September 15, 2023

Manager of Marketing & Admissions, Kelsey Gunter

Each day I have the privilege to work alongside your daughters and share the Community of Assumption with prospective parents and students. A large part of my job in Marketing and Admissions is spent determining that “one thing” that influences a young woman to choose Assumption High School. While that “one thing” is often different for every student, there is usually a common denominator in a decision to attend Assumption: the shadow visit.  

Assumption students fondly recall their shadow visits as seventh and eighth graders, sharing about the opportunities for classes and clubs, the welcoming atmosphere, and of course, the delicious lunch. With nearly 800 seventh and eighth grade students shadowing at Assumption each school year, it is our biggest recruitment tool and the best way for prospective students to experience what it is really like to be a member of the Community of Assumption.  

As shadowing officially begins for this academic year, I invite our parents and guardians to share your Assumption knowledge with Future Rocket families in your life. You are our most influential ambassadors for the Assumption experience, and we ask that you encourage prospective students to schedule a shadow visit at Assumption High School. 

If you are unfamiliar with the shadow process or can’t remember how it works, eighth-grade students may shadow right now, leading up to the High School Placement Test in December. Seventh-grade students may shadow starting in January. Prospective students can sign up for a shadow visit almost any date that school is in session by completing the shadow request form or by contacting the Marketing and Admissions team at 502-271-2514.  

Every story I hear from an Assumption student or Rocket parent about the opportunities for academic success, extra-curricular involvement, or individual growth fuels my passion for what I do. Word of mouth is one of the most genuine ways to share the value of an Assumption education. Even if you don’t have a prospective student in your life, you do have your Assumption story, and we would love to hear it. If you have a story that you would like to share with us, please reach out to Kelsey.Gunter@ahsrockets.org. 

Dual Credit Courses

We have been busy registering our Dual Credit students for their courses for the fall. We partner with the University of Louisville, Jefferson Community College, and Western Kentucky University to offer 15 courses.  For the 2023–2024 school year we have 334 students taking 671 classes.  Additionally, on Thursday and Friday, students have registered for Dual Credit Scholarships through KHEAA. These funds will pay for up to FOUR courses, both junior and senior year, for our students. Please ask your daughter this weekend to show you her KHEAA account. Many students are earning 9 – 12 college credit hours this year at no additional cost to their families! 

WALK FOR ASSUMPTION: The Walk for Assumption will be held on Friday, September 22. Arrival time for the Walk is 9:15 a.m., and we will dismiss at 11:45 a.m. The building will not open until 8:15 a.m., and after-school supervision will not be provided on this day. Please make arrangements for your daughter to be dropped off after 8:15 a.m. and picked up by no later than 12:00 p.m. PLEASE NOTE: September 22 will count as a full day of school for students, and they are expected to be in attendance unless an excused absence has been requested and approved in advance. If your daughter is ill on the day of the Walk and unable to come to school, please call the attendance office prior to 9:15 a.m. to report her absence. Students who do not want to participate in the Walk for whatever reason and/or do not meet the participation requirements (see Walk information below) must still come to school for an alternate activity. Students who meet the Walk participation requirements but who cannot physically participate in the Walk due to a health condition need to come to school and participate in special non-walking activities designed specifically to allow them to still be actively involved in the Walk and all the fun that comes with it. 

MAUI RELIEF DONATIONS UPDATE: Compassion inspires at Assumption! Our community raised $3,355.63 from the dress-down day we held on Friday, September 8 in support of relief efforts in Maui due to the devastating wildfires. Thank you to all who sent in donations! 

SPIRITUAL GROWTH: Students at AHS have many opportunities to grow spiritually. Please encourage your daughter to consider participating in one or more of these options for prayer. They don’t have to be Catholic – all are welcome! 

  • Five-Minute Prayer: Students can come to the chapel during the first five minutes of the lunch period every Wednesday for a brief, five-minute prayer experience. They can come as many times as they like—no need to sign up or RSVP. Just come! 
  • Eucharistic Adoration: St. Raphael offers Adoration every Wednesday beginning at noon. Students who have last-block study on Wednesday this week are invited to sign out of study and come to Campus Ministry at 2:00 p.m. We will walk over to St. Raphael for 15 minutes of silent prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. All students are invited to participate after school on Wednesday by coming to Campus Ministry after the bell. Again, we’ll experience 15 minutes of prayer and then walk back over to AHS. 

ASSUMPTION PARENT PRAYER: Our parent prayer group will NOT meet next week on September 19. Instead, Trinity will be hosting the Spirit Week All-Louisville High School Parent Prayer group on September 22. All are invited! Please see the attached invitation for the prayer hosted on Friday, September 22 @ 8:30 a.m. at Trinity’s Convocation Hall. SPIRIT WEEK PARENT PRAYER INVITATION. 

PRAYER INTENTIONS: The Community of Assumption knows the power of prayer! All AHS parents and alumnae are invited to submit prayer intentions online. These intentions are then lifted in prayer altogether during Five-Minute Prayer in the chapel on Wednesdays and weekly on the PA during morning prayer. If you would like to submit an intention, you can do so here. They will remain there for about two weeks, but feel free to post the same intention again later if needed. Also, you may wish to consider adding the intentions you find there to your own personal prayer! 

We look forward to our LEAD & Learn time this week which will afford our students opportunities to prepare for upcoming academic pursuits.  Our freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will have the chance to preview and prepare for our upcoming testing day on October 11th with more targeted practice in homeroom on Monday.  Then all students will hear from our deans of studies on Tuesday in an all-school assembly regarding the best ways to plan and use their time on the upcoming September 27th LEAD & Learn Wednesday.  Our students will end the week in homeroom on Thursday by engaging in homeroom bonding while also having the opportunity to participate in an optional liturgy held in the chapel by our theology teacher, Deacon Ned Berghausen.    

LEAD & LEARN WEDNESDAYS: As mentioned above, on Tuesday during LEAD & Learn Time, we will meet with the entire student body to help students begin to plan for our first LEAD & Learn Wednesday which will take place on Wednesday, September 27. We will send more information to parents next week outlining the expectations of the day.  We will have three LEAD & Learn Wednesdays on the following dates: September 27, November 8, and March 20.    

WALK FOR ASSUMPTION: On Friday, September 22, we will hold our annual Walk for Assumption, an event to which our students make contributions to benefit the financial needs of our students. This year’s theme chosen by the students is “Walk of Fame.” In order to participate in the Walk for Assumption, students must sell a minimum of four Rocket Raffle tickets and turn in a signed Walk permission form. Tickets cost $25 each, and the purchaser is entered into a drawing for $20,000, which will take place at our Rocket Spectacular on Saturday, February 3, 2024. If the school reaches our goal of 3,800 tickets sold, not only will we have an amazing Walk for Assumption, but students will earn the day off from school on Friday, March 29, 2024, the Friday before spring break! We have many more fun incentives that came home on Thursday, September 7, 2023, along with their Rocket Raffle Tickets and Walk permission form. We are encouraging the girls to reach out not only to their parents but to other people in their lives who would like the opportunity to support her and the community of Assumption through the Walk and the Rocket Raffle. We hope that over the next week, you will help your daughter brainstorm ways that she can sell her tickets to help benefit the financial needs of our students and to make the Walk a success!  Here is the link that can be shared with your family and friends https://www.ahsrockets.org/rocket-raffle/ 

Collections of the students’ contributions will take place at lunches the weeks of Monday, September 11, and Monday, September 18. The deadline for collection is Wednesday, September 20 at 1:30 p.m., the last lunch. If you have any questions, please contact Tricia Ferree in Advancement at tricia.ferree@ahsrockets.org. 

PRE-WALK MOVIE NIGHT: On Thursday, September 21, the sophomore, junior, and senior class officers are hosting a joint outdoor pre-Walk movie night at Highland Hall for the Classes of 2024, 2025, and 2026. All sophomores, juniors, and seniors may begin arriving at 7:30 p.m. for the movie, which will begin at 8:00 p.m. Parking will be available at Highland Hall, at Strathmoor, and at St. Raphael. There is no cost for the event. Students may bring their Walk t-shirts and supplies to decorate, chairs or blankets to sit on, and their own food and drink. Coolers are not allowed. This event is for Assumption students only, and students must bring their student IDs. The movie will be over at 10:00 p.m. Students may leave before the movie concludes, but once they leave the event, there will be no re-entry. We hope all sophomores, juniors, and seniors will join us for this fun pre-Walk event! Please contact STACY JOHNSON, LINDSEY PEETZ, or NICK ROGERS if you have any questions about the event. 

SEPTEMBER’S WORK IT WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE: The Achievement Center (AC) is hosting one more Work It Wednesday on September 20 in the Media Center from 7:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. This is a great opportunity for students to receive extra support in their classes from peer tutors, study groups, or the AC teachers. Students receive an email each Monday to reserve their spot. It’s the place to be on Wednesday mornings, so be sure your student has RSVP’d to attend.  

SCHOOL PORTRAITS UPDATE: School pictures are available for ordering online. As stated on the card your daughter received after she had her picture taken, please go to this link to order her picture: https://shop.studioillumination.com/. Simply enter your daughter’s Assumption ID number as the code to access your daughter’s picture. Orders can be made online until November 28.    

SCHOOL PORTRAIT MAKE-UP DATE: If you were absent earlier this year for picture day, you still have the opportunity to have your portraits made. Photo retakes for faculty, staff, and students will be taking place on Wednesday, October 18 in the theater. The photographer will be set up starting at 8:30 am. Students can have their pictures taken before school, during lunch, or during an A or B block study. Students wear their uniforms for school pictures.  

DRIVER’S ED: AHS and the Kentucky Driving School will be providing a driver’s education program towards the end of September. Click here to learn more.  

ROCKET PARENT NETWORK: This is your last chance to join the Rocket Parent Network and/or order a Student/Parent Directory. The Rocket Parent Network is a trustworthy group of Assumption parents united to provide a drug- and alcohol-free social environment for teens. Parents commit to chaperoning their daughters and their friends to be sure that alcohol and drugs are not used while at their home. Membership dues are $10 per year, or $30 for four years. A directory is free in a parent’s first year of membership and may be purchased for $5 per year in subsequent years. If you would like to join the RPN, please visit this website:  RPN Website for a membership form. If you would like to order a parent directory, please contact Meghan Rogers at 458-9551 ext. 2539 or by email at meghan.rogers@ahsrockets.org. 

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES – INTEREST MEETING REMINDERS:  

  • PARIS TO NORMANDY TRIP – Summer 2025: Assumption is offering a trip to Paris, Normandy, and the castles of the Loire Valley in France from May 31-June 8, 2025.  We will have a trip meeting on Sunday, September 17 at 2 p.m. in Room 120 for anyone interested in learning more.  Here is the link to view the all-inclusive itinerary: www.educationaltravel.com/Shirley-7508.Feel free to email for any questions at jennifer.shirley@ahsrockets.org 
  • 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. An informational meeting will be held Thursday, September 28 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 305. 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. 

FIELD HOCKEY ROCKET NIGHT: Join us on Tuesday, September 19, to celebrate past and future Rockets at our Field Hockey Rocket Night. Watch the Rockets take on Ballard with freshman at 5:00, JV at 6:15, and Varsity at 7:30 p.m. A limited number of special t-shirts will be given out to alumnae and future Rockets! Free admission to all attendees.

SENIOR WALK SLEEPOVER & WALK COLLECTIONS/PERMISSION FORMS: On Monday, September 11 in their class meeting, seniors received detailed information about a special Walk pre-event for the class of 2024.  Because this class was unable to participate in any pre-Walk traditions as freshmen during our hybrid year, the class’s senior class officers and moderators are hosting a Pre-Walk Sleepover event to mark the Class of 2024’s last walk at Assumption.  On Thursday, September 21, seniors are invited to a Walk Sleepover in Highland Hall after the Pre-Walk Movie Night for sophomores, juniors, and seniors concludes. The cost of the Walk Sleepover is $5. In order to participate, seniors need to turn in their Walk permission slip, sleepover permission slip, a minimum of four Rocket Raffle tickets, and $5. The two signed permission slips, tickets, and $5 are due by the end of lunches on Wednesday, September 20. Only seniors who are planning to attend the sleepover need to turn in a permission slip, but seniors will not be admitted the night of the event if they have not already submitted their permission slip in advance at school.  Seniors should arrive for the sleepover between 10:00-10:30 p.m.  Please contact STACY JOHNSON or THERESA SCHUHMANN if you have any questions about the Senior Walk Sleepover. Pick up/dismissal time on Friday, September 22 will be 11:45 a.m. 

COLLEGE INFORMATION NIGHT FOR SENIOR PARENTS – FOLLOW UP: Thank you to the parents and families in attendance during last week’s College Night. If you missed the in-person event, the recording can be found here. If you have any questions, please contact Kim Habich or Leigh Jackson. 

ARISE SERVICE TRIPS: ARISE service trips are offered to seniors and take place during Mission Week. Seniors who join an ARISE team will learn about and participate in service, prayer, community, and simplicity while traveling with a team to Auxier, Kentucky; Cincinnati, Ohio; Washington, DC; or Queens, New York. We will also offer a local ARISE “trip” that will stay here to do some amazing work through the Earth and Spirit Center. In the past seniors have said that their trips are some of the most amazing and profound experiences they had during their time at AHS. If your student is considering participating in an ARISE trip, she, along with a parent/guardian, must attend an informational meeting. The first was Thursday, September 14, but we will have the final one on Sunday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Media Center. At this meeting, we will discuss all the important details that your student and you will need to decide about participating. I hope you will support and encourage your students to consider this wonderful opportunity. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me: Katie.culver@ahsrockets.org or 502 271-2597.  

TESTING DAY FOR SENIORS: Since seniors are not involved in taking standardized tests on Testing Day, Wednesday, October 11, 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 to make a visit to an out-of-town college. 

GOVERNOR’S SCHOLARS PROGRAM (GSP): All juniors should have received an email from COLLEEN MURPHY this week which included the join code for a Team on Microsoft Teams where information about the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program will be distributed and student applications will be collected. GSP is a prestigious summer program for high school juniors in the state of Kentucky who plan to return to a Kentucky high school for their senior year. Students must complete a rigorous application process and submit a standardized test score. Acceptable tests include the ACT, SAT, and PSAT. An informational meeting about how to complete the application and maximize a student’s chances for admission will be held on Wednesday, September 20 in the Media Center after school. If your daughter is interested in applying for this program, please encourage her to follow up on Ms. Murphy’s email and enter the join code on Teams!  

PSAT ON TESTING DAY: As presented at the junior parent orientation night, all juniors have the opportunity to take the PSAT on testing day, Wednesday, October 11.  The PSAT is the practice test for the SAT as well as the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The PSAT is OPTIONAL for juniors, but all students are encouraged to test as it will give them an additional test score to compare with their ACT performance and help them determine which test they prefer (ACT or SAT) and will help them choose where to focus their individual test preparation efforts over the next year. The PSAT is now also a digital test that students will be taking on their laptop computer, so this test will also provide them with valuable practice taking a standardized test in a digital setting.  Additionally, taking the PSAT as a junior is the sole method for a student to be eligible to participate in the National Merit Scholarship Program and to earn recognition as a National Merit Finalist or Commended Student, which comes with many scholarship opportunities.  This is also the gateway test for scholarships offered by some companies and organizations to the children of their employees.  Please check with your employer to see if they offer scholarship opportunities through the PSAT/NMSQT program.  If students choose to take a college visit instead of the PSAT, they will need to provide verification from the college/university for the day to not be counted as an absence.  If they do not take the test nor complete a college visit, this day will be an unexcused absence.  Please complete this survey to let us know the plans for your daughter on testing day:  PSAT TESTING DAY SURVEY  ALL JUNIOR PARENTS MUST RESPOND BY MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18.  

ACTS PARENT SURVEY: On Tuesday, September 12, an email was sent to all parents and guardians of sophomores regarding the sophomore ACTS service program. Included in this email was a link to a form that asks for your insights about your student’s strengths and interests to help match her with an ACTS agency that will be a good fit. The survey also asks for information regarding your student’s vaccinations and immunizations so that we can make appropriate agency assignments. We ask that you complete this form by September 29. In addition to this form, there is other important information in the letter, including information about the ACTS uniform pants and service dates. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Culver (katie.culver@ahsrockets.org) 

FRESHMAN WALK SLEEPOVER & WALK COLLECTIONS/PERMISSION FORMS: On Monday, September 11 in the class meeting, freshmen received detailed information about participating in our traditional Freshman Pre-Walk Sleepover. On Thursday, September 21, freshmen are invited to a Walk Sleepover in the gym. The cost of the Walk Sleepover is $5. In order to participate, freshmen need to turn in their Walk permission slip, sleepover permission slip, a minimum of four Rocket Raffle tickets, and $5. The two signed permission slips, tickets, and $5 are due by the end of lunches on Wednesday, September 20. All freshmen are asked to turn in both permission slips even if a freshman is not planning to attend the sleepover. Freshmen should arrive for the sleepover between 8:00-8:30 p.m. and enter through the doors at the gym lobby. Please contact jennifer.ruckriegel@ahsrockets.org or THERESA SCHUHMANN if you have any questions about the Freshman Walk Sleepover. Pick up time on Friday, September 22 will be between 11:45 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Six members of the Class of 2023 who were designated as recipients of an AP Capstone Award this fall: recent alums Lanie Blood, Emma Nevitt, Morgan Schulz, Lila Thompson, Cali Waldridge, and Whitney Woodrow. The AP Capstone Diploma Award is granted to students who earn scores of 3+ in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP exams of their choosing. The AP Seminar and Research Certificate Award is granted to students who earn scores of 3+ in both AP Seminar and AP Research. Congratulations to each of these alumnae for their hard work, dedication, and excellence while at Assumption! 

We are pleased to announce that Victoria Bickett Stanton has been named the Head Swim & Dive Coach. During the search for this position, it was important to the Assumption community that our new coach would build upon the championship culture and bring energy, enthusiasm, and a competitive spirit to the Swim & Dive program. Victoria has 10 years of experience as a swim coach and prides herself on the connections that she creates both with athletes and the community she serves. She grew up in Louisville, attended Manual High School, swam for Douglas Hills, and played college lacrosse at St. Andrews University in North Carolina where she served as team captain for three of those years. Coach Victoria is married to Travis, and they have a one-year-old son, Jasper! 

There will be a swim team interest meeting for anyone interested in joining the swim and dive team after school on Wednesday, September 20 in the classroom next to the Athletic Office.  

Congratulations to:

  • The Varsity Volleyball team for winning the Louisville Invitational Volleyball Tournament 
  • The Golf team for a runner-up finish at the Taylor County Cardinal Classic and for beating Sacred Heart in a match by a score of 176-183 
  • The JV and Varsity Cross Country teams for winning the Rumble Through the Jungle 
  • The Varsity Field Hockey team for beating Collegiate 8-0 
  • The Varsity Soccer team for beating Notre Dame 1-0 in the Lexington Catholic Lady Knights Challenge Cup 

NEXT WEEK:

Friday, September 15 

  • JV Soccer vs Bowling Green @ E-Town JV Tournament 8:30 p.m. 

Saturday, September 16 

  • JV Soccer vs Conner @ E-Town JV Tournament 10:00 a.m. 
  • JV Soccer vs South Oldham @ E-Town JV Tournament 11:30 a.m. 
  • Golf @ Top 15 Tournament @ UK Club 
  • Freshmen Volleyball @ Freshmen LIVT 

Sunday, September 17 

  • Golf @ Top 15 Tournament @ UK Club 
  • Field Hockey Mug Game @ Sacred Heart.  Freshmen 3:00 p.m., JV 4:15 p.m., Varsity 5:30 p.m. 

Monday, September 18 

  • Varsity Soccer vs Brown. 6:00 p.m. 
  • Freshmen Soccer vs Providence. 7:30 p.m. 

Tuesday, September 19 

  • Field Hockey vs Ballard. **Rocket Night** Freshmen 5:00 p.m., JV 6:15 p.m., Varsity 7:30 p.m. 

Wednesday, September 20 

  • Soccer @ Notre Dame. JV 6:00pm, Varsity 7:30 p.m. 
  • Cross Country @ St. X JV Meet @ Champions Park.  **Senior Night** 4:30 p.m. 
  • Golf @ Regional Tournament @ Nevel Meade 
  • JV Field Hockey vs Mercy. 6:30 p.m.