Patty Bajek / Friday, September 8, 2023

Saints Speak from Mrs. Marshall - 9/7/2023 - The Grace of God's Forgiveness

Today’s Saints Speak includes information on several opportunities to volunteer at upcoming school events. Please consider volunteering an hour or two of your time to support one of these great events that are fun for our kids and keep our school running smoothly!

Take a few minutes to reflect on today’s message from Pope Francis:

“God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.”

What a powerful message! As I think of God’s endless love and mercy for us, I’m reminded that we are His children. As parents, it’s a little easier to understand this endless love as we think about our relationships with our own children. It’s impossible to stay upset or angry with your children; we always see the good in them and find a way to move past hurts or wrongs. It is the same with God our Father; He loves us unconditionally and is always willing to forgive our wrongs, as long as we are willing to ask for His forgiveness.

CogAT and IOWA Testing

Next week, our 2^nd-8^th grade students will take the CogAT and IOWA assessments. These are norm-referenced achievement tests taken by all students in the Diocese of Joliet. The test is taken once per year and allows us to measure student achievement and growth from year to year. Testing will take place daily, first thing in the morning, and regular classes will resume following testing. You can expect a lighter homework load and no other tests during these assessments, so students do not become overwhelmed.

There is nothing your child can do to study for these tests. However, there are a few things you can do at home to help ensure your children do their best:

Make sure your child gets a good night's sleep

Make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast each morning

Make sure your child is on time for school each day next week

Encourage your child to do his/her best each day and take his/her time on the tests

Remind your 5th-8th grade student to bring his/her Chromebook to school, FULLY CHARGED, each day.

Students will take the NWEA MAP assessments (K-8) the week of September 18th; I will share more information about what to expect for those tests in next week's Saints Speak.

Picture Day

This Wednesday, September 13^th, is Picture Day! Elan Photography will be here to take pictures of all our students. If your preschool child only attends Tuesday/Thursday, you are welcome to bring him/her for pictures at 8:15am. Please park and enter at Door 1 with your child.

Even though it’s a Wednesday, all students should be in their REGULAR uniform shirts for Picture Day. Students may wear spirit wear shirts on Thursday of next week instead.

Arrival and Dismissal

Thank you for your patience these last few weeks as we have adjusted arrival and dismissal procedures. I know the delay to exit campus has been frustrating and time-consuming, especially in the morning. We also recognize that traffic is backing up on Aurora waiting to turn left into the ASCA lot in the morning. We are in communication with the Naperville Police Department and finalizing plans for a new morning arrival pattern that will start Monday, 9/18. I will share the new plan in next week’s Saints Speak to avoid any confusion now, and we will have Naperville PD presence on the 18^th to help everyone navigate the new procedure. Thank you for your continued understanding as we work to ensure a safe and efficient arrival and dismissal from school each day!

ASCA Fun Run

We will kick off our Fun Run preparation next Wednesday, and then all students will participate in the run on Friday, September 22^nd! The Fun Run is an annual ASCA tradition, a favorite of the students, and an important fundraiser for the school. Proceeds from this year’s event will go toward continued playground and recess pad improvements. Plan to join us on the 22^nd to cheer on your students. Volunteers are also needed daily to process and distribute prizes as well as mark laps on the day of the run. Click here to sign up! You can also click here for a preview of the many great prizes available for this year’s Fun Run!

Book Fair

Scholastic Book Fair will be coming to All Saints September 26-29! This is a great chance to get some new books for the new school year. The success of this event depends on the help of our great parent volunteers. Consider signing up here to help for a slot or two. It’s a fun way to see your child during the day, meet other parents, and support the school!

Saintly Ballers 3v3 Basketball Tournament

We are looking for volunteers and donations for the Saintly Ballers 3v3 basketball tournament on Sunday, 9/24. Click here to sign up!

Charleston Wrap Sale

We have 33 families that have registered for the Charleston Wrap sale so far! They have sold $4,100 in product and earned over $1,550 toward their FFO. There are still 3 weeks left, so go online, register, share with friends and family and meet your Family Fundraising Obligation while getting grade gifts!

Saintly Acts

Congratulations to these students who have earned Saintly Acts this week: Max M. (4^th grade), Matthew B. (6^th grade), Quinton G. (5^th grade), RJ S. (6^th grade), Charlotte H. (2^nd grade), and Julio M. (2^nd grade). Keep being Saintly!

Warm regards,

Margie Marshall