Dear Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Victory Families,

As we approach the conclusion of another successful Giving Day, I want to thank you for your willingness and tenacity in sharing the good news of OLV with your family members, friends, and neighbors. To date, we have raised well over $300,000, with more donations arriving every hour! That this comes on the heels of a capital campaign (more like a capital 40-yard-dash, really) that raised over $1.7 million is even more impressive. We look forward to revealing the big (but not quite final) total at the Lepanto Festival tomorrow evening.

I recognize that we all have different levels of comfort with asking for donations—it’s certainly a skill I’ve had to develop in this role! Our social networks also vary in size and scope. What we can share, however, is a willingness to make the invitation and give others an opportunity to support the incredible work taking place in our classrooms every day.

Kevin McAdam, our former Board Chair, often spoke of OLV families being in the same boat and rowing in the same direction. That image captures the shared effort that has sustained our school and will continue to do so in the years ahead. Every family plays an integral part in our school’s success, and every personal invitation and expression of gratitude helps move us forward. Thank you for doing your part.

If you haven’t yet had an opportunity to participate, please reach out to a few people who might be willing to support our mission. If you’ve already contacted friends and family, consider one final reminder to those who may have intended to give. And please ask your sons and daughters to send thank-you notes if they haven’t already. We’re grateful for your efforts and for the generosity of everyone who has responded to our call.

I hope to see your family at the Lepanto Festival tomorrow night, beginning at 6:00 p.m., right here at OLV. We will gather for a joyful evening of fellowship to celebrate our community’s generosity and honor Our Lady of Victory, whose constant intercession sustains our mission.

Thank you for all you do to make ours a community of faith and friendship.

Our Lady of Victory, pray for us!

Peace in Christ,
Randy

Congratulations to September’s Athletes of the Month! Keep up the good work, athletes! We are so proud of your hard work and dedication.

St. Joan of Arc Award:
Vanina Orellana, Senior, Volleyball

St. Sebastian Award:
Theodore Clemens, Freshman, Cross Country

Our Athletics Director, Miss Nalen, has created a Google calendar of all of the upcoming games for all sports. Add it to your own to stay up to date with OLV Athletics!

Calendar Linked Here

If you ordered hard copies of your student’s school pictures, they are available for pick-up in the front office. Your smiling child is waiting for you! Don’t leave him waiting.

The OLV Pro-Life Club invites all students every Thursday (Including today!) from 8:00-9:00 p.m. for a Holy Hour in St. Mary’s Adoration Chapel. After the hour of prayer, students gather for social time at a location to be announced (Andy’s in warm weather). The Pro-Life Club offers opportunities for prayer, education, service and respectful action throughout the school year.

Join us each Thursday to pray for unborn children, mothers, families, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those who are suffering!

The 2026 Lepanto Festival is just over a week away on Friday, October 2nd! Festivities begin at 6pm and families are encouraged to bring their dinners & eat on our beautiful new campus (tables will be provided!). If you'd prefer to purchase your dinner, we will have the following options available:

• Mike's Coneys Food Truck: Owned by our very own OLV family, the Chilellis, Mike's Coneys will serve burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, coney dogs with chili and coney fries - each for $9 or a combo meal for $15. Because the Chilellis are amazing, they are donating all proceeds from food sales back to OLV for Giving Day. So come support this family business & OLV at the same time!

• Costco Cheese Pizza: For families that want an easy option, we will be selling Costco cheese pizzas for $2/slice or $20 for a whole pizza. First come, first serve while supplies last. Cash & Venmo.

• HipPOP Dessert Truck: Back by popular demand, the HipPOP truck will be serving its handcrafted gelato bars for dessert! Each customizable gelato bar - dipped in chocolate & toppings - is $8. 

These food trucks have given us great deals for the evening, so please support them if you can. We are looking forward to celebrating the end of Giving Day and the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary with your families next Friday!

Mark your calendars!! Tryouts for boys’ and girls’ basketball are on Nov. 16! Please sign your student-athletes up ASAP so we know who to expect. Deadline to sign up is Oct 15. https://form.typeform.com/to/ackVLOSh‍ ‍

As always, your child needs to complete with CHSAA medical form (on the athletics page on website) in order to compete. Please make sure that is turned into Ms. Nalen.

The following priests will be celebrating Mass at Our Lady of Victory the upcoming week, October 2 - October 9. Please pray for our priests!

Fri, Oct 2: Fr. Joshua Nayoni
Mon, Oct 5: St. Mary’s Priests
Tues, Oct 6: Fr. Marek Ciesla
Wed, Oct 7: Fr. Anthony Ariniello
Thurs, Oct 8: Fr. Marek Ciesla
Fri, Oct 9: No School, No Mass

Volleyball

• Thursday, Oct. 1: vs. Denver Jewish — Lone Tree Recreation Center
  JV at 4:30 PM | Varsity at 5:30 PM

• Monday, Oct. 5: Senior Night! — Lone Tree Recreation Center
  JV at 4:30 PM | Varsity at 5:30 PM

• Wednesday, Oct. 7: at OLSW
  JV only at 5:00 PM

Our Lady of Victory is sponsoring candlelight adoration at St. Mary's Catholic Church tonight in the main church from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. Come enjoy beautiful reflections for adults and children and time to pray as a community before Our Lord.

Mark your calendar for the 2026 Lepanto Festival, an evening of celebration in honor of our patron feast and to close out Giving Day! This year, we will be celebrating on our beautiful new campus. Families are encouraged to bring their own dinners (or eat beforehand). If you prefer, food trucks and Costco cheese pizza will be available for purchase. The evening will begin at 6pm with dinner, socializing and the ever-popular dunk tank. The dance floor (DJ'ed by our very own Matt Miller) will open at 7:30pm and the night will end with a rosary at 8:45pm. Bring your dinner, your families, your dancing shoes and come prepared for a lovely celebration under the stars!

To help our juniors kick off the college preparation process, we are blessed to be visited by a handful of college admissions counselor who are eager to share information about their schools. These presentations will take place during lunch in Ave Maria 102 and they are required for all juniors. Parents are welcome to attend!

Tuesday, October 6th: Benedictine College
Thursday, October 29th: Ave Maria University

Please note that students will be dismissed at 11:35 AM on Thursday, October 8th in order to facilitate the preparation for Parent-Teacher Conferences later that evening.

Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita...
("Midway upon the journey of our life...")

The opening lines of perhaps the most beautiful and awe-inspiring piece of poetry ever created. Dante was not an inspired author, but the Divine Comedy is, perhaps, as close as mere mortals get to touching the Divine. When I was teaching, it was definitely one of my favorite books to teach to high school students.

I hope that you'll join us on October 14th while I share a few thoughts about what makes this poem so special, why we teach it at OLV, and why I think you should read it before you die. Oh, and there will be bourbon and snacks. Costumes not necessary, but encouraged.

Please RSVP here: https://form.jotform.com/261233475610148

Peace in Christ,
Randy

Put on your boots and hats and come to OLV’s Honk-Honky Tonk Tailgate Dance on October 16th! Head to the back parking lot of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, where we will have truck beds down, lights strung around the dance floor, and a beautiful view of the sunset! The dance will be held from 5:30-7:30, with doors opening at 5. We hope to see you all there, decked out in your flannel and denim!

Basketball season is right around the corner! Join Coach Jayce at Grow the Kingdom to build strength, power, resilience, and conditioning for the season.

Saturday Sessions
📍 Location: Grow the Kingdom Gym
Focus: Power output, strength, and resilience

• MBB Returning Varsity: 7:45–8:50 a.m.

• WBB Returners/New: 9:05–10:10 a.m.

• MBB Returning JV: 10:25–11:30 a.m.

• MBB New: 11:45 a.m.–12:50 p.m.

Wednesday Sessions
📍 Location: Outside Park — TBD
Focus: Sport-specific agility and conditioning

• MBB Returners/New: 4:00–5:00 p.m.

• WBB Returners/New: 5:15–6:15 p.m.

Cost: $45 per session, per athlete
(Discounted from the regular $60/session rate for specialized group training.)

Register & Find More Information

Not planning to play basketball but interested in group sessions at Grow the Kingdom? Check out the “What We Offer” tab on their website to learn more.

Everyone belongs at the table! This fall, support the FIRE Foundation Denver and its mission to help students with disabilities thrive in Catholic schools while enjoying a delicious homemade pie.

Choose from Pumpkin, Cherry, Pecan, or Apple pies for just $25 each. Pies are generously donated by Bluepoint Bakery.

📅 Order by November 15
🥧 $25 per pie
❤️ 100% of proceeds support the FIRE Foundation

Scan the QR code on the flyer to place your order and help make sure every student has a place at the table!