Friday, April 16, 2021
Dear Parents and Guardians,
This week we had seven Assumption seniors take part in an athletic signing ceremony committing to university athletic programs. Congratulations to our senior student athletes!
Also, this week, we welcomed our juniors on campus to take the National ACT. This is the second time Assumption has offered the ACT to the Class of 2022, making them the first class to take the test twice in their own school building. We were thrilled that our juniors took advantage of this opportunity and were able to test again at Assumption!
COVID NUMBERS: As we did last semester, Assumption will report our number of COVID positive cases and quarantines for any individuals associated with our school on a weekly basis in the Rocket Report. As of yesterday, Assumption’s COVID-19 numbers for this week are: (4/9; 4/12; 4/13; 4/14; and 4/15)
- 1 new positive COVID-19 case (student)
- 0 new quarantine cases
- 39 total positive COVID-19 cases as reported to our local department of health as of January 5, the start of this semester (35 students and 4 faculty/staff)
We continue to have no known transmissions of COVID here at AHS. As a reminder to our parents, Assumption is required to report positive cases and quarantines of all individuals associated with our school to the State of Kentucky, our local health department as well as the Archdiocese of Louisville.
We are excited to welcome back our seniors for a four-day week beginning Monday. As we mentioned in our special message, we will use the results from our parent survey to finalize our plans to bring additional classes back in the future while monitoring the situation with COVID both in our school and in the greater community. To that end, we need parents to do their part and work with their daughter to reduce the risk of catching and transmitting the virus. We can’t emphasize enough that what your daughter does outside of school has tremendous impact on our future plans since a rise in cases and quarantines will necessitate a pause in bringing more students back to campus and even possibly a return to our hybrid model.
With this in mind, please reinforce with your daughter the importance of wearing a mask and practicing good social distancing as well as limit your daughter’s socialization outside of school. Most of the positive cases we see are the result of students letting their guard down while socializing with friends. Fewer cases of students with COVID means a reduced risk of quarantine for others. And as a reminder, AHS does not make decisions surrounding quarantine. This is done by our local health department, however, we are legally required to enforce their decisions. As we head into these last few weeks of school, let’s all do our part to take care of each other so we can enjoy all of our in person end of year events and activities without the threat of isolation or quarantine.
CALENDAR NOTES:
- DAILY SCHEDULE: Next week we resume our traditional weekly hybrid schedule:
- Monday, April 19 – Day 1: In-Person – Maroon Cohort, Virtual at Home – Blue Cohort
- Tuesday, April 20 – Day 2: In-Person – Maroon Cohort, Virtual at Home – Blue Cohort
- Wednesday, April 21 – LEAD & Learn Day: All cohorts digital and/or in-person activities
- Thursday, April 22 – Day 3: In-Person – Blue Cohort, Virtual at Home – Maroon Cohort
- Friday, April 23 – Day 4: In-Person – Blue Cohort, Virtual at Home – Maroon Cohort
CAMPUS MINISTRY:
- PARENT PRAYER: Parent Prayer takes place every Tuesday morning from 8:30-9:00 a.m. via Zoom by using this link and ID/Password: Join Zoom Meeting: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75488139027?pwd=UDQrM3BDWlZRbElEbWdUL1FQRE4wZz09, Meeting ID: 754 8813 9027, passcode: prayer. All are invited!
AP EXAMS: All students, whether virtual or hybrid, who have signed up to take an AP exam are scheduled to take the paper and pencil exam May 3 – May 17 at Highland Hall. If a student is on quarantine or unable to make this scheduled date due to illness, College Board has also scheduled two additional weeks of exam administration windows for students unable to test on the original dates. Your daughter’s AP teachers are keeping her informed, and full information can be found here: AP Test Information for 2021 Please contact JUDY FIELDHOUSE if you have any questions.
STANDARDIZED TESTING FOR GSP APPLICATIONS: Sophomores interested in applying for the Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP) next fall are strongly recommended to take an ACT in June, July, September, or October or an SAT in June, August, or October. Information about this program will be shared with sophomores next week during their class meeting. For questions, email KELLY KIRWAN or visit the GSP website at http://gsp.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx.
IMPORTANT SENIOR INFORMATION – Attention senior parents:
- SENIOR MOTHER/DAUGHTER PRAYER SERVICE: The Mother/Daughter Prayer Service is tomorrow, Saturday, April 17 at 10:00 a.m. both in-person in the AHS gym (for those who RSVP’d) and virtually. The live-stream for those who have chosen to participate virtually will be emailed to seniors on Saturday morning and will be posted on the “21 for ’21” website linked here: https://www.ahsrockets.org/21for21/. An email was sent this week with all health and safety protocols as well as a link to those seniors who RSVP’d to sign up for a designated staggered arrival time. If you have any questions, please contact our campus minister, MARY ANN STEUTERMANN. We look forward to celebrating with our seniors and mothers/mother-figures!
- FINAL DEADLINE FOR LETTERS FROM COLLEGES: Attention, senior parents! In order to have the most accurate information for our senior class, we ask them to submit a copy of their college acceptance letters, honors program acceptance letters, and scholarship offers. Your daughters have heard this reminder at class meetings and received the reminder via email numerous times. We wanted to make sure that you were aware of the expectation that seniors submit a copy of all college admission acceptance letters, admission into honors colleges and special programs, as well as scholarship offers to the Guidance Office. This submission can be in paper form, or students may also forward their letters to college.letters@ahsrockets.org Although the deadline has passed, we will still accept the paper copies until Monday, April 19. After that time, our materials used at the Senior Honors Ceremony will be prepared for printing and we will not be able to make any further changes.
IMPORTANT JUNIOR INFORMATION – Attention junior parents:
- JUNIOR RING BLESSING CEREMONY UPDATE: As previously announced, the Junior Ring Blessing Ceremony is planned for Wednesday, May 19. Due to current event distancing requirements mandated by the Kentucky Department of Education and the size of the junior class, only students would be able to attend the event if held indoors in the gym. However, we are currently looking at the possibility of hosting the event outdoor at the Green so that parents can be present in-person to celebrate which is our preferred option based on current circumstances and COVID restrictions. Of course, we will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates in the Rocket Report as we plan and finalize details.
- JUNIOR “MASK”ERADE: This year, our junior class leaders have recognized that it is the perfect year for a “Mask”erade. On Saturday, April 24, the junior class will host a Junior “Mask”erade for the Class of 2022 at the Assumption Green. To facilitate our Healthy at Assumption protocols and approach to this event, juniors will sign up for a staggered arrival in small groups beginning at 7:50 p.m. with the “mask”erade ending at 10:00 p.m. and will stay within their small groups throughout the experience. Tickets for the event will be purchased in advance and will be $10 per junior. This year only juniors will be able to attend. Guests will not be permitted. A virtual “mask”erade will also be offered alongside the in-person event. Students have received information about the virtual event, dance rules and expectations, dress code information, and how to sign up to attend and reserve their staggered arrival time. Information about payment for the tickets will be available next week.
LEAD & Learn Update: During our LEAD & Learn TUESDAY this week, our juniors had the opportunity to take their second national ACT exam on campus this year. All other students began the day in homeroom followed by independent learning time and class meetings. At class meetings, seniors learned more about the upcoming end of the year celebration for their class, our “21 for ‘21”, heard from our director of alumnae relations, and prepared for our month of Assumption Spirit in April as they planned for their upcoming field dance and theme days. Freshmen and sophomores also prepped for Assumption Spirit in April and heard about the opportunity to apply for next year’s recruitment team. All freshmen, sophomores and seniors also met with their English teachers to prepare for our upcoming Timed Writing for all classes which will occur on LEAD & Learn Wednesdays later this month. Sophomores then wrapped up their morning with their ACTS Closing Prayer Service and information about Junior ACTS for next school year.
Next week’s LEAD & Learn again provides for a variety of whole person activities for our entire student body. Seniors will have the opportunity to engage in two traditional culminating activities for their class—our Senior Celebration Day and the Pink and White Game. See below for times for these events. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will begin the day in homeroom followed by varying activities. Juniors will begin the day with a timed writing for their English class followed by a class meeting where they will hear information about student leadership positions and parking for the 2021-22 school year, information about overarching logistics for the Walk for Assumption on April 29, and initial information about the upcoming Junior Ring Blessing Ceremony in May. Freshmen and sophomores also spent their mornings in class meetings where they will hear information about parking, student leadership positions, and initial Walk logistics. Sophomores will also receive information about the Governor’s Scholars Program before moving to their English timed writing. Juniors are also invited to gather at the Assumption Green from 12:00-1:00 p.m. to participate in our physically distanced version of our traditional Spirit Week bleacher dances…this year’s field dances. All classes will also have the opportunity to engage in class activities supporting our annual Pink and White event. More details are available below.
PINK AND WHITE: Our annual Pink and White Game is cause for celebration each year, and, although this year’s event must look very different as we work to support the safety protocols surrounding the pandemic, that has not changed. Since 2008, the Pink and White Game has been a special tradition in the Catholic high school community. During that school year, the Pink and White Game originated from one Assumption senior’s idea for students from Assumption High School and Sacred Heart Academy to play a flag football game with students from Saint Xavier High School and Trinity High School providing entertainment as half-time dance teams. Her goal was that profits generated from the game would be donated to support women who suffer from breast cancer and their families.
In this unusual school year, our four schools were aware that it was impossible to hold the Pink and White Game in its traditional format, but, with the goal of continuing to benefit both our local communities and the Norton Hospital Breast Health Center, our four Catholic high schools, Assumption High School, Sacred Heart Academy, St. Xavier High School, and Trinity High School sought to find a way to reinstitute the Pink and White Game for the 2020-2021 school year. Our priority was to execute the event in such a way that would mitigate risk of community spread of COVID-19. The re-envisioned format of this game submitted to the Louisville Metro Department of Health included that the proposed flag football game will be played between Assumption High School and Sacred Heart Academy at Marshall Stadium on the campus of Trinity High School during the school day with only members of the Class of 2021 physically in attendance. Additionally, St. Xavier and Trinity, instead of performing live at halftime, will videotape their dance routines. The dances will be posted on all schools’ social media sites the week of the event.
Although this format was critical to allowing the game to happen, we know that Team Pink is about much more than what happens on the field and means a great deal to all classes in the Assumption community. We know all of our students are eager to support and celebrate Pink and White. Special messages were emailed out this week to students and parents outlining the following of how your daughter’s class has the chance to engage:
- SENIORS: Our seniors along with Sacred Heart’s are the only students who will be in attendance on site. There is no charge to attend the event for seniors. Students must bring their lanyards to secure admission to the game on Wednesday. Additionally, here are some other important details: Seniors may not arrive on campus prior to 12:30 p.m. as Trinity is administering standardized testing that day and has specifically requested that we respect this time frame. Seniors will not be admitted after 12:50 p.m. Seniors will be seated upon arrival and we will use contact tracing protocol/seating charts to work to mitigate the risk of COVID spread. AHS faculty will be on hand to supervise.
- JUNIORS: After concluding their field dance filming at the Green, juniors are invited to gather with their classmates in the gym for a livestream viewing of the Pink and White Game. They shouldarrive directly from home or the Green by 1:20 p.m. Additionally, Juniors who RSVP for livestream attendance by TODAY, Friday, April 16 can order a Chick-fil-A boxed lunch (Chick-fil-A sandwich and chips) courtesy of AHS to eat in the “stands”! They need to use this link to RSVP: Team 22 Pink and White Livestream RSVP. Dismissal at 3:00 p.m.
- FRESHMEN AND SOPHOMORES: The classes of 2023 and 2024 will have the chance to gather with their classmates in homeroom for a livestream viewing of the Pink and White Game. Students may arrive on campus from 1:00-1:25 p.m. They should report to their assigned homerooms in their family suites by maroon and blue cohort (or the cohort that matches your last name if you are in the pink cohort). Dismissal at 3:00 p.m.
- SUPPORTING THE CAUSE: All classes can also support the cause by buying a commemorative t-shirt through this link: Order Limited Commemorative Pink and White t-shirt here! They call also participate in our $3 Pink and White dress down day: Monday, April 19—Maroon Cohort and Thursday, April 22—Blue Cohort.
AHS WALK PERMISSION SLIPS: The Walk for Assumption on Thursday, April 29, is less than two weeks away! Last week the permission slip went out to all students in their homerooms and an electronic copy was emailed. The deadline for all permission slips to be turned in is Friday, April 23. Students who are in-person next week can return them to homeroom. If virtual, the permission slips may be returned by dropping it off in the retreat letter mailbox outside of the Arts and Science wing doors, mailing to Assumption High School at 2170 Tyler Lane Louisville, KY 40205 or bring to the main office if you are already coming to school for another reason. All permission slips must be printed and signed; it may not be an electronic copy. If you have any questions, please reach out to Tricia Ferree at tricia.ferree@ahsrockets.org or 271-2519.
ROSE THEATRE SPRING PRODUCTION: The Rose Theatre Company is proud to present their spring musical Working this month – a musical about honoring the average American worker. The hopes, dreams, joys, and concerns of the average working American are the focus of this wonderful musical. Based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with American workers, Working paints a vivid portrait of the women and men who the world so often takes for granted: the schoolteacher, the check-out worker, the restaurant server, the mill worker, the mason, the trucker, the firefighter, and the homemaker just to name a few. This year’s in-person musical will take place beginning April 22. At this time, tickets are limited to the family and friends of the cast and crew due to indoor capacity health and safety restrictions. Masks will be required, and all Healthy at Assumption protocol will be followed. However, members of the Assumption community have a virtual option to watch the performance! A video option will be available May 7, 12, 14, and 19 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on www.showtix4u.com. This is a scheduled stream, so you have to tune in at the right time, and the cost is $5 per device.
HAS YOUR DAUGHTER RECEIVED A COVID-19 VACCINATION? A number of our students have been able to receive a COVID-19 vaccination because of their jobs or medical conditions. If your daughter has been vaccinated against COVID-19, please send a copy of her vaccination record to our school nurse, Laura Burnam, to keep on file in case a question about whether she would need to quarantine should arise.
LUNCH UPDATE FROM FLIK: Please remind your daughter to pre-order her lunch for next week if she plans to have FLIK provide her lunch on her hybrid in-person days.Lunch orders must be submitted by 8:30 a.m. the morning of but can be ordered a week in advance through this link: www.flikisdining.com. Your daughter will receive an email confirmation when the order is placed. If she does not receive a confirmation email, the order was not received by FLIK. For full information about the lunch ordering process, please click on this link: INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACCESSING LUNCH MENU AND ORDERING
- MAIN ENTRÉE LUNCH MENU OPTIONS for April 19-23: Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Creamy Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese, Hot Ham and Cheese on Pretzel Bun, Roasted Zucchini
SUMMER ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES: Academic opportunities for the summer have been UPDATED. You can find these on our guidance department page by clicking here: Academic Summer Opportunities 2021. There are numerous opportunities available with many costing less than $1,000. Programs are grouped according to areas of interest like STEM or Creative Arts/Design or General Summer Pre-College Programs, etc. Please contact LEIGH JACKSON or KIM HABICH with any questions.
AHS SUMMER CAMPS: Assumption High School is excited to welcome back campers to campus this summer! Rocket campers will have the opportunity to experience over 45 different enrichment and athletic camps, with 10 brand new options, including Aviation, Camp Invention, Summer Olympic Fun, and Test Kitchen! Full descriptions of each camp as well as dates, times, and prices can all be found here. As you are browsing the different camps, you will notice that each camp has three essential skills that campers will learn during their time on campus. Camps are open to boys and girls in grades K-11. Space is limited. Please email lauren.lega@ahsrockets.org or call 502-271-2675 for questions.
ALUMNAE UNITE: The Alumnae Unite Campaign is taking place this week and ends at midnight tonight! This year, we have joined with Bethlehem, Holy Cross, Mercy, Presentation, and Sacred Heart to put the spotlight on women’s giving. The purpose is to raise funds for each school’s Annual Fund, which provides vital funding for student programs, activities, and tuition assistance. This year, we are All For 21. For more information, click here or contact Abby Blandford.
Gratefully,
Martha Tedesco
Principal