The month of January in this Year of Faith is devoted to the Holy Spirit. As a teacher, I tend to think in educational terms. Teachers work hard to reach all of their students by addressing the different ways that students learn. Some students learn easiest when they hear information, some need to see how it works, and some need to actually touch and experience the learning. It seems that Jesus, as the Master Teacher, might have been practicing this as well. We have Jesus in person to be seen as a real person to allow people to believe, we have God to be heard in the word each time we read the Bible, and in particular the Gospels, and we have the Holy Spirit acting in our lives at all times in a very tangible way.
This week, I read the book Proof of Heaven by physician Eben Alexander. It was a Christmas present from a dear friend who knows that I love research on the brain……except this was really a book of profound spirituality. A neurosurgeon who was a non-believer had a near death experience that he shouldn’t have survived. He shares what it was like for him on the other side. He could hear and feel the prayers of his family! When he ‘returned’, he could tell them which family members were praying, and when. There really was no way he should have been able to do that! I have prayed faithfully for people in my life for many years; but I have to tell you, I will never let up now. In fact, I will pray all the harder and more often. So why do I tell you this? This is what the Holy Spirit feels like. Something happens, and your life is different. You see things clearer, or you suddenly know a profound truth. When it happens to you, know it for what it is….the Holy Spirit in your life.
Reflections on the Mass Experience K-8
Each week as we prepare at school for the Mass experience on the coming Sunday, we read the Gospels and talk about what they mean. We will now be adding an additional component to this preparation that includes a weekend reflection for the students to share with you, and prepare with their family. The different Academies each have developed a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and how your family will try to live that Gospel message each week. This will be part of their religion instruction each week going forward. I ask that you welcome this opportunity to reflect on the Gospel together as a family. Fully embracing this exercise will demonstrate to your child how important your faith is to you. There can be no substitution for the role model that you will serve to be to your child.
Martin Luther King Day of Service
This coming Monday, January 21st is a “classroom in the community” day. We will not have classes in school, but ask you and your family to choose a service project opportunity. Please be sure to check the school website for updated service opportunities. This day of service will connect your child, family and others in a very special way, where your child will truly experience what being the hands of Jesus is all about!
Martin Luther King Day…A Day of Service
MLK Service Opportunities as of 1.16.13
ASCA MLK Service Project Form
2013-2014 Registration Information
Since 2005, All Saints has been proud to offer both full day and half day options for our Kindergarten students. For the past four years, enrollment in the half day program has dwindled. As a result, the half day kindergarten option appears financially impractical. Therefore, for the 2013-2014 school year, the School Board has decided that we will offer only a full day Kindergarten option. Should you have any questions, please contact Dr. Renehan at (630) 961-6125.
Registration materials for the 2013-2014 school year will be going out to all currently enrolled families this week. Registration packets will be family specific. The deadline for returning your re-enrollment forms and fee will be Friday, January 25. Please contact Patty Bajek at (630) 961-6125 with any questions.
Dinner Dance Auction 2013 News
Tuition Raffle Tickets
Tuition Raffle Tickets will be on sale Wednesday, January 23 at the Market Day pick-up from 2:30-3:30 pm at ASCA. 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. If you have any questions, please contact Keith or Susan Glab at ks4glab@yahoo.com.
Saintly Spots are on sale now!
Celebrate your child’s Graduation, First Communion, Sports Team, etc. with an ad in the auction catalog. Forms are available on the auction website at www.ascadda.org. Multiple families may participate together. The deadline for Saintly Spot Ads is Friday, January 25th!
Auction Donations
We are accepting auction item donations now through Monday, February 4th. Please turn in your item donation and form to the office as soon as possible. The forms can be found on the auction website at www.ascadda.org.
Auction Ads
The Auction committee would like you to help us sell ad space in ASCA's Dinner Dance Auction Catalog. If you have a friend or neighbor with a business to promote, please consider offering an ad placement in our catalog. Don’t discount your suppliers or vendors like your dentist, music teacher, dog groomer, beautician, painter, etc. They advertise as well. It is all for the benefit of our school and our children's education. The Ad Order Form with size and pricing details and a generic cover letter can be found on the DDA websites. The ad sales deadline is Friday, January 25. Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
8th Annual Dinner Dance Auction is online!
For information regarding DDA 2013 "An Evening in Paris", please check out the DDA website at www.ascadda.org.
Save-the-Date for Grandparents' Day
This year, Grandparents’ Day will be held on Friday morning, May 3rd. More details will follow later; but for now, please pass the date for this special morning on to the grandparents of your children.
School Website
Be sure to visit the ASCA website where you will continue to find news that you can use. If you click on the School News link on the home page, you will now find an Event Calendar under Upcoming News. Click on any calendar date to see what is happening (and continue to visit as we add new items). What else is new???? The Principal’s Newsletter information can now be easily accessed by date when clicking on the School News link on the home page, and then selecting Principal’s Newsletter. Older newsletters will be able to be viewed in the Archives folder at the same website location.
D203 Busing Change
There will be no busing home from school for District 203 bus riders this Friday, January 18. Please note this change on your calendar. All other buses will be running on that day.
Marybeth Hicks, Author of Bringing Up Geeks, Returns to All Saints
Wednesday, January 23, from 7:00 – 8:30 pm in McSherry Hall
Why?????? Because it takes a cool parent to raise a GEEK
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 attended the last time she spoke at All Saints, know that she will present a new program.
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 national television outlets including Fox News Channel’s Hannity and Fox and Friends, the CBS Evening News, The Christian Broadcasting Network’s 700 Club and 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. We hope that you can join us. Please contact Anne-Marie Cronin at anne.marie.cronin@sbcglobal.net with any questions.
Huge Thanks from Community Outreach
The Community Outreach team would like to give a huge thanks to the ASCA families who participated in the Christmas Caroling and Feed My Starving Children packing session - both of which were during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. We had great turnouts at both events! Additionally, we would like to recognize the following children for submitting their service forms which will be displayed in the Community Outreach display case in Café 1: Isabella DeRosa, Ella Davis, Henry Davis, Maddie Zick, Harriet Ghapson, Millicent Ghapson, Frannie Drake and Brynn Drake.
Christmas Card Collection for St. Jude’s Ranch
ASCA needs your help after the holidays – please send in your Christmas cards instead of throwing them out!! Girl Scout Troop 860 will be collecting Christmas cards for St. Jude’s Ranch. The cards will be used by the children at St. Jude’s Ranch to create new cards. The program is beneficial to everyone – customers receive fun, “green” holiday cards they can feel good sending to their friends and loved ones, and the children at St. Jude’s Ranch receive payment for their work, learn about basic job skills, and the importance of recycling.
Please note that only the card front can be used (please check to be sure the back side is clear of any writing, etc.) We cannot accept Hallmark, Disney or American Greeting cards. 5″ x 7″ size or smaller is preferred. St. Jude’s also needs birthday, thank you and all occasion cards so please send those in too!
To learn more, please see http://www.stjudesranch.org/shop/recycled-card-program/. Send your donated cards into school with your student. There will be a collection box in the office. The collection runs from January 7 - 31. If you have any questions, please email Barbara Garitty at bmgaritty@aol.com.
Lent Renewal Weekend for Women
Holy Spirit Catholic Community is hosting a Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) women’s renewal weekend on March 2 - 3, 2013. Give yourself time to reflect, pray, and deepen your relationship with Christ. All are welcome. If interested, please contact ASCA parent Emily Schleiger at emily.schleiger@gmail.com, or (630) 445-5219.
That Man Is You!
In September of 2012, St. Elizabeth Seton became the 3rd parish in Illinois to launch a growing national program called “That Man is You!” The program is held on Saturday mornings at St. Elizabeth Seton, and tackles real issues facing real men. It looks at the leadership role that has been entrusted to men, and addresses the temptations and the struggles that men face in a culture that attacks authentic manhood. Finally, it helps formulate a plan to help men overcome these obstacles.
All are invited to join us beginning at 6:30 am on Saturday morning. A light breakfast is then followed with a 30 minute video and a 30 minute small group discussion. 6:30 am may sound a little bit early for a Saturday morning, but this is a truly rewarding way to start your weekend, and you will be done by 8 am. Currently there are over 60 men registered from all 6 Naperville parishes, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Additionally, there is a strong contingent of All Saints' dads who regularly attend. Please join us this Saturday morning if you can. Enter on the EAST side of St. Elizabeth Seton, which is located at 2220 Lisson Road in Naperville, 60565. For more information on That Man Is You!, please visit www.thatmanisyou.org. If you have any questions, contact Doug Donovan at douglasldonovan@gmail.com, or (630) 217-7449.