Dear Friends and Parents,

Please join me in wishing our 8th grade students the best of luck on their Catholic High School placement test. On Saturday, January 12th, most of our 8th graders will be taking this important test. I am confident that our MCA faculty and the student's families have prepared each of them to do their best. Please keep our students in your thoughts and prayers as they strive to gain acceptance into their High School of choice.

Sincerely,

Shane Staszcuk,
Principal

On Tuesday, January 15th and Thursday, January 24th screeners from Child Find will be returning to MCA. Child Find is a federally mandated program whose purpose is to screen, identify and refer children who may need early intervention services.

The screening includes Cognitive/Educational, Communication and Fine and Gross Motor components. This is a free service and is an excellent way of assuring parents their child is developing appropriately. If further evaluation is recommended they will provide information on how to access free evaluation at your local public school.

Please complete the consent form and return it to your child's teacher so that your child may participate in this screening. All forms need to be in by Tuesday, January 15th. There are no makeup days available, so please make sure your child is at school those days in order to be screened.

The annual Spring Auction is fast approaching on April 12, 2008 so save the date!

Show dates for the Musical Revue are Friday, May 2nd and Sat. May 3rd at 7:30 pm.

Auditions will be held in Casey Hall Auditorium on Monday, February 4th between 4:30-7:30 pm.

Please see the Middle School Message Board for a permission slip or click on the link below for a form.
http://www.mountcarmelacademy.org/forms/auditions_2008.pdf Please contact Nikki Lint for additional questions.

You know those colorful order forms that come home every month and have steak, cookies, lobster, and all sorts of other goodies on them? Well that is an ongoing fundraiser that MCA participates in and allows our school families and parishioners to order food that perhaps you would otherwise be buying at Costco. It's simple, you choose the items you want, and either send the form back to school or order online, designating MCA as your institution, and then come pick up your items in the school cafeteria on a designated Saturday. Last month we raised over $400 from Market Day! So, please continue to support this worthwhile and yummy fundraiser.

Market Day Help

Michelle Hueser has graciously chaired the Market Day committee and she will be unable to continue in this role next year. We are looking for someone to chair this wonderful committee. If we do not get anyone to volunteer by the end of the year, we may have to discontinue this MCA tradition. If interested, please email Lisa Hebert at lpecothe@depaul.edu The new chair would need to be trained by Michelle this year and it would help if they attend one Market Day to learn the process.

January Market Day does not have anyone to help out for the sale. If any volunteers can help out, that would be great! Please contact Michelle Hueser @312-706-3251.

The Cultural Fair is fast approaching and some important reminders are:

• T-Shirt Contest Deadline is Monday, January 14th, remember, black/white drawing only
• Computer Graphic Art for 3-8th- Friday, January 18th

"Our Very Own" Music Teacher Monika Johnson is a finalist in the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest and she needs our vote!

Please help to make Monika's recipe "America's Favorite Recipe" by going on-line and voting for her "Orange Marmalade-Chorizo Pizza" in the Pizza Creations Catagory. With all of our votes, she may just win it! Please pass this on to anyone you think may take the time to vote! Thanks everyone! Click here to place your vote- http://bakeoff.com

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
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 - Jacque Simon