Friday, March 5, 2021

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We happily welcomed the Class of 2025 at registration on Wednesday and Thursday evening. They were so excited to officially become Assumption Rockets!  Thank you for your support and prayers as we worked to recruit a healthy class of incoming freshmen who will continue to carry on the tradition of an Assumption High School Catholic education.  

COVID NUMBERS: As we did last semester, Assumption will report our number of COVID positive cases and quarantines for any individuals associated with our school on a weekly basis in the Rocket Report.  As of yesterday, Assumption’s COVID-19 numbers for this week are: (2/26, 3/1, 3/2, and 3/4)  

  • 0 new positive COVID-19 cases  
  • 0 new quarantine cases    
  • 28 total positive COVID-19 cases as reported to our local department of health as of January 5, the start of this semester (24 students and 4 faculty/staff)       

It’s important to note that there have been no known transmissions of COVID here at AHS.  As a reminder to our parents, Assumption is required to report positive cases and quarantines of all individuals associated with our school to the State of Kentucky, our local health department as well as the Archdiocese of Louisville.             

This week brought continued good news of the pandemic.  The state positivity rate is now below 4.5% and vaccine distribution is at an all-time high. Restrictions on many businesses are being rolled back and limits on capacity are being raised. Here at Assumption, we had no positive cases or quarantines within our community this past week to report to the state. While things are certainly trending in the right direction, the health and safety restrictions for schools remain firmly in place including masks, physical distancing, sanitation, etc.  This requires us to continue to follow all the health and safety measures we know to be effective in combatting the spread of the disease.    

In line with current restrictions still in place for schools, the state continues to discourage all out-of-state leisure travel.  If an individual does engage in out-of-state leisure travel, they are urged to voluntarily self-quarantine for 14 days when they return to Kentucky.  We ask parents to keep this in mind as they consider their spring break plans.  If the current travel advisory does change, we will be sure to let parents know via the Rocket Report.    

As mentioned before, we are adjusting our schedule next week in order for our faculty and staff to receive the second dose of the vaccine. Due to ongoing evidence of side effects by those who have already received the second dose of the Moderna vaccine, we will be implementing Digital Learning Days on both Monday, March 8 and Tuesday, March 9.  We truly appreciate your support and thank you in advance for your understanding of our commitment to ensure the well-being of our faculty and staff in these unusual circumstances. 

CALENDAR NOTES:   

  • DAILY SCHEDULE:  As noted on the March calendar, next week we will follow a special daily schedule to accommodate AHS faculty/staff receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday morning:  
  • Monday, March 8 – Day 1: DIGITAL LEARNING DAY for All Cohorts 
  • Tuesday, March 9 – Day 2:  DIGITAL LEARNING DAY for All Cohorts 
  • Wednesday, March 10 – LEAD & Learn Wednesday:  All Cohorts Digital at Home  
  • Thursday, March 11 – Day 3: In-Person – Blue Cohort, Virtual at Home – Maroon Cohort 
  • Friday, February 12 – Day 4:  In-Person – Blue Cohort, Virtual at Home – Maroon Cohort 
  • DIGITAL LEARNING DAY:  On Monday, March 8, and Tuesday, March 9, we will implement Digital Learning Days. On a declared Digital Learning Day, teachers for that day’s classes will post lesson plans on their class pages on PowerSchool LMS by 10:30 a.m. Students will need to check each of their scheduled classes’ PowerSchool LMS pages for the lesson plan for the day and complete the assignments by the time designated in the agenda. Students will not meet in class on a schedule as they do on virtual learning days or hybrid days. In order for us to “take attendance,” which we are required to do since this will count as an official day of school, students need to complete and submit an attendance survey by 10:30; they will be emailed the link to the survey by 8:00 a.m. Teachers will be available to answer questions from 1:00-3:00 p.m. We reviewed digital learning day expectations last month and again this week at class meetings. If you would like to review this information again, here’s a link to the PowerPoint presentation we shared with the girls: DIGITAL LEARNING DAY INFORMATION 
  • VIRTUAL PARENT/TEACHER/STUDENT CONFERENCES:  A special message about conferences was emailed on Wednesday.  We are looking forward to our upcoming Virtual Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences on Thursday, March 11, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. These conferences are designed to give students and parents the opportunity to meet with teachers about students’ progress. Parents of a student with a D or F in a class as of Wednesday, March 10 are required to sign up to meet with the teacher of that class.  Please monitor your daughter’s grades to determine if a conference is required; all parents are welcome to request a conference with a teacher.  We will be using SignUp.com to make appointment scheduling a simple process for both you and for teachers. Here’s how it works in 3 easy steps: 
  1. Click this link to see our SignUps on SignUp.com: Spring Conference Signup
  1. Review the SignUps listed.  Choose the teacher(s) you would like to meet with and the time you would like.  
  1. Sign up! It’s easy – you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.com.  

Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. Sign-ups for conferences will close at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 11. Teachers will email a Teams meeting appointment invite to the parent who signs up for the conference. If you have any questions in regard to parent-teacher-student conferences, please contact your daughter’s dean – JUDY FIELDHOUSE (students whose last names begin with A-K) or THERESA SCHUHMANN  (students whose last names begin with L-Z) 

CAMPUS MINISTRY:  

  • COMPASSION CONNECTIONS:  Each AHS family is aligned with a local agency, each of which addresses one or more of the “critical concerns” of the Sisters of Mercy:  earth, women, anti-racism, non-violence, and immigration.  Families will be collecting requested items for their agencies from March 8 – March 19, and students can earn family points for making a donation.  Why then?  The week of March 8 is the International Week of the Woman, and at AHS, we know that “compassion inspires.”  Our theme is Real. Women. Care.  Ask your daughter about her family’s agency and their needs this year.  Naturally, no collection is mandatory, but if you would like to contribute to your daughter’s agency, you can send in requested items with her or make a monetary donation via Venmo @AHS-CampusMinistry.  Be sure to enter “CC” and your daughter’s family name on the entry so that she earns family points! 

SCHOOL PICTURES FOR PINK COHORT/SCHOOL PICTURE RE-TAKES:  Students from the Pink Cohort who did not have their photo taken on the picture days during first semester and students who would like their school portrait re-taken need to come to campus (enter via Tyler Lane) on Wednesday, March 17, anytime from 12:00-3:00 p.m. BIG photo will be here to take portraits during that time. Pictures will be taken of students in their school uniforms.  Please help your daughter make sure her uniform is clean and in good repair for her school portrait.  If you want to purchase your daughter’s portrait, please be sure to have her bring payment with her.  Order forms will be available to fill out on site. If you are unable to have your photo made during this time frame, you will need to contact BIG photo at 502-585-3103 to arrange a time to go to their studio located at 640 S. Fourth Street to have a portrait taken. This will need to be done by Monday, April 5.  Any questions, please contact KATIE CULVER.    

REGISTRATION FEE AND TUITION SELECTION VIA MYSCHOOLBUCKS – DUE MARCH 15: Parents or guardians of current freshman, sophomore, or junior students were emailed a letter from Mary Lang announcing our tuition for the 2021-22 school year on Wednesday, January 27.  Parents/Guardians will need to log into their PowerSchool Parent Portal (direct link: PowerSchool) and pay their $225 registration fee using MySchoolBucks, which can be found on the left-hand side library of the parent portal. This is a credit/debit, non-touch payment in which MSB receives a transaction fee that is included in the $225 registration fee.  Contact Brent.miller@ahsrockets.org or Kathy.fleischer@ahsrockets.org if you encounter difficulties with logging into PowerSchool and MySchoolBucks.  If you are unable to pay the online $225 registration fee or have other arrangements with our finance office, please contact  TAMMY FINCH.  The registration fee and tuition selection need to be completed no later than March 15.  

DUAL CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION: All students enrolled in a spring Dual Credit course received an email from Mrs. Fieldhouse on Wednesday letting them know that their information has been sent to the state. The state made a change in their process and requested that the school send the information as to what college/university the scholarship should be awarded.  This means that your daughters WILL NOT need to go into KHEAA.com and set her scholarship preferences.  If your daughter has more classes than available scholarships and needs to pay the school for those classes, you can wait until we hear back from the state to make those payments.  When it is time to make those payments, your daughter will get an email and you will be notified via the Rocket Report. For more information see KHEAA information on the Dual Credit Scholarship Program and Assumption High School Dual Credit Information or contact Judy.Fieldhouse@ahsrocket.org. 

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP NIGHT: All parents are invited to attend our virtual College Scholarship Night on Monday, March 22, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.  The link to the meeting will be shared via email prior to the event.  There will be different colleges represented for a panel discussion about college scholarships aimed at helping juniors, and even sophomores, understand what colleges are looking for in a strong scholarship candidate. If you have any questions, please contact LEIGH JACKSON or KIM HABICH, our college counselors. 

SPECIAL EVENING FOR FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS:  We urge our students and their dads or important father figures to mark their calendars now for Saturday, March 13, as we do not want you to miss a night designed especially for you!  Although current restrictions related to COVID-19 will prevent us from hosting our traditional Father-Daughter Dance this March, our senior Ambassadors are hard at work planning an experience you will not want to miss!   On Saturday, March 13, from 6:30-9:30 p.m., we invite all Assumption fathers and daughters to spend a special night together.  “Dinner & a Movie with Dad” will begin at 6:30 p.m.  Information about our planned activities was shared with students at class meetings during this week’s LEAD & Learn Wednesday with more details for your planning shared via email as well.  Dads/daughters can look forward to an evening that will open with prayer from Campus Minister MaryAnn Steutermann and include recipe ideas for a homemade pizza dinner, a movie list, and suggestions for movie treat. Make sure to save the date for a fun and memorable night!   

LEAD & LEARN UPDATE:  During our LEAD & Learn Wednesday this week, students began the day in homeroom where they learned about the Family Council’s Compassion Connections initiative,  had the opportunity to participate in our media center’s March Madness: Battle of the Books Activity led by our student leaders that allowed homerooms a time to have fun together and reconnect, and also completed a survey on their experiences with Mission Week. Students then moved to class meetings.  All classes received information about our upcoming Father-Daughter Dinner and a Movie event sponsored by our Ambassador organization.  Additionally, seniors were provided information about senior yearbook quotes while juniors began to discuss possibilities for their class senior theme and received reminders about senior rings.  Sophomores and freshmen focused on service with sophomores reviewing ACTS assignments and freshmen receiving updates and reminders about their Freshman ACTS service requirement.    

Next week, LEAD & Learn Wednesday will again begin in homeroom with an opportunity led by student leaders for homeroom connection.  Homeroom will be followed by independent learning time and class meetings.  At class meetings, seniors will discuss our upcoming Spring Open House info and receive information about our month of Assumption Spirit in April and received updates from their class officers.  Underclassmen will also receive information our upcoming Spring Open House info and receive information about our month of Assumption Spirit in April.  Juniors will start their morning hearing a presentation from one of our Mission Week speakers, Kevin Pearce.  And freshmen will have the opportunity to participate in their class meeting on campus as well as participate in a Mission Week follow up activity from 12:15-2:00 p.m.  Additional information has been emailed to freshman parents.  After lunch, students will have independent learning time and sophomores will continue to provide ACTS service.  

SENIOR ASSEMBLY:  Parents of Seniors – During our LEAD & Learn day on Wednesday, March 17, seniors will participate in an assembly centered around the award-winning documentary, The Hunting Ground, from 9:00 a.m.-1:15 p.m. This will be an in-person assembly for all hybrid seniors and a virtual assembly via Teams for all Pink cohort seniors. Current statistics indicate that one in five women will be sexually assaulted in college.  The documentary features the stories of several victims of campus sexual assault and shows the emotional aftermath on the victims and their individual journeys for justice.  At the assembly, seniors will view the documentary and hear from guest speakers about campus resources, consent, and bystander empowerment.   We hope that this program will spark a discussion at home about the prevalence of sexual assaults on college campuses.  If you would like to view the documentary with your daughter to foster a follow-up discussion at home, the documentary is available for purchase or rent on Amazon.com: Amazon Link.  The schedule for the morning will be sent to the senior class via the senior counselor. If you have any questions about this documentary or the assembly planned for seniors, please contact Kristin Walsh via e-mail at kristin.walsh@ahsrockets.org 

FAMILY POINTS UPDATE:  It’s been a busy year for our nine families with opportunities to earn points during family competitions organized by our Family Council of student representatives.  After all the Mission Week points have been updated, Cork remains in first place . . . but not by much!  Birr and Booterstown have really come on strong.  There will be more opportunities this spring!   

RPN (Rocket Parent Network) NEWS- Did you miss our most recent parent program on Tuesday, February 23?  Our featured speaker was Dr. Amy Greenamyer who spoke on the topic of discussing alcohol and drug prevention with teens.  Her PowerPoint from the presentation is posted to the RPN page on our website. Here is the link:  Link to RPN Webpage 

LUNCH UPDATE FROM FLIK:  Please remind your daughter to pre-order her lunch for next week if she plans to have FLIK provide her lunch on her hybrid in-person days. Lunch orders must be submitted by 8:30 a.m. the morning of but can be ordered a week in advance through this link: www.flikisdining.com.  Your daughter will receive an email confirmation when the order is placed. If she does not receive a confirmation email, the order was not received by FLIK. For full information about the lunch ordering process, please click on this link: INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACCESSING LUNCH MENU AND ORDERING  

  • MAIN ENTRÉE LUNCH MENU OPTIONS for March 11-12 (Blue Cohort Only):  Thursday – Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Creamy Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese, Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich, Steamed Broccoli; Friday (Lenten Menu) – Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Blackened Shrimp Fettuccini Alfredo, Steamed Broccoli 

UPCOMING CLUB OPPORTUNITIES:  Be sure to ask your daughter to take some time to check out the upcoming club meetings that will continue to be posted regularly on the website calendar linked here:  https://www.ahsrockets.org/events/event/  

SUMMER ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES: Academic opportunities for the summer have been UPDATED. You can find these on our guidance department page by clicking here: Academic Summer Opportunities 2021.  There are numerous opportunities available with many costing less than $1,000. Programs are grouped according to areas of interest like STEM or Creative Arts/Design or General Summer Pre-College Programs, etc.. Please contact LEIGH JACKSON or KIM HABICH with any questions.  

AHS SUMMER CAMPS: We are eager to announce that registration for the 2021 camp schedule will open March 15! Assumption will be offering multiple stimulating academic, enrichment, and athletic summer camps for girls and boys in grades K-9. Please contact LAUREN LEGA with any questions. 

Gratefully,  

Martha Tedesco  

Principal