r3 104928_MCHS Fall06 Nlr - Marian Catholic High School

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ENGLISH TEACHER MARTIN AUTHORS SECOND HISTORICAL NOVELJames Conroyd MartinThe prestigious St. Martin’s Press has recently published Against aCrimson Sky, the second novel by long-time English teacher JamesMartin. The first, Push Not the River was based on the writings ofCountess Anna Maria Berezowska who started her diary in 1791 atthe age of seventeen when both her personal life and the politicalsituation in Poland began to unravel. Martin began work with thediary in 1976, balancing and integrating Anna’s very personal odysseywith the rise and fall of the ill-fated Third of May Constitution.Critics have cited Martin’s novel as having the sweep of stories likeGone with the Wind and Doctor Zhivago. “But Anna’s story is true,”Martin is quick to point out. “It’s about a woman’s incredible odysseyand survival.”The highly acclaimed follow-up to the story, Against a Crimson Sky,“is a sequel,” Martin says, “but one that can stand alone.” Thefollow-up takes the characters twenty years into the fascinatingNapoleonic era, culminating in French and Polish forces marchinginto and retreating from Moscow. Publishers Weekly called it an“entertaining sequel,” saying that readers “will find much to enjoy inthis sprawling epic.”The author’s long struggle to bring the novel to the public involvednumerous agents, editors, and publishers who found value in the work,but who thought the potential audience too small. Martin persistedand self-published Push Not the River in 2001 to glowing reviews andenthusiastic word of mouth. Sister Mary Paul was the first to read thenovel, devouring it in a day and a half and later suggesting that Martinhave his classes read it.The novel was well received. “And I went to my core audience, too,”Martin explains. “The Polish community welcomed both me and thebook with open arms. I’ve had people come up and thank me forinforming them, in a fascinating way, of the Constitution and thestruggle for democratic reform. But it seems that Push Not the Riverwas most successful in getting across the Polish spirit, one thattriumphs despite setbacks, invasions, and the many attempts by othernations to wipe it from the map.”Martin was most touched when a young Polish couple fromMadison, Wisconsin profusely thanked him for writing the book,telling him that they loved the story so much that they named theirfirst son after Jan Micha, the baby born in Push Not the River.Martin is of Irish and Norwegian descent, but his interest in Polishhistory began in 1976 when his good friend John Stelnicki asked himto look at the diary of his ancestor. It was a life-altering occasion forMartin. Just recently, Martin has been designated a Gold Medalrecipient by The American Institute of Polish Culture. The event willtake place in Miami on January 27th. Previous recipients include LechWalesa, James Michener, and Senator Barbara Mikulski.The success of the self-published edition awakened St. Martin’s Pressto the wide appeal of Anna Maria’s compelling story with its themes oflove and revenge, patriotism and treason, strength and survival,prompting them to put out their own edition and ask for a sequel.In October of 2004 the St. Martin’s edition won the prestigiousrecommendation of BOOKSENSE, a consortium of 1200independent booksellers. Additionally, in 2005 BOOKSENSE placedPush Not the River on their annual list of most recommended booksfor book clubs. And in August of 2006, Against a Crimson Sky alsowon the coveted BOOKSENSE recommendation.Marian Catholic hosted a booksigning for Jim in 2001 and one forhis more recent book on Tuesday, November 7th. He expressed hissincere gratitude to the school community, the Faculty Council andthe Mothers Club.For more information, visit James Conroyd Martin’s website atwww.JamesCMartin.com. Both books are available on-line and at allfine booksellers. Contact Mr. Martin at jmartin@marianchs.com.The Annual Fund (of whichPhonathon is a major part)supports day-to-day activities of theschool. All monies address humanconcerns, whether it be forstudents, parents or staff. In almostfifty years of “Teaching Scholarswith a Soul,” no student has paidthe full cost of a Marian Catholiceducation. Tuition has always beenless than the actual per pupil cost.A N N UA L F U N D / P H O N AT H O NThis “gap” between actual cost andtuition paid has been met throughthe Annual Fund appeal. This yearis no different and your support isagain needed.The Parent Phonathon (parentvolunteers calling current andalumni parents) will be held January28-30. The Student Phonathon(students calling alumni) will beheld February 11-12.USB flash drives for sale!Mr. Scanlon's Business Economics class isselling custom USB flash drives for only $18.The drives are 128 MB (approximately equalto 90 floppy disks), and they are compatablewith all computers. The Spartan logo andMarian Catholic are imprinted on one side.These drives enable students to movedocuments, worksheets and presentationsbetween home and school and are large enough toback up their entire network folder from Marian.Please contact Mr. Scanlon at sscanlon@marianchs.com if you areinterested in purchasing a flash drive for yourself or your student.4
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass Ensemble and Marian BandStudents Corinne Jones, Erica Collins, Ariana Dymerski, RyanJones and Tracy Johnson bring beautiful notes at the home ofMelissa and Jamey Fadim in Flossmoor.Sharon Kiehl, Melissa Sage Fadim, and Bill Kiehl chat at thecollaboration of the Marian Band and Chicago SymphonyOrchestra at Fadim’s home in Flossmoor.Bobby Lambert and Pat Dolan ’72 discuss Marian’s copyrightedLeadership Program, which will have a new home inThe Courage to Lead Leadership Center.Barb and Charlie ’77 Gallagher, Kathleen Jones andCathy (Cook) Badewsz ’79 watch Marian unveilThe Courage to Lead plans at the Raise the Roof eventduring Homecoming weekend.Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Marian Band combine musical notes in FlossmoorTwo of the finest in the Fine Artscombined their notes in performance onWednesday, October 25th in Flossmoor.The home of Melissa (Sage) and JameyFadim in Flossmoor hosted a musicalreception to announce the collaboration ofThe Marian Catholic Symphonic Band andChicago Symphony Orchestra. CSO BrassEnsemble was featured, while Marian alumand soloist Mario Carlasare ’00 was joinedby Marian Catholic’s Woodwind Ensemble.“We are so happy to have thisopportunity to have this association withmembers of one of the world’s greatestsymphonies,” said Greg Bimm, who hasdirected Marian’s Band to a record sevenBands of America Grand NationalsChampionships. “Our students will beprofoundly impacted by meeting andworking with members of the Symphony.”Marian is currently making plans to hostrepresentatives from Chicago SymphonyOrchestra for student workshops early in2007. CSO collaboration is a part ofMarian Catholic's new initiative,The Courage To Lead, which opensformal leadership training to all students."To have our young artists work withChicago Symphony Orchestra is aprivilege," noted Sr. M. Paul McCaughey,Marian Catholic High School President."We are delighted to have an evening ofmusic to showcase this aspect of theLeadership Program."Chicago Symphony Orchestra, worldclassmusicians of amazing depth, rangeand richness, also know how to have fun.The Brass Ensemble joined the gathering infeatured performance.The Marian Catholic Symphonic Band,the most awarded high school band in thenation, has both a marching and symphonicseason. A Marian Catholic High SchoolWoodwind Ensemble and graduate soloistadded their “notes.”The Courage to Lead, is a compellingprogram for ethical leadership indevelopment for all Marian Catholicstudents. It celebrates the training ofstudents in service to the world, backed byresearch that shows participation in TheArts, strengthening both academicperformance and social awareness. Studentslearn to lead by leading.Sage Foundation, long a benefactor ofThe Arts education, is announcing itssupport for a unique and powerfulcollaboration between the professionals ofChicago Symphony Orchestra and youngmen and women of promise at MarianCatholic High School to provide new toolsfor sustainable leadership.5
Page 1 and 2: MA RIA NMattersA NEWSLETTER FOR MAR
Page 3: From the Alumni Relations Coordinat
Page 7 and 8: MARIAN TEAMS EXCEL ON GOLF COURSE,
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Page 12 and 13: ALUMNI NOTESAustin James Greer, son
Page 14 and 15: ALUMNI NOTESSusan (Lewandowski) Cor
Page 16 and 17: ALUMNI NOTESKevin Dolan ’00 with
Page 18 and 19: 6/06/06 through 10/31/06GIFTS IN ME
Page 20: MARIAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLADMINIST

r3 104928_MCHS Fall06 Nlr - Marian Catholic High School

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