|
Dear Parents/Guardians of freshmen and new students,
On behalf of the entire Divine Savior Holy Angels High School community, we want to welcome you to our school family. We are excited to have your daughter here this fall, and to work with her over the next several years. As you are likely aware, the educational experience at DSHA is designed to promote the development of your daughter as a confident and capable woman who is a woman of faith, a critical thinker, a communicator, a leader, and a self-advocate. This growth is fostered collaboratively between home and school, which is why we are equally as enthused to welcome you to our community.
You may be wondering about the orientation program at DSHA that helps students and parents become fully engaged in the DSHA experience. The purpose of this letter is to share aspects of the orientation program.
Below is information about a few upcoming orientation events.
- Freshmen Required | Freshmen Orientation | Thursday, August 15 and Friday, August 16
These are the two orientation days where freshmen will learn more about the people and resources here to support them. The purpose is to welcome incoming freshmen and help them understand the logistics of their class schedule, find their locker, meet their teachers, administrators, and school counselors, and participate in technology onboarding to help them feel prepared to begin their high school journey at DSHA. Girls will also have yearbook photos and high school ID picture taken. Click here for more information.
-
Transfer Student Required | Transfer Student Orientation | Thursday, August 15
Sophomore and junior transfer students should arrive at 9:30 a.m. and report to the foyer where they will meet current students. They will attend Mass together and current students will assist them with pictures, ID, schedules, lockers, get-to-know you and DSHA session, and tour based on schedules. Students will learn DSHA technology and meet with a school counselor. The day will end at 2:30 p.m. Click here for more information.
-
Parent Invitation | Freshman/Transfer Student Orientation & Assumption Mass | Thursday, August 15 at 9:30 a.m.
The Freshman/Transfer Student Orientation Mass is built into students' orientation schedule. This year Mass falls on a Holy Day of Obligation – the Assumption of Mary. You and your family are invited to join us in the Robert & Marie Hansen Family Fine Arts Theatre at 9:30 a.m. Everyone from the DSHA community is invited.
-
Parent Required | New Parent Education/Orientation | Thursday, August 15 at 6:30 p.m.
This session will provide you with nuts-and-bolts information to help with the first weeks of school as well as orient you to the mission of the Sisters of the Divine Savior, our approach to faith formation; offer insight into the academic and student life transition; and acquaint you with how the DSHA Student Services program is supportive and responsive to the developmental needs of our students and our approach to building an inclusive school culture. There will be time at the end to socialize and meet other new parents.
- Parent Invitation | Back-to-School Night | Thursday, August 22 at 6:30 p.m.
This night begins with a short assembly in the Robert & Marie Family Fine Arts Theatre at 6:30 p.m. before parents walk their daughter’s schedule and meet her teachers and other parents.
- Student Required | Freshmen Retreat | Sunday, October 13 & Monday, October 14
Remember to block off October 13 from noon - 9 p.m. and October 14 from 7:50 a.m. - 3 p.m. for Freshmen Retreat & Service Day. Your daughter must attend the entire retreat to fulfill her graduation requirement and experience this once in a lifetime retreat experience.
- Parent Invitation | Freshmen Retreat Mass | Sunday, October 13 at 7 p.m.
Parents are encouraged to come to Sunday Mass in the Robert & Marie Hansen Family Fine Arts Theatre at 7 p.m. at the end of the first day of Freshmen Retreat. Pray with your daughter and her class and then join other parents in the Quad for a social while your daughter finishes the first day of retreat.
-
Parent Invitation | Meet and Greet | In the coming weeks you will receive additional information about small group meetings with President Katie Konieczny, DSHA '92, and Principal Dan Quesnell These meetings are to help you meet other new parents, share impressions, and ask questions about your daughter’s early experiences at DSHA. For your planning, the dates are listed below, and a formal invitation will be sent when school starts.
-
Tuesday, September 10 | 2-3 p.m.
-
Thursday, September 26 | 8-9 a.m.
-
Tuesday, October 1 | 8-9 a.m.
-
Wednesday, October 2 | 5-6 p.m.
-
Monday, October 7 | 2-3 p.m.
-
Thursday, October 10 | 5-6 p.m.
-
Tuesday, October 15 | 5-6 p.m.
- Parent Invitation | Parent Association Meetings | The Parent Association is an excellent way for parents and guardians of DSHA students to get involved in their daughter’s high school experience. The PA meets monthly to discuss upcoming and past events, hear school updates, and hear from faculty members and administrators including President Katie Konieczny, DSHA '92, and Principal Dan Quesnell.
- Student Required | Freshmen Wellness Seminar | During the school day, Freshmen Wellness Seminar will serve as a significant orientation program for the young women at DSHA while allowing them to form their own communities. Freshmen Wellness Seminar meets daily during the fall semester and is moderated by a DSHA faculty member. This will assist in the ongoing orientation of each young woman and provide her with supervised study time.
- Parent Invitation | Auction Benefit Party | Each class has an auction benefit party where you can socialize with parents and support the DSHA auction. The dates have not been set for the coming year. Watch for an invitation.
|
ACADEMIC UPDATES
Tips for New Freshmen and Transfer Students | The transition to high school is a significant step in a student’s academic path. The first year involves many changes to routine, goal setting, adjustment to a new schedule, building, teachers, and classmates. Here are some considerations for your student:
- Acknowledge that academic expectations are higher. The rigor and pace of instruction will be faster, so encourage your student to settle into a routine and be organized.
- Have your student set realistic goals and benchmarks. Encourage them to think creatively and pursue interests outside of class, such as through a co-curricular activity.
- Help your Dasher be curious and participate in class to show that they are an active learner. Advise them to take good notes and review them daily to reinforce their understanding. Encourage her to ask for help early, whether in or outside of classroom, and have her become familiar with the school’s academic resources.
- Encourage your student to find ways to collaborate with their peers, such as forming a study group. They should share their strengths and understanding of lessons and appreciate the insight of their peers.
- Throughout the year, your student should continue to reflect on their learning, goals, and growth. Learning is an ongoing process, so encourage them to be persistent and proud of their accomplishments.
|
A few other reminders:
- Course Schedules & Textbooks | Click here to review your daughter's courses and required textbooks. Books can be purchase via the DSHA Bookstore.
- Laptops | DSHA is a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) school. Feel free to have your daughter use any laptop for her school needs, with one caveat: We do not recommend Chromebooks. They tend to be too limited for a student’s use which ranges from accessing online textbooks, doing research, submitting assignments through our learning management system, writing papers, and creating projects. Windows or Mac laptops have consistently been the best fit for student laptop needs at DSHA.
- School Supplies | Most students find binders, folders, and notebooks essential for notetaking and organization of syllabi, handouts, and other materials. Be sure to also have your daughter bring the normal school supplies of pens, pencils, highlighters, etc.
- Graphing Calculator | The DSHA Mathematics Department requires that each student have a TI-84 Plus Silver-Edition graphing calculator.
- Milwaukee Southside Transportation | DSHA provides transportation from the Milwaukee Southside through the Johnson Bus Service. The transportation includes two morning stops at Notre Dame Schools and the United Community Center and arrives to DSHA around 7 a.m. each morning. Please click here for more information and details.
- Student myDSHA and Email Login Information | Incoming freshman login information will be distributed and trained as part of Freshman Orientation on August 15 and 16. If you have any questions, please contact Director of Technology John White.
- Athletics | If your daughter is planning to play a fall sport, visit the Athletics Webpage for tryout information, WIAA physical cards, and other information.
|
Communications:
- Parent eNews | DSHA typically sends Parent eNews emails every other Monday. This newsletter contains all information for the upcoming two weeks and beyond. This email can be long, but please read it carefully; it is the main form of communication for the school to share important information. Parent eNews is archived here for your reference.
- Back-to-School Email | We are planning to send our first welcome back email newsletter on July 29. This will begin our regular communication schedule.
- Social Media | Follow us on our DSHA Facebook and Instagram pages for daily and weekly good news. Please share these updates with family and friends!
- Supplemental Emails | DSHA will also send additional communication about exciting events like musicals, mother-daughter and father-daughter dances, Grandparent Liturgy, golf outings, and more.
Once again, we welcome you to the DSHA community. We look forward to meeting you at one or more of the coming events.
|
Goodness and Kindness Prayer
Loving Savior,
Help me to live your goodness and kindness each day.
Remind me that my actions express who I am even more than my words.
May I love as you love. Let me be good to those who wish me harm, forgive those who need forgiveness, and reach out in kindness to all I meet so they can experience the unconditional love of God.
Ignite the fire in each of us to care for one another.
Holy Mary, Mother of the Savior, Pray for Us.
Jesus, help me to be the goodness and kindness.
Amen.
|
|
|
| |
Divine Savior Holy Angels High School | 4257 N. 100th Street Milwaukee, WI 53222 | Phone: (414) 462-3742
Sponsored by the Sisters of the Divine Savior |
|
|
|