From Mrs. Santos
Giving Back Through Service
One of the things that makes All Saints unique is that our Mission Statement includes the goal of an education balanced in "message, worship, community, and service". This is especially relevant as we enter the Lenten season.
In addition to school-wide collections for Lent, Advent and used school supplies, the students have been encouraged to be more involved in their community outreach efforts this year. This past fall, each grade level voted to support a specific philanthropic organization; and they are choosing various ways to show their support. Here is a snapshot of the good works underway:
The kindergarten classes are bringing in items in order to put together Easter baskets that will be given to needy children this Easter.
In first grade, Kristen Funk, Director of the Naperville Area Humane Society, gave a presentation to students about the group's work. The classes are making fleece toys (and possibly blankets) to donate to the Humane Society.
The 2nd graders chose Special Spaces, an organization dedicated to creating dream bedrooms for children with life-threatening illnesses. A representative, Kelly Knox, came in and gave the students a wonderful presentation on this organization. Next month, they will learn about a special child in our area that has been selected to have a room created just for them. The students will collect change to help pay for this room makeover. After the room is completed, the students will watch a slide show on the completed project and they will get to see the child's reaction.
3rd Grade will support The Lustgarten Foundation to raise money for pancreatic cancer research. Ann Zediker, ASCA parent and local representative of this organization, visited the classes and talked with them about Lustgarten and explained what a fundraiser is. The students had a lot of great fundraising ideas to share! They are working on a campaign called "Spring into Hope: Help Us Lick Cancer" which is a lollipop sale at the end of April. The students had fun sticking out their tongues while we took pictures of them to use for advertising this fundraiser. Look for the 3rd graders’ hand-made posters with the details about buying lollipops from these kids after Spring Break.
The fourth graders chose Feed My Starving Children, a Christian food-packing and distribution organization committed to feeding God’s children who are hungry in body and spirit.
In the 5th grade, a representative from Gigi's Playhouse came to speak with students about this organization that embraces and empowers families and children living with Down’s Syndrome. The fifth grade classes will collect supplies that will be donated to the GiGi's Playhouse in Fox Valley. We also hope to find an evening where the students and families will volunteer at GiGi's, and have fun interacting with the kids there.
The Jr. High students will continue to support various philanthropies via Student Voices. For example, students are holding a March Madness Free Throw Contest and 3 on 3 Competition to raise funds for ASCA Scholarship Fund.
Additionally, our school community continues to support the 100+ children of Hogar del Pobre orphanage this Lenten season as part of our prayer, sacrifice and almsgiving, which means donating money or goods to the poor and performing other acts of charity, practiced during the weeks of Lent. Monies that are collected are going to be used to purchase a new refrigerator (something that we take for granted) and to build a new school on their proprerty. Our connection to Hogar del Pobre provides a wonderful opportunity for our students to live the gospel in service to others.
In our Ash Wednesday mass celebration yesterday morning, Father Vincent from Marmion Academy showed us how our small prayers sprinked throughout our day can strengthen our relationship with God and, in turn, our prayer life. This especially resonated with me. Sometimes we feel that we are too busy to pray, or that prayer has to wait for a 'special time' like kneeling beside our bed. Prayer should be a dialogue between us and God. It can happen at any time. We simply have to find the moments; and that is really all that it takes. I would like to invite you to come to one of our school masses during the Lenten season, especially if you have never attended a mass at ASCA. They are held in our school gym, which becomes our holy ground, every Wednesday morning at 8:15 am.
Saints at the Dinner Dance Auction (DDA) - A Night in Hollywood
Response Cards: Are due on on or before Friday, March 3rd. You can register online at ascadda.org, or turn in the reply card and payment to the School Office.
Attire: Cocktail attire is suggested for the event.
Embassy Suites Room Reservations: If you would like to spend the night at the Embassy Suites, the hotel is offering a group rate. Please use the code ASC when booking.
School Wide Basket Raffles: We are still accepting orders for raffle tickets! 1 for $5 or 5 for $20. Cash and checks are accepted via backpack mail. Please click here for the form for ordering.
Tuition Credit Raffle: Buy a raffle ticket soon for your chance to win the $5,000 tuition credit. Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased via the website: ascadda.org or with a check made out to ASCA. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Glab: ks4glab@yahoo.com. Only 150 tickets will be sold! Take a chance on winning; the odds are much better than Powerball.
Saints News
March 2017 School Calendar
Pleae click here for the March 2017 school calendar.
Lenten Service Project
All Saints students are collecting monetary donations to support the Hogar del Pobre orphanage in Celaya, Mexico throughout Lent. In looking outside of ourselves and in developing an awareness of others and their true needs, All Saints students learn and experience how it is to be Christ's loving hands and hearts when doing small things with great love! Please click here for more information.
Junior High Academy Bake Sale - Monday, March 6
Our junior high academy students will be having a Bake Sale on Monday, March 6 after school in the Safety Zone. They will be selling Chocolate Covered Pretzels, Cookies, Brownies, and Cupcakes. All proceeds will be going to the Hogar del Pobre orphanage. So, bring some money, and support our Lenten Service Project.
Our junior high students are really exercising their creativity in fundraising, proposing lots of great ideas. So, look out for more events yet to come, with all proceeds going to the orphanage.
Happy Camper Book Fair is Coming
Happy Camper Book Fair......s'more fun with books! The book fair is quickly approaching! Come camp out at the book fair March 13th through March 16th. Please be on the lookout for details, and plan on coming in to take a look, and find some terrific reads to keep you busy during spring break and beyond.
In order to make this event a success, we are looking for volunteers to set-up, cashier, tear-down, and assist students with the preview and shopping. Any assistance would greatly be appreciated. The book fair is a great place to be involved, help out the school, and to make new friends. We have made sign-up easy, just click on the link below......
Volunteer Sign-Up
Lenten Rosary Prayer
We hope that you will plan on joining us each Wednesday throughout the Lenten season for our Rosary prayer, which will be recited every Wednesday morning at 7:50 am prior to our school masses IN THE GYM. We pray for the intentions of Pope Francis, our school, our schools intentions and any you may wish to offer. You do not need to know the rosary. We offer cheat sheets and rosaries for any who need them. We are also very child and baby friendly! Please bring your younger children, visiting grandparents or friends for 15 minutes of prayer for our Pope, our children, teachers, administrators and loved ones. Please feel free to contact Christi Kluzak at dkluzak@gmail.com with any questions or suggestions.
SHPP Meeting
Our next SHPP (School Home Parish Partnership) meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 8th.
Please plan to join us at 9:15 am in Cafe 1 after mass. SHPP is a great place to become involved at All Saints, and to share your thoughts and ideas. Please come to find out more details about upcoming events like DDD and more. Younger siblings are welcome. If you have any questions please contact Mili Jain at mili_anand@hotmail.com, or 630 670 7288 .
Spring Pictures - Tuesday, March 7
Lifetouch will be at All Saints for Spring Pictures on Tuesday, March 7. All students will be out of uniform. A flyer was sent home with all students today. Please click here for a copy of the flyer. All students will be photographed. There will be no retakes. Photo packages will be sent home with students in a few weeks. You do not have to prepay for these photos. Families will have the options of purchasing photos in the package, or returning the photos that they do not wish to purchase.
Second Annual STEM Fest at ASCA
Save the date and plan to attend our 2nd Annual STEM Fest on Monday, May 8 from 6:30 - 8 pm. ASCA's STEM enrichment program needs a few good parent scientists, chemists, mathematicians, bankers, nutritionists, orthopedists, chemical engineers, marine biologists, astronomers, computer scientists, etc.
We need enthusiastic and upbeat parents (or work colleagues) to present their STEM field to children through hands on activities. Adults will lead a 5-10 minute demo, and then allow for child interaction. If you are interested or know of an eager volunteer, please contact Dr. Deborah DeRosa at stemfestasca@gmail.com.
Saints Having Fun
Daddy Daughter Dance Update
It’s not too late to RSVP for the Daddy Daughter Dance. The ability to charge FACTS had a hard deadline of the February 24th, which is no longer available. If you are interested in attending this wonderful night out with your daughter, please click here to view the invitation; click here to view the response card. Please fill out the RSVP card with your name, the number of guests in your family and a check or cash (made payable to ASCA) and return it to the office by Monday, March 6th. This will be your last chance as there will be no option to pay at the event.
All Saints Women's Basketball League
Ladies, you've sat in the stands all winter long watching your kids play basketball and cheering them on. Now that their season is finished, it is time to dust off your high tops and put your game face on! Join your fellow All Saints moms, teachers and friends in the gym for some fun on the following dates:
Thursday, March 16: 7-9
Tuesday, March 21: 6:30-8:30
Thursday, April 6: 7-9
Thursday, April 20: 7-9
Tuesday, May 2: 6:30-8:30
Thursday, May 11: 7-9
Thursday, May 18: 7-9
Cost to participate will be $50 for new players (includes a jersey). To sign up or get additional information, please contact Chris Gambs (teamgambs@sbcglobal.net) or Dana Menendez (dmsulenski21@yahoo.com).
Saints Helping Saints
No Cookin’ in the Kitchen - March
No Cookin’ in the Kitchen, benefitting the ASCA Class of 2018 has two great events this month!
- Friday, March 3 - Friday, March 10 - Chili's. Please click here for more information.
- Tuesday, March 21 - Aurelio's. Please click here for more information.
Saints in the Classroom and Beyond
ASCA Graduate Achievements
We would like to recognize and congratulate the following ASCA grads who were recently inducted into the Spanish Honor Society at St. Francis:
Class of 2018:- Alyssa Gulli
Class of 2017:- Taylor Gerard- Nicholas Gulli- Catherine Harvey- Lauren Harvey- Mia Olivares- Eric Sauser- Madeline Zediker
ASCA Graduates Coming Home
For graduates of ASCA in the Classes of 2009 through 2016: We are in the early stages of planning for an event to bring all of you back together at All Saints. Would you like to be involved in the planning? If so, please contact me at msantos@ascacademy.org. For our graduates who have moved on to college, who have graduated from college, or who will be attending college this fall: Please send us a banner or pennant from your college! It doesn't have to be an expensive one. We would like to display these banners here at ASCA so everyone who attends or visits the school will see where our graduates landed after leaving All Saints and their respective high schools.
We would love to hear about what our graduates are doing!!! Please contact us so we can share the good news with our All Saints school community.
Saints in the Summer
Physical Education Spirit Camp at ASCA
All Saints Catholic Academy is excited to offer an opportunity to continue the fun from PE combined with a touch of grace for K-5 students. Under the instruction of Mr. Justin Busche, students will get the opportunity to enhance their learning of popular sports, fun activities and increased fitness with a focus on a Biblical theme each day. Think of it as one part Vacation Bible School, one part Fitness, one part Sports, and ten parts cool, all mixed in a blender for a week’s worth of FUN!!!
Who: Incoming Kindergarten – 5th grade students
What: Focus will be on a different activity each day
When: Monday, June 5th – Friday, June 9th and/or Monday, June 26th – Friday, June 30th
Time: K-2: 8:45 AM – 10:15 AM 3-5: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: All Saints Catholic Academy
Please click here for more information.
St. Francis Summer Camps
- Wide variety of camps and clinics available for students entering 1-12th grade
- Register at https://sfhs.8to18.com
STAGE203 Summer Fair 2017
Parents and their children are invited to attend STAGE203 Summer Fair Monday, March 13, 6-8 pm at Kennedy Junior High School in Naperville. Camp and volunteer opportunities for K-12 students. Questions? Contact Theresa Mueller (630-715-9999 or info@TheresaMueller.com).
Saints In the Parishes
Lenten Afternoon at Holy Spirit
All are welcome to attend a Lenten Afternoon with John Allen Jr. at Holy Spirit Catholic Community this Sunday, March 5 from 1:30 - 3:30 pm. Please click here for more information. Holy Spirit is located at 2003 Hassert Boulevard, Naperville.
Tatiana Is Coming to Holy Family
Tatiana “Tajci’ Cameron is performing her inspirational and faith-filled Passion narrative “I THIRST” here at Holy Family Parish in Shorewood on Sunday, March 12 at 6 pm. If you’ve seen her in the past, we pray you are as excited as we are. If you’ve not experienced her love and inspiration, treat yourself to a wonderful evening. .
There will be a reception with Tajci following the 6 pm performance. All are welcome! Thank you to all for your consideration. For those who can’t join us on Sunday, March 12, St Mary’s Plano will also be hosting the I THIRST concert on Saturday, March 11!
Together let us walk the Passion of our Lord with Tajci’s “I THIRST – Lent as a Turning Point”, a reflection on the Crucifixion Story with a Focus on Renewal of Life. Please join together at this free event and stay for a lovely reception with the artist, Tatiana, afterwards. Treat Yourselves, Bring a Friend. holyfamilyshorewod.org
Saints in Competition
From the Saints Sidelines . . . Congratulations to the Boys 5B2 team and Coach Censullo for taking 1st place in their respective league division! Way to go boys!
The regular season has ended, but our Saints will still be in action this weekend. Visit the league website at www.dplbba.org where you can stay on top of playoff game schedules. Our teams loves it when our school community comes out to cheer them on! So, put on your blue and gold, load up the car and bring your Saints pride to cheer our teams on to a strong finish!
Basketball Banquet invites were emailed this week. The banquet will be held on Thursday, March 23 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Contact Erika Baka at jnebaka@gmail.com if you did not receive your invite.
BLUE OUT is BACK! Be sure to come out to the ASCA gym on Friday, March 10 at 6:30 pm for a SPECIAL night honoring our 8th grade players and their parents! We have some fun things planned for this night as we host our 8th graders one last time on HOME court. Wear your Blue Out shirt for free admission!
Practice and meet schedules for Track & Field will be released and communicated to all registrants soon. Parents of track & field athletes…. information will be coming soon on meet job assignments.
Stay Calm and Dribble On!!!
