Welcome Ms. Clark!

     Hi ASA community! My name is Aubrey Clark, and I am the new 4th grade teacher this year at upper campus. I am ecstatic to be returning to my alma mater and working alongside some familiar faces. The most familiar face I’ll get to work alongside is my mom, Mrs. Clark, who has fostered a great love of education, music, and faith in me. Mrs. Livingston was my 7th grade teacher back in 2008 and Ms. Sacha and I attended ASA at the same time. Her brother, Fr. David is also a dear friend of mine from attending ASA and West Catholic together. We even went to the homecoming dance together. You might recognize the background of our photos!

Growing up, my grandpa, Deacon George LeMire, was based at Blessed Sacrament and my mom did liturgical music there. I was born and raised as a part of this amazing community and have always found so much comfort and inspiration from connecting with other community members. I am the youngest of six, and we all love to participate in masses through music. I currently attend masses at St. Anthony of Padua and Blessed Sacrament. My faith is very important to me, and my priority as a young adult has been continuously working on making my faith personal and active, rather than just a habit. This is something that I will work to instill in students as I teach theology in the upcoming year.

I will be going into my second year of teaching this year, and am extremely passionate about providing my students with a safe, cozy place to learn, ask questions, and express themselves. I am especially driven in my work with students who are neurodivergent or learn differently, as I myself have ADHD and love using my creativity, movement, and senses to learn material. I love teaching about nature and animals, as I am a big believer in the lyrics, “All God’s creatures have a place in the choir.” We share this Earth and I enjoy helping students learn to respect it. I firmly believe that I was put in this position by God to help form the next generation of faithful, compassionate, service-oriented leaders.

In my spare time, I love playing instruments and singing, spending time with my animals (1 cat, 6 parrots, and 2 bunnies), helping with wildlife rehabilitation, reading, playing video games, and doing pilates and sports. I am also very travel-oriented. I lived in Ireland for 4 years and completed my BA there while getting the opportunity to see Europe! I even met up with Fr. David in Ireland at one point. Other countries I was blessed to visit include Italy, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, France, and Germany. My most recent excursion was to South Korea. Exploring new places and learning about different cultures is something I will never get tired of.

Thank you so much for all of your support and prayers in the year ahead. I am feeling so blessed and valued by the community and staff at ASA, and can’t wait to meet the students and get started on an adventurous year together.

St. Alphonsus Scholarship Recipients

On Sunday, May 19, 2025, the St. Alphonsus Education Endowment recognized several All Saints Academy students during their annual Honors Mass. Principal, Mrs. Megan Schneider, joined members of the Endowment Board to present the scholarship awards.

The Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters established the Sr. Roberta Hefferan and Sr. Olga Mizzi Scholarships in the names of two members of their community who were deeply engaged in St. Alphonsus Parish.

Sister Roberta Hefferan, OP, recognized and responded to the needs of others through vibrant social outreach programs, including the Food & Clothing Pantry. The winner of the Sr. Roberta Scholarship is Thatcher M.  His nominating teachers, Melanie Groh and Vonnie Clark, had the following to say:

Thatcher is always willing to help his teachers and peers with any project: big or small.… He is in the choir at ASA for Mass with Mrs. Clark. He and his family volunteer at St. Al’s Lenten Fish Fry evenings. He attends VBS each summer with his siblings. Overall, Thatcher has a beautiful servant heart, willing to step in at any time.

Thatcher does a great job participating in Liturgical Music. He has a great attitude in the Classroom and at Mass….I love that he is such an active participant in the Parish. He also told me that he ushered at the Cathedral, and the Bishop gave him Communion - I love hearing how important that was to him.

Sister Olga Mizzi, OP, was devoted to religious service and education and brought joy and knowledge to thousands of students as a teacher in St. Alphonsus School. The winner of the Sr. Olga Mizzi Scholarship is Andrew M., who was nominated by teachers Alixe LaFramboise and Liz Beckwith. 

Andrew is a highly deserving candidate for this scholarship due to his dedication to excellence in academics, music, athletics, and service. His passion for reading inspires his classmates, fostering a love for literature within his classroom community. As a talented musician, he shares his gifts by playing the saxophone and flute at Mass almost every weekend at St. Alphonsus. Beyond his talents, Andrew exemplifies kindness, respect, and leadership, making him a valued friend and role model. He truly embodies our core values of faith, learning, loving, and serving in all aspects of his daily life.

The Sean Earl Scholarship is awarded to 7th-grade students attending All Saints Academy who demonstrate strength of character, kindness, and service toward others. Mr. and Mrs. Earl joined the Endowment Board in presenting the memorial award to this year’s recipients Jacob P. and Andrew M.

Miles B. was the recipient of the St. Alphonsus Founders’ Fund Scholarship. The Founders’ Fund Scholarship is awarded to a qualifying new student at All Saints Academy who is also a St. Alphonsus parishioner. 

 Congratulations to all of the award recipients!  Thank you, St. Alphonsus Education Endowment, for your support of All Saints Academy and our students!

First grade visits the Critter Barn!

In May, our first graders stepped out of the classroom and into the barnyard for an exciting field trip to the Critter Barn in Zeeland, Michigan! The day started off a bit chilly, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying a beautiful day outside with the animals. Bundled up and full of excitement, our students were ready for a day of hands-on learning and discovery.

Our adventure began with an animal parade! Staff members introduced us to several animals who live on the farm, and students got the chance to gently pet them. It was the perfect way to start the day and sparked lots of curiosity right away.

   

Then students rotated through stations where they:

 Held chickens and noticed the differences in feathers, combs, and feet

   

Met a 3-year-old pig and her adorable piglets

 

Learned about different breeds of ducks and what makes each one special.

Learned how goats eat and discovered that they don’t have upper front teeth—just a tough upper gum that helps them chew their food!

  

Afterward, we gathered back in the class to explore more about wool from sheep, different types of eggs, and rabbits. One of the biggest highlights was milking a goat! Students were amazed by the process and loved the chance to try something new.

     

 

To wrap up our day, we took a full tour of the barn, putting our new knowledge into action as we met more animals up close. At each stop, students had the chance to observe, ask questions, and interact. The tour consisted of:

Holding baby chicks and bunnies

 

 

 

    

Corralling and feeding chickens

 

 

Going inside a goat pen, where students got to feed the goats and interact with them up close.

 

 

Meeting some cats that were up for adoption

  

Visiting a sweet, retired horse named Bobby!

 

Every moment offered a meaningful connection where wonder met learning. We were grateful for the opportunity to appreciate God’s creatures and deepen our understanding of His amazing creation.