Catholic Schools Week begins Sunday, a time to celebrate the gift of Catholic education in the United States and reflect on the unique mission of Sacred Heart schools: educating the whole child in mind, heart, and spirit. This week, Mrs. Mary (Dougherty ’96) Reepmeyer, Principal, shares how students will reflect, celebrate, and give thanks for the faith-filled community that surrounds and supports them.

We look forward to celebrating our Sacred Heart community and the many ways our students live out our five Goals during Catholic Schools Week. Middle School students have been reflecting on why they are proud to attend a Catholic school and how Sacred Heart helps them grow closer to God. Students in Third and Fourth Class have also been reflecting on their experience at the Academy by creatively writing acrostic poems about what it means to be part of a Catholic school. These poems and reflections will be displayed on pennants throughout the school next week and shared at our Be Part of the Heart Open House on Sunday, February 1.

Judy (Hartwig ’76) Robben returned to the Academy this year to teach Second Class. She writes, “It is an honor and a dream come true to ‘go full circle’ and return to the Academy as a teacher. I have great admiration for St. Philippine Duchesne, who founded the school in such harsh conditions yet remained determined to bring the love of Jesus to young hearts. It truly feels like being back home.” She shares how her experience as an Academy student impacts her teaching today.

Returning to my alma mater to serve our Second Class students has been a privilege, a calling, and an answered prayer. As I help prepare them to receive the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, my role goes beyond teaching prayers or religion; it is about forming their hearts and minds to recognize God’s mercy, love, and presence in their lives. I strive to meet each child where they are, honoring their individual faith backgrounds while guiding them toward a personal and active relationship with God. My hope is that these early experiences with the sacraments become a foundation for a living faith — one that continues to grow as they mature, helping them trust in God, seek Him in daily life, and remain rooted in their faith for years to come.

As we begin the new year, we look to the five Goals of Sacred Heart education — the essence of our principles and values, shared by the 25 Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the U.S. and Canada. Both timeless and timely, these Goals and their supporting criteria express what is at the heart of Sacred Heart education.

This month, we will focus on Goal 1: a personal and active faith in God. Amaya Firestone, Marketing and Communications Assistant and Admissions Coordinator, shares some exciting news in the Archdiocese.

The Academy of the Sacred Heart and the Archdiocese of Saint Louis, under the leadership of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne and Bishop DuBourg, have a deep shared history of missionary zeal, perseverance, and frontier grit. In 1818, the same year of our foundation, Bishop DuBourg chose St. Louis as the episcopal seat of what would become the archdiocese of the western frontier. He shared Philippine’s incredible vision for the region, which at the time was a scarce and poor land. How far we have come from then to now: “The Rome of the West.”

This week Fifth and Sixth Class students reflect on what Advent means to them and how they prepare for Christmas.

Advent means preparing my heart for Jesus to come in. I love getting ready by making Advent calendars, wrapping gifts, and giving presents because it makes me feel closer to Jesus. At the Academy, we even get time to make gifts for our families. This year, we’re creating calendars with ideas for small acts of kindness, like helping with dishes or wrapping presents.

Doing service at the Academy has always made me feel like I am really impacting some people that may not be able to afford what we might take for granted, like clothing and food on our dinner tables. It’s amazing that the Academy gives Middle Schoolers this opportunity. Also, for many years, our families and friends have come together to assemble baskets that we bring to Christmas Basket Mass to join those of Academy families. My family goes to Christmas Eve Mass in the Shrine, and it is my favorite mass of the year. It reminds me to open my heart fully.

— London L. ’28

Two significant dates in Society of the Sacred Heart history are nearly here, and both impact each of us in the Academy community, for without them, we literally would not be here. This week, Lisa Tebbe ’80, Director of Marketing and Communications, reflects on the gifts of Sacred Heart relationships.

Tomorrow, we celebrate the birth of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, born December 12, 1779 in Joigny, France. Sophie’s birth was dramatic—she was born during a fire—and that seemed to portend the role she would later play in religious life and education. She was highly educated for a woman of her time, thanks to her brother and tutor, Louis. Sophie lived through the horrors of the French Revolution, which ignited in her a desire to take part in the restoration of Christian life in France through the education of young women. Her belief in a loving God impelled her to share that love and compassion with all she encountered. This deep-seated desire led her to begin the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1800 whose purpose was to make known the love of God revealed in the Heart of Christ.

Fast forward to December 13, 1804, when Madeleine Sophie and Philippine Duchesne met for the first time (I like to call this “Sacred Heart Friendship Day”). This meeting of two women who highly respected and trusted each other—forged a deep bond and life-long connection. While it would still take many years, it was the catalyst for Philippine coming to North America and establishing our school in 1818. Philippine never returned to France but over 30+ years she and Sophie nurtured their friendship through correspondence. Sophie is known for a natural capacity for friendship that sparked a wide network of relationships, so it makes perfect sense that the essence of Sacred Heart education is relationships.

As we enter Advent, the beautiful, peaceful time that prepares us for the birth of Jesus, former Academy Principal Marcia (Baronovic ’72, 8th) Renken shares the significance of one of our most beloved and long-standing Sacred Heart traditions, Christmas Baskets. Mrs. Renken now works part-time in Alumni Relations and fondly recalls how a family tradition born at the Academy when she was a young student is still alive and a meaningful part of her family’s lives.

The Christmas season is upon us. This week’s frigid temperatures allow us to appreciate our heated homes, warm meals, blanketed beds, and comfortable transportation as we drive carpool, run errands, and travel to visit family and friends.

The Academy’s tradition of Christmas Baskets has been celebrated for nearly 100 years. It gives us pause to be grateful for these and our many blessings. My family was first introduced to this tradition when I was a Primary student at the Academy of the Sacred Heart. The request from the school was to provide a ‘”basket’ of food to feed a family on Christmas Day. My family accepted this invitation and thus began a family tradition within an Academy tradition.

My family, which included my parents, a brother, sister, and me, made a list of the food items we wanted to buy and to the store we went to shop for breakfast, lunch and Christmas dinner for a family that needed this gift from a stranger because circumstances made it difficult or not possible for them to provide for their family.

This week has been filled with gratitude and celebration with St. Philippine Duchesne’s Feast and Grandfriends Day. Mr. Timothy Horner, Head of School, reflects on her enduring vision — this community rooted in faith and love that continues to thrive — and the many blessings that sustain our mission.

At the conclusion of Philippine’s Feast Day Mass, I shared my belief that St. Philippine, from her place in heaven, looks upon her school as our foundress, smiling because she sees a community that has preserved its core for more than 200 years.

In this season of gratitude, I am thankful for:

• The living of our Sacred Heart Charism and Catholic faith, which shape our community values and weave a rich tapestry of faith that underpins everything we do.
• Our students, who foster a culture of kindness, faith, and warmth. Walking our halls, you see classmates helping one another and greeting you with a smile and a cheerful “good morning.”
• Our remarkable faculty, whose deep care for students and unwavering dedication reflect their belief in each child’s potential.
• Our supportive community, surrounding students and teachers with encouragement and resources.
• The RSCJ, whose presence—whether at Board meetings, Masses, or in conversations with students and faculty—continues to bless us with grace and wisdom.
• Our administration and staff, whose exceptional commitment ensures that, time and again, they rise to every occasion to do what is right for students and faculty.
• Our volunteers, who quietly make events large and small possible—without whom our school simply could not thrive.

Together, these gifts create an extraordinary school. Thank you for your role in advancing our mission to reveal God’s love. As St. Philippine reminds us:

We cultivate a very small field for Christ. But we love it, knowing that God does not require great achievements, but a heart that holds back nothing for self.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with joy and surrounded by loved ones.

The Academy community welcomed Mr. John McClure as our Veterans Day guest speaker this week. Mr. McClure is the father of four Academy alums, grandfather of five alums, and was Board of Trustees chair from 2003-2007. He served in the Army in Vietnam, and inspired Academy students with his reflection on service. “I served because of my love for this country and the opportunity to give something back and to protect those freedoms that we so enjoy,” he says. Below we share a portion of his remarks:

Those of us who served, and particularly those of us who were deployed, know how difficult it was for our loved ones to carry on while we were away. They made sacrifices every single day so that we could serve our country, and in doing that, we honor their service.

Serving means putting the needs of others above your own needs without asking for anything in return. Serving means making a positive impact on another’s life. And I know that service is important at the Academy. Just look down on the corner of Clark and Second Street and you’ll see a sign that says, ‘This student will give 20 hours of service within the course of a year.’ Middle School students do service projects — might be in a nursing home or food pantry. There are other food drives and toy drives during the year. And who can forget the Christmas Baskets that are prepared and the Christmas Basket liturgy where we give food to families in need.

This week, Maureen Glavin, RSCJ returned to campus to spend time with students. Sister Glavin made her first vows as a Religious of the Sacred Heart in the Shrine of St. Philippine Duchesne and taught Seventh Class math and science for four years. In 2004, she returned to the Academy as Head of School until 2017. She then served on the Provincial Team (the leadership team for the Society of the Sacred Heart — United States and Canada). Last summer, Sister Glavin returned to the U.S. after serving in Indonesia and is again a member of the Provincial Team. Below, she shares about her time with Academy students this week.

On Monday I had the joy of attending the Third Class Little Glimpses and the All Saints Day Mass. Subsequent to Mass I met the Seventh and Eighth Class students for a short assembly. On Wednesday I met with the Third and Fourth Class students for their assembly and tomorrow I will be meeting with Fifth and Sixth Class students. What is abundantly clear to me is that the current administration, adroitly led by Mr. Horner and Mrs. Reepmeyer, are doing a marvelous job creating the space in which faculty, staff, and students are living the essence of Sacred Heart education by nurturing an authentic relationship with and understanding of Love’s Very Self (i.e. God), fostering an engaging learning environment, and encouraging choices and actions which reflect God’s Spirit.

This week, Katherine Gaylord ’21 reflects on the importance of the Academy community. As a young child, she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor and has undergone three extensive surgeries. A year ago, Kat had the opportunity to Make a Wish, and she chose to give back — Goal 3 of Sacred Heart education in action. Her dream was to partner with ENewton Design to raise money and awareness for Pediatric Brain Tumor Research. By helping to raise funds for research, she is making a difference in the lives of children for years to come. Katherine is now studying pre-dentistry at University of Missouri – St. Louis.

In October of 2024, I went to Atlanta to spend the day at Enewton to design my bracelet. I chose colors that reflected different bits and pieces of me: three pinks (my favorite color); navy for my surgeon, Dr. Leonard; light purple for my brother, George (Class of ’19); yellow and gold for my friend Jill (who lost her battle with cancer); teal to represent the money we’re raising for pediatric brain tumor research; orange (as a Tennessee fan!); red for my family; and white for community.

My community started with ASH, and we are all still great friends! I’ve known a lot of my classmates since I was sixth months old (at the Goddard School) and we realized how much our friendship meant. The Academy community has had a big impact on that. My parents are great friends with other families, and they are all friends for a reason. The Academy community is so tight and want to help each other out any way they can.

This week, Mr. Bob Lampen shares the process of the Sacred Heart Commission on Goals (SHCOG) and the purpose of the Action Plan Steering Committee. Mr. Lampen teaches Seventh and Eighth Class math and also helps out during Little Acorn and Pre-Primary recess, where he’s a favorite with our littlest learners.

Before I speak about the Action Plan Steering Committee, allow me to put on my teacher hat and give a brief summary of why this committee exists.

The Network of Sacred Heart Schools is an association of the 25 Sacred Heart Catholic independent schools in the United States and Canada, united in one mission expressed in the Goals and Criteria. The Sacred Heart Commission on Goals (SHCOG) oversees a reflective process whereby each school community holds itself accountable for living these Goals and Criteria. The process is referred to as “SHCOG.” So, this acronym is both a commission and a process.