• Support the ‘gift-gathering’ parties or throw one yourself.                     

           Call Lynn Fredrick 708-434-1558 with questions about parties.

• Donate items to go on the auction block:  tickets for the theatre, the opera, sporting events; handcrafted gifts, sports memorabilia, gift certificates, vacation homes, airline miles, gift baskets, etc.  Think about what you would like to bid on -- your friends probably would like to bid on those things, too! 
  Donation Form 2008 (PDF)

• Help to underwrite our expenses!  We have learned to keep our costs very low but can always use help with printing, postage, catering and decorating costs!

• Help plan the event or work for a little while that night. 

We have big jobs and little, tiny jobs and we have fun doing them! 
Call Jennifer Hansen 708-358-0091 or Sue Murphy 708-386-6681 to volunteer.

• Mark your calendar today, get your babysitter today and plan to celebrate on November 10th with the Ascension School community!

Click here for a volunteer form for auction 2008!

Something New in 2007!

1) On the Monday and Tuesday of auction week we will have special auction events at lunch time.  The festivities will include slide shows, music and a very special 25 cent raffle for students only!  The details:  Your children in grades one through eight can participate in auction week activities simply by eating lunch at school November 5th and 6th.   They’ll have the opportunity to buy raffle tickets during lunch.  We’ll have music and dessert treats.  You can increase their fun by purchasing an “auction lunch slide show” ad:  send them your good wishes with a favorite picture and a message, or send your thanks on their behalf to a favorite teacher.  Grandparents have been invited to show their support for the auction via the slide show, too.  A slide show ad is $25.

2) Out of uniform coupons!  This will be on every student’s Christmas list:  their own particular out of uniform day.  One of these coupons ($20 each) and 24 hour notice will buy your child a day in jeans on the day of their choice from auction day until the end of the school year.  The fine print:  coupons cannot be redeemed without 24 hour notice and office approval, clothing must be appropriate for school, coupon will be limited to one per student, no coupons will be redeemed on days when there is a school Mass.

3) Dedication Days!  When Mrs. Morawski makes the announcements at the beginning and end of your child’s Dedication Day, she will spread the word that “this great day at Ascension is brought to you by Sally Bentley who turns eleven today” or by “George Bailey, who saved his brother Harry when they were sledding last week.”  The fine print:  Dedication Days will be limited to one per child, and each day will be dedicated to only one child or one family.  A dedication costs $35.  First, second and third choices for dates will be on the order form and dates will be assigned in the order in which they are received.  There are only 125 school days after the auction so only 125 Dedication Days will be sold!

Click here for an order form for coupons, slides and dedication days!

About the Auction

The auction was begun by a group of volunteers led by Laura Allen and Mickie Kerr to help raise money for the school. Last year, the auction netted over $98,000 for Ascension's operating budget.

Ascension's auction, decidedly one of the most fun events (for adults!) of the school year, kicks off the holiday party season.  It is not a formal evening but it is a very special one; you'll see dress casual attire, some suits, some long dresses, some sweaters and slacks.  The night begins in the Pine Room at 6:30 with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres during the silent auction bidding.  All of the items up for bid are donated, either by local businesses or by friends of our school:  school families, parishioners, grandparents, etc.  At 9:00 the action moves to the gym for the always entertaining, sometimes even raucous, live auction.  This is where the most money changes hands but even those who aren't among the big spenders enjoy being spectators!  The bidding here is for the use of vacation homes, special dinner parties, golf weekends, handcrafted furniture...and more.

One special feature of the auction is the Eighth Grade art project.  Our talented students, working with Mrs. Pesce, produce amazing samples of their work and donate them for the benefit of their school. This year the class of 2008 is painting beautiful canvas bags.

If you would like to get involved in the auction, please call the school office to volunteer your time.  We need volunteers at all phases of the planning stage, some for an hour or two the evening of the event, and some for the wrap up in the days following.