We are now half way through the first quarter, and I would like to reflect back on all the hard work that the RICH in CORe Values team has put forward. First, it is always a good thing when everyone works from the same goal and awareness. I thank each parent for your commitment through the pledge to support your children as they work to be the kind respectful person that we all want them to grow into. We have been approaching things as positively as possible (Saintly Acts that have been issued are three times more prevalent than Minors), and as a staff attempting to be consistent and vigilant. The committee has worked on rewording the study habits (they will be renamed Respectful Reminders) and our Saintly Acts. Quite a number of parents have read RAISING RESPECTFUL CHILDREN IN A DISRESPECTFULWORLD, and have implemented some of the author’s strategies. So, we are moving along. The one area we want to keep working on is the discourse between the children. We are living in a society where almost anything can be said and then followed up with a “just kidding”, and this is supposed to be ok. It is ok to name call and hurt feelings with our words, and then say, “I wasn’t serious”. Together as teachers, staff, and parents, we can keep assuring our children that the language of kindness can change the world. We can make this happen! God bless you for your work on this.
Market Day, Wednesday, October 15th
Our next Market Day will be held Wednesday October 15th, with product pick-up from 2:30 - 3:30 pm in the gym (enter through Door 9). As a reminder, at least 10% of your pre-tax order will be credited to your annual Family Fundraising Commitment. Please note that Market Day and GFS purchases at local GFS stores are not a practical option for Family Fundraising purposes. You are encouraged to place your order at www.marketday.com and pay by credit card. The deadline for internet orders is Saturday, October 11th at 11:00 pm. All Saints Catholic Academy's school code is 27119. Volunteers are needed to help sort and stack the food. Please contact Tracy Coleman at tracytroy@aol.com if you are able to help.
Fall Pictures and Retake Day
Fall pictures packages were sent home last week with all students who ordered a portrait package. Picture Retake Day is scheduled for Monday, October 20. Students who wish to have their portrait retaken should bring their portrait package with them on the 20th. This package will need to be turned in to take a new picture. Students who did not purchase a package on our original picture day but wish to at this time may pick up a portrait order form in the school office or at the school website, and bring it with them to school on retake day. All students who were absent during our original picture days will also be photographed on Monday, October 20. Students should be in uniform to be photographed.
NEW SHPP section on ASCA Website
Please visit the new SHPP section on the ASCA home web page at http://www.ascacademy.org/. It contains updated information on upcoming events, contacts, committees and meeting minutes. It is one of the buttons on the left hand side of the page.
Feed My Starving Children
The ASCA Feed My Starving Children Packing Session will be on Friday, November 7th. Although this is a conference day for teachers, ASCA students and their families have an opportunity for service! No school on November 7th – come serve instead. To register your family for this 12:00–2:00 pm session, follow the instructions below: Visit http://volunteer.fmsc.org/Register/Default.aspx Select JOIN a Group. Enter Join Code 504996 and click Search. Agree to volunteer guidelines and click Confirm. Log in or Create a New Account. Once you have entered your information you can click Add Member Names to add your children.
Feed My Starving Children packaging sessions are held at 555 Exchange Court, Aurora, IL 60504. Children in grades 3 and up are welcome to participate. Space is limited so register today! Please contact Ann Zediker at jazediker@comcast.net with any questions.
October and the Most Holy Rosary
Because the month of October is dedicated to praying the rosary, below are some thoughts from Father Burke Masters, Vocations Director for the Diocese of Joliet, about the power of praying the rosary. Also, all are invited to pray the rosary in the Our Lady of Perpetual Chapel (located across from the school gym) at 7:50 am every Wednesday morning before Mass.
Why should we pray the rosary?
- It is Scriptural. In our prayer, we meditate on the mysteries of Jesus, based in the Gospels, from the Annunciation through the resurrection. The Our Father is the prayer that Jesus taught us. The Hail Mary is based on words from the angel Gabriel and Elizabeth in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke (1:28, 1:42).
- It leads us into the mysteries of faith. While we pray the rosary, we are to meditate on the mysteries of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, which are also scriptural. It is not meant to be just a repetition of words, but an opportunity to enter into the deep, inexhaustible mysteries of Jesus Christ. Take time to place yourself in the scenes of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Imagine being with Mary when she encounters Gabriel, Elizabeth, the three kings, Simeon, and so many others. Stand with Mary during the passion and death of her only Son.
- Mary told us to pray the rosary. Mary appeared to St. Dominic (1170-1221 AD) and asked him to spread the news to pray the rosary. When she appeared to the three young people in Fatima, Portugal, she identified herself as “Our Lady of the Rosary”. Read about these apparitions. Mary never asks for attention. She always points us to her Son and asks for repentance and conversion of hearts. She continues the mission of her Son.
- The rosary moves hearts to Jesus. Our world needs peace and conversion of hearts to Jesus. People that I know that pray the rosary daily are generally very close to the heart of Jesus.
Pray the rosary as a family in your homes. Teach your children how to pray the rosary and to learn about the life of Jesus. Consider lifting up a different person or family on each bead of the rosary. This is another way to make the rosary relational. Lift up the people in your life to Jesus through Mary, who sits at the right hand of her Son and intercedes for us, her beloved children.
Fall Book Fair
The Book Fair is coming to ASCA next week - Tuesday, October 14 - Friday, October 17. Scholastic book fair packets have been sent home with all oldest and only students. Family nights will be Wednesday, October 15 and Thursday, October 16 from 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm. The fair will also be open right after mass on Wednesday morning at 9:15 am, so please stop by. New this year to the book fair will be the ability to purchase gift cards for your child's teacher that they can use to add to their classroom's library, as well as teacher book recommendations. If you are interested in helping out please check out our website at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a45afa722a1ff2-allsaints to signup. If you have any questions, please contact Darlene Newman at newmdar@gmail.com or Lisa Hajek at lisa.hayek@gmail.com.
ASCA Book Drive for October
Did you know the most successful way to improve the reading achievement of low income children is to increase their access to print? ASCA will be hosting a book drive to benefit Catholic Charities’ Foster Grandparent Program through Friday, October 31st. This program allows seniors to volunteer in the Head Start Preschool and Kindergarten classrooms and read to children from very low income families. There is a desperate need for new or gently used picture books, early readers, books in Spanish and other age appropriate books. The greatest demand is for Spanish books. There are over 800 kids in the program and it would be awesome if ASCA could provide each of these children with a book for Christmas as we did last year! We can also accept adult paperback books which will be given to the low income senior volunteers. Please bring in any donations to the ASCA office. If you have a large donation, or any questions, please contact Erika Baka at jnebaka@gmail.com.
Box Tops for Education Program
The Box Tops for Education Program is great way to earn cash for All Saints Academy!
Our goal is for the 2014-15 school year is $2,000 or 20,000 Box Tops.
Please send in Box Tops with your student – collection boxes are in the classrooms.
Also, you could win 2,500 box tops for ASCA. Enter the sweepstakes http://www.boxtops4education.com/bonus-box-tops. We are looking for volunteers to clip and count Box Tops. This a great job to do at home. Please email Barbara Garitty at bmgaritty@aol.com if you are interested. (You will also be clipping Campbell Soup UPC codes.) Thanks for choosing to make a difference for our school with Box Tops!
Campbell's Labels for Education Program
Did you know that ASCA collects Campbell Soup Labels (UPC’s)? It is a great way for ASCA to earn various items for the school. Please clip the UPC code, the front of the label is no longer accepted. Send in to the classroom with your student. For V8 products, send in the bottle caps (washed). The students will put them into the Box Tops Collection Boxes (keep sending in the Box Tops too!). For a complete list of products and point values, please visit http://www.labelsforeducation.com/. We need volunteers to clip and count Campbell’s UPC codes. This a great job to do at home, please email Barbara Garitty at bmgaritty@aol.com if you are interested. (You will also be clipping/counting Box Tops.)
News from All Saints Athletic Association
ASAA Trivia Night is ALMOST HERE - Saturday, October 18
Please return your Trivia Night ticket order form, which can be found at the school website and also going home with oldest and only students today, to be sure that you do not miss this fun evening of game playing and school community.
- Doors open at 6 pm to decorate your table
- Trivia starts at 7 pm
- Music from 9 to 11 pm
- Prizes awarded for best table decorations and highest trivia score
- Food will be provided, and BYOB
- Cost is $40 per person or $350 for table of 10
- To check out pictures from last year, go to http://ascasports.org/boosters
- To order tickets, please contact
Basketball Tryouts Continue
Please see the remaining basketball tryout schedule below:
Saturday, October 18
8 - 9:30AM 8th grade girls
1 - 2:30PM 7th grade girls
Sunday, October 19
5 - 6:30PM 5th grade girls
6:30 - 8PM 6th grade girls
All Saints Football
This past weekend, our teams played Infant Jesus of Prague. The JV team won their game 32-12; and the Varsity team was also victorious, winning their game 24-14. The Varsity Gold team lost to the Redhawks, 19-0.
This coming weekend, the JV and Varsity Blue teams will be playing St. Raphael at Benet Academy on Sunday, October 12. The JV game will begin at 1 pm; with the Varsity team playing at 2:45 pm.
GO SAINTS!!