Matters
MARIAN A N EWSLETTER
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M ARIAN C ATHOLIC A LUMNI , PARENTS
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S P R I N G
F RIENDS . . . B ECAUSE M ARIAN C ATHOLIC R EALLY D OES M ATTER 2 0 0 4
FORENSICS CONTINUES BRILLIANT STRIDES swept all three novice tournaments with gainful margins and also mastered top scores in the three Varsity qualifiers. The schools in this League are primarily intensely competitive private schools—although a few non-parochial schools do enter.
Sophomores Nicole and Samantha Padula are 2 of the 16 students who qualify for competition in Boston this Spring.
Marian Catholic Forensic students have a foot in two worlds, competing in two separate leagues. Despite the pressure, the advantages are tremendous. The Chicago Catholic League leads to national competition; the Public School Invitational and IHSA state have different events and rules that test student ability in the State of Illinois. MCHS ascended in both leagues. Undefeated in the Catholic League, MCHS
In the Catholic League, sixteen students qualify for competition in Boston this spring. That number is amazing on a national level—and in some categories, all of the entries are unstoppable. Champions include Sean Becker, Jean Phillip Brignol, Andy DeKruiff, Amy Dettmann, Larry Hickey, Joe Kasper, Alex Kuehr, Jim McGuire, Jon Mercado, Catherine Mitros, Matt Nix, Nicole Padula, Samantha Padula, Jaime Smith, Elaine Wilson and Nick Wilson. According to Forensics moderator Tom Sweeney, “The students learned how to recognize their own speaking habits, discovered their talent potentials and actualized them. Each of these students
learned about standards, fairness, and harnessed the most difficult of resources— motivation to continue excellence when you succeed,” Sweeney noted. “In this League, there are six events and we can send three students in each category. Basically, there are oral interpretation events, limited prep events, and public address. Students learn how to master performance skills, find and compile evidence for argumentation, and translate the words of authors into performances that move audiences to think profoundly about a subject or to share with the reader compassionately to understand great selections from literary genre. It’s all very competitive and fun. More importantly, it absolutely encourages students to examine their role as future, responsible leaders.” There is no doubt that prestigious universities seek out students who are experienced in the dual worlds of academics and forensic competition. Continued on page 9
PHONATHON RINGS SUCCESSFUL For seven evenings, over 200 students, current parents and alumni parents manned a temporary bank of phones in the library. Their goal was a chance to speak with alumni, current parents and alumni parents to fill them in on what’s going on at Marian Catholic and to extend an invitation to participate in this year’s Annual Fund. If you spoke with one of these many volunteers you probably sensed the fun they were having during this important part of Marian’s fund-raising to reach their goal of $72,500. This year’s Phonathon was spearheaded by veteran co-chairs Sue and Joe Beaudry ’67, ’67, Sue Dawson and Nancy Hathhorn, under the watchful eye of alumni parent and Phonathon coordinator, Peg Massucci. With the ever present encouragement of Sister Mary Paul, down Parent callers, Herby Weathers, Jr. and Chris Hutter making phone calls at this year’s Phonathon. in the trenches were the callers. The first three nights were in the hands of the students as they called across the country to alumni. Volunteer parents placed calls on the final four nights, speaking with many current parents and alumni parents. A big thank you goes to all who spoke with us; and an even bigger thank you to those who made a pledge—pledges surpassed $61,000. We’re confident that pledge payments and future decisions to invest will surpass our goal.
Bob McAvoy ’98 helps hand out raffle tickets and encourage student callers during this year’s Phonathon.
Some people ask why a need for the Annual Fund and its accompanying Phonathon—this is the third and final year we are targeting funds raised to help pay for Dominican Way which includes eight new modern classrooms, teacher resource center, wireless technology and resource computers. In recent past years, the Annual Fund has provided the funding for wireless technology, development of athletic fields, software and equipment for science labs and lecture rooms, and much, much more. As pledge reminders go out in the mail, thank you in advance for your support. If you did not hear from us during the Phonathon, please be assured we tried. It’s not too late for “your decision” to invest—your participation is vital to the students of Marian Catholic High School.