Dear Parents,
Although we are enjoying much warmer weather this January, this is usually when we remind you about our snow and digital learning days. Our school calendar has two traditional snow days built in; therefore, digital learning days would not begin until the third snow day. We have included the inclement weather announcement that has been in previous Rocket Reports in this Rocket Report as a reminder about all of our inclement weather policies. We hope everyone has had a great start to the new year!
CALENDAR NOTE:
- HOLIDAY: On Monday, January 20, school will be closed for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
CAMPUS MINISTRY:
- PARENT PRAYER: The Parent Prayer group meets each Tuesday morning from 8:00-8:30 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.
INCLEMENT WEATHER: 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 SwiftReach Alerts. When the Archdiocese of Louisville makes a call about school closings due to inclement weather, we will send SwiftReach Alerts 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. If we would have a delayed opening on a Wednesday when our sophomores are scheduled to go to ACTS, ACTS service will be cancelled for the day and sophomores will come to school and attend their regular schedule of classes. 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. Digital learning day information was reviewed with students before Christmas break, and parents can access the PowerPoint Presentation used to do this via the school website.
DROP/ADD DEADLINE: Drop/Add for second semester elective courses ends on Thursday, January 16. Any elective schedule change request must be accompanied by a note from a parent and $20 schedule change fee.
FIRST SEMESTER REPORT CARDS: First semester report cards were emailed to parents on Monday, January 6. If you believe you have not received your daughter’s report card, please check your junk mail folder as emails from Assumption are sometimes diverted to these folders. If it is not in that folder, please contact our registrar, KATHY FLEISCHER, for assistance.
SOPHOMORE ACTS SERVICE BEGINS NEXT WEEK: Parents of sophomores:
- FIRST DAY OF ACTS: Sophomore students will be visiting their ACTS agencies for the first time on Wednesday, January 15. Please note that buses may be a few minutes late on the first day, and we appreciate your patience as we fine tune bus routes. Please consult the ACTS guidelines in the link below or email KATELYN MOORE with any questions and pray for our sophomores as they begin their ACTS experience! ACTS GUIDELINES
- ACTS UNIFORM PANTS: Reminder to sophomore parents: Please be sure that your sophomore is prepared for ACTS by having her uniform pants purchased AND embroidered. Any sophomore without the proper uniform pants on Wednesday, January 15, will remain at school and must make up missed service hours on her own time. Pants are not embroidered in advance of purchase. Embroidery may take a few days, so please do not wait until the last minute. When purchased well in advance, Shaheen’s may ask customers to bring back the pants for embroidery to ensure they still fit. Please be sure to check your daughter’s pants and, if they do not have the Assumption “A”, please take them back to the store to have this added. Uniform pants purchased or passed on from older students with the Assumption crest instead of the “A” are acceptable.
UNIFORM UPKEEP: We asked the girls to find time over Christmas break take care of any uniform issues: skirt that have become too short or too tight, buttons that are missing, hems that have fallen out, zippers that no longer zip. We’ve also asked them to make sure that they are in compliance with the uniform code in terms of their shoes and socks. Uniform code information can be found beginning on page 24 in the STUDENT–PARENT HANDBOOK. Please assist your daughter in evaluating her current uniform status and taking care of any uniform upkeep so she won’t receive detentions for uniform code violations when we start doing some special uniform checks next week.
REQUESTS FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES: If your daughter needs to miss school for a reason that is not medically related, the absence must be approved in advance for it to be excused and make-up work completed. Requests for driver’s testing, college visits, participation in club sports or other activities, etc., need to be made in writing and received at least a week ahead of time if at all possible. Your daughter may bring your written note to the attendance office or you may email your request to attendance@ahsrockets.org (as long as you are making the request in advance). Please do not contact your daughter’s teachers directly to ask them to excuse her from class because absences must be approved by the administration and not individual teachers.
GRADUATION INFORMATION FOR PARENTS OF SENIORS:
- GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS – Attention, senior parents! Balfour was at school on Tuesday, January 7, to distribute information regarding graduation announcements and other 2020 graduation items. Please be sure to check with your daughter about the information she received during her class meeting this week. Balfour will be back at school on Tuesday, January 14, and Friday, January 24, to pick up order forms and payments. Any orders not made by these two dates will need to be ordered online or taken directly to Balfour. Orders can be placed online at www.Balfour.com or contact them at 502-499-7100.
- GRADUATION VENUE: Due to renovation plans at Bellarmine University, we will not be able to hold our Class of 2020 graduation in their gym this year. However, we have secured Broadbent Arena at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center for the same date and time of Saturday, May 16 at 11:00 a.m.
TESTING RESULTS – Your daughter received her PreACT and PSAT scores in homeroom today. Please ask her to show them to you. Your daughter will need to bring this folder to her English, math, science, and social studies classes during the next few weeks and these teachers will lead her through goal setting and error analysis activities. On Friday, January 31, juniors will take a practice ACT and then on February 18, they will have a visit from TorchPrep, a company that works with students to improve standardized test-taking skills. Also, for the fourth consecutive year, our juniors will have to opportunity to take a National ACT during the school day on March 24. Standardized testing goal setting and error analysis combined with discussion of course selection for next year is an example how your daughter’s team of professionals works together to help her reach her goals. Please encourage her to visit her guidance counselor, college counselor, and/or academic dean with any questions or concerns.
COLLEGE WORKSHOP AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS, AND PARENTS: Attention, all sophomore and junior parents and students – please mark your calendars for Thursday, January 16, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for a College Search Workshop. We will begin in the theater with general information and then parents and students will have the opportunity to choose from breakout sessions on topics such as Writing Strong College Application Essays, Helpful Strategies for Standardized Testing, the Governor’s Scholars Program, Purposeful Planning and Course Selection, Career Exploration, and many more. If you have any questions, please contact LEIGH JACKSON or KIMBERLY HABICH, our college counselors.
2020-2021 REGISTRATION – Save the dates!
- CURRENT FRESHMAN PARENT REGISTRATION INFORMATION NIGHT: Attention, all freshman parents–on Wednesday, February 5, at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria, dean of studies Theresa Schuhmann will provide information about the registration and course selection process for all freshman parents. We highly recommend that you take advantage of this important informational session in order to assist your daughters in planning their course of study for their sophomore year.
- 2020-2021 COURSE SELECTIONS: On Thursday, February 6, and Tuesday, February 11, our teachers will be conferencing with all current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors regarding their course selections for the 2020-2021 school year. Registration will open on Thursday, February 13.
FINANCIAL AID FORM: The financial aid link for 2020-2021 has been added to the school’s website. The due date is February 28, 2020, and the form must be submitted online to FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment. FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION LINK
CARPOOL LINE “NO IDLING” REMINDER: A message to parents from student Katherine Hudson of the Environmental Concerns Committee (ECC): Did you know that for every 10 minutes your car is off, you can prevent over one pound of carbon dioxide being released? Research has shown that idling cars produces over 130,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year, which is one of the leading sources of pollution. Please try to keep Assumption green by turning your cars completely off when in carpool or sitting in the parking lot! Here are two idling tips the Environmental Defense Fund has to share: Warm up your car by driving it, not by idling. Turn off your ignition when waiting more than 10 seconds. Practicing these healthy habits will save your money and fuel, the air, and the environment!
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY (NHS) APPLICATIONS: Any sophomore or junior who is interested in applying for NHS should receive an email about this process on Friday, January 10. A student must have at least a 3.70 unweighted cumulative GPA, no more than one demerit on her discipline record at the time records are checked, and outstanding experience in leadership and service which includes 20 documented hours on X2Vol of community service for sophomores or 40 documented hours for juniors (not including sophomore ACTS). Any student who wishes to apply MUST attend one of three application meetings. In other words, attendance at one of the meetings is mandatory. Students will learn how to apply and what can and cannot be considered for the application. Students already inducted and granted membership in NHS do NOT need to attend one of these meetings or re-apply to the organization. Students may attend either Wednesday, January 22 at 3:05p.m. (theater), Thursday, January 23 at 7:25 a.m. (media center), or Monday, January 27 at 7:25 a.m. (theater). Parents, please ensure that your daughter accommodates her transportation, work, practice, etc., because no other arrangements will be made to share the information. Meetings will last about 25-30 minutes. Applications are due by 3:10 p.m. on Thursday, February 20 (the Thursday before Mission Week). Hard copy applications must be turned into the Guidance Office by 3:10 p.m. and date stamped. NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DEADLINE! Questions about applying to NHS can be directed to NHS adviser KELLY KIRWAN.
ROCKET PARENT NETWORK (RPN) NEWS: Operation Parent of Oldham County will host a free webinar, “Raising Preteens and Teens with and for Confidence,” on Tuesday, January 28, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Jennifer Miller, M.Ed. will discuss how parents can better understand the developmental changes their teens are undergoing. The webinar will also address ways in which parents can demonstrate social and emotional intelligence. Click here to register.
ASSUMPTION PARENT ORGANIZATION (APO) NEWS: Rocket Spectacular Benefit Dinner and Auction 2020 – “Roaring Twenties”: Last call for donations to the Rocket Spectacular! If you have not yet had the chance to donate and would like to, now is your time. Help make this event a terrific success! All proceeds benefit the financial needs of our students.
- New! FREE TUITION RAFFLE: We are very excited to announce our inaugural FREE tuition raffle for the 2020-2021 school year to take place at the Rocket Spectacular. Each raffle ticket is $100 and only 250 tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to read more about the official rules and purchase raffle tickets online! Although you do not have to be present to win, if you haven’t done so already, we encourage you to reserve your Rocket Spectacular tickets online here to celebrate with the Assumption community!
- BOURBON PULL: One of most popular games of chance at the event is our Bourbon Pull. We are in need of all different types of bourbon to make it a success – different varieties and values make it exciting. If you happen to have access to bourbon personally or through family or friends, we would appreciate any donation. IMPORTANT: Your donation must be dropped off by an adult – students are not allowed to bring your liquor donation to school. Questions, contact TRICIA FERREE.
Please send in any donations no later than Friday, January 17. Thank you for any support you can provide to ensure the success of the Rocket Spectacular.
HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST MAKE-UP DATE: The make-up High School Placement Test (HSPT) for students who were unable to make the December 14 testing is Saturday, January 11, at 9:00 a.m. at Assumption. Eighth-grade students should enter through the Tyler Lane doors.
ROCKET NIGHT: Join us for Rocket Night on Tuesday, January 14, beginning at 5:00 p.m. All grade school students and alums receive FREE admission. Join us as the basketball team takes on Male with the freshman playing at 5:00 p.m., JV team playing at 6:00 and varsity playing at 7:30 p.m. The dance team will also perform at half time of the JV game. Future Rockets and alumnae will receive a limited-edition shirt!
ARCHDIOCESAN PARENT PRESENTATION: The Archdiocese of Louisville invites all parents to a special presentation. Roy Petitfils, a Catholic author, speaker, and psychotherapist in private practice, will present “What Teens Want You to Know but Won’t Tell You” on Wednesday, January 29, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at St. Xavier High School.No registration is required. Please see the flyer in this link for additional information: ROY PETITFILS PARENT PRESENTATION
NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK INFORMATION FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE: The Archdiocese of Louisville has asked us to share this message with you: National School Choice Week (NSCW) has selected Louisville for a screening of Miss Virginia on Tuesday, January 28. Virginia Walden Ford will be joining us for the event. The movie is based on her true-life fight for educational choice. The screening will take place at the Kentucky Science Center: 5:00 p.m., private museum access; 6:00 p.m. screening begins;7:45 p.m., Q&A with Virginia Walden Ford; 8:15 p.m., book signing with Virginia Walden Ford; 8:30 p.m., program wrap. You can find the digital invitation for the Miss Virginia screening here along with a link to RSVP: https://nscwlouisvillekyscreening.splashthat.com/. This is a free event but an RSVP is required as seating is limited.
Gratefully,
Martha Tedesco
Principal