May 4, 2023

President, Mary Lang and Principal, Martha Tedesco

Next week is National Teacher Appreciation Week, and we will be celebrating our amazing faculty and staff all week long for the great work that they do. We are so lucky to have such a dedicated staff of exceptional individuals who are hard-working, committed, innovative, creative, and caring.  The community of Assumption is grateful for these women and men who guide our students every day! 

We have asked our students to take a moment next week to thank a faculty or staff member who has made a difference in their lives.  We invite you to do the same.  We also ask that you join our community in prayer as we ask God to bless our faculty and staff for the incredible blessing they are to the Community of Assumption.   

God of all wisdom, 

bless the faculty and staff of Assumption High School who give their heart and soul to their vocation of helping students learn and grow. Thank you for the special gifts that You have given them and also for giving them a spirit of grace, understanding, and compassion. May they have strength and endurance to perform the many, many tasks they are responsible for, and may they know the deep gratitude of those they teach and those they serve. 

We thank you for their creativity, work ethic, commitment, drive, and sense of humor. We thank you for the lives they have changed and transformed, for the countless ways they have taught by the example set by Jesus. During this National Teacher Appreciation Week, bless those faculty and staff who have contributed to the lives of others, inspiring them to become the very best versions of themselves.  

Amen. 

 

Starting this week and over the next two weeks, 215 students in our community will take nearly 440 AP exams which could result in nearly 1,500 college credit hours. The 64 students (photographed above) took their AP Psychology exam on Tuesday, May 2.

With 22 Advanced Program (AP) courses and 16 Dual Credit (DC) courses available to students, 90% of the class of 2023 will graduate with a college transcript and over 3,000 college credit hours!

SCHOOL HOLIDAY:  Friday, May 5, is a school holiday and the school will be closed. 

AP EXAMS: AP exams for students taking AP classes continue next week. Important information about the testing days and testing site as well as how to help your daughter be prepared can be found through these links: AP EXAM SCHEDULE  and   AP EXAM GENERAL INFORMATION 

FINE ARTS PROGRAMS: Please join us in celebrating the arts by attending one of the following events that showcase the talents of our Fine Arts students.  All events take place in the Performing and Fine Arts Center (theater).  

  • Visual Arts Show – Tuesday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m.  
  • Spring Music Concert – Thursday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m.   

LAST PARENT PRAYER GROUP OF THE SCHOOL YEAR: We invite all parents to join our last parent prayer group of the school year that will meet on Tuesday, May 9, at 8:30 a.m. in the chapel. After summer break, we’ll look forward to reconvening the parent prayer group in August! 

This past week, students focused on mental health in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.  Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors looked at various coping strategies, and seniors looked ahead for how to access mental health resources on college campuses.  Freshmen also enjoyed a Derby hat contest with their homeroom teachers, and juniors heard important information about Ring Ceremony.       

Next week, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will all learn about end-of-year technology procedures on Monday.  Juniors also will have some time to look ahead to think about their senior year dreams.  Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will hear class officer and Family Council election speeches on Tuesday during homeroom, and seniors will receive important graduation and end-of-year information at a class meeting on Tuesday.  On Thursday, all students will be in homeroom to enjoy the final presentation from our Broadcast Journalism department.     

ASSUMPTION HONORS CEREMONY:  The Assumption Honors Ceremony is a new event that will be held this year at Assumption for our underclasswomen.  At this event, we will celebrate and accomplishments of our underclasswomen in the areas of academics, service, fine arts, and leadership and honor scholarship recipients.  We will also honor the service of faculty and staff as we award the annual Karen Russ Excellence in Teaching Award to a faculty member and The Excellence Award for Staff and bid farewell to teachers who are retiring from Assumption this school year. 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.  The assembly will be held in the gym from 8:30-10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 12.  

BOOK BUYBACKS:   We will conduct our book buybacks on Thursday, May 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the cafeteria.  If students will be selling their books back to MBS Direct, they will need to go to their website after May 13, get a quote, and print out two (2) copies of the packing slip (three copies if you have more than six books).  In order to take full advantage of the guaranteed buyback, students will need to log into the account used to purchase books when accessing book buyback online quotes.  If you need assistance, please contact JUDY FIELDHOUSE.  Please see this flyer for details and instructions. 

END-OF-THE-YEAR TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION FOR ALL STUDENTS:  

One of our technology integration specialists will share the following information with our students in one of their May class meetings. 

  • All students must turn in their HP laptop to the Boeckmann Lab by their last day of classes. Seniors must turn in their HP laptops on or before May 16, depending on their last exam. All other students need to turn them in on or before May 25. 
  • Graduating seniors may purchase their HP laptops for $5.00. However, they must turn them in and tell us then if they want to purchase them so we can remove the school software if they do. The graduates may pick up their purchased HP laptop starting the week of June 12. Come to the Boeckmann Lab Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. 
  • If a senior wants to purchase her HP laptop, the $5.00 fee, (cash or check, no credit cards) will be collected when she comes to pick it up. The HP laptops not purchased by the seniors will be placed in our school loaner pool or will be used for parts to fix other computers.  A big thank you to all graduates who decide to give their HP devices back to the school.  
  • The PC warranty and accidental damage protection ends the day before graduation. 
  • Rising seniors may pick up their HP laptops starting the week of July 17 and rising sophomores and juniors starting the week of July 24. Come to the Boeckmann Lab Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. HP laptops can only be given to students who come with their school-issued case to pick up. This is a requirement for our accidental damage insurance.  
  • Be sure to report accidents and get computers fixed in the Boeckmann Lab within 30 days of the damage. Students who are experiencing any hardware issues (physical damage such as cracked screens, damaged plastics, etc.) with their HP laptops must bring their devices to the Boeckmann Lab within 30 days of the accidental damage.  

LAST WORK IT WEDNESDAY FOR THIS YEAR: The Achievement Center will be hosting the final Work It Wednesdays for this year on May 10 from 7:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in the Media Center. Students are invited to attend to receive extra support in their classes from peer tutors, study groups, or the AC teachers. To ensure we are meeting everyone’s needs, we ask students to please RSVP in advance to Mrs. Conway or Ms. Prentice. Be on the lookout for the Exam Study Schedule next week hosted by the AC.  

CARPOOL INFORMATION FOR PARENTS: Assumption is pleased to announce that we will again partner with CarpoolToSchool.com for the 2023-2024 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 join or request to join a carpool to/from school that has already been set up by another AHS parent or by an AHS junior or senior who drives to school. We encourage carpooling as 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 8, inviting them to participate (check your junk folder if you don’t see it in your Inbox).  Parents of rising juniors and seniors who are interested in using this service (instead of having their daughters do it themselves) may log on to CarpoolToSchool and create a new account or access an already existing account; just “request a new password” if you don’t remember what you set up previously. Parents who have general questions about CarpoolToSchool may contact Tatum Park in the main office; those needing technical help with the CarpoolToSchool website are encouraged to use the LiveChat feature on the CTS website (Monday through  Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.) or contact Mrs. Park for assistance. 

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 2.3 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 5-8 from 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.  Early registration deadline is May 29.  More information about programs, registration, and fees can be found at www.torchprep.com. 

SUMMER ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES: Academic opportunities for the summer have been UPDATED. You can find these on our guidance department page by clicking here: SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES 2023. 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. Many applications are due in March and require the assistance of guidance for transcript releases, recommendations, and other documentation. Please contact LEIGH JACKSON or KIM HABICH with any questions. 

ROCKET NIGHT AT THE BATS: The Assumption Alumnae Association invites you to start your summer off right with our Rocket Night at the Bats on June 1! All are welcome to join AHS for a night of Rocket pride, family fun, and Bats baseball at Louisville Slugger Field. The game starts at 6:35 p.m. but get there early to get some AHS swag as well as food and drink specials. Click here to get your ticket. For more info, contact ABBY MARTIN. 

SENIOR PROM:  Our seniors will have a special holiday from school on the day of their prom, next Friday, May 12. The Senior Prom will be held in the Da Vinci Room at the Mellwood Art Center and starts at 6:30 p.m. The seniors and their guests need to arrive at the Da Vinci Room between 6 and 7 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Students arriving after 7:15 p.m. will not be admitted to the dance unless they have made prior arrangements with Mrs. Baughman, our dean of students. Prom ends at 11 p.m. If something unfortunate would happen between now and May 12 and your daughter’s planned guest is no longer going to attend with her, please encourage your daughter to come anyway—she can come alone, with a group of girls, or with a friend (lots of our girls do this anyway so she won’t stand out). We just want her to come and celebrate this final, very special dance with the rest of her class, regardless of who does or does not come with her. 

SENIOR EVENTS WEBPAGE:  A reminder that important information about upcoming senior schedules and events is available on the AHS website on the Class of 2023 senior webpage linked here: CLASS OF 2023 SENIOR EVENTS WEBPAGE.  

SENIOR EXIT SURVEYS:  It’s May, and we can’t believe our seniors will be leaving us soon!  Before they go, we wanted to provide an opportunity for them give us feedback on their Assumption experience.  Next week, seniors will be sent a senior exit survey to complete. They will also be invited to chat with their principal, Mrs. Tedesco, in person about any of their answers to the survey questions as she hosts “Popsicles with the Principal” during all lunches on Thursday, May 11, in the senior courtyard. Please encourage your senior daughter to complete her survey by next Monday, May 15, and visit with Mrs. Tedesco to chat and enjoy a celebratory popsicle on Thursday! 

CLASS OF 2023 YARD SIGNS: Seniors received their Class of 2023 yard sign at the end of Senior Celebration. We have asked the seniors to take a picture with their yard sign and send it to ELISABETH CASSADY. 

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT GRADUATION TICKETS: If your family will not be using all ten (10) of the allotted graduation tickets that were handed out to your senior two weeks ago, please have her bring them to the main office so they can be distributed to another senior who is in need of extra tickets.  Thank you! 

JUNIOR RING CEREMONY:  Junior Ring Ceremony is Saturday, May 13, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Raphael.  Students will need to be arrive no later than 10:45 a.m. and should meet their homeroom teacher and family behind St. Raphael by the basketball courts.  Students are welcome to invite up to four (4) guests to attend this wonderful celebration and may enter St. Raphael upon arrival to be seated.   We are looking forward to this very special celebration for our juniors as we mark the passing of leadership to the Class of 2024.  Special reminder about rings:  If your student did not order a ring from Balfour, she will need to bring her own ring/jewelry with her and hold onto it for the ceremony.  If your student ordered a ring from Balfour, the junior class moderator will bring the ring to the ceremony and give it to the student. 

JUNIOR ACTS SERVICE HOURS:  Last week in their theology classes, all the sophomores learned the details about their junior ACTS requirement. They are encouraged to begin this over the summer. Before they begin serving, they will need to complete an online commitment form that requires a guardian’s signature. Please see the syllabus for all the details. CLASS OF 2025 JUNIOR ACTS SYLLABUS If you have any questions, please reach out to the service-learning director, Katie Culver (katie.culver@ahsrockets.org) 

GSP APPLICATIONS AND STANDARDIZED TESTS:  Sophomores interested in applying for the Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP) next fall are encouraged to take an ACT in June or July and/or an SAT in June in addition to the standardized tests offered through AHS in the fall. Doing this will help students to achieve the best possible score prior to the application deadline. If you have any questions, please email COLLEEN MURPHY or visit the GSP website at  http://gsp.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx. 

The entire cast and crew of the Rose Theatre Company for their fun and hilarious performances of the spring play, Clue!  To see the program and biographies of the cast and crew, click on this link. 

The 70 students in our community who logged at least 10 books in this year’s 40 Books Challenge! 

The six seniors in the class of 2023 who have completed the coursework and requirements for AP Capstone. This diploma program from the College Board is based on two yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Rather than teaching subject-specific content, these courses develop students’ skills in research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing, and presenting. In the last two weeks, the students’ work culminated in a formal presentation and oral defense, an evening showcase where they shared their work with the greater Assumption community, and the submission of a 4,000-5,000 word academic research paper that addressed a gap in a discipline of their choosing. 

Student Researchers and Academic Paper Titles 

  • Lanie Blood – “Emotion From the Colorblind Eye: Is There a Color-Emotion Correlation for the Color Vision Deficient Population?” 
  • Emma Nevitt – “The Impact of All-Girls Education on Introverts in the Class of 2023: A Case Study” 
  • Morgan Schulz – “Vaccine or No Vaccine: The Availability of the COVID-19 Vaccine and Its Correlation With Infection and Death Rates in 2020 Versus 2021” 
  • Lila Thompson – “The Extent of Minority Language Shift on Iranian Adults Within Louisville, Kentucky: A Case Study” 
  • Cali Waldridge – “The Extent of Political Bias in 2022 Reporting of January 6, 2021: A Conceptual Content Analysis” 
  • Whitney Woodrow – “The Examination of Translations and Their Impact on Western Buddhism: A Perception Study” 

PHYSICALS:  A reminder to all parents of Assumption athletes: It is required by the KHSAA that your daughter have a current physical on file with the athletic office before she may participate in tryouts or practice of any kind. This physical must be submitted on the KHSAA physical form. Fall sports tryouts begin July 15. Please call and make a doctor’s appointment today with your daughter’s primary care physician. There are no group physicals offered here at school.   

Congratulations to:

  • The Lacrosse team for getting a big win on senior night. They defeated Oldham County 22-3.  All three seniors–Brianna Neubacher, Ella Fischer, and Sophia Young–scored a goal 
  • The Tennis team for continuing their great season with a 4-1 win over Floyd Central and a second-place finish at sectionals 
  • The Softball team for defeating Anderson County 20-3 
  • The Track team for competing in Brother Borgia Invitational Track Meet at St. X against a field that included over 40 teams from Kentucky and Indiana. The Rockets were led by outstanding individual races on the track by Cailey Welch, Julia Schmitt, Leah Penick, Elle Cargould and Mattie Whitworth, and in the field by Lillian Broniak and Karleigh Dow.  

Next week in Athletics:

Monday, May 8 

  • Softball vs Jeffersonville. Varsity 5:30 p.m., JV 7:00 p.m. 
  • Tennis vs Henry Clay 4:30 p.m. 
  • Lacrosse Regionals vs Mercy @ Mercy, 7:00 p.m. 

Tuesday, May 9 

  • Track Senior Night @ The Green, 4:00 p.m. 
  • JV Tennis vs Bullitt East @ Vettiner Park 3:45 p.m. 

Wednesday, May 10 

  • Tennis vs Ballard @ Central Park, 4:00 p.m. 
  • Lacrosse Regional Finals TBD 
  • Varsity Softball @ Fern Creek 6:00 p.m. 

Thursday, May 11 

  • Softball @ Meade County.  Varsity 6: p.m., JV 7:30 p.m. 

Please follow Rocket Sports on Social media for schedule updates and scores!