Recent Posts

A Message from Amber Peterson Westerson ’94 and Louise Weber Kuhlmann ’99

What happens when you put two alums in charge of Country Fair? We hope the answer is MAGIC!

As ASH alums and current parents, Louise and I couldn’t be more excited to be leading the charge for Country Fair this year. We have such fond memories of the event and with the help of our phenomenal committee, we are well on the way to an amazing event!

A few months ago when I was thinking about being the Country Fair chair I started to conjure up the memories that I loved from Country Fairs past. I remember time with friends, winning prizes and lots of fun. But I also had a very vivid memory of when we used to set up a Haunted House in the old gym. I also remembered a VERY specific Country Fair t-shirt with our teachers on it. They were dressed up as fun Halloween characters. I wished I had that shirt to show my kids. It had been one of my favorites.

Fast forward to about six weeks ago, my Dad walks into my basement office and says, “Check out what I found.” Lo and behold . . . it was the shirt, the one I remembered from childhood. (We might call it a Philippine moment!) I knew then that I wanted to recreate the shirt for my kids. Emboldened by Louise who also remembered the shirt and loved the idea, I reached out to my childhood friend from ASH, Valerie Fletcher Oda. (She happens to be an animator for South Park, American Dad, among others.) I asked if she’d entertain helping me recreate the shirt. She agreed and my plan was in motion.

Two hundred and five years ago today, on September 14, 1818, Mother Duchesne opened the first free school for girls west of the Mississippi River. Twenty-two little girls came from the village to be the first children of the Sacred Heart in America. Their families were too poor to pay any tuition, and they were rather grudgingly giving education for girls a try. The children were at first impetuous and undisciplined, and the nuns devoted themselves wholeheartedly to them, delighted to find that many of them spoke French. Gradually the children responded to their efforts, and an atmosphere of affectionate respect was created, which made the schoolroom a homelike place where devotion to the Sacred Heart could develop.

When the weather was pleasant, some children had class on the gallery with Sister Aude, while Mother Duchesne and Sister Berthold taught others in the central room. The children were learning their religion, as well as reading, writing, and arithmetic. One period of the day brought everyone together in the large central room for prayer and the singing of hymns. Mother Duchesne wrote: “Now our day pupils sing at Benediction. They have learned some of Father Barat’s hymns, especially one to the Sacred Heart. They are eager to learn, and they learn easily.”

This year, joining the Academy team as Director of Admissions has been remarkable. This is a school community unlike any I have been a part of during my 20 years in education. The warm welcomes, the rich traditions, the clear goals, the collaborative teammates – students, staff, and faculty alike – have been motivating and inspiring since day one.

Now, we are kicking off admissions season at the Academy, which happens to coincide with the Kansas City Chiefs kicking off the NFL season. As a Kansas Citian and independent, Catholic school proponent, I am fired up for BOTH the NFL game tonight and our admissions season kick-off Open House on Tuesday, September 12 at 9 a.m.. Each of you is a star player in Academy admissions: prospective parents hearing about the Academy from you is the key to an epic admissions season and helping us work toward Goal 4 of Sacred Heart education – building community.

Let’s huddle up, Academy team! We are in our fourth week of school. We are flexible. We are warmed up. We are ready for this moment. It’s our time to shine. We’re all in this together, and here is how each of you plays a role in Academy admissions right now.

Everyone, please share both our Academy Facebook and Instagram posts regarding our fall admissions events. Please consider including a message as you share each social media post. “Don’t miss out on these chances to tour our school and meet with Academy faculty and staff!”

A Note from Mr. Horner

I have felt privileged since my first day at the Academy to stand upon the shoulders of giants and follow in the footsteps of saints. Today we honor and celebrate the career and impact of one such individual – Mrs. Marcia Renken – as she moves into retirement in June 2024.

In her four decades at the Academy, Mrs. Renken has guided generations of students, serving with wisdom, faith, and a deep sense of her own Sacred Heart spirit and experience. As a teacher and principal, the character and heart with which she cares for each student, each teacher, each parent is exemplary. I believe that it was with Mrs. Renken in mind that Maya Angelou wrote: “… people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” I know that each day working together has been a gift, and each day I am better because of her living the Sacred Heart charism.

John Storjohann, long-time Academy educator and current computer science teacher, shares his thoughts on the significance of Goal V and developing leadership skills in our students.

Goal V:  Schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to educate to personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom. 

• Criterion 1: Student and adult members of the school community grow in courage and confidence as they discover new abilities, cultivate strengths, learn from mistakes, develop empathy, and exercise resilience in meeting challenges.
• Criterion 7: Sacred Heart schools recognize and educate to motivational, inspirational, and transformational leadership.

Resilience. Initiative. Commitment. Courage. Confidence. Empathy. These are just some of the necessary skills students need to succeed both in and out of school, and this set of skills becomes increasingly important as we prepare our Eighth Class students for graduation and their continued journey to adulthood. All of our students, from their first days at the Academy, are given the opportunity to learn and practice age-appropriate leadership skills and to cultivate the gifts they possess to meet new challenges, yet our Eighth Class students in particular are called upon to hone the skills they have learned in their time at the Academy to be leaders in the school community. 

The arrival of a new school year brings palpable excitement, a reminder of blessings and thoughts of opportunity. Open House and the first day of school bring the brightest smiles of the year. The happiness of students reuniting with teachers, sharing summer stories and long hugs provide a foundation for the year ahead.

It is a blessing to learn at Saint Philippine Duchesne’s school, surrounded by students and faculty of exemplary character and faith, and a community dedicated to the goal of supporting students and faculty.