December 2012

From the President

Dear Friends,

I love the heightened sense of joy each Christmas season that resonates in music celebrating the coming of Christ. At Wheaton last weekend we enjoyed the annual Christmas Festival provided by the choral ensembles and symphonic band.  I hope you will be singing with your church or community choirs this Christmas season, or otherwise enjoying special music.    

The Gospel of Luke tells of Christmas songs sung by two women specially touched by God—a senior citizen and a teenager.  When old, formerly barren Elizabeth, now six months pregnant, met her younger teenage relative Mary, who had only just conceived, the Gospel writer says that the sound of Mary’s greeting came to Elizabeth’s ears, and the baby in her womb leaped for joy.  When John jumped, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and exclaimed, “Why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43)

The teenager Mary also sang a song comprised of the psalms and poems of the Bible that were written on her heart.  She had been raised on the Scriptures, and when the plan of salvation intersected with her life, she was able to offer to God the right kind of praise.  Mary’s “Magnificat” is a song of Gospel joy, in which Mary looked beyond the gift of her coming son, to praise the God who gave him.  She praised a merciful God for his undeserved favor. Like Mary, we too can praise God this Christmas for the “indescribable gift” that changed the course of human history and determined our destiny. 

With warm Christmas greetings,

Philip G. Ryken
President

Holiday Airport Shuttles

The Student Activities Office provides discounted group airport shuttles to O’Hare International Airport and Midway Airport during school breaks. Christmas Break shuttle sign-ups are currently taking place in the Student Activities Office and will continue through December 14.  The one-way shuttle price to both airports is $25, or students may opt for a round-trip to and from either airport for $45. 

Visit the schedule of shuttle times on the SAO website, and if you have any questions, feel free to email the Student Activities Office at student.activities@wheaton.edu.

Residence Life: planning for the holidays

Campus housing closes for Christmas break at noon on Friday, December 21 and reopens at 1pm on Saturday, January 12. Only students with approval due to on-campus employment, athletics, international status, etc. may remain on campus between these dates. As the break approaches, students who need to stay on campus can request permission at the Residence Life website.

The Residence Life website is a helpful resource for your family as you consider housing options, storage information, policies of all kinds, meal plan information and the calendar of when housing opens and closes. Please feel free to reference it throughout the year at www.wheaton.edu/reslife and contact our office with questions at reslife@wheaton.edu or 630.752.5427.

Is your senior's photo in the Tower?

Final opportunities for senior pictures are January 22 and 23, 2013. If your student was away for the fall term, be sure they avail themselves of this last chance to be included in the yearbook.

You may also purchase a senior tribute in the yearbook! Deadline for senior tributes is February 15, 2013.  You can purchase:

• 1/4 page for $75
• 1/2 page for $125
• Full page for $300

If interested, please send 1-4 photographs and some commemorative text to:  C.P.O. W138 | 501 College Avenue | Wheaton, Illinois  60187. Or, you may also send these items via email: Tower@my.wheaton.edu

While the deadline for senior tributes is February 15, it would be much appreciated if sent in before that date.  If you have any questions, please email the yearbook at: Tower@my.wheaton.edu.

Wheaton Athletics Update

Four Wheaton fall sport programs finished their campaigns in the national rankings and two winter sports are currently nationally ranked.

The Thunder football team (8-2) tied for the CCIW Championship, earning a share of its first conference title since 2006. There were 13 Wheaton student-athletes on the 2012 All-CCIW Football Team and six players earned All-Region recognition.

The Thunder women’s soccer team (21-4-2) finished 2012 ranked third in Division III, advancing to the NCAA Division III National Semifinals. Seniors Laura Karsten and Keri Shannon each earned All-American honors and five players earned All-Region awards.

The Wheaton men’s soccer team (18-4-3) won the CCIW Championship as Coach Mike Giuliano was named the CCIW and Regional Coach of the Year. The Thunder advanced to the National Quarterfinals, finishing the fall ranked seventh in Division III. Sophomore Adam Blackman was named the CCIW Player of the Year and earned Third Team All-American recognition.

The men’s cross country team competed at the NCAA Division III National Championships in November. The team finished ninth at Nationals with juniors Jake and James Waterman earning All-American recognition.

For up-to-date news and results on Wheaton’s varsity teams, visit the Wheaton Athletics Website.  You can also follow Thunder Athletics on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for our text-message service that will send scores and results directly to your phone; fans can also sign up for our weekly athletics newsletter. Parents and fans can view and purchase photos from varsity competitions at thunderphotos.com or purchase Athletics gear at the ThunderShop.

Campus Bookstore

Encourage your student through final exam week with these pleasing pick-me-ups:

ThunderBucks PLUS.  Load some extra cash onto your student's ThunderBucks account.  These funds can be used at Sam's, The Stupe, and for purchases at the campus Convenience Store.  ThunderBucks PLUS roll over every semester, so you're student can continue to use them.

Gift Cards. Bookstore gift cards can be used for all items we carry at the Bookstore and Convenience Store. Choose the denomination you want loaded on your student's gift card and we can call them to come and pick it up.  Please note: you can continue to load $$$s on to your student's gift card throughout the year!

Also, don't forget that your student can recoup some cash at the end of the semester via Textbook BuyBack. Students can sell back their books all day, every day during Finals Week, Dec. 17-21, and earn 10% more by having the money put onto a Gift Card that can be used for spring textbook purchases.  Gift cards may be used in-store or online.

Spring textbooks are now available for purchase at wheatonbooks.com.  Ordering textbooks and classroom supplies has never been easier via EasyBooks, and many titles are available for rent.  If your student is in the market for used books, we encourage them to log on to wheatonbooks.com soon for the best selection. 

Student Health Services

Winter break hours:  SHS will be closed beginning December 21^st at 4pm and will reopen January 2^nd at 7am.

• All active students can utilize SHS regardless of what type of insurance they have.
• Three of the four physicians that work at SHS are Wheaton College alumni. They all have their own practice outside of SHS and come to campus to work with students 1-2 times a week.
• SHS carries most of the vaccinations and medications needed to travel overseas.
• SHS can provide wound care, wart treatment, women’s health check-ups, and more.
• Students can borrow crutches, wheelchairs, or heating pads for up to 2 weeks at no charge.
• The flu vaccine is only $20.00 and is available to students anytime, without appointment, during regular clinic hours.
• There is a laboratory at SHS that can complete tests like any other physician’s office or emergency room.
• There is a free medical shuttle available for students to get to doctor and physical therapist appointments off campus. Students may call the hotline to reserve their spot: 630-765-0016.
• There is a free self-help area for students to pick up free samples of Tylenol, Ibuprofen, feminine products, bandaids and more. 
• Students can make an appointment with a registered licensed dietician or  massage therapist by calling 630-752-5072.
• SHS is open Monday-Friday 7:30am-5:00pm, Saturdays 10:00am-12:00pm.  There is a nurse on call 24/7 during the academic year.  Students can reach the nurse by calling Public Safety at 5911. 
• SHS provides health preventive and promotional activities throughout the year.  Each month, in cooperation with Student 101, SHS publishes an e-magazine for students and parents.  Check out the December issue.
  
• Even more information is available on our website.

Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas! 

The Wheaton College Parent Relations staff
www.wheaton.edu/parents