Fall Sports Review

Fall Sports at All Saints Academy

This fall season 43 of our middle school students participated in sports for All Saints Academy. All Saints Academy is a member of the Grand Rapids Area Catholic Elementary Athletic Council (GRACEAC).  All middle school students in grades 5-8 are eligible to participate in the following fall sports:  Cross Country, Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Sideline Cheer.

Student athletes often look forward to their first opportunity to play on a school team in 5th grade.  We interviewed a few ASA 5th grade athletes to learn about the highlights from their first season.

“I played volleyball this fall.  One of my challenges was getting my overhand serve over the net.  One of my highlights was playing at the tournament and meeting new people” - Grace E.

Sierra G. also played volleyball this fall.  “I liked making friends with people at different schools during the games and tournaments.  My challenge was working on my serve.”

Jaighdyn F. participated in sideline cheer this fall.  “ Stunting and cheering for games were my highlights.  Getting my balance as a flyer was most challenging for me.”

Boys soccer, grades 5-8

Luis B., Jake S., Christian F., Caleb L., Tommy S., & Hadrian S.

Football, Grades 5-8

Gio A., Liam S., Tom B.

Cross Country, grades 5-8

(bottom row) Gavin M., Abby D., David F.

(top row) Emily M., Hannah K., Nick M.

Sideline Cheer, Grades 5-8

(bottom row) Isabella, Jaighdyn

(top row) Ana, Margaret, Isabella

5th grade volleyball

(bottom row) Sierra, Grace, Brooklyn

(top row) Isabelle, Makenzie

6th grade volleyball

Maddie, Stephanie

7th grade volleyball

(bottom row) Monica, Maya, Olivia

(top row) Gabby, Ckaya, Stephanie, Jessica, Morgan

The 7th grade volleyball team took 2nd place in their mid-season tournament and 4th place in their post-season tournament!

8th grade volleyball

Caitlin, Meagan

“I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.  From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the last judge, will award to me on the last day, and not only to me but to all who have longed for his appearance.” - 2 Timothy 4:7-8

An Athlete's Prayer

Did you know the Church has an official prayer for athletics?

Pages 437-438 in the English in the Book of Blessings has the prayer but begins with the following information:

1024 This blessing is intended for those who participate in an athletic event. The blessing asks that God may protect the athletes from injury and that throughout the event they may show respect for one another.

1025 The blessing may be given by a priest, deacon, or lay minister.

The blessing includes an athletically-themed Scripture reading (2 Timothy 4:6-8) and a prayer over the athletes.

According to the text:

1029 A minister who is a priest or deacon says the prayer of blessing with hands outstretched over the athletes; a lay minister says the prayer with hands joined.

Here is the text of the prayer:

Strong and faithful God,

as we come together for this contest,

we ask you to bless these athletes.

Keep them safe from injury and harm, instill in them respect for each other, and reward them for their perseverance.

Lead us all to the rewards of your kingdom

where you live and reign for ever and ever.

Response: Amen.

Athletes can make this prayer their own or have a coach pray it with them before a game. You might also consider adding your own line or two as well, praying for the opponent and officials or simply asking God to help you glorify Him by using the skills he has given you. Consider reading the short scripture verse above and praying this before your next game!

From the Play Like a Champion Today Champion Athlete Note

Congratulations to all of our fall athletes! Go Eagles!

 

You May Have a Little Saint If...

Reflections from an ASA Kindergarten Parent

by Sue Wuorinen

So, as someone that was raised as a good ol’ BSer back (just a few) years ago, there was really no question in my mind that my kids were going to go through All Saints once they were in school. And clearly, I have made it my mission to increase the student population one Wuorinen at a time with my growing herd.

I really thought I knew what I was in for. I work at St Jude, so I see the education and faith formation from that perspective. But yeah, in many regards, I had no idea.

Here are a list of things that I have come to learn now that I have a kindergartner and preschooler…

YOU MAY HAVE A LITTLE SAINT IF….

… you have had awkwardly awesome prayer moments. On more than one occasion at dinner, while everyone is talking, Evy has randomly started saying the rosary… loudly. And what do you do? You don’t want to be THAT person that stops your child from chatting it up with Mary.

… every morning is a mini-reunion among parents. I have loved walking into school and seeing both people that I grew up with at Blessed Sacrament and new friends dropping their kids off. It’s especially nice to have a friendly face when you are slightly hot-messy as you juggle the 4 children through the hallways.

… you have been shocked at their random church knowledge. It’s become no big thing when your daughters can set up the mini-altar by memory or start repeating the Creed. Because, duh, they do it every day at school.

… being a “bucket-filler” is the new pink. Filling each other’s buckets has become a new past-time at school and our house since they learned about it. It has been a wonderful blessing to see them seeking out ways to build up their classmates. Of course, in our house calling someone a “bucket-dipper” is now also the new burn. So… yeah 😊

… the classroom FB page has become your back-up memory. We can now always depend on one of the parents to remind us that, yes, tomorrow is in fact a color day. And yes, we do need to pay a dollar. How did my parents ever remember this stuff?!

I am so grateful for the experiences we have had at ASA. Which is good because we are going to be here for a while 😊

St Albertus Day

St Albertus Day of Science at Aquinas College

The fourth graders had an awesome day exploring science concepts at Aquinas College during their celebration of St. Albertus. On the feast of St Albert the great Aquinas College students invite students from around the diocese to join them for a series of really cool science experiments. Each year our 4th graders have been privileged to participate in this great community learning experience!

This year they made elephant toothpaste, launched rockets, and ​explored tiny organism from water.

Here’s what the 4th grade had to say about their experience at science day:

Nick Schaab - "St. Albertus Day , best day of the year."

Morgan S. - "I liked that all the kids got to wear colorful goggles."

Austin P - "Try all the science projects.  They are all so fun(ny)!"

Drew B - "Science is very, very fun.  Baking soda and vinegar was my favorite."

JJ Kelsey - "Rocket Mission!!"

Ryan McGavin - "Don't take your goggles off in a lab.  Your eyes will burn."

Zack - "The class got a picture of us on a bridge, the water had ran down the river very fast, it was cool."

Mario Barajas Oteto - "I like the rocket.  It went so high and fast.  Then when it came down it sometimes go fast or slow."

Elyse - "Science day is the best day!"

Addison - "We had fun at St. Albertus.  We got to see a rocket launch."

Dean - "I liked the safety goggles!"

Abby Lyons - "When I got to Aquinas and got to the first stop, I looked at all the experiments and named all the colleges I knew! I decided I would work hard in school and go to Aquinas College if I get accepted."

It was a great day!

We Are So Thankful!

We Can’t Do it Without You!

“This year we are funding items that will help us thrive!” This was the Eaglefest message from Mr. Debri this year, and we are so thankful for all you do to help us thrive!

At ASA our mission is to serve and partner with our families, parishes and communities as we focus on the spiritual, intellectual, moral, social, and physical development of our children. Our mission is possible because of the support we get from so many! This week we would like to celebrate many of the gifts we have received in the past years to help us all grow at ASA!

Giving Tuesday

“Giving Tuesday” was a successful campaign for All Saints Academy.  If you are unfamiliar with Giving Tuesday, it is a social media strategy designed for people to give back to their favorite charities and organizations.  After all the spending that comes with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, people are encouraged to spend a different way...on others!  By sharing the different Facebook and Twitter posts linking back to ASA, we were able to raise over $5,000 on Giving Tuesday!  If you weren’t able to share the posts or give back yourself, it is never too late. Just click this link to give to All Saints Academy!

Eaglefest

Eaglefest is another celebration of thanksgiving for the All Saints Academy community.  We do not have a definitive number to report just yet as some bills are being are still being paid but we do know that all of our greatest needs were fulfilled.  This year’s eight greatest needs tables raised $15,000 alone for the students of All Saints Academy.  We couldn’t have done it without you!

2016 Greatest Needs Tables

Table 1: Purposeful Projectors and Mounts, Table 5: Science Lab Equipment, and Table 8: E.A.G.L.E. Fund Classroom

Table 2: Precious Preschool Items

Table 3: Terrific Tools for Exceptional Learners

Table 4: Growing the ASA Garden

Table 6: Love of the Library

Table 7: Experiential Learning and Class Retreats

2017 Greatest Needs Tables - Picture updates to come!

Table 1: Athletic Equipment and Uniforms

Table 2: Saints and Eagles Club Games

Table 3: Middle School Artwork

Table 4: S.T.E.M. Equipment and Supplies

Table 5: Technology and Devices

Table 6: Recess Equipment

Table 7: Chicken Incubators

Table 8: Instructional Supplies

St. Alphonsus Education Endowment

Over the past few years, we have received some very generous gifts from the St. Alphonsus Education Endowment.  Each year, the school submits grant proposals for the Education Endowment Board to review and determine if they can fund the requested need.  This partnership between St. Alphonsus Parish and All Saints Academy is truly living out our mission of service and partnerships. Here are the programs and projects the St. Alphonsus Education Endowment has supported the past three years:

2017

$4,000-Partnership with Urban Roots to help “grow” the ASA Garden.

$2,000-Tools for Exceptional Learners

$2,000-Band and Performing Arts Equipment

2016

$7,500-Classroom Completion for the EAGLE Fund

$2,000-Preschool Program Enhancements

$700-Sheet Music for the Band Program

2015

$5,000-Middle School Service Corp

$2,000-7th and 8th Trip to Notre Dame’s DNA Lab

$700-Piano Truck for Band

And the gifts keep coming…

Mr. John Matlak, All Saints Academy’s Development Director, can often be surprised with what might be inside of an envelope or on the other end of a phone call. There are a number of grant requests he makes throughout the year, with a majority of them being denied for one reason or another. So, when gifts come unexpectedly there is a great celebration in the office. Just recently he received a $1,000 check from Korff Foundation because of development efforts started over three years ago. Here is just a small list of grants ASA has received over the years:

2017-2018

$5,000-Prein Foundation

$5,000-St. Jude Matching Grant

$3,398-Lena Algeier Fund through Blessed Sacrament Parish

$1,000-Korff Foundation

$1,000-Old National Bank

$250-Grand Rapids Griffins

$150 - NCEA Social Justice Grant

2016-2017

$35,000-Anonymous Gift to complete Middle School Science Lab

$16,754-Michigan State Police Safety Grant

$1,000-Logan’s Roadhouse

$1,000-Korff Foundation

$1,000-Old National Bank

$1,250 World Renew Grant

And just last week, Mr. Debri received a phone call and on the other end was an anonymous donor and a gift of $15,000 to All Saints Academy! We are so thankful!

Staff Top Ten

Staff Top 10 List 2017-2018

10. Pack The Pews

9. Christmas Programs

8. Catholic Schools Week  

7. Supportive Parents

6. Eat, Pray, Run  

5 Eaglefest

4. Via Dolorosa

3. Christmas Parties

2. Students  

1. Teammates/co-workers