Program Gives Voice to Teens’ Opinions
VOICES Circles (Views, Opinions, Issues, and Concerns Expressed Safely) is one of the many programs at the Catholic Youth Ministry Center at Morgan Park High School, 1825 W. Monterey Ave. The discussion group is open to Center members and is offered on Wednesdays with rotating facilitators including Center staff member John Cook, community resident Linda Cooper and Chicago Police Officer Bill Langle.
“Officer Langle did a few very successful Circles with our students last school year,” said Center Director Peggy Goddard. “The students are happy that he has agreed to lead a session each month this year.”
The Catholic Youth Ministry Center (aka The Blue House) exists to provide guidance for students attending Morgan Park High School. By promoting moral values, the Center reaches out to students, faculty and the community in the roles of advocate, counselor, teacher and friend. Opened in 1979, the Center provides after school drop-in with recreational activities, educational workshops, leadership training programs, community service projects and discussion groups.
On the third Wednesday of the month community resident Laura Lopez will offer a yoga class for the students.
The Center welcomes all students of Morgan Park High School regardless of religious affiliation. For information on membership or programs, call 773-881-0193.
Educational Workshops for Students
Own It Chicago is offering two seminars to help students in junior high and high school learn organizational skills, develop better study habits, and strengthen time management and self-advocacy to approach the school year with confidence. Workshops will be held Sun., Oct. 15 at Morgan Park Academy, 2153 W. 111th. The workshop for junior high students is 12 to 2:30 p.m., and the workshop for high school students is 3 to 5:30 p.m.
The Own It team includes a counselor and two teachers with several years of classroom, counseling and coaching experience. During each workshop, students will evaluate their own learning styles and build an individualized, goal-oriented plan to be successful this school year and beyond.
For information and registration, visit the Own It Chicago website www.ownitchicago.com or email ownitchicago@gmail.com.
I Madonnari Joins the Beverly Art Walk
Everyone can be an artist on Sat., Oct. 7. That’s when the Beverly Art Walk will showcase the works of more than 200 talented local artists. And for the first time, Sutherland School is coordinating its popular I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival with the larger neighborhood event.
The 15th annual I Madonnari festival invites families and individuals to turn the sidewalks around the school into artistic masterpieces. Numbered sidewalk squares can be “purchased” for $10 apiece, and come with a box of pastel art chalks to decorate your square as you please.
The festival begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m., so visitors will have plenty of time to create a painting and enjoy the rest of the Art Walk.
A Sutherland tradition, I Madonnari is a highly anticipated event that draws neighbors from throughout Beverly/Morgan Park. It is a fun filled afternoon that includes food, entertainment, a PTA bake sale, face painting, and more. Pre-ordering squares is encouraged, as they sell out quickly. To reserve a square, email rikkir77@gmail.com.
In case of rain, the event will be moved to Oct. 8, with chalk sales only.
Rogers Named National Merit Semifinalist
Mother McAuley High School student and St. John Fisher School graduate Catherine Rogers has been named a National Merit Semifinalist for 2018. She is one of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Rogers now has the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition.
“Approximately one percent of PSAT testers qualify as National Merit Semifinalists; 16,000 students from a pool of over 1.6 million. When you really think about those statistics it’s hard not to get goosebumps!” said Nikki Carey, director of counseling for Mother McAuley. “We have always been aware of Catherine’s incredible academic talent, but when put into this larger context it really is nothing short of amazing.”
Last April, Rogers earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36. On average, less than one-tenth of one percent of students who take the ACT earn a top score.
Rogers is a Catherine McAuley Honors Scholar, a program which recognizes superior academic achievement. Members must maintain at least a 4.09 GPA and complete at least five advanced placement classes before graduation, among other requirements. She also is a member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Junior Classical League, Student Ambassadors, Book Club, Math Macs and runs Cross Country and Track.
Rogers was named a Mac with Merit, an award which recognizes students for their honorable character, diligent work ethic and notable contributions to the McAuley community. During her sophomore year, she received with the Irish Fellowship Educational & Cultural Foundation Scholarship.
Hayley Gutrich, a graduate of Christ the King School and McAuley senior, is a National Merit Commended Student. Gutrich is a Sister Agatha O’Brien Memorial Scholar, which recognizes students who score in the top five percent on the High School Placement Test. She is involved with the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, French Honor Society, and is a Catherine McAuley Honors Scholar. She also is a member of a Thespian Society and will participate in McAuley’s fall musical, “Les Miserable.” She sings with the school’s A Cappella Choir and Liturgical Ensemble.
