An Update from Your ASH Alum Office
Greetings ASH Alums and Parents of Grads,
I pray this letter finds you well, safely remaining at home while meeting the needs of your family members. We are all facing unique challenges and I know these weeks have not been easy. I wanted to write to you today with an update on what is happening at ASH and some ways you can take an active part in our community this spring.
Our campus may be closed, but you can take heart knowing that ASH is going strong. Students are engaged in active online learning (above) and our amazing alum and parent community are making tremendous contributions to our world. Hopefully you have been keeping up on our students' growth, contributions from alums and parents, and our school-wide celebrations, by following us on social media (@sacredheartmi). Recently, Head of School, Damian Hermann, shared a meaningful reflection in his eNews column that was sent to school families; you may find his column here.
Show your support of our Grads
As expected, we have had to make adjustments to our end-of-year celebrations, including postponing Commencement, our beautiful Baccalaureate Mass and, of course, Candlelight Ball. We are planning to celebrate these treasured ceremonies the weekend of August 8 and 9. We look forward to honoring our graduates!
I invite you to participate in welcoming our graduating seniors, and our graduating Grade 8 boys to the Alum Association. Please consider sending your words of support, encouragement and hope for these grads by recording a video message. You may do this on your computer or smartphone. Share congratulations, your favorite ASH memory, thoughts on what it means to be an ASH Alum, or your wish for their future. Please upload your video message by May 10 using this simple Google form. Having trouble but still want to send a message? Get in touch with me for help.
Alum Reunion
It is with sadness that we have to postpone our annual spring reunion. Please know that we will make every effort to celebrate our reunion years and celebrate all ASH alums in the future. We love you, we cherish the anniversary of your graduation (I'm looking at you, Class of '75!), and we look forward to gathering in celebration with blue ribbons for honor classes, joyfully catching up with old friends in the parlor, and strolling the corridors while admiring the class composites.
As we cope with current restrictions, plans continue for the AASH Conference taking place in Detroit, April 2021. This national conference for all Alumnae and Alumni of the Sacred Heart gives us a unique opportunity to really experience the power of being part of the Network of Sacred Heart schools, while showcasing all that our fabulous hometown has to offer. Want to engage with the planning committee? Let me know and we will find an opportunity that fits your interests.
Saint Madeleine Sophie Feast Day
We look forward to celebrating the feast day of our foundress, Saint Madeleine Sophie, on Friday, May 22. We are planning a virtual prayer service for this cherished day. As is tradition, our alums and parents of grads will be invited to participate in this celebration.
Following the prayer service, our students will participate in Congé! As defined by the RSCJ: "Congé (con•gé) is a French word for 'leave taking' or farewell. Congé is a holiday where Sacred Heart schools across the world leave studies and channel their energy to celebration and fun." It will look a little different than it has in the past, but we are confident that all of our students will enjoy this traditional day when children are invited to play!
Prayer Board
While our Chapel remains closed to the public, we invite you to leave your prayer intentions on our virtual prayer board. You may click here to visit the prayer board and enter your intention. Please keep the intentions on our board in your daily prayer.
#GivingTuesdayNow
We are taking part in the global day of giving, #GivingTuesdayNow, on May 5. If you are able, please click here to make your gift to Academy of the Sacred Heart. Especially in these challenging times, your support is more critical than ever. In the coming months, we know that some will need tuition assistance or additional support. Your annual giving gifts support enrollment and tuition assistance, faculty development, our beautiful campus, and alum activities that enrich and fortify our ASH community.
Please Join Us on Thursday, May 7!
The global crisis we are facing has heightened stress and anxiety levels for all of us in different ways. We are so pleased to present (virtually) Lisa Damour, Ph.D., psychologist, New York Times best-selling author and columnist, and regular contributor to CBS News. Dr. Damour will share "Managing Stress, Anxiety, and Parenting Under COVID-19" on Thursday, May 7 at 4:15 p.m. To register, submit questions, and receive the link to the presentation, visit ashmi.org/parenting. All are welcome; feel free to invite your friends and family who might be interested. Special thanks to our generous event sponsor, The Wudyka Family. I'll be tuning in, and look forward to seeing you there.
We are so proud of all that we have continued to accomplish since our daily lives changed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Children of the Sacred Heart are industrious, resilient and ready to face challenges that arise. We are so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful community. We thank God for the gift of each one of you; together we make up an ASH family full of HEART. I send love from Sacred Heart, fond wishes and sincere gratitude for all the ways you make the world a better place. We know we will see each other soon!
Sacred Heart of Jesus, we place our trust in you.
From the Heart,
Carolynn Kinzey Krause '88
Director of Alum Engagement
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ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART