Marian Alumna and Mathematics instructor Nancy Werner explains the goals and expectations for her classes to parents participating in Marian’s Back-to-School night. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)
Parents get sneak peek at enhanced Technology/Media Center
Chicago Heights, IL-(ENEWSPF)- Hundreds of parents attended Back-to-School Night at Marian Catholic Thursday, where administrators, faculty and staff welcomed new families into the Marian community, and greeted familiar faces of those whose children have returned to the Chicago Heights campus for the 2011-2012 school year.
Bolstered by steady enrollment in a difficult economy, school administrators are quick to thank parents who make a Catholic, college-preparatory education a priority.
“On behalf of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, our Board of Directors, faculty, and staff, I want to express my sincere appreciation for your decision to support your child’s Catholic education,” said Sister Kathleen Anne Tait, O.P., Principal. “Our goal is to provide the best educational experience for students, emphasizing leadership skills, personal responsibility, and nurturing a willingness to serve others.”
Parents made their way through the hallways to follow a shortened version of their student’s schedule, assisted by Student Council leaders, class officers and other student volunteers giving helpful directions.
“Meeting the parents face-to-face at the beginning of the year is important,” explains Nancy Werner ’83, Marian alumna and mathematics instructor. “Not only does this event put faces and names together, but it also serves as an opportunity for the faculty to express their classroom expectations directly to the parents.”
As parents traveled down third hall, they were able to see the nearly-completed, summer break renovation of the computer lab. With technology advancing at such a rapid pace, the Marian Catholic community made a commitment to enhance not only the physical space, but provide additional PC’s, MAC’s and software programs to ensure students and staff alike have access to the latest technology.
The glass front entry gives way to rows and rows of new workstations, small offices for technology staff, and access to the media center where Video Editing and Graphic Arts will be taught.
“Benefactors, along with the concerted effort of administrators, architects and builders, have assured that this project will be yet another challenge met head-on by Marian Catholic,” said Sister Judine Hilbing, O.P., President.
“With a focus on ‘demonstration of values,’ it is our active commitment to sustain programs through state-of-the-art technology, giving our students the contemporary skills to meet world challenges as media savvy and technologically prepared Scholars with a Soul.”
The enhanced Technology/Media Center is supported through benefactors to the 2011-2012 Marian Fund, and gifts to The Courage to Lead Capital Campaign restricted to broadcasting.
