PRINCIPAL’S PERSPECTIVE
Greetings Parishioners!
Here are the highlights and news from November and December at Ascension School:
– Reconciliation for 2nd grade
– Cereal Drive
– 1st trimester awards
– Grandparent Day
– Survey results
Mission – To develop Christian thought leaders
Vision – Ascension Catholic School champions academic excellence in an environment where all are loved, respected and challenged to grow. With Christ as our guide and a vibrant community as our support, Ascension graduates leave prepared for a rapidly changing world.
We are working, as a School Board, on how to best implement our new mission and vision in our community – more to come!
Our 2nd graders received the Sacrament of First Reconciliation on November 28. Thank you to Ms. Hanna Duff (2nd grade teacher) for preparing our students as well as her dedication to developing/instilling faith in our students. We also want to thank Eddie Jarboe (Director of Youth Formation) for his help and Fr. Robert for leading the sacrament.
As part of our dedication to service, we hosted a cereal drive for Dare to Care food Bank: Dare to Care serves approximately 60 schools with school pantries. The food in these pantries are available to students and their families for free! Our students donated over 700 boxes of cereal, made a cereal dominoes through the hallways and were recognized by WDRB with a news story about our tremendous effort! Congratulations to our 1st grade for most boxes donated (and a pizza party) as well as those students in each grade donating most: JK – Michael Heimbrock; K – Amos/Abell Chandler and Leighton Gossman; 1st – Isaac Heimbrock; 2nd – James Karrer; 3rd – Max Yee ; 4th – Aymen Chandler; 5th – Maddie Yee; 6th – Julia Mullaney; 7th – Kenna Lindsey; 8th – Brianna Owens. A Huge thank you to Autumn Monaghan (Kindergarten teacher) for putting this together!
We held our 1st trimester awards ceremony on November 17. Here are the students recognized:
Principal’s List
Gr. 4 – Anna Jansen, Ella O’Daniel, Tori Phelps, Maison Holzknecht, Nick Theis, John Guevara, Amelia Smith, Levi Amburgey, Jack Fields & Eli Fields
Gr. 5 – Emily Sanderfer, Maya Larosa, Annmarie Mullin, Ella Amburgey, Gabby Sipes & Madison Yee
Gr. 6 – Avery Farris, Christa Ising, Maggie McCulloch, Caroline Jansen, Joseph O’Daniel, Elizabeth Earley, Ashlynd Koenig, Elliott Horton & Hannah Spencer
Gr. 7 – Evie Larosa, Joanna Logsdon & Ila Janes
Gr. 8 – Gwen Baker, Ryan Cassetta, Emaline Davie, Aiden Lewis, Talin Ridge, Quenton Horton, Noelle Ising, Anderson Ward, Miles Heilman & Caleb Dykes
First Honors
Gr. 4 – Collins Cahoe, Bernie Cornell, Reeves Davie & Cade Gossman
Gr. 5 – Laila Aldred, Blakely Hayden, William Karrer, Kae Janes, Calvin Heilman & Nanette Ridge
Gr. 6 – Rylie Flanders, Molly Gregory, Charlotte Cochran, Chloe Lile & Brooke Bishop
Gr. 7 – Lilly Adams, Samantha Rice & Max Cornell
Gr. 8 – Ryan Yates, Kamryn Benner & Eli Hynes
Second Honors
Gr. 4 – Aymen Chandler
Gr. 5 – Kyle Baer
Gr. 6 – Harlan Bates, Julia Mullaney, Stella Vincent, Mia Vincent, Emily Simmons & Camren Sage
Gr. 7 – Leah Gordon
Gr. 8 – Bryson Betts, Ryan Baer & Nicholas Sanderfer
Grandparents of students in grades K-2 joined us for school mass, with snacks following, on November 15. We had over 80 grandparents join us – lots of smiles and joy spending time in school with them! Grades 3-5 grandparent day is Wednesday, March 13 and 6-8 on April 10. Thank you to all grandparents for supporting our school in so many ways!
I sent a Catholic Identity survey to parents, faculty and students (grades 5-8) in November. The Archdiocese of Louisville requires all schools to take part in these surveys as it helps to inform areas of strength and improvement. We scored a 4.5 out of 5, overall.
Strengths:
– A person or group (such as a pastor or a board), in collaboration with the school administration, takes responsibility for monitoring that the school is faithful to its mission, academically excellent and sound in its business decisions.
– At our school, teachers collaborate systematically and regularly in order to increase student achievement and improve teaching effectiveness.
Areas needing improvement:
– Our school consistently shares its financial plan with the school community.
– Our school provides opportunities outside the classroom for student faith formation, and participation in retreats, prayer, mass, sacraments, and other spiritual experiences.
I will work with the School Board to keep improving in all areas.
I want to wish you all a blessed Advent and Christmas season – let’s all remember to keep Christ in Christmas.
Thank you all for your continued support!