Saints Speak – 1/9/2020 – The Best Version of Ourselves

Happy New Year!  I hope that all of you enjoyed the break, with time for fun activities, being with family and friends, and rest and recuperation.  A new year brings so much hope for positive changes in our lives

Earlier this week, I attended the funeral of one of my colleagues, the principal of St. Joan of Arc in Lisle, who passed away unexpectedly over the Christmas break.  When I heard the news, I simply could not believe it.  I recalled the last time that we spoke with each other, just before the start of the break.  This loss brings us deep sadness - for his family, and for the St. Joan of Arc school community.   The suddenness and shock of his death heightens the emotions that surround it.  It is never easy to say goodbye.

Time is one of those things that we never have enough of, and we don’t know how much of it we really have.  It is one of our most valuable assets; however, it is also one that we are most wasteful of.  As I reflect on what is truly important to me, it is the relationships that I hold dear – my husband and children, my family, my friends. 

To honor that, I will, and suggest that one of us, make a priority of being and becoming the very best version of ourselves, each and every day, whatever that entails.  Let us actively and with purpose - choose joy, practice gratitude, show kindness to all, and be truly present to everyone that we encounter.   Let us be good stewards of our time.  

Whatever your goals and aspirations for 2020, I wish you much happiness, good health and prosperity, an abundance of joy, and peace this year.  

ASCA NOW News

Please click here for the first ASCA NOW News of this new decade – the January 8, 2020 edition, produced in house by our very own Junior High Academy students.    Speaking of resolutions, in this week's news, reporter Rachel Boytim will be finding out the answer to this week’s ASCA Question – What is your new years’ resolution? - from our students.    I would like to recognize Megan Barnhart, our Technology Integration Specialist, who works with our junior high students on each week’s ASCA NOW News.  She, and the students, do a wonderfully entertaining job on this news program, having fun and learning new skills in the process.

Things to Do and Upcoming Events

Principal Search Community Survey

Thank you to the almost 200 respondents who have taken the electronic Principal Search Community Survey.  The survey will remain open until midnight on Friday, January 17.     Click here to access the survey.      

February 2020 Hot Lunch Orders

The February hot lunch order deadline is this coming Wednesday, January 15.  

• Click here for the preschool only menu
• Click here for the K – 8 menu

 Please remember to make a copy of your order form (photo on your phone works great); AND include your payment (checks should be made out to ASCA).  Questions?  Contact Cristine Shaw at cshaw@ascacademy.org.

2020 DDA – our 15 annual Dinner Dance Auction – The Crystal Gala – Friday, March 6, 2020

#1:  You have saved the date, cleared your calendar, and are planning on attending the biggest, most fun evening celebrating All Saints Catholic Academy!

Time is running out!  

• 15 days left to get your auction donations turned in! (Earn up to $500 on your FFO).  
• 46 days left to get your tuition credit raffle tickets!   
• 57 days until the 15th annual dinner dance auction, The Crystal Gala!

For the next 3 weeks, DDA committee members will be stationed near the welcome desk selling tuition credit raffle tickets and accepting your auction donations. Visit us on Wednesday mornings before or after mass and on Friday afternoons, from 2-4 pm.

Go to www.ascadda.org to access forms and purchase tuition credit raffle tickets online with a credit card.  Email your questions to dda@ascacademy.org or visit us in person on Wednesdays and Fridays.  Please note that invitations to The Crystal Gala will be coming home soon!  Stay tuned.

Martin Luther King Day of Service – Monday, January 20, 2020

Thanks to everyone who has signed up for all of the available service opportunities to date. 

IMPORTANT UPDATE:  We now have a sign up for the West Suburban Community Pantry

Here are the details:

• Location: 6809 Hobson Valley Drive Woodridge, IL 60517
• Session: Monday, January 20, 2020. 
• Click here to sign up. 

Description: The West Suburban Community Pantry offers food for the hungry and resources to empower persons to improve the quality of life. Our vision is a community without hunger. Volunteers will organize and pack meals for families while learning about the vital importance of access to balanced meals and healthy food.  This wonderful organization will inspire you.  Come and learn more about helping others in our community!

For more information about our MLK Day of Service AND to sign up for service opportunities, please click here.   SHPP’s Community Outreach Committee has scheduled multiple service activities for your convenience.    Have fun, help others and get to know members of our ASCA family!

The ASCA Day of Service is about giving of yourself for the benefit of others. It is incredibly important to reflect on how the activity impacts you; therefore, each student is asked to fill out a reflection form on the service they completed.   Each student must complete and submit this form to their classroom teacher by Friday, February 7, 2020 to receive attendance credit for the day.   

For the MLK Day Reflection Form, please click here.   

Fun Fair 2020 – Winter Wonderland – Friday, January 31, 2020

The place to be on Friday, January 31 is at ASCA for our 11^th annual 2020 Fun Fair – Winter Wonderland.   Contact all of your friends, and make a date to come to this year's ASCA Fun Fair.

To find out more about the fun fair, click here. 

Have you ordered your hat and t-shirt yet?  There are samples of the hats at the Welcome Desk at Door 1.  They are very cool, and you and your child will want one!   Please stop by to take a look, and try one on for size!!!!!

IMPORTANT:  There is a hard deadline of THIS COMING Monday, January 13 at 4 PM for you to place your hat and t-shirt order. 

• Click here for the Fun Fair Parent Letter
• Click here for the Fun Fair Items Available Info
• Click here for the Fun Fair Order Form
• Click here to place your 2020 Fun Fair order online.

New at the Fun Fair this year: 

• Limited Edition ASCA Hats – 3 styles to choose from and they can be worn to school on Friday, January 31^st during Catholic School Week!  There is a hard deadline of Monday, January 13^th at 4 pm to order hats.

• Basket of Privileges Raffle – Click here for the Fun Fair Raffle Ticket Order Form.

There are TWO really AWESOME Baskets of Privileges available in this raffle (see below):

YES!!!!!!!  You know that your student wants to win a raffle basket!  Take a chance (or a few!!!!!)

• Giant Operation Game!

Save the Date:  No Cookin’ in the Kitchen at Raising Cane’s – Wednesday, January 22, 2020 from 4 – 8 pm

Click here for more information.   As always, students who attend this event are eligible to receive and out of uniform pass.   We hope to see you at Raising Cane’s on January 22.

2020 ASCA Spring Musical – Freaky Friday – The Musical

There will be a workshop after school on Monday, January 13th from 3:30-5:00 pm in McSherry Hall for all 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th graders interested in learning more about Freaky Friday the musical.

Auditions will be held Wednesday, January 15th from 3:30 -5:30 pm for all 5th-8th graders interested in trying out.  

For more information, please click here.  

2020-2021 Financial Aid Applications  

To begin your Financial Aid application for the 2020-2021 school year, please click here.  All applications and supporting information must be completed by Monday, March 2, 2020 for consideration.  

Illinois Tax Credit Reservation Night for Empower Illinois takes place THIS COMING Wednesday, January 15, 2020 beginning at 6:30 pm, with reservation submission at 7 pm. 

Click here for more information.   Please adhere to the Empower Illinois timelines for your best chance at potentially receiving an award.  Please note that all families who receive any type of financial assistance at All Saints must reapply every year.    Questions?  Please contact Patty Bajek at pbajek@ascacademy.org. 

Tuition and Fees paid in Calendar Year 2019

To access and print out this information that you may need for tax purposes, please see the following instructions (please note that the school will not be sending these documents home in hard copy.  Parents are responsible for printing out their own copy):

1. Log into your FACTS account.
2. Click on View Details in the Payment Plan and Billing box.
3. Next - click on the View Payment Summary Box.
4. Next - Select the year 2019 from the pull down menu.  This will give you all of your payments via FACTS for calendar year 2019.
5. Print document.

Questions?  Please contact Maryanne Higdon at mhigdon@ascacademy.org.

2020 Open House – Sunday, January 26, 2020 from 1 – 3 pm

Do you have a friend who may be interested in coming to All Saints next year?  Please invite them to our upcoming open house, and consider coming to give them a personal tour.   Referral credits are available for current families who bring new families to All Saints.

All are Welcome!  Fun events are planned for both potential new families, as well as existing current families at the Open House.  Say hello to your current teacher(s).  Meet the teachers and check out the classroom(s) of the grade you will be in next year.    

So, save the date for the ASCA Open House on Sunday, January 26, 2020 from 1-3 pm.  

All Saints Parents Association (ASPA)

The next ASPA (All Saints Parents Association) meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 21 at 7 pm in Cafe 1.  Please plan to join us and catch up on all of the upcoming activities.  Enter through Door 7.

Fundraising Corner

Scrip (counts toward FFO)

Happy 2020.  Every week Scrip offers bonus discounts.  From January 11 to 17, 2020,  enjoy a 5% bonus at Best Buy (normally 4%) and Red Robin at 11% plus others.    Make your New Years’ resolution to reach your Family goal with Scrip. You have until the end of February to reach this school year’s FFO.  Please note that All Scrip purchases after February 29, 2020 will count towards the next school year’s 2020-2021 FFO. 

Simply click here to enroll.  Please contact the Scrip coordinators for the school’s enrollment code. Need more information? Contact scrip@ascacademy.org.

All Saints Athletic Association

From the Saints Sidelines . . . Our Saints were on break from the classroom, but our teams didn’t break from dominating the hoops!  Congrats to the following teams who brought home their first win of the new year…. Girls 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B; Boys 7A, 7B2, 8B1 and 8B2.  What a way to start off the new year!

Be sure to check the league website at http://www.dplbba.org for league standings and schedules.

***Parents, be sure to check the concessions/admissions sign-ups at Basketball Concession/Admissions Sign Ups   Parents not previously signed up for a volunteer assignment have been randomly assigned.

Looking for a way for your athlete to stay active this spring?  Students in grades 5-8 are welcome to join Track & Field!  The 2020 T&F season will be underway soon with practices starting late March.  Register your athlete now at Track & Field Registration.

Remember to pick up a new ASCA sports car decal and show your team spirit!

Celebrate your athlete’s birthday, recognize your son/daughter’s team or your son/daughter for their academic/athletic performance?  SHOUT-OUTS are available for $25 through the Athletic Association.  Shout-outs will be placed on the digital scorekeeper’s table at all HOME games for one weekend.  Be sure to purchase a shout-out to recognize your child’s special moment!  Contact Keith Glab at kglab@ascacademy.org.

There is still time to show your team pride by placing a SAINTLY SPOT in the DDA booklet.  Submission deadlines are due by January 24th. For further information, contact DDA Chair, Dino Abbott (dino.abbott@westrock.com)

GO SAINTS!!

Did YOU know that All Saints is on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  Check Us Out on Social Media - We welcome all of our new followers!!!  Click on the icons below to take a look.

A Tremendous Thank You to the Cornerstone Sponsors of 

Coming Home, ASCA Dinner Dance Auction 2019 

For more information, please click on the Cornerstone Sponsor logos above. 

We encourage you to patronize these generous sponsors. 

Please share with them that you are an ASCA family, and thank them for their support of All Saints Catholic Academy.