What I have seen and heard: 3/10/23

Memo from the Head of School

Memo

To: All ASCS Parents

From: Steve Virgadamo

Date: March 10, 2023

Re: Week 27 – Head of School Journal Entry – March 6, 2023 – March 10, 2023

I love the analogy below. It was shared with me by a colleague and I thought it was worth sharing as we continue our journey though Lent together.

When God wanted to create fish, He spoke to the sea.

When God wanted to create trees, he spoke to the earth.

But when God wanted to create man, He turned to himself. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image and likeness.”

If you take a fish out of the water, it will die.

If you uproot a tree from the soil, it too will die.

Likewise, when man is disconnected from God he dies.

God is our natural environment; we were meant to live in His presence. We have to be connected to HIM because it is only in HIM that life exists. Let us stay connected to God.

Will you be in the room where it happens?

Has Maureen Fahey, Peggy Farrington, Jeanne Fuller, Laura Wrinn, Kathy Iannazzo, Rachael Inzitari, Rosa Milo, Mauyra Brown, Leslie Lombardi, Beth Cuthbertson, Meg Perez, John Mezzacappa, Joey Smith, Liz Spezzano or Kate Tarczali gone the extra step/mile for you, your family and young scholar?

How about Linda Dunn, Roseanne Corrente, Michele Cihal, Pat Stapleton, Al Martins or Eileen D'Andrea? Have they touched your life in a positive manner?

In the hit musical Hamilton performers sing ----- “I want to be in the room where it happens”

This takes on two meanings for us at All Saints. The classrooms are the rooms where our teachers make it happen every day for your scholar(s). They work tirelessly and at great sacrifice work to form and inform your child(ren). We are blessed at All Saints that we have more than 20 faculty and staff members who have been doing this for more than 10 years.

If you are a current parent, parent of a graduate, or a graduate and one or more of the faculty or staff members above touched your life, then you’ll want to be in the room where it will happen. The second meaning for us regarding being in the room where it happens refers to Saturday, April 29th as it is GRATITUDE NIGHT.

It’s time to say thank you to the people referenced above, who have for more than 10 years been the true SAINTS of All Saints.

These staff members have given their lives for you and your children. Let us be there for them on their special night. Let’s be in the room where it will happen.

Go to this page 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. Don’t 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 are Family……

I got all my brothers and sisters with me

We are family – Get up everybody and sing.

We are Family - Get up everybody and come to Family Bingo Night on Friday, March 17, 2023. It will be held at the school in the St. Martha Dining Hall. The only thing better than having our scholars under one roof is having our scholars and their families together under one roof.

March Madness and the Perfect Final Four

Moving on Up...

Move up day was March 6, 2023. It was a huge success. Each young scholar got a sneak preview of what to expect next year at their new grade level. Consistent with our goals of College and Heaven the 8th graders left campus to tour Sacred Heart University. I was delighted to purchase breakfast for the class of 2023 and chat with them before we left for Sacred Heart. The essence of the chat was a simple one - with Jesus in your heart and hard work you can accomplish all you want to in life. We talked about goals – academic ones and career aspirations. I encouraged them to set their goals high. I reminded them that while high school was the next step – the decisions they make in high school will impact their college years and beyond. Lastly, I reminded each scholar that their attitude will impact their altitude most. Ask your child(ren) about Move Up Day. There is a real sense of excitement on campus about what is coming next year. If you have not yet reenrolled for next year – please do so today. We are already in the open enrollment and classes are filling up with new families.

Admissions Position Opening

As I shared a few weeks ago, Denise Vuoso resigned her position at ASCS to take a more active role in her family business. We have taken this opportunity to revisit Administrative job descriptions and functions. The new admissions position will be a 12-month administrative-level position. Michele Cihal has a copy of the position description. It has not yet been posted, but will be shortly. If you’d like a preview of the position description so that you might share with individuals whom you know that might have the background or experience to do the job - please contact Michele to secure a copy and share it as we want to find the best candidates – individuals who bring the skill sets and are also a cultural fit. You can encourage any candidate that might be interested to share 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.

School Culture

How do we know we are building a healthy school culture? Let me share an observation from the week.

Faith

Three of our 4th-grade scholars gave up their recess since the beginning of Lent to build a life-size Jesus on the Cross. It is a work of art and charity too. Thank you to Trevor, Lucia, and Matteo. Each of their parents can say – “This is my beloved child of whom I am most proud.”

Hope

Our class of 2023-- of whom we are most proud-- visited Sacred Heart University on Move Up day. Almost without exception, our scholars highlighted the Holy Spirit Chapel as one of the best parts of the tour. Think about it….athletic fields par excellence, athletic center, beautiful new dorm rooms, modern labs, high-tech classrooms, and performing arts facilities, and our scholars were moved by the Chapel. It was in the Chapel that we prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to guide their high school journeys and bless their paths to College and Heaven.

Charity

At ASCS Gratitude is an Attitude. A few parents have said that due to childcare issues, and family commitments etc. that they could not attend the Angel benefit and be in the room where the gratitude is extended en masse to their child’s teacher, but were quick to ask how to send a note of gratitude and recognition for a teacher or several included in the Angel Benefit Journal.