Saints Speak - 4/27/2018 - ASCA Strong

This past week, I have been connected to the history of our school in a way that I never could have imagined.  While the roots that I have planted at All Saints as your principal are firmly anchored in fertile ground, I never truly recognized the composition and richness of the soil, the soaring canopy of the trees, and the strength of the many branches that have grown through the years, until now. 

We often use the word ‘family’ when talking about our All Saints Catholic Academy school community.  Using the expression of ‘family’ can be overused; and it should never be taken for granted.  Family is important. It is a title given to those we hold dear to our hearts.  As we move through life, we discover that family is more than just "parents and children," more than "common ancestors."  You can have several families in your lifetime, even several families at once if you choose.

On Wednesday morning, I saw our ASCA family come together in a beautiful, very emotional, and not soon to be forgotten way in our weekly mass celebration.  We welcomed back one of our own, Javier Tecuatl, an All Saints graduate of the Class of 2015, his mother, father and sister Ashlee who is in the 6^th grade here at All Saints.

Javier has leukemia.  As Father Mark pointed out, it is cancer, a bad cancer. It is a terrible cross for anyone to bear.  As faith filled Catholic Christians, we know that wherever two or more are gathered in His name, that Jesus will be with us.  On this day, we all truly felt the presence of our loving and gracious God in the ASCA gym, our holy ground.  We witnessed the love and support of the family we call ASCA as 36 of Javier’s classmates from the Class of 2015 attended this celebration in love and support of Javier, their brother in Christ.  We felt the power of the healing sacrament as Father Mark anointed Javier in the presence of his friends and our school community, our school family. 

Father Mark challenged everyone to ‘let the image of Javier flanked by his classmates, his friends, to be burned in their consciences’ – to never forget what it feels like to have the love and support of family, of the Church (the Church is us, the people), and of the power and working of the Holy Spirit in us and through us. 

There is an expression in Hawaiian culture of ‘Ohana’ that was popularized in the Disney film Lilo and Stitch.  I think that Lilo got it right when she said, "Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten."  This could not be more true of our ASCA family.  We are ASCA Strong. 

I would like to thank my staff members – Joe Moore, Maria Kazlauskas, and Tom Sedlacek – for helping to plan and execute such a beautiful and moving liturgy.  This moment in time for those who were present will be a part of our hearts for always.

I would like to personally thank all of the members of the ASCA Class of 2015 for making it a priority to take time off from school to come and support Javier.  We loved having you all back home; and plan to strengthen these connections that you have with each other, and with the school.  I would like to extend this invitation to all of our alumni to let us know more about your experiences after leaving ASCA, and how we best can keep in touch.  Please click here for more information.   You are welcome to email them back to me at msantos@ascacademy.org; or better yet, stop by to drop it off and say hello.  

This weekend, we continue our celebration of life with our ASCA Blood Drive and Cookout with Live Music! on Saturday, April 28 from 9 am – 1 pm.  Please come.  I look forward to seeing and meeting everyone – current families, alumni, friends and benefactors – past and present – each thread in the rich fabric of our ASCA family.   

• The blood drive will take place in the school gym from 9 am – 1 pm.  Walk ins are welcome!
• Food (hamburgers and tacos) and live music with the band Lil Red from 11 am – 1 pm.  A freewill offering for the Tecuatl family will be taken. 

On a different but related note, we kicked off our Run for the Saints/Boosterthon pledge drive on Tuesday of this week with a rousing pep rally.  In just a few short days, we are already at over $17,000 in pledges!  Wow!!!  Over 60% of our school families have registered, with 40% already receiving pledges.  Personally, I was a little bit unsure how this was going to work with my family and son Drew.  How pleasantly was I surprised!  By simply following the suggestions of how to get pledges, and a Facebook post by my husband, Drew had over $300 in pledges in just a couple of days, and currently has over $500 in pledges.  One interesting bit of trivia - I am told that overall, pledges for ASCA students have been received from people in over 14 states.  Wow!

Because of this outpouring of generosity, it does look like we have met our first challenge; and I will be in uniform over the coming week.  Thank you all!  Today, I am looking forward to seeing Mr. Busche duct taped to the flag pole at dismissal, as our Junior High Academy families have met yesterday's challenge.  I also hope that you are planning on joining us at the Fun Run on Thursday, May 3, to cheer on all of our Saints!  Our preschool students will be running at 11 am, kindergarten through grade 5 at 1 pm, and junior high at 2:15 pm.  

I would like to remind you about how you too can join the already over 60% of school families who have registered.  Please note that every student will participate, and no pledge is too small.

1. Registration is now open at www.funrun.com
2. Create an account at www.funrun.com (only one per household needed)
3. Use Access Code 382638 to identify with ASCA
4. Register your student/s
5. (Optional) You can upload a photo that will be inserted in a funny video clip for you to email, text, and post to FB
6. Copy & share student link with friends and relatives for pledges!

Parents, you may be asking yourself, “What’s the best way to get a pledge?” Answer: STUDENT STAR VIDEO! Parents who send a Student Star video to friends and family raise more than those who don’t. It’s the EASIEST and BEST way to ask for a pledge, plus this hilarious video will have your friends and family in stitches. Simply log in to FUNRUN.COM, click the “Create Student Star Video” button, upload a photo of your child, and SHARE it using the share functions—Facebook, email, etc.  https://vimeo.com/208746377/be63c6ab42

Here is a link for donations to the general account, in case any companies are interested: https://funrun.boosterthon.com/a/s/aGWkaw-T   Would you like to be a fun run volunteer? To sign up, go to http://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044ea5ad2fa2fb6-funrun

This week’s focus of our virtues study was that of Service, which is providing useful assistance or contributing to the welfare of another.  Friends, please believe that these wonderful coincidences are not planned.  How lovely it is to be able to connect these beautiful virtues to our lives in a meaningful way.  As we have been learning about service, we know that Jesus called us to be of service to one another.  We can offer each other love, kindness, assistance and encouragement.  

Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the cast and crew of our spring musical, Annie Jr.   Your hard work turned out outstanding  performances that were enjoyed by MANY.  The musical played to pretty packed houses both days.  I am sure that everyone came away with a smile, humming the songs, and happy that they attended the production.  Thank you to all of the parents for their support of the ASCA Drama Club; and to the directors and producers of the show.   

More News You Can Use

Warm Weather Uniforms are Back!

Beginning this Monday, April 30 (one day early because it is going to be warm  next week) – uniform shorts and gym shoes return!

What does this mean?

• Uniform shorts (purchased from Schoolbelles or Lands’ End) can be worn with gym shoes.  Girls wear navy blue shorts; boys wear khaki shorts.
• Gym shoes must be primarily black or white with one accent color (no neon)
• On Mass Days, students are still required to be in ‘Perfect Uniform’.  This means no shorts for boys, no shorts or pants for girls (girls must wear uniform skirts or jumpers), no gym shoes.  Grade 4-8 girls are not required to wear the sweater vest for the remainder of the year. 

If you have any questions about the dress code, please consult the Parent Student Handbook at  http://www.ascacademy.org/Portals/0/HANDBOOK%202017-2018%20FINAL.pdf

Schoolbelles Uniform Fitting Day

Schoolbelles will be at All Saints this coming Tuesday, May 1 from 3:30 – 5:30 pm to personally fit your student for their uniforms for the upcoming school year.  The 2018 Schoolbelles Buying Guide has gone home with all youngest and only students, and also can be seen by clicking here. 

Please note that, beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, the ASCA embroidered logo must be present on the outermost piece of uniform worn by all students. 

What does this mean?

• all polo shirts must have the embroidered ASCA logo
• all sweaters/sweater vests must have the embroidered ASCA logo
• K-3 girl jumpers do not require the logo 

If you have any polo shirts or sweaters/sweater vests without the embroidered logo, they will not be able to be worn in the 2018-2019 school year. 

Notes from SHPP

We will be sending home the school supply list and ordering information for next year very soon. Please stay tuned for more information.

The Mother Son event was a huge success!  Thank you to the moms and sons for coming out.   We would like to extend a very special thank you to Angie Hondros Rousonelos and Chris Graham Gambs. These ladies did an outstanding job of communicating and organizing a great event for All Saints Catholic Academy. The food was delicious, and it was great to see the mothers and sons competing in some games. The winner of the mother/son ski ball competition was the Kiesler Family congrats! Thanks again ladies!

Next week voting ballots will be coming home for you to nominate your upcoming SHPP committee chair people for the 2018-2019 school year.  More information to come next week!

News from All Saints Athletic Association

Congratulations to our athletes who competed in the first track & field meet of the season!  A big thank you to all participants for your flexibility with the change in meet time, the weather has not been cooperative for spring sports this year. Individual results will be announced once posted to the league website.

This week’s meet will be held at Marmion Academy.  For Track & Field meet schedules and results, please visit http://s-p-l.org/schedule.html

Important News

2018-2019 Sports Registration will Open April 30 – May 20. If your child will be in 5^th – 8^th grades for the 2018-2019 school year, be sure to access the registration website at www.asca.SIPlay.com  establish an account and register for the sport of choice.  All students (grades 5-8^th) are welcome to join the athletics program.  All Saints offers volleyball, cross country, basketball and track & field. If you have questions, please email Erika Baka at jnebaka@gmail.com. 

ATTENTION Fourth Graders - The All Saints Athletic Association has partnered with Breaker Volleyball to provide a skill development class for our upcoming athletes. This program will be FREE to ASCA participants in 4th grade and will be held before school in the ASCA gym. This is a great opportunity for boys and girls to work on volleyball skill development as they get ready for participation in our athletics program.

This is a great, no cost, opportunity for ASCA and our families. Please click here for more information, or contact Kathy Kokkinos at flyinchippy@yahoo.com

Upcoming Dates:  April 30 – May 19:   2018-19 Sports Registration open on SIPlay.com

A Tremendous Thank You to the Cornerstone Sponsors of 

A Green Tie Affair, ASCA Dinner Dance Auction 2018

For more information, please click on the Cornerstone Sponsor logos above.  We encourage you to patronize these generous sponsors.