Bandtastic

Today our 5th-8th grade students joined other schools from across the Diocese of Grand Rapids for Bandtastic rehearsal. Not only is this a unique opportunity for our students to practice with numerous other musicians from other local Catholic schools, it’s also a great way for our students to show off just a little.

"Your students are known for the musical talent" - Assistant Superintendent of Grand Rapids Catholic Schools, Jill Annable

Our band program is pretty unique in the diocese. It adds to a well-rounded education received here where our mission focuses on the spiritual, intellectual, moral, social, and physical development of our children. Participating in the band also provides leadership opportunities and a chance to develop life-long skills used beyond ASA.

"The band at ASA was a really great experience for me. I had fun in normal class time, and even more fun after school in the jazz band. Band at ASA inspired me to do band at CC.

Band at CC has changed my life. I barely knew anyone at CC, but at the end of summer band camp, I had a whole group of friends, and now most of my closest friends are in band. CC band has taught me discipline, respect, value of hard work. I strongly encourage students to stay in and enjoy band, and join the bands at whatever high school they go to. They won't regret it." - Matt Koss, ASA alumni & Junior at Catholic Central

"The music program at All Saints Academy and band instructor, Mr. Matt Palmieri, do an amazing job of preparing students for music at Catholic Central.  I am always impressed when I judge the 7th and 8th graders at their Pre-Festival concert on their amazing sound for the size of the ensemble!  Band is a great way to make connections in middle school and it continues into high school.  Band students perform at football games, marching competitions, concerts in the Cathedral, concerts in local auditoriums, the CC Gym, at solo and ensemble festivals, the school musical and even more!  They also have the chance to go on band trips as an ensemble, most recently to Walt Disney World in 2016 where they marched on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom! Music and playing in the band brings so many opportunities!! It is something that we can continue to be involved with throughout our lives and for me personally, it is a privilege to be able to work with students as they grow as musicians and as young adults." - Ann Reinhard Band Director at Catholic Central

“The expense of private lessons is not one my family could afford for all so to have this program not only offered but required at ASA is a huge benefit.  Were it not for band, I don't know that such in depth instrument experience would have been possible for my kids.” -ASA Parent

“Not all kids excel in athletics nor have an interest in them.  For Jack especially, ASA band changed him fundamentally.  He discovered a talent/interest that he felt confident with and took off running.  To this day Jack's free time is almost always spent playing, composing or singing.” - Jane Reeves, ASA Parent

Our students frequently play the National Anthem for our local sports teams.

"Fish Fries are an amazing experience to have. You meet many people and you also get to have fun with your friends" -Alex Ables

Lent 2017: Pray, Fast, and Almsgiving

Almsgiving:

• Fridays: $1.00 Jeans day : March 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 - All money goes to West Michigan Catholic Charities Foster Care Program

         

• Students will be making birthday cards for foster care kids.

Pray/Fast:

• Reconciliation Services:
  2nd/3rd grade: March 23 at 1:40 p.m.
  Grades 4-8: TBD

• Via Dolorosa (the way of the cross):  
  Thursday, April 13: Jeans and ASA Forming Saints red t-shirt
  The combined ASA student body is divided up into 14 groups - one group for each station of the cross.  We meet at one campus and take a prayerful walk to the other campus. Details to follow from the Via Dolorosa Committee

• Begin at MS with Living Stations of the Cross in St. Jude Church

Lenten Promise Posters

• Students are making posters to remind them of their Lenten promises to be displayed in a prominent places around school.

It’s never too late to join the ASA staff in our Lenten Meditations:

• Best Lent Ever!  Best Lent Ever Dynamic Catholic
• Redeemed Online Redeemed Online #ShareJesus

Lenten Fish Fries

During Lent many ASA families, specifically our middle school students volunteer at our parish fish fries. You’ll find them clearing tables, replenishing desserts, preparing food in the kitchen, and carrying out the trash. Not only are students serving our founding parishes, they are developing important social skills. And they have fun doing it! Many return week after week, building a passion for service. Here are some thoughts about serving at our Fish Fries from our 7th grade students:

"The fish fries are fun. We get to get service hours done and have fun with our friends while being a huge help to the people who run these fish fries." -Owen Leese

"Fish Fries are a really great way to do some great service to your school, parish and fellow parishioners. I started off working fish fries at Blessed Sacrament, as a Cub Scout from pack 3328. As a cub scout, I was able to work different fish fries around town, including St. Isidore, and St. Alphonsus. I now have graduated to Troop 219 GRMI, and I have had the opportunity to continue to work fish fries, and earn service hours for school, and toward my Eagle Rank. I always enjoy working fish fries and I look forward to working more in my future!"-Aiden McGavin

"The Fish Fry is a good place to eat because the dessert and fries are the finest, but that's not all if you help it gives you services hours and you make people have a good day."-Quinlan Kehyari   

Early Childhood Fun at ASA 

Oh what fun we have…  The youngest eagles are a busy group of kiddos.  We love to learn and play, but most importantly, we love to have FUN!!  The toddlers and preschoolers are always doing something exciting.  We try new things, perfect skills, and celebrate just being a kid.

We learn about cool things too!  Mrs. K’s classes recently explored the 5 senses.  How many senses do you use when making popcorn?  Many of the rooms were celebrating Dr. Seuss.  Mrs. Blalock’s room all created hats that looked different than Dr. Suess.  Who wouldn’t want a tall hat with rainbows and hearts on it?  Mrs. R’s room graphed their predictions for the March weather.  Was it going to come “in like a lion” or “go out like a lamb”?  “In like a lion” won in their room.  The toddlers continue to explore in their sensory tables.  They love playing with sand, rice, water, and play dough.

Right now we are celebrating March is reading month.  We are all having a ball reading and filling in our paper balls for the wall display.  Drop everything and read was fun, but the highlight so far has been pajama day.  Who doesn’t like to come to school in their cozy pjs?  

Finally, we are experiencing Lent.  Fr. Tom Page came to our classrooms and gave all of the kiddos ashes on Ash Wednesday.  Some kids even decided to sacrifice during Lent by giving something up.  In the Atrium, we changed our liturgical colors to purple and are preparing for the great celebration of Easter.  We read the parable of the Good Shepherd.  Mrs. R’s room created shamrocks with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  They also learned a new song all about lent.        

Boy, we sure do we have “a lot of fun” at ASA!

      

Liturgical Music @ ASA

Liturgical Music is such an amazing aspect of All Saints Academy! 

Meeting with students preschool through grade eight to practice music for Mass encourages great musical participation at our school's weekly liturgies. From their earliest years in our building, students grow in their appreciation of song and worship!

I love to share with my musician friends how well the students lead at our liturgies. It is a part of who they are as a student congregation.  They lead through vocals and instrumentation. These students are strong and vibrant singers through eighth grade.

Our students sing a wide variety of liturgical  music. They love the traditional Lenten music of the "Agnus Dei", "Kyrie" and "Lord let me walk" as well as the most contemporary Catholic music - such as "Rock of Faith", "Soul on Fire" and  "Yes, Lord!" The teachers absolutely love listening to rehearsals on Thursdays! The joyful music fills our hallways and provides a burst of joy and sunshine in our routine! 

Our Praise Band is made up of our 7th and 8th grade volunteer musicians. This year our Praise Band is comprised of flutes, trumpets, guitar, keyboard, ukulele, violin, and drums.  (Our younger students occasionally join in with tone chimes and other percussive instruments).

Recently we have had  alumni come forward to join at our special liturgies. Our ASA students came forward to sing a couple songs at the funeral of Jon Fournier,  We had many high school students come forward  to join our current students. It was so moving to see the connection they still carry with ASA.  I had several of our alumni musicians join us for our Catholic Schools week - Pack the Pews - at St Alphonsus. I didn't even ask them to particpate - they contacted me!!

These students continue to serve our parishes with their musical talents, which were nurtured at All Saints Academy.  We are truly blessed as a community with the talents and energy of all our students at ASA! 

Our students are so comfortable using their musical talents to serve our community that we have had middle school students recently begin volunteering to cantor and also lead by playing the piano at Mass! Many of the parents and other community members, who join us for school Masses, comment on how well our students know the songs we use for our liturgies and the passionate ways they participate when some of our ASA favorites are used for worship! 

- Mrs. Vonnie Clark 

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We Are One - Catholic Schools Week Art Project 2017 

This Artwork was created for you, the ASA community, by the students of ASA! Because we believe at All Saints Academy that we are one we spent time working to create an art project to link our 4 parishes and 2 school campuses during Catholic Schools Week 2017. Each student, preschool-8th grade, got the opportunity to color a cross. Those crosses were assembled into the 6 larger crosses, pictured above.




You may know that this year will mark the 8th grade graduation of ASA’s first kindergarten class. As we mark this special occasion with this special class and begin looking to our school’s 10 year birthday celebration next school year, we want to thank you for the commitment you have made and continue to make to Catholic Education, and especially to our school!  

All Saints Academy is a unique school with a unique and special community! We are one community made of so many parts. Our 300 students and their families, our 2 campus and staff, and our 4 founding parishes come together with so many diverse talents and gifts to make ONE very special school. Each cross created by one of our students symbolizes all of those unique individual stories coming together. Each larger cross symbolizes those various community stories coming together to build ASA. As a set, all 6 of the crosses tell the story of our ASA community. The 2 smaller crosses will be put up on display in the hallways of our school 2 campuses. It is our hope that place can be found somewhere at St Alphonsus, Blessed Sacrament, St Isidore, and St Jude to display the other 4 crosses. We are so blessed to  have each parish as a part of our ASA community! We are one!