Dear Parents,
We would like to thank all of our Rocket parents for their thoughtful candy donations for the AHS Halloween Night last week. We had over 1,000 people attend the event and had plenty of candy for all our visitors to leave with an incredible trick or treating experience! It’s because of you that we are able to provide such wonderful hospitality to our alumnae, future Rockets, and our extended Rocket family.
On Tuesday, we hosted a victory assembly to celebrate our field hockey team who won the state championship on Monday night. This is the eleventh state title for our field hockey program. We are so proud of our field hockey Rockets! Thanks to everyone who came out to support the team.
CAMPUS MINISTRY:
- PARENT PRAYER: The Parent Prayer group meets each Tuesday morning from 8:15-8:45 a.m. in the chapel at St. Catherine’s Convent, which is right across Tyler Lane from AHS. Just look for the sign! If you are unable to attend but would like them to pray for a particular intention, please email it to our campus minister MARY ANN STEUTERMANN. We hope you find comfort in knowing that we are praying for your intention even if you can’t be present.
AP CAPSTONE PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT: On Tuesday, November 12, at 6:30 p.m. parents and their daughters are invited to attend the AP Capstone Program information night in the Media Center. Access will be available through the CAC entrance. The AP Capstone Program is an “innovative program [that] equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges.” If your daughter is a freshman or sophomore who may take AP Seminar her junior year, or if she is a junior currently enrolled in AP Seminar, then we highly recommend that you attend this meeting as it will provide information about the benefits of completing the AP Capstone certificate or diploma. Assumption is the only Catholic high school in Louisville, one of only 16 high schools in the state of Kentucky, and one of only 1,900 schools in the nation to offer this robust research experience. We highly recommend both you and your daughter attend to learn about this opportunity. The program will last one hour. Any questions? Contact Kelly Kirwan.
AP EXAM FEES: This is a reminder that AP Exam fees are due in the main office by November 14. If your daughter is taking an AP class this year and plans on taking an AP Exam or submitting a portfolio to the College Board, she was sent an invoice in homeroom on October 14 with the amount and due date. If you have not issued a check to Assumption for the AP Exam, please check with your daughter about the invoice and amount. If she no longer has the invoice, contact KATHY FLEISCHER for a copy.
SOME REMINDERS ABOUT ABSENCES: Assumption does not excuse students from school for family trips and/or travel. Please keep this in mind as you are making holiday plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas in particular. If there are mitigating circumstances that might warrant an exception to this policy, please contact Dean of Students CINDI BAUGHMAN well in advance of the dates involved. Students are required to provide a doctor’s note for an absence just before or after an extended break from school for the absence to be excused. Requests for excused absences must be made by the parent/guardian in writing (email to attendance@ahsrockets.org is fine) and should be submitted at least a week an advance. Also, please note that a student must have no grade lower than a C in any of her classes and have strong attendance in order for an absence that is not medically necessary to be excused. Full details about our attendance and absence policies and procedures can be found in the STUDENT-PARENT HANDBOOK.
INCLEMENT WEATHER: With winter not far away, we would like to take the opportunity to remind parents of our inclement weather policies. You may also refer to pages 32-33 of the STUDENT-PARENT HANDBOOK for detailed information. This is a great time to check your PowerSchool information and make sure you are signed up for text PowerAlerts. When the Archdiocese of Louisville makes a call about school closings due to inclement weather, we will send PowerAlerts to those who have registered. You may also listen to local radio and television stations for an announcement that all Catholic high schools in Jefferson County are closed or on a delayed schedule. When the school is on a delayed schedule, Assumption will follow a modified version of our 9:05 schedule (our usual “Wednesday schedule”), but all morning activities will be cancelled including detention, testing pool, and meetings. In the case of a delayed opening, the school building will open and students will be supervised beginning at 8:15 a.m.; students arriving prior to 8:55 a.m. report to the school cafeteria where they will be supervised until the first bell rings to go to first period at 8:55 a.m.; students will not be admitted to the building prior to 8:15 a.m. When the school is closed, all activities, including sporting events, are cancelled for the entire day. All school offices are closed as well. If your daughter drives to school or carpools with another student, please note: If parents have concerns about their daughter driving in inclement weather, they should not allow her to drive to school on a day when inclement weather is predicted. If it appears that inclement weather is on the way, we will allow students to leave early (prior to dismissal) only if their parents come to get them — students will not be released on the basis of a phone call or because their carpool driver is going home early. Please remember that our calendar has two traditional snow days built in; therefore, digital learning days would not begin until the third snow day. Information about our digital learning days can be found on page 50 of the handbook. This information will be reviewed with students this month and will be included specifically in our upcoming Rocket Reports.
ABSENCES AND PARTICIPATION IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES/AFTER-SCHOOL EVENTS: If your daughter is absent from school on a given day, she may NOT participate in any extracurricular activities or attend any school event held that same day. A student must be present at school for at least two hours in order to go to a sports practice or musical or theater rehearsal, attend a ball game or a club activity, participate in an athletic event or school performance, even if it is for another school that partners with Assumption, etc. If there are special circumstances involved, please note this when letting us know that your daughter will be absent and ask if an exception might be made and Mrs. Baughman will be happy to consider the request. All our coaches, moderators, and activity sponsors know this policy and may not require–and should not expect–a student to attend or participate in whatever the activity or event is if the student was absent from school that day.
ALUMNAE CAREER DAY: Assumption students will be participating in our third annual Alumnae Career Day on Thursday, November 14. This event will take place during the school day. Students in all grade levels will participate in activities to help them think about careers and college. Freshmen will use our Naviance program to explore careers that match their interests and hear from alumnae speakers from Bellarmine University’s Career Development Center about how the habits they develop in high school and their academic progress have an impact on their future career pursuits. Sophomores and juniors will have the opportunity to learn about several careers including nursing, finance, engineering, event planning, and many others, from alumnae who work in those fields. Seniors will hear from a panel of representatives from area colleges who will address questions about majors, student services, and how to be successful in college.
SOCIAL SECURITY CARD: Please make sure we have a copy of your daughter’s Social Security card on file so we can properly submit each student’s end-of-year grading info to the Kentucky Higher Education Association, which provides scholarship monies to students who qualify (KEES money). There is a time when it becomes too late for us to submit the KEES report, so making sure we have the copy of the student card on file now ensures the proper documentation can be submitted before a student graduates and the deadline runs out. Please contact registrar KATHY FLEISCHER with any questions or to confirm or verify information we have on file.
COMPETITIVE SUMMER PROGRAMS: Parents of juniors interested in applying for the Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP): Juniors were invited to attend one of two informational meetings on September 26 and 30 about the application process for this program. Applications are due to the Guidance Office on Wednesday, November 13, at 8:05 a.m. A timeline, helpful online links, and a checklist can be found here: GSP Timeline. Please contact KELLY KIRWAN regarding any questions about the application.
Two other programs available to students include the Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) and the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs (GSE). GSA is available for sophomore and junior students interested in the performing, visual, and creative arts. The application deadline is Friday, January 10, 2020, and information can be found here. Students serious about applying are strongly recommended to register and attend a Prep Workshop - register here. GSE is available for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors interested in innovation in business. The application will be available on November 15, 2019. Information about GSE can be found at http://kentuckygse.com/. Students may earn scholarships to attend schools in Kentucky if they are selected for any of these programs. If a student is interested in GSA or GSE, she needs to contact her guidance counselor.
ROCKET PARENT NETWORK (RPN) NEWS: Our RPN parent education series continues, and we are looking at the dangerous trend of vaping this week. Here is an informational webinar from Oldham County’s Operation Parent on the topic of vaping: Teens and Vaping.
ROSE THEATRE PRODUCTION: Rose Theatre Company is proud to present the deviously delicious Broadway sci-fi smash musical, Little Shop of Horrors! Inspired by the B-movies of the 1960s, Little Shop has devoured the hearts of theatre goers for over 30 years. The meek floral assistant, Seymour Kelborn, stumbles across a new breed of plant he names Audrey II – after his coworker crush. General performances will be November 1 and 2 at 7:00 p.m., November 3 at 2:00 p.m., and November 7-10 at 7:00 p.m. To purchase tickets, please visit www.showtix4u.com and search for Little Shop of Horrors. Contact COLLEEN MURPHY if you or anyone in your party requires seating without the use of stairs or with the use of a wheelchair. Little Shop of Horrors is appropriate for ages 10 and up.
ROSE AWARD NOMINATIONS DEADLINE – TODAY: The Rose Award is a $5,000 grant endowed by an anonymous donor to recognize an Assumption employee who serves as a role model and is a positive influence in our community. Alums, current parents, past parents, students, faculty and staff are invited to nominate a current administrator, faculty, or staff member who has made a significant difference in their lives or the lives of their daughters. Past winners are Katie Hughbanks, Cindi Baughman, Kelly Kirwan, Kathy Fleischer, Mary Pat Sexton, Dawn Deweese, Angela Lincoln, Rebecca Pate, Barry Haworth, Jackie Metry, Beth Hicks, Doug Sumey, Sally Craven, Mary Margaret Ralph, Judy Ribar, and Judi Erskine. These individuals cannot win again. Nominations may be made at THE ROSE AWARD and are due by TODAY, Friday, November 1. Nominations must include a detailed description (three-paragraph minimum) supporting your nomination. The award will be presented at the Thanksgiving Celebration on Tuesday, November 26. If chosen, your nomination submission may be read at the prayer service.
Sincerely,
Martha Tedesco
Principal