Why Red, Gold, and Black?

All Saints Academy

The Meaning Contained Within The ASA Logo

Did you know the ASA logo was designed with great care and lots of prayer during the formative days of ASA? From the colors to the shape of the the letters, everything has a meaning. 

During Catholic Schools Week 2018, David Wodarek, father of 5th grader Cadan and recent graduate Rhiannon, spoke with ASA students about the work that he and the design committee did during the creation of All Saints Academy to select colors, a logo and even a mascot. Mr. Wodarek shared the inspiration he received in prayer and the rich mysteries of our faith revealed within our 3 little letters and ASA’s school colors! 

Inspired by religious iconography and the importance of meaning contained within color choice, ASA’s  gold, red and black was intentionally selected. The gold of the cross represents intellect and learning. Red is the color of blood and zeal. It was selected to visually connect us to our Eucharistic Community, confirmed in our more recent defining of our root belief that We Are One. Black ties the logo together and symbolizes the works of the Holy Spirit, and the sacrifice and work our community did to create ASA and continues to do together to Form Saints to Serve All! 

These colors also speak to us about the mystery and love of The Trinity as well as our call to discipleship. The Cross points us to God the Father who sent us his Son. The red of the letters remind us of the love of Jesus, God the Son. The black of the All Saints Academy connects us to the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The point where the cross connects to the “S” reminds us that as disciples of Christ we, too must pick up our cross and follow him. 

The shape of the logo also reminds us of the mysteries and many graces of our faith. The cross and letters of the logo are designed to look like the top if a Baptismal Fountain, connecting us back to our baptismal promises and foundational Catholic beliefs. As Mr. Wodarek reminded us, our baptism was the beginning of our journey to become Saints and serve all. 

As we celebrate 10 years of All Saints Academy we look back on all the learning, the sweat (and blood), and sacrifice that has gone into building this great Catholic school community. This year we added a 10 to the logo to commemorate the growth and trials, as well as the successes and community built in this first decade of All Saints Academy. At the center of the 10 the cross keeps our focus on Christ as we eagerly look forward to the next great 10 years of ASA! 

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7th Grade & St Al's Senior Group Form Friendships

All Saints Academy’s seventh grade and the St. Alphonsus Senior group got together for a day of fun, food, and fellowship the week before Christmas break. “One of the reasons this day was developed was to begin to reach out to our parishes without students on site to bridge that visual gap. Knowing St. Al’s has a very active senior group, I thought that was a good place to start,” explained Mrs. Zimelis, seventh grade homeroom teacher. After contacting Virginia Scholten, St. Al’s Senior Group Coordinator, the planning began. 

“We started the day off with a game of Yummo, complete with prizes! I had a great experience with the seniors. I thought they were very nice and friendly. I especially enjoyed Mrs. Nawrocki who was doing Yummo! She was very energetic and I would love to be like her when I’m a senior. One senior who made an impact on me was the guy who was wearing a rainbow mohawk. He was really funny in many different ways. He kept shouting out different things during Yummo! and his nametag said Rat even though his real name was Pat, which I couldn’t stop laughing about! I thought this was a very good experience for our class, and it was nice to be able to go on a different type of field trip than normal.”  Maddie 

A ventriloquist was the next activity introduced, and there were many puppets to go around!  Students jumped right into this creative activity as the seniors encouraged them with role plays and scenarios.  A short while later, when some joined in the kitchen to make pizzas and decorate cupcakes for lunch, others played card games and learned a little bit more about one another. 

“One of my favorite moments was when one of the seniors and me got into an ‘argument’ about who would win the chili cook-off at St. Al’s this year because I won last year, and she came in second (I think) and it was a lot of fun! Who knew she would be here and we would actually meet!  I can't wait for their trip to middle school this spring!”   Monica

After lunch and games, karaoke was most definitely a hit! In fact, the students would have kept going had we not stopped and moved on to whittling trees (practicing on bars of soap) and tying knot scarves. 

“Going to spend time with the senior citizens was fun and a fantastic social experience. Just talking is one thing and that is sometimes what we limit ourselves to when facing a social situation, but getting to know someone on a personal level is more than enough to get ourselves used to some of the curve-balls that life may throw and some of the windows of opportunity that are left open. Having the seniors come to our school will help shed some more light on our lives and how we spend our days.” Owen 

Noelle pretty much wrapped up the seventh graders’ thoughts with this final quote. “I think this was a good experience for our class because it was nice to get to know other people and people of different ages.  I didn't even know what a senior group was. They had so much energy!” 

Meet the Malinzaks!

Getting to Know Our ASA Family - We Are One

When Chris and Summer Malinzak moved back to their hometown of Grand Rapids this past July, the question arose of where their children would attend school in the fall. It was a little easier decision for their older children, Tobee and Zoe, but the more difficult choice came for their younger two kids, Max (1st Grade) and Poppy (Kindergarten).

Nine years ago the Malinzaks moved from Grand Rapids to Ohio.  They found a home for their children at St. Rose of Lima and fell in love with the Catholic school from the beginning.  Summer was very involved, volunteering wherever she could.  “Whenever there was a new family, I was the one they called to be an ambassador for them,” she explained as she discussed how well she knew the ins and outs of the school.

Upon their return they decided to test the public school waters in the hopes of offering their children something different. “That lasted about seven school days,” Summer recalled. “We knew in our hearts that this was not going to be the place for Max and Poppy.  It just wasn’t the right fit.”

After discussing their options, they chose to visit All Saints Academy. Chris, a St. Jude alum, was familiar with the ASA Middle School but not as familiar with the Elementary Campus located at Blessed Sacrament Parish.

After ultimately enrolling at All Saints Academy, they found a welcoming community.  “I couldn’t believe how easy it was to become a part of the community!  It was everyone. The other moms would stop me in the hall, the teachers made sure we had everything we needed, even the kids wrote cute little notes to us!”

Fast forward to January and the Malinzaks feel like they’ve always been members of the All Saints Academy family.  They have joined Chris’s home parish of St. Jude. Summer volunteers every Wednesday on the playground and in the lunchroom.  She and the other kindergarten moms get together about once a month to socialize and talk about what moms mostly talk about...their kids.  Max and Poppy have made new friends and seem to always have big smiles on their faces.

“I love it here. There seems to be a lot more emphasis on Catholic identity than we have experienced before.  And the teachers take the time to make individualized plans for the students.  When it comes to our children, Chris and I take the approach of what do you need from us and how can we work together?”

 “I think we were worried about finding the same thing we had at St. Rose of Lima in Ohio, and we have found it at ASA!”

Service Hours

Forming Saints to Serve All 

Service is one of our core values at All Saints Academy and a part of life both within and outside school. 

Recently our kindergarten through 8th grade students and families assembled 1500 bags (145 lbs) of trail mix for our current school community service partner, Kids Food Basket. 

In middle school students participate in a Service Corp project. 

In addition to school service projects, students in pre-K through 8th grade are encouraged to participate in projects to serve others in their family, parish community and local west Michigan community. As a parent, you are encouraged to assist your child to meet yearly expectations for service at their designated grade level: 

• preK-3rd – 1 hour
• 4th – 2 hours
• 5th  -- 3 hours
• 6th  -- 5 hours
• 7th – 10 hours
• 8th – 20 hours

When and How to log Service Hours
Service hours can be logged at any time. 
They are due on June 1, 2018  for grades pre-k through 7th grade for the 2017-2018 school year. 
For graduation award tallying purposes, 8th grade service hours are due May 23, 2018. 

• To be inducted into the Saint Francis of Assisi Society 8th graders must log 30 or more service hours
• To receive the Saint Teresa of Calcutta Award 8th graders must log 40 or more service hours 

There are two ways to log student Service Hours:

1. Service Hour Paper Log Sheet.  A Sheet may be downloaded and printed from here, it is available on the Forms and Documents page on the school website, or copies can be picked up in the school office or from homeroom teachers.  Forms can also be turned into the school offices or homeroom teachers. 
2. Online at the ASA school website or through this link: https://goo.gl/forms/7EILFKnSSTpNOF7y2

When students have completed a service activity, be sure they add the activity to their Service Log Sheet. The Service Log Sheet should be signed by the adult in charge of the activity. Parents may sign for service activities as appropriate. 

Talk to your child about service and help them come up with ideas of how they might fulfill their requirement. 

What Counts for Service Hours
Please be open and creative in service. There are no assigned strict definitions for what is and what isn’t service. Please use the Works of Mercy, focusing on the Corporal Works of Mercy as guidelines. 

Corporal Works of Mercy – Acts of kindness that we do for others to shows God's compassion and mercy to those in need

• Feed the hungry 
• Give drink to the thirsty
• Clothe the naked 
• Visit (or comfort) the sick
• Shelter the homeless or welcome the stranger
• Bury the dead 
• Visit the imprisoned 

Spiritual Works of Mercy -- Acts of compassion by which we help others with their emotional and spiritual needs

• Instruct the ignorant or uninformed
• Counsel the doubtful 
• Admonish the sinner
• Comfort the sorrowful
• Forgive injuries 
• Bear wrongs patiently
• Pray for the living and the dead

Questions? Contact your student’s homeroom teacher. 

ASA Mission Statement: All Saints Academy is a Catholic School inspired by the Holy Spirit and dedicated to teaching and living as Jesus did. 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. 

5th Grade Top 10 List 2017-2018

10. Via Dolorosa

9. Teachers

8. YMCA Trip

7. Field Day

6. Art Prize

5 Sports

4. STEM

3. Pajama Day

2. Capture the Flag

1. Friends

Peace Pledge

Peace Pledge

The fifth graders have been practicing the peace pledge.  They did this through role playing with each other.  We practiced what it is like when we use the peace pledge in a social conflict situation.  The students responded in different ways and the “bully” did not know how to react when their victim didn’t get upset but instead treated them like a friend.  

To prepare we explored the student videos that Mr. Jeff Veley had given us access to.  Here are a few of the videos the fifth grade made. The fifth graders enjoyed this time together and learned to Be Calm and Be Kind when they come in contact with a bully situation.

Here are a few insights from the 5th graders about the Peace Pledge:

“It helped me learn that I can follow the peace sign to help other people not to be mean.”~Makenzie

“It taught me to stick up for myself”~ Jaighdyn

“It taught me to stick up for someone else” ~Cadan

“To stay strong!”~ Nick