Dear Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Victory Families,

The other day, I was reminiscing about what it was like to be a first-year Theology teacher. Before I started teaching, I had visions of standing up in front of a classroom and dispensing pearls of hard-fought collegiate wisdom before a bunch of eager and well-behaved teenagers anxiously writing down every word that came out of my mouth. The reality that greeted me on the first day of class was different: I was 22 years old, and I had 150 students spread out across five different classes. Many of my students were eager to learn, but many more were eager to do anything but.

I'll never forget one sophomore football player I taught during my first year. His name was Lance, he was a lineman, and he walked around campus with an enormous smile, and a perpetually untucked shirt. Who laughed when I tried to redirect him and said, quite matter-of-factly, "Look, Mr. Aust, you seem like a nice guy, but the truth is that we just don't care about religion class." Indeed.

More than anything else about that first year, I remember being exhausted. I spent the entire day making split-second decisions, answering the bizarre questions that emerge from the mind of a teenager, redirecting students who were off-task, trying to find new and different ways to explain concepts, managing diverse and often outsized personalities (like Lance), and trying to convince teenagers that what I was teaching them was actually worth knowing. When the final bell rang, there were still papers to grade, lessons to prepare, copies to make, exams to write, emails to answer, and a hundred little things I hadn't managed to accomplish during the school day. Of course, there was still laundry to do, errands to run, and meals to prepare.

Candidly, I was a pretty awful teacher my first year. I'm almost certain that I inadvertently said things that scandalized my students. I know that I gave out detentions that were unwarranted and too often looked the other way when I probably should have said something. I hope that my former students have forgiven me for those missteps. That said, I also remember the extraordinary generosity of the more experienced teachers and administrators who took me under their wings, answered my questions, offered unsolicited feedback, shared their materials, and helped me find my footing so that I could avoid those rookie missteps in the future. I remember the kindness of parents who thanked me for loving their students imperfectly and prayed for me when their students inevitably complained about their grumpy, inexperienced theology teacher who didn't know how to manage a classroom, assigned too much homework, wrote way too many confusing quiz questions. Looking back, I realize how much of my own education and growth in this field has depended upon the patience, generosity, sacrifice and prayer of other people.

Sometime in mid-October of 2007, I was home one night, exhausted and grading papers and planning lessons for the next day, thinking to myself, “I can't believe people actually do this for a living.” In the almost two decades since, I've spent every minute of my professional career in high school education, and I couldn't be more grateful for the career that the Lord has given me. God has a sense of humor.

Every teacher will tell you that October is a slog. At some point this week, I encourage you to say a prayer for your children’s teachers. In every good school is a team of teachers who give something of themselves for the sake of their students. I am profoundly grateful for the men and women who have answered that call at Our Lady of Victory.

I don't share any of this because our teachers are looking for sympathy or praise. Most of them would probably be embarrassed to receive either one; however, I think it is important for us, as a community, to remember that the education of our children depends upon the daily, often hidden sacrifices of men and women who have chosen to devote their lives to this work.

Our Lady of Victory, pray for us!

Peace in Christ,
Randy

Congratulations to this week’s winners of the Virtue Awards! You know what you did…

Hope: Lucia Gutierrez
Charity: Ryder Ramaekers
Prudence: Izzy Gideon
Fortitude: Margaret Pippin
Temperance: Paul Cotter

As a reward for blowing Giving Day goals out of the water ($500K!!), students are allowed free dress this upcoming Monday, October 26.

Another reward for this incredible total is that a half day will be added to the calendar. This early release day will be Friday, February 5. Students will be released after noon Mass. Our school calendar has been updated to reflect this change.

Great work students!

The Athletics Program is looking for one more coach to add to the basketball program this year. We will have a C Team for boys and are looking for someone to manage 0-2 practices a week for our C team players. The time commitment is extremely minimal compared to JV and V and there are no games.

Please email Delaney Nalen if you know anyone who might be interested and is a good fit!

athletics@ourladyofvictorydenver.com

Before the season begins, we will hold team expectation meetings. This information can also be found in SportsYou.

Boys’ Basketball

• Date: Monday, November 9

• Time: 3:45 PM

• Location: Chesterton Commons Gym at OLV

• Who: Coaches, Athletic Director, parents, and players

Girls’ Basketball

• Date: Tuesday, November 10

• Time: 3:45 PM

• Location: Chesterton Commons Gym at OLV

• Who: Coaches, Athletic Director, parents, and players

All are encouraged to attend if available!

OLV's basketball programs will be using SportsYou for this 2026-2027 season. The calendars are uploaded into the app and the coaches are in the app already. Please download the SportsYou app to get in the know on games, practice schedules, and any updates from the coaching staff. It is pertinent you are in the app by the beginning of November.

SportsYou links for team calendars (download the SportsYou app and add in this code to add your team):

Boys: WF3D-J9ZQ
Girls: TZZ9-ZEDA

CHSAA medical forms are due to Ms. Nalen prior to Nov 16. You cannot participate in tryouts or practice without this form in and being cleared. The form is on the athletics website, and also here! Thank you!

Save the date for the upcoming Spring Formal! It will be held Saturday, April 17 at Holy Name Catholic Parish.

Juniors and Seniors: get your dancing shoes and formal attire ready to go!

The volleyball game scheduled for Monday, October 26 has been cancelled. There will be no game or practice that day.

The OLV Spirit Store is now open! Shop online and pick up the orders at OLV the week of November 30th—just in time for Christmas! The store closes October 30.

Link to Store

Order by: October 30, 2026
Delivery Week of: November 30, 2026

The following priests will be celebrating Mass at Our Lady of Victory the upcoming week, October 23 - October 30. Please pray for our priests!

Fri, Oct 23: Fr. Matt Kane
Mon, Oct 26: St. Mary Priest
Tues, Oct 27: St. Mark Priest
Wed, Oct 28: Fr. Anthony of the Transfiguration
Thurs, Oct 29: Fr. Adam Bradshaw
Fri, Oct 30: Fr. Daniel Ciucci

Volleyball

5280 League Semifinals: Tuesday, October 27 at 5:00 PM

• Location: Rocky Mountain Lutheran

5280 League Championship or 3rd-Place Game: Thursday, October 29

• Game time, location, and opponent TBD

Join us for the first OLV Line Dancing Night on Saturday, October 24, from 7:00–9:00 p.m. in Chesterton Commons!

Organized by Clarice Burch and Coach Andy Slavin, this new club is a chance for our OLV community to learn some new dances, enjoy a little friendly fun, and spend time together. We’ll learn two or three line dances of varying difficulty and then hit the floor for favorites like Copperhead Road and Church Clap!

The evening is geared toward adults and older kids, but younger children are welcome with parental supervision.

A few things to know:

• When: Saturday, October 24, 7:00–9:00 p.m.

• Where: Chesterton Commons

• Bring: A water bottle

• Food: Please eat dinner beforehand; no food will be provided.

• Dress Code: Boots and jeans are classic, but anything you can dance in works just fine.

No dance experience is necessary—just come ready to learn and have fun! We hope to see lots of OLV families there!

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!

All that Remains:
Thursday, October 29th: Ave Maria University

Interested in checking out Colorado School of Mines? OLV parents Jane Holman & Shawn Grady are organizing a trip for OLV students on Monday, November 2nd. The visit will include a 30-minute info session, 60-min campus tour, lunch and a visit with the current FOCUS missionaries at Mines. More details to come, but please email Jane at jane.holman@gmail.com if you or your student is interested in attending.

Come join current OLV parents and faculty members for an informal night of drinks & conversation! We'll have a couple tables reserved at Prost Brewing in Highlands Ranch on Wednesday, November 4 from 6:30pm-9pm. Stop by anytime and enjoy some social time with fellow OLV parents.

Calling all movie lovers! Each month (November through March), a different faculty member will choose a film and interested OLV students will gather at a nearby home to watch the movie together. Seats will always be limited, so please RSVP each month if you'd like to join!

This month, we will kick off with The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) on Tuesday, November 17th from 6:30pm-9pm at the Murphy home.  In this warm adaptation of a 1939 short story, daydreamer Walter Mitty must learn courage and grit in order to overcome his natural reticence and live his life to the fullest. Come enjoy a great film, popcorn, and some deep thoughts by Ms. Genevieve Riley. Please RSVP to elise.a.murphy@gmail.com for details and to reserve a spot.

Note: OLV does not endorse these movies and parents should make their own prudential judgment about the appropriateness of the film for their students. All movies are selected in conjunction with faculty members and approved by Randy Aust.

The Archdiocese of Denver invites high school boys to attend an upcoming discernment retreat! These retreats offer young men an opportunity to prayerfully consider their vocation and grow in their relationship with the Lord.

Upcoming Dates:
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Sunday, November 29, 2026

Location: Holy Trinity Center at the St. John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization, 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210

Register at denvervocations.com/events.

St. Mary Littleton has been committed to hosting an annual Pro-Life Symposium to encourage teens to take the pro-life issue seriously and become personally involved in building a culture of life.

This year, they are especially calling all young men to attend. (Young women still more than welcome and encouraged to attend! Notice the familiar female face on the flyer 😁) The keynote speaker, Sean Corcoran, CEO of Men For Life, is eager to speak directly to young men about the important role they have in standing up for life and supporting women and families. (Good for young women to hear as well.)

The morning will include Mass with Bishop Rodriguez, a free breakfast, pro-life speakers, prizes, and ministry tables.

Saturday, November 7 | 8:15 AM–1:00 PM
St. Mary Littleton Catholic Parish

This is a great opportunity for our young men to hear from inspiring Catholic leaders and consider how they can personally make a difference.

You can register here!

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!