Dear Friends and Parents,

Parent-Teacher conferences will be conducted Friday, November 9th. The day session will be held from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm.The evening session will be held from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm. There will be no classes or extended care for any students on November 9th.

Conferences for Middle School students are with the homeroom teacher only and the students in grades 6th, 7th and 8th are encouraged to attend with their parents. The "Specials" teachers (music, gym, art and technology) will also be available for conferences that day.

New this year, conference times will be scheduled online. MCA will utilize the service "PickAtime" to facilitate the scheduling of parent-teacher conferences. "PickAtime" is an online appointment service that publishes available time slots on the web and allows parents to book their conferences over the Internet greatly simplifying the process. There are many advantages to this system from the schools perspective. I also believe that there are a number of benefits for parents including:

The 07-08 Family Directories are almost ready. They will be distributed at Parent-Teacher conferences on November 9th.

If you would like to advertise your business in this section, or if you know of someone who would like to take advantage of this amazing offer. Please forward, via email:
NAMEofBUSINESS/ADDRESS/PHONE NUMBER, to Andrea Gawrit at amgawrit@aol.com The ads are in Yellow Page format @ $25/ad. Checks payable to Mount Carmel Academy, Attn: Directory Ad. Please drop payment to School Office. This is a wonderful, affordable way to advertise, reaching ALL school families and beyond. Deadline 11/02/2007.

The annual Halloween Parade will take place on October 31st at 1:15. Students in grades Pre-K through 5 will participate. Only students in these grades will be allowed to wear their costumes on Halloween! Remember that costumes with masks are acceptable, but they may only be worn for the outside portion of the parade only. The students are not permitted to bring or carry any weapons - even if they are an important part of their costumes. Please keep all weapons at home on Halloween! Check with your child's homeroom for any additional guidelines.

First, don't forget our Winter uniform guidelines begin November 1. Please make sure your children are not wearing shorts to school. Students should wear MCA navy sweatshirts and sweatpants for gym.

Second, approximately one time per month, we celebrate all-school masses. These masses usually take place on Feast Days and Holy Days of Obligation. The next such mass is this Thursday, November 1st, the Feast of All Saints. MCA will require ALL students in grades 1-8 to be in their regular dress uniform, including their maroon sweater, on all- school Mass days. This includes those students that have gym class. Please note that this policy does not include school Liturgies, such as the All Souls Liturgy on Friday, Nov. 2nd, nor regular grade-level masses.

Don't forget to participate in our third annual pumpkin decorating contest sponsored by the MCA Student Council! Please DECORATE one pumpkin per family and bring it to school by October 30th.

Remember: PUMPKINS MUST NOT BE CARVED! ALL DECORATIONS MUST BE MADE ON THE SURFACE OF THE PUMPKIN. Also, be sure to put your name on the bottom of your pumpkin.

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. We look forward to seeing you at the first school sponsored family Mass of the 2007-2008 school year on September 30, 2007! See you at Mass.

FAMILY MASS SCHEDULE 2007-2008
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

Mount Carmel High School will host three Open Houses for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade boys and their families

Sunday, November 11th, 11 am -2 pm
Tuesday, November 20th, 6pm- Honors Program Open House
Thursday, December 6th 6pm-8pm

Fall Open House, Wednesday, Nov. 7th from 5:30-7:30PM
Learn about our:

• College Preparatory Programs
• International Baccalaureate Honors Program
• Extra-Curricular Clubs
• Athletics
• Financial Aid
• Tours of Campus