With love and forgiveness, new beginnings are possible.
This has been an extraordinary week. All the thrill and anticipation of the election of Pope Francis has given a heightened sensitivity to the mission of our church and the grace of our faith. I am glad that I am here for this moment in time.
I read a daily posting by Fr Rick Poro from Benedictine University. The posting last Thursday was “What’s done is done. An inexhaustible source of human unhappiness is the ability to recall and vividly relive painful past events. In no time at all, you can find yourself digging up regrettable past events, recalling painful memories, refueling resentment over some slight, or beating yourself up for some personal failure. Fortunately the season of spring reminds us that God is forever looking forward. Bulbs are bursting forth. New blades of grass emerge. Buds appear on tree branches. All of creation moves forward; shouldn’t you as well? Today is a good day to refrain from looking backward. Instead, along with God and nature, face the unwritten future with joyful hope.” These sentiments fit so well with our Lenten theme, that I wanted to share them with you. As we will be on Spring Break during Holy Week, I wish you a blessed week of feeling close to the Lord, and awe at the wonderful sacrifice that Jesus offered so that we would also be able to share in his resurrection. This is the most beautiful week of our church year. Let it wash over you and give you grace.
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.
Dinner Dance Auction “Home DVD”
One of the highlights of the auction was the “Home” DVD which featured all of our students and staff. We are extremely grateful to ASCA parent, Young Shin, who created and produced this video. Copies of the DVD are available for purchase in the Main Office for $20.
Kindergarten Round Up
All Saints will be holding a Kindergarten Round Up on Thursday, April 11 from 9 – 10:30 am. If you know anyone who is interested in enrolling their child in kindergarten for the 2013-2014 school year, please invite them to join us to find out more about the kindergarten experience at ASCA. Students need to have turned 5 years of age on or before September 1, 2013 to begin kindergarten this fall.
Pre Kindergarten Open House
All Saints will be holding an open house for our Pre Kindergarten program on Sunday, April 21 from 9 am until Noon at our St. Elizabeth Seton Satellite Campus, located at 2220 Lisson Road, Naperville, 60540. This program meets 5 days per week, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am-12:30 pm. Openings are currently available for students who will be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2013.
2013-2014 Calendar
The Diocese has changed an in-service date for next year. We originally scheduled March 7, 2014 as an in-service, but that has been changed to February 28, 2014. Please note the change.
Puberty Presentations for Father/Son and Mother/Daughter
Friday, April 5th 6:30-8:30 pm
The SHPP Faith Formation Committee has invited Dr. Coleen Mast, a leader in the field of chastity education, to offer her popular “Puberty Presentations for Father/Son and Mother/Daughter” to our Fifth Grade class and their parents. The sessions will be held on Friday April 5th from 6:30-8:30 pm in McSherry Hall (Mother/Daughter), and in the Gym (Father/Son). The talks consist of two simultaneous two hour presentations in two different rooms; the girls led by Dr. Mast, and the boys led by a pro-life man. The presentations will include videos and discussions on how to mature spiritually and emotionally while these physical changes are taking place. The presentation will include some theology and biology of the body, with practical advice for puberty and virtue challenges. The boys’ program is entitled “Strong, Smart and Pure;” while the girls’ program is called “Truth, Beauty, & Life.” While this is a 5th grade specific program, Dr. Renehan is recommending that 4th grade parents attend but without their children. Participation in these sessions is optional and at no additional cost. No food will be offered during these sessions. For more information about Dr. Mast, please visit www.sexrespect.com.
D203 Busing Changes
Please make a note on your upcoming calendars. There will be no busing all day (to and from school) this Friday, March 22 for District 203 bus riders. All other buses will be running on those days. Please make alternative transportation arrangements on these days.
ASCA Spring Book Fair
The Spring Book Fair continues today and tomorrow morning as follows:
Wednesday, March 20 9:15 am - 11:30 am, and
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm (parents evening)
Thursday, March 21 8:00 am - 9:15 am (Book Sales), and 9:15 am - 1:00 pm (Closing)
You may also go online and purchase your books from now through March 29th only at http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/allsaints. All online purchases will be automatically shipped to the school. The Scholastic team will contact you via email to inform you that your order has arrived; and it will be given to your older child to take home.
ASCA Feed My Starving Children Packing Session, Saturday, April 27
Share some quality time with your family while making a difference in a child’s life. To register your family for this 11:30 am -1:30 pm session, follow the instructions below:
Visit http://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 257187 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.
Feed My Starving Children packaging sessions are held at 555 Exchange Court, Aurora, IL 60504. Children in grades 3 and up are welcome to participate. Please contact Michele Klein at mklein511@comcast.net with any questions.
Community Outreach - Events In Our Community:
Hopping for Hope – Saturday, April 13th
Calling all moms....are you looking for something to do the night of the Daddy-Daughter Dance (4/13) with your son? Airtastic in Aurora is hosting a fundraiser night "Hopping for Hope" to support the 2013 Naperville Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk. The event is from 6-9 pm. There is a $15 donation for one jumper, $25 donation for a family of jumpers. Parents are FREE! There will be a kids raffle: $5 for 6 tickets or $1 each, but the first ticket is FREE. Drinks and light snacks will be available.
To register, go to http://13NapervilleWalk.kintera.org/airtasticapril13. Please contact Ann Zediker at jazediker@comcast.net with any questions.
360 Youth Services Spring Ahead – Sunday, April 14
360 Youth Services has served the western suburbs for 42 years, and provides life-changing services to youth through prevention education, counseling and shelter. 5K, 10K, and Kids Fun Run registration now open. $30 for 5K, $35 for 10K, $15 for Kids Fun Run. To register, please go to www.360springahead.com.
Save the Date: Parenting Kids in Today’s Techie World
Wednesday, May 1 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Nancy Kratz, Ph.D. from Samaritan Interfaith will present ways on how we, as parents, deal with our “wired children” in this new digital age. She’ll touch upon what parents really want to know about video gaming along with the effect of technology on your relationships and ourselves. She’ll also discuss how we can be good digital citizens regarding privacy and safety and she’ll help us to make a parent-child technology contract. Lastly, Dr. Kratz will talk about how we balance technology in our lives. All parents are welcome to join Dr. Kratz in McSherry Hall on Wednesday, May 1st from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
Attention Crafters
The Visual Arts students need your help! We are in need of feathers, buttons, beads, small dowel rods, etc. for our projects. Please take a look through your boxes, bags, and junk drawers. If you have any of these items that you no longer need, we would love to have them!! Thank you!
ASCA Basketball Banquet
This season’s basketball banquet will be held at ASCA on Friday, April 19, 2013, beginning at 6:00 pm. Registration deadline is Friday, April 5, 2013.
Head coaches and players are free. However, we ask that you please send the completed registration form back to the school office so we can accurately count the number of attendees. Please note, due to the large number of basketball teams, we must limit attendance to players, coaches and parents. Siblings who did not play basketball cannot be accommodated. We are sorry for any inconvenience, but ask that you please comply.
Uniforms should be returned at the banquet. Uniforms need to be thoroughly washed and dried before they are returned. If you do not plan on attending the banquet, your uniform can be returned to the school office after April 19.
Basketball Skills Camp
Save the dates – On Saturday, May 4th and Saturday, May 11th - from noon to 2 pm, ASCA Coach Dana Menendez will be holding a basketball skills camp for grades 3 thru 8. Stay tuned for more details to come.