- If you are dropping off your child to ride the shuttle in the morning, please pull into the front loop, or pull forward along the side of the building. We are having a problem with cars blocking Diamond Ave while waiting to enter the lot.

- Please do not pass the shuttle bus on the North drive entrance when it is unloading children in the morning. Please be patient and wait for it to unload students and exit before proceeding. The children exit on the driveway side, and it is unsafe if cars are passing the shuttle bus.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping keep our students safe!

As a result, we have made this our permanent pick up system. We ask for your help in a couple areas to make this system as smooth and safe as possible.

- Please remind your children to be on the lookout for your car at the end of the day.  While we have staff outside each day, we do not recognize every car/parent yet.  It’s much easier for your children to look for your car and this will help the line move quicker.

- Please pull all the way up when loading and unloading children.  This gives us more room to load and unload in the morning and afternoon and makes the line move quicker.

- PLEASE USE EXTRA CAUTION IN THE PARKING LOT—ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS!  The plow service used by St. Jude Parish will do their best to clear away as much snow and ice as possible.  But since we all live in Michigan, we all know that there are going to be a few slippery spots.

- When entering or exiting the east driveway on Four Mile (the one nearest Plainfield), please watch for ice.  The plow service is using a new product that should help with the melting/refreezing that happens on all slopes.  But, again, our main goal is safety for everyone.

If everyone cooperates and follows the same rules, our drop-off and pick-up will run smoothly and everyone will be safe.  So, as always, thanks for your support!

The latest schedules are available at the GRACEAC web site - www.graceac.com.

The Boosters are looking for parents to help run concessions for our girls and boys home basketball games. Can you help? Please call Jen Wangler at 459-4924.

Please keep in mind when school is closed due to a snow day, all practices that day are cancelled as well.

Please do your best to keep sports uniforms in good condition by air drying them after washing. Please do not put sports uniforms in the dryer.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The staff at ASA would like to wish you and your family a very blessed holiday season.  We see God’s promise to all of humankind in the eyes and hearts of your children, and we have hope that He will shower your children and you with His grace and keep you safe until we resume school on Monday, January 5.

We wanted to let elementary parents know that we will be making some modifications in our schedule, which will start with second semester on Monday Jan. 26. Details will follow in January  newsletters, but we are considering changing the mass time on Wednesday and are making some changes in the lunch schedule. We believe these “tweaks” to the schedule will help ASA run a bit smoother.

Just a reminder to please put your child’s name in uniform sweatshirts, coats, hats, etc. Using permanent marker is recommended as ink tends to disappear with a couple of washings. If your child has lost a uniform sweatshirt, please check in the main office as we do not leave uniform sweatshirts on the lost and found table at the elementary campus.

When we return to the Middle School campus on Monday, January 5, Mrs. Jeanne Pitsch will be sitting in the "first chair" to assist students and act as receptionist. Mrs. Karen Raabe, our Technology Director, will fill in the "second chair" in the morning, and Mrs. Amy Polega, Eagles Club Director, will fill in during the afternoon. We will take the month of January to asses our needs and make decisions about how to fill the big shoes left by Mrs. Gregory. We wish Mrs. Gregory all the best as she starts her new position in January with GRCC.

We are expecting the lockers to be installed in the upper hallways of the Middle School over the break.  Students will return to shiny brand-new black lockers!  Each student will have their own full length locker.  We will not be using locks or combinations, so students should not bring valuables and leave them in their lockers.  Please discuss with your student that anyone opening or in any way
tampering with someone else’s locker will lose their own locker privileges.  Also, we expect that all students will respect the lockers and will not pound, kick or abuse their locker.  If this happens, parents will be billed for the cost of repairs.  We will be strictly enforcing these rules.

When we return to school on Jan 5, students will again be reminded about using planners, organizing their work, turning assignments in on time, social contracts, behavior expectations, etc.  The first part of this year staff has been a little more lenient because of all of the adjustments and changes that go along with opening a new school.  Now that we have been in school and some of the newness has worn off, students and parents can expect that all students will be held more accountable for doing their work, and will experience the consequences for failing to take responsibility for their actions.

The holiday season usually presents many opportunities for students to practice good manners. Please review common courtesy and how to respectfully address peers, elders and persons of authority with your children over the break. Also, please do not tolerate disrespectful comments and behavior at home. We need to model and work as partners (home & school) to make ASA a bully-free zone. The bullying policy is available on the Parent Links page.

Eighth grade students should be receiving a packet in the mail regarding enrolling at CC or WC.  Please read through the packet of information carefully as there are some up and coming deadlines related to registration and the placement tests.

Peace of the season to you and yours,

Chris Burns, Principal ASA