Mrs. Grojean’s Third Class students are learning that multiplication is repeated addition which can be visually displayed in an ARRAY (equal rows and columns). For their fall bulletin board, each child constructed a sunflower based on the array they were given and wrote a number story about the numbers in that array along with number sentences for the repeated addition and the multiplication equations.
Hooray for Fall…or “Array” for Fall!
Last week, Seventh and Eighth Class students spent a few days at Camp Lakewood, an annual favorite tradition that provides students an unforgettable opportunity to grow in confidence and leadership. This program helps build a special sense of community through team-building activities, archery, challenge courses, ziplining and, of course, time around a campfire. Below students reflect about this time together.
When I was at Camp Lakewood, I had one of the best experiences of my life. My class played against the Seventh boys in volleyball. We also climbed the Alpine Tower. I really enjoyed doing all the activities but my favorite part of Camp Lakewood was when we would cheer on our classmates when they were climbing. Even though Camp Lakewood had many bugs, I really enjoyed being there, and I can’t wait to go back next year.
— Isabella Boettler ’25
Don’t miss this exhibit at the Foundry Art Centre featuring more than 40 works of art by Academy students. A very special thanks to art teacher Mrs. Hagen for her dedicated work with students and for preparing our student art!
Exhibition dates: October 6th–28th, 2023
A favorite Academy tradition! Camp Lakewood hosts Seventh and Eighth Class students each year, supporting the goals of Sacred Heart education and strengthening their roles as leaders in the school. Activities such as a challenge course, alpine tower, archery, teambuilding experiences, and orienteering adventures contribute to the building of community as a Christian value (Goal 4) and allow for personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom (Goal 5).
Special thank you to Ms. Furay, Mrs. Hagen, Mrs. Hill, Mr. Lampen, Mr. Storjohann and Mr. Taylor for accompanying our students on this growth-filled experience.
Today at morning drop off, many of us had the pleasure to witness students joyfully wish Mrs. Renken, sitting on the front terrace in the rocking chair, a Happy Birthday. I am uncertain who derived more pleasure, Mrs. Renken or each student as they offered wishes of happiness to someone so loved and influential in their lives.
As I settled back into my office after this, I began to reflect on two aspects of what I observed.
First, the foundation of this mutual admiration society moment was relationships. Relationships are the essence of Sacred Heart education, modeled from the beginning by Madeleine Sophie Barat, foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart, who considered the service of education as the primary means by which the Society would carry on its mission of communicating the love of the Heart of Jesus. She sent Philippine Duchesne to America to establish a new school to further this mission. Now, 205 years later, Mrs. Renken lives our Sacred Heart identity as she builds and nurtures relationships within our Academy family every day.
It’s always a great day when Mom comes to school!
Yesterday, our littlest learners welcomed their mothers to share the morning with them. Little Acorns began with their morning meeting, then rotated through ocean-themed centers, including creating their very own fish bowl! Pre-Primary mothers sat in on morning time before playing ocean games, painting a sparkly rainbow fish, and reading ocean books with muffins. In the Primary classroom they were busy playing a game based on “If You Give a Moose a Muffin,” made muffin patterns and ten frames in the math center and created a moose sock puppet from the story.
Fourth Class had a memorable day with a walking tour of Historic St. Charles on Tuesday! They watched the Visitor’s Center’s MO History with Hats presentation, then headed to the First Capitol building to tour the Peck Brothers’ residence and general store. Last they walked to the Lewis and Clark Boathouse to learn about the expedition and complete a museum scavenger hunt. Students ended the excursion with a sweet treat. What a great day of learning in action!
Ms. Kaemmerlen’s First Class visited Saint Charles City Fire Station #1.
They toured the firehouse and firefighting equipment and experienced what a fully dressed fire fighter looks and sounds like. They also reviewed fire safety. Thank you to these extraordinary first responders and all of our community helpers!
A Message from Amber Peterson Westerson ’94 and Louise Weber Kuhlmann ’99
What happens when you put two alums in charge of Country Fair? We hope the answer is MAGIC!
As ASH alums and current parents, Louise and I couldn’t be more excited to be leading the charge for Country Fair this year. We have such fond memories of the event and with the help of our phenomenal committee, we are well on the way to an amazing event!
A few months ago when I was thinking about being the Country Fair chair I started to conjure up the memories that I loved from Country Fairs past. I remember time with friends, winning prizes and lots of fun. But I also had a very vivid memory of when we used to set up a Haunted House in the old gym. I also remembered a VERY specific Country Fair t-shirt with our teachers on it. They were dressed up as fun Halloween characters. I wished I had that shirt to show my kids. It had been one of my favorites.
Fast forward to about six weeks ago, my Dad walks into my basement office and says, “Check out what I found.” Lo and behold . . . it was the shirt, the one I remembered from childhood. (We might call it a Philippine moment!) I knew then that I wanted to recreate the shirt for my kids. Emboldened by Louise who also remembered the shirt and loved the idea, I reached out to my childhood friend from ASH, Valerie Fletcher Oda. (She happens to be an animator for South Park, American Dad, among others.) I asked if she’d entertain helping me recreate the shirt. She agreed and my plan was in motion.
Two hundred and five years ago today, on September 14, 1818, Mother Duchesne opened the first free school for girls west of the Mississippi River. Twenty-two little girls came from the village to be the first children of the Sacred Heart in America. Their families were too poor to pay any tuition, and they were rather grudgingly giving education for girls a try. The children were at first impetuous and undisciplined, and the nuns devoted themselves wholeheartedly to them, delighted to find that many of them spoke French. Gradually the children responded to their efforts, and an atmosphere of affectionate respect was created, which made the schoolroom a homelike place where devotion to the Sacred Heart could develop.
When the weather was pleasant, some children had class on the gallery with Sister Aude, while Mother Duchesne and Sister Berthold taught others in the central room. The children were learning their religion, as well as reading, writing, and arithmetic. One period of the day brought everyone together in the large central room for prayer and the singing of hymns. Mother Duchesne wrote: “Now our day pupils sing at Benediction. They have learned some of Father Barat’s hymns, especially one to the Sacred Heart. They are eager to learn, and they learn easily.”
“The bishop encourages us by his example; he says we are the mustard seed, that great good works are being prepared!”
–Philippine Duchesne to Madeleine Sophie Barat, September 1818
Happy Founder’s Day! On this day in 1818 the Academy of the Sacred Heart, the “first free school west of the Mississippi” opened in a primitive log cabin, fondly referred to as the Duquette Mansion.
