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nnunciata
A private, independent K-12 liberal arts college-preparatory school loyal to the Magisterium

A publication of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy

2010 Graduation, p.2

Student conversions, p.2

Academy participates in 40 Days for Life, p. 3

Academy earns full accreditation from NCA-CASI and NAPC*IS!

Vol. III, No. I Spring 2011 AD HONOREM ET GLORIAM DEI - FOR THE HONOR AND GLORY OF GOD

A Letter from the President

Dear Friends, A foreign-exchange student from the communist Republic of China converts to the Catholic faith; a parent asks to have two students baptized; four non-practicing Catholics request the sacraments of Penance, Holy Communion and Confirmation. Where is this happening? These are just some of the fruits of the Academys 2010-2011 academic year. I have many wonderful blessings, exciting achievements and events from the 2009-2010 academic year to report to you. First, our two 2010 graduates were accepted at the colleges of their choice: Ave Maria University and Regis University. Second, we received our charters from the National Honor Society; we became an approved high school for the Illinois State Scholar program; and three of our students earned a three or higher on their AP exams (one was a freshman!). Finally, on the heels of earning state recognition from the Illinois State Board of Education the year before, we marked another major milestone in the development of the academy: we achieved full accreditation status from two national accrediting bodies, the National Association of Private Catholic* and Independent Schools (NAPC*IS), www.napcis.org, and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA/CASI), a division of AdvancEd, www.advanc-ed.org. NAPC*IS shares our mission: the salvation of souls and academic excellence. The Academy not only achieved full accreditation status, but it received outstanding marks in five of the six categories. This accreditation assures our families and the public that the school adheres to the Catholic faith in all aspects. We are one of only sixteen schools in the nation that have demonstrated they have met these stringent requirements. AdvancEd is a secular organization which accredits over 27,000 public and private institutions worldwide. The benefits of accreditation include the external mark of quality, high standards, a continuous school improvement process and community support; transfer of credits; and access to various scholarships, programs and institutions that require regional accreditation. It is important to note that this accreditation did not require us to compromise any of our Catholic and conservative policies. While these accomplishments are fundamental to the advancement of the school, and bring us ever closer to achieving the schools vision, we are even more overjoyed at the spiritual and academic fruits borne this current year. You can read about the conversion of He (Rose) Gao and some of our other students in the next few pages. Also, this year, one of our students qualified for recognition in the national merit scholarship program; two more of our courses, United States History and English Literature and Composition, were approved by the College Board for AP (advanced placement or college-level) status; students are practicing leadership and team-building skills through service in the National Honor Society and student council; and an alumna of the academy, Angelica Veitch, was just placed on the Deans List at Hillsdale College. We have made it through the most difficult financial year in the schools history. Economics and enrollment (as all private schools in our area and across the country will testify) continue to be at critical levels. Yet, we have had one of our best years ever; committed parents and joyful, hard-working and ambitious students have made it so, and new student interest for next year is at an all-time high. We are meeting our objectives and our ultimate goal, which is the end of all true education: to lead students to a knowledge and love of God. Will you continue to support us, or even increase your support for this apostolate? While any amount is appreciated, we are seeking a benefactor who feels called to provide the security of a large endowment. We have worked hard to lay a solid foundation, and now we need to build upon it, trusting in the Lord for his blessings. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. In Christ, Louis G. Bageanis President
1 OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART ACADEMY www.olsha.org

Year in Review
Students Receive Baptism, Penance, Holy Communion and Confirmation
Do you remember receiving your first Holy Communion or Confirmation? We have seven eager and excited students who have asked for assistance to prepare for these sacraments. Three will be baptized in the Catholic faith; four non-practicing Catholics will receive the sacraments of Penance, Holy Communion and Confirmation. The students will receive the Holy Eucharist and the strength to be soldiers for Christ at the Oratory of St. Mary.

Inspiration
The Academy has been blessed to be an instrument in the conversion of He (Rose) Gao, a foreign- exchange student from the Peoples Republic of China. Rose credits the faith-filled environment of the Academy and her host family as reasons for her choice. She has received the blessing of her family back in China, and will receive the sacraments of Baptism, Penance, Holy Communion and Confirmation when she returns home in June. Rose has been accepted by the University of North Dakota, and Leiden University in the Netherlands.

2010 Graduates Continue the Mission

An inspiring commencement speech from Fr. Beekman was the perfect send-off for Jessica Gay and Sarah Stohlquist, who graduated from the Academy with honors. Jessica, the eldest girl of eight children, is studying sociology and theology at Ave Maria University. Sarah hopes to follow in her mothers footsteps and is enrolled in the nursing program at Regis University. Sarah is confident that her Catholic preparation will enable her to make sound moral decisions in a tough field. The eighth-grade graduates were Jozy Barnhart and Miles Doyle.

Accreditation from NAPC*IS and AdvancEd-NCA/CASI

In May 2010, the Academy received accreditation from NAPC*IS, the National Association of Private Catholic Independent Schools. NAPCIS accreditation ensures that the school meets rigorous academic requirements, teaches the Catholic faith and maintains a Catholic identity. The Academy also received accreditation from AdvancEd-NCA/CASI, a world-wide organization that evaluates over 27,000 schools and colleges. Accreditation from AdvancEd ensures that we meet standards of excellence in curriculum, school improvement, progress, operations and community relations.

Volleyball team scores a win

The combined junior-high and high school volleyball team played several competitive matches last season and earned their first win. The girls beat the opposing Shirland Indians 21-15 and 21-18 in two of three games. The team hopes to be as successful next season.

20102011 ANNUNCIATA

Academic Excellence Students Corner

Advanced Placement courses approved
The College Board has approved two additional high school courses; that brings the total of approved AP courses to four. United States History and English Language and Composition were approved by the College Board for AP (advanced placement or college-level) status. Both classes are being taught this school year, and students who receive satisfactory scores on the test may receive college credit for their effort. The other two courses that have earned AP status are United States Government and Politics and English Literature and Composition. Next year we plan to obtain approval for European history, calculus, chemistry and physics.

Student earns opportunity as a National Merit Scholarship qualifier

We congratulate Frances Altham, a junior, who has qualified for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship program. Frances placed in the 95th percentile nationwide on the PSAT/NMSQT, a standardized test that is a preparatory test for the SAT and a qualifying test for National Merit Scholarships.

Science Fair A fun learning experience for all!

Students in grades K-8 participated in the Academys annual science fair. The themes to choose from for this years fair were astronomy and earth science. Project topics included the nature of fog, how to make a water-propelled boat, how a rocket works and how a tornado happens. Students were required to submit a report, prepare a working model, create a display board and give an oral presentation to the judges.

Academy represented at regional Scripps Spelling Bee

Olivia Brady, an eighth grader, won the Academy spelling bee for grades three through eight, and represented the Academy at the regional spelling bee. She was unfortunately eliminated in the second-to-last round, but survived to be one of 30 students remaining out of 150! For winning the school spelling bee, Olivia was awarded a one-year subscription to Encyclopedia Brittanica (online). The runner up was Jonathan Christensen and the Kindergarten through second grade winner was Gabriel Christensen. __________________________________________________________________________________________

National Honor Society and Junior National Honor Society Recognition

The National Honor Society and Junior NHS have awarded the Academy charters to encourage academic excellence and community service. In conjunction with the Academy's Works of Mercy program, the students have been energetically working to promote their mission and goals. They have participated in creating Christmas care packages to send to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, they helped to prepare and serve meals to the homeless and they visited a nursing home to sing songs and deliver valentines and spiritual bouquets. Honor Society fundraisers will help a Catholic mission in Gabon, Africa and the Rockford Area Pregnancy Care Center.

OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART ACADEMY www.olsha.org

Academic Excellence Students Corner

Disinterestedness and Destiny
Luis Arreguin, Class of 2011 In Willa Cathers Death Comes for the Archbishop, Bishop Latour and Father Vaillant, recently arrived from the Midwest, consider the difficulty of their new life. The shores of Lake Erie, says Father Vaillant, will be covered with vineyards one day. I envy the man who is drinking my wine. Ah, well, that is a missionarys life: to plant where another may reap. Americans have often given up what is best for themselves as individuals, to do what is best for the whole. Such disinterestedness contributes to the greatness of the nation, and defines her destiny. Seven Republican senators committing political suicide to acquit President Andrew Johnson; Justice Hugo Black dissenting in Griswold; farmers voting against their interests to ratify the Constitutionall these men chose the good of the nation rather than their own interest. Similarly, Bishop Latour and Father Vaillant gave up a good life and their personal well-being to endure the hardships of the desert, to confront its often corrupt and murderous people, for the sake of the spiritual well-being of the territory. Disinterestedness is root-building at its best; it is how the greatest trees grow. To plant where another may reap gave this country what is great in her today. __________________________________________________________________________________________

A Smaller World
by He (Rose) Gao My friends in northern Illinois call me Rose, but my Chinese name is He Gao. I am from Baoding, He Bei province, China. It is my good fortune to study in America as an exchange student this year. Because the tremendous speed of Chinas development creates innumerable challenges and opportunities, I hope to continue my secondary education in the United States. I am learning that American education is very different from Chinese education: the schools here are more likely to encourage students to participate in social communication, while the schools in China encourage us to be more skillful in our academic studies. Students in China often spend almost the whole day at school to study, so it is an attractive point that I have more time for myself because of the shorter school day. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy also provides flexible and variable course arrangements, vivid and vigorous teaching, and a good ratio of students to teachers. I believe that my education experience at the Academy has most importantly helped prepare me to become Catholic, to accept challenges and to recognize and manage opportunities. The limits of your language, Wittgenstein says, are the limits of your world. Indeed, as I learn to communicate with my American friends and teachers, our world seems smaller. My study of Latin, and of American literature and history, is helping me to develop my understanding of the West. I hope to continue to study languages, and also to learn more about international relationships. Science and mathematics fascinate me. My father teaches math at our provincial university, and my mother teaches physical chemistry. I was brought up with interesting science stories, and I want to continue in math and science subjects, especially physics. My curious heart says astronomy could be a good choice. My exchange-student year is giving me the chance to master English; and my wonderful host family and my friends are teaching me about American life. These opportunities give me confidence in my ability to study in the U.S. Because I love my country, I will return to China; however I intend to learn more about America, and hope to return here for college.

20102011 ANNUNCIATA

Gratis
Alumni news
Angelica Veitch (08) Angel is a junior at Hillsdale College and has been placed on the Deans List. Angel is studying early childhood education and Spanish, and has helped to tutor Academy students during her breaks at home from college. She credits her strong Catholic upbringing and the rigor of classes at the Academy with helping her to choose her fields of study and to succeed in college. Philip Klaske (09) Philip recently graduated from the U.S. Naval Nuclear College and has been assigned duty on board a ship at a naval base in New Jersey to gain more hands-on experience with nuclear-powered vessels. Philip is proud to

At the March for Life

The Academy students and faculty pray each day for the unborn, and the upper school prays at the local abortion mill each First Friday before Mass. Recently, Olivia Brady (15) joined her sister Brittany (08) and a former faculty member, Sister Mary (Mary Dobson), on a pilgrimage to the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. The weather was cold, but did not cool the determination of the faithful to pray and protest on behalf of the unborn.

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Languaje y Cultura
by Sara Titus, Spanish I & II Spanish I and II together form a complete college-level course taught primarily in Spanish. From day one, students are trained to tune their ears to the foreign sounds and listen for words they recognize and words that are cognates (similar in both languages). These are skills that are useful for any future language learning. The courses equip students to comprehend the language with sufficient ability to grasp the main idea and supporting details in conversations that relate to daily life and authentic situations. Students are also taught to speak the language well enough to describe, narrate, ask and answer questions about everyday topics including greetings, introductions, daily activities, describing and expressing oneself, and making plans. By the end of the course, students are able to read, understand and write articles, stories, advertisements, poems and more. To gain a better understanding of the Hispanic culture, we took field trips to the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, an authentic Mexican restaurant, a Mexican grocery store, a bakery and a western wear shop. I was proud of our students as they practiced their Spanish with native speakers, tried foods that were new to them and showed cultural sensitivity and respect. These skills and experiences will enable them to be more effective in communication and interaction with an increasingly globalized world. Our exceptional Spanish instructor, Mrs. Sara Titus, is also a professor of Spanish at Rockford College, a missionary, and a wife and mother of three (with one on the way!).

OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART ACADEMY www.olsha.org

Gratis
Community Service - Students Honored as top Civil Air Patrol Cadets
Academy students Gus Bageanis and David Ramirez recently were chosen as Honor Cadets at the Civil Air Patrols regional Spring Encampment at Great Lakes Naval Base, North Chicago, IL. Of the eighty-nine cadets at the encampment, only eight were chosen as Honor Cadets, recognized for their dedication to leadership, aerospace education, physical fitness and volunteer service, during activities at the two-weekend-long event. Both are members of the National Honor Society; both participate in school government, and are active in community service. Our students work hard, and it is a good to know they are recognized for their dedication and achievements, said Lou Bageanis, the Academys principal. We are very proud of the commitment and hard work of these young men. __________________________________________________________________________________________

A message from the Assistant Principal Matt Adas

I have seen the Academy reach its highest enrollment in 2008-09, and drop this year to the lowest on record. I have shared in the excitement of a donation to help purchase a school building and fund a years worth of operational expense, and I have experienced the gloom of struggling to make payroll and pay crucial bills. The Academy has weathered the storm, and we will continue to weather the storm. The basis and nature of our apostolate is the Catholic faith; it is natural for the Academy, like the Faith to be attacked and to thrive! Despite the formidable obstacles that we have faced, I believe we are having our best year yet. We have very motivated families, dedicated staff, energetic administration and a board that believes in the mission of the school and is willing to sacrifice to make it work. We have attracted interest from families all over northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, and as other regional public and parochial schools threaten to close, we are poised to grow into a much larger force. We thank you for your interest in the Academy, and hope you will maintain your benevolent support to help us to grow, and produce well-educated young men and women who know their faith, who live their faith and who defend their faith.
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Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy

3218 11th Street - Rockford, IL 61109 815.399.3021 - www.olsha.org
ADDRESS SERVICE REQESTED

Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Rockford, IL Permit #1315

_________________________________________________________________________________________________ ADVISORY BOARD

ECCLESIASTICAL ADVISORS Rev. Msgr. R. Michael Schmitz Vicar General
Provincial Superior for the United States Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest

Join us in our Spiritual Capital Campaign for the growth and needs of OLSHA!
Send us your prayer commitment see form on page 6

Academy highlights:
Accredited by NAPC*IS and AdvancED NCA/CASI Recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education Named a 2006 Top 50 Catholic High School by the Acton Institute 2009 Winner of the Hillsdale College Salvatori Award for Excellence in Teaching

Rev. Carl Beekman

Vocations Director Diocese of Rockford

Canon Brian A.T. Bovee

Canon-Rector Oratory of St. Mary, Rockford

Rev. Brian Geary

Pastor St. James, Belvidere

Support OLSHA by using GoodSearch.com!

Just enter the school name as your primary donor recipient.

COUNCIL OF SCHOLARS Laura Berquist

Founder Mother of Divine Grace School

Mark Your Calendars!

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Kenneth Calvert, Ph.D.

Headmaster Hillsdale Academy

Annual Golf Outing

Monday, July 26 at Forest Hills Country Club
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Francis Crotty
Founder Kolbe Academy

Reserve your foursome today!!!!

Annunciata (e-nns-ta), [Latin]: News Bearer Published annually; copyright 2011. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided the following credit line is used: Reprinted by permission from Annunciata, a publication of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy.
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy is a non-diocesan, non-profit, private school teaching the foundation of a classical academic curriculum in grades K-12, administered and staffed by Catholic laymen and incorporated under the laws of Illinois. Independent of the Diocese of Rockford, the school is not an agency of and is in no way connected or affiliated with the Diocese of Rockford; however, as faithful, practicing Catholics, the school trustees, administrators and full-time teachers joyfully sign an oath of fidelity to the Magisterium and a profession of faith to the Catholic Church.

Alice von Hildebrand, Ph.D. Roberta Noonan, Ed.D.

Founder Noonan Academy

Joseph Scheidler
Founder Pro-Life Action League

Rev. Protodeacon Paul Weyrich, RIP Founder Free Congress Foundation