Friday Focus Newsletter
336th Issue - September 5, 2025
From the Desk of Rev. Charles Warren
I’m so grateful to be assigned to Marian Central Catholic again this year! High school priests have been asked to spend more time at the parishes for training and to assist the parishes who have a great need for priestly help. That means while I still will serve as Spiritual Director and Assistant Principal, the next year will look different for how I assist our mission at the school.
As I’ve said for years, the first goal of a Catholic school is to invite students into a relationship with Christ and to give them the tools to live in the faith. This does not compete against all our other goals, but in fact lifts them up to be more excellent.
I’m convinced we have built a team and school that can accomplish that goal. Our faculty have stepped up in the classrooms and shared many stories of seeing our students grow into mature, faithful, young adults. Our campus ministry team has been growing stronger each year and our students have become quite comfortable taking on faith leadership in the school. The amount of students spending time in the chapel has grown each year! We have built some robust programs of retreats, theological curriculum, and have more ideas for strengthening our school’s identity which pursues excellence in all areas of life while rooted in Christ! All these improvements give me great hope for the future!
One of our beloved faculty will be taking on a role to assist with these improvements. Matt Schwartz, our current head of theology, will be the Assistant Dean of Spiritual Life. As for me, I will still remain on the administrative team, meet with students and faculty in the school, and will be ensuring the sacramental life stays strong. While my time in the building will decrease, the faith of the school will continue to increase! If you have any questions about these changes or need some clarification, please feel free to reach out to me at the school or find me at my new church home over at St. Mary’s in Woodstock.
Go Canes!
Our Lady, Queen of Peace, Pray for Us!
Rev. Charles Warren
Spiritual Director
Homecoming Dance 2025
Saturday, September 27th
7:00 pm
at Marian Central
Tickets: $15 each
Tickets will be on sale Monday - Friday, September 15-19 during lunches in the office. All Marian Central students are invited to attend. Students wishing to bring a date that does not attend Marian must turn in a completed Guest Date Request Form when purchasing tickets.
Key Club Food Drive at Home Football Games
Key Club is sponsoring a food drive during football season to obtain non perishable food items for the Woodstock Food Pantry and monetary donations for the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Last year, the Marian Central community made a significant impact through donations, raising over $700 in support of the Northern Illinois Food Bank and two trunks full of groceries for the Woodstock Food Pantry. We are grateful for the generosity and dedication shown by everyone who contributed.
This year, we aim to build on these actions of service by encouraging participation. We are collecting non-perishable food items and monetary donations. We believe each gift will help in various ways. All efforts of each member contributes toward a collective impact. Through our continued dedication, we hope to make a great difference within our community and grow closer as a school through compassion and purpose.
Please bring your donations to any home football game and look for our table. Thank you so much for helping our community!!!
Seniors - Graduation Items
Jostens will be visiting with our seniors soon to present information about ordering caps and gowns and the option to order additional items such as invitations and announcements. Jostens has shared the information and the video linked below in preparation for their visit.
Welcome to Jostens! We've been partnering with schools since 1897 to help families celebrate graduation. We will have a class meeting on Friday, September 12th during Advisory to help the seniors at Marian Central order graduation products, including caps and gowns. Please watch the short video below for important info and a schedule of events.
GRAD ORDER DUE DATE: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1ST
Congratulations, Seniors... See you next week!
Grad Info and Schedule of Events ↓
Immunization/Physical Policy
At the start of a given school year, all freshmen and transfer students are required to submit to the school office a current (dated no earlier than October of the previous year) physical examination completed on the State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health form. This form should be filled out completely, signed by a health care provider, and dated with the month/day/year of each immunization indicating that the student is fully protected and in compliance with all required immunizations. All students are to meet this requirement prior to the start of the school year.
* Students entering the 12th grade must also show updated proof of receiving the Meningococcal Conjugate booster shot.
* A dental exam completed on the State of Illinois Proof of Dental Examination form is required for all 9th grade students. This is to be submitted no later than May 15th of the student’s Freshmen year.
Religious Objections: Parents who are requesting a religious exemption to immunizations must complete the Illinois Certificate of Religious Exemption form and submit it prior to October 1 of freshman and senior years.
Failure to meet this requirement by October 1 of the current school year will result in the student being excluded from further school attendance until the requirement is met.
Please submit all immunization records to Mrs. Johnson in the office or email to kjohnson@marian.com.
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.
Monday 9/8: University of St. Thomas (MN)-4th Period
Tuesday 9/9: Michigan State University-8th Period, Oklahoma State University-9th Period
Wednesday 9/10: University of Maryland-College Park-1st Period, Grand Valley State University (virtual)- 3rd Period, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs-4th Period, University of MA-Boston (Virtual)-8th Period
Thursday 9/11: Western Illinois University-8th Period, Carthage College-10th Period
Friday 9/12: University of Denver-1st Period
Financial Aid Night – Monday, October 6 at 7:15 PM
Seniors and their parents are invited to attend our Financial Aid Night on Monday, October 6 at 7:15 PM in the Auditorium.
A representative from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will be present to share important information about the FAFSA, One Click Admission, and other financial aid resources available to your student.
This is a valuable opportunity to learn more about the financial aid process and get your questions answered as your student prepares for life after high school.
We hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please connect with Mr. Wochner (swochner@marian.com) in Guidance.
Senior Portraits - September 30th
SAVE THE DATE: Senior portraits will be taken at Marian on Tuesday, September 30th for all seniors. Please see the attire guidelines below for these portraits. A specific schedule will be shared with the students later. In addition to being photographed in dress clothes, each senior will be photographed in a cap and gown on senior portrait day. You will then have the option to purchase this photo.
GROUP PHOTO: The Class of 2026 will be photographed as a class! All seniors that are present on senior picture day (Tuesday, September 30th) will take part in a posed group photo during Advisory. Since there will not be a retake of this photo, we are hoping all of our seniors can be present on picture day so that they are included in this special keepsake.
ATTIRE GUIDELINES: Seniors will remain in their dress clothes for the entire day.
Senior Ladies - Appropriate attire on this day includes dress pants and a modest blouse or sweater that covers the shoulders. Dresses/skirts are not allowed. No nose rings/studs, facial piercing, and no more than two earrings per ear will be permitted on girls. Hair must conform to Student Handbook guidelines.
Senior Gentlemen - Gentlemen must wear a white shirt and tie, a sport coat or suit coat that is blue, black or grey and dress pants. No nose rings/studs, facial hair, facial piercing, and no earrings will be permitted on boys. Hair must conform to Student Handbook guidelines.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. DiSilvio at ldisilvio@marian.com or 815-338-4220, x107
Assistant Catechist Needed - St. Mary, Woodstock
The Family Faith Formation program at St. Mary Parish in Woodstock is looking for an individual to assist the Catechist for the 5th-6th grade classroom this year. This class meets once a month, on the first Wednesday of each month, from September - May. Class time is 6:30 PM- 8 PM.
Must have received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and adult volunteers must complete the Virtus volunteer requirements. This is a great way to earn service hours!
Interested? Contact Theresa Emricson at the parish office, 815-338-3377 or temricson@stmary-woodstock.org.
Upcoming Calendar
Friday, October 3 - No School
Wednesday, October 8 - Late Start; 9:45 am start
Friday, October 10 - Grades 9,10,11 testing day; early release. Seniors no school
Monday, October 13 - Columbus Day; No School; Office Closed
Tuesday, October 14 - Teacher Inservice; No School