Marian Central Friday Focus

As we complete our second full week of the second semester, there seems to be a realization that this semester will go quickly! Our students (mostly our seniors) are seeing the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” knowing that they are on the downswing of the school year, and are becoming very aware of their grades, discipline, and attendance as they anticipate trying to earn final exam exemptions, and our 9th – 11th graders are thinking about what courses they might want to take next school year!

Exciting things are happening with regard to next year’s curriculum! Our 2024-25 Curriculum Guide will be up on the Marian website no later than February 1… just in time for Freshmen Registration for the class of 2028 and our online course selection process for returning students!

The online course selection process will be open from Feb. 5 through Feb. 23. Our Student Mentors will be stepping into our freshmen (2027) Advisories on Jan. 31 to teach them how to navigate the process and understand how to choose courses that best fit their goals. During that same week, Mr. Kruse and Mrs. Hilton will be training the current sophomores (2026) and juniors (2025) to navigate the online selection process so they are ready to begin the following Monday.

Focusing on curriculum, I want to remind you that we have a variety of unique opportunities for our students when choosing their coursework, including Dual Credit, Dual Enroll, and PCCS classes.

What is Dual Credit? Simply put, it is a way for students to earn tuition-free college credit while taking classes at Marian. Dual Credit classes are directly aligned with the expectations of a college course offered at McHenry County College but taught by a qualified Marian instructor. The content, rigor, syllabus, and key assessments are the same as MCC’s course but with no additional cost, and in the end, if the student passes the course at Marian, they will also receive college credit at MCC that can be transferred to most colleges.

What is Dual Enroll? Dual Enrollment allows for juniors and seniors to take courses that Marian Central does not otherwise offer directly through McHenry County College (MCC), while allowing the student, with prior approval, to earn credit both at Marian and MCC. There are some guidelines that must be adhered to, so please check the curriculum guide for more information.

Finally, we are offering more opportunities for our students to participate in MCC’s Partnerships for College and Career Success (PCCS) program. If enrolled in this program, Marian students start their day at MCC in the chosen program and then come to Marian to complete their day’s course load. This year we are excited to offer two new courses… a Heating and Air Conditioning Program, and an Advanced Technologies Program. Check out the Curriculum Guide for descriptions on these and all of the PCCS courses offered! Please note, the PCCS program is a separate enrollment with MCC that requires additional admission processes and fees, directly handled through MCC and not Marian.

As you can see, there are many growth opportunities at Marian so that students have a variety of paths besides our traditional Honors and AP courses with which to choose from in order to make our students’ four-year experience at Marian a successful one. Thank you for continuing to support all that we do here at Marian, and for supporting and encouraging your students to challenge themselves daily to be the best they can be!

Blessings,
Mrs. Cunico

The Winter Formal is Saturday, January 27th from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm at Marian Central. Students can purchase tickets in the office Monday through Thursday during lunches for $10 each.

Students interested in bringing a date from another school must turn in a completed Date Request Form at the time of ticket purchase.

It’s time to make your 2024-2025 Registration Fee payment.

The non-refundable registration fee is $300. However, if you submit payment before February 15, 2024, you receive a $75 discount making the amount due $225. Payment can be made by clicking here (a 4% fee will be applied) or by sending to the office. All returning students will register for courses online.

Incoming Freshmen will be receiving a registration packet in the mail. If you have any questions, please contact our Business Office.

Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors may attend these visits. Students must sign up for all visits in SCOIR and obtain permission from their teacher.

Friday, 1/26: Northern Illinois University-8th Period

February 7 - Late Start

Friday, February 16 - Noon Dismissal

Monday, February 19 - No School

Tuesday, February 20 - No School

Every year, Marian Central Catholic High School serves as a test center for the ACT in April. This year, the test date will be Saturday, April 13th, 2024. Also know that while we serve as a test center, we are not able to reserve seats for our Marian Central Catholic students. If you are interested in signing up for the April 13th ACT (or the February 10th, June 8th or July 13th at other locations), please register on the ACT Registration website. For the April 13th test here, be sure to use our test center code: 174990.

The ACT has provided every student with a $5 discount voucher code to use towards an ACT exam this February, April, June, or July. Please know that the voucher code does expire on January 22nd.

We will be providing a free practice ACT here at Marian Central Catholic on Wednesday, March 6th after school from 3:00pm - 7:00pm in the library. Space is limited to the first 30 students who sign up. Students can sign up the Practice ACT through the Revolution Prep website. The Revolution Prep website will have links to additional free practice tests as well as some group test prep sessions, which come with a fee.

JUNIOR PARENTS:

Please save the date for the annual College Information Night. This in-person program will take place on Wednesday, January 24th from 6:30pm - 8:30pm, with a meet and greet with college reps from 6:00pm - 6:30pm. More information will be available after the first of the year. This program is also open to freshman and sophomore families.

ATTENTION SENIORS:

if you would like to be exempt from Semester 2 exams, the process starts now. Please review the form below to make sure you understand what you will need to accomplish regarding academics, discipline and attendance over the next 2 quarters in order to be exempt from your second semester exams.

Senior Exam Exemption Information Form

ALL STUDENTS (GRADES 9-12):

If you are enrolled in, paid the fee for, and eventually take the College Board test for any AP class, you have the options to be exempt from taking their end of semester 2 final exam for that class. Students qualify by earning at least an 87% in the class by May 17 AND have taken the AP College Board test.

Please use the form below to submit your request to the main office no later than end of day Monday, May 16.

AP Exam Exemption Form