For our final From the Heart of the school year, Mrs. Renken reflects on the year behind us and the special moments of growth it held. As she concludes her time as Principal at her beloved school, please keep her in your prayers for a restful, fulfilling, and fantASHtic retirement!

As we greet the summer days that lie ahead, we are given the opportunity to reflect on the days we have spent at the Academy for the past ten months. It is safe to say, everyone is ready for summer – the change of pace, the freedom to sleep in and stay up late, barbeques, ballgames, and vacations near and far.

It has been a great year – #thebest year ever! Beginning in August and throughout the school year, students have eagerly come to school, some even running to class. Excitement and joy filled the hallways and classrooms because learning is fun and there has been something new to experience and learn every day. Perhaps that eagerness waned from time to time, but overall students and adults appreciated the days in this very special “home away from home.”

“Your example, even more than your words, will be an eloquent lesson to the world.”

— St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

On Saturday, the Class of 2024 will be graduating in the Shrine of St. Philippine Duchesne. This year, graduation falls on May 25, the feast of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat who founded the Society of the Sacred Heart in France in 1800. Her vision, wisdom and deep faith inspired her to send Philippine Duchesne to this country in 1818 to found the Academy, and it is especially fitting that we will celebrate graduates on her feast day.

Some students have spent 10 years at the Academy, and others have joined along they way. Not only have they grown spiritually, academically and personally, but they have grown together in a supportive community. Their experiences may have been different, but they share a deep gratitude for their Sacred Heart education.

Ms. Jennifer Quick, Director of Admissions, shares exciting updates from the Admissions Office. The spring has been buzzing with tours and shadow visits and we look forward to continuing the momentum in the summer!

As the ASH Admissions Director it’s such a pleasure journeying with students and their families from the inquiry phase throughout the enrollment process and then as they thrive during the year. We are pleased to announce that we currently have more new students enrolled for the 2024-25 school year than as of the first day of school in August of 2023. We couldn’t do this without the ASH community as we continue to receive strong inquiries, often through referrals. Not only are we ahead in enrollment, we continue to have opportunities to grow even more during the summer.

To help us grow during the months ahead, please spread the word about upcoming events like our Lunch ‘n Story next Tuesday, May 21 at 11:30 a.m. for prospective students under 5. On Saturday, June 1, the Academy is hosting the Kids’ Area at 636 Day, a fun family event in Frenchtown, so please stop by and say hello (and be sure to wear your ASH gear). Also, our Midsummer Pool Party on Saturday, July 13 at Wapelhorst Park is sure to be a splASH for our inquiring and new families. Please invite interested and new families and introduce them to all your ASH friends.

As we continue through the busyness of May, Mr. Horner eagerly anticipates celebrations and milestones and looks ahead to the 2024-2025 academic year. Below, he shares plans and exciting initiatives.

I often consider May the highlight of the year. Yes, it is certainly busy, but more so it offers culminations, celebrations, and joy-filled experiences, from Mission Day to Field Day, May Crowning to Prize Ceremonies. The Eighth Class Graduation Dinner, Maypole and Graduation are milestones.

May is also the time when early plans for the next year come into clearer focus. I am pleased to share the following developments.

This week Mr. Horner shares deep gratitude to the Academy community for a successful Chemin de Fer last Saturday. It was humbling to experience the support of Academy families — present and past — alums from across the years, faculty and staff, RSCJ, Board members, grandparents and friends of the Academy.

The 50th Chemin de Fer transported us to a magical night, from a train station unrecognizable as a gym, to an enjoyable meal with friends, to Chemin Central crowded with almost 400 guests, to honoring Mrs. Renken as Honorary Chair. The excitement began as the doors opened and continued throughout the night.

We will continue down the tracks of appreciation. Thank you to all who donated to the Fund-the-Need, or in this case fund enhancements to the academic program. The generosity of the community raised more than $400,000.

This week we celebrate National Volunteer Week and the spirit of service and camaraderie that is so distinctive at the Academy. Heather Locker, Special Events Coordinator, shares why she is inspired to give back to ASH.

When my husband, Jeff, and I met with Head of School Sister Maureen Glavin in 2010, she asked, “Will you make this school part of your life? And will you join this partnership with me for your children?” On that day, we said “yes” and today, almost 15 years later, we are still saying “yes.” This school is special because volunteers are able to take such a big part in their children’s lives and education. Volunteers at the Academy truly make a difference.   

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.