ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8,  2025

NO 7:15AM MASS TOMORROW - Fr Colin will be away tomorrow and 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! The annual wreath and poinsettia sale is going on now! 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

UPCOMING HOUSE ATTENDANCE COMPETITIONS - We’re just one month into the school year, and the House Cup battle is already heating up! Kolbe is out front with 58 points, but Romero is right on their heels with 55. The defending champs from Teresa are holding strong at 50, and Casey is close behind with 48. Up next: attendance events worth 30 points. All you have to do is show up, sign in with your house dean, and cheer on your fellow Cougars. Every single person counts! We look forward to seeing you there!

• 🎭 Fall Play: Harvey - Wednesday, October 15; Thursday, October 16; or Saturday, October 18 at 7:00 PM (Circle Theatre at Aquinas)

PICTURE RETAKE DAY - Retake Picture Day is coming up on Tuesday, Oct 14. If you're satisfied with your picture, no further action is required. If you purchased and were unhappy with your Picture Package, please bring your Picture Package to school on Retake Day. Your Retake Picture Package will be produced and shipped to the school four weeks after Retake Day. Please note, if you are photographed on the original and Retake Picture Days, the Retake picture will replace the original picture in certain products, like the yearbook.

Students who were absent for Picture Day should come to school prepared to have their picture taken. If you have not preordered, please use the Retake Order Code 0241SCF to place your order at https://inter-state.com/Order. To see your Order History, check your Inter-State Account. Find answers to Retake Day questions here.

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. Look for more information about sign-ups coming soon! 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

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 9th JV Football 5:30-7:30pm
• October 15th 7th & 8th grade 6-8:30pm
• October 23rd JV Football  5:30-7:30pm
• October 24th Varsity Football  6-8pm

CATHOLIC CHARITIES CHAMPIONS - Want to make a real impact in West Michigan?  If you’re 16 or older, consider applying to be a Catholic Charities Champion for the 2025–2026 school year! As a Champion, you’ll have the chance to serve, lead, and make a difference in the lives of others. 

• Application deadline: October 22
• Need more info? [Click here] or stop by Room 501 to chat with Mrs. Perry.
• Want help with your application? Come to the Catholic Charities Champion Focus Time today.

Don’t miss the chance to step up, lead, and inspire!

CAREER TALKS - Kelly Jandernoa, a Registered Nurse will come talk about nursing careers and other careers associated with nursing. Sign up in Focus Time

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

• Tufts University - Thursday, October 9 at 2:25p
• Nova Southeastern University - Monday, October 13 at 9:35am
• Marian University - Monday, October 13 at 10:55am
• Earlham College - Monday, October 13 at 12:15pm
• DePaul University - Monday, October 13 at 2:25pm
• Hillsdale College - Tuesday, October 14 at 8:40am
• Xavier University - Tuesday, October 14 at 9:50am
• Valparaiso University - Tuesday, October 14 at 11:00am
• Holy Cross College - Tuesday, October 14 at 1:50pm
• The College of Wooster - Wednesday, October 15 at 9:40am
• University of Detroit Mercy - Friday, October 17 at 9:50am

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

• Wednesday, October 8 - Retreat Day
• Thursday, October 9 - Chef’s Choice
• Friday, October 10 - No School

BLESSING OF THE DAY - May the God of New Fire bless you with a passion for truth and love. May this God who has come to set a fire on the earth fill your heart to overflowing with an awareness of your own goodness and an eagerness for the coming of God's Kingdom all around you. May you embrace wholeheartedly and without reserve the call to claim and proclaim God's love and compassion for all peoples of the earth. May the God of New Fire bless you. --Maxine Shonk, OP