Friday, August 21, 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians, 

The past few days with our newest members of our Assumption community – the Class of 2024 – have been wonderful!  It has been so good to have students back at school – both in-person and virtually.  And we are so grateful to our amazing faculty and staff for all their work to help make this school year happen.  We look forward to kicking off the school year with our sophomores, juniors, and seniors next week! 

As always, our goal is to provide an excellent Assumption education while keeping our community as healthy and safe as possible.  To that end, it is essential that everyone in our community abide by our Healthy at Assumption policies especially in regard to reporting COVID-19 exposures and cases. Per policy, parents are required to notify our school nurse if their daughter has tested positive for COVID-19, suspects she may have COVID-19, or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19.  In addition, a student who has been advised by her health care provider to undergo testing or is undergoing testing because she has symptoms or believes she may have COVID-19 should not return to school while COVID-19 testing is in progress.   

Furthermore, as part of our Healthy at Assumption policies, students who have a fever or are experiencing any COVID like symptoms should stay at home and not come to school. Students will have the ability to attend school virtually in that situation if she is well enough to do so.  This is one of the hallmarks of our Reopening and Learning Plan—that it is easy for our students and families to make the right choices and take good care of each other and our Assumption community.  Please see our full policy linked here: STUDENT REPORTING AND RETURN TO SCHOOL POLICY UNDER COVID. Please note:  If your daughter has traveled to a state with a 15% or higher COVID-19 positivity rate within 14 days of her first day on campus, she will need to self-quarantine until the end of the 14-day quarantine period. Please contact our school nurse, LAURA BURNAM, to let her know if your daughter must quarantine due to travel or COVID-19 exposure/diagnosis or medical recommendation. Students who must quarantine participate in virtual learning for all classes, orientations, etc. to the extent that their health allows; students are not marked absent when attending virtually.   

In order for all students and parents to stay informed of important information and/or any changes as our school year continues to evolve in this ever-changing climate, it is vital that both students and parents check their email regularly as this is our primary form of communication.  Please help your daughters get back in the habit of checking and reading their school email on a regular basis, at least daily and several times a day would be even better! On the days when they are not physically present in the building and are learning virtually from home, this is the only way we have to communicate with them. For parents, we will continue to email the Rocket Report each Friday afternoon with important information and updates for the upcoming week. In case you miss it or want to look back at a previous issue, the Rocket Report is always available on our website, www.ahsrockets.org, under the parent link. 

The administration, faculty, and staff are excited to begin this new year with you! 

CALENDAR NOTES FOR NEXT WEEK:   

  • REVISED ORIENTATION SCHEDULE:  Our slightly revised calendar for the start of the school year can be found here: WEBSITE CALENDAR.  We chose to revise our orientation schedule so that we could still begin our full academic hybrid schedule as planned on Monday, August 31.  On Friday, August 28, all students will attend all eight blocks of their schedule via Teams at home virtually so that they can meet each of their teachers. We will include specific details for the upcoming week in the Rocket Report each Friday.  
  • MONDAY, AUGUST 24 – VIRTUAL CLASS ORIENTATION FOR SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS, AND SENIORS: All sophomores, juniors, and seniors are required to attend a virtual class meeting and then check-in with homeroom teachers virtually from home via Microsoft Teams for orientation on processes and protocols for safe entry to the building prior to their on-campus class orientation. Students will be emailed a link to the class meeting and a calendar invitation for their homeroom Teams page prior to their orientation day.  
  • Sophomores: 9:00-10:00 a.m. 
  • Juniors: 10:00-11:00 a.m. 
  • Seniors: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 
  • TUESDAY, AUGUST 25– HOMEROOM ACTIVITY FOR FRESHMEN LED BY HOMEROOM MOMS:  It is a longstanding tradition that “homeroom moms” from the junior class are assigned to freshman homerooms to welcome the newest members of each Assumption family by helping them get to know each other, build community, and learn Assumption traditions and routines.  The homeroom moms to the Class of 2024 are excited to invite the freshmen to attend a virtual homeroom “get to know you” activity on Tuesday, August 25 at 1:00 p.m.  Each freshman will receive an invitation from her homeroom teacher to join on Teams. 
  •  TUESDAY, AUGUST 25- WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27 – CLASS ORIENTATIONS FOR SOPHOMORES, JUNIORS, AND SENIORS: All hybrid students will report to campus on their designated class day and time according to their last name cohort.  They will meet in homerooms for orientation on beginning of school year information, handbook rules, new building safety procedures, hybrid schedule, etc.  All students should be in full uniform, wear masks, and bring their tablet PCs, chargers, headphones, and water bottles with them. Students who have chosen all virtual instruction should attend the orientation assigned to their last name via their homeroom Teams page (invitations will be sent via email).  
  • Tuesday, August 25 – Sophomores: 
  • 8:30-10:30 a.m. – Sophomore Last Names A-K 
  • 12:30-2:30 p.m. – Sophomore Last Names L-Z 
  • Wednesday, August 26 – Juniors: 
  • 8:30-10:30 a.m. – Junior Last Names A-K 
  • 12:30-2:30 p.m. – Junior Last Names L-Z 
  • Thursday, August 27 – Seniors:  
  • 8:30-10:30 a.m. – Senior Last Names A-K 
  • 12:30-2:30 p.m. – Senior Last Names L-Z 
  • FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 – ALL VIRTUAL FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR ALL STUDENTS: All hybrid and virtual students will now attend a virtual first day of school on Friday, August 28, so that students can meet all eight of their teachers prior to the first day of hybrid school on August 31. All students will attend school through their course Teams pages following the schedule below: 
  • 8:30-9:00:          A block 
  • 9:15-9:45:          B block 
  • 10:00-10:30:     C block 
  • 10:45-11:15:     D block 
  • 11:15-12:00:     Lunch 
  • 12:00-12:30:     E block 
  • 12:45-1:15:        F block 
  • 1:30-2:00:          G block 
  • 2:15-2:45:          H block 

VIRTUAL ONLY STUDENT COHORT – START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR ITEM PICK-UP:  Virtual-only students can come to school to pick up start of the school year items distributed at in-person orientations (schedules, planners, senior sweatshirt/t-shirt, etc.) on Monday, August 24, between 12:00-3:00 p.m. Students/parents can pull up in the carpool lane alongside the CAC/gym to pick up their items.  Staff will be stationed at the entrance and will deliver items to the car.  

STUDENT PARKING UPDATE: Mrs. Baughman has sent an email to all juniors and seniors who submitted Regular or Delayed Parking Requests with directions about how to get their parking assignments/tags before they are on campus for the first time. They will be able to do this without having to come to school: they will sign the parking agreement/contract, provide a copy of their license, and pay the $50 parking fee via a Wufoo form; once the form is submitted, we will mail them their parking tags and information. Your daughter may not drive to school/park in an AHS space unless she has been assigned a parking space and given a tag. It’s not too late for your daughter to get a parking spot if she did not apply for one by the July 30 deadline for whatever reason —just advise her to contact Mrs. Dusch in the main office after her first day back in the building and she is ready to start driving to school on a regular basis and we’ll get her set up with a parking assignment. 

STUDENTS ARRIVING LATE TO SCHOOL: All students who are tardy or otherwise arrive late to school must enter the building via the main entrance on Tyler Lane. A staff member will meet them there, make sure they are wearing masks before they enter the building, scan their temperatures, and provide them with wristbands before sending them on to class. 

LAST DAY TO MAKE CHANGES: At Assumption, we make every effort to accommodate the needs of our students and families. After Monday of next week (August 24), however, we will not be able to accept requests to change a Hybrid student’s cohort nor move a student from All Virtual learning to Hybrid learning.  Because we are committed to following the recommended best practices as students return to the building, we are assigning specific seats in every classroom, limiting the number of students in a classroom, removing desks so we can keep students physically distanced, etc. This involves a great deal of precise calculation and our teachers need to finalize seating charts, furniture placement, etc., so they may begin teaching. Since it will not require physical adjustments within the building, a student/her parents/guardians may opt for full virtual learning for any reason and at any time; the student may not go back and forth between the two learning models, though. To request a change to All Virtual learning for your daughter, please contact dean of students Cindi Baughman or your daughter’s dean of studies, Judy Fieldhouse for students A-K last names or Theresa Schuhmann for students L-Z last names. Parents may re-evaluate and request changes to a student’s cohort assignment and/or learning model at fall break. 

MANDATORY PARENT ORIENTATION MEETINGS:  Parents are expected to attend an orientation meeting specific to their daughter’s class. This year, the orientation sessions will be done virtually via Zoom.  Parents will be emailed the link prior to the meeting date.  The orientations will last about an hour.  Please note the dates below. 

  • Freshman Parent Orientation:  Thursday, August 27 – 6:30 p.m. 
  • Sophomore Parent Orientation:  Tuesday, September 1 – 6:30 p.m. 
  • Junior Parent Orientation:  Wednesday, September 2 – 6:30 p.m. 
  • Senior Parent Orientation:  Thursday, September 3 – 6:30 p.m. 

UPDATED LUNCH INFORMATION FROM FLIK:  Flik, our food service provider, has outlined the process for students and parents regarding ordering and serving lunch during the hybrid model phase of our school year.  Lunch services will begin on Monday, August 31.  Lunch orders must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. the day prior but can be ordered a week in advance.  For full information about the lunch ordering process, please click on these links:  FLIK – PRE-ORDERING PROTOCOL  and ORDER MEALS FROM ANY DEVICE. 

PARENT PRAYER BEGINS ON SEPTEMBER 1:  All AHS parents are invited to begin the day in prayer once a week on Tuesdays from 8:30-9:00 a.m. This year our prayer will take place across Tyler Lane in the McAuley Center chapel.  During these times, we pray for EACH student, faculty, and staff member at AHS by name while parents at Sacred Heart, Trinity, and St. Xavier share the same weekly prayer that we do.  Please join us every Tuesday or just any Tuesday you can make it!  No need to RSVP!  We will begin on Tuesday, September 1.  If you are unable to attend but would like the group to pray for a particular intention, please email it to our campus minister at MARY ANN STEUTERMANN. We hope you find comfort in knowing that we are praying for your intention even if you can’t be present.  A few specific directions for this school year: 

  • All parents will have their temperature taken upon entering.   
  • Everyone also has to complete the Visitor Health Screening Form.  It can be completed at home using this link or filled out on paper in the chapel after the temperature scan.  Even if parents take their temperatures at home and complete the form online, they still have to have a temperature check in the chapel.   
  • Everyone must sit at least six feet apart and wear masks the entire time. 
  • Parents should park in the AHS lot in a visitor space or in any open space.  Parking is no longer available at the McAuley Center itself, so parents will need to cross Tyler Lane from the AHS lot to enter the McAuley Center. 

STUDENT INFORMATION SHEETS DUE TODAY:  If you have not returned your daughter’s updated information sheet which is due today, Friday, August 21, please do so as soon as possible.  If you cannot locate the email regarding this, please contact kathy.fleischer@ahsrockets.org. 

IMPORTANT LINKS:  Please be sure to review and complete required information through these important links prior to the start of school: 

IMPORTANT MEDICAL FORMS:  These important medical forms are also needed prior to the first day of school:   

  • IMMUNIZATION CERTIFICATES:  ALL STUDENTS (returning, incoming freshmen, transfers) are required by state statute to have a current Commonwealth of Kentucky Certificate of Immunization Status on file with the school by the first day of classes. Immunization certificates may be faxed to the school at 502-454-8411 or snail mailed to Assumption High School, 2170 Tyler Lane, Louisville, KY  40205.  
  • PHYSICALS FOR INCOMING FRESHMEN, TRANSFER STUDENTS, AND ATHLETES:  Parents of Assumption athletes: KHSAA requires that your daughter have a current physical on file with the athletic office before she may participate in tryouts or practice of any kind (even virtually). This physical must be submitted on the KHSAA PHYSICAL FORM. All incoming freshmen and transfer students need to have current physicals for the 2020-2021 school year on file with us by the first day of classes. You can use this link to access the AHS PHYSICAL FORM if you need one. If your daughter is a student-athlete, please use the AHS Physical Form, which incorporates the KHSAA form so it can be used for athletics, but also contains other information needed by Assumption personnel. Completed physical forms may be faxed to the school at 502-454-8411 or mailed to Assumption High School, 2170 Tyler Lane, Louisville, KY  40205. 

FRESHMAN PARENT MASS – Each year we celebrate the beginning of your freshman daughter’s high school journey as a community of faith with our Freshman Parent Mass.  This special liturgy is scheduled for Sunday, September 13, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Raphael Catholic Church.  The church can host up to 200 people at this time.  In order to plan for appropriate social distancing, we need to know who plans to attend in person.  We also hope to have a live stream of the Mass available for those who wish to participate from home.  Freshman parents, please complete the Freshman Parent Mass RSVP by Friday, Aug. 28 so that we can prepare the best possible experience for you and your family.   

FROM THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT – FRESHMAN MANDATORY DRUG/ALCOHOL EDUCATION NIGHTS: Freshman Mandatory Drug/Alcohol Education Nights to be held on Zoom on Wednesday, September 9, and Monday, September 14. – Please plan now to attend one of our mandatory parent education programs. This is an important program designed to familiarize you with the school philosophy and policies in the area of drug and alcohol prevention.  We know that what parents say and do makes a difference in the choices their daughters make. At this meeting, you will hear from a local therapist from Innerview who will present vital information in the area of drug and alcohol prevention. It is a program that will be worth your time and attention. At least one freshman parent or guardian is required to attend. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom and will last approximately one hour. Please complete this Wufoo survey to sign up for the event and receive the Zoom link: https://assumption.wufoo.com/forms/pwtklw1162y5te/ 

PARENT POWERSCHOOL AND LMS CREDENTIALS: Parent usernames in PowerSchool for the 2020-21 school year will be synced with our PowerSchool Learning Management site, also called the LMS. This will allow parents to use the same username in both portals and not need to set up an LMS account since the system is setting it up for you. 

  • PowerSchool is where you will find your daughter’s grades and teacher comments.  
  • The LMS is where her teachers will post each class’s agenda, assignments, upcoming tests, and due dates. 

If you set up an LMS account last year, it will no longer work. You need to log in with the same username you use in PowerSchool. The first time you log into the LMS this school year, you need to use the password, rockets, and then change that password in your account. We suggest you use the same password that you use in PowerSchool for consistency.  

ATHLETICS:  From the Athletic Office: The schedule to begin fall sports was affirmed yesterday by the KHSAA Board of Control. Tryouts for Field Hockey, Soccer and Volleyball all begin on Monday, August 24 and Cross Country is on Tuesday, August 25. Students who are interested in trying out MUST ATTEND ALL TRYOUT SESSIONS. More detailed information can be found at this link - Fall Tryouts on our website.  Competitions will begin as early as September 7. We are still working on schedules and should have those pages on the website updated soon.  

MAIN OFFICE AVAILABILITY:  To adhere to state mandates in response to COVID-19 and to continue to keep our entire community safe and healthy, we are continuing to recommend that parents email or mail any school-related items instead of dropping them off at school.   Assumption’s Main Office will be open from 7:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday.  In line with Assumption’s Re-opening and Learning Plan, visitors to the school will continue to be limited.  Any visitor who has an appointment that requires them to come into the building should come to the Tyler Lane door, ring the buzzer, and will be met there.  Visitors must wear a mask, undergo a temperature scan, and complete a health screening before entering the building.  Please feel free to contact Amy Schelb at 502-458-9551, option 0, or email at amy.schelb@ahsrockets.org for questions regarding the above or if you need assistance during this time.   

Gratefully, 

Martha Tedesco 

Principal