Chesterton Weekly 2/12/21
“The man who lives in a small community lives in a much larger world. He knows much more of the fierce variety and uncompromising divergences of men…In a large community, we can choose our companions. In a small community, our companions are chosen for us. Thus in all extensive and highly civilized society groups come into existence founded upon sympathy, and shut out the real world more sharply than the gates of a monastery. There is nothing really narrow about the clan; the thing which is really narrow is the clique.”
― G.K. Chesterton
Please use this signup if you would like to join us for daily mass on campus in the coming weeks.
IN THIS ISSUE:
Presidents’ Day - No School Monday
Open Mic Night - Live-stream link
Ski Trip
Lent at Chesterton - From Our Chaplain
Pick Up and Drop Off
Junior Play - The Song of Bernadette
Uniform Policy
SAVE THE DATE:
2/12: Open Mic Night
2/15: Presidents’ Day - No School!
2/18 - 20: Junior Play
2/22: Spring Sports Begin
2/25: Lenten Retreat for Students
3/6: Fleur-de-Lis Gala
Presidents’ Day
We are happy to announce that Monday the 15th is a day off in observance of President's Day! It is typically taken as a holiday and was inadvertently left off the original school calendar. Enjoy the day off!
Open Mic Night
We are excited to watch all our students perform tonight! They have been hard at work these last few weeks polishing up their acts and warming up their voices. The evening will go from 4:30p.m. - 6:15p.m. Though we originally said 5:45p.m., we would like to give the evening plenty of buffer time so that parents are not waiting in their cars for too long.
Ski Trip
Join Chesterton families for a beautiful day on the slopes! Ski the “mountains” of the midwest at Michigan’s Bittersweet Resort on February 27th. Enjoy 350 vertical feet, 20 runs, 7 chair lifts, 3 wonder carpets and 1 rope tow. It’s great for both novice and experienced skiers, and it is a perfect opportunity for parents to get to know one another and students to hang out in the outdoors. Find all the information here. You won’t want to miss out on the perfect winter day!
Lent at Chesterton
A note from our Chaplain, Fr. Ryan Adorjan:
It is hard to believe that Lent 2021 is upon us, when in many respects it feels like Lent 2020 never really came to an end. Nevertheless, Ash Wednesday is fast approaching on February 17. Lent is a time for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, and we will be making some changes to the way the Chesterton community prays during this time. A central practice for us will be the celebration of the Novus Ordo Mass in Latin on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
In its document Sacrosanctum concilium, the Second Vatican Council teaches that “the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites” of the Catholic Church, especially in the Ordinary parts of the Mass, and with special emphasis on the parts pertaining especially to the people; these would include the Gloria, the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei. Please find a guide to the Latin Mass here. In addition, focusing on a new language in our prayer helps us refocus our attention back onto what we are saying and doing, rather than allowing auto-pilot to take over during Mass.
Chesterton is built on the foundation of a broad and interdisciplinary education. The history of the Church and the Latin language being taught in the classroom will now help to inform the school’s communal prayer and, conversely, this new experience of prayer will only boost the experience in the classroom.
“The Latin language safeguards the mystical atmosphere that filled the churches I grew up in…Any translation, however good it might be, will still have lost the mysticism I find so fascinating, and the believer’s attention will turn instead to inexhaustible, complex concepts that would leave absolutely anyone bewildered. Is it really that important, at any given moment of the rite, as churchgoers are intent on gazing into the abyss of their own souls, that they know exactly what words Ave verum corpus natum de Maria virgine mean?”
Maestro Riccardo Muti, Music Director, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Pick Up and Drop Off
Drop Off and Pick Up in the Roundabout
Please drop off and pick up students only in the roundabout on the south side of campus by door #9 (see map here). Because there is only a single lane to the back parking lot, we need to limit the number of cars going out for the safety of our student drivers. If your student needs to make a special arrangement that requires drop off or pick up at door #1 (e.g., arriving late or leaving early for a doctor's appointment, leaving due to sickness, etc.), just let the office know.
Tardiness in the Mornings
Some students have been consistently arriving late to school, usually during convocation. Convocation is when the school joins to start the day in prayer, recalling our shared mission to grow in holiness. It is also a time when we share important news and announcements and celebrate various achievements within the school community. Please make every effort to arrive at school before 8:00 a.m. so you can participate in convocation. Tardiness results in demerits and continued tardiness will result in detentions.
The Song of Bernadette - Junior Drama
Get your drama tickets! We are now opening the ticketing for The Song of Bernadette to our freshman, sophomore, and senior families. We cannot wait to see the juniors spectacular performance. It is sure to be both heartwarming and inspiring. A special shout-out to Ms. Kielar ‘24 for winning the playbill artwork competition! Honorable mentions are Ms. Carver ‘23 and Ms. Francone ‘23. (Pictured in the order mentioned) Get your drama tickets here.
Only immediate family and grandparents will be able to watch the play on campus. Please do not invite friends to see the play on site; they will be able to purchase a link to the livestream so they can watch the play online.
Gala Updates
Gala Parties: Simple, Elegant, and Successful
For those of you who are having gala parties instead of coming to Bobak’s for the event, here are all the considerations of hosting a gala party. This weekend, we will be posting a video with more information on where you can “attend” the gala on site (at Bobak’s or St. James) or at a watch party at a school family’s home.
Schedule
Start Time: 6:00 p.m. (recommended — so that your guests have time to get signed up for the auction and for our gala website before the program begins)
Livestreamed Program (all parties need to participate — Please note that this time has been updated!): 7:15 p.m. Please note that your party will not be on camera. It will just be video shared with you by our streaming video provider, and you will sign on to it around 6:00 p.m.
End Time: 9:30 p.m. …or later if you like!
Technology needed: an internet connection, a TV, and computer to hookup to or connect via SmartTV apps (e.g., Apple TV, Google Chrome, etc.)
We will provide the streaming link so you can show the gala program while your guests bid and pledge donations through our mobile-ready gala website on their phones. To access the link, you’ll just need to click on the link we send you at the appointed time!
Provide food and drinks: your choice of anything from heavy hors d’oeuvres to a full multi-course meal.
Guests will purchase tickets via our gala website, and we will call you directly to know how many tickets to make available for your party. Only guests with tickets may attend. The school will provide a batch of programs and other materials for your guests.
The ticket donation for those who attend home parties will be $100; unlike the on-site gala tickets for Bobak’s ($125; $50 is non-deductible) the $100 donation for attending a home party is 100% deductible. You, as a host, do not have to pay for a gala ticket.
CATHF families will have their Chesterton student (or a few) with them. The students and are our best ambassadors, and we’ll provide a little training for them on how to be great hosts.
The livestream event will be at 8:15 PM and last about 45 minutes. We ask that you build your event around that event since the program will share testimonials and information about the school.
Gala Tickets for Senior Students and Their Families
Seniors and senior families: Just a reminder that you will be on site at Bobak’s for the gala for your senior year! Please check your Jupiter Ed messages for the informal RSVP form for on-site tickets at Bobak’s.
The Raffle Tickets
Congratulations to the House of Ambrose for selling the most raffle tickets in our latest “raffle selling sprint” competition!
Hoping to get more points towards your House? Each ticket sold is a point towards your House. Students, don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to get your House to the top of the White Horse Cup leaderboard. Buy and sell tickets online only: https://chestertonacademyoftheholyfamily.com/raffle
Auction Update
Thanks to the many of you who have donated items for the silent auction! We are so grateful for your generosity, creativity, and hard work in making each one of the baskets unique and deluxe. Our amazing auction team is hard at work organizing, and beautifying the baskets. At this time, we do not need any more items donated.
Instead, please focus on your House baskets and selling raffle tickets. If you would like to help the auction team put the baskets together and the other various tasks that come during these final days, please contact Karen Nawas at karen.nawas@gmail.com
We look forward to opening bidding soon!
House Baskets update
The House baskets are due on Tuesday the 16th! They were originally due the 15th but, in observance of Presidents’ Day, they are now due the 16th. Please take a look at this document for all the details on putting the basket together and get in contact with the prefects for your House for more details!