Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Spanish Club


Spanish Club's Second Annual End-of-Year Lunch





Several Joliet Catholic Academy Spanish Club students gathered for a festive end-of-the-year lunch today.  The tradition was started last year, and Executive Board member, Casey Corless, '16 organized the event.  The Taquería next to el Güerro is finally in business, so we decided to give it a try.

Everyone ate traditional Mexican style dishes, such as enchiladas, gorditas and quesadillas. We also shared freshly made guacamole with tortilla chips.  

Along with Profe Finaldi, in attendance were sophomores Max Babich and Olivia Blake and, juniors Casey Corless, Juan Diaz, Sam Gutierrez, Tom Hilke, Katie McSteen, and Jared Olsen.  




Sunday, May 17, 2015

Graduation 2015 and ADIÓS

Jessica Callofello, Lauren "Profe" Finaldi, & Molly Gunning

I did not know for sure if this would be my last graduation at JCA, but I had a feeling it might be.  I actually avoided getting in too many pictures that day because I was pre-sad and didn't want to start the fountain of crying I was fearing.  Some of the students graduating had been in my class for 3 years, and like those who went before them, I know I would miss them a lot.  

As it happened, the graduation would turn out to be my last (unless I return one day...hey...it happened with Sr. Capalbo and Sra. Worst!!!).  

I look back at my 6 years at JCA (is that all it was?) with the fondest of memories.  No school can ever replace the place Joliet Catholic holds in my heart.  

I will probably come back to this and write more at some point, but I think I need a little more time to pass.

I am going to be a high school Spanish teacher (¡qué sorpresa!) at the Chicago Virtual Charter School.   I think it is a really cool alternative to attending school the traditional way. I know that it will be a challenge to teach language when I only see my students face-to-face, and I also know that I will enjoy employing all of my favorite computer learning-tools even more than I have in the past.  

To all of my past students, as well as students I got to know through clubs and honor societies, or even those for whom I simply subbed  in one of your class...
OS AMO.  (That means I love all of you!).  I thank all of you for being the darling,  beautiful, handsome, clever, intelligent, wise, crafty, curious, adventurous, open and loving young men and women that you are.  You touched my heart and made me a better person.  I always wanted to do my best for you...because you deserved it.  

I am always here if you need me.  Do NOT hesitate to contact me for favors, big or small.  



Thursday, April 23, 2015

International Student Ambassadors Travel to Spain


Student Exchange to Vilanova 2015



Wednesday, April 22, 2015

JCA's International Student Ambassadors


 
 

Published: Thursday, April 30, 2015 

JOLIET – Twenty-four international student ambassadors from Joliet Catholic Academy high school along with two chaperones, Lauren Finaldi and Ellen Herron, completed the second half of a short-term exchange with a Catholic high school in Vilanova, Spain.
This is the third year JCA has participated in the exchange program. Participants lived with families of local Vilanova high schoolers who traveled from Spain in the fall to experience the Joliet Catholic Academy tradition.

Students from JCA went to school and attended classes with their host brother/sister. Several students participated in the content of specific courses such as math, science, and English. The students also saw many famous sites.

JCA participants included juniors  Breanna Akre, Casey Corless,  Kaci Courtwright, Mia Farrell, Thomas Hilke, Lena Rodriguez,  Madelyn Tyler, Kaitlyn Williams and Matt Vonch along with seniors  Nataly Cardenas, Samantha DeBenedetti, Emily Demick, Ryan Gulden, Molly Gunning, Dalton Jones, Jacey Lambert,  Connor McNulty, Renee McTee, Alex Mihalakakos, Kaitlin Papesh, Michelle Poplawski, Madeline Seneker,  Amy Thompson and Adriana Trizna.

For more information on JCA’s International Student Ambassadors program, contact club moderator, Lauren Finaldi, at lfinaldi@jca-online.org or 815-741-0500.



This article in THE PATCH
This article in THE HERALD

Friday, April 10, 2015

Tarragona


Tarragona is a port city on the north-east side of Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea.  It is due south of Barcelona and is also part of the province of Catalonia. 
The city's Roman ruins have been designated a World Heritage Site by Unesco