Dear Friends and Parents,

It's October and the Cubs are still playing! That calls for a Cubs Day at MCA. This Friday, October 5th, students are welcome to show their Cubby pride and support the Cubs by wearing a Cubs t-shirt or a shirt with the Cubs colors, blue and red. Students who show their Cubs pride will be allowed to wear jeans on Friday. White Sox and Cardinal fans are welcome to wear their school uniform.



Sincerely,

Shane Staszcuk,
Principal

Student Council at MCA gives students the ability to show leadership development in meaningful ways both in and beyond the classroom. It provides opportunities for students to demonstrate their talents, skills, and interests while continuing to develop new skills. It is about students having more ownership of the programs they develop and attend. Student's input can greatly improve and strengthen MCA's programs. Student leadership provides opportunities for students to get involved and to learn skills that can be transferable to the workplace or community. We trust that those students newly elected will accept their positions and the responsibility that goes with the position.

We would like to whole-heartedly congratulate each and every student that participated in the process of the Student Council Elections. It took a lot to step forward in front of peers to compete for classroom reps and officers. Whether the student had won or lost is secondary to the effort put forth to run. Congratulations to all!

On behalf of the Parents Association, I would like to thank everyone who volunteered to chair and/or help with activities for our school. As my humorous (yet heartfelt) speech pointed out at Curriculum Night, we all lead very busy lives, but I encourage you to volunteer to chaperone a field trip or help out one or two Saturdays during the year to pass out Market Day purchases. If we all do a little, that takes some of the burden off of those that do a lot.

I am pleased to announce that our executive board has been filled! Here is your slate of officers for the 2007-08 school year:
President: Lisa Hebert
Vice President: Kathleen Challand
Secretary: Kathleen Hoke
Treasurer: Kate Mulligan

I believe that the best way to enact change or foster relationships is through communication. A few parents have passed on ideas for fund-raisers and social gatherings that they would like to see happen at Mount Carmel Academy. If you are unhappy about a current policy or have a great idea that you would like to share, please grab me in the parking lot or email me at lpecothe@depaul.edu. This is OUR organization, not mine. I look forward to your comments, suggestions and of course praises. (Just kidding!)

A few parents have suggested that we try to incorporate more social interaction between parents from all of the classes. While we see each other at birthday parties and school functions, it is hard to meet parents outside of your child's grade. It was suggested that we have a "Parents Night Out" where a restaurant is chosen and we all go out for dinner, drinks and fellowship! I am working on having babysitting provided for us at the school to assist parents who would like to go, but have trouble finding a sitter. Please email me and let me know if this is something you would be interested in. We are tentatively planning an event like this for October or November.

Thanks for all that you do and I hope your school year is off to a great start!

Lisa

P.S. The next time you spend money on that really expensive tall, decaf, skinny vanilla latte at your local Starbucks, don't forget to also walk away with a bag full of Kemps milk caps for MCA!

With the feast day of the Archangels Micheal, Gabriel and Raphael on Sept. 29, MCA students honored our local police officers. After the daily roll call, the officers offered a blessing and visited the classrooms. Many thanks to parishioner Barb Madro for arranging the morning events!

Students created pinwheels for International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, 2007 and everyone planted their pinwheels outside MCA as a display of public statement and the spinning of the pinwheels in the wind spread thoughts and feelings about peace throughout Chicago.

A big thanks to Wanda Baer for coordinating this school-wide activity!

"All Creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voice and with us sing: Alleluia, Alleluia!

Saturday, October 6
10:30 am Rectory Lawn

Family Mass has been a long tradition of Mount Carmel Academy and Our Lady Of Mount Carmel, beginning over a decade ago when some MCA parents and parishioners recognized how good it is for us to come together for prayer and community . Once a month during the school year, each class takes a turn hosting the 9:30a.m. Sunday Mass at the church and reception following in the MCA cafeteria. Please help the families listed below by offering to donate breakfast treats or your time. See you at Mass.

FAMILY MASS SCHEDULE 2007-2008
10/21/07 Fourth Grade - Susan Gredell
11/18/07 Sixth Grade - Matt and Maria Ambre
12/2/07 Pre-K and Kindergarten - Stacie Michaels
1/13/08 Seventh Grade - John and Brenda Miklaszewski
2/3/08 Second Grade - Ed and Andrea Villasenor
3/2/08 Fifth Grade - Lisa Hebert
4/6/08 First Grade - Flo Albarracin and Kate Mulligan
MAY Eighth Grade - STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS TO HELP ORGANIZE THIS!

Please call Brenda Miklaszewski at 773-477-2043