Friday Focus Newsletter
345th Issue - November 7, 2025
From the Desk of Mr. Benji Winkelman
Did you ever have writer’s block? Well, I do—and I’m publicly writing about it. I’m not sure why I’m struggling. I mean, there are plenty of things to write about.
Last Sunday, our Marian Showcase was a huge success. Students led tours around the building, participated in panel discussions, and assisted teachers in their classrooms. They never cease to amaze me with how well they represent Marian. Kudos to our Development team for organizing another great event.
Oliver Ebel qualified for state in Cross Country, and the Volleyball team is playing for the Sectional Championship—just two games away from state! Next week, our theatre program is presenting the play The Curious Savage. I stopped by this week to take a sneak peek—the sets look amazing, and the student directors have been working hard to make sure every aspect is perfect.
Finally, our Career Day is scheduled for next Friday. This event gives students the opportunity to interact with professionals who represent a variety of career paths.
As you can see, there are wonderful things happening in our hallways—so why am I having such a hard time? I’ll have to get back to this later. There’s another school uniform issue to take care of. Ah, the life of a dean.
Benji Winkelman
Dean of Students
PARENT CONFERENCES
Parents are invited to participate in Parent-Teacher Conferences on the dates listed below. Please do not feel obligated to schedule a conference if your student is progressing well.
Monday, November 24, 2025 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
OR
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
The portal to schedule conferences will be open starting Monday, November 10th at 8:00 am and will close on Monday, November 17th at noon. Parents can create an account at any time, however, the scheduling portion of the portal does not open until November 10th.
Please click here to create an account and schedule conferences.
There are no classes Monday, November 24th through Friday, November 28th. For additional details, please click the document below.
GALA PLANNING MEETING - NOVEMBER 11
It’s hard to believe, but it’s already time to start planning this year’s Gala! The Gala is Marian’s largest fundraising event — and one of our favorite nights of the year to come together as a community and celebrate everything that makes Marian so special.
This year’s event, the Emerald Gala: A Night Celebrating Our Marian Family, Friends, and Future, will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at The Grand Geneva.
We’re putting together a team of enthusiastic volunteers to join the Gala Committee, and we’d love for you to be part of it! Committee members help with sponsorships, solicitation, auction item procurement, event promotion, and community outreach — all essential parts of making this an unforgettable evening and ensuring strong support for our students.
Our first meeting will be on Tuesday, November 11, at 6:30 PM in the Annex (the building next to the school).
If you’re interested in joining the committee, please email Mrs. Bordeaux at kbordeaux@marian.com.
Thank you for your continued support of Marian and our mission of building men and women for life. Together, we’ll make this year’s Emerald Gala at the Grand a celebration.
The 2026-2027 School Year Financial Aid Application is now OPEN!
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 21, 2025
- Complete FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment online with all necessary financial documents, including the 2024 tax return and 2024 W2s, by November 21, 2025!
https://www.marian.com/tuition-and-financial-aid/
Simple Steps to Apply for Financial Aid Online
1. Choose “Sign In” or “Create a username and password”
2. Then click on the Start Application Link
3. Select the appropriate school year (2026-2027)
4. Complete the steps as prompted (be sure to upload required 2024 tax documents
after submitting application).
All families must apply by November 21, 2025, for tuition assistance for the 2026-2027 school year.
Award letters will be sent in January 2026.
COLLEGE VISITS NEXT WEEK
All juniors and seniors may attend these visits. Students must receive permission from their teachers to attend each visit and must sign up for all visits in SCOIR.
Wednesday 11/12: Beloit College-4th Period, University of Nebraska-Lincoln-10th period
