Memo from the Head of School

Memo

To: All ASCS Parents

From: Steve Virgadamo

Date: March 24, 2023  

Re: Week 29 – What I have seen and heard - Head of School Journal Entry

 

It’s been a week………

It began with Mass celebrated by Bishop Caggiano at the Cathedral in Bridgeport on Sunday. The Mass and brunch that followed was an expression of gratitude to the Knights of Columbus, who are so passionate about supporting Catholic education in the diocese of Bridgeport.



Bishop Caggiano processed down the aisle for Mass with an Honor Guard of Knights. He crossed under an arch of the crossed swords of the honor guard and I noted he was wearing rose color vestments. I am always a little jolted on the 4th Sunday of Lent when I see the priest wearing rose-colored vestments. I suppose that is because this color vestment is only worn twice a year, the Mass does stand out. Before the Mass ended Bishop Frank told us frankly that he was not wearing pink but rather rose colored vestments.


This midpoint of Lent (4th Sunday) is known as Laetare Sunday. Some call Laetare Sunday “Rejoice Sunday” as Laetare is a Latin word that means “be joyful.” Laetare Sunday is our foretaste of Easter joy. Lent has not always been a season of forty days. In the ancient church of Rome, the first Lenten fasts began the Monday three weeks before Easter. Currently that would be Monday of the 4th Week of Easter. So this day would have been more of a carnevale (farewell to meat) or Mardi Gras before the fasting began. Some of this “ joyful and carnival” feel is still retained.

 

It's so easy to be Laetare (Joyful) at All Saints.


Evangelization - On Laetare Sunday, those preparing for Baptism at the Easter Vigil receive the sacred text of the Apostles’ Creed for the first time. We have a teacher at All Saints who received the Creed on Sunday and who will on Holy Saturday receive the sacraments of baptism, communion and confirmation. It so easy to be joyful knowing that the All Saints Faith community – staff, parents, and students played a role in Ms. Bacheldor discerning her decision to participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation and enter full communion with our Church.

 

Spring Equinox - On Monday, December 20, shortly after 5 pm, the equinox occurred, and Spring arrived. The joy of spring must is an opportunity for goodness, love, peace and grace to once more blossom in our hearts. Each Easter season confronts us with the miracle of spring. Sometimes, I think that it is not an accident that our Easter festival should fall during the first weeks of spring.

 

Tradition - On Monday at All Saints we celebrated St. Joseph Day. This tradition has a special place in my heart, as I grew up in an Italian immigrant family and the feast of San Giuseppe was an important holiday. One of my all-time favorite foods is the Zeppole di San Giuseppe. Zeppoles are a pastry, almost resembling a cream puff, but fried. After it’s fried, the zeppola is cut in the middle and filled with various flavored creams or sweetened ricotta. On St. Joseph day Mrs. Dunn set the traditional “altar” or “St. Joseph’s Table” at All Saints with Zeppole di San Giuseppe for staff to enjoy.


Coincidence or minor miracle – An All Saints education has two parts - formation and information. When both happen together it is easy to be joyful. At 3:00 pm. I walked through the St. Martha Dining Hall. Many of our scholars were still there doing homework. One said to me,” Mr. V, I’m a little hungry is there anything to eat.” At that hour of the day, long past lunch, the answer is usually – no. However, I remembered there were still St. Joseph day Zeppole’s in the refrigerator. I brought the box of pastries to them and gathered all of the scholars in the dining hall and talked with them about the feast of St. Joseph. I was able to explain that Italians claim St. Joseph as a patron saint as he saved the people of Sicily from a great drought. I shared with them that in Italy and many other parts of the world people celebrate Father’s day on St Joseph day. I explained that some parts of Southern Italy, communities traditionally lay a common St. Joseph’s table and offer free Zepploes for the hungry. As they enjoyed the zeppoles, one of the young scholars said: Mr. V, you just did that for us.


Tears of Joy….Almost each day of the week, Eileen D’Andrea would come tell me we had secured a $10,000 sponsor, $5,000 sponsor or another $2500 sponsor for the gala. She’d share that another table of tickets for the gala had been purchased and that the Angel Benefit Committee was securing numerous, valuable and fun silent auction or raffle items for the event. But, what brought us the most joy was the number of friends, parents and alumni who were calling to purchase a ticket for a staff member. Others still, were going on line to purchase an ad to be included in the Benefit Journal. Many were including a personal word of gratitude in their ad for a specific teacher. Each one is very moving. There is no doubt that our staff will have tears of joy on the night of the gala when they see how many have turned out to say thank you to them and when they read the touching ads from the e-journal.


So, yes it’s been a week – a week of JOY!

 

Bingo…

Well not exactly, something I have seen and heard this week, but on Friday of last week HSA sponsored Family Night Bingo. Thank you to Yeire Singwald and Karen Guerrero for organizing family bingo night and Mary Vladimirov for coordinating Raffle drawing as a highlight of the Bingo festivities. Seeing our scholars with their classmates and parents enjoying the festivities gave me great joy. We should look forward to more of these festivities next year - events that are just about families being together in the community and of course having fun.

 

Trinitarian relationships – I really believe that All Saints is successful because of the TRINITARIAN relationship among parents, staff, and scholars. I had the pleasure of enjoying brunch at Bishop Caggiano’s Knights of Columbus gratitude event with Leah Krauer and Mathew Kovatch and their parents this week. Mrs. Dunn and I, and their parents were so proud of Mathew and Leah. They were at an adult event and demonstrated poise, dining etiquette and the formation they receive at home and at school.

 

Admissions Position Opening

The position of Director of Enrollment Management has been posted on the diocesan website and Catholic Jobs.com. Take a glance, consider it yourself and share with anyone you think might want to join our vibrant administrative team.

 

We are now accepting applications and have received some this week. I suspect the interview process will begin in late April or early May. Candidates can apply by sharing with me via email, a copy of a resume and a cover letter outlining why their background, experiences, and understanding of the mission of Catholic education makes them a candidate for the position.

 

Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In……Lord I Want to Be in That Number

Each day some 50+ Saints come Marching into the ASCS Hallowed Halls ready to continue their ministry of forming and informing your child(ren). These staff members are blessed to stand on the shoulders of giants – many of whom have marched into the school to dedicating 10, 15, 20, 25 30 years or more to families.


On Saturday evening April 29, these veteran saints will go marching into the banquet hall at the Italian Club in Stamford to receive warm accolades and gratitude for the work they have done and recognition for the lives they have touched. Let’s plan on showing our teachers the appreciation each deserves for their commitment to Christ, His Church and your family.


If you are unable to attend, you can still be in that number – sponsor an e-journal add extending gratitude to a teacher honoree who has made a difference in the life of your young scholar. Some parents are being creative and using the e-journal to include a photo of their child(ren) and a gratitude message to one or more of the teachers. These e-journal posts will be shared on the evening and a copy of personalized ones given in a memorial format to each respective teacher/staff member post the event.


Go to this link so that you can be in the room where it will happen – the room where we all get to show our gratitude to the SAINTS of All Saints. Do not miss this opportunity to let them know by your presence how much you appreciate all they have done and continue to do for your family.

 

We always want to be better tomorrow than today….


Announcing 2023-2024 Early Morning Drop Off and Breakfast in the Dining Room Offering for Families

During the listening sessions this year, several parents expressed an interest in an early morning drop off program. I am excited to announce that we will offer such a program beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. For a modest fee, parents will be able to drop scholars off at the front entrance between 6:45 and 7:10 AM. Scholars will be served breakfast in the dining room with ASCS morning news program available as well. More on this to come as we plan for next year. The program director will be Ms. Cihal and the teacher supervision will include Mrs. Smith, Ms. Cassin and Mrs. Fahey. There will be a limited number of reservations available, so if interested speak with Ms. Cihal as soon as you have signed your 2023-2024 enrollment contract so she can reserve space for you.

 

All Saints Core Beliefs

We continue to be blessed with families wanting to tour the school and enroll a child at ASCS for the 2023-2024 school year. There are actually several classes that might soon have to waitlist candidates. During my conversations with prospective parents, I discuss our goals for each student, the profile of the graduate at graduation and our core values.

 

Our overall arching goal is to:

 

Launch young people on a pathway to College and the stairway to Heaven

 

The profile of our graduate says that our graduates are:

 

  1. Disciples
  2. Resilient
  3. Generous
  4. Kind
  5. Leaders
  6. Innovative
  7. Compassionate
  8. Faithful
  9. Confident
  10. Respectful


 

And our core beliefs state:

  • WE have an incarnation view of the world and hence there are no secular subjects
  •  WE believe parents are the primary educator of their child(ren) and we collaborate with each parent in not just education, but the formation of each child.
  • WE believe children learn differently and that every child can learn. Some young scholars learn by seeing, others by hearing and still others need to do something to grasp new information. Our master teachers work with parents and scholars to incorporate the appropriate learning style for each student.
  • WE believe in a Trinitarian relationship and that scholars learn best when each young scholar, teacher and parent are actively engaged in the teaching learning process.
  • WE believe that the deeper we drink of the beauty, goodness and joy of the Gospel message the more capable we are of creating communities and even nations that respect human dignity and our hearts to life giving transcendent truths.

 

Lastly, I tell them to speak with you, our current parents about the unique experience of an All Saints education for your child.

 

 

Saintly Whisper

“Keep the joy of loving God in your heart and share this joy with all you meet, especially your family. Be holy.”

St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

 

Have a blessed weekend and as always please let me know how we can better serve you and your family.


God bless,

 Steven

139 West Rocks Road,
Norwalk, CT 06851
Phone: 203-416-1638
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