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All-School eNews | April 5, 2019
FEATURED STORY:
Abundant Grace and Peace
By Damian Hermann, Head of School
The fourth graders gave me a thank you card for attending their First Reconciliation. It read "Grace and peace be yours in abundance." 2 Peter 1:2 After checking with them to see if they knew the definition of abundance - they didn't - I took a second to let that sink in. Abundant grace and peace are ours for the taking. God provides it free. The question is whether or not we are prepared to accept it.
During the First Reconciliation service, I was sitting in the back, observing the service and watching as people got up when it was their turn to go to confession. At one point, Mrs. McCaffrey walked back to me and said, "A spot just opened up if you'd like to go to confession." My internal mind said, "Yikes, no thank you," but my Head of School mind said, "Be a good example, Damian." Well, my Head of School mind won the day. And at that moment, without knowing it, I accepted abundant grace and peace. Not only did I allow myself to experience it internally by feeling God's forgiveness, but I also had the added bonus of Monsignor Zenz saying it officially!
Monsignor reminded me that we build or break our relationship with God as we work to find Him in our community, in our personal relationships, in our treatment of strangers, and most importantly, in our relationship with those whom we have hurt and those who have hurt us. If you don't believe me, look for evidence of this in the Gospels. As we approach Easter, when God renews his commitment to us by gifting us His only Son, I commit to accepting the challenge to renew my commitment to Him.
From Formation to Mission: With Easter approaching quickly, please remind your children to bring in their Lenten coin boxes next week.
Editor's Note: To read Mr. Hermann's recent e-mail regarding the enhancements to Kensington Hall for 2019-2020, click here.
Don't Miss "Like" This Tuesday!
The Heart of the Matter Speaker & Film Series presents "Like," a documentary that "explores the impact of social media on our lives and the effects of technology on the brain" on Tuesday, April 9 at 7 p.m. Attendees will learn strategies to self-regulate their technology use and have the opportunity to ask questions of local professional. Click on the image above to watch a short video from our own Director of Community Outreach, social media guru Mr. V!
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged for planning purposes, but walk-ins are welcome. RSVP now to receive the film's tip sheet on managing social media use!
Springing Into Raffle Season!
Spring means raffle time at ASH! Look for raffle packets coming home next week with your youngest child. Each family is asked to buy or sell six raffle tickets (three for $100 or one for $50.) You'll have a chance at some great prizes while supporting an important fundraiser for Academy of the Sacred Heart. We truly appreciate your support!
Coming Soon to a Theater Near You
Many of you have seen and shared the professional videos created this school year. They've had amazing reach in our community, and we're ready to take that one step further! Beginning April 26, and continuing for 12 weeks, a 30-second promotional video for Academy of the Sacred Heart will be shown before every movie screening in the Emagine Palladium, Emagine Royal Oak and Uptown Birmingham 8 theaters. Planning to see one of this season's blockbusters? Come early (15-20 minutes before showtime) and see Sacred Heart on the big screen - and tell your friends!
Register Now for the Performing Arts Road Rally on Friday, May 10
Since 2003, members of the ASH community have supported the Performing Arts Department while having a rockin' good time, racing around town during the annual Road Rally! Originally designed as a fundraiser, it has become a community builder that people both look forward to and, depending on how competitive team members are, dread at the same time.
For two and a half hours, teams figure out clues, solve puzzles and drive from place to place in a race to be the first car to arrive at the final destination and win fabulous monetary prizes and possibly the honor of hosting the next year's Rally.
A good time is had by all and it's a fun way to support a great cause! Click here for a detailed flyer and registration link for this year's Road Rally and plan to join in on May 10.
We're Predicting a Home Run!
Above: Gazelles cheer on the Detroit Tigers, 2018
On May 13, the Detroit Tigers & the Catholic High School League (CHSL) have once again invited schools in the Archdiocese to Comerica Park. This year, our Upper School and Middle School for Girls choirs will take to the field to sing the National Anthem! Our goal is to have 1,200 ASH fans in the stands - and we know we can do it based on last year's incredible turnout!
Tickets to the 7:10 p.m. game vs. the Houston Astros are $30 each and include an exclusive, newly-designed Tigers/CHSL/ASH ball cap AND a Sacred Heart tee. Purchase your tickets online at ashmi.org/tigers. All orders must be received by Friday, May 3!
Reminder: School Alerts
As a reminder, SchoolMessenger is used to contact you about unexpected changes to the school schedule or events. Voice messages are sent to the single household phone number you have provided to us.
To receive text messages, you must opt in. Simply sent a text message of "Y" to 67587 using the mobile phone registered with the Academy. Text messages sent by the school may include occasional promotional content. To stop receiving text messages, reply "STOP" to 67587.
You may use the "PCR Access" link in the Parent Portal to update the school with changes to your phone numbers.
NURSE'S NOTES
Measles, Influenza & Allergies ... Oh My!
By Robin Clements, R.N., B.S.N., School Nurse
The following measles update from the Oakland County Health Department was sent April 2:
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has confirmed four additional measles cases, bringing the state total to 34 for this year. The newly confirmed cases were all in Oakland County, bringing the case count to 33 in Oakland County and one in Wayne County. Infected individuals range in age from 8 months to 63.
This is the highest number of measles in the state since 1991 when 65 cases were reported. So far this year, there have been 387 cases of measles confirmed in 15 states.
MDHHS is working closely with Oakland and Wayne county health departments to identify possible exposure locations. Known exposure sites in Oakland County are listed at Oakgov.com/health. Additional sites of potential exposures may be identified.
There have been reported cases of influenza in all learning communities the past two weeks. As a friendly reminder, the school has a 24-hour sick policy: Students must be fever-free, without the use of a fever reducing medication, vomit and diarrhea free for 24 hours before returning to school. If your child is having cold or influenza symptoms, please keep them home until they are feeling better. If you are contacted to pick up your child from school due to illness, please pick your child up in a timely manner (within 1 hour). If you are unable to pick your child up, please have a back up plan for another family member/friend to pick him/her up from school.
Also, the trees are in bloom! If you have a child who suffers from environmental allergies, but doesn't take allergy medication in the winter, now is the time to start with the allergy medication. I have already seen some students with allergy symptoms.
Stay healthy everyone! Easter Break is almost here!
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ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART