Saints Speak from Mrs. Marshall - 8/8/2023 - The First Saints Speak of the Year

Over the summer, I have reflected on our theme of peace for the year and how I can help spread the message of peace in my communications. One thing I’ll do this year is spend time focusing on some of our greatest role models: the saints! When school begins, each week we will learn about a new saint and how they found and shared peace in their lives while doing the work of Christ. This year is the 20th anniversary of All Saints Catholic Academy, so what a fitting way to spend the year learning from those our school is named for, the saints!

Keep reading for important information as we prepare for the start of school! Today’s email is long but contains a great deal of essential information. Thank you for reading thoroughly!

Mark Your Calendars

• Saturday, August 10^th, 10am-12pm: Uniform Resale outside Door 1. 

• Tuesday, August 13^th, 8:00-9:30am: New Parent Welcome Coffee in McSherry (enter at Door 1).

• Thursday, August 15^th, 3:00pm-5:00pm: Meet & Greet on the recess pad. We’ll begin with a short prayer service and then you’ll have time to visit classrooms, enjoy a sweet treat, purchase spirit wear, and play with old and new friends! 1^st-8^th grade students may bring school supplies to drop off. All families are encouraged to bring a cereal box or two to donate to Loaves & Fishes. 

• Tuesday, August 20^th: First Day of School for 1^st-8^th grade! All students should be in uniform today. Students will dismiss at 11:30am; there is no lunch, bus service, or after care today. Before care is available beginning at 7am.

• Wednesday August 21^st: Kindergarten Orientation & Preschool Mom, Dad, and Me. Please see grade-specific emails with times for these events. Bus service and after care will begin today. Please be sure to pack your child lunch for today; hot lunch begins next week.

• Thursday, August 22^nd: First Day of Kindergarten & Preschool

• Friday, August 23^rd: Join us for our first school Mass of the year at 8:15am.

• Tuesday, August 27^th: Junior High Curriculum Night 6:00pm.

• Wednesday, August 28^th: Preschool-5^th grade Curriculum Night 6:00pm.

Please note that our office will be closed on Wednesday, August 14^th, as our entire staff enjoys a retreat together to prepare for the year!

Uniform Reminders

If you haven’t already done so, be sure to try on uniforms now and make sure you have everything you need to start the new year! As you plan for the return to school, please remind your child about adhering to other dress code expectations. All nail polish should be removed before the first day of school, hair should be its natural color, and boys’ hair should be cut to above the collar and out of eyes. Uniform guidelines can be found beginning on page 25 of the handbook.

Lunch Ordering for August/September

Some highlights for the month:

• August 29: Baked penne pasta with breadsticks

• September 3: Turkey and cheese sandwich with pita chips and hummus

• September 13: Chicken potstickers with vegetable fried rice

Please note, with the increasing price of goods, our vendors are also raising their prices. Our new pricing is:

• Entree: $6.50
• Salad: $6.50
• Gluten Free Entree: $8.50
• Entree + Extra Entree: $9.50
• Milk, Chocolate Milk, Water: $.75
• Ice Cream, Non Dairy Treats: $.75

Thank you for your continued support of our lunch program. We are all looking forward to another spectacular school year at ASCA.

Arrival and Dismissal

Please take a few moments to review the arrival and dismissal procedures for All Saints. 

Before Care is available beginning at 7:00am in the cafeteria. Before care is $3 per student per day. Please drop off at Door 7 for Before Care. You do not need to pre-register for before care.

After 7:30 AM, ALL traffic enters the ASCA parking lot through the EAST ENTRANCE (see map below)

• Students may be dropped off in the morning at Door 1 (between blue stars) or Door 7 (between red stars). When you enter campus, please pull forward to use either door depending on which line is shortest. DO NOT block the driveway while waiting for Door 1; this causes traffic to back up onto Aurora Avenue and endangers other families. 

• Students may disembark from cars at Door 7 at 7:35am and wait (supervised) in the safety zone until the bell rings at 7:45am. After dropping off your student(s) at Door 7, please drive around the back of the building. When you reach the west parking lot, turn slightly right to use the western-most lane of the lot to proceed toward the west exit. Use the WEST driveway to TURN RIGHT ONLY as you leave campus.

• Students may disembark from cars at Door 1 beginning at 7:45am and enter the building to proceed to their classroom. After dropping off your student(s) at Door 1, please loop around and return to the EAST driveway to exit campus, TURNING RIGHT ONLY.

• At both doors, please pull all the way forward so multiple cars may unload at once. Please avoid pulling out around other cars, as students are getting out of vehicles on both sides. Cell phone use while driving on campus is prohibited. Drive slowly and carefully to keep all ASCA students and families safe. 

• Make sure your child is ready to go as you enter the ASCA parking lot – backpacks should be accessible (not in trunk), coats/hats/gloves should be on, goodbyes complete, etc. 

• If your child is still in a car seat and needs assistance getting unbuckled and out of the car, please wait for a spot in the front of the drop-off zone so you can assist without holding up the line. If your child is no longer in a car seat, please remain in the car and allow him/her to disembark on their own. This builds independence!

Preschool Drop-Off

• Preschool drop-off is at Door 5 (green star) from 8:00-8:15am. If your preschool student has an older sibling arriving before 8am, he/she is welcome to come early as long as he/she is able to get to the classroom independently or your older child is comfortable assisting him/her with getting to the preschool classroom.
• Parents dropping off for preschool should use the EAST driveway to enter campus and then drive around the right/east side of the building to get to door 5. If you arrive before 8am, please pull aside into the lot to avoid blocking the way of cars dropping off older students at Door 7.
• Our preschool assistants will be waiting at Door 5. Please unbuckle your child’s car seat; our staff will open the door and can assist your child in getting out of the car and walk them into the building. If your child is unable/unwilling to depart from the car, we will ask you to drive around to Door 1 to unload your child.

Arrival Map

PM PICK-UP PROCEDURE (see map)

School dismisses at 3:00pm for preschool students (students with older siblings are able to stay until 3:25pm), 3:25pm for Kindergarten-2^nd grade, and 3:30pm for 3^rd-8^th grade. At dismissal time, all cars should enter campus using the WEST driveway. There are two options for pick up: Door 1 walk up or Door 7 car line.

To pick up at Door 1, enter at the WEST driveway and park in the main lot. Walk up to the coned area outside Door 1 (orange box on map) to wait for your child. Accompany your child back to the car. Exit campus using the EAST driveway; RIGHT TURN ONLY. Please exercise caution when backing out of parking spots, as other families will be walking to their cars.

• Children must stay in the coned area until a parent/guardian walks up; students are not allowed to walk to the car unaccompanied, as the parking lot is busy and cars will already be exiting. 
• This is a great time to visit with other parents, but please make sure you are adequately supervising your child(ren). Children may only play in the grassy area with parent supervision. 
• All preschool students must use Door 1 for dismissal. 

To pick up at Door 7, enter at the WEST driveway and drive around the west then north end of the building. Make sure your family name sign is visible; staff will call names of families to expedite the process. Children will be waiting in the safety zone (green box on map) looking for their cars; please pull up all the way so we can load multiple cars at once. Remain in your car while your child loads, then move forward and exit campus using the EAST driveway, RIGHT TURN ONLY.

Please be prompt to pick up your child. If you have not arrived by 3:35pm, your child will be sent to after care or, if your child is not registered for after care, you will be charged $1 per minute until your arrival. After care is available via Children’s Choice until 6:00pm on all full days of school, and until 4:00pm on most early release days. You must register your child for Children’s Choice – click here for more information.

Please use the same dismissal door consistently so your child and teacher know what to expect. Notify us of changes in advance whenever possible. If there is a last minute change, please call the Welcome Desk so we can get the message to your child’s teacher before dismissal. 

Bus service is available to and from school for K-8 students residing within District 203 boundaries and more than 1.5 miles from school. Please contact our office for more information on the bus. While the bus service is free, students who ride the bus to school in the morning will utilize ASCA’s Before Care and will be charged the $3 per student per day Before Care fee.

Dismissal Map

Extracurricular Offerings

A few of our extracurricular activities have begun to accept new registrations!

• Click here for more information on Sticky Fingers cooking class.
• Click here for more information on Chess Scholars.
• Click here for more information on RoboThink robotics club, or click here to register your child for this new class!

FACTS Family Portal – Back to School Forms

There are still several families who have not completed the back to school forms in FACTS. These are due today. Here’s the information on how to complete the forms:

Once you log in, in the left menu you should see Web Forms under School. There are two main Web Forms, with other forms built in:

1. 2024-2025 Student Forms:
   1. 2024-2025 Parent-Student Handbook Agreement
   2. Technology Acceptable Use Agreement
   3. T-shirt size (this was due last week so hopefully you have already done this one!)
   4. Dismissal plan
   5. Photograph & video policy
2. Family Demographic Form – this should already be complete for returning students, but we recommend reviewing the information in case any updates are needed. New students will need to add any missing components here.
   1. Demographics
   2. Medical information
   3. Emergency contacts (Please provide at least TWO emergency contacts OTHER THAN parents. You do not need to list parents here; we always call you first.)
   4. Transportation (Use this to list any individuals who are allowed to pick up your child and are not already listed as emergency contacts. You do not need to re-enter parents or emergency contacts here.)
   5. Grandparents (This is optional but encouraged as it helps us build a stronger relationship with your entire family!)

We recommend using a computer to complete the forms rather than a phone; the process will be much smoother for you!

Waterleaf Run 4 Life

Waterleaf Women’s Center is hosting their Annual Run 4 life on September 7^th! Click here for more information. 

Faith’s Law

Lastly, some of you may be aware of Faith’s Law (Public Act 102-0676, 105 ILCS 5/2-3.188), a 2023 Illinois law intended to further ensure the safety of all children while at school. This resource guide was developed by the Illinois State Board of Education in consultation with relevant stakeholders across the state. It provides guidance for students, parent/guardians, and teachers about sexual abuse response and prevention resources available in the community.

Warm regards, 

Margie Marshall

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A Tremendous Thank You to the Diamond, Platinum, and Cornerstone Sponsors of our 2024 Dinner Dance Auction (DDA):  Masquerade Gala

We hope that you will support these generous benefactors of All Saints with your business.  Please thank them, and let them know that you are an All Saints school family.