ASH Alums Continue Christmas Basket Tradition

December 18, 2015

Alums of all ages turned out last night—in spite of the usual demands of a busy holiday season—to pack more than 50 Christmas Baskets to be added to the school’s traditional liturgy this morning.  In this, the third year of this “Alumni Christmas Basket Gathering” event, more than $800 was donated by alums, allowing Chairs Charla Niccoli Dziedzic ’75 and Barb Luszkowski ’72 to go on a shopping spree so prodigious that they had to call a third alumna to provide more van space.
 
Besides the 50 laundry baskets they had purchased (when they were on sale), they were laden with fifty 10-pound sacks of potatoes, 50 bags of oranges, etc., etc., etc.. Not only did the group activate an assembly line to knock off the fun chore of loading these 50 planned gifts, but they also juggled the additional foodstuffs and paper products that were brought in by the carload that night.  And—best of all—they celebrated together with food, drink and good cheer in the place that had given them so many wonderful memories of past Christmases.

Merry Christmas, Academy alums!
 


Silver Teas, 2015

December 16, 2015

Silver Tea audiences—parents, grandparents, faculty, staff and everyone else—were delighted by the students’ beautiful Silver Tea performances. Thanks, boys and girls. You’ve put music in our hearts!

[nggallery id=198]


Christmas Baskets

December 16, 2015

We’ll soon be celebrating one of the Academy’s best-loved traditions: Christmas Basket Mass. In a practice several decades old, school families are invited to put together a basket of food with ingredients for a holiday meal and other small treats. Hundreds of food baskets are donated on the final day of school, piled high on Rauch Memorial bleachers during the Christmas Basket Liturgy, and delivered after Mass to a dozen charitable agencies throughout the area. When we gather for Christmas Basket Mass, these bountiful baskets will reflect the generosity of our school community.

In a newer tradition—now in its third year—ASH Alumni gather the evening before the Basket Mass to assemble their own food baskets. Their baskets are added to the collection the following day, and expand the circle of those in need who can be helped this holiday season.

When assembling a food basket, please use a sturdy container (e.g., laundry basket, plastic trash can or tub), and include at least one meat item (e.g., turkey or ham) that will be kept appropriately chilled by our receiving crew on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 17–18. CLICK HERE for a list of possible items for your basket.


Opening our Hearts

December 10, 2015

ReepmeyerThe sights and sounds of Advent are being experienced at the Academy these days in many ways!

Among them are activities that open our hearts by serving those in need:

  • Food basket preparation (for the Dec. 18 Christmas Basket Mass)
  • Winter coat, hat, scarf and gloves collection
  • Children’s toy collection (through the Pajama Day)
  • Adopt-A-Family preparation (for Middle School children)  

Sights of the season open our hearts in other ways

  • Advent Wreaths – Increasing the symbolic Light of Christ each week during Advent prayers can open our hearts.
  • Advent Calendars – Incrementally nurturing our hearts can inspire openness of hearts.
  • Nativity Scenes stir us to open our hearts as we recall the birth of a baby who is Love-Among-Us.
  • Silver Tea preparation and presentations are heart-opening for both those who sing and those who listen

With each of these, our hearts are opened a little, softened a little, made a little more tender, thus preparing us to celebrate the coming of Christ/God’s Love.
 
I look forward to seeing each of you this weekend as we continue the beautiful heart-opening journey of Advent!

Sister Glavin


Electronics Recycling at ASH

December 9, 2015

Will there be new electronics under your Christmas tree? Save your old stuff and discard it at our Electronics Recycling Drive from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Jan. 23 in the ASH parking lot. EarthWorks, the Academy’s sustainability club, is sponsoring the drive, along with Spectrum Ecycle. There’s no fee for anything except computer monitors and TVs; there’s a $10 charge per item for those.
 
In addition to the materials listed on the Spectrum Ecycle website, those pesky Christmas lights that don’t work can also be recycled!

Christmas Eve Liturgy

December 8, 2015

Join us as we celebrate the birth of the Christ Child! All are welcome to attend our Christmas Eve Liturgy in the Shrine at 10 p.m. Dec. 24. 


Silver Tea

December 8, 2015

SONY DSCAnticipation is building for this weekend’s Silver Tea performances! The children are preparing a very special holiday gift for their loved ones! Dates and times of this year’s performances are:

Friday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. for Middle School Classes 5–8

  • Rauch memorial doors open at 6:30 p.m.  ―  Children should arrive by 7:10 p.m.
  • Grandparents may attend the Middle School Dress Rehearsal on Thursday, December 10 at 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 12 at 2 p.m. for Lower School Classes P-4

  • Rauch Memorial doors open at 1 p.m.  ―  Children should arrive by 1:40 p.m.
  • Grandparents may attend the Lower School Dress Rehearsal on Friday, December 11 at 9 a.m.

PRE-PRIMARY FAMILIES will celebrate their Silver Tea in Cribbin Hall on Monday, December 14 (AM class at 10 a.m., PM class at 2 p.m.)  Grandparents are welcome.

PLEASE HELP US make the Silver Teas joyful celebrations for our children and their guests by responding to the following requests:

  1. Upon arrival, adults should take their seats in Rauch Memorial and all children should proceed, unescorted, to their assigned classrooms.
  2. If it is necessary to bring very young children to the performances, please consider the enjoyment of those around you.
  3. While parents enjoy refreshments in the White Center following the performance, P–7 students will enjoy cookies in classrooms, where they will remain until called for by their parents. Recognizing their position in the school, we invite Eighth Class students to attend the tea with their parents.

Pajama Day Toy Drive

December 4, 2015

Thanks to all who donated to the toy drive sponsored by Third Class! The students did a marvelous job coordinating the toy drive efforts. According to Mrs. Beckemeier, “The students really enjoyed presenting to the other classes, collecting the toys from all the homerooms, and loading them for the charity organization that distributes them to the needy in time for Christmas.” Wearing pajamas to school was an added perk for all students who took part in the toy drive!

One more way you can help those in need this holiday season… If you have any gently used winter apparel such as coats, hats, scarves, or gloves, or blankets, our Social Justice Leadership Council is collecting them through Tuesday, Dec. 8th.  Thank you!


Advent

December 3, 2015

imagesOne of the most beautiful liturgical seasons of the year is Advent, a time set aside by the Church in anticipation of that which is not yet:

  • It is not yet Christ’s historical birth celebration.
  • It is not yet a time when we experience Christ (God’s Love) fully present in each of our hearts.

The majority of our Advent time here at school is spent helping the children prepare their hearts. The Adopt-a-Child program, the winter Clothing Drive, the Toy Drive and the Christmas Basket preparation process (all of which you will read about below) are meant to help till the soil of our children’s hearts, thus opening a space for God’s Love to be born anew, hopefully transforming their hearts to become Christ’s Heart Among Us today!
 
Thank you for partnering so beautifully in this process. The birth of Christ in each of our hearts is indeed what our world needs to experience the peace and hope and love which is the promise of Christmas.

Happy Advent!

Sister Glavin


Helping Hands

December 3, 2015

Provide the gift of warmth this holiday season! With cold weather setting in, the Social Justice committee is collecting coats, hats, gloves, blankets, scarves and mittens for a group called Helping Hands for the Holidays. This collection will benefit those in need in the St. Charles community. Ends December 8.


Trivia Night with a ’90s Theme

November 24, 2015

Plans are underway for our annual Trivia Night on Saturday, January 23. It’s taking a new twist this year, with a totally ’90s theme. Entry fee for a team of eight is $200, or $25 per person. Beer and soda provided, with 50/50 raffle, silent auction, table decorating and attire competitions. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. with play beginning at 7:15.

Watch for more information starting December 3.