Thursday, April 29
Today we celebrated the success of our Rocket Raffle fundraiser for financial aid that we held this winter with the Walk for Assumption. We were so proud of all of our classes for their enthusiasm and AHS spirit as they made memories while they took their “Walk Down Memory Lane.” The rain could not drown their spirit! It was a great and fun day to be a Rocket!
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 had no reported cases or quarantines this week: (4/23; 4/26; 4/27; and 4/28).
- 0 new positive COVID-19 cases
- 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)
In addition, 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.
As we announced yesterday, we are thrilled to be welcoming more students back to campus these next two weeks in a phased approach. We will continue to assess and make any changes necessary for the health and safety of our school community as more students return to four days of in-person learning. We know that our students love their school, and we are looking forward to them having more time on campus, allowing all of us to end this school year on a positive note and help us to prepare to start our next school year with a greater sense of normalcy.
Understandably, with all the news about masks this past week, we have received questions regarding our mask policies and conflicting information from various sources regarding dispensing with masks in outdoor settings. To review, this week the Governor indicated masks are no longer required for outdoor events when attendance is under 1,000. A closer reading shows that this applies to those who are vaccinated. For those who are not vaccinated, masks are still recommended for outside events even with small groups of people. The CDC guidelines are similar – allowing for those who are vaccinated to forgo a mask when outside in limited situations.
The KHSAA which governs high school athletics, published their own set of rules and determined that masks are no longer required at outdoor high school sporting events. While the KHSAA rules apply to high school athletics, and AHS will follow their guidelines for our sporting events, they do not govern other high school events and activities. Those events are under the jurisdiction of the KDE, the KDPH and more importantly, our local department of health.
At this time, we are waiting further guidance from the Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness regarding the need for masks outdoors for students. We recognize the somewhat confusing directives based on type of event, but, unfortunately, these are the parameters we have had to work under this entire year. We hope to have additional information to share next week regarding the use of masks outdoors as it relates to some of our year end events such as senior prom.
CALENDAR NOTES:
- SCHOOL HOLIDAY: Friday, April 30, is a school holiday and the school will be closed.
- DAILY SCHEDULE: Next week we will follow a special schedule:
- Monday, May 3 – Day 1: In-Person – Maroon Cohort, Virtual at Home – Blue Cohort
- Tuesday, May 4 – Day 2: In-Person – Maroon Cohort, Virtual at Home – Blue Cohort
- Wednesday, May 5 – Day 3 In-Person – Blue Cohort, Virtual at Home – Maroon Cohort
- Thursday, May 6 – Day 4: In-Person – Blue Cohort, Virtual at Home – Maroon Cohort
- Friday, May 7 – LEAD & Learn Day: Sophomore & freshman cohorts digital, junior cohorts digital and/or in-person activities; Senior Prom Holiday for seniors
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!
SOCIAL SECURITY INFORMATION FOR KEES SCHOLARSHIP: As we near the end of the school year and deadlines for state reporting for the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) for students who live in the state of Kentucky, we’d like to remind you to provide Assumption with a photocopy of your daughter’s Social Security card for accurate reporting of scholarship money. If you have not already done so, please provide this to the school office as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact kathy.fleischer@ahsrockets.org.
SENIOR PARENT/GUARDIAN SPECIAL MESSAGE – GRADUATION: A special message was sent via email today to senior parents/guardians and the Class of 2021 with details about graduation events including graduation practice, Senior Honors Celebration and Baccalaureate/Graduation. Please be sure to check your email for this message. Information will also be posted on the “21 for ‘21” website page: https://www.ahsrockets.org/21for21/
SENIOR PROM: Our seniors will have a special holiday from school on the day of their prom, next Friday, May 7. The Senior Prom will be held at the Assumption Green from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Staggered arrival is from 7:00-7:30 p.m. Seniors need to arrive by 7:30 p.m. so that they can be seated for dinner which will be served at 7:45 p.m. There is no ticket given out for prom prior to the event. When the seniors arrive at prom, they will sign in with their homeroom teachers and pick up their ticket to find out their table number for dinner. The event is prepared to take place rain or shine as the venue will be secured with large tents.
CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENT: The Celebration of Achievement is an assembly held annually to recognize accomplishments of our underclasswomen in the areas of academics, service, fine arts, and leadership. Affectionately referred to as “The Rosies,” this assembly’s objectives include spotlighting the accomplishments of the current school year, encouraging and challenging students toward goals for the following year, and celebrating our year as a community. Although we cannot host the Rosies in our traditional format this year, Assumption is excited to invite all students to participate in a virtual Rosies experience next Friday, May 7. Student should check their LEAD & Learn information from their counselors for times for this event. Students will be emailed a link to a brief Rosies video presentation as well as a link that will allow them to view the accomplishments of all underclassmen from this school year and to find their own names and recognition. Parents are welcome to join their daughters in viewing the video as well.
LEAD & LEARN UPDATE: During our LEAD & Learn Wednesday this week, our students had the opportunity to participate in a wide range of events throughout the day. Seniors began the day in homeroom and class meeting where they received details about their Walk for AHS experience, heard about their opportunity to continue their class’ legacy of leadership by contributing to the Class of 2022’s Junior Ring Blessing Ceremony, and learned more about crucial conversation skills which will be essential as they move into new college communities. Seniors then transitioned into our annual Prevention Assembly followed by a timed writing assessment taken in their senior English classes. After lunch, seniors were invited to campus to participate in another 21 for ’21 class activity, decorating the campus and parking spaces with chalk art. Juniors also learned more about Walk for AHS details for their class in a class meeting and reviewed crucial conversation skills. Freshmen completed their English class timed writing. And all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors participated with their classes in the annual prevention assembly. In addition, freshmen and sophomores each had the opportunity to come to campus to participate in this year’s field dances with their Field Dance Filming and Popsicle Party.
During next week’s LEAD & Learn Day which will occur on Friday, May 7, seniors will be allowed the day to prepare to celebrate their prom with their classmates that evening. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will participate in a variety of activities. All freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will attend our virtual Celebration of Achievement Assembly. Freshmen and sophomores will hear more about essential skills for crucial conversations in homeroom. Sophomores will also gather to engage in important information about Assumption’s Green Dot program. Junior will have the opportunity to gather in-person to participate in a retreat experience that will help them reflect upon their lives and look forward to their future as seniors with reflection upon their senior dreams.
PARKING FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS FOR NEXT YEAR: Our current sophomores and juniors have already been given information about applying for parking spaces for next year. Students need to have their driver’s license (not just a permit) by August 11 to apply for a parking space before school starts and begin driving to school on the first day of the new school year; those who won’t have licenses by August 11 but will have them by Labor Day, may apply for a space now, but it won’t be assigned until after school starts and they get their licenses. Because we believe that if the girls are mature and responsible enough to drive to school, they should be mature and responsible enough to listen to announcements, read email, submit their own parking requests online, and work with school personnel to resolve any difficulties they have related to applying for parking, we will work only with students (not parents) on parking issues, and we will not be sending detailed information about applying for parking to parents. That said, to help parents of rising juniors and seniors encourage their daughters in taking care of parking business themselves, here are some key dates the girls will need to keep in mind:
- Thursday, July 29, 3:00 p.m.: deadline for submitting a parking request for space assignment before school starts
- Thursday, July 29, 3:00 p.m.: deadline for having passengers set up in Carpool to School (the number of other AHS students in the carpool on this date will determine the priority for assigning Early Bird parking).
If your daughter wants to drive to school next year, please encourage her to consider giving a ride to another student to/from school, practice, etc. It builds community, is good for the environment, and helps Assumption be a good neighbor by reducing the amount of school-related traffic on Bardstown Road in the morning and afternoons. As was the case this school year, priority in assigning parking will be given to students with carpools and will not be based on seniority.
CARPOOL INFORMATION FOR PARENTS: Assumption is pleased to announce that we will again partner with CarpoolToSchool.com for the 2021-2022 school year—this online service creates an Assumption-only network that allows parents and students to set up carpools to and/or from school that others can then request to join or request to join a carpool to/from school that has already been set up by an AHS junior or senior who drives to school or another AHS parent. As noted in the information about student parking above, this is one of the many ways that we build community, respect the environment, and try to be good neighbors by reducing the amount of school-related traffic on Bardstown Road. Parents of incoming freshmen and rising sophomores should be receiving an email from CarpoolToSchool.com on Monday, May 10, inviting them to participate. Parents of rising juniors and seniors who are interested in using this service may log on to CarpoolToSchool.com and access their already existing accounts; just “request a new password” if you don’t remember what you set up previously. Parents who have questions about CarpoolToSchool may contact Angie Dusch in the main office for assistance.
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 was shared with sophomores this week during their class meeting. For questions, email KELLY KIRWAN or visit the GSP website at http://gsp.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx.
ACT TEST PREP FOR SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS: We are offering our students the opportunity to partner with TorchPrep, an innovative test training program that cracks the code on improving ACT scores. TorchPrep has continually yielded outstanding ACT scores for our students. Last year, Assumption students who participated in TorchPrep saw an average score increase of 2.2 points. All courses include 30 hours of direct training, four full-length simulated tests, TorchPrep training manual, customized study plan, and guaranteed results. The training program will take place at Assumption June 7 – 11 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Early registration deadline is June 1. More information about programs, registration, and fees can be found at www.torchprep.com.
END OF THE YEAR TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION from the IT Department: If you have any questions regarding the information below, please contact our IT Director, Joyce Koch.
- SENIOR TABLET PCs: Seniors have been informed to turn in their Tablet PCs in on or before their last day of class, so we can remove the web filter and any other school-owned software. If they would like to purchase their computer for $5.00, they need to tell us that when they bring it to the Boeckmann Lab. We do not need their charger, pen, or case, only the laptop. If they would like to donate the computer to the school to be used as a loaner or for parts, we very much appreciate that and will take the charger and pen as well if they want to donate them. The last day of classes for most seniors is Thursday, May 7 but those with AP exams after that date, of course, may keep their Tablet PC until after their exams. AP and other teachers who know their seniors will need to keep their laptops longer have sent lists to Mrs. Koch with the names and dates we should expect the graduates’ laptops. Students may return with $5.00 to purchase their Tablet PC beginning June 6. If you have questions, please contact Russ Wallace.
- FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR SUMMER TABLET PC USE: We will not collect underclassman computers at the end of this school year. This year we will allow students to keep their computers over the summer months. Our plan is to reimage them during the school year in batches. We will start sometime in October collecting computers from students and allowing them to use loaner computers for a few days until we reimage theirs. We have asked the students to please get in the habit of saving as much as they can to the cloudsuch as OneDrive to minimize any disruption to their classes next fall.
- If a computer is malfunctioning this spring, of course we want it brought to the Boeckmann Lab, and we will deal with it and may even reimage it before summer if need be. As always, if there is any accidental damage to the computer such as cracks or dents that affect its operation, it should be brought to the lab as soon as possible whether that is during the spring or summer. HP requires us to report accidental damage within a few days of an accident. If a student computer malfunctions during the summer, they should email Mr. Wallace explaining what is happening. He will get back to them when he can, but please be aware that the cafeteria and Boeckmann Lab are being renovated this summer, and the IT Department will also be busy with helping get technology in the new building addition ready, so his time may be limited, but he will help you. We want everyone to return to school in August with a working computer.
- If a student is not returning to Assumption in the fall for any reason, she should bring her computer in its case along with the power cable and the pen to the Boeckmann Lab on her last day of classes.
DIVERSITY CLUB: Parents and students are invited to join the Diversity Club for our next meeting on Wednesday, May 12 at 3:15 p.m. on Zoom. Our featured speaker for the May meeting is Dr. Jakia Marie from Bellarmine. Dr. Marie is an Assistant Professor in the Sociology Department and teaches classes in Anthropology and African and African American Diaspora Studies (AAADS). Additionally, Dr. Marie started the Butterfly Project at Bellarmine which involves multiple community partnerships. Dr. Marie will be speaking to the group about ways to engage in diversity initiatives on college campuses and in our community. To join the Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82602663135?pwd=TVR4UERYV0hQcGFiSnV1RnpJYTlxUT09 Meeting ID: 826 0266 3135,
Passcode: nD1tnY
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 UPDATES FROM FLIK:
- ACCOUNT BALANCES: Parents, please take a moment to review your daughters FLIK lunch account balance at www.myschoolbucks.com. You are able to add money to their account through myschoolbucks.com or bring a check to the school office/cafeteria mailbox. Email notifications have been going out to parents whose daughters currently have a low or negative balance. Please be aware that the notifications will come from either myschoolbucks.com (if you have it set up to automatically notify you of a low balance) or it will come from flik@ahsrockets.org.
- PRE-ORDER LUNCHES: 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 May 3-6: Cheeseburger, Italian Sausage Hero, Jumbo Hotdog on White Bun, Buttered Green Peas,
RPN NEWS: Our Rocket Parent Network would like to recommend an Operation Parent webinar called, “Teen Triple Threat: Top Risks for Young Drivers.” Here is the link for viewing the webinar: VIEW WEBINAR. To learn more about our Rocket Parent Network, please visit: LEARN ABOUT RPN
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.