Chesterton Weekly 10/30/20

“The Saint is a medicine because he is an antidote.”

― G.K. Chesterton

Please be sure to review our mass attendance policies for immediate families of students. Please note that they have changed as of October 8, 2020. All guests must RSVP using our Signup Genius so that we can keep tabs on how many are joined in one place.

Please be sure to sign up and review our healthy and safety policies for visitors on campus.

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Note from the Headmaster

• Election Day and November 4

• Basketball Season Beginning

• Citrus Lunch - This Wednesday

• Altar Server Training

• Communications Workshop

• Parking Update

• Gala and Choir Uniform

• Virtus Training

Note from the Headmaster

Dear Families,

As COVID cases continue to rise in Illinois and locally in Dupage County, let us all do our part to be careful as we go about our lives and be attentive to those around us, so that we can continue to enjoy the fruits of being in school, full time and in person.

Thank you,
Dan Janeiro

Election Day and November 4

As indicated on our calendar, Election Day will be an in-service day for teachers and staff and therefore it is a day off for students. On Wednesday, November 4, we will have an online learning day via Zoom to help students and teachers practice with our new Zoom classroom system. On that day, Teachers will lead their classes from campus through Zoom, and students will participate in classes through Zoom at home. We will send you the Wednesday schedule, instructions, and tips on how to make the most of online learning before November 4.

Please know that the schedule will be modified from our on-campus schedule, and classes will be shorter so as to limit screen time for students. We are working to have mass streamed from campus at the same time as usual (11:30 a.m.) on that day, and we welcome parents and siblings at home to watch along with students, faculty, and staff.

As we approach the winter months and flu season, more students may need to stay at home with colds and flus or even self-quarantine for prolonged periods of time. We want all students to learn the system and protocols for our online schooling so that all are prepared in the event that they must do a few school days at home. As a reminder: this system is not meant for students whose families who choose to go on vacations or college visits during school days; it is meant to aid students who are staying home for personal or public health reasons but are well enough to participate in classes.

Citrus Lunch Adjustment for Online Learning Day Next Wednesday

Due to the online day of learning, this upcoming Wednesday, the Wednesday Citrus lunch orders will be moved to Thursday.

Basketball Season Beginning

The basketball season begins on November 16. It is not too late to sign up! If you would like to register your student for the season, please see the message below. If you have already registered, please keep your eye out for an important message from your coaches. Just be sure to turn in all the required paperwork or you will not be permitted to come to practices once the season starts.

We are looking for an assistant coach for the Gentleman Saints JV team. If you are interested in assistant coaching, in basketball and any other sport, please send a message to Mr. Chris Lyon at Athletics@cathf.com.

FLAT FEE ($200) TO PLAY MOST SPORTS IN 2020-21

If you have already signed up your student to play a sport and would like to add on additional seasons, please send a JupiterEd message to Mr. C. Lyon and Mrs. Ryan indicating which sport you have already registered for, and which sport you would like to add on.

As you may have heard, the IHSA, Illinois' largest high school sports organization, is taking the preventive measure of pushing back the start of many fall sports. So, if you have signed a child up for Men's Soccer or Women's Volleyball, please know those sports will be pushed back to the spring (though we may be able to scrimmage in the fall to keep our skills up!).

Because of the uncertainty surrounding sports, we are allowing students to play most sports this year for one fee of $200! We hope this encourages more students to get involved with sports, regardless of skill level or past experience. Simply sign up for the sport of your choice below, and if you would like to play a second (or third) sport, please list those seasons in the form included in your online sports registration.

REGISTER FOR SAINTS ATHLETICS

• Click here for Men's Soccer and Women's Volleyball (formerly fall sports). Join soccer and volleyball by November 1, 2020.

• Click here for Men's Basketball and Women's Basketball. The season’s practices starts on November 16!

  Thank you for your understanding in these times of great unknown.

Altar Server Training for All Chesterton Boys

Thank you to our Chaplain, Fr. Ryan Adorjan, Server Training for all Gentleman Saints will begin next Thursday (East Houses and the following Tuesday (West Houses), and it will take place directly after school and run until 4:15 p.m. If a student it taking Mrs. Billing’s speech class during the week of Nov. 9-13 (see the section below!), he will be allowed to attend the training the week before even if it is not his house’s designated training day.

Communications Workshop Nov. 9-13

BOOST YOUR PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS WITH OUR RESIDENT SPEECH EXPERT!

For the past 4 years, Mrs. Colleen Billing has been teaching a public speaking/interpersonal communications workshop at Chesterton, and she has also trained all of our gala speakers, lectors, and Advent Lessons and Carols readers. Mrs. Billing will be offering this workshop once again for all Chesterton students who have not yet taken her class. Freshmen and transfer students are highly encouraged to take her class. Class size will be limited and spots will fill up quickly—it has always sold out! So please register here as soon as possible.

The cost is $55 per student. Students are highly encouraged to attend all 5 days of the workshop.

The courses take place at November 9 to 13 at 3:30 p.m. on campus. 

Overflow Parking Lot Update

The Lisle Park District Schools will soon begin using the parking lot across from the Chesterton campus for pick-up and drop-off of students. For the 2020-21 school year, please do not park across from school at any time, unless you have received specific instruction to do so from our school administration.

Students should use Parking Lot 1 only, at all times, including practices, after school, etc.  

Gala and Choir Uniforms - Time to Order!

As we draw closer to the Advent season, we ask all families to order their Chesterton choir and Gala uniforms if you do not have one already. Please read over the following document to review the the choir/gala dress requirements and make any orders you need to (information on where and how to order is there, as well).

Though our Advent Lessons & Carols and Fleur-de-Lis Gala might like really different this year, we will continue the traditions and that means that students will be required to participate in their formal dress attire. We are excited to hear the students sing and perform soon!

If your uniform needs alterations, we have two highly recommended seamstresses: Harriet Wrobel 773-317-8247 and school parent, Julie Schaefer 630-308-9721. Prices are reasonable. Please consider using them for your alterations.

VIRTUS Program - Protecting God's Children

All parents that volunteer at Chesterton, as required by the Diocese of Joliet, must take the course "Protecting God's Children". If you are already Virtus-certified, please disregard this message. For those who still need certification, we are pleased to announce that the Diocese of Joliet is temporarily allowing people to take the course online. Please visit Virtus online for more information.

Win Points for Your House!

The first student to solve this riddle will win 5 points for their house! Thank you, students, for reading your newsletter!