Saints Speak
From Mrs. Santos
August 24, 2016
Thank you to all of the parents who attended our curriculum nights this week. On these nights, I was not only your principal, but a parent, just like you! As I sat in that little 1st grade chair, I could see the world through my son’s eyes. Something new and exciting to see at every turn. Chairs and desks where friends now sit. A teacher who cares about my son, not just for what he is learning, but for who he is. Challenging and exciting academics that took me back in time to when I was his age. Wishing that I could be in 1st grade all over again. I am in awe of our amazing teaching staff. I hope that you are too!
There is a saying that hangs in our Health Office courtesy of Mrs. Pat Ann: Change is inevitable; growth is optional. These words speak to me in a personal way. I am so thrilled to have been chosen as your principal. This truly is an honor for me, and I am looking forward to a great year with you and your children. I respect all of the good that proceeded me, but there is always room for growth. The changes that I have introduced to date were intended not to change, but to ‘shift our culture’. Keeping this in mind, we first recognize the following:
Our Discipline Policy now includes the Red Card Discipline System for grades 3-8. This is fully detailed in our updated Parent Student Handbook (we have copies of the policy in the school office if you would like one). The end goal of this new initiative is that teachers will be able to teach, and that all students will be able to learn.
Increased uniform options, Spiritwear Fridays, sitting where we want at lunch, and our ‘kick off the new school year’ pep rally were introduced to inject some fun into our daily journey.
These are but a few of the changes introduced this school year. Change can be difficult. If we embrace the change, it can be transformational!
Overview of Family Fundraising Obligation
Please see the current Overview of 2016 – 2017 Family Fundraising Obligation (FFO) Options (May, 2016) which describes the currently available options for offsetting your family’s FFO through Gift Wrap and Gift sales, Scrip cards and credits, and Dinner Dance Auction donations. Please review this summary and save it for future reference.
Gift Wrap, Gifts and Greeting Cards from Charleston Wrap
Each year as the new school year begins, we offer All Saints families (and their families and friends) a chance to earn credits toward their Family Fundraising Obligation (FFO) through the sale of gift wrap products and holiday gift items. Once again this year, we are very excited to offer an expanded and very attractive array of gift wrap products, gifts and personalized greeting cards from our returning vendor, Charleston Wrap. Please see the Charleston Wrap Flyer for a colorful preview.
Be on the lookout for your Charleston Gift Wrap sales catalogs which will come home today in backpacks with each family’s "oldest and only.” Please note that, in order to have wrapping products, gifts and greeting cards delivered to school well ahead of the holidays, Paper Order Forms must be returned to the school by Monday, September 12th. Online orders to be delivered directly to homes will be accepted through September 26th, but note that some earned FFO credits are lower on online orders. Full details are in the packets being sent home today!
We hope you find the information helpful. Questions can be referred to Theresa Cunningham at tacunningham@comcast.net.
Create a Family Legacy at ASCA
Sponsor a Paver Brick in the St. Therese, The Little Flower, Plaza!
We want to let our new ASCA families know – and remind returning ASCA families - of the opportunity to have a personalized paver brick honor your family, student or event and create a lasting family legacy here at All Saints. Many inscribed bricks are already 
installed in our beautiful St. Therese, The Little Flower, Plaza outside Door 1, and we welcome new additions!
You can make a donation to sponsor a Paver Brick to commemorate any occasion in the course of the school year, or to honor a special student, teacher or coach! This is also a great way to memorialize a loved one, or to celebrate a birthday or anniversary with a gift that will last a lifetime.
The donation options to sponsor a Paver Brick are $175 (6” by 6”), $250 (6” by 12”) or $500 (12” by 12”), and donors receive written thanks for their charitable donations. Also, please note that there are many religious and other icons available to enrich the message and appearance of paver bricks.
For a Paver Brick Brochure/Order Form and to see the available icons, please go to the St. Therese Plaza page on the ASCA website (http://www.ascacademy.org/SupportOurSchool/StTheresePlaza), or contact Tim Traynor at ttraynor@ascacademy.org for more information.
Afterschool Procedure Change
The school day ends at 3:30 pm. All families have a 15 minute grace period from 3:30 – 3:45 pm to pick up their child, as students must be picked up by 3:45 pm. Students who remain after 3:45 pm will be sent to extended care at that time.
The extended care fee for any student who is picked up between 3:45 and 4 pm will be a flat rate of $5 per child, which will be billed via FACTS. Students who are picked up after 4 pm will pay the $20 per child drop in fee (or $15 pre-arranged fee), also billed via FACTS. Please note that pre-arranged after school care is billed at a lower rate of $15 per child. If you are routinely running late, you should pre-register your child to pay the lower rate.
We have a duty to ensure that all students are appropriately supervised during their entire time here at ASCA. We provide before and after school care in order to make certain that happens. We appreciate your understanding of these changes which have been thoughtfully considered to safeguard all of our students.
ASCA Parking Lot
Another area where safety is of utmost importance is in our school parking lot. A lot of time and planning in conjunction with the Naperville Police Department went into creating our traffic rules and regulations. Unfortunately, we have a large number of parents who are making poor choices in not following the rules. For the safety of our students, our staff and other parents, please obey the parking lot policies and procedures as noted in your Parent Student Handbook.
We will be revisiting our parking lot procedures with the NPD. A number of parents have contacted me with ideas and most of all, positive potential solutions. All ASCA parents are invited to share their thoughts.
Student Phone Calls for Forgotten Items
Fostering responsibility in our students is one of our many goals here at All Saints. Towards that end, students will not be allowed to call home for a forgotten book, assignment or gym uniform. We realize that it might be a hardship for many parents to leave work and come to school for a forgotten item. It may only take one occurrence of not being prepared to spark a student’s accountability.
The only exception will be for a lunch. That being said, if a student does not have a lunch at their lunch period, they will be given a cereal lunch as we do not want our students to go hungry during the day. Families will be billed for the cost of the lunch that is provided.
Band at All Saints
All Saints welcomes new band instructor, Mr. Stefan Kocelko. Mr Kocelko is a graduate of Elmhurst College with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education.
All Grade 4-8 students are invited to join the All Saints Catholic Academy School Band. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced player, there is a place for you in the band. Many studies have been conducted that show the relationship between instrumental music education and academic achievement. The study of music can truly bring a lifetime of enjoyment.
In September, students will be invited to an introduction concert, with instrument trials to follow. Please see the band flyer for more information.
Online Spiritwear still available from JemHedz
JemHedz, the t-shirt vendor that was at our Meet and Greet, has opened an online store for your spiritwear orders. Please note that their store will close on Friday, 8/26. To place your order, go to:
http://stores.jemhedz.com/categories/online-spirit-wear-stores/all-saints-catholic-academy.html?fullSite=1
News from All Saints Athletic Association
Are You Ready for some Volleyball?
Our 
volleyball practices are in full swing and teams are getting ready to start their season with matches beginning Friday, September 9. Want to follow the team standings and future games? Schedules can be found at the Dupage Parochial League website http://www.dplvba.org/. The ASCA Weekend Sports Report will also make all Saints fans aware of home games each weekend. Look for the report every Thursday afternoon at 3 pm.
Best of luck to all our teams and coaches as they get their season underway!
Cross Country
Practices for Cross Country are underway and take place every Monday and Wednesday from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. Best of luck to Coach Susan Glab and all our runners this season!
ASAA Spirit Store is NOW OPEN!
The All Saints Athletics Association (ASAA) is excited to announce the rollout of our new line of athletics spirit wear featuring the athletics winged logo! ASAA has partnered with Janor to provide options for you and your family to wear your Saints pride. Your student athlete will have the opportunity to wear their All Saints Athletics spirit wear with their uniform bottoms on SPIRITWEAR FRIDAYS! You do not have to be involved in athletics to wear All Saints Athletics spirit wear.
To order your new ASAA spirit wear items, visit http://janorsports.net and enter the password allsaintsathletics2016 to log in. The store will remain open until midnight, Sunday, August 28. Processing/delivery of items will be approximately 2-3 weeks from the close of the store.
TRIVIA NIGHT IS BACK!
Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, October 22nd for this ASAA sponsored event! You won’t want to miss this! More information will be forthcoming.
**New this year – We are excited to announce that ASAA will now have Dina Kwit with Outside the Box providing team and individual sports photo sessions. Be on the watch for further details arriving in your mailbox soon!
GO SAINTS!!