Lives of Love and Service

September 11, 2014

On this very special day of national remembrance—a day which is becoming known as one when people of goodwill engage in service and in the building of community—I want to thank each of you, not only for the inspiration you provide this world by the good that you do, but for supporting the aspect of our Academy’s mission which fosters our students’ growth in leading lives of love and service.

In living out this aspect of Academy life, we officially launch our “In the Footsteps of Philippine” program tomorrow. This year-long program provides our Middle School students with the opportunity to grow in:

  • An awareness of the need for service to others
  • Practice in providing service to others

The “launch” occurs in the context of a liturgy with a specific and special “commissioning” or sending forth of our students. As each Middle School Class states in the ceremony, they will voice a conscious attempt to respond to God’s love in the following ways:

5th Class —
By trying to see the Face of God in the elderly in our community and by trying to respond to the Face of God with sensitive and understanding hearts.

6th Class —
By trying to see the Face of God in those that experience hunger in our neighborhood and world and by trying to respond to that Face of God with empathetic and generous service.

7th Class —
By trying to see the Face of God in the physically and mentally challenged in our neighborhood and in our world, and by trying to respond to that Face of God with understanding and respectful hearts.

8th Class —
By trying to see the Face of God in all creation and the most vulnerable in the world around us, both here and far, both now and in the future, and by trying to respond to that Face of God with compassionate and courageous action.

Let us pray for our children and for our world today:

  • May our children continue to grow in their experiences of and practice of service!
  • May our children’s hearts grow in revealing and reflecting God’s Goodness in our world!
  • May our collective educative efforts reap the benefit of increasing the amount of goodness, generosity, compassion and service in our world, through the children we educate!

Amen. Amen. Amen.

This is my daily prayer, my deepest hope and my most earnest desire as Head of this Academy named after God’s Heart,

Maureen Glavin, rscj

Soccer Practices Canceled

September 11, 2014

Due to the condition of the fields, all soccer practices on Thursday, September 11, have been canceled.

Book Talk

September 8, 2014

With morning snacks and blankets on the lawn, students gathered with their classmates to share their best books of the summer. Each child described one favorite book he or she had read over the summer. Enthusiasm and high interest were harnessed for new selections on everyone’s “to read” list. Mrs. Busen, our school librarian, will be ordering some of these newfound favorites for us to enjoy. There were lots of ideas for trips to the library! Thanks to everyone for sharing; it was a great way to begin our day.

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Country Fair

September 4, 2014

Now that the new school year has begun, it won’t be long before our thoughts turn to the Fun Run, Bottle Booth, yummy chicken and beef dinners, the Marketplace, games and more. Plans are in the works for a fabulous day of fun October 12 at Country Fair!  [CLICK HERE] For more information, call the Advancement Office at 636-946-5632.

A Warm Welcome

August 28, 2014

August 2014 266What a spectacular beginning we have had! The school-wide enthusiasm has been palpable!

The beautiful tone of our beginning has been set by our Principal, Mrs. Renken. With her characteristic combination of reflection and energy, Mrs. Renken has been meeting lots of parents, engaging in grade-level teacher team meetings, launching student grade-level assemblies, and stewarding the school in her classic Sacred Heart manner: thoughtfully, lovingly and strongly secure of the direction and path.

Following Mrs. Renken’s lead, the teachers have been working hard to create that perfect balance of safe, nurturing, loving home and engaging place in which students are invited to try, to stretch, to grow, and to courageously delve into something new. Students are learning the new year’s routines and procedures, learning about each other, learning new expectations, learning about their teachers, and becoming poised to learn a lot about themselves!

FirstDay7Along with the joy of launching a new academic year, we also had the joy of a very exciting Shrine visit on Monday. I share it with you because the visit reminds us that our life of love and learning at this Academy is connected to a much larger network of relationships. Two relatives of Saints (St. Louis and St. Philippine Duchesne), two Bishops (Archbishop Thierry Jordan and Bishop Edward Rice), and two Royals (Prince Louis de Bourbon and his wife, Princess Margaret) were among our visitors on the City of St. Louis’ namesake’s 800th birthday.

It just so happens that the Cathedral where King Louis IX was crowned King is the Cathedral in Reims, France, where Archbishop Jordan serves. He is a descendant of a cousin of Philippine Duchesne. Photos of their visit, including photos of our Fourth Class students greeting some of our guests, are shown below and on our website.

I look forward with delight to this year of love and learning, balancing the blessing of the beings before us with our invitations to have them become their best selves. This is my theme for the year, BALANCING BEING and BECOMING. To balance both is to educate with that perfect, artful combination which marks us with the stamp of the holy and wise educators in whose footsteps we walk!

Blessings on these first days of a new academic year,

Maureen Glavin, rscj

French Archbishop and Relative of St. Philippine Visits the Academy

August 25, 2014

We were delighted to welcome French Archbishop Thierry Jordan, of the Diocese of Reims, to the Shrine of St. Philippine Duchesne and the Academy of the Sacred Heart while he was in St. Louis for liturgical celebrations of the 250th birthday of the City and the 800th birthday of St. Louis the King.

Archbishop Jordan has special ties to both St. Philippine and to St. Louis. He is a member of the Jordan and Perier families—cousins of Philippine Duchesne. (Many who met him see a family resemblance to the Saint.) In addition, St. Louis IX was crowned King of France in the Cathedral of Reims, where Archbishop Jordan serves.

The Archbishop, along with Prince Louis de Bourbon (a descendent of St. Louis) and his wife, the Princess Margaret, and Bishop Edward Rice of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, were all welcomed for a visit, a semi-private mass in the Shrine, and a tour of the historic portion of the school. Two French-speaking RSCJ, Sisters Fran Gimber and Carolyn Osiek, accompanied the Archbishop on his tour, and Sister Margaret Munch gave a tour to the English-speaking visitors. Our Fourth Class students helped us to greet these guests and participated in the French mass with their singing and their responses to the prayers during the liturgy. Afterward, the visitors enjoyed a luncheon in the Conference Room.

The Society, the Academy, the Shrine and the children at the Academy all presented gifts to the Archbishop to commemorate this special visit to his saint-cousin’s first and last American home.

On this day, we felt a strong connection to our French heritage!

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CLICK HERE for more photos of this and other Archdiocesan anniversary events.

Two Special Masses at ASH

August 21, 2014

The coming weekend will be book-ended with two special liturgical celebrations at the Academy.  At our annual Mass on the Grass on Saturday, August 23 at 6 p.m., school families will celebrate together the beginning of a new school year. It will be held between the Shrine and the White Center. The second mass, at 10:45 a.m. Monday in the Shrine, will be celebrated in French by Archbishop Thierry Jordan of the Diocese of Riems. A relative of St. Philippine Duchesne, Archbishop Jordan will be in St. Louis for celebrations recognizing the City’s 250th birthday, as well as the 800th birthday of St. Louis the King.

Click here for information about other liturgical celebrations August 23-25 in St. Louis.

First Day of School

August 20, 2014

We were so glad to welcome new and returning friends in grades 1-8 on their first day of school, August 20. Our Primary classes had half days August 21-22. Pre-Primary students rounded out our enrollment when they began on August 25. To each and every one, welcome! We are excited to begin another year of love and learning.

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We’re excited to see you!

August 7, 2014

We’re rolling out the red carpet for all of our school families at tonight’s Open House from 5-7 p.m. Teachers will be waiting in classrooms to meet their students! Be sure to either enter or depart through the White Center, where representatives from the Cafeteria, athletics, Scouts, Band, Chess Club, Bricks for Kidz, the Business Office, the school nurse, Mothers’ Club, apparel and more will be on hand to answer whatever questions you may have.

And don’t forget—food trucks from Slice of the Hill and Cose Dolci will be parked near the White Center steps. Slice of the Hill will offer salad and pizzas, and Cose Dolci will sell sweet treats such as cake pops, cupcakes and cookies.