August 18, 2023

Our new school year is off to a great start, and we are thrilled to see your daughters and feel the excitement and energy fill our building once again.  These first couple of days have been a whirlwind of activities with one of our main focuses being re-committing ourselves to who we are as a community. We’ve been working hard to help students recognize that creating and maintaining our unique culture takes work — work we all must do to carry on what has been called the “Assumption magic.”  While we understand that certain things change over the years, such as buildings, technology, hairstyles, and even uniforms, what makes Assumption truly special stays the same, and we all share in the responsibility to continue that legacy for the future.   

We are excited to welcome just over 900 students coming from 91 different grade schools and 52 different zip codes with 26% of our students coming from non-Catholic grade schools.  We are blessed to be the largest all-girls school here in Louisville, which allows us to provide your daughter with the most amazing opportunities both in and out of the classroom to help her learn and grow. We commit to maintaining a “small” school environment that nurtures each student’s sense of belonging and provides an individualized educational experience tailored to her unique needs and interests.     

One important way we meet this commitment is by maintaining a low student-to-teacher ratio of 9 to 1 and keeping our class sizes small.  Our average class size is 18.5 with most classes smaller than the average.    

While a one-size-fits-all approach is the norm in many schools, we devote the time and resources to work individually with your daughter, her teachers, and you, her parents, to ensure she is challenged in every class regardless of academic level.   This year we are taking an extra step to ensure her success by expanding the number of teachers dedicated to our learning differences program and our achievement center to further support your daughter’s academic needs.  

We are very excited to announce that Assumption was again recognized as the BEST Private High School in Louisville in the Courier Journal’s Community Choice Awards.   We’re also proud that Assumption is one of the few schools in the entire region that has earned recognition as an International School of Distinction by Cognia, the foremost accrediting body for schools globally.  While any school can say that it delivers an outstanding education, Assumption has the evidence to prove it.    

We look forward to a great year together as we partner with you, our parents, in the sacred work of nurturing young lives. We hope when you are out in the greater Louisville area you share the good news about Assumption and help continue to build our community and further our legacy into the future! 

Recruitment Filming

Today we came together as a whole community to film our recruitment video. Students lead the way as captains, but each member of our student body, faculty, and staff had the opportunity to be a part of this special production. It was a great way to start the school year, working together as a whole community! We look forward to sharing the final video with you once it is ready!

SPIRIT WEAR MONDAYS: Spirit Wear Mondays will begin on Monday, August 21.  Students may wear an AHS sweatshirt or T-shirt with jeans or AHS pants purchased from the Assumption campus store (no shorts or leggings). Students who choose not to wear Spirit Day attire must be in their full Assumption uniform. 

9:15 START ON WEDNESDAY: We will begin our 9:15 Wednesday schedule on Wednesday, August 23.  The school doors will still open at 7:15 a.m. and supervision is provided in the cafeteria before school from 7:15-9:00 a.m.

SCHOOL PICTURES: School pictures for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will be held on Thursday, August 24,and Friday, August 25, during study halls.  Pictures will be made in your daughter’s school uniform.  Please help your daughter make sure her uniform is clean and in good repair for her school portrait.  All students must have their pictures taken for our yearbook. Pictures will be available for ordering online at www.shop.studioillumination.com after they are taken. Simply navigate to the Assumption logo, click on underclassman photos, and you will be prompted to enter your daughter’s Assumption Student ID number as the code to access your daughter’s pictures. BIG Photo asks that all orders are placed within 10 days (by the end of day Sunday, September 10) to have the photos delivered to Assumption. 

ASSUMPTION PARENT PRAYER: Our parent prayer group will begin meeting on August 29 from 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. in the AHS chapel and will continue to meet each Tuesday morning throughout the school year.  Please park in any open space and enter the school through the main entrance.  During the year, we pray for every student by name twice.  Please join us for any or all of these opportunities!

PRAYER INTENTIONS: All Assumption parents and alumnae are invited to share prayer intentions. Periodically, we will include the line of “prayer intentions posted online by AHS parents and alumnae” as part of our morning prayer over the P.A. Likewise, feel free to include the intentions you find there in your own personal prayer. To participate, please follow this link.

FIVE-MINUTE PRAYER: Students have a great opportunity to add prayer into their day every Wednesday beginning August 23!  They are invited to come to the chapel for guided prayer during the first five minutes of their lunch block.  It gives them time to center themselves in God’s presence, all while cutting down on the wait in the lunch line!  Students of all religious backgrounds are welcome. Please encourage your daughter to take advantage of this opportunity!

RETREAT UPDATE: All students will receive retreat information in homeroom on Friday, August 25. Freshmen will still receive applications in their homerooms, but they are available in print in Campus Ministry and on SharePoint under Campus Ministry, then Retreats, then Grade Level. Our first freshman homeroom, Galway, will go on retreat September 11-12 with Tullamore to follow on September 14-15. Senior, junior, and sophomore parents: Please encourage your daughters to select a date and turn in their applications to Campus Ministry starting on Monday, August 28, to ensure retreat availability and preparation time.  Freshman and senior parents will receive information in the mail regarding their daughter’s retreat. This information will be sent out 2-3 weeks prior to the retreat, so keep an eye out for those documents in the mail. We are looking forward to retreats this year and hope you will encourage your daughter to attend. Please contact JULIA SCUDDER  if you have any questions.

This week, students were in homeroom during LEAD & Learn time to continue a review of policies and procedures, including our safety and evacuation plans, culminating in our first fire drill of the year on Thursday.  Freshmen worked on a homeroom cheer with their Junior Homeroom Moms for an upcoming family spirit contest, which will be held during LEAD & Learn time on Tuesday, August 22.  As the first family-point earning opportunity for the Class of 2027, the level of enthusiasm is high during this event.  They will also receive a tutorial on using our Achievement Center and accessing resources from our Media Center. Our upperclasswomen met in class meetings to learn about an opportunity to participate in our work study program as well as begin accepting challenges related to reading, leadership, and future planning. 

PARENT ORIENTATIONS: Special thanks to our parents – we had wonderful attendance at our parent orientations both in person and virtually.  If you were unable to join us for the informative evening, please contact your daughter’s guidance counselor:  Senior: abby.asfahl@ahsrockets.org;  Junior: lynnzi.hoehler@ahsrockets.org; Sophomore: dawn.deweese@ahsrockets.org, Freshman: jennifer.ruckriegel@ahsrockets.org . Parents may also review information from the orientation sessions through these links: Freshman Orientation, Sophomore Orientation, Junior Orientation, Senior Orientation. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

CARPOOL & TRAFFIC FLOW REMINDERS: Thank you for your patience and cooperation in the carpool drop-off/pick-up line this week. It’s getting better every day! Just a quick review of things to keep in mind:

  • Link to the proper way to drop off/pick up your daughter to and from school: CARPOOL AND TRAFFIC FLOW INFORMATION & MAP
  • The paved shoulder along Bardstown Road in front of Assumption is used as a turning lane/waiting area for vehicles prior to entering the carpool lane on campus. Those queueing on the shoulder must be sure not to block the Bardstown Road/Tyler Lane intersection.
  • If you can, please come earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon; we begin supervising students at 7:15 in the morning and provide after-school supervision until 4:30 in the afternoon (4 p.m. on Fridays). If you arrive before 7:30 in the morning or after 3:15 in the afternoon, the traffic is much lighter.
  • When traveling to/from campus for drop off and pick up, avoid Bardstown Road and Tyler Lane as much as possible. Use this handy map of the neighborhood streets around AHS for alternate routes:  NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AROUND ASSUMPTION.
  • Please note: You MAY NOT STOP ON TYLER LANE to drop off your student in the morning OR to wait for/pick up your student in the afternoon. This is extremely dangerous and stops the traffic flow on Tyler Lane, a neighborhood thoroughfare.
  • When you are exiting campus, TURN LEFT on TYLER instead of turning right and going to the light at Bardstown Road.
  • You can avoid the carpool line altogether by making a quick stop at Gardiner Lane Shopping Center to drop off or pick up your daughter.

CARPOOL LINE “NO IDLING” REMINDER: A message to parents from the ECC: The Environmental Concerns Committee has made many changes over the years to help AHS be a more sustainable community.  Several years ago, “no idle” signs were put by the main entrance to the CAC so in the afternoon drivers would turn off their cars while they waited to pick up their students. The no idle zone is so important because car exhaust can damage not only the environment but our health. Idling puts off hazardous pollutants such as carbon dioxide and can cause serious health problems such as asthma, heart disease, chronic bronchitis, and cancer. It also causes serious environmental issues; carbon dioxide is a primary contributor to global warming. If you idle for one hour, you waste about $2 on gasoline, and the more you do it the more it adds up. Instead, we invite parents to shop at the campus store or simply arrive just a few minutes before school dismisses. We thank everyone for helping the earth and invite everyone to take part in a greener community.

FIRST WORK IT WEDNESDAY FOR THIS YEAR! The Achievement Center will be hosting its first Work It Wednesday (WIW) for this year on August 30 from 7:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in the Media Center. All students are invited to attend to receive extra support in their classes from peer tutors, study groups, or the AC teachers. This is the perfect environment to work on homework and projects. To ensure we are meeting everyone’s needs, students will receive an email on Monday, August 28, to reserve their spot in advance. Be on the lookout next week for September’s WIW schedule.

MOCK SCHEDULE NIGHT – Save the date!  We will have our annual Mock Schedule Night for parents on Thursday, August 31, beginning at 6:30 p.m.; parents should report to their daughter’s homeroom for opening prayer and announcements. We are asking your daughter to text you a picture of her schedule and her homeroom number by the end of the school day on August 31 so you can have it handy for Mock Schedule.

DUAL CREDIT COURSE REGISTRATION: Attention, parents of students enrolled in dual credit (DC) courses:  If your daughter is enrolled in DC English, she began her registration for this course through University of Louisville this week, and parents will be receiving an email from UL to confirm this enrollment that they must sign and return by next week.  All other students enrolled in dual credit classes will be enrolling in the next two weeks. In September, your daughter will want to keep an eye out for an email from KHEAA to take advantage of the Dual Credit Scholarship, which pays for two classes for every student in the state of Kentucky for BOTH her junior and senior year. If you have questions regarding registration or paying for dual credit courses, Dean of Studies Judy Fieldhouse will be in the cafeteria on Mock Schedule Night to answer your questions. Please stop by and see her!

POWERSCHOOL GRADES: PowerSchool grades are available for your view via your PowerSchool account.  The following reminders are important to keep in mind:

  • PowerSchool grades are provided as our first line of communication to our families regarding your daughter’s progress, but it is important to keep in mind that no first semester grades are final until January 2024.
  • As indicated in the Student Parent Handbook, if a student is absent or misses class due to retreat or any other school-related function, we use a PLACEHOLDER ZERO to help her remember to make up this work.  This PLACEHOLDER ZERO will be replaced with the actual grade once the student completes the makeup work and the teacher is able to enter it in PowerSchool.
  • Teachers are asked to have grades as up to date as possible by the 15th and the 30th of each month. 
  • If you or your daughter have a question regarding a grade recorded in PowerSchool, please have your daughter reach out to the teacher with her question.  You are always welcome to follow up with the teacher as well.

DROP/ADD DEADLINE: Our drop/add period for classes ends on Tuesday, August 22.  If you or your daughter has questions about her schedule, please contact the appropriate dean of studies: Student Last Name A-K:  JUDY FIELDHOUSE,  Student Last Name L-Z:  THERESA SCHUHMANN

TEXTBOOKS: All students should have their textbooks at this time.  If your daughter still needs textbooks, please access her booklist through this link:https://bnck-12.com/ahsrockets.

ROCKET NIGHT: Join us on Thursday, August 24, to celebrate past and future Rockets at our Volleyball Rocket Night. Watch the Rockets take on Providence with freshman at 5:00, JV at 6:00, and Varsity at 7:00 p.m. Alumnae and future Rockets will receive a FREE t-shirt while supplies last. FREE admission for all!

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES:

  • GREECE AND ITALY TRIP – Summer 2024:  In June of 2024, Mrs. Carrier and Mrs. Adkins will be leading a group of Assumption students (and any parents who would like to come) on a 12-day trip to Italy and Greece.  Cities included in this trip are Florence, Pompeii, Capri, Rome, Vatican City, Athens, Corinth, Delphi and Mycenae. They will be hosting an in-person informational meeting about the Italy and Greece trip in September. Anyone who has a daughter that is interested in this trip is encouraged to come.  The meeting will take place in the Media Center on Thursday, September 7 at 6:30 PM.  If you plan on attending this meeting, please email roquie.carrier@ahsrockets.org or janet.adkins@ahsrockets.org to let them know so that they can send you a questionnaire to complete before coming to the meeting.
  • WORLD WAR II/HOLOCAUST TRIP – Summer 2025: We are excited to announce we will be offering a once-in-a-lifetime educational trip focused on World War II and the Holocaust in the summer of 2025. This trip was specifically designed by history teachers, Ms. Long and Ms. Rose, and will explore important events and places related to the Holocaust and World War II in Europe. The trip will begin in Munich with a visit to the Nymphenburg Palace, a guided sightseeing tour of Munich, a visit to the Olympic site of 1972, and a visit to Dachau concentration camp.  We will also go on an excursion to Neuschwanstein Castle.  We will then head to Prague and see many important landmarks, including a guided tour of the Prague Communism and Nuclear Bunker site.  Our trip concludes in Krakow with a sightseeing tour and a guided visit to Auschwitz & Birkenau. This trip is open to all current freshmen & sophomores.  We plan to have a meeting in the fall of 2023 with more information about this fantastic trip. For more information and to sign up, please visit:www.educationaltravel.com/long-9651/. If you have any questions or need further information, please email beth.long@ahsrockets.org or megan.rose@ahsrockets.org.
  • THE BEST OF IRELAND AND ENGLAND – Summer 2025: Parents, are you looking for a once in a lifetime experience for your freshman or sophomore daughter?  If so, consider a trip to Ireland and London during the Summer of 2025.  Your daughter will have the opportunity to visit legendary places like St. Patrick’s Cathedral and tour the International House of Mercy where Catherine McAuley began her ministry and founded the Sisters of Mercy.  She will also travel to Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, and Blarney Castle. The trip continues with a flight to London to visit Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus; a trip down the Thames River; and a visit to Trafalgar Square.  A highlight will be taking a tour of Westminster Abbey, where the royals are crowned and married and visit the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels.  Student informational meetings will be held on Thursday, August 24 before school at 7:30 a.m. in room 238 and after school on Tuesday, August 29 at 3:10 p.m. in room 238.  In addition, there will a parent meeting on Thursday, September 7, at 6:30 p.m. in room 140. If your daughter is interested in traveling with us Click here to RSVP.  To learn more details about this fantastic trip planned for the summer of 2025, please contact stacy.johnson@ahsrockets.org.  May the luck of the Irish be with you!

ASSUMPTION PARENT ORGANIZATION (APO) UPDATE: 

  • APO REPRESENTATIVES: Representatives will reach out to all parents by email to introduce themselves and share information on upcoming events and parent involvement/volunteer opportunities.
  • ROCKET SPECTACULAR BENEFIT DINNER AND AUCTION: Mark your calendar for our 43nd Annual Rocket Spectacular, which will take place on Saturday, February 3, 2024.  Rocket Spectacular is our largest fundraiser, with all proceeds benefiting the financial needs of our students. We are currently looking for sponsors for this event. Sponsors can be individuals, families, or businesses. More details to come! If interested, please reach out to Michelle Farmer at michelle.farmer@ahsrockets.org or Tricia Ferree at tricia.ferree@ahsrockets.org

BACK TO SCHOOL FUNDRAISER: Last week, we launched our Back to School Fundraising Campaign and we’re asking for your help! As you may know, we rely on the financial support of our generous donors to bridge the gap between tuition and our overall operating budget. As a parent or guardian, we are asking if you would share this fundraiser with family and friends to make it a success. Individuals may choose to support the Annual Fund, tuition assistance or a particular program, department, or sport that is important to your family. This fundraiser ends on Sunday, August 20 and a link to our giving site can be found here!

COLLEGE INFORMATION NIGHT FOR SENIOR PARENTS:  Kim Habich and Leigh Jackson, college counselors, will be visiting every senior English class August 21 through August 25.  Our counselors will provide detailed information about the college application process to every senior.  To further assist senior parents and families with the college process, there will be a college information night on Thursday, September 7, at 6:30 p.m. in Assumption’s Chapel.  The meeting will be recorded. If you have any questions, please contact Kim Habich or Leigh Jackson.

SENIOR YEARBOOK PORTRAITS: If your daughter has not had her senior portrait taken, please schedule her appointment at Illumination Studio ASAP.  Information can be reviewed through this link: AHS SENIOR PORTRAIT INFORMATION  If you have any questions, you can contact Illumination Studio directly at 502.585.3103. You can also email Beth Smith at bsmith@studioillumination.com.

FRESHMAN PARENT MASS – Save the date! This Mass is a beautiful way to celebrate your freshman daughter’s high school journey as part of a community of faith.  It will be celebrated on Sunday, September 10, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Raphael Catholic Church.  Please come even if your family isn’t Catholic.  Siblings are invited as well – please bring the whole family!   

Please join us at The Assumption Green for field hockey and soccer games, at the gym for our volleyball home games, and at the courses for our cross country meets and golf matches.  All of our athletic team schedules can be found on the Athletics page of our website:  ATHLETICS.   

Tickets to all home games can be purchased at the door for $8, cash or credit card. 

Congratulations to:

  • The freshmen, JV, and varsity volleyball teams for opening their seasons by defeating Male
  • The JV soccer team for defeating Elizabethtown 2-1 and the freshmen soccer team for a 2-0 win over Central Hardin

NEXT WEEK:

Friday, August 18

  • Soccer @ Bearden (TN). JV 5:00 p.m., Varsity 7:00 p.m.
  • Freshmen Field Hockey vs Ballard @ Sacred Heart 5:00 p.m. (Apple Tournament)
  • JV Field Hockey vs Collegiate @ Sacred Heart 6:00 p.m. (Apple Tournament)
  • Varsity Field Hockey vs Christian Academy @ Sacred Heart 8:30 p.m. (Apple Tournament)

Saturday, August 19

  • Freshmen Field Hockey @ Sacred Heart 9:00 a.m. (Apple Tournament)
  • JV Field Hockey vs KCD @ Sacred Heart 10:00 a.m. (Apple Tournament)
  • Soccer @ Baylor School (TN). JV 11:30am, Varsity 2:00 p.m.
  • Volleyball vs Cathedral. Freshmen 2:00pm, JV 3:00 p.m., Varsity 4:00 p.m.
  • Golf @ Bluegrass Invitational @ Heritage Hills GC

Sunday, August 20

  • Freshmen Field Hockey vs Christian Academy @ Sacred Heart 1:00 p.m. (Apple Tournament)

Monday, August 21

  • Freshmen Field Hockey vs Manual @ Sacred Heart 5:00 p.m. (Apple Tournament)
  • Soccer @ Male. JV 5:30 p.m., Varsity 7:00 p.m.
  • Golf vs Providence, Mercy, and Presentation

Tuesday, August 22

  • Volleyball @ St. Henry. Freshmen 5:00 p.m., JV 6:00 p.m., Varsity 7:00 p.m.
  • Freshmen Soccer @ Floyd Central 6:00 p.m.
  • JV Field Hockey vs Male @ Sacred Heart 6:00 p.m. (Apple Tournament)
  • Varsity Field Hockey vs Manual @ Sacred Heart 7:15 p.m. (Apple Tournament)

Thursday, August 24

  • Volleyball vs Providence. Freshmen 5:00 p.m., JV 6:00 p.m., Varsity 7:00 p.m.
  • Soccer vs Manual. JV 6:00 p.m., Varsity 7:30 p.m.