What a fantastic Chemin de Fer auction we had, with hundreds of guests experiencing “The Splendor of India.” The beautiful garments worn by many attendees, authentic Indian dance performed during dinner, and the wondrous transformation of Rauch Memorial made it a most memorable evening. In addition, the inaugural use of BidPal made it easy to track the progression of bids on auction items, make purchases and donations, and more. Happily, all signs point to a successful Chemin de Fer outcome.

Thank you, thank you to Auction Chairs Danny and Andrea Williams and Jake and Christine Sommer, along with Honorary Chairs Jerry and Angie Stauder, to the many auction committees and volunteers who made it all come together, and to all who participated in the excitement on Saturday. Job exceedingly well done!

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This week, while getting their graduation photo taken, the Eighth Class girls got their first look at the quilt that will be auctioned at Chemin de Fer. Thanks to Mrs. Killeen, the mastermind behind this beautiful creation!

The Third Class presented its annual Wax Museum of famous Americans for parents in Cribbin Hall on Monday. Each student dressed as and described the notable accomplishments of the person he or she studied. Research, memorization, and presentation skills were among the valuable lessons learned. Great job, Third Class!

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More than 50 students, teachers and parents gathered recently before school to make sandwiches for the poor and homeless of St. Vincent de Paul Parish. More than 430 sandwiches were made in less than 40 minutes.

Goal III of Sacred Heart education: A Social Awareness which Impels to Action.

Sixth Class students have been learning about mythology, Greek theater, Aristotle and other highlights of ancient Greece. Today, they invited their parents in to their classrooms to view their projects, play educational games they constructed, sample Greek food, and more.

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“The Sound of Music” premiered 50 years ago this month. Long before the movie musical made its debut, the von Trapp Family Singers visited the Shrine of St. Philippine Duchesne. As described in the school journal, in November 1952 they captivated the nuns with their simplicity, their deep faith and their unworldliness, singing “O Bon Jesu” and a hymn to the Sacred Heart (“the national hymn of Austria, composed at the request of the emperor Francis Joseph in 1909”).

In 1965 the total Sacred Heart family in St. Charles and St. Louis sponsored the Midwest premiere of “The Sound of Music” as a fundraiser toward completion of the Shrine.

“Two of the most satisfying experiences in life must be those of being a grandchild or a grandparent.”  It was fun to watch students attend Sunday liturgy in Rauch Memorial with their grandparents, show them their classrooms and other important places around school, and enjoy donuts and juice together. We were very happy to welcome these special members of the Academy community to campus on March 8.

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Fun and games! Today was our annual surprise play day led by our Eighth Class students. Check out some of the shenanigans…

Sixteen of our 7th and 8th Class students competed in an Academic Bowl at St. Dominic High School March 3. Congratulations to each of them for a strong showing. Special accolades to our 8th Class team for placing second among approximately 20 schools.

Congratulations to our Eighth Class students, each of whom has been accepted by his or her first-choice high school. The 50 members of the Class of 2015 will be headed to 15 area high schools in the fall.

Rise and shine! That’s just what our Seventh and Eighth Class Social Justice students did last Friday morning, collecting donations at Hardee’s from 6–8 a.m. for Heat Up StL. Braving the elements on behalf of area families who have difficulty paying their heating bills, the students collected $730 in their aprons and many more dollars that were put into the sealed canisters.  [Read more on the Heat Up StL website.] Thank you to all who came by to support the students!