December 1, 2023

I often hear from families expressing gratitude for the gift of an Assumption education for their daughters and for the generosity of our many donors who make it possible. As one of eight children from a working-class family, I understand and share their sentiment. While I didn’t know it then, I realize now that I owe a debt of gratitude to the many nuns who taught me from grade school through college. Their devotion to teaching (and vow of poverty) made it possible for me and my siblings and countless others to receive a life-changing Catholic education. While it was certainly a sacrifice for my parents to send us to Catholic schools when we were growing up, it was still accessible for many families.    

Keeping Assumption accessible is something at the forefront of our minds and something we work at diligently each and every day.   We do this through tuition assistance, which comes in many forms, including scholarships which are funded by our generous donors.   I’m proud to say that we have more than doubled our number of scholarship offerings over the past five years.  In addition to financial aid, scholarships are a critical part of our work to keep an Assumption education within reach of every young woman who wants to be part of our community.   

I encourage students and their families to consider our scholarship options for the 2024-2025 school year.  Applications are now being accepted and are due via email by 8:00 p.m. on January 15, 2024,  via this link: Scholarship-Directory-2024-2025.pdf (ahsrockets.org).    Our Advancement Services Manager, Jackie Bloyd, is happy to answer any questions you may have about scholarships or the application and awards process and can be reached at Jackie.Bloyd@ahsrockets.org.    

CANstruction

Today, we had our 16th annual CANstruction! This event is a beloved Assumption tradition that supports a great cause and promotes homeroom and family bonding. To help those in need in the greater Louisville community, our students collect cans all through November for donation. We want to thank our partner in this tradition, Dare to Care, as well as everyone who had a helping hand: family council, student activities, APO and ARM, and many more. Thank you to our students for their eagerness, commitment, and compassion.

COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION NIGHT: On Thursday, December 7, we are hosting a College Financial Aid Information Night beginning at 6:30 p.m. for our seniors and their parents. The event will take place in the Humana Foundation Performing and Fine Arts Center (theater). We will have a guest speaker from the field of college financial aid who will walk seniors and parents through all they need to know about financing their college education. If you have any questions, please contact our college counselors, Kim Habich or Leigh Jackson. 

ASSUMPTION PARENT PRAYER: Our parent prayer group will meet on Tuesday, December 5 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. Next week, we will be praying for the Galway Family juniors and seniors. Please join us for any or all of these opportunities. 

ADVENT AT ASSUMPTION: This year Advent runs from December 3 through Christmas Eve. As the beginning of a new liturgical year in the Church, it is a time of joyful anticipation as we prepare to celebrate the Jesus’ birth on Christmas. Please encourage your daughters to participate in our Advent offerings: 

  • Each school day, students will receive a daily Advent reading and reflection with an invitation to participate in activity to spread kindness and joy throughout the school.  
  • We will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary with a whole-school Mass on Friday, December 8 at 10:20 a.m. at St. Raphael. 
  • Students are invited to attend an optional prayer service in the chapel during LEAD & Learn time on Monday, December 11. 
  • Students can experience the Sacrament of Reconciliation during their lunch period on Tuesday, December 12. They need to complete the survey they received via email to be scheduled for confession. 

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 all together 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! 

This week in LEAD & Learn, we will focus on preparations for the end of the semester.  Our freshmen and sophomores will receive information on preparing for semester exams, including putting together a study plan, signing up for study sessions, and gathering resources to study effectively.  All grade levels will have an opportunity to write out their study plan during LEAD & Learn time under the advisement of their Homeroom teachers and peers.  

Our juniors will have the opportunity to hear from Mrs. Hoehler about their job shadow experience that they will complete during Mission Week at the end of February.  All juniors will spend the day “on the job” with a host in a career area of their choosing.  While students are not able to shadow their direct family members, the holiday break could be a great time to make arrangements for family friends, aunts, uncles, cousins and others who could serve as hosts.  Students will have information to share about this job shadow requirement after Monday’s class meeting.  

Finally, all grade levels will have dedicated time in homeroom on Thursday for holiday celebrations as a grade-level family! 

OUTSTANDING TUITION AND FEES: As stated in our financial policies, which are contained in the Student-Parent Handbook, a student may not take her semester exams and may not begin the second semester on January 8, 2024, if her account is not current.  Your daughter will not be allowed to take her semester exams scheduled for December 15-21, 2023 or begin the second semester if there is an outstanding balance on the account. We want to avoid any embarrassment to your daughter. Please be sure you have addressed any outstanding balances by December 12, 2023.  Payment may be made by cash, certified check, or money order. Thank you for your continued cooperation and the many sacrifices you make to send your daughter to Assumption.  Questions regarding your account balance should be addressed to the finance director, Sarah Branham, at 271-2520.  

SECOND SEMESTER SCHEDULES: Your daughter will receive her second semester schedule on Monday, December 11, during LEAD & Learn. Please take a moment to ask your daughter about her schedule and if needed, she can see her dean during her study hall on December 12 or 13.  For any level changes, she should already be in conversation with her teacher and will also need written approval from a parent.  These forms are available in the main office.  Of course, Judy Fieldhouse  (A – K) and Theresa Schuhmann (L – Z) are always available if you have any questions or concerns.   

GOVERNOR’S SCHOOL FOR ENTREPRENEURS (GSE): Applications for Kentucky’s Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs Summer Startup program are available HERE now! This program for future business leaders teaches collaboration and innovation in a three-week on-campus program. Kentucky high school students in grades 9, 10, and 11 are eligible to apply. Many area colleges offer scholarships for GSE attendees. If you would like to learn more, you can register for a virtual information session at THIS LINK.  

WORK IT WEDNESDAY – DECEMBER SCHEDULE: The Achievement Center will be hosting two more Work It Wednesdays for this semester on December 6 and 13. Students are invited to come to the Media Center from 7:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. to receive extra support in their classes from peer tutors, study groups, or the AC teachers. We ask students to please RSVP in advance. 

FINANCIAL AID FORM: The financial aid link for the 2024-2025 school year has been added to the school’s website. The due date is January 31, 2024, and the form must be submitted online to FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment.  FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION LINK. As a reminder, you are required to file every year to receive assistance. 

AP EXAMS: If your daughter is taking an AP course this year, she has been busy signing up for AP college exams and AP portfolio submissions. These AP courses will be administered the first few weeks of May at Assumption High School. AP exam and AP portfolio submission invoices will be sent to parents via email from Blackbaud Tuition Management in January. Please take a moment to talk with your daughter about the exams she is registered to take.  Exam art portfolio submissions are $98 each except for AP Research and AP Seminar which are $146 each. For more information about AP exams and CollegeBoard, visit https://parents.collegeboard.org/college-board-programs/advanced-placement-program. Please contact Judy.Fieldhouse@ahsrockets.org or Kathy.Fleischer@ahsrockets.org if you have any questions. 

GIVING TUESDAY: This week on Giving Tuesday, we kicked off our end-of-year fundraising campaign. The theme is “900 Reasons to Give” as every single student is a reason to support Assumption’s mission. During this campaign, we will be sharing student messages to thank our donors for their support, as well as encouraging those who haven’t made a donation yet to do so. As a parent/guardian, we humbly ask for your help in reaching our fundraising goal by sharing this site on social media and making a donation if you’re able. More info, contact ABBY MARTIN. 

ROCKET SPECTACULAR BENEFIT DINNER AND AUCTION 2024: February 3, 2024. Please mark your calendar as we plan on this being a sold-out event. You won’t want to miss it! This year’s theme is “BOW TIES & BUBBLY,” and plans are underway!  We need your help with donations toward our silent and live auctions and the bourbon pull. Please contact tricia.ferree@ahsrockets.org if you are interested in donating.  Watch for more details in the coming weeks.  We hope to see you there!  

ASSUMPTION ROCKET MEN (ARM):  We encourage you (an AHS father, father of alumna(e), grandfather, or father figure) to be a part of this group! This organization helps with school needs and events on an as-needed basis. If interested, use this link: https://forms.office.com/r/2MRUDyR5EJ Questions? Contact: Tricia Ferree tricia.ferree@ahsrockets.org or Chad Dierken at 502.939.3175   

CAMPUS STORE CHRISTMAS HOURS:  The Assumption Campus Store is a great place to shop for your favorite Rocket!  Stop by during our regular hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., or on the dates listed below. We also have an online store with shipping and local pickup available. Please note that all online Christmas orders must be placed by the following dates: Custom embroidery – December 5 & ship to home – December 18. All orders must be picked up by 8:00 p.m. on December 21.  Additional Christmas holiday hours will be:  

  • Saturday, December 9, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Placement Test) 
  • Saturday, December 16, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (holiday hours)  
  • Wednesday, December 20, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. (holiday hours)  
  • Thursday, December 21, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. (holiday hours) 
  • Note: The store will close early on Thursday, December 21st at 1:00 p.m. 

SENIOR YEARBOOK TRIBUTES – DEADLINE EXTENDED: The deadline to purchase a Senior Tribute in the 2024 Rosecast yearbook has passed, but we have received several requests to extend the deadline. We are happy to announce that the deadline has been extended and late fee waived for senior tributes purchased by Wednesday, December 13. Please refer to the updated letter for information regarding sizing, pricing, and the contract which reflects the new deadline. We appreciate the support and look forward to creating an ad that your daughter will cherish for years to come. Please contact Melissa Fette directly at Melissa.fette@ahsrockets.org with any questions. 

SENIOR MUG ORDERS: Senior Mug Orders are due by December 7 at 11:59 p.m. The cost of the mugs are $38.00 with payments made to Assumption High School through the Campus Online Store.  You can place your orders by clicking on the following link.  There is a picture of the mugs on the order form.  https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=-WJNppAkg062waQIN8P7UNDqPrUcAKROowQGybkblWpUQlVKMVo2TkM3RE1FR1I1MEJDMjRRMUk4Ry4u 

Please contact Stacy Johnson at stacy.johnson@ahsrockets.org or MeriLou Mattingly at merilou.mattingly@ahsrocket.org with any questions.  

Juniors Chloe Nunn, Carmen Johnson, Molly Hayes, Brinkley Todd, Ally Whitsell, and Caroline Pringle who have been selected to participate in our Argentina Exchange Program for 2023-2024. They will be hosting students from Colegio Santa Ethnea, a school sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy in Bella Vista, Buenos Aires, Argentina for four weeks in late January/February; in June, they will spend four weeks in Argentina where they will live and attend school with the students they hosted earlier in the year. We are excited that they will have this amazing and life-altering experience, and we know they will be great ambassadors and represent Assumption and the US well! 

Our freshman student leader election winners! Last week, our class of 2027 voted for members of their class to represent them as class officers and Family Council members this year.  We want to thank all of the students who ran for these positions for being willing to serve their homerooms and the school!  We congratulate the following newly elected student leaders: 

  • Class Officers:  Caroline Marks, Claire Pyles, Whitney Cooper, Cate Schaffer, Eva Pate, Giorgia Carraro, Molly Mercer, Eleanor Keith and Rosie Wolfram 
  • Family Council Members:  Lilli Burton, Ainsley Simon, Ali Bixler, Ava McDowell, Olivia Drummond, Ava Katherine Mehling, Kathryn Bovine, Claire Russell and Addie LaFromboise 

Saturday, December 2 

  • Basketball @ Hoops 4 Harvest vs Cooper @ Dixie Heights.  10:30 a.m. 
  • Cross Country @ Nike Nationals in Portland, OR 
  • Archery @ Notre Dame Academy Panda Tournament 

Tuesday, December 5 

  • Varsity Basketball vs Christian Academy 7:30 p.m. 

Friday, December 8 

  • Cheer @ KHSAA State @ George Rogers Clark High School 
  • Varsity Basketball vs Brown 6:00 p.m.