August 15, 2025
Mary Ann Steutermann, Director of Mission Effectiveness
Today, August 15, we celebrated our Opening Liturgy and the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the feast day after which our high school was named. We gathered to pray, reflect, and center ourselves to honor the life and assumption of Mary’s body and soul into heaven. Father John Burke, retired pastor and former AHS chaplain, graciously joined us to celebrate Mass and the beginning of our school year.
We also took time today to recognize and thank the Sisters of Mercy and their over 150 years of service in Louisville and surrounding counties of Kentucky. The Sisters have served over 50 different schools and organizations since 1869 when the order first arrived in Louisville, including Assumption High School and Mercy Academy. We were joined today by Sister Paulanne Diebold and Sister Justina Heneghan, the last two Sisters of Mercy currently living in Louisville. They are moving to a retirement home in Cincinnati next month, which means there will be no more Sisters of Mercy in town. We were also joined by Sr. Diana Newton, alum and current board member, who travelled from Nashville to be with us today. We were honored to have Sr. Paulanne, Sr. Justina, and Sr. Diana with us so that we could thank them personally for their support of Assumption High School and all those touched by Mercy education. With the absence of the Sisters in Louisville, the responsibility for instilling Mercy values in future generations lies in the hands of lay people, which was actually Catherine McAuley’s original vision when she first opened the House of Mercy in 1827. In this special 70th anniversary year of Assumption High School, we are committed to “living the legacy” of the Sisters of Mercy and keeping the Mercy charism alive and well!
THANK YOU for voting us the Best of the Best!
For seven decades, Assumption High School has been a leader in shaping the future, empowering young women through innovative, faith-based education. Being named the Courier-Journal’s Best Private High School for the fourth year in a row is a tremendous honor, and we are deeply grateful to our community for making it possible. This recognition is more than a title. It reflects the trust, support, and love we receive from our families, alumnae, donors, faculty, staff, and friends. Your votes, your voices, and your belief in our mission inspire us every day. You help us cultivate an environment where Faith Guides, Compassion Inspires, Excellence Empowers, and Integrity Matters. We are proud to be part of a community that values the development of whole-hearted, well-rounded young women who go on to make a meaningful impact in the world. Thank you for walking this journey with us, for celebrating our legacy, and for helping us shape the future—one empowered young woman at a time. Thank you for making Assumption the Best of the Best again!
SPIRIT WEAR MONDAYS: As a community, we have been working diligently to be sure that all uniforms are within school policies. There has been much improvement with uniforms this first week back to school; however there is still room for improvement. All students will be in full uniform next week as we focus especially on tucking in shirt tails, ensuring hair color is within the perimeters of naturally occurring colors (no pink, purple, etc.), and skirts are not rolled at the waist or shorter than her fingertips.
Spirit Wear Mondays will begin on Monday, August 25 for students who have earned the privilege. Students may wear an AHS sweatshirt or T-shirt with nice jeans (no holes), or AHS pants purchased from the Assumption campus store (no shorts or leggings). Students who choose not to wear Spirit Day attire or have not yet earned the privilege to wear spirit wear must be in their full Assumption uniform once Spirit Wear Mondays begin.
SCHOOL PICTURES: School pictures for sophomores and juniors will be held on Tuesday, August 19, and Wednesday, August 20, 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. A link to order photos and to choose the yearbook photo will be emailed and texted within a couple of weeks after the picture date. Freshman pictures were taken on the freshman first day of school.
ASSUMPTION PARENT PRAYER: Our parent prayer group will begin meeting on Wednesday, August 27 from 8:15-8:45 a.m. in the AHS chapel and will continue to meet each Wednesday 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.
RETREAT UPDATE: All sophomores, juniors, and seniors will have access to retreat applications starting on Friday, August 16. Freshmen will receive their applications and paperwork via email a couple weeks prior to their assigned retreat. Our first freshman homeroom, Booterstown, will go on retreat September 4-5 with Birr to follow on September 8-9. All Booterstown, Birr, Limerick, Galway and Cork parents are invited to pray for their daughters going on retreat this semester on September 3 at 5:45 in the chapel. We will wrap up by 6:30 for Guidance’s parent session to follow.
There is deep love for the Assumption Community among current students, faculty and staff and alumnae, but that is something we need to purposefully build throughout our student experience. We had a great opportunity to celebrate together this week during our Community Time while also honoring our school theme for the year, “Living the Legacy.” Student leaders chose this theme last fall to acknowledge the commitment that is widely shared among Assumption students and alumnae, but also recognize that legacy is something that is continuously built by all those who play a part in it. This week, students have been spending time doing just that by getting to know one another or reconnecting through homeroom activities and schoolwide opportunities. We will continue to dedicate this Community Time for learning, working, playing and celebrating together as a family, a class, and a school. Next week we look forward to using the homeroom time to prepare for RTI time as we learn this portion of the new schedule together. We will also experience our first Family Celebration of the year – when lasting traditions are built in homeroom and family.
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: dawn.deweese@ahsrockets.org ; Junior: jennifer.ruckriegel@ahsrockets.org ; Sophomore: amy.cundiff@ahsrockets.org ; Freshman: lynnzi.bader@ahsrockets.org. Parents may also review information from the orientation sessions through these links:
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE MORNING AND AFTERNOONS: Thank you for your patience this first week as everyone learns our traffic procedures. If everyone follows the rules, everything runs much more smoothly! Please be sure to review this link from the summer letter: 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.
A few tips:
- If you can, please come earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon; we begin supervising students at 7:15 a.m. and provide after-school supervision until 4:30 p.m. (4 p.m. on Fridays). If you arrive before 7:40 a.m. or after 3:15 p.m., the traffic is much lighter and you can breeze through the carpool line.
- When traveling to/from campus for drop-off and pick-up, avoid Bardstown Road and Tyler Lane as much as possible. For example, instead of turning left from Bardstown Road to get in the carpool line, use the neighborhood streets to get to Bardstown Road north of Tyler Lane and then head south on Bardstown Road so you can turn right into the carpool lane. Here’s an annotated map of our neighborhood streets that can help you work out an alternate route that will help you avoid Bardstown Road and Tyler Lane and save you time: NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AROUND ASSUMPTION.
- When you are exiting campus, TURN LEFT on TYLER instead of turning right and going to the light at Bardstown Road. When you turn left, go to Eleanor Avenue, the first cross street, and then turn left (to take you down to Gardiner Lane for easy access to the Watterson Expressway) or right (to take you up several blocks before making another right to access Bardstown Road away from all the traffic).
- You can avoid the carpool line all together by making a quick stop at Gardiner Lane Shopping Center to drop off or pick up your daughter. They don’t mind as long as it is a quick stop and you don’t use the parking spaces near the stores that they need for their customers. It’s a very short block and a safe walk for your daughter from the shopping center to Assumption.
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. 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.
WELCOME BACK FROM THE ACHIEVEMENT CENTER: The AC would like to welcome all students back to school and remind everyone that we are here to help with any subject at any level. We are considered the Guardian Angels of Homework! Please encourage your student to stop by and get to know the AC Team. Be sure to follow us on Instagram to know of upcoming academic opportunities we are hosting before, during, and after school. Follow us @Assumption.AC !
MOCK SCHEDULE NIGHT – Save the date! We will have our annual Mock Schedule Night for parents on Thursday, August 28 beginning at 6:30 p.m.; parents should report to their daughter’s homeroom for opening prayer and announcements.
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 before school was out last spring or this week. 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. Please check with your daughter about this process so she can tell you when to expect a parent email from the college/university partner of her DC course. 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 the family does not sign up for the KHEAA account and request the scholarship, you will owe each university approximately $97 PER CREDIT HOUR for all courses. Please refer to this document for all of the courses and the partner institutions. 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 2026.
- As indicated in the Student Family 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 1st and the 15th 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 Wednesday, August 20. Students will need a signed form, a $20 schedule change fee for an elective, along with a parent/guardian signature for any change and teacher recommendation if required for the course or for any level change. 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 physical textbooks at this time. If you did not receive the order that matched the tracking information your daughter received from eCampus, please reach out to their customer service at eCampus Customer Service. Your daughter will receive information about accessing her digital books at orientation today as well as learning how to return any rental books that she received.
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 45th Annual Rocket Spectacular, which will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2026. 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 Tricia Ferree at tricia.ferree@ahsrockets.org or Michelle Farmer at michelle.farmer@ahsrockets.org: Rocket Spectacular – Assumption High School.
PARENT SUPERVISION SUBSTITUTE VOLUNTEERS: Parent volunteers are needed to serve as substitutes for our RTI supervisors when regular supervisors are out of the building to go on retreat, to attend professional development, or for other personal/professional reasons. Whether you can volunteer once this school year in this capacity or would be available multiple times, we would love to have parents join us in supporting this important work. Please note: All volunteers working with students are required to attend the Safe Environment Training provided by the Archdiocese of Louisville and to complete a background check with the Archdiocese. If you have never attended this workshop and are interested in volunteering, see the schedule of trainings here: Archdiocese of Louisville Safe Environment Training. You can also click HERE for a link to the background check form to complete.
If interested in volunteering, please complete this RTI SUPERVISION PARENT INTEREST FORM.
Save the date! COLLEGE INFORMATION NIGHT FOR SENIOR PARENTS: Kim Habich and Leigh Jackson, college counselors, have provided detailed information about the college application process to the class of 2026 via the College Workshop held on August 1 and the makeup date held on August 7. To further assist senior parents and families with the college process, there will be a college information night on Thursday, September 4 at 6:30 p.m. in Assumption’s theater. If you have any questions, please contact Kim Habich or Leigh Jackson.
COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS: Most college applications for the 2025-2026 application cycle opened on August 1, 2025. This includes both online college applications and the Common Application. The Assumption-specific college process was reviewed with your student during one of two workshops that occurred on August 1 or August 7. Please encourage your daughter to follow the steps on the To-Do List as this document includes the necessary steps to complete the process, which includes requesting transcripts to colleges. Kim Habich and Leigh Jackson, college counselors, will be reaching out to your student soon about scheduling a one-on-one meeting.
PSAT ON OCTOBER 8: To prepare our students for the wide variety of college admissions processes, Assumption High School strongly encourages all juniors to take the PSAT, which is offered during the school day on October 8. Taking both this exam and the ACT in the same month will allow your daughter to compare scores and determine whether signing up for an SAT outside of school is worth her time. The PSAT, when taken in the fall of the junior year, serves as the National Merit Scholar Qualifying Test. It can also be used as a qualifying score for the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP) and serves as a basis for several scholarship programs, including some which can be accessed through a parent’s employer.
All juniors will be automatically signed up to take the test. If you are the parent or guardian of a junior and would like for her to opt out of this test, please fill out this survey by Tuesday, September 9. Please note that she will be required to submit a form indicating how she plans to use her time that day (college visit, day of service, catch up on coursework) to her dean in order not to be considered absent on October 8. If you do not fill out the form by September 9, she will be signed up to take the test and expected to report to school on this day. Please direct questions regarding the PSAT to Colleen Murphy at colleen.murphy@ahsrockets.org.
PSAT ON OCTOBER 8: The PSAT will be offered at Assumption on October 8. We recommend that freshmen and sophomores who are likely to use a PSAT as a qualifying score for scholarships, programs, or awards take the exam. Freshmen and sophomores in the McAuley Honors Program will be registered for the PSAT automatically. If your daughter is a freshman or sophomore who is not currently a part of this program and you would like for her to take the PSAT, please fill out this survey no later than Tuesday, September 9. We will be happy to add her to the group. Please direct questions regarding the PSAT to Colleen Murphy at colleen.murphy@ahsrockets.org.
PSAT ON OCTOBER 8: The PSAT will be offered at Assumption on October 8. We recommend that freshmen and sophomores who are likely to use a PSAT as a qualifying score for scholarships, programs, or awards take the exam. Freshmen and sophomores in the McAuley Honors Program will be registered for the PSAT automatically. If your daughter is a freshman or sophomore who is not currently a part of this program and you would like for her to take the PSAT, please fill out this survey no later than Tuesday, September 9. We will be happy to add her to the group. Please direct questions regarding the PSAT to Colleen Murphy at colleen.murphy@ahsrockets.org.
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 7, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Raphael Catholic Church. Please come even if your family isn’t Catholic. Siblings are invited as well – bring the whole family!
FRESHMAN PARENT TECHNOLOGY ORIENTATION: At least one parent for each freshman needs to complete the required online technology orientation by Monday, September 2. This training is essential for supporting your daughter’s academic success through her technology. The training will walk you through the most frequently asked questions about her HP Elite laptop and what is expected of your daughter when using the technology. When logging in to view the training, please enter your daughter’s name as the nickname so we can accurately mark your completion. Access the training here.
SWIM/DIVE INTEREST MEETING: There will be a parent and athlete swim/dive team interest meeting on Tuesday, August 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.
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.
Ticket to all home games can be purchased at the door for $8, cash or credit card.
Next Week:
Saturday, August 16
- Golf Lexington Catholic Tournament @ Thoroughbred GC 9:00 a.m.
August 18 -24
- Field Hockey Apple Tournament @ Sacred Heart
Monday, August 18
- Soccer vs Mercy. JV 5:30 p.m., Varsity 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 19
- Volleyball vs Male. Freshman 5:00 p.m., JV 6:00 p.m., Varsity 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, August 20
- Soccer @ Notre Dame. JV 6:00 p.m., Varsity 7:30 p.m.
August 22 -August 23
- Varsity and JV Volleyball @ Knoxville Tournament
August 23 – August 24
- Varsity and JV Soccer @ Gatlinburg Tournament
