Dear Friends and Parents,

There are many things that contribute to the successes of MCA, none is more important than our dedicated, talented, and often humble faculty. They go about the important business of educating our students without often "tooting their own horn". This speaks volumes about their character. As the principal of the school, I get to witness the dedication of our teachers and see the impact they have on children's lives on a daily basis, and sometimes I feel the need to brag about our staff. This is one of those times.

Congratulations to Middle School teacher, Marylyn Sartin. Mrs. Sartin will be honored at a reception by St. Scholastica Academy on Thursday, October 11th. She is a recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award. Mrs. Sartin was nominated for the award by 2007 graduate Elle Donoghue.

Congratulations to Music teacher, Monika Johnson. Mrs. Johnson was honored on September 17th, by Saint Ignatius College Prep for receiving an Outstanding Teacher Award. Freshmen students are asked to nominate an elementary teacher that had the most influence on their education and perhaps their lives. Mrs. Johnson was nominated by 2007 graduate Sophie Rambaud.

Please join me in offering these teachers heartfelt congratulations!

Lastly, I wish to extend an extra special MCA Thank You to parent Kathleen Hoke for running our annual Innisbrook fundraiser. Her efforts along with all the families that participated earned over $10,000 for Mount Carmel Academy.



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.

Congratulations to 2007/2008 Student Council!
3rd Grade Representatives
Tatiana Gawrit
Jack Moser

4th Grade Representatives
Stephanie Simon
Kuba Kokocinski

5th Grade Representatives
Yahn Gawrit
Aanya Jhaveri

6th Grade Representative
Angelica Marquez

7th Grade Representative
Amelia Kassa

8th Grade Representatives
Cooper Zajac
Gigi Carter

Treasurer
Sarah Brown

Secretary
Stephanie Miklaszewski

Vice President
Mimi Carter

President
Aram Demirdjian

Dear Friends and Parents of MCA,

Nickels for Schools is a fundraising program where schools earn cash by collecting and redeeming specially stickered caps from plastic milk containers and proof of purchase labels from milk products. Kemps Dairy Company of Minnesota will redeem 5 cents for every cap and proof of purchase label sent to them up to $10,000.00 per school year. Kemps milk products are sold at Trader Joe's and at Treasure Island food stores. Also, Kemps is the exclusive supplier of milk and milk products to Starbucks retail stores here in the Chicago area.

This past school year, MCA collected 100,373 milk caps, earning $5,018.65 for our school, which is more than double what we collected during the 2005-2006 school year. This money has gone to the Parent Association of MCA which has used these funds to up-grade our web page, fulfill the teachers Wish List for books and reading materials for their classrooms, improve the comfort levels in the classrooms with new ceiling fans and window treatments and to sponsor enrichment activities for our students throughout the school year.

Eight (8) individuals have collected these milk caps from 16 area Starbucks retail stores and from individual purchases at food stores. Just for your information, there are 110 Starbucks retail stores within a 5-mile radius of MCA. With increasing our collection of milk caps from area Starbuck stores, we can reach our goal of $7,500.00 for the 2007-2008 school year.

We are looking for individuals to collect milk caps from their neighborhood Starbuck stores, or the Starbucks that you pass on your way to work or to the grocery store or while running errands. Setting up a collection is easy; ask to speak to the store manager and introduce yourself. Explain what and whom you are collecting for and that you will make regular pickups of the collected milk caps. This is usually all it takes. It is important that you make regular pickups. After you have picked up the caps, send them into school or drop them off in the school office and we will take it from there. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us at the phone number or e-mail us at the address below.

On behalf of the students, faculty, and parents of Mount Carmel Academy, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to the individuals who have helped us collect milk caps during this past year and encourage you to continue to collect for the next year.

Thank-you,

Kathleen & Joe Hoke
School Coordinators
Nickels for Schools Program
(773) 929-4476
kamhoke@Yahoo.com

This year 17 private and public schools participated in the Cathedral District Art Fair. Entries were judged by "art aficionados" from The Art Institute of Chicago, the Contemporary Museum of Art, Loyola University Museum of Art and local artist Judy Gustafson.

Over 600 works of art were entered. There were approximately 200 entries in each of the three age groups judged (K-2nd, 3rd-5th, and 6th-8th) and 46 entries for 9th-12th. Each category had a First, Second, Third place and Award of Excellence. There was also one Best of Show won by a Lincoln Park High School student.

Cooper Zajac won an Award of Excellence for the 6th-8th category for his entry titled "Homeless." It is a black and white, pen and ink, and marker rendering of a homeless man alone on a moonlit night.

The initial Innisbrook fundraising event is over. Sixty-five families (38%) participated selling $20,398.00 in Innisbrook Wraps products, earning Mount Carmel Academy $10,199.00, this is $200.00 more than last year.

The top five sellers are:
Amy Hoke, 5th grade $1922.00
Grant Hougo, 4th grade $1314.00
Sara Fortman, 3rd grade $1157.00
Angelica Marquez, 6th grade $1148.00
Imani Snelling, 4th grade $1031.00

We would like to thank everyone who participated in this fundraising event. We really appreciate your efforts.
Remember MCA can continue to earn money year round. Just visit Innisbrook, and place your order. Our school number is 111012, be sure to register your child, (to ensure your family receives credit for your order). The items are shipped directly to you. MCA receives 50% of the profits and your family receives credit toward your mandatory fundraising obligation.

AN EASY WAY TO TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT FAITH...

The biblical story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac is a frightening one. How could God ask this of him? The ultimate lesson of the story is that God did not want a child to be sacrificed. This story points to issues that we, as parents, can consider today. Although our culture does not condone the physical sacrifice of children, it does require more and more from them in order that they are seen as valuable in the world.

Some questions to consider:

What expectations do we have of our children? Do we insist on academic or athletic excellence beyond their capacity or interest? Do we insist that our way of doing things is the only way our children should follow?

The above excerpt was taken from "52 Simple Ways to Talk with Your Kids about Faith". For more tips on how to start a conversation with your child on this theme and many more, go to Loyola Books

Students enjoy a movie and popcorn in the MCA courtyard at the PK3 Family Social

A VERY SPECIAL OFFERING! YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY JUST IN TIME FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS!
Professional Photographer, Bozena Budzynska (mom of 6th grader Filip and alumni, Helenka!) has for the third year in a row, offered to photograph your family! This year, she is offering 3 options! Two include Christmas CARDS!

Bozena will be setting up her portable studio in Casey Hall on Saturday, October 13 and 20. Please call for an appointment 312 664-2271 and visit www.bbphotographs.com to see "some" of Bozena's work.
The standard sitting fee charge of $100 is being lowered to $25.00 for this MCA exclusive session. Bozena will donate 100% of the sitting fee towards the Christmas bonuses for MCA Teachers! BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR MORE INFORMATION IN YOUR CHILDS FRIDAY FOLDER, SEPTEMBER 21

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