ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14,  2025

NO 7:15AM MASS NEXT WEEK - Fr Colin will be away all of next week. He will return for morning Mass on Tuesday, October 21st. 

SENIORS - SANP WREATH & POINSETTIA SALE - Seniors! The Senior All Night Party committee needs your help! Only two days are left for the annual wreath and poinsettia sale. Orders are due by tomorrow, Wednesday, October 15. Order now and forget the added stress of running around during the holidays. These poinsettias are beautiful and are available in your choice of red or white and many sizes. The wreaths are decorated and will be perfect hanging on your door. Pick up will be Saturday, Dec 6th at the Catholic Central Athletic Complex on Knapp St. NE. Place your order here. All proceeds go to the SANP

FALL PLAY -  Come support our theater department's production of Mary Chase's Harvey! Veta Simmons has had it with her brother Elwood's best friend, Harvey, and wants to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium. Why? Oh, because Harvey is an invisible six-foot tall rabbit that only Elwood can see. Shows run October 15, 16, and 18 at 7pm at the PAC with an additional 2pm matinee on the 18th! Tickets available here! Bonus - sign in with your house dean to get credit for the attendance competition!

PSAT INFORMATION - On Thursday, October 16th,  9th, 10th, and 11th grade students will be taking the PSAT. This is a practice test designed to help prepare students for the SAT. Juniors’ results will be entered into the National Merit Scholarship competition with a chance to win a National Merit Scholarship along with other corporate and college sponsored awards. Students will also be able to link their results to Khan Academy to get a personalized study plan to improve their scores on the SAT. 

Important Test Day Information 

• Room assignments will be posted in the student center.  
• Students are required to be in uniform.
• Testing begins at 8:00 am. Students who test under regular time will be done at 10:45. Students who qualify for extended time will be done by noon.
• Students must bring their fully charged iPad and are encouraged to bring their calculator.

DETENTION - There will be no afternoon detention on Thursday due to the half day for the PSAT.

ESPORTS NEWS - We’re excited to announce the Kent County Cup – Mario Kart 8 Esports Tournament at Kent Career Tech Center on October 18! This is a fun, competitive opportunity for high school gamers across Kent County — and so far, we have 0 students from GR Catholic Central signed up. Don’t let your students miss the chance to compete and win! Register Here.Contact Mrs. VanderMolen with any questions.

Event Details:

• Date & Time: October 18 – Doors open at 9 a.m.
• Location: Kent Career Tech Center, 1655 E. Beltline NE, Grand Rapids (Parking lot #1)
• Competitors: 9th–12th graders in the Kent ISD service area (up to 64 players)
• Cost: $5 per player; concessions available
• Registration: Open now through October 14

SHAKESPEARE AUDITIONS - Grand Rapids Catholic Schools is pleased to announce auditions for 2025/26 Shakespeare play. Auditions will be held at both West Catholic and Catholic Central and students are welcome at either location. Sign up for your spot HERE! We encourage you to show us all you’ve got!  Feel free to come with a monologue but there will also be cold reads and improv. Scripts will be available outside the audition room for cold reads. Resumes are not required but are always welcome. HINT - Study Act 2 Scene 1 of Midsummer Nights Dream. There will be time before your slot to look over the scripts and fill out the audition form with any known conflicts from November through January. For more information contact Nate Topie at njtopie@gmail.com.

• Monday, October 13 from 5:00-7:00pm at West Catholic in room 127
• Tuesday, October 14 from 5:00-7:00pm at West Catholic in room 127
• Monday, October 20 from 5:00-7:00pm at Catholic Central in Band Room
• Thursday, October 23 from 5:00-7:00pm at Catholic Central in Band Room

BLOOD DONATION - CC students Veda ’28 and Evvie ’29 Trowbridge recently lost their grandfather, Dr. Greg Trowbridge, who served as a physician at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital since the late 1980s. Our prayers are with Veda, Evvie, and the entire Trowbridge family during this time. In his memory, Versiti Blood Center is tracking all who donate blood in his name. The Trowbridge family hopes to create a wall filled with the names of donors to be displayed at Dr. Trowbridge’s memorial this spring — a beautiful tribute to someone who dedicated his life to caring for others. This is a meaningful way to save lives, support our community, and honor his legacy of service.

Click the link below to schedule your donation, and be sure to enter the code “GREG” in the Notes Section so your gift is counted in his honor. https://donateblood.versiti.org/donor/schedules/center/54

BLUE & WHITE NEWS - The Blue and White has shifted from print to digital. Please check out and subscribe to our website at https://catholiccentralblueandwhite.com/. New stories will be posted several times a week. 

COUGAR GEAR STORE - Looking for something new to wear? The Cougar Gear Store has you covered! In store they have 3 full racks of LuluLemon, North face fleece jackets, new styles of beanies, and many other new items for sale. Below is a list of dates that the Cougar Gear store will be open. They will also be open for playoff games for football & soccer. The store will be open for 3-4 Christmas shopping dates.

• October 15th 7th & 8th grade 6-8:30pm
• October 23rd JV Football  5:30-7:30pm
• October 24th Varsity Football  6-8pm

STEAM OPPORTUNITIES 

• We’re very excited to announce an upcoming Perry Outreach Program on Saturday, December 13th at the Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan in Grand Rapids, MI. The Perry Outreach Program is a free, one-day, hands-on experience to encourage youth to pursue careers in medicine and engineering. Students will hear from  leaders in these fields and try it for themselves by performing mock orthopaedic surgeries and biomechanics experiments. Additional information can be found on our website: www.perryinitiative.org.The application may be accessed directly using the following link: https://perryinitiative.org/pop-application/. More information and a printable flyer for this event can be found HERE. 
• Explore Engineering is a FREE event that will be held on Saturday, November 15, where students can learn about a career in engineering and what makes a University of Dayton engineering degree unique. They’ll participate in hands-on activities in our labs, meet our faculty and current students, and tour our campus and engineering facilities.

EXPLORING PRIESTHOOD - The Diocese of Grand Rapids and Saint John Vianney College Seminary will be offering young men that are juniors and seniors in high school, who want to discern their vocation, an opportunity to take a closer look at the priesthood by experiencing a few days on the campus of Saint John Vianney College Seminary at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, with Vocations Director, Fr. Rob Mulderink. This annual visit to St. John Vianney College Seminary will take place November 13-15, 2025. Transportation, accommodations, and meals will be provided at no cost.Space is limited; make sure to register no later than October 17 by contacting Pattie Reynolds at preynolds@grdiocese.org or call 616-288-0910.

UPCOMING COLLEGE VISITS - Sign up in SCOIR

• The College of Wooster - Wednesday, October 15 at 9:40am
• Saint Mary's College - Wednesday, October 15 at 1:25pm
• University of Detroit Mercy - Friday, October 17 at 9:50am
• Cornerstone University - Tuesday, October 21 at 9:50am
• College of Charleston - Tuesday, October 21at 11:00am
• Oakland University - Tuesday, October 21 at 1:50pm
• Grand Rapids Community College - Wednesday, October 22 at 1:25pm
• Northwestern University - Thursday, October 23 at 10:25am

COLLEGE INFORMATION OPPORTUNITIES

• Purdue University
• US Service Academy Information Session
• Discover Ross Business School - University of Michigan

BEGINNING WITH BREAKFAST - A hot breakfast of the chef’s choice will be offered daily. All breakfast combos are served with fruit, juice, and milk

LOOKING AHEAD FOR LUNCH - Lunch Combos are served with an entree, fruit, veggie, and milk

• Tuesday, October 14 - Beef Taco, Lettuce & Tomato, Pineapple
• Wednesday, October 15 - Breakfast Pizza, Veggie Juice, Banana
• Thursday, October 16 - No Lunch - ½ Day
• Friday, October 17 - Pizza, Fruit & Veggie Bar

BLESSING OF THE DAY - May the God of Joy be with you, bringing delight at the very thought of your place in God's creation. May you be thrilled by God's presence in your life and may your heart overflow with gladness and song as you celebrate the nearness of such a Lover. May song burst from your heart in grateful praise and ever surround you as you reach out to others in love. May the God of Joy bless you. --Maxine Shonk, OP