Week of February 28 Parent Newsletter

Stay Informed | Stay Engaged

This Week:

  • MARCH LUNCH | Today is the last day to place orders for March lunch. Click here to do so.

  • Monday, February 28, 6p | Mandatory Virtual Workshop for Seniors and Parents: Applying for Scholarships and the Art of Waiting Patiently

    • Here is the Zoom link.

  • Wednesday, March 2, 10-10:50a | Ash Wednesday Chapel

    • This Wednesday, UCA will observe Ash Wednesday with a special chapel led by Mr. Oord. As part of the liturgy, Mr. Oord will impose ashes on students who willing to receive them. This part of the liturgy will be entirely optional. Parents are invited to attend this service. (Mr. Oord teaches in UCA’s history department and is senior pastor of First Reformed Church in South Holland.)

  • Friday, March 4 | Last Day of Module 4

Next Week:

  • Monday, March 7 | Module 5 Begins

Looking Ahead:

  • Monday, March 14, 6p | Virtual Workshop for Junior Parents & Students: Take Steps Toward College Workshop

    • Zoom link will be sent closer to the date. The flyer is at the bottom of the newsletter.

  • Per an Illinois state requirement, our Testing & Advising Day will now be on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. Freshmen and sophomores will take the PSAT, while juniors will take the SAT. Seniors will continue to receive college advising on this day. This is a required day of attendance for all students. School hours will be as normal, 8:30a-3:30p. Click here to see this minor change reflected in the school calendar.

Community Housekeeping:

  • COVID-19 Update:

    • In response to the lifting of the mask mandate in Illinois and the new recommendations from the CDC, UCA’s COVID committee will meet tomorrow Tuesday, March 1. Any changes to UCA’s policy will be communicated after the meeting.

  • INVEST IN KIDS Scholarship:

    • All UCA parent(s)/guardian(s) have the opportunity to apply for an Illinois Invest in Kids scholarship. If awarded, these funds would be applied to next year’s UCA tuition. The link to apply will be sent tomorrow evening at 6p via email.

  • TARDY Policy:

    • To re-iterate our tardy policy, please review the previously communicated revisions below (effective Monday, January 24, 2022).

      Students are expected to be in their assigned classroom at the beginning of each school day and at the beginning of each class block. Being consistently tardy is a hindrance to academic progress, and disrupts the learning environment for other students.  

      Teachers take attendance within the first two minutes of every block. If a student arrives to class after a teacher has taken attendance, the student must have a pink tardy slip from the main office. If a student does not have a pink tardy slip, the teacher will instruct the student to get one from the main office in order to enter class. This protocol applies to all blocks throughout the school day. Students arriving to class after half of the class block has expired will be considered absent for that block.

      If a student reaches three tardies in a module, the student will be required to serve a morning detention (7:15-8:15 a.m. on Wednesdays). Failure to attend a morning detention, or arriving after 7:20 to morning detention, will result in a $10 fine, as well as being required to serve another morning detention. Every tardy after three in a module will result in a $5 fine per tardy. A meeting between the family and administration may be requested at this point.

  • ID Cards:

    • It is important that all UCA students bring and use their ID cards to enter the building in the morning. Please remind your student to pack their ID card in their backpack/wallet and use it to enter the building.

  • PARKING LOT Etiquette:

    • It is essential that all drivers in UCA’s parking lot abide by our parking lot rules.

      • When dropping students off/picking them up, please form one right lane in front of the main entrance. If you are among the first to arrive, please pull forward to allow other vehicles space to line up behind you.

      • If you wish to bypass after your student has exited/entered your vehicle, please pull to the left to do so.

      • Unless you need to come inside, please do not pull into a parking spot.

      • Please enter on the south side of South Park Ave and exit on the north side of South Park Ave.

      • Please be courteous to other drivers and keep speed to 10mph.

      • If someone other than the primary parent/guardian picks up your student, please pass along to them these guidelines so they can be informed.