In a baby our faith is born
This past week was one filled with the sights and sounds of Advent. On Wednesday, the kindergarteners were precious as they sang songs with the narration of the Christmas story. They were so excited, and for the next two days I kept hearing them break into the songs that had been part of their program! On Thursday evening, we had the first, second, and third graders recreate the birth of Jesus in their pageant. It was truly lovely. As the families were leaving, a father and I were talking. He said that the evening had flooded him with memories of his own childhood, and a recollection of the excitement he had felt as he had essentially been part of the same pageant so many years ago. This week, our preschoolers will present their programs for their parents and grandparents. They, as well, will be filled with excitement and awe. In reflecting on these events, it is easy to say that the students are performing, that they are dressed up or costumed, that they have practiced for so long, or that their families are there to see them. I truly believe that it is more. I ask you to consider that part of their awe is that this is such a perfect story; given to us by God to change the very existence of humankind. Intuitively, children know it is true; and that it is very beginning of their own faith.
Our New School Website
We are thrilled to unveil our newly designed ACSA school website today! You will always be kept up to date with the Principal’s Newsletter by clicking on calendar date of the news that you are interested in reading. The calendar can be found by going to the School News/Principal’s Newsletter links at our school website, www.ascacademy.org. We will continue to add items of interest to the website, and enhance what already can be found. One new exciting item that has been added is a Virtual Tour of the school. Our new website is also smart phone friendly. We invite you to look around, test out the search engine, and return often to find out the latest happenings at All Saints Catholic Academy.
SCRIP Ordering for the Holidays
This coming Monday will be your last chance to order SCRIP before the holiday break. You can not only use your gift cards to shop with, to give as gifts, or to purchase your holiday meal; you will also earn money that will be applied to your family fundraising obligation. All orders must be received by Monday morning, December 17 at 8:00 am. Please contact Debbie Bibo at dbibo11@hotmail.com with any questions.
Innisbrook Online Orders
The following people placed internet orders for Innisbrook; however, we do not know whose family to apply the fundraising credit. Please take a look at the following list, and contact Meg Olsen at molsen@ascacademy.org if you find someone who placed an order with the intent that your family would receive the credit.
Marilyn Stack
Richard Smith
Lawrence Stack
Edward Barlo
Gabrielle Teising
Nancy Cirmo
Mr. and/or Mrs. Baines
ASCA Feed My Starving Children
Forget about holiday stress for two hours, and celebrate this Christmas season
with the gift of helping others. To register your family for this 2 – 4 pm session,
please follow the instructions that follow:
• Visit volunteer.fmsc.org.
• In the upper right-hand corner select Volunteer Registration.
• Select Permanent Sites – Register Online.
• Select JOIN an existing Group or Family.
• Enter Join Code 257188 and click Search.
• Click Confirm. Log in or Create a New Account.
• Once you have entered your information you can click Add Member Names to add your children.
ASCA Christmas Caroling
Tis the season to be singing. ASCA students will be bringing Christmas cheer as
they visit Spring Meadows and Independence Village for our annual Christmas
Caroling scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, December 13th. Space is limited, so please sign up early! If you have any questions, please contact Gretchen Muller at bandgmuller@comcast.net.
Advent Project
For our Advent project, we will again be collecting for Hesed House. Thank you for your support. The clients of Hesed House are very grateful that you remember them each year at this time.
Hesed House is a center for the poor homeless that is located in Aurora. We are asking for classes to collect the needed items below. It is perfectly ok for several families to join together if the items are too expensive for an individual. Please know that whatever you are able to do will be deeply appreciated.
The following help is requested by grade level:
Preschool and kindergarten - toothbrushes and tooth paste
1st grade - baby diapers
2nd grade- new adult men’s t-shirts
3rd grade- packages of wipes
4th grade- new socks for adult men
5th grade- disposable men’s razors
6th grade - deodorant
7th and 8th grades- PACE bus passes (these are $17.50 for a 10 ride pass and can be purchased at most Jewel stores)
Any family who would prefer to use SCRIP to purchase gift cards would also be greatly appreciated. Please purchase them in $10 increments from Jewel or Walmart. The clients of Hesed have easiest access to these two stores.
Button and Safety Pin Drive
The November button and safety pin drive was a great success. Our school collected more than 45 pounds of buttons and pins. Many of the buttons were brought to Re:new in Glen Ellyn to be used to create items by refugee women who have been trained in the art of sewing. Just last week, Re:new launched the ability to purchase one-of-a-kind messenger bags online at their website - www.renewproject.org. Check it out. You may see some of your buttons at work. The rest of the buttons were brought to SCARCE where they will be distributed to organizations in need. Thank you to all who participated!
Advent Rosary
Please join us during the season of Advent on Wednesday mornings at 7:50 am in the school gym to pray the Rosary. Instruction sheets and extra Rosaries are available. Please contact Felicia Egan at (630) 357-6869, or blueirises@wowway.com with any questions.
No Cookin’ In the Kitchen
December’s No Cookin’ in the Kitchen fundraiser to benefit the Class of 2014 will be on Wednesday, December 19, at Jet's Pizza located at 3344 S. Route 59, Naperville, and 720 E. Ogden Avenue, Naperville. Valid ALL DAY on carry-out or delivery. Call the nearest store or visit www.JetsPizza.com to order. A flyer will be going home today with all oldest/only students. If you have any questions, please contact Alison Pechnik at asabug78@aol.com, or Andrea Howard at nucvet@sbcglobal.net.
ASCA Dads
Attention All Saints Catholic Academy Dads: There is an open gym on Wednesday nights where well-seasoned participants (covering about three generations) attempt to play basketball. The cost is $3.00. We start at 9:00 pm, and are pretty much spent by 10:30 pm. You are invited to come and be a part of the action. For more information, please call Dave Schwartz at (630) 321-7859.
Save the Date – For Parents
Wednesday, January 23, 2013, from 7:00 – 8:30 pm at All Saints Catholic Academy
Because it takes a cool parent to raise a GEEK - You are invited to join us at All Saints Catholic Academy to hear Bringing Up GEEKS author, Marybeth Hicks, speak on how to protect our kids’ childhood in a grow-up-too-fast world. Marybeth will talk about how parents can raise Genuine, Enthusiastic, Empowered Kids, and will inspire parents to free themselves and their kids from cultural conditioning while instilling in their children truly important values.
Marybeth last spoke at All Saints in 2011; but has updated her talk to address social media, and will incorporate exercises for parents to get more engaged. So, if you were fortunate to have the opportunity to attend her last appearance at All Saints, know that she will present a new program next month.
Marybeth is recognized for bringing experience, wit and understanding to universal problems facing families today. She is a popular TV and radio personality, and has appeared on national television outlets including Fox News Channel’s Hannity and Fox and Friends, the CBS Evening News, The Christian Broadcasting Network’s 700 Club, EWTN’s The World Over, and on dozens of national and regional radio programs including those hosted by Sean Hannity, Dennis Miller, Laura Ingraham and others.
Red and Green Out of Uniform Day – this Friday, December 14
Our first scheduled out of uniform day is this Friday, December 14, and it will be a green and red day. Wear your favorite holiday colors or outfit. This will be your last chance to pay for the out-of-uniform fundraiser benefiting the class of 2014 at the reduced rate, getting four out of uniform days for the price of three. The cost is $15.00, and is due by end of the day tomorrow, Thursday December 13. If you do not prepay for all four days, and still wish for your child to be out of uniform, then your student will need to bring in $5.00 on the scheduled out of uniform day. Please contact Debbie Bibo at dbibo11@hotmail.com, or call her at (630) 777-0425(cell), or (630) 375-1090(home) with any questions.
Christmas Unplugged
On Sunday, December 23rd, at 7:00 pm, members of the St. Margaret Mary Parish choir will perform “Christmas Unplugged”. It will be held in the main worship area at St. Margaret Mary Parish located at 1450 Green Trails in Naperville. This is the perfect way to escape from the hectic pace that we sometimes put upon ourselves during the Christmas season. This performance truly puts the meaning of Christmas in its proper perspective, and you will find the experience to be both relaxing and soothing. There is no charge, and all are encouraged to come. Merry Christmas!!