April 13, 2020
NEWSLETTER
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All Saints Catholic School, a regional faith-based community, focuses on academic excellence while ensuring the dignity of each individual. While modeling Gospel values, the school incorporates a STEM approach to teaching and learning in order to prepare its population
for the challenges of a global society.
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Happy Easter
From
All Saints Catholic School
The Lord is Risen, Alleluia!…He is Risen indeed, Alleluia!
For this Easter Sunday, I prayed that I would have words of inspiration and hope to offer our school community in this time of trouble…but it is not me nor words that offer hope…
it is the empty tomb,
Jesus risen from the dead…Jesus ALIVE… who IS our hope!
May we sit before the empty tomb today, knowing that Jesus passed from death to life and so offers that possibility to each of us! Let us place all of our fears, worries, sufferings and struggles into the tomb that we might pass from death to life and experience the peace and joy that are ours in our Risen Lord!
An Easter Morning Prayer
Lord God,
You loved this world so much,
That you gave your one and only Son,
That we might be called your children too.
Lord, help us to live in the gladness and grace
Of Easter Sunday, everyday.
Let us have hearts of thankfulness
For your sacrifice.
Let us have eyes that look upon
Your grace and rejoice in our salvation.
Help us to walk in that mighty grace
And tell your good news to the world.
All for your glory do we pray, Lord,
Amen.
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Let's Celebrate New Life Spirit Week Together!
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Joyful Observance of Palm Sunday...With ''Palms"
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The Church’s celebration of Palm Sunday honors Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. It also marks the beginning of the holiest of weeks in Christendom, where Christians remember Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples, Judas’ betrayal, the trial and the heart-wrenching agony of his death on the cross. As part of a Religion and Art class, our second graders created Palms, which have levels of meaning – Palm Sunday, Helping Hands, and
God’s care for us all.
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Juliette Ahmadpour and her brother Kael listened to the story of the Resurrection using “resurrection eggs." Each egg has an item that corresponds with the Palm Sunday story through the Resurrection. The kids are holding the empty egg that represents the empty tomb! Jesus is alive!
"This was a fun idea - both children liked to learn about what we're celebrating during Holy Week," Mrs. Ahmadpour said.
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He Is Risen! Alleluia - He is Risen Indeed!
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During our ASCS Retreat Day, students anticipated the Glory of the Lord and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday! They made beautiful
He Is Risen
plates to proclaim the life-giving Easter message.
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Parent Update COVID-19 Letter
from Diocese of Wilmington
Office for Catholic Schools
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School Event Cancellations/Postponements
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All School Events scheduled for the
remainder of April and some in May
have been cancelled including:
Wednesday, April 22, 2020 - McDonald's McTeacher Night (will be rescheduled)
Thursday, April 23, 2020 - Evening of Sacred Music
Friday, April 24, 2020 - Delaware Bridge Competition
Saturday, April 25, 2020 - It's Academic
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 - Ball Drop/Walk-A-Thon/Special Person Day (will be rescheduled for the fall)
Monday, May 4, 2020 - Golf Outing and Auction
(rescheduled for Monday, October 12, 2020)
Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - Eighth Grade Scholars Convocation
Middle School Field Trips.
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Mrs. Bocanegra's "Quotes of the Day"
The above quotes may serve as good mantras when we experience feelings of being overwhelmed in this time of COVID-19.
Mrs. Bocanegra has also posted resources for managing stress and talking to children about COVID-19 on her website in service to our students and families.
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Scenes from All Saints Catholic School
"Remote Learning"
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A recent Middle School gathering.
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Second grader Mason Jones enjoys doodling with Mo Willems.
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Third grader Talula Stinchcombe and her father pose during a STEM project that measures the weight and height of a ball drop. Click on the links below to
watch the experiments.
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After having completed three full weeks of online learning through virtual classrooms, All Saints teachers and their students stay connected and continue to experience, from both teaching and learning perspectives, the academic excellence for which All Saints Catholic School is known.
Teachers have done an exemplary job rising to the challenge of providing a week's worth of schoolwork across all subjects, including specials such as Art, PE and Spanish, and connecting online with the students frequently, as a class, in small groups and individually. Students are engaged in STEM/STREAM projects that can be done alone and with family members! Dr. Muir and Mrs. Bocanegra participate in the scheduled class meetings to support students and teachers in this new learning format.
Our parents are juggling working at home or are on the front lines of taking care of others during the COVID-19 Crisis - our parents are healthcare workers, counselors, educators and working in professions that require them to work on a company's premises. They are doing a yeoman's job of managing parenting, overseeing their children's education, and taking care of those many other things that require their attention.
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PreK 4B student, Mark McKenzie, enjoys working on a project with his mom
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Mrs. Parsio's second grade class focused on author's purpose for
Dear Mr. Blueberry.
They listened and discussed the book, and also had an opportunity to connect with Mrs. Bocanegra to share their feelings and emotions.
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Mrs. Haller's Sixth Grade Virtual Trip to the Holy Land
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Just in time for Holy Week, Mrs. Haller's sixth graders participated in a virtual field trip to the Holy Land and were tasked with creating a travel brochure as part of the assignment's learning objectives.
Each brochure was filled with beautiful photographs of Israel and the surrounding area, complete with biblical and personal quotes and vivid descriptions of the student's experience of going on-line to encounter the history of this holy place.
Integrated learning is a key component of an excellent All Saints Catholic School education, where students combine the courses - in this case, Social Studies with Religion, English Language Arts, Art and Technology to process important information and create a final project.
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A section from Killian McHugh's brochure includes the Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.
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Gianna Poppiti's brochure gives a great description of what to visit when in the Holy Land.
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Brendan Tracy's brochure includes a photograph of a beautiful wall relief of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
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Left: Larysa Pohorylo's brochure includes an image of the Tomb of Mary. Above:Olivia Piorkowski 's brochure features historic sites in Israel.
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“The Holy Land felt almost as though I was walking with
Jesus through it.” ~Olivia Piorkowski
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Mrs. Haller assigned a STREAM activity to her 6th and 7th grade science classes to “Protect the Egg" from a collision or a fall using materials found around the house and a limited amount of tape (and no bubble wrap). Really great results!
Click here
or on the photograph below for one of the experiments. Did the egg break? Watch the video to find out!
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Mr. Dougherty assigned a similar STEM project where his students had to do an Easter Egg Challenge; they had to design and create a contraption to cushion the fall of an egg drop from 4 feet. Click on Jaelynn Burrows' photo to the left to see a video of the result of her experiment!
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Allison Drushler sings one of the songs from Seussical Jr., the Musical as her assignment for Seesaw's "You Have Talent" assignment! Allison has great talent!
Well done!
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Alvina Rosanne's talent was to use computer coding to design a Disco Bunny! She explained every step and her design was great!
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ASCS fourth graders had an opportunity to let their many talents shine through virtual platform Seesaw. A recent day's assignment was
You've Got Talent!
According to the website, "Seesaw is a platform for student engagement that inspires students of all ages to do their best." They use computerized tools to take pictures, draw, record videos and more to capture learning, which is saved in the student's online portfolio.
Click on each photograph for a video of each student showcasing his/her talent!
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Justin Flores' talent is baking delicious cookies! Yummy!
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Reflections on Remote Learning
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At first, the mere thought of distance learning was overwhelming, and made me extremely anxious, and this is “just” for my child in preschool… While “Mrs. Mommy” could never compare, with the help and guidance of Mrs. Dzielak and Dr. Muir, we have been able to formulate a routine that really works well for us and our new normal. We miss everyone and can’t wait to rejoin the community in person. ALL SAINTS STRONG!
- Nicole Wilson, mother of Ariana,
PreK4B
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It is Monday of Holy Week, and already I am seeing signs of new life, not just in glorious spring’s offerings of flowers, green, green grass, and buds on tree limbs. There are signs of innovative ways of doing things that point to how this global crisis can transform us in positive ways of being. Yes, we are more careful with handwashing, but we are also taking more time with one another – in phone conversations, running an errand for someone else, visits with neighbors, speaking through closed, glass doors where we can see each other, or standing an appropriate distance away from one another. Just yesterday, on a long walk, neighbors took the time to stop, talk, wish each other a blessed Easter or Passover. No one was in a rush to get to the next item on a personal to-do list. We can focus on the here-and-now, just being present before the triune God, and with each other.
Mrs. Lisa Chase, Advancement Director
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During these unpredictable times, it can be difficult to focus and keep up to date with the world around us. Being the oldest child with siblings who need to share each other’s time can be chaotic. We are all trying our best to be there for each other by helping with school work and spending time with each other. At times, it is not easy to stay content with being in a big family!
Having daily Zoom meetings is a great help. With those meetings, we are able to discuss questions about work and it is nice just to talk with classmates. Although my youngest sister is shy to be on camera with others, my brother does not hesitate to ask questions and talk with others! Besides schoolwork, my family and I are spending more time together. We have been getting fresh air and keeping our distance away from others as we are all called to do.
I am learning that my siblings always need something to do. To balance our schedule, we take breaks in between the day whether it be taking a nap or playing a small game. Another thing I am learning is that the teachers are understanding and helpful to our needs. My classmates and I enjoy talking to them and we never hesitate to ask questions. Overall, I am grateful to have understanding teachers who care about our needs.
Through these hard times, we are thinking and praying for everyone and their families. -
Isabella Burrows, Seventh Grade
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B
oth school and my life were in full force going forward when they were suddenly forced to stop and take a break. In January and February, the virus that was being passed around in China didn’t seem like it would affect us here, thousands of miles away. Fate decided otherwise, though. Now, everything is closed off, shut down, and locked away. Humanity has to survive with a skeleton crew keeping it alive in the background. At first, when we heard school was called off and we could be at home, it was amazing news. We all assumed we would get a two-week break while the doctors fought the virus and then we would return to our lives and act like nothing happened.
We all wish it went that way. Something went terribly wrong for us, but possibly right for God. In this quarantine, I’ve come to appreciate all the food I have, all the friends I can still talk to, the family I have at home, and the school I was going to. A lot of us, now that we are forced into isolation, realize how easy we had it before. I think that’s what went right for God. This pandemic may cost hundreds of thousands of lives, but when the smoke clears and the dust settles, we will come out stronger than ever before. Sure, humanity is in a crisis, but just look outside at Mother Nature. There’s not as much pollution in the sky, there are more fish in the waters, the air is cleaner to breathe, and the Earth is looking better than it did before this started. The Black Plague, which happened hundreds of years ago, was devastating, but God allowed it to happen for a reason. God needed to wake up humanity and tell them something is wrong with their lives, and it looks like that’s exactly what He’s doing again. When all of this blows over, either with a fight or not, we humans will come back stronger and smarter. We will take better care of each other and our world. -
Maksym Pohorylo, Eighth Grade
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Doodles, Art, and More with Mo and Mrs. LeBeau
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Artistic skill is intrinsic, inherited and developed. All Saints students are multi-talented across the arts – music, instrumental, writing, and visual arts.
During this time, where they are juggling completing lesson plans across all subject areas, thanks to Mrs. Alicia LeBeau, they are also stepping up their game artistically, with time devoted each day to an art project. That coupled with the Kennedy Center Education's artist-in-residence, Mo Willems, whose 1 p.m. 20-minute lunch-time Doodles are eagerly anticipated! Those students who have participated under this beloved children's author and illustrator, are reaching new heights with this skill, through freeform doodling, intricate design, and art depicting a theme.
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Eighth grader, Kate Messenger has a great future as an illustrator! Images above are examples of what she has created during this shelter-in-
place mandate.
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ASCS Donates Supplies for
Christiana Care Health System
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During the mandated COVID -19 shutdown, communities are hard pressed to find a good supply of handsanitizers and wipes that will help ward off the spread of the virus. As soon as stores receive shipments, these items fly off the shelves. Even hospitals are having difficulty finding these items to have on hand.
All Saints Catholic School, joined other schools in New Castle County, and met a critical need recently by donating all its handsanitizers, Lysol spray and
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disinfecting wipes (much of which had been donated to us by our families) to Christiana Care Health System. The Costanzo (Cecelia, sixth grade) family transported on our behalf an abundance of large bags filled with these items. We are blessed to be able to serve God this way...Together, we are All Saints strong for others!
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Left: Cecelia Costanzo strikes a pose with the many bags of donations for Christiana Care Health System in the back of her dad's pick-up truck. Above: the abundance of items collected from our classrooms to be donated.
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All Saints Community News
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Major Guy Gravino with the Delaware Army National Guard, and father of Dante and Mia, arrived home safely after a nine-month tour of duty.
Major Gravino’s mission was in support of SOJTF-OIR, Special Operations Joint Task Force- Operation Inherent Resolve. He was Officer in Charge of a small detachment of soldiers (15 total) from Delaware Army National Guard 198th Signal Battalion. This team of soldiers were the network engineers, automation support, tactical radio and future planning for the Joint communication director of SOJTF, the commander Major General "COACH" Hill and all the Task forces doing their jobs ridding the world of ISIS. “We had team members located in and covered five countries, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait and Turkey and made sure all satellite equipment worked seamlessly,” Major Gravino said. “We supported all coalition countries involved with mission and Special Operation Soldiers of Iraq, Kurdistan Soldiers in Sryia, and Jordanian Military efforts."
“It was an amazing trip, I met some wonderful people trying to win back their countries from fear and tyranny,” he said. “It’s good to be home and I plan on staying here! But if I was asked to do it again, I would."
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Thank you for your service to our country!
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Congratulations to Denny Skirvin and 'Jubal'!
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Jubal's Christmas Gift
wins esteemed state press
association award
During the state's mandated "shelter in place," is underway, ASCS families are getting some great news about earlier accomplishments!
Recently, Dennis 'Denny' Skirvin, devoted grandfather and volunteer extraordnaire with wife Flossie, learned that his acclaimed novella,
Jubal's Christmas Gift
won the Delaware Press Association's 2020 Communications Competition (DPA) in the Novella Department.
Submitted entries to the DPA competition are judged by out-of-state communications professionals to ensure impartiality. The prestigious contest among journalists and writers provides an opportunity to compete in various print or electronic broadcasting fields.
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Congratulations Denny
and 'Jubal!'
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Helpful Information to Have On Hand
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All Saints, All In...All Strong!
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