With love and forgiveness, new beginnings are possible. This is our Lenten focus this year. Our God is a God of new beginnings. God’s mercy and grace allow us to start over, even after great failures, mistakes and setbacks. Peter the apostle is a wonderful example of this. Peter was known to be loud and boastful, outspoken and always putting his foot in his mouth. Yet, Christ saw something within Peter that he knew was solid as stone… or at least, that would be in years to come. “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” As we know, Peter denied Christ three times before the crucifixion. Even though Christ knew that Peter would deny him, it still must have broken His heart to hear His good friend say he didn’t know Him. Yet after the resurrection, we see that Christ restores Peter. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” He didn’t just forgive Peter, he sent him on a mission to build his church.
No matter how many times we fall, no matter how many times we fail, Christ is willing to forgive us and restore us anew……. if we only ask. We must continue to be amazed at the everlasting mercy and forgiveness of Christ our Lord, and the love he gives us daily by restoring us with His forgiveness. What a beautiful and amazing love it is.
Let us use this Lent to remember every day that with love and forgiveness, new beginnings are possible.
AM DROP-OFF and PM PICKUP
Attached to this newsletter is the product of work by a committee of parents which began in SHPP. You must realize that the AM drop-off is an unsafe and frustrating problem…all it took was a little snow to make it much worse. PLEASE READ THE ATTACHED INSTRUCTIONS. We have to work together to improve this situation. The largest change is that we will need to double the lines in the morning as well as in the afternoon. Also, entrance to the parking lot after 7:30 am will be exclusive to the west driveway. If you have questions or wish to volunteer to join the volunteers who help direct traffic in the AM, please contact Tom Claussen at goillinois92@hotmail.com or (630) 337-3719
MLK Day Service Attendance
To receive credit for attendance on January 21st, you must complete the reflection sheet and submit it no later than March 15th. Thank you in advance!
2013-2014 Re-enrollment Packets
Packets were sent out to all returning current families via the oldest and only student a couple of weeks ago, and are now past due. If you have not yet returned your re-enrollment paperwork and fee, please do so as soon as possible. Please contact Patty Bajek at (630) 961-6125, or pbajek@ascacademy.org with any questions.
Financial Aid for 2013-2014 School Year
The deadline for financial aid application for the 2013-2014 school year is Friday, March 1. This is a firm deadline. All families who received any type of assistance, financial aid or scholarship for the current school year must reapply to be considered for the next school year. Please log on to the FACTS Tuition Grant and Aid website at www.factstuitionaid.com to apply. Hard copies of the application paperwork are available in the school office. There is a $30 application fee for both the online or hard copy application. Please contact Patty Bajek at (630) 961-6125 with any questions.
Extended Care and Tuition Paid Statements
Statements detailing extended care and tuition paid for the 2012 calendar year were sent home today with oldest and only students via backpack mail. Contact Patty Bajek at (630) 961-6125, or pbajek@ascacademy.org with any questions.
Dinner Dance Auction 2013 News
DDA planning meeting
We are a month away from our biggest school fundraiser of the year! Join us for our next DDA planning meeting on Tuesday, February 12th at 8 am in the staff lounge.
Dinner Dance -Volunteers Needed!
We have many opportunities to help out before and during the auction. Whether you can spare a half-hour or a few more hours, we need you. We are looking for volunteers for set-up on Friday, March 8th and the morning of Saturday, March 9th. We also need volunteers to sell raffle tickets at the beginning of the auction. These are half-hour shifts from 6 - 6:30 pm, and 6:30-7 pm. The raffles are all in the ballroom this year, so grab a friend or spouse and work the table while visiting with all the guests. We are also in need of live auction spotters! Please email Allison-Davis@comcast.net if you are able to volunteer in any capacity.
Tuition Raffle Tickets are on sale.
Get them before they are gone! If you would like a chance to win a $5,000 ASCA tuition credit for the 2013-2014 school year, just purchase a raffle ticket for $100. Please contact Keith or Susan Glab at ks4glab@yahoo.com with any questions.
Invitation Information
The Dinner Dance Auction invites were sent home last week. Reservations and payment are due by Friday, February 22nd. You can also register and pay online this year. Visit www.ascadda.org for information.
Market Day
Our next Market Day will be Wednesday, February 20th. The online order deadline is Saturday, February 16th at 11:00 pm.
No Cookin’ In the Kitchen – Red Robin
February’s No Cookin’ in the Kitchen fundraiser to benefit the Class of 2014 will be on Wednesday, February 20, at Red Robin located at 28260 Diehl Road, Warrenville, and 12646 South Route 59, Plainfield. If you have any questions, please contact Alison Pechnik at asabug78@aol.com or Andrea Howard at nucvet@sbcglobal.net
ASCA Yard Signs
We have yard signs announcing that ASCA is accepting registrations for the upcoming school year. If you are on a street with traffic, please consider placing a yard sign in your yard. The sign can only go on personal property and not on any easements. Signs may be picked up in the school office. Contact Patty Bajek at (630) 961-6125, or pbajek@ascacademy.org with any questions. Thank you in advance for your help.
Lenten Service Project
For the past several years, Hogar del Pobre orphanage in Celaya, Mexico has benefitted from our Lenten service project. They have depended on us as their sole provider of clothing for 150+ children and have been eternally grateful for your overwhelming generosity. Last year, we collected over 700 articles of new clothing. This provided each child with their only Christmas gift, which they look forward to every year. This outfit was the only thing that the children owned and something they did not have to share with anyone else. Mother Superior, or Madre, appreciated the durability of the clothing that we have provided in past years.
Madre and the Sisters of the Poor have relied on the generosity of Chicagoans for well over 20 years in order to provide for the needs of many children and the poor that they serve. Like us, the Sisters have experienced the negative impact of our deflated economy. They have struggled to pay their bills and feed the children. Circumstances there have been dire, and they have faced having their utilities shut off. In addition, they have lived with the threat of violence outside the grounds of the orphanage due to drug cartels. Additionally, there are logistical complications of delivering goods with the transition of a new president in Mexico now, and the feasibility of Madre being able to make the 14 hour drive to the border.
It pains Madre not to be able to accept the much needed clothing from us this year. But the good news is that we can still help them and provide them with hope this Lenten season. We can donate money in order for them to purchase the clothing locally. They are a non-profit organization, so if you choose to write a check, your canceled check will serve as your tax-deductible receipt for your donation. Be sure that the check is made to Hogar del Pobre for your tax purposes. We are unable to issue any receipts. As in years past, there will be pictures of the children posted in each classroom, and we will continue to pray for them by name during Lent. Perhaps your children might have the opportunity to earn money this Lent to donate so they can practice our meaningful Lenten tradition of almsgiving. Any time during Lent, the children are welcome to bring a monetary contribution in an envelope marked “Lenten Project”, and turn it into their homeroom teacher. Madre is hoping that this situation is temporary, and that we can continue to ship clothing in years to come. Many thanks in advance for your participation in this worthwhile project!
February Men's Tie Collection
ASCA is collecting men's ties through the month of February to benefit our Earth and others. SCARCE will be creating Christmas tree skirts as an example of reuse. The ties will also benefit a Men's Closet in which men will be able to find professional clothes to wear for interviews and jobs. Help us help others and the Earth by sending in your unused ties with your child to be put in our drop box in the office. Direct any questions to kristinscrima@yahoo.com. Thank you!
Daddy Daughter Dance 2013
Calling all Dads and Daughters............yes, it is that time of the year! Spend a spectacular evening with your Passport to Paris at our Daddy Daughter Dance on April 13, 2013 from 6:30-8:30 pm at ASCA. An invitation will be sent through the school in the coming weeks. In order to make this evening memorable, we are in need of volunteers to help out with setting up on the morning of the event and during the event. Please e-mail kailyn.marriott@comcast.net if you are available to help.
Mother Son Wolves Hockey Event Follow Up
Thanks to the ASCA mothers and sons that attended the Chicago Wolves Hockey game on this past Saturday, February 2nd! It was our biggest ASCA mother/son event to date with, 164 individuals representing 73 families in attendance. A very special thank you goes to the awesome volunteer team that worked to make this event possible: Amanda Arnold, Amy Drake, Betsy Knox, Kai Marriott, Jeff Marriott, Mary Neal and Michelle Yacullo.
All Saints Football
If you are going to be in 5th through 8th grade in the 2013-2014 school year, and you are interested in playing on the All Saints travel football team, please plan on attending the upcoming open house for more information. The open house will be held on Sunday, February 10 from 1 – 4 pm at the Ashbury Clubhouse, 3403 Lawrence Drive in Naperville, 60564 Please contact Frank Ribaudo at (630) 853-5397, or info@ascafootball.com with any questions. Also, visit the www.ascafootball.com website.
D203 Busing Change
There will be no busing home from school for District 203 bus riders on Friday, February 15. Please note this change on your calendar. All other buses will be running on that day.