MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Jan. 28 – Open House for prospective parents 9:00am – 6:00pm
Feb. 11 – P/T/S conferences 3:00pm – 7:15pm
Feb. 12 – P/T/S conferences 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Feb. 13 – 17 – No school
Feb. 21 – End of 2nd Trimester
Mar. 31-Apr. 4 – Spring Break
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ASCENSION ALUMS – YOU MAKE US PROUD!
The following Assumption students received honors for the first semester of the 24-25 school year:
Principal’s List – Avery Lewis, Brinkley Todd, Emma Tingle, Gwen Baker & Kamryn Benner
First Honors – Maddie Gipson, Anna Zimmerman, Tatum Mullaney & Piper Steurer
Second Honors – Audrey Hynes & Abby Lile
SUMMER CAMP IS ON!!!!!!
We have had several people step up and agree to work summer camp and we feel we can offer the same level of camp that we have in the past. I love this community and their dedication to making all things work for the greater good!!! I will be sending out a staff list later this winter as I am able to get bios and pictures. You will see many familiar faces from last year as well as a few new ones and we hope to be adding a few more new faces as we begin the planning process.
We take students who have completed our three-year-old preschool through those who have completed up to 5th grade. I know many of you have made other summer plans and I understand that, please let me know if you have already made other arrangements. I am so sorry to all of you, this has been such an endeavor. I do have several promising candidates to interview in the next few weeks. in the meantime, we know we can offer a wonderful summer camp with the staff who have agreed to help. The registration form & info were emailed 1/21/25. If you have any questions, please contact Valerie Shell at vshell@ascension-parish.com
FISH FRY VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE SIGN-UPS – ATTENTION PARISHIONERS!
This year’s adult co-ed volleyball league begins Friday, February 28th and runs through April 11th with time off for Spring Break. A team fee and shift in the concession stand is required to participate. Team captains should contact Lynn Thompson at 502-767-6315 or lynnthompson72@gmail.com by February 21st. Team members should be parishioners and 19 or older. A maximum of 14 teams will be accepted for play.
Extended Adoration for Unborn Children
Tomorrow, January 22, marks the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.” To honor this, Ascension will offer extended Eucharistic Adoration from 9 AM (following daily Mass) until 8 PM. Please note, that there will be no confessions due to availability. We welcome you to join for as long as your schedule allows. Thank you for your prayers and commitment to this vital ministry.
SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING
Do you need Safe Environment Training? St. Agnes will host one on 1/21 at 6:30pm, and St. Margaret Mary will host one on 1/27 at 6:30pm. If you have children in athletics, please take this training. If there is ever a sports practice where 1 coach cannot make it, we would need a second adult with Safe Environment Training in attendance for the practice to still be held. If you happen to have this training, then your presence can help ensure that our youth events can still be held in such situations. More information on the trainings can be found at www.archlou.org/safe. For more info on Safe Environment Training see below.
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.
ATHLETICS
Starting in February, we’re launching “Sports After Sunday Mass”! This free activity begins after Mass (around 11:45 a.m.) and is open to JK-6th graders. Kids in 7th/8th grade or older can help with the groups.
Each week features a surprise sport, including traditional and non-traditional options like ball hockey or handball. The first 30 minutes are drills, followed by a scrimmage:
• 8U (8 and under) kids play the first half.
• 12U (12 and under) kids play the second half.
Total time: about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Parents and family members are welcome to join in drills if they’ve completed Safe Environment Training and informed the parish.
To RSVP, register on GameDay:
https://gameday.loucsaa.net/dashboard
• Create a free account if you don’t have one.
• No payment is needed—just add the activity to your cart and click “purchase.”
Tentative start date: the first Sunday in February. Weekly dates will be on the Band calendar.
Questions? Let us know in Band or email ascensionlonghornathletics@gmail.com
Spring Sports Registration is open in GameDay!! Please log into to CSAA – GameDay to register your kids for the following sports:
Boys Volleyball (grades 3-8)
Cost: $40
Registration closes 1/31
Boys Volleyball (grades 1-2)
Cost: $25
Registration closes 2/21
Track and Field (grades 1-8)
Cost: $25
Registration closes 2/21
Co-Ed Soccer (grades 3-8)
Cost: $50
Registration closes 2/21
Co-Ed Soccer (grades JK-2)
Cost: $25
Registration closes 2/21
Band/Athletics
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
Pajama Party Bunco! – January 25
Come have a fun “Mom’s Night Out” at our Pajama Party Bunco this Saturday, January 25th! Feel free to bring your friends, snacks, and your comfiest PJs while we have a fun-filled evening. Entry will be $10 at the door, but we do ask that you RSVP in advance via the link below. All RSVPs will receive a drink ticket with their entry fee.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4CA5A829A7F8C52-54172254-pajama
Ascension Dance-A-Thon – February 8th 12 – 3 PM
Our first Dance-A-Thon is set for February 8th from 12-3 PM. This event will include dancing, pie in the face, face painting, bounce house obstacle course, photo booth, and the popular Art Auction! Students are collecting donations until January 31st and will receive the following for their fundraising efforts:
First $25 – 1 raffle ticket entry and an Ascension stadium cup
Every additional $25 – 1 raffle ticket entry
Over $500 – 5 additional raffle tickets and 1 out of uniform pass
Top Class – 1 raffle entry per student, 1 out of uniform pass per student, and a Class Party!
Top Student – 5 additional raffle tickets, 1 out of uniform pass, $25 Target gift card, and Pie the Principal during School!!
Donations can be collected in person or online at: https://www.zeffy.com/fundraising/ascension-dance-a-thon-donation
To volunteer for the event, sign up at http://tinyurl.com/ascensiondancemarathon
Glow Girl Daughter Dance – New Date!!
The Daughter Dance has been rescheduled to February 15th from 6:30-8:30 PM. Come get your glow on and join us for a night of dancing and fun in the Ascension gym! This event is free for daughters and their grown up to attend, but please RSVP here so we can plan accordingly!
**Note: if you RSVP’d for the January date we do request that you RSVP again in order for us to ensure an accurate headcount. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScWe2D1yHH1lf_AEO11JxLP9XYL43wwSSE4eMTxfDPjD68Z7w/viewform?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1kH2sJ7XMzuxst2pB4khldfmnjaj3d9RtgpZEr7KwHTZGl1NE00GphK38_aem_JnEHbMgEVs_igrEJqo0g6g
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, February 11th 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:
April 7th – PARLOUR J-town
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!