This week, Mrs. Mary Reepmeyer reflects on her time in the classroom as Fourth Class teacher as she transitions to Principal for the 2024-25 academic year.

Spring, with its promise of renewal, is my favorite season for a variety of reasons. The flowers begin blooming, the grass turns greener, and the landscape becomes a colorful tapestry to admire. I appreciate the warmer weather as students enjoy lunch outside and hold classes around our beautiful campus. During Poetry Month, I encourage my Fourth Class students to reflect upon themselves and the vibrant world around them as they write their bio and color poems. I also love Earth Day and incorporating lessons around its importance in hopes of inspiring students to become stewards of the Earth and active agents of environmental change. (Goal 3) Lastly, one feels the palpable excitement around the preparation for many exciting end-of-year activities and events such as Chemin de Fer, Mission Day, Field Day, May Crowning, and of course graduation for our Eighth Class students. It is truly a time of immense joy!

Spring is in the air and it’s a nice time to share some recent reviews from Academy parents. Sharing the #academylove is invaluable to our school as prospective parents consider reviews and word of mouth when they are researching their school choice. We are grateful for these from the heart testimonials!

Mr. Horner shares an update on the Academy’s Strategic Planning, a process that combines envisioning our school’s future, planning and prioritizing for the next five years. As we work together toward a common goal for our school, our community is strengthened by a clear vision, rooted in our Sacred Heart mission.

Dear Academy Community,

The Strategic Planning process has unfolded throughout this year under the careful guidance of the administration, faculty and the Board of Trustees. The process, the work and the outcomes are invigorating. Patrick Bassett, former president of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), wrote: “We plan because we wish to take control of the destiny of our school, because periodically we must raise our sights beyond the temporal questions to the timeless one. We plan to discover the best models of teaching as the precondition to sustaining a learning organization.”

Today I am glad to share with you the new Vision Statement authored through the planning process. The Vision is aspirational in providing context for goal setting and establishing a shared view of the future. While the Vision Statement is aspirational, the Mission Statement is foundational and answers why our school exists. Our Mission Statement remains unchanged.

Bridget Hagene ’16 shares some reflections about her Academy education as she finishes up her senior year at the University of Kentucky. She will graduate in May with a Mechanical Engineering degree and is happy to have a full-time job lined up at Schneider Electric (city to be determined). Bridget is enjoying the Chemin de Fer updates on social media and has fond memories of helping with decorations. We wish her all the best as she finishes her college career and continues her journey!

After choosing Cor Jesu for high school, I was nervous to go farther away from home and my friends, especially because I was one of the only ASH girls attending. ASH gave me the confidence to apply myself in high school to create great relationships with my new peers and teachers. This has carried me through college, and I am hoping that it will stay with me throughout my early career.

John Storjohann explains the inspiration behind a new project he is undertaking with the Seventh Class.

“Seventh Class is studying HTML and CSS this year, an area of study that is challenging them in new ways as they prepare to create a joint website. Inspired by the professional development of the faculty this year led by Dr. Peter Dry, we decided to create a website from the thoughts and reflections of Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ) from around the country about Sacred Heart education. Students emailed RSCJ as old as 92 years of age and asked them questions selected from those formulated by the students. The Religious were asked to share a short bio, send an image of themselves, and respond to the five questions submitted. The website created will be their story – a living history as seen through the eyes of Religious of the Sacred Heart.”

Once the website is complete, we will share with our community. In the meantime, please enjoy this excerpt from Margaret Caire, RSCJ who served as the Headmistress at the Academy from 1984-2004.

From your heart to From the Heart, on this bonus day of the month, we are sharing some recent reviews left by parents on leading school review sites. These reviews share the #academylove and are invaluable to our school as prospective parents consider reviews and word of mouth when they are researching their school choice. We are grateful for these heartfelt testimonials!

All are welcome to share the #AcademyLove on review sites. Click here for Tips and a How To Guide. Thank you!

Tomorrow is a celebration of Goal 2: a deep respect for intellectual values and Goal 5: personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom, as students and parents will be meeting with faculty for conferences. This week Mrs. Renken shares the significance of these opportunities for student growth and development.

School, at any age, is about growth. It is easy for parents and teachers to see and acknowledge growth in a variety of ways. Our view of our children supports their growth and helps develop confidence; however, we do know that students can quickly create thought patterns that acknowledge growth or create a deterrent toward growth. It is the stories that we tell ourselves that often create our reality. It is important for us to instill in our children the belief that growth requires attentiveness, practice, consistency, grit, mistakes, and do-overs.

As we end the second trimester, students, teachers, and parents will come together to share observations and evidence of growth. Teachers and parents of Little Acorn, Pre-Primary, and Primary students will review the surge in growth this last trimester. There are obvious reasons to celebrate our youngest learners. Students in First through Eighth Classes are prepared for Student-Led conferences. These conferences, prepared and led by the students, have three important components inherent to addressing growth in four key areas: academic, behavioral, spiritual, and emotional.

We were thrilled to welcome back Emily Leight ’20 (Cor Jesu Academy), Katherine Gaylord ’21 (Lutheran High School), Yash Shelar ’22 (MICDS) and Will Johannesman ’22 (Duchesne High School) as our alumni panel on Sunday for Be Part of the Heart. They eloquently spoke about some of the highlights of their Academy experience and how it has benefitted them in high school.

One thing I didn’t realize when I was at the Academy was how special it is to have a saint here. That’s something you don’t see everywhere else… It is definitely something that is so important to us and so special. We create this relationship with each other and recognize we are in St. Philippine’s presence and we have to live out what she started for us.

— Emily

At last Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting, Eighth Class students were invited to share their thoughts about their Academy education, the Goals and Criteria and dreams for their school. The Board was very impressed with the students’ authenticity, ease with which they spoke, thoughtful responses and heartfelt insights to Mrs. Renken’s questions. Below, we share some of their words.

I love the way we get to go out into the community and just experience what everyone else is experiencing, be open to let things in and understand so that we can help others around us.

— Logan

This week, the Academy welcomed nine students and two chaperones from our Sacred Heart school in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The students have been busy in classes and enjoying the similarities and differences between our schools. By offering this opportunity, Sacred Heart students are able to benefit from the international network of Sacred Heart schools. Sandra Ortiz, Exchange Coordinator, and Carolina Martinez, English and biology teacher, share their thoughts:

We don’t have enough words to share the admiration and excitement that overwhelms us on this wonderful trip. Everyone has been so kind, and we are very grateful. Thank you students, parents, faculty and staff, and Mr. Horner for making this happen.

Even though it’s our first experience in the exchange program with Middle School and visiting the Academy of Sacred Heart in St. Charles, MO, it’s one of the most impressive, incredible, and unforgettable experiences we’ve had. This week spent abroad was very useful for the students as they gained a lot of life and learning experiences. Exploring a new country is always very adventurous. You get to know more about the culture and the way of life of the locals, you find some interesting places to visit, and you make new friends.

This week, Middle School students share their thoughts on service in the community. Each month Mrs. Tammy Strother coordinates students in Fifth – Eighth Classes at area sites, including: Emmaus House, Naomi House, Henry Clever Center, St. Elizabeth Adult Day Care, Crisis Nursery, Senior and Company Adult Day Care, Lake St. Charles, The Boulevard, Forget Me Not Adult Day Care, St. Louis Food Bank, Little Bit Foundation, The Bridge, and Mount Carmel. From playing games and making crafts to sorting and organizing clothes, shoes, and diapers, students are making a difference in the lives of others. This direct response to Goal 3 — a social awareness which impels to action, impacts those within our community and beyond!

I feel like I’m able to help out everyone and meet some nice people. I really enjoy just coming and it makes me happy to help out, especially when we do crafts, and today we were making little bookmarks. For the past three times, I was helping out a nice person and today she finally remembered me! When I make a connection, I introduce myself, ask them questions, it starts getting more friendly, and eventually becomes a good connection! — Lily, ’27