MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Dec. 12 – 6:30pm Gr’s. K-5 Christmas Program
Dec. 20 – 12:30pm dismissal, NO Kids Time
Dec. 23 – Jan. 3 – Christmas/New Years Holidays
Jan. 4/5 – Winter sports blessings will be at all masses
Jan. 6 – School resumes
Jan. 20 – MLK Holiday
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM-GR’S. K-5 – DECEMBER 12, 6:30PM
The Christmas program will be in the gym. Students should arrive by 6:15pm and should dress Christmas festive (sweaters, dresses, ties, etc.) unless they have a costume for the play portion.
K-2 is first, followed by the band. Last is the grades 3-5 production of A Christmas Carol.
CAFETERIA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Starting in January we are looking to have volunteer help in the kitchen. We need one volunteer each day to work from 10:30 to 1:00. If you would like to volunteer, please email Margaret Steurer, msteurer@ascension-parish.com, when you would be available to help out.
LAST CALL TO HELP FIX THE PLAYGROUND
GivingTuesday is TODAY, and we are asking you to join us in our efforts to make this the most inspiring and joy-filled day of giving our Catholic community has ever seen!
If you have already participated in #iGiveCatholic during the Advanced Giving phase, THANK YOU! Your generosity is creating a ripple effect RIGHT NOW! If you haven’t made your gift yet, we are inviting you to take five minutes to give to Ascension. Any amount will help to rebuild our playground surfaces as they are in desperate need of repair to remain safe for our students to enjoy during recess.
Here’s how you can make a HUGE difference today:
• Make a donation of $20 or more online HERE.
• Bring a cash or check donation of any amount to our office.
• Spread the word. Text a friend. Forward this email. Post on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram tagging us @ascensionparishlouisville or just use the hashtag #iGiveCatholic! Oh, and you can also just tell someone in person. That works even better.
Thank you for your support!
COME LET US ADORE HIM!
Before your December calendar fills up with Christmas preparations and activities, save the date of Wednesday, December 11. On that date we will have extended Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Confession will be available starting at 7:00 PM.
There is no better way to prepare your heart for Christmas than spending time with real reason for the season.
Jesus doesn’t care if you spend all day, one hour or a few minutes with Him. He loves you so much and just wants you to say you love Him back by just stopping in to see Him.
Here are some ways to make time for Him:
• Stay after the school Mass on Wednesday.
• Drop in during your daily neighborhood walk.
• Visit while waiting in the carpool line.
• Drop in before/after you pick up your kids from the after-school program.
Visit while your kids are at practice or before/after you pick them up.
ATHLETICS
Future Longhorn Swimmers:
If you are interested in signing up for Ascension Swim Team please follow these directions.
Go to GameDay and register your swimmer(s) (see link below). There is further information at the bottom of this email regarding practices and the swim meet date. Please make sure you note these dates. More information will be sent out for tentative dates.
You are now able to register for swimming on GameDay: https://gameday.loucsaa.net/
Grades 1-8
Boys & Girls
Cost: $35
Coach – Haley Mussler
Swim Coordinator – Stephanie Koenig
Practice: Sundays 6-7pm at St X Pool.
Swim Meet: TBD
Registration closes: 1/12/25
Program begins: 1/5/25
Program ends: end of February or beginning of March
Excited for an awesome swim season! Please let me know if you have any questions!
Stephanie Koenig
Swim Team Coordinator
Basketball Coordinator needed!
We are still looking for a basketball coordinator for boys 3-8th grade!!! Please if you are interested let us know at ascensionlonghornathletics@gmail.com
Also, our basketball season gets long, and help with gym management is sometimes really appreciated. It is also very helpful to give some rest hours to our busy coordinators and coaches. If you would be able to support the Athletic one day this season with a single weekend for 3-8 grade basketball game as a gym manager, please also let us know. That will help tremendously!!!
Band
Have you joined Band? We have 171 members and climbing! If you have not done it yet, please use the link https://band.us/n/a3abA9T6v5Udd to get to the free app that can be accessed from a PC or mobile phone. We are updating our Basketball Calendar; posting training courses and drills for practices; organizing extra fun games days and clinics; access to our latest board meeting minutes; and very soon we will be posting days for fun games after Sunday Mass for all the family!
Please also remember that all students, regardless of participation in Ascension Athletics, are required to complete and return the Ascension Sportsmanship Contract. Please return those to your children’s teachers as soon as possible if you have not already done so.
As always, feel free to reach out with any athletics questions to the Athletics Board – our email is AscensionLonghornAthletics@gmail.com.
FROM THE PTO
Cookies with Santa – December 8th @ 11:30 AM
Get in the Holiday spirit with the PTO at Cookies with Santa on December 8th after 10:30 mass! Children will be able to get their picture taken with Santa, enjoy cookies, and create a selection of holiday crafts!
The PTO is transitioning from Slack to the BAND app to help streamline communications. Join the “Ascension PTO” group on the BAND app by clicking the link below so you don’t miss any important updates! https://band.us/n/aba4A1A1R49fX
Our next PTO meeting is Tuesday, December 10th in the Ascension library.
Service hour opportunity: If you have a student interested in volunteering to offer childcare during PTO meetings, please sign them up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4CA5A829A7F8C52-51176614-ptomeeting
Upcoming Restaurant Night Fundraisers:
Dec. 18th – Parlour Pizza (J-Town location)
Jan. 20th – Texas Roadhouse
PTO WEBSITE – https://sites.google.com/view/ascensionpto/home
PTO FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/groups/421480501922288/
PTO NEWSLETTER – https://sites.google.com/view/ascensionpto/monthly-newsletter
Thank you,
Ascension PTO
SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING
The Archdiocese requires all who volunteer or work with minors to have a background check done every five years (processed for free by the parish office). Also, an initial in-person Safe Environment Training must be completed (dates and locations available at www.archlou.org/safe). This training must be renewed every five years by doing a one-hour online course (ask parish office for the website).
If you volunteer or work around children at all, you must be up-to-date on these requirements. Please call the parish office if you have any questions.
If you are currently not up-to-date, you may continue in your work only if there are two other adults present who are up to date AND you are currently in the process of renewing your training and background check.
Anyone who is not currently volunteering but who might possibly volunteer in the future is welcome to go ahead and receive the initial in-person training. That way you wouldn’t have to scramble to do the training if you suddenly decided to volunteer for a youth event. Please submit the certificate you receive there to our parish secretary for her records.
Thank you so much for your service to our community and for your diligence in helping our parish be a responsible and safe place for our kids.
Sincerely,
Fr. Robert
BOX TOPS COLLECTION
Did you know that Ascension is a Box Tops school? During this challenging time, our teachers and students need more help than ever. No matter what school looks like, Box Tops for Education is a fast and easy way for you to help out from home.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: Buy participating products and use the Box Tops mobile app to scan your store receipt. The app identifies eligible products and automatically adds Box Tops to your school’s earnings online. Even if you’re shopping online or doing grocery pickup, you can still submit your e-receipts and earn Box Tops. Twice a year, our school gets a check!
The PTO uses money earned from Box Tops to fund our iPad program and other classroom needs for our students!
Here’s how YOU can help earn money for our school!
• DOWNLOAD the Box Tops app and select our school to support. This ensures that your Box Tops purchases count toward our school’s earnings.
• SHOP for Box Tops products and use the app to scan your receipt to add to our school’s earnings online.
• LOOK for any remaining Box Tops clips on packages. If you find some, clip them and send them to school!
• SPREAD THE WORD about Box Tops!
FUN TIP: You can also use the “Invite Friends” feature in the app to ask friends and family to help support our school!
Your earnings may seem small, but they really do add up. The more people that participate, the bigger the impact we can make. So let’s give our teachers the support they need and help give more kids the opportunity to dream. Little by little, we can help make a BIG difference.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW BOX TOPS WORKS AT BTFE.COM
INCLEMENT WEATHER NOTICE
As winter approaches, there is always the chance we will need to close, delay or dismiss early. Here is what you will need to know in each event:
INCLEMENT WEATHER: The decision to close schools due to weather conditions is announced by radio, TV, and social media for Catholic schools in Jefferson County. One of the following announcements will be made:
1. All Catholic elementary and high schools in Jefferson County are OPEN.
2. Catholic elementary and high schools in Jefferson County will be OPEN BUT ON A DELAYED SCHEDULE.
3. All Catholic elementary and high schools in Jefferson County are CLOSED.
Ascension will also send closure announcement via email and text to all Ascension families.
DELAYED SCHEDULE- two hour delay: Café doors will open at 9:10am. Carpool begins at 9:40am. Classes begin at 9:55am.
EARLY DISMISSAL-ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: No public announcement is made about system-wide early dismissal in Jefferson County Catholic elementary schools except in the case of extreme emergency. Ascension will notify parents via email and text of an early dismissal.
REMINDER
Student’s who are absent should be phoned in or emailed to Ms. Thomas by 8:15am. There is a 24 hour message system for you to phone in absences, 451-2535 ext. 22.
Also, it is very important that your child/ren arrive at school on time daily! Students should be in their class and chair by 7:55am. If your child is late, you must come in to sign them in. Thank you!