“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.

[nggallery id=128]

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!

Education opens doors to a better way of life.  The Academy is proudly uniting  once again with the Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, Florida, the University of Miami, and Partners in Health to support Notre Dame de La Colline School in the impoverished country of Haiti.  We are providing Haitian children the opportunity to rise above their circumstances and become all God has created them to be.

In support of Goal III of Sacred Heart Education, A Social Awareness Which Impels to Action, the Fourth Class is sponsoring a BAKE SALE on Tuesday, FEBRUARY 17. All treats will be sold during lunch periods for 50 cents each. Proceeds will be used to purchase school uniforms.

Congratulations to Mary Kathleen, Fourth Class, who is the Academy’s 2015 Spelling Bee winner. Last week, students ranging from Third through Seventh Classes competed for a spot to move on to the regional bee in Illinois. Winners from that bee will have a chance to move up to the National Spelling Bee, held in Washington, D.C. Congratulations to all of the contestants, and best of luck to Mary Kathleen on the next leg of her spelling journey!

The Academy’s environmental group, Stewards of the Earth Club, is working to keep junk out of landfills! SOTEC partnered with Spectrum Ecycle to host an electronics recycling event at the Academy on Saturday, January 24, and collected nearly 14,000 pounds of old electronics! Thanks to all who helped with this Goal III initiative.

“The school teaches respect for creation and prepares students to be stewards of the earth’s resources.”
(Criteria 5 of Goal 3, Schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to educate to a social awareness which impels to action.)

[nggallery id=127]

Continuing our celebration of Catholic Schools Week… here’s a quick visit to Sacred Heart Schools around the world.

https://animoto.com/play/ocLR84RR0Jg6AJvXzsvJng

For the second straight year, ASH dad Richard Saville’s team lay claim to the title of Trivia Night champions. This year, they battled 52 opponent teams and chalked up 95 correct answers (of a possible 100). Congratulations! Accolades are also due to the Chairs and Co-Chairs of this fun event, Jason and April Jensen and Shawn and Jenny Briner, along with the volunteers who worked behind the scenes. Great job, great night!

[nggallery id=126]