center by no later than December 14th so that we have time to process and mail them by December 18th.  This also applies to scholarships with a deadlines of January 15 or earlier. 
 
Testing Dates:  SAT on Dec. 6 & ACT on Dec. 12
Money for College
Money for CollegeFree Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
January 2010
The federal government encourages all families to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online beginning January 1st.  Most colleges require this form for need-based scholarships.  It cannot be filed prior to January 1st, but is recommended to be completed by February 1st.  For free expert advice on completing this form and help with college searches, financial aid, and scholarship searches, visit EducationQuest.  Call 391-4033 to set up an appointment.
Senior Yearbooks & Graduation Ads
yearbookHonor Your Senior
Due to the unprecedented demand for senior ads, additional pages have been added to this year's yearbook. The current prices are good until after February 13. Even with the additional space, ad space is limited. Questions? Please e-mail yearbook adviser Mr. Dale Schwalm.
Student News
2010 Yearbooks
DramaReserve Your Yearbook Now
Order your yearbook online or by completing the form mailed with progress reports.  Click here for a copy.  Order by December 14 to lock in the $70 price.  Questions? Please e-mail yearbook adviser Mr. Dale Schwalm.
Student Achievement
Fall RCC All-Conference Honors
Fall SportsCongratulations to our Cougar Athletes! 
The following fall sports athletes were recognized as RCC All-Conference players.
Volleyball - Nicole Gregory, Emily Guerra, Kendall Krittenbrink, & Emily Wilson
Football - Ben Coenen, Russell Barrios, Coltin Mueller, Aaron Lier with Honorable Mention to Kellen Wonder, Thomas Jurgensen, Luke Cunningham, Dylan Tolbert & Shaun McWilliams
Boys Tennis - Matt Wanek
Cross Country - Ali Schrack
Softball - Rachel Dukich with Honorable Mention to Courtney Brown & Olivia Placzek
Cougar Speech Team
speechOff to a Successful Start! 
With the addition of a few new meets, the team is getting more opportunities than ever before to compete. The Cougar Speech Family has also grown, doubling from last season's six-member district team to a current team of 12 speakers. So far, the Cougar Speech Team has earned 13 individual medals in 4 meets. In addition, senior team-captain Anna Shymanski has medaled in all 3 meets she has competed in.  Visit our website for individual results.
Cougar Dance Team
Dance TeamTop Honors for Dance Team! 
Congratulations to the Varsity Dance Team for their first place finish in both the Class B Hip Hop and Pom divisions at the UNO Dance Championship held Nov. 7th!  Check the Dance Team page for the dates of upcoming competitions!
Special Events
The Young Americans
youngamericansNational Music Outreach Tour
February 25-27
Gross Catholic High School

The Young Americans, a company of 44 performers and six staff, will present three days of workshops in voice, dance, and all aspects of the performing arts for 4-12th grade students.  On the last evening, there will be a full two hour concert/show that will include hundreds of young people from our community.  Several Gross Catholic alumni have toured and performed world-wide with The Young Americans.
 
Register today for this special three-day workshop.  Cost is $60 per student (includes dinners).  Click here for the registration form.  Questions?  Contact Kat Doebel, Vocal Music Director at Gross Catholic.
For Our Younger Cougars
OpenHouseJoin the Cougar Family!
kids8th Grade Scholarship & Placement Exam 
January 9 
9:00 am - Noon
Take the test at Gross Catholic to be eligible for one of our renewable, academic scholarships.  This test also helps determine your placement in your freshman classes.  Testing fee:  $10. Register online today or contact Mr. Tim Johnk for more information! 
 
Visit the Admissions page on our website to find out how you can become a Cougar! 
 
Schedule A Visit
Spend the day at Gross Catholic.  Be escorted by a current Cougar student, attend regular classes and visit with faculty members and other students.  Schedule your visit at least one day in advance by emailing Tim Johnk, Director of Student Recruitment or calling 734-2000.
Annual Fund
You Make Scholarships Happen!
afMake Your Gift to the Annual Fund 
Thank you to all who have already made Annual Fund gifts totaling $94,846!  Please help us reach this year's $155,000 goal.
 
We invite you to consider a tax-deductible gift to the Gross Catholic Annual Fund as you plan your charitable giving during this holiday season.  You may be able to give a larger gift by spreading your payments throughout the year.   Whatever you can share will provide our students with a quality education in the Marianist tradition.  Make your gift securely online here or contact Director of Development Lynn Poly for more information.