The Big Give SA

Over the past year, we have seen the Academy’s enrollment grow. We are thankful for this vote of confidence from the community we serve and for the challenges it presents.

One of these challenges is marshaling the resources to repair our playground. We are looking to reinforce and weatherproof the wooden structures, purchase new swings, and trim back branches. In addition, and perhaps most significantly, rains this past summer revealed the need for more robust retention walls to help keep bark mulch in place so that we can maintain a forgiving play surface.

In this same vein, there is a growing movement among teachers to take advantage of the outdoor and semi-wild spaces on and around our campus as learning resources. Some parishioners have helpfully labeled various indigenous flora, and several classes have integrated hands-on, exploratory nature studies into their science curricula. To carry this project further will require field equipment, specialized texts, and supplemental habitats for wildlife. Also, an embryonic school garden was planted last year, but will need nurture if it is to overcome our climate and thin soil.

Therefore, I am asking you to participate in this year’s “The Big Give SA,” open now through Thursday, September 23rd, in order to support outdoor play and learning at Atonement Catholic. Our goal is to raise $8,000 to fund playground repairs, nature studies, and school gardens.

Please visit the Academy’s page at https://www.thebiggivesa.org/organizations/the-atonement-academy and be generous! Thank you.

(Note: from 12:00 AM until 11:59 PM on September 23rd, the last full day of The Big Give, there will be a series of five “Match Minutes” during which contributions up to $100 will be matched by various foundations. They are 9:15 AM, 12:15 PM, 2:15 PM, 6:15 PM, and 11:15 PM. Of course, you can—and should!—give before and after these minutes as well.)

Let us continue to pray for one another. Our Lady of The Atonement—Pray For Us!

Your servant,


Matthew David Watson
Head of School