December 6, 2024

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 tripled 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 2025-2026 school year.  Applications are now being accepted and are due via email by 8:00 p.m. on January 20, 2025, via this link: Scholarship-Directory-2025-2026. 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.

WINTER CONCERT

Thursday evening, students in our Guitar classes, Glee Club, Bell Choir, Chamber Choir, and Advanced Choir performed what they have been working on all semester for our annual Winter Concert! Friends and family had the opportunity to listen to beautifully preformed Christmas music. Many thanks to our teachers who have helped these students grow in their performing arts classes and for our gifted Rockets for sharing their talents with us!

CANSTRUCTION: Canstruction is beginning! Canstruction is one of the biggest service events in our Assumption community. This event provides the opportunity to donate to Dare to Care by bringing in canned goods for those facing food insecurity in our Louisville community. An Assumption tradition since 2006, Canstruction not only provides food for the community at large but also provides a unique opportunity for Assumption family bonding. Each family collects cans in their homerooms throughout the rest of the month of November in order to come together to can-struct a visual made of those cans during our Canstruction event. Canstruction will be held on Monday, December 9, so that will be the last collection day, but we will collect cans each day until then. We are looking forward to having the Assumption community help the Louisville community through our partnership with Dare to Care! 

  • Parent Volunteers Needed:  We are need of parent volunteers to help with packing/lifting boxes on Monday, December 9 from 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Please sign up through this link, if interested:  CANSTRUCTION PARENT VOLUNTEER SIGN UP 

PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS EVENTS:  The following events will take place next week in the theater showcasing our Fine and Performing Arts programs: 

  • Visual Arts Department Art Show – Tuesday, December 10 at 6:30 p.m. – free  
  • Introduction to Theatre Showcase – Thursday, December 12 at 6:00 p.m. (C block) & 7:30 p.m. (D block) – free 
  • Humanities II Extravaganza – Friday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m.- $1 advance-purchased tickets- no tickets sold at the door.  

ASSUMPTION PARENT PRAYER: Our parent prayer group met for the last time this semester and will begin again on January 7, 2025. We wish all our families a blessed Christmas season.  

ADVENT AT ASSUMPTION: This year Advent runs from December 1 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 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.  
  • Students were invited to attend an optional Mass and/or opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the chapel during RTI time on Thursday, December 5. 
  • Fr. Michael Schultz has invited all AHS students to a “pink out” at any of the Masses at his parish, St. Albert the Great, the weekend of December 14-15. AHS has invited all students to either attend there or their own church and wear rose/pink. The third Sunday of Advent is known as “Guadete Sunday,” which means “rejoice” in Latin, and the liturgical color is rose rather than the usual Advent purple. Students are invited to submit a photo of themselves at any church that weekend for a possible prize. 
  • There will be an optional Mass after school at 3:10 p.m. on Monday, December 16. Fr. Schultz will focus the Mass specifically on the concerns of students going into exams and the end of the semester. All are welcome – students don’t need to be Catholic to attend! They just need to complete the survey they received in their email to RSVP.  

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. 

Our community has been working hard to support our Canstruction food drive to battle food insecurity in our Louisville community.  We are proud of our relationship with Dare to Care to supply much needed canned food items and money to lessen the impact of hunger in our neighborhoods.  While our students do earn incentives for their continued participation in Canstruction, they are also able to recognize the greater impact their simple actions can have on those in our community.  There is still time for students and families to make an impact.  Collections will continue through the Canstruction event on Monday, December 9, so students can still acquire cans and donations over the weekend and bring them on Monday to homeroom.  We look forward to seeing our grand total and the number of meals we can provide as a school!    

OUTSTANDING TUITION AND FEES: As stated in our financial policies, which are outlined in the Student-Parent Handbook, a student may not take her semester exams and may not begin the second semester on January 6, 2025, if her account is not current.  Your daughter will not be allowed to take her semester exams scheduled for December 16 – 20, 2024 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 13, 2024.  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 16, during Community Time. 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 17 or 18.  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.  

INCLEMENT WEATHER: With winter upon us, we would like to remind parents of our inclement weather policies.  You may also refer to the STUDENT-PARENT HANDBOOK 2024-2025. When the Archdiocese of Louisville makes a call about school closings due to inclement weather, we will send an alert through SchoolMessenger to those who have registered.  You may also listen to local radio and television stations for an announcement that all Catholic high schools in Jefferson County are closed or on a delayed schedule.   

  • When the schools are closed, Assumption High School will declare a traditional snow day, virtual learning day, or a digital learning day via SchoolMessenger. The first snow day of the 2024-2025 school year will be a traditional snow day with no digital or virtual learning. When school is closed, all extracurricular and athletic events are cancelled (unless a special exception is approved by the president or principal). 
  • When the school is on a delayed schedule, Assumption will be delayed one hour and will follow a 9:10 a.m. schedule, but all morning activities will be cancelled including detention, testing pool, and meetings.  In the case of a delayed opening, the school building will open, and before-school supervision will begin in the cafeteria at 8:10 a.m. If your daughter drives to school or carpools with another student, please note: If parents have concerns about their daughter driving in inclement weather, they should not allow her to drive to school on a day when inclement weather is predicted. If it appears that inclement weather is on the way, we will allow students to leave early (prior to dismissal) only if their parents come to get them — students will not be released on the basis of a phone call or email or because their carpool driver is going home early.  

This is a great time to check your parent preferences and information on SchoolMessenger which you can access through your PowerSchool account.  Please note: this functionality is only available through the PowerSchool website and not the app.  

FINANCIAL AID FORM: The financial aid link for the 2025-2026 school year has been added to the school’s website. The due date is January 31, 2025, 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 be considered for assistance. 

FAIR TRADE SHOPPING WEEK: The Environmental Concerns Committee is hosting a fair-trade shopping week at Just Creations, 2722 Frankfort Avenue, from December 8 to December 13.  The ECC will receive 15% of any sales during that time if you mention at checkout that you are part of the Assumption High School community.  You may also shop online at Just Creations.  Just put Assumption High School in the Shopping Cart Order Notes.  Join the ECC as they support a store that not only protects the rights and dignity of workers but also strives for environmental sustainability!  

GIVING TUESDAY: This week on Giving Tuesday, we kicked off our end-of-year fundraising campaign. The theme is “940 Reasons to Give” as every single student is a reason to support Assumption’s mission. 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. For more info, contact ABBY MARTIN. 

ROCKET SPECTACULAR BENEFIT DINNER AND AUCTION 2025: Saturday, February 1, 2025. Please mark your calendar–you won’t want to miss it! This event will SELL OUT. This year’s theme is “Platinum Jubilee,” and plans are underway! We need your help with donations toward our silent and live auctions as well as the bourbon pull. Please contact tricia.ferree@ahsrockets.org if you are interested in helping.  Watch for more details in the coming weeks.  We hope to see you there!  

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 9 & ship to home – December 18. All orders must be picked up by 1:00 p.m. on December 21. Additional Christmas holiday hours will be:  

  • Tuesday, December 10, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (holiday hours) 
  • Saturday, December 14, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Placement Test/holiday hours) 
  • Tuesday, December 17, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (holiday hours)  
  • Saturday, December 21, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (holiday hours) 

Note: The store will close at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 20. 

FAFSA UPDATE: The following email was sent to the senior class last week by our college counselors: If you and your family plan to complete the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), it is now available. It was scheduled to be ready on December 1, but they decided to open it ahead of schedule. We encourage you to wait 1-2 weeks before completing it to ensure the system is running smoothly. By filling out the FAFSA, your eligibility will be determined for college grants, work-study programs, federal student loans, and certain state-based aid. While many families don’t think they will qualify for any help, filling out the FAFSA is the only way to find out. In the meantime, students and their parent(s) must complete the process for a StudentAid.gov account. Students and parents are encouraged to create an account at least two weeks prior to completing the FAFSA. To create an account, the individual will need his/her Social Security number and a mobile phone number and/or email address. Students, do not use your Assumption email for this process.  

Resources: 

Senior Ainsley Brown and junior Evi Clements for completing their first solo flights last month as part of Assumption’s Aviation Program! 

JV and Varsity Quick Recall team who celebrated a sweeping victory against Mercy Academy. Before the games, the team hosted a Senior Day for their six seniors who have shown incredible leadership and commitment to the team: Liz Haulk, Maureen Lally, Sophia Lonnon, Sophie Renda, Chloe Tigue, and Lily Tigue.

The Varsity team’s collaboration helped them pull out the win with top scorers Maureen Lally and Elise Crump, with additional support from Josie Dunn, Nikita Nair, Chloe Tigue and Olivia Harris adding to the scoreboard. The JV team also conquered Mercy with one of their highest scores this year. Congratulations to top scorers Kate Jarboe and Maria Brasler, along with support from Lily Combs, Mari Treese, and Chloe Wells.

Next Week:

December 7-8 

  • Archery @ St. Margaret Mary Tournament 

Saturday, December 7 

  • Varsity Basketball vs Frederick Douglass @ Dixie Heights 4:30 p.m. 

Tuesday, December 10 

  • Basketball vs Bardstown. JV 6:00 p.m., Varsity 7:00 p.m. 

Wednesday, December 11 

  • Freshman Basketball vs Western Hills 6:00 p.m. 

Thursday, December 12 

  • Cheer Showcase 5:00 p.m. 
  • Basketball @ Mercy. JV 6:00 p.m., Varsity 7:30 p.m. 
  • Lacrosse Rocket Roar @ St. X 

December 13-14 

  • Archery @ St. Aloysius Christmas Tournament 

Friday, December 13 

  • Cheer State @ George Rogers Clark 7:00 p.m. 
  • Varsity Basketball @ Brown 7:30 p.m. 

Saturday, December 14 

  • Varsity Basketball vs Montgomery County 6:30 p.m. 

Sunday, December 15 

  • Dance State @ George Rogers Clark. Hip Hop 3:10 p.m., Jazz 7:30 p.m.