CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
Dear Ascension Friends, Families and Parishioners,

Please join us for National Catholic Schools Week, our annual celebration of what makes education at Ascension outstanding. Starting with Saturday Mass on January 27th at 4pm, we have a whole week of activities planned to celebrate the community and parish we have built to educate tomorrow’s citizens and church leaders. Here is our schedule for the week:

Saturday and Sunday, January 27 & 28 – Celebrate Parish – thank you banner in gathering space and thank you cards made by students to be handed out after masses. Recognition at 10:30am mass of Tony Forns and Bill Hesse for volunteer service and Marina Coppol, 1st grade; John Guevara, 4th grade and McKenna Lindsey, 7th grade, for exemplifying the ideals of Catholic education. Tour of school following 4pm mass on Saturday and 10:30 mass on Sunday. Tour of new library with Tony Forns following 8:30am mass on Sunday.

Monday, January 29 – Celebrate Parents – Faculty/Staff will hand out pre-packaged treats/thank you cards during AM carpool to parents. Dress down day for students, faculty and staff. Students bring either $1 or an educational supply to be donated to charity. Penny challenge begins in school.

Tuesday, January 30 – Celebrate Communities – Open House from 9am-6pm. Archdiocesan CSW mass at St. Agnes (8 students attending).

Wednesday, January 31 – Celebrate Vocations – thank you letters to Fr. Robert and Deacon John. Fr. Robert and Little Sisters of the Poor visit classrooms. School mass. Crazy Socks Day with uniform. Adoration/confession will not be today, Jan 31st as previously listed. Adoration will be Friday, 2/2 from 2pm-5pm and confessions from 4pm-5pm.

Thursday, February 1 – Celebrate Faculty/Staff – FACULTY ONLY dress down. PTO provides lunch for faculty and staff. Administration provides teacher room service (coffee and bagel delivered to their classroom). Crazy Hair with uniform.

Friday, February 2– Celebrate Students – Spirit wear with uniform bottoms. Pep rally at 1pm. Adoration will be from 2pm-5pm and confessions from 4pm-5pm.

The theme of our celebration is “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.” The theme encompasses the core products and values that can be found in Catholic schools across the country. Not only are we teaching students to become future servant leaders, faith-filled disciples and enriched citizens in our communities, educators are growing with them. In Catholic schools, we are all learners, servants and leaders. These shared qualities are what make Catholic schools work. They are what make Catholic schools succeed.

The theme also focuses on key elements of Catholic education: faith development, academic excellence and dedication to service. These elements set Catholic schools apart from other educational options. They are why families make sacrifices to provide their children with a Catholic education.

I am grateful every day for the teachers, staff, parishioners, board members, parents and volunteers who make our school a success. National Catholic Schools Week is a good time for all of us to thank them for their dedication and service.

Devotedly yours in Christ,
Terrence Mullaney, Principal