Chesterton Weekly 2/19/21
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”
― G.K. Chesterton
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Gala Updates
The Song of Bernadette - get your tickets before they are gone!
Ski Trip
Spring Sports
Tardiness
SAVE THE DATE:
2/18 - 20: Junior Play
2/25: Lenten Retreat for Students
3/1: Spring Sports Begin
3/5: End of Quarter 3
3/6: Fleur-de-Lis Gala
Gala Update: A Note from Ms. Jurado
Dear Chesterton Families,
I have some great news to share about this year’s Fleur-de-Lis Gala! I hope this will make it easier for our community to come together for a wonderful, multi-site event, as well as give you greater clarity about how you can celebrate and support the school when the gala takes place on March 6, 2021.
I want to begin by asking each family to contribute that which is priceless: prayer. Back in December of 2018, we learned that we would need to move out of our first building in Downers Grove and begin a building search. At Advent Lessons and Carols, our Board Chairman, Mr. Brenie Bowles, asked every family to say a daily Memorare for the success of our building search. As I sit in our new building in Lisle, I can say these prayers were very effective, and the Lord has definitely provided! Please, consider praying a daily Memorare to Our Lady, again, for the mission of our school and the success of our gala.
So on to the good news! We have had the great fortune of a number of donors come forward to underwrite the major costs of this year’s gala. We are so grateful to them for imitating the generosity of The Holy Family by making it possible to attend the gala without a cover charge, and we hope this encourages you to be generous in your giving as well, and share the online experience of the gala with as many people as possible. The FAQ below will hopefully answer your questions and tell you more about what these generous donations mean for your experience of the gala this year.
Rachel Jurado
Executive Director
2021 GALA FAQ
Where should my family go for the gala?
If you’re a senior, you and your family is required to attend the gala on site (as in a normal year) at Bobak’s. We will reach out if we have not received your RSVP already. We are holding seats for you and your guests. Senior families, if you have health concerns, you are welcome to participate in the gala at home or at an at-home party with other Chesterton families.
Students in other grades and their families are welcome to come to St. James at Sag Bridge or at-home parties (see below for options for at-home parties). But we ask all families to let us know what you plan to do by filling out the RSVP form here (please note that you do not need to register each guest individually for at-home parties). At this time, Bobak’s is already at capacity. If you would like to be put on a waiting list for Bobak’s, please email gala@cathf.com.
Is the gala really free?
Isn’t it great that people have stepped forward as benefactors for the event? This will allow us to have as many people attend as possible either in person or virtually from anywhere in the country (or world). Because of these benefactors, we encourage you to have watch parties, attend in person, and share the link with as many people as possible. But most of all, we hope it encourages you to be as generous as possible because the up-front cost of the ticket has been paid for you.
How do I get all of my friends and family registered with the virtual (online-only) gala?
In the coming days, a virtual gala invitation will be to you and all our constituents and we encourage you to send it out as widely in your network as possible.
Can I get a refund for my student tickets?
The dollars raised from student tickets have already been used for the additional costs of production, technology, and A/V of this hybrid online gala event.
What is the dress code for the gala?
The dress code for students at ALL LOCATIONS is to wear their gala uniform which you can find at the uniform webpage: http://chestertonacademyoftheholyfamily.com/uniform We will be taking pictures for the yearbook and other marketing materials.
How do COVID guidelines affect the gala venues?
Both gala venues (Bobak’s and St. James) have their own COVID guidelines. The hosts of at-home parties will let you know if they have any particular requests related to health as they arrange their parties.
Do my guests at my at-home party need to pay for a ticket?
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, you will be able to participate in the virtual party free of charge.
What do I have to serve to my guests at my party at home?
Your menu at at-home parties is up to you. Some are serving multi-course meals, others hors d’oeuvres, pizza and wings, and others may do it potluck style.
What do I need to host a party at home?
You will need a strong internet connection and a computer that is connected to a large screen so your guests can watch the virtual gala beginning at 7:15 p.m.
Can I still set up an at-home party at my place?
Yes! Please call the school office to let us know so we can keep track of who is hosting. If you’re looking for an at-home party to join, we may be able to point you in the direction of a family who has space to welcome you into their home.
How do I get the virtual link? Who can I share it with?
We will send you the virtual gala link before March 6 (where you can register for the auction, donate, and watch the virtual event). Please share the link widely with your family and friends so we can drum up a wide network of support.
What else can I do to help the gala?
Please send this raffle ticket purchase link to all your friends: https://chestertonacademyoftheholyfamily.com/raffle
The Song of Bernadette
Tickets are selling out quickly! The opening night performance was both touching and inspiring. You will not want to miss out on the junior class dramatic performance of the life of St. Bernadette. They have 3 performances left:
Friday the 19th at 7pm - SOLD OUT
Saturday the 20th at 2:30pm and 7pm
Get your tickets here!
Ski Trip
Spots are filling up! Don’t miss out on this perfect winter’s day on the “mountains” on February 27th. It’s the ideal place for both novice and experienced skiers, and a great opportunity for parents to get to know one another and students to hang out in the outdoors. Find all the information here. Shred that gnar!
Spring Sports
Thank you for your patience as we work with our leagues to hammer out the details for the spring sports season. The sign-ups will be available soon.
Softball Interest Survey
In the meantime, for our young lady athletes, please take a look at this survey for an exciting new opportunity. We are considering creating a women's softball team for the late spring sports season. Since there are greater needs for equipment for the sport, each athlete would have to pay the usual $200 per sport fee for the team, even if you have already paid for a sports season this year. Please let us know, by filling out this survey, if this is something that you would be interested in!
A Note on Tardiness
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.