Patty Bajek / Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Saints Speak – 3/19/2020 – Our ‘New’ Normal

From Mrs. Santos

What a difference one week can make. A little over a week ago, our All Saints school community was able to come together to celebrate our 15^th Annual Dinner Dance Auction – The Crystal Gala. Sadly, this past weekend, our sister school, Ss Peter and Paul, had to hold their annual celebration online. Most of us have experienced the grocery store crowds, lines, and empty shelves at Meijer, Target, Walmart, or Costco. We can no longer go out to dinner with family, unless we are driving through. We have not been able to attend Sunday Mass. Our world and our connections to each other have become a lot smaller. Our children are e-learning rather than being at school with their teachers and friends. We are being told that 'social distancing' is necessary. It is a time to truly trust in God.

Image result for our new normal It is what we do during these challenging times that will define us. When I met with our faculty and administrative staff on Monday morning, we began this new journey in prayer with Mass. In Father Mark’s homily, our hearts were convicted that we do not know all of the answers; we are not in control. You cannot imagine what it is like for our staff, and teachers everywhere, to now have to rethink how to practice the vocation that they love – the teaching our children. After Mass, as we started to discuss our ‘new’ normal, the uncertainty and fear seemed to melt away. The creativity and collegial sharing of ideas for e-learning began to flow; no, overflow, like a tsumani.

As a result, our All Saints faculty has crafted truly creative and content filled e-learning plans for their students. These plans continue to evolve each day. Teachers are excited and energized to engage their students in a new way of learning; and to keep students progressing and moving forward. When we say that We Teach More, it could not be more evident than right now. Please encourage your children to continue to work hard on their assignments, to take time to read for fun, and, maybe, 'check their phones in' each day, like they would do if they were physically here at school.

As we move forward from this day, I do not want to let go of our communication and connection with each other. Beginning this Monday, March 23, I will be sending a daily video with our Virtue Lesson of the Week and our morning prayer (more information to come). I will be sending out my weekly Saints Speak from Mrs. Santos message every Thursday, just like today. As new news becomes available, either myself or Mrs. Bajek will communicate that information to all school families.

Social media is another way in which we can stay connected to each other. I would like to continue to celebrate Spirit Wear Friday each week. Send a pic of you (and the whole family) in your spirit wear to socialmedia@ascacademy.org. It can be ASCA or ASAA (athletics) attire. Fun Fair or school musical t-shirts. Even our school colors. Show your school pride!

Image result for pajama day Additionally, let’s have some fun every Wednesday until we return to school. This coming Wednesday, March 25 is Pajama Day! Just because we are working and learning from home doesn’t mean that we can’t have a comfy day in our jammies? Send a pic to socialmedia@ascacademy.org of you in your favorite onesie or cozy pj’s.

Because we are not at school, and unable to hold events or meetings, we will be postponing our upcoming Lenten Market to a later date TBA. Additionally, we have moved our school musical, Freaky Friday, to May 16-17. As other events are cancelled or postponed, we will keep you informed.

During this time of school closure, please do not call the school to leave a voice mail message. Our primary means of communication will be via email. Please do not hesitate to contact myself, or other staff members with your questions. Click here for our staff list and email addresses. Until we are physically together again, let’s virtually embrace each other as we navigate this ‘new’ normal. May God bless us all, and keep us safe.

I would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to Dr. Rajka Milanovic Galbraith for her informative webinar on COVID-19 that she presented to our ASCA school community and others last evening. We are grateful for the sharing of your knowledge and experience, as well as your care and concern for our All Saints family and others. I know that I and others have been informed and blessed by your presentation.

Feast of St Joseph (Today, Thursday, March 19) and Pope Francis' call for Rosary Prayer

On this occassion of the Feast of St. Joseph, husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus, Pope Francis is joining together with the faithful throughout the world to pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary at 9 pm Italian time (3 pm CST) for the protection of our families, and in particular the sick and those who care for them: doctors, nurses, and volunteers, who risk their lives in this service. Your family may wish to join in the prayer this afternoon at 3 pm.

March and April 2020 Lunch Orders

March Lunch Orders

Families will receive a credit for any remaining lunches that were ordered for March, from March 16 forward. These credits can be applied to your April or May lunch orders.

When using the credits, please note the following on your lunch form:

the credit amount, and "school closed" next to it

April Lunch Orders

April Lunch forms and payment should be mailed to the school.

Please send as follows:

All Saints Catholic Academy

April Lunch Order

1155 Aurora Avenue

Naperville, IL 60540

Orders will be accepted through Friday, March 27. If the school closure is extended past April 6 when we are scheduled to return from Spring Break, any April lunches ordered through the school closure will be credited as well.

Click here for the April 2020 Preschool Only Menu
Click here for the April 2020 K – 8 menu

Don't forget to:

Make a copy of your order form (photo on your phone works great)
Include your payment (checks should be made out to ASCA)

If you have any questions, please contact Cristine Shaw at cshaw@ascacademy.org.

ASCA NOW News

The news never stops!!! Click here for this week’s 3/18/2020 edition of the ASCA NOW News.

To keep our ASCA NOW News going, we need your help! To find out more, view this week's edition of the ASCA NOW News. Here is YOUR CHANCE to be in the news. Please send your short, upbeat, and creative ASCA NOW News clips to ascanews@ascacademy.org by Sunday Night, and YOU may be in the news..

It’s Tax Time - Tuition and Fees Paid in Calendar Year 2019

For those of you who are preparing your taxes: 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):

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

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

Spirit Wear Order Update from Jemhedz

We have requested that Jemhedz hold on to these orders in the short term until students return to school.

Things to Do and Upcoming Events

Plunge into Fitness – Just a Few Weeks to Go

It is not too late to earn a free or discounted admission to Raging Waves Waterpark in June. Once you have completed the 25 hours of exercise, all you have to do is either send your completed log via mail to ASCA; or scan your log and email to Kathy Kokkinos at kkokkinos@ascacademy.org no later than the Monday, April 6, 2020 deadline. Click here for the information and the fitness log.

New Spirit Wear Store

All Saints is now pleased to be partnering with Deb's Embroidery to be able to offer spirit wear year round!

All of the great brands that you know and love are represented: Under Armour, Champion, Holloway , and Gilden. You will find hoodies, t-shirts, pants, jackets, and headbands. Show your All Saints school and athletics spirit. Orders will be delivered to school once we are able to return.

Click here to order your All Saints Spirit Wear
Click here to order your All Saints Athletics Spirit Wear

Please note that the Access Code is: saints

Fundraising Corner

Scrip (counts toward FFO)

With the school closed, we will not be processing any physical Scrip Gift Card orders. Please note that Ecards and Reloads are still available.

Interested in getting started earning toward your 2020-2021 FFO with Scrip? Sign up now, and you will have until the end of February 2021 to earn toward next school year’s FFO (AND potentially earn some tuition credit). Now is the time to enroll!!!!

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

Next No Cookin’ in the Kitchen – Portillo’s - Wednesday, April 22

Save the date for our next No Cookin’ night at Portillos! More information to come.

News from All Saints Athletic Association

The Winter Sports Banquet has been postponed, and will be held in conjunction with the Spring Sports Banquet.

The Spring Track and Field season is still on. At this time, only the first two meets have been cancelled. It is not to late to join Track & Field! Registration is still open at

https://allsaintsathletics.sportngin.com/register/form/480300249 Be sure to tell all your friends who might be interested!

ASAA Looking for Secretary/Communications Coordinator…Interested in getting involved in the Athletic Association? We are currently looking for a parent to join us on the Board. The primary responsibility of the secretary is to manage annual sports registrations and rosters and keep/publish meeting minutes. The secretary will also be responsible for communicating concession schedules, creating/updating the Athletic calendar, coordinating athletic team photo sessions and creating the weekly sports report for inclusion in the weekly school newsletter. Additionally, this position is responsible for communications via the sports website.

The person chosen for this position will shadow the current Secretary/Communications Coordinator for the next several months to learn the role before taking over. Individuals interested should contact Erika Baka (jnebaka@gmail.com) or Keith Glab (kglab@ascacademy.org)

Be on the watch . . . Registration will open soon for our Fall Sports for the 2020 season.