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Dear NCA Parents:
My heart was overjoyed to learn of the amazing amount of money collected for the NCA Staff Christmas Fund. Thank you for recognizing the astounding efforts made by our teachers and staff this school year. It was due to their commitment that NCA was able to continue to provide a sound educational experience for our students whether it was in-person or remote. Despite all the obstacles, together we have persevered. Because of our amazing school community, we beat the odds and surpassed our goal for the Boosterthon. Now, we have a record-setting amount of money contributed to our Christmas fund.
Thank you for your generosity, support, and love for this amazing NCA school community.
Peace, goodwill, and joy to all of you this Christmas holiday and always.
Christine Huzenis
Principal
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School News & Reminders
January Lunch Orders: Orders due Wednesday, December 16
Please CLICK HERE to complete the form.
During all school remote learning, January 4-January 18, meals can be picked up at your local CPS location.
Please CLICK HERE to find your closest location.
CPS Nutrition Support Services: Open all during Christmas Break. Haytt Elementary School will be giving out 3 Day meal kits ( with breakfast, lunch, and supper). They're giving out the food in case some families need it during Christmas break. They're open from 8 am until 1 pm and distributing the food at door #9 (located at the parking lot).
January Remote Learning: In preparation for the AoC district-wide remote learning days in January, please be sure to read through this attached document carefully. If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher or Mrs. Huzenis. Thank you.
VENTILATION AND AIRFLOW: Classrooms in both buildings have been able to keep a couple of their windows open in order to allow for fresh air circulation. During days when the temperature permits, NCA will continue to introduce as much fresh air into the classrooms as possible. However, cold temperatures will limit our ability to keep windows open during the winter.
We have received our order of air purifiers for each classroom to provide additional air quality improvement. Our maintenance staff has distributed the air purifiers and they're in the classrooms and used each day.
Adjusted Dismissal Schedule for Week of Dec. 14: In order to provide some extra time for our teachers to pack up and gather their materials for remote learning following the Christmas break on January 4 - 15, I am adjusting dismissal times during the week of December 14. Please be sure to mark your calendars with these dismissal times.
- Wednesday, December 16--Early Dismissal; MS at 1:50, Pre-K & K at 2:05, and PC at 2:10 (already scheduled)
- Thursday, December 17--Early Dismissal; MS at 1:50, Pre-K & K at 2:05, and PC at 2:10 (new time)
- Friday, December 18--Early Release; MS at 12:50, Pre-K & K at 1:05, and PC at 1:10 (new time)
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December 16: Early Dismissal; MS at 1:50, Pre-K & K at 2:05, and PC at 2:10 (already scheduled) ECP available at Primary Campus
December 17: Early Dismissal; MS at 1:50, Pre-K & K at 2:05, and PC at 2:10 (new time) ECP available at Primary Campus
December 18: Early Release; MS at 12:50, Pre-K & K at 1:05, and PC at 1:10 (new time) ECP available at Primary Campus
December 18: All-School Prayer Service of Las Posadas presented by NCA's 5th Grade streamed via Facebook Live at 9:00 AM from St. Margaret Mary Church
December 21 -January 1: Christmas Break
January 4: All school remote learning begins
January 19: Return to school
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Tell a friend! Donate to NCA and TRIPLE your dollars.
The pandemic has brought new challenges, many that have yet to be solved. Our school is determined to continue our mission and overcome these challenges, but as with all communities, we cannot do it without your help. In return for your support, we can promise you a tripling of your school donation while receiving a 75% tax credit. So your dollars are tripled, and then 75% is returned to you. As all great opportunities go, this one takes a small amount of effort on your part to give a huge reward.
This year, under unprecedented circumstances of need, the Archdiocese is again pledging several million dollars in matching funds for area schools. The pot of money will be several million dollars, and the program will expire when all the money is pledged. While each school is capped at the same amount of matching dollars they can receive, NCA has not yet hit its cap in the last two years. Yet our school has a greater propensity forgiving than any other school in Chicago. We have a chance to reach many goals through this effort, and we hope you will support it.
The Archdiocese has a hotline to walk you through a two-step process to qualify as a donor and complete the donation. The hotline is 312-534-2617 or tcs@archchicago.org. The volunteers will walk you through the process from start to finish.
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Greeting NCA Parents,
Last year we removed the annual task of registration for all current students. Your family will automatically be re-registered on January 6, 2021. The $200 non-refundable registration fee that has always accompanied re-registration for each family will automatically be added to what is deducted from your Smart Tuition account in $100 increments in February and March. If for any reason, a current student is NOT returning, the Intent to Not Return form needs to be submitted by Friday, December 18, 2020, in order to prevent the automatic deduction from taking place. This does NOT apply to 8th-grade students, you will automatically be removed from re-registration.
Please click the link below to fill out the Intent to Not Return form.
https://forms.gle/YVCjjokYPc44iCZE9
Thank you for your attention and cooperation.
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Become a Wildcat Winner and join our Wildcat Roaring Races Facebook group!
Wildcat Roaring Races is Northside Catholic Academy's virtual fundraiser. The races are held, and the prizes are posted on the Wildcat Roaring Races Facebook group for anyone to win. You will have a 1-25 chance to win every race you enter. There are lots of GREAT prizes posted every week!
Here's how it works; items are posted with a picture, description, and line price in the Wildcat Roaring Races Facebook group. If you are interested, you will click on the link provided, and the link will direct you to order and pay for your races on Schoolspeak. Races are hosted via Facebook Live in the Facebook group on Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm. ALL ARE WELCOMED! Please invite your family and friends to join our private Facebook group. Don't miss out on this fun opportunity to win a variety of prizes!
Tell your family and friends and click the link below to join our Wildcat Roaring Races Facebook group today!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wildcatsroaringraces
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Big Shoulders- Tax Credit Scholarships
Mark your calendars! Big Shoulders Fund will open its Tax Credit Scholarship application on January 12, 2021, at 8 am. This is the fourth year of the program, made possible by the Illinois Invest in Kids Act.
We will share more information and resources about the application process in the coming months.
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Empower Illinois- Tax Credit Scholarship
Save the date! We’re excited to announce Wednesday, January 13, 2021, as the official date for the 2021-2022 tax credit scholarship application process to begin.
The application will again be a two-step process. The reservation page will open at 6:30 pm, and you will click "submit" at 7 pm to obtain your timestamp. As a reminder, all will need to reapply for the 2021-2022 school year. Check your Empower Illinois email and stay tuned to the Empower Illinois Facebook page for more information. Tell a friend that would like to enroll their child in NCA for grades K-8th, but needs financial assistance.
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Share the good news of NCA! Our enrollment is open for the 2021-2022 school year!
Northside Catholic Academy is accepting applications for new families for the 2021-2022 school year. We want to continue encouraging new families interested in enrolling to do so as soon as possible to secure their child's spot.
NCA is careful to operate under the strict pandemic guidelines, and for that reason, we have limited space to accommodate new families. If you know a family looking to be a part of something greater and join the NCA community of love, please strongly urge them to apply at NorthsideCatholic.org today!
We offer virtual private tours, please email Shakira Morrissette at smorrissette@ncaweb.org. If you have any questions, please call 773-743-6277 Ext. 207.
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Travelers entering or returning to Chicago from states experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases are to quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of the last contact within the identified state. This includes both Chicago residents returning from travel to a designated state, and travelers arriving in Chicago from a designated state.
If you are planning to do out of state traveling to any of the above states, your transparency with NCA is necessary to keep our staff and students safe. Please contact the main office and let us know. We can provide you with further instructions on quarantining.
Again, we urge everyone to continue to wear masks in public, maintain appropriate social distancing, and regularly wash and sanitize your hands. The NCA community can only remain healthy and safe if we work together.
Effective Friday, November 13, 2020, the Emergency Travel Order has been modified. Under the new system, states will be placed in three categories – red, orange, and yellow-based on the status of the outbreak in the states and how the data compares to the situation in Chicago.
Please click the link below to view states currently covered by the order.
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/emergency-travel-order.html
Thank you for being diligent in working with NCA to keep everyone safe!
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Our middle schoolers enjoyed playing Kahoot, an interactive trivia game. It’s a fun educational game they play against their classmates. The students have to read and answer the questions quickly. The student with the most correct answers wins.
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Our middle school students had a blast participating in our annual bags tournament. A fun and memorable time for all!
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Our kindergarten students in Room 10 are building hexagons and snowflakes out of shapes!
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Our second-grade students have had a week filled with holiday activities. They wrote and mailed letters to Santa and learned about Hanukkah by making menorahs.
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Nominate an Incredible Educator for 3 months of free coffee!
Helix was founded by teachers and we want to take a minute to praise the amazing work of educators throughout this pandemic. Please nominate an impactful educator in your life in the form below. Each nominee will be entered into a raffle to win three months of free coffee delivered to their door from Helix Cafe. The winner will be announced in early January.
 Please click the link below to nominate a teacher.
https://docs.google.com/.../1SqNqoCv7HFV.../viewform...
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St. Gertrude's Giving Tree Program: Donate Gifts Cards This Year - Deadline is December 16
This Advent, St. Gertrude Parish’s Giving Tree will once again support people in need in our community this Christmas season. Due to the pandemic, our entire collection of gifts will consist of gift cards.
We will be collecting gift cards for Care for Real and the families sponsored by our Refugee Ministry. The gift cards may be brought to church or dropped off/mailed to the Rectory, 1420 W. Granville, Chicago, IL 60660. (Even if the Rectory office is closed, you can always put mail through the mail slot in the side (west) red door next to the Rectory side yard.
Please be sure all gift cards are delivered by December 16. You can note if you prefer your donations to go to Care for Real or the families sponsored by Refugee Ministry. Collections start Thursday, Thanksgiving Day.
Care for Real
Care for Real is requesting that all gifts for their families be in increments of $20 gift cards from Target. Below is a list of gift ideas that an individual or family might be able to purchase with the gift cards you donate.
One or Two $20 Gift Cards from Target Could Purchase:
- A toy, board game, or sports equipment for a child
- Books, pajamas, or art supplies for a teen
- Hats, scarfs, and gloves for a child, teen, or adult
- Diapers or baby food for a baby
- Toiletries for a man or woman
- Holiday treats for a family or an individual
Three $20 Gift Cards from Target Could Purchase:
- A coat or boots for a child
- Clothes for an adult or teen
- Toiletries for a family
- Pantry items for a family or an individual
Four $20 Gift Cards from Target Could Purchase:
- Shoes or boots for a teen or an adult
- A winter coat for a teen or an adult
Five $20 Gift Cards from Target Could Purchase:
- An interview/work outfit for an adult
- Groceries for a family
You might also wish to contribute one, two, three, four, or five $20 gift cards from Target for any unspecified items which are most needed at this time.
St. Gertrude Parish Refugee Ministry
We are also collecting gift cards for the refugee families sponsored by St. Gertrude Parish. For these families, we are requesting gift cards from Target and Jewel for gift items, household needs, and groceries.
Our Parish Goal for Donations for our Refugee Families is to Collect:
- Ten $25 gift cards from Target
- Eight $50 gift cards from Target
- Four $75 gift cards from Target
- Ten $25 gift cards from Jewel
- Eight $50 gift cards from Jewel
- Four $75 gift cards from Jewel
Thank You!
Your contributions are most appreciated! Participation in our St. Gertrude Parish Giving Tree is a blessing for all, gift givers and receivers, in this holy season of Advent, and makes the lives of all those who are touched truly filled with Christmas joy!
A flyer is available HERE.
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Volunteer Sign Up Directions
1. Go onto SchoolSpeak.com
2. Click on the Quick Link that says Volunteer
3. There you will see NCA’s volunteer opportunities. All volunteer opportunities require Virtus Training unless otherwise noted.
4. Click on the sign up you want. Find a spot to sign up!
5. Remember every Family needs 20 service hours!
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Volunteer Requirements
1. Completion of form 7703
2. Completion of Online background screening (eApps database)
3. Completion of CANTS form (DCFS background screening – paper only – must be submitted annually)
4. Submission of a signed Code of Conduct form
5. Completion of the Virtus training (must pre-register online)
All forms and other information regarding these requirements can be found on the NCA website under Volunteer. Thank you for working with us to ensure the safety of all children!
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