Last Friday, Academy Eighth Class students presented to the Board of Trustees. They shared their responses to the prompt, “What Do Connections through One Heart Mean to Me?” Network of Sacred Heart School students in grades 7-12 were invited to write an essay for the Jeanne Burke O’Fallon Essay Contest for the upcoming Associated Alumnae/i of the Sacred Heart (AASH) 45th National Conference. The contest is named in honor of Mrs. O’Fallon ’69, who was the longtime director of the national AASH Office in St. Louis.
Below are some excerpts from their essays.
The community of the Sacred Heart knows and embraces “One Heart” every day. They provide opportunities to be One Heart when we go to service and experience things outside of daily life. We are One Heart when we are out of the classroom and working with the younger students at assemblies or Congé. This gives us different perspectives of others’ lives and how different they might be from yours. Because of the opportunities at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, I have had many connections with friends, teachers, and those in need. For the last few years, I have participated in service activities every month. Last year, I went to Lake St. Charles Nursing Home. I still see many people that I visited at Sunday Mass, and we talk every Sunday morning. When we catch each other’s eyes, we both immediately smile. It warms my heart to see their reactions. What I have learned from this is that just by showing up, it makes a huge difference. It does not have to be for a long time, but to just acknowledge someone can be impactful.
— Colson G. ’25
The Academy of the Sacred Heart feels like a home to me. I am third generation student at this school because of this. One Heart refers to the Network of Sacred Heart Schools and to the generations of students who have attended the schools. The entire community of the Sacred Heart is connected as one because we all share the same five goals, traditions, and history. This is the type of relationship that only children of the Sacred Heart have. The connections made at the Sacred Heart are strong bonds that will last forever.
One Heart influences how I interact with other people. It allows me to approach every situation with a positive mindset. Also, it allows me to easily make connections with new people because I have an education that has taught me to be open minded and to find something in common with everyone I meet. It pushes me to try my best in every situation and to put all my effort into everything I do. A lot of these things are learned through the five goals at the Sacred Heart Schools. These fundamental goals teach us to be kind and caring to everyone we meet.
— Lucy M. ’25
The Goals and Criteria in place here make me excel for high school and allow me to learn about everything from etiquette to academics. I can see the time and effort put into helping each student succeed. The guidance that I have received is what makes us excited for service learning and what makes us excited to become alumni and come back to help the school. The opportunities that school has offered have made me more than excited to come back and help other people. The only thing I can really give back to the school is my love, service, and compassion, because they have done so much for me that I can’t think of anything else to do.
— Wyatt P. ’25
In addition, Sustainability Club found that the Academy can save 7,280 lunch trays from ending up in the landfill by composting them instead, using compost bins received from Green Schools Quest. Naila Ashford ’25 presented the findings and solution to the Board and received permission to set up the compost bin. Her next steps will be painting the compost bin a bright and noticeable shade of green and educating each class about the proper disposal of the lunch trays. The compost created will be used in campus gardening projects.
We can do our part to make the world more sustainable … My projected date to have the composters in the cafeteria is March 16. I am so excited about this project, and it will be a big jump being environmentally friendly here at ASH.
— Naila A. ’25
