Dear Parents,

We look forward to celebrating our grandparents at our Grandparents Mass on Sunday.  It is always a blessing to have the opportunity to share in prayer with our students and their families.  We hope that you can join us! As always, we encourage parents and grandparents to attend our many shared prayer opportunities offered throughout the year:  Tuesday morning prayer group, retreat prayer nights, prayer services, and masses. All are welcome – you do not have to be Catholic to attend.  Our next prayer opportunities are Parent Prayer on Tuesday, October 15, at 8:15 a.m. and All Saints Day mass on Friday, November 1, at 10:05 a.m.  We hope that you will consider joining our community in prayer! 

Next Wednesday is National Testing Day, and we are excited to provide our students this testing opportunity.  Please encourage your daughter to come to school on Wednesday well rested and well fed for her PreACT or PSAT test.  We offer both tests to your daughter during her time at Assumption so that she enters into her senior year with an idea of how she will do on either the ACT or the SAT.  Please encourage your daughter to spend some time on our test prep software, Albert, this weekend that offers both ACT and SAT prep as well as prep for AP classes and other core classes.  Ask your daughter to show you the site! 

CALENDAR NOTES: 

• GRANDPARENTS MASS:  All Assumption students and their families are invited to celebrate a special Mass with their grandparents on Sunday, October 13, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Raphael Church. We hope our school families will extend the invitation to all grandparents, and the whole family is welcome.   

• PARENT/TEACHER/STUDENT CONFERENCES:  Conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in order to give students and parents the opportunity to meet with teachers about students’ progress.  All parents are invited to attend, but parents of students with a D or F in a class or classes as of October 15, the date of the conferences, are required to attend. Our last official grade update was on Monday, October 1.  We recommend, however, that you check your daughter’s grades on PowerSchool between October 2 and October 15 and make plans to attend if needed.  No appointment is necessary.  If you have any questions that cannot be addressed at parent/teacher/student conferences, please contact your daughter’s dean – JUDY FIELDHOUSE (students whose last names begin with A-K) or THERESA SCHUHMANN  (students whose last names begin with L-Z). 

• MOTHER-DAUGHTER BUNCO AND BARGAINS:  Mother-Daughter Bunco Night is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria.  All moms and daughters are invited.  Cost is $5 a couple.  There will be food, prizes, and used uniform pieces and spirit wear for sale.  Please contact DAWN DEWEESE for more information.   

• TESTING DAY:  Wednesday, October 16, is the National Testing Day for all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.  It is a late arrival Wednesday, with the tardy bell ringing at 9:05.  We will dismiss at approximately 12:30 p.m.  NO AFTER- SCHOOL SUPERVISION IS PROVIDED.  If your daughter is in our Learning Differences program and qualifies for extended time testing, please ask her what time she will finish.  SPECIAL NOTE FOR SENIORS: Since seniors are not involved in taking standardized tests on Testing Day, Wednesday, October 16, they are excused from coming to school on this day. We strongly encourage seniors to use this day for making college visits. Since Thursday and Friday of that week, and Monday of the following week, are Fall Break days, this is a great opportunity of make a visit to an out-of-town college. 

• Thursday, October 17 – Monday, October 21 – FALL BREAK:  On our fall break holidays, school will not be in session.  Classes will resume on Tuesday, October 22.  

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.   

• ALL SAINTS DAY MASS AND ALL SOULS REMEMBRANCE:  The Assumption community will celebrate All Saints Day on Friday, November 1, with a Mass at St. Raphael at 10:05 a.m.  We will be honoring the saints who have come before us as well as those in our own lives.  Because November 2 is All Souls Day, we are also inviting family members of AHS alumnae who have died in the past year to join us for Mass on November 1.  Then, on November 4, in each homeroom, we will have a special All Souls remembrance to prayerfully recognize the names of family members of anyone in the AHS community who has died during the past year as well as the names of ALL Assumption alumnae who have passed on at any time.   We will ask students to share the names of any family members they may have lost this past year so they can be part of this special remembrance, and we invite you to do the same.  If you have lost a family member in the past year, please send this person’s full name to GAIL KING  by Friday, October 25. 

CLASS OF 2020 INFORMATION CONFIRMATION MAILING:  Parents of the Class of 2020:  On September 25, a hard copy memo was sent to your daughter via homeroom.  It contained a form asking for confirmation of the spelling/accuracy of your daughter’s name for official graduation documents and programs.  It is due in the school office by Friday, October 11.  Even if no changes need to be made, please make sure to return a signed copy to the main office by October 11.  

DANISH EXCHANGE STUDENTS:  Beginning tomorrow, Saturday, October 12, through Saturday, October 26, nine of our students and their families will be hosting exchange students from Niels Steensens Gymnasium, a co-ed Catholic high school in the Jesuit tradition in Copenhagen, Denmark. While they are here, the Danish students will attend classes and school events, participate in extracurricular activities, and even enjoy Fall Break with their host students. This marks the ninth year we have welcomed students from Niels Steensens Gymnasium to Assumption, and we are very thankful to our host students and their families for the warm Mercy hospitality they will extend to our Danish visitors.  

DANCE CODE FOR DRESSES AND ALL-SCHOOL SEMIFORMAL DANCE/JUNIOR PROM:  Our first dance of the year, the All-School Semiformal Dance (sponsored by the Junior Class and unofficially considered to be the Junior Prom) is on the horizon for Saturday, November 23. As the girls begin thinking about and shopping for what they are going to wear to the dance, we need your help to make sure that the girls keep our dress code for dances in mind. Simply put, dresses for dances need to be appropriate for a Catholic high school dance. This means that dresses need to be modest, age appropriate, and event appropriate. Because traditional interpretations of these terms are often at odds with current fashion and cultural trends, we recently shared information with all students giving them detailed explanations with illustrations of a number of current fashion trends that could cause problems in terms of being acceptable/appropriate for a Catholic high school dance. Please review this information, DANCE CODE FOR DRESSES, before shopping with your daughter/allowing her to purchase a particular dress for the dance. We really do not want your daughter (and you!) to be upset on November 23 when she is not allowed to enter the dance because she is not dressed appropriately. This can easily be avoided by following the guidelines when choosing your daughter’s dress for the dance. We do recommend starting the shopping process early, though, because many of the current trends would not be acceptable for an AHS dance–it may take some time to find the perfect dress for your daughter to wear to the AHS All-School Dance/Junior Prom, but it CAN be done! And just FYI, our full dance regulations, including the dress code, can be found on page 26 in the Student/Parent Handbook. 

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. 

AHS TRIVIA NIGHT:  Trivia Night is back on Saturday, October 19, in the AHS gym.  Assemble a team of your most knowledgeable friends, challenge your rivals, and compete for gift cards, door prizes, and, of course, bragging rights!  Doors open at 5:30 p.m.  We will have snacks and drinks. The cost is $10 per person, but teams of six or more get one person free.  The maximum team size is eight.  Reserve a spot for your team or send any questions by email to LIZ BENDER.  All proceeds support the AHS Speech and Debate Team.  Thank you for helping us get the word out.  We look forward to seeing you there! 

ROCKET PARENT NETWORK (RPN) NEWS:  The RPN continues its parent education series this week with a look at 21^st Century Technology and raising a child in a digital world.   The webpage provided in the link offers general information and three videos on various topics related to technology.  You may also be interested in the Family Media Contract from Common Sense Media (K-12).  

NOTE FROM ATHLETICS:  WINTER SPORTS TRYOUTS:  A current, complete physical is required to try out and participate in any Assumption sport. Documentation can be found here: KHSAA Sports Physical. Please note: Two parent and two student signatures are required on this form in order for it to be considered complete.  In addition, a $200 athletic fee is required for participation.  If you have questions regarding the physical, please contact Christy Hulsewede at (502) 271-2555 or Christy.Hulsewede@ahsrockets.org 

• Archery tryouts will be held October 30 at 6:00 p.m. at Highland Hall.  A parent meeting will be held following tryouts at 6:45 p.m. 
• Change in time! Basketball tryouts will be held for varsity on October 15 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. and October 16 from 3:15-5:45 p.m.  Freshman tryouts will be held October 16 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and October 17 from 3:00-5:00 p.m.  All tryouts will take place in Assumption’s gym. 

OCTOBER BUS SCHEDULE FOR TRANSPORTATION TO THE GREEN: Below is information for our student athletes regarding after-school transportation to practices/games at the Green. 

ASSUMPTION FAMILY HALLOWEEN NIGHT:  The Assumption Alumnae Association and Marketing & Admissions office have teamed up to host the annual Family Halloween Night on Wednesday, October 23, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This event is open to all AHS alumnae, families, faculty, staff, and future Rockets of all ages! There will be free activities including trick-or-treating, face painting, mad science experiments, magic shows, and much more. More information will be shared on the Facebook event page. Sophomore, junior, and senior parents are invited to donate a bag of candy that would be used to support the event. Click here to sign up to donate candy.  For more information about the event, please contact ABBY BLANDFORD. 

EXPLORE ALASKA SUMMER 2020: Whales, seals, dog sledding, glaciers, oh my!  If you are wanting to have an exciting adventure this summer, come join us by exploring Alaska.  Learn firsthand about the first Alaskans; hike to a glacier and learn about the exciting science of glaciology; take a cruise to Kenali Fjords National Park, keeping an eye out for whales, otters and seals; spend a day visiting the home of four-time Iditarod winner Martin Buser and his sled dogs at Happy Trails Kennel; visit Palmer Musk Ox Farm for a closer look at ice age mammals that once roamed the earth; and finally end up visiting Denali National Park with a wilderness rafting trip along the beautiful Nenana River  and keeping an eye out for moose, caribou, wolves, bears and much more.  This trip is open to all current freshmen, sophomores and juniors.  We have six open spots and would love to have you travel with us this summer.  Join us at the Parent/Student Information meeting on Tuesday, October 15, at 7:20 a.m. in C202.  RSVP by emailing Stacy Johnson at stacy.johnson@ahsrockets.org. 

ROSE AWARD NOMINATIONS: 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 Caswell, 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 Friday, October 25. 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