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An e-newsletter of Mount Carmel Academy                                                                   Chicago, IL

 
Early Edition for Catholic Schools Week                                              January 24, 2009
Be alert to give service -- what counts most in life is what we do for others.

~Unknown Source
Calendar Updates

Re-Registration is on going for 2009-10 for returning students.  Please return your completed forms before February 9 to reserve your spot! 
                                                                                         Calendar
January 25, Sunday, Catholic Schools Week Begins with 9:30 a.m. Mass  and Open House
January 26, Monday, School Board Meeting 7:00 p.m.
February 2, Monday, All School Mass 9:00 p.m. Dress Uniforms required
February 2, Monday, Field trip play for grades 3, 4 and 5 at 10:00 a.m.
February 3, Tuesday, Parents of 2nd grade, Meeting for First Holy Communion, 7:00p.m. Casey Hall
February 3, Tuesday, Field trip play for grades 1 and 2 at 10:30 a.m.
February 6, Friday, Cultural Fair Planning Meeting 8:05 a.m. 
February 6, Friday, Pre- K "Dads Day," 8:00 a.m.
February 6, Friday, Wax Museum, 1:45 p.m., Casey Hall 4th and 5th grades
February 6, Friday, Chess Wizards versus Nettlehorst 3p.m. 
February 8, Sunday, Family Mass, 9:30a.m. sponsored by 7th and 8th grades
February 9, Monday, Hot Dog Day
February 10, Tuesday, Middle School Field Trip to the Museum of Science and Industry 
February 13, Friday, Middle School Dance 2:00 p.m. 
February 13, Friday, Fifth Annual Pre K - 2nd Grade Valentines Dance, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
February 16, Monday, No Classes in observance of Presidents Day 
 Greetings!
 
feast
Welcome to Catholic Schools Week 2009! 
 
I would like to invite you to participate and enjoy this very special week of our school year at MCA.  Students have been preparing for this week since before the Christmas break.  During the past two weeks they have been working in earnest to get ready for a week of studies, praising God, talks, caring, sharing, giving service, reading and being buddies!  Below is a detail of the festivities.  We hope you can join us as we celebrate our faith and our commitment to Catholic Schools and serving others!
 
Sincerely,
 
Shane Staszcuk
Principal
                                                                                              
Catholic Schools Week
A Week of Festivities!
Catholic Schools Week logo
  
January 25, Sunday, 
Catholic Schools Week Mass 9:30 a.m. MCA staff will receive a blessing.  The MCA Childrens Choir will sing.  Students are asked to wear their dress uniforms. 
Sixth grade will host a reception after Mass in Casey Hall.
 
January 25, Sunday,  Open House 10:30 - 2:00 p.m. Tours for perspective families.
 
January 26, Monday,  Luncheon speaker for grades 2-5. 
Topic: Service!  Licensed clinical social worker, Director of the Salvation Army Evangeline Booth Lodge, homeless shelter for families are just a few of Teresa A Cortas' titles!  Her talk will focus on understanding who is homeless and why; the effects of homelessness on children, what services help the homeless and what we can do to help.
  
January 26, Monday, Middle School celebrates Catholic Schools week by touring several Chicago historically relavant and architecturally significant churches.  OLMC Liturgical Director Stephen Palanca will lead the tour of:
 
St. Mary of the Angels, The largest church in the Archdiocese
    1850 Hermitage
   
St. John Cantius, one of the few churches that still celebrates a mass in Latin
    825 Carpenter
     
St. Hyacinth Basilica, Designated Basilica - Pope John Paul II said Mass here in his visit to Chicago
     3636 W. Wolfram   
 
January 27, Tuesday, Morning Spelling Bee, Casey Hall at 9:00a.m. Parents and parishioners are welcome to attend.  Twenty-five finalists from grades 4-8 will compete to become the Spelling Champion of MCA.
 
January 27, Tuesday, OLMC Church Tour for grades 3, 4, and 5. 
 
January 27, Tuesday, Student Council sponsors Wear your favorite "word" Day.  In honor of the Spelling Bee, the Student Council is sponsoring a free jeans day.  Wear jeans and a display of your favorite word to support those competing today.
 
January 28, Wednesday, Student Lunch with the OLMC priests and Parish Ministry Center Staff. 
 
January 29, Thursday, Caring & Sharing Prayer Service, 1:50 p.m. Casey Hall. Parents and parishioners are welcome to attend.
 
January 29, Thursday, Student Council Winter Coat & Hat Drive Concludes today.
 
January 30, Friday, Reading Day - Dress in your sweats!  Featuring Storytellers Phillip & Pam Kaufmann, 
a Reading Buddy picnic lunch, and a few rounds of Bingo to end the day!
Jamba Juice Day!
WildCat Fever
News from YOUR MCA WildCat!                                               china

 
Saturday, January 17 was an important day for MCA.  Our very own WildCat made its debut in front of the 4th grade girls, boys and 5th grade boys basketball teams!  The fans went wild as Our WildCat (name to be announced) stood center court motioning  the letters:  M -- C -- A!!!
 
Here's a look at our WildCat visiting with some of our teams.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
              5th Grade Boys     4th grade boys
 
                                              4th grade girls 
 
 
Out of the Mouths of Babes
News From PreSchool & Kindergarten
PreK0Kinder Schoolhouse
 
Pre-K has been busy writing
sentences and playing in centers. They have also studied Arctic Animals and
worked on their cognitive development by pretending they were Polar Bears!  They even made tracks in the snow with their paws!!
 
Enjoy a Pre-K Snowman!
Pre K Snowman
 

What's new on Floor Two?
News from 3rd, 4th, or 5th
Grades
 
Just before the Christmas holidays, Ms. Kukurza's 4th grade class took on a 4th Gradeproject in religion class that was unlike anything the students had done before. The assignment: Saints!  Students had to 1) pick a Saint, 2) research the Saint 3) write a speech about the Saint, 4) dress up like the Saint and bring a prop for the Saint, 5) give their speech to their class and several invited guests from OLMC parish staff. 
 
The response was overwhelming!  This class has been honored by being asked to  present their saint speeches over the morning announcements during Catholic Schools Week!  According to Ms. Kukurza, they have been preparing them in class and everyone is very excited to present them again to the entire school .  Please take a look at the MCA Gallery below to see some of our Saints!

 
Ms. Peterson's 5th grade is working chinaovertime getting ready for their February 6, Wax Museum presentation.  You won't want to miss it.  Mark your calendars
 
In addition, these students are working on a class play called, Revivor: Philadelphia.  It's a "Suvivor-esque" play about the making of the constitution!  Stay tuned for more information about these talented 5th graders!
  
Can You Say Picasso?
News from the Artroom
 
Art logoCongratulations Mrs. Baer!  Thanks to your grant, MCA will soon be the recipient of a collection of 40 high-quality reproductions of America art!
 
Following is an excerpt from the National Endowment For the Humanities letter to Mrs. Baer dated January 15, 2009.
 
Dear Picturing America Awardee:
 
Congratulations on being a Picturing America award recipient! Picturing America introduces citizens of every age to our nation's history and culture by bringing great works of American art into classrooms and libraries.
 
In a few months, your institution will receive a collection of 40 high-quality reproductions of American art, along with a Teachers Resource Book. The book includes information on all the images and suggestions for using them to enhance classroom and library learning in a wide range of subjects: including American history, social studies, writing, literature, art, and civics. An electronic version of the book and links to additional resources are available online at http://www.picturingamerica.neh.gov/.  Materials will be shipped on a rolling basis in March and April of 2009...

 
...I hope you find Picturing America to be a unique and engaging way for children and adults alike to experience American history and culture.
 
Sincerely,
 
Bruce Cole
Chairman
National Endowment for the Humanities
1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. Washington, DC 20506
 
 
Aside from this great accolade, Mrs. Baer reports that students are busy working on a collaborative mural for Catholic Schools Week. The theme is Celebrating Service and each child is selecting a person they feel exemplifies this and then is illustrating their choice on a flower.  It will be on display in the first floor hallway of MCA.
 
 Lastly, the Art Room is in need of an old fashioned slide projector.  Mrs. Baer has an abundance of art slides to show our students.  Perhaps you or your company have recently upgraded technologically speaking and you don't need the old one any more.  Please let Mrs. Baer know.



 

Middle School Musical Newsbroadway musical
Born for Broadway
 
Valentines Dance
PreK-Second Grade
Valentines Logo 


 
Please SAVE THE DATE for the 5th Annual MCA Father/Daughter -- Mother/Son --
Aunt/Nephew -- Uncle/Niece Valentines Dance.
 
Live DJ! Pizza! Don't Miss it!
 
Pre-K through 2nd Grade
Friday, February 13th
6:30 - 8:30pm in Casey Hall

 
I'm First, I'm Second!
News from 1st & 2nd Grade
 
 1st & 2nd
First Grade has been discussing important things about going to church. Ms. Patel says, "when we go to church we are among friends. We can pray together as a group to make our prayers stronger. We can enjoy time with others singing and learning about God." Students illustrated a picture of a church and then each classmate drew himself or herself at that church.


Middle School News
What's New!
 
Sixth grade is studying Ancient Egypt.  Here's a look at some students playing an ancient Egyptian game called, Senet.  According to Social Studies teacher, Mrs. McLaughlin, Egyptologists don't have all the rules for the game. That didn't stop the class from playing with the rules they had and making up few of their own along the way!
 
 
     6th grade egypt
 
     6th grade egypt
 
          6th grade egypt
 
 And in 8th Grade...
In celebration of Martin Luther King's birthday, students were asked to write a letter to Dr. King. Some of the letters were written as if he were still alive and some were written as if he wasn't but could still could hear them.  Here's an excerpt of two:
 
Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.,
            Today we celebrate a national holiday made to commemorate the work you did to bring equality to all races that live in the United States.  I think you would be glad to know that all your hard work and effort has paid off . . . .
            No one knows what might have happened if you were still alive today.  I personally believe that you would have shaped our country and every person in it into leaders like yourself.  If your memory can inspire so much in people, think of what you yourself could or would have done.  It would humble the most proud of men. 
            You were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  A speech you hadn't meant to give is a historical and famous piece of literature.  Your name and your story are recorded in thousands of books and textbooks throughout the world. You gave your life to your cause.  We as American people still have much to learn from you.
  
~Elizabeth, MCA 8th Grade
 
 
Dear Dr. King,
            You are the main reason that today is such a memorial day in our country's history.  Without you, President Obama wouldn't have had the opportunity to run for President.  I know you must be proud to see how the country has changed.  Abraham Lincoln got it started back in the days of slavery, but you were the one who put it into full swing. . . 
~Devin, MCA 8th Grade

 
Student Council
Updates!

 
Student CouncilDon't forget Student Council's two big initiatives! The Winter Clothing Drive is going on right now and you can help.  Won't you take a moment to check your closets for gently worn winter wear (they Coat Drivereally need coats and matching mittens or gloves) or pick up a new coat for the needy the next time you're shopping?  You can send your winter clothing donation to MCA and we will make sure it gets into the hands of the needy.
 
The second important initiative is SCHOOL SPIRIT and School Spirit Wear!  Student Council is sponsoring the sale of MCA Wear!  You can buy sweat pants and sweatshirts as well as fleece and shorts.  You can obtain extra order forms in the front office.  Please see a student council representative or their best friend, Mrs. Semple, to learn how to place your order. 
 
Twenty-four/Seven
From the Parents Association                         china
Important News on the Cultural Fair
 
Mark your calendars for this year's Cultural Fair, Red, White & Blues.  Chairperson, Carol Ann Nasser will take all the  volunteer help she can get.  She even enlisted the help of our own WildCat!  Won't you join in on the festivities?  Volunteers are particularly needed to help in the kitchen during the pot luck dinner on Friday, Feb. 20. The dinner starts at 6 p.m. If you'd like to help the Food and Beverage Committee or volunteer to assist with other Cultural Fair events, please contact Carol Ann Nasser at 312/368-5313 or [email protected]
  
This year MCA is showing our environmental awareness with an exclusive and eco-friendly Tote Bag featuring the 2009 Cultural Fair winning artwork designed by one of our MCA students'. This student's artwork will be shown throughout Chicago as you carry this trendy bag.  Forms were sent home via back pack mail with the detail of the tote bag.  Show your MCA "GO-Green" spirit, order one for your grandma or neighbor, your kids and of course one for yourself.  

Please fill out the order form, click on: Red, White & Blues Tote Bag.  Please return the form along with payment NO LATER than Monday, February 9.  Checks should be made payable to Mount Carmel Academy.  The Red, White & Blues tote bags will be delivered the week of February 15.
         
Cultural fair 
 
 
 

 
MCA Gallery
Pictures from our MCA Family
 
Annual 8th grade ski trip, Ms. Zaininger's Pre K, Before the "bell," Third Grade's Tadpole has Legs, Ms. Peterson's 5th Grade, Patrol Girls, The Front Office and "our own" MCA Saints!  
 
 Ski Trip  ski  ski
ski  ski  ski
 
ski  ski  ski
 
ski  ski  ski
 
ski  ski  ski
 
ski  ski  ski
 
ski  ski
ski  aju  ski
 
ski  ski  ski
 
                             ski  ski
 
Pre K  Pre K  Pre K  Pre K
 
Pre K  Pre K  Pre K
 
Before the Bell  Third grade tadpole  Peterson's Pipers
 
                    Patrol Girls  The Front Office
 
     Saints  Saints  Saints  Saints
 
     Saints  Saints  Saints  Saints
 
       Saints  Saints  Saints  Saints
 
                                       Saints  Saints 
                  SAints  Saints
 
         
                  
 
                                                           
HomeLink is the e-newsletter of the Mount Carmel Academy Parents Association.  We invite you to pen your own note, send pictures and tell your story.  Please email to HomeLink at:
 
[email protected]
 
  The next HomeLink will be sent on Monday, February 9.  Deadline for articles is Wednesday,
February 4, 2009.