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Dear Fellow Parents and Guardians,
 
Welcome home to Alphonsus Academy and Center for the Arts (“AACA”) and to the new school year! We look forward to a fantastic school year for our students and the AACA community.
 
The 2019-2020 school year marks the second year of Vision 2023, our school’s five-year strategic plan. Under this plan, AACA is focused on continuing its Vision to be a welcoming home for families and students who value the development of the whole child through continued academic excellence, consistent arts integration, growth in Catholic faith formation, a culture of stewardship, and diverse opportunities to explore extra-curricular interests. 
 
Each of the Advisory Board parent members works on a different aspect of our Vision. To reach our Vision 2023 goals, the Advisory Board has re-examined existing board focus areas and related committees, and formed new ones. Most of these focus areas and committees are led by a parent Advisory Board member working with at least one AACA faculty member. Below is a summary of each Advisory Board focus area:
 

  • Advancement:  Evaluates, supports, and advises on advancement to foster a culture of stewardship, encouraging community members to share their time, talent, and treasure to ensure AACA continues to be a welcoming home for families and students. Led by Advisory Board member Erin Kerr working in conjunction with Caroline Jordan, Director of Advancement, and the Advancement Council.
 
  • Arts Integration: Evaluates, supports, and advises on arts programming, parent outreach, and parent involvement, including by sponsoring a variety of extra-curricular arts programming events, developing relationships within the Chicago arts community, and delivering ongoing communication regarding connections between AACA's arts programming and educational goals. Led by Advisory Board member Denise Mueller and faculty Advisory Board member and Teaching Artist, Esther Pomranky, working in conjunction with Becky Manuel, Director of Arts Integration, and the Arts Council.
 
  • Athletics and Extra-curricular: Led by faculty Advisory Board member and Assistant Principal, Tom Newman, working in conjunction with Angela Kladis, Athletic Director, and the Athletics Council.
 
  • Catholic Community and Service: Evaluates, supports, and advises on community outreach and service opportunities for students and families. Led by Advisory Board member Kathleen Perreault working in conjunction with Alisa Carroll, Third Grade Teacher.
 
  • Communication: Evaluates, supports, and advises on AACA’s communication with the AACA community. Led by Advisory Board member Dan Rapacz working in conjunction with Audie Smith, Lower Middle School (“LMS”) Social Studies Teacher; Hannah McMahon, Kindergarten Teacher; and the Communication Committee.
 
  • Differentiation: Evaluates, supports, and advises on ways to enhance differentiation in the classroom. Led by faculty Advisory Board members Lori Deighan, Learning Specialist, and Emily Sikorski, LMS English Language Arts Teacher.
 
  • Facilities: Evaluates, supports, and advises on campus facilities. Led by Advisory Board member Anne Shutler, working in conjunction with Father Bauer and the Campus Planning Committee.
 
  • Finance: Evaluates, supports, and advises on the AACA annual budget and long-term financial stability. Led by Advisory Board member Stephen Reynolds working in conjunction with Dorothy Spencer, St. Alphonsus Parish Business Manager, and the Finance Committee.
 
  • High School Readiness: Evaluates, supports, and advises on AACA’s effort to educate and provide guidance to students and parents about high school options and help find the right fit for high school. Led by Advisory Board member Jennifer Fardy working in conjunction with Beth Grady, High School Specialist.
 
  • Social and Emotional Learning: Evaluates, supports, and advises on integration of social and emotional learning to educate, nurture, and develop the whole child. Led by Advisory Board member Lisa Hillstrom working in conjunction with Debra Larrea and Matt Gunsaulus, School Counselors, and Connie Huang, Preschool Teacher.
 
  • Technology: Evaluates, supports, and advises on AACA’s use of technology in supporting student education and family communication. Led by Advisory Board member Justin Casciola working in conjunction with Katie Key, Upper Middle School Math Teacher, Bill Mierisch, Director of Technology, and the Technology Committee.

 
The parent Advisory Board members look forward to continuing our partnership with parents and faculty members to work collaboratively toward our Vision 2023 goals.
 
We also wish to thank each and every one of you for all that you do to help make AACA so special. As parents, we have all chosen to be part of this community because we know that AACA is a wonderful place. Our children receive an exceptional education from outstanding educators in a nurturing environment that prepares them for success at every stage in life - starting at AACA, through high school, and beyond. We have many people to thank for the success that our students enjoy. But this success is, in part, due to the commitment of our parent community in investing our resources - time, talent, and treasure - to help make our AACA community strong and vibrant.
 
The extraordinary gift of your time and talent has a significant impact on the success of our school and our AACA community. There are many opportunities to contribute your time and talent throughout the school year. For instance, we currently have open positions for parents to serve on the Advisory Board and on some of the Committees identified above. Please watch the Rocket Report for information about these opportunities. Other volunteer opportunities have recently been shared by the Rocket Resource Team and are listed on the AACA website under the “Giving” tab. As additional volunteer opportunities become available, they will be shared both in the Rocket Report and on the website.
 
There are also many opportunities to contribute directly to the financial wellbeing of AACA, such as through your financial support of the Faculty Fund, Art & Soul, Rocket Run, Annual Campaign, Fund In Need, and Rocket Raffle. See the attached for AACA’s 2019-2020 Fundraising Goals. Meeting these goals will help to support our faculty and our operating expenses so that AACA can provide high caliber educational opportunities for students at a reasonable tuition. More information will be shared in the Rocket Report and can be found under the “Giving” tab of the AACA website.
 
Thank you for sharing your time, talent, and treasure with our AACA community. If you have any questions about opportunities for involvement, please contact the parent Advisory Board members identified in this letter or Caroline Jordan, Director of Advancement, at 773-348-4629 ext. 151.
 
As always, we invite you to join us for our monthly school Advisory Board meetings which are typically held in the evening on the first Monday of each month. Please see the school calendar for more details or reach out to an Advisory Board member listed below.
 
Thank you and Go Rockets!
 
Jennifer K. Fardy, School Board President/High School Readiness  jkfardy@gmail.com

Erin Kerr, Advancement empkerr@gmail.com

Denise Mueller, Arts Integration denisemueller@me.com

Kathleen Perreault, Catholic Community & Service  kathleen.f.perreault@gmail.com

Dan Rapacz, Communication dan.j.rapacz@gmail.com

Anne Shutler, Facilities anneshutler@gmail.com

Stephen Reynolds, Financial Planning & Stability steprey4@gmail.com

Lisa Hilstrom, Social & Emotional Learning lcb12566@sbcglobal.net

Justin L. Casciola, Technology justincasciola@gmail.com 


      

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