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Archbishop Chapelle
High School
God Will Provide
Chapelle Will Inspire
You Will Succeed
Letter from the Principal
National Merit Finalist
Alyssa Rieder
August 1, 2015
Dear alumnae, parents, faculty, staff, and friends:
In the past two years, a number of milestones have been accomplished that
reveal a flourishing present and promising future for Archbishop Chapelle
High School. While we all know the quality of a Chapelle education, we
were not happy that some were not aware of the true Chapelle story.
As a result, we have revitalized our image into a modernized, competitive,
academic institution that continues to provide the best Catholic education
to young women in the New Orleans area. We have updated our brand,
redesigned our website, and increased our presence in the media. The
choice to hold our Senior Ring Mass and Graduation ceremonies at such
classic venues as the St. Louis Cathedral and the Saenger Theatre cements
our reputation as a cornerstone of time-honored Catholic faith and values.
Our school continues to live up to its reputation of spiritual, academic, and
social excellence grounded in Catholic faith. A number of changes in policy
have ushered in several progressive advances to our school’s structure,
schedule, curriculum, and faculty. We have increased the amount of college
preparatory classes offered and seriously enhanced our dual-enrollment
program to inspire our students to new heights.
2015 co-valedictorian Alyssa
Rieder received National Merit
Finalist Scholarships to the
University of Alabama and the
University of Texas. Alyssa
will be attending UT to study
Criminology.
Graduation at the
Saenger Theatre
RIGOROUS ACADEMICS
A strong new emphasis on faculty instructional development is a top
priority at Chapelle. Over the past two years, the results have been and
continue to be extremely positive. Teachers completed one-on-one training
under the guidance of Dr. Elizabeth Laforge, an educational specialist in
Differential Teaching from the School Leadership Center. Our new rigorous
academic model includes proven pedagogical methodology, curriculum
walks, and enhanced student engagement. As a result, we NO longer have
basic classes and students are rising to the challenge and feeling successful
both inside and outside of the classroom.
State of the Union
Volume I
Latin Honors
Mr. Matthew Riley’s Latin class
competed with 153,000 students
from all fifty states and twenty
foreign countries in the 2015
National Latin Exam this
spring. Chapelle students were
awarded Level II, Maxima
Cum Laude; Level I, Magna
Cum Laude; and Level I, Cum
Laude results.
Faculty Spotlight
English
teacher
and
alumna
Mrs. Beth
Hook ’85
has been
teaching at
Chapelle
for the past
eleven
years. In 2013 she was invited
to attend the Bearing Witness
Program in partnership with the
Anti-Defamation League held
in Washington, D.C. Mrs.
Hook brought her insight back
to Chapelle to teach our
students about the Holocaust.
A faculty curriculum committee spearheaded a new course of studies based
on data-driven instruction. Successful changes include more required and
demanding classes, a new schedule, increased instructional minutes, and
greater extracurricular involvement. The new one hour lunch period for all
allows for extra tutoring, which teachers now provide during half of their
lunch break (30 minutes) as well as before and after school.
This fall we also welcome a new Director of Studies, Ms. Shanna Gosey, to
continue enhancing our already strong academics at Chapelle. Our Dual
Enrollment Program has been highly successful, and we have increased
course offerings to better suit students’ needs. ACT and PSAT Test Prep
are now required for all students in order to adequately prepare our girls for
the challenges of college and their future careers.
Despite these changes being met with skepticism initially, Chapelle’s
progressive model has been a tremendous success. The Class of 2015 was
awarded a total of $8 million in scholarships. Co-valedictorians Mallory
Knudsen and Alyssa Rieder each earned full scholarships to LSU and the
University of Texas respectively. Our graduates will attend Georgia Tech,
Loyola University Chicago, University of Texas, University of Alabama,
Ave Maria University, Belhaven University, USM, LSU, Loyola
University, and Xavier University. Nine seniors graduated summa cum
laude this year, along with eleven magna cum laude and forty-eight cum
laude. These triumphs indicate a positive trend at Chapelle that we are
eager to continue improving in the upcoming school year.
CHAPELLE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
We have more scholarship recipients than ever before, awarding more than
$100,000 this year to current and incoming students to fund their next four
or five years at Chapelle. Archbishop Chapelle’s esteemed scholarship
program offers full tuition scholarships to students in the community in the
99th percentile, $4,000 per year to students in the 97-98th percentile, and
$3,000 per year to students in the 95-96th percentile. This year we awarded
scholarships to students from Ascension of our Lord, J.C. Ellis, St. Charles
Borromeo, St. Edward the Confessor, St. Joan of Arc, St. Mary Magdalen,
St. Matthew the Apostle, and St. Philip Neri.
Holocaust Remembrance Week
Because of the worldwide increase in anti-Semitism, Chapelle faculty members organized
a Holocaust Remembrance Week to educate our student body on the history and
significance of the Holocaust. All students viewed the film “The Boy in the Striped
Pajamas” and completed a research project to
uncover the personal stories of each victim.
We were honored to have Holocaust survivor
Anne Levy speak to us about her experience
growing up in Poland, hiding from the Nazis,
rescue by the Americans, and eventual move
to New Orleans. We are also thankful to our
friends at the Metairie Jewish Community
Center and Shir Chadash Synagogue for
joining us in remembrance.
SIGNIFICANT RENOVATION
This summer, Chapelle has embarked upon an extensive renovation project
to modernize our physical plant and provide the optimal learning
environment for our students.
Our renovations include a comprehensive makeover of our main building
with new ceilings, lights, floors, carpet, and paint; new bathrooms,
windows, tables, floor, and paint in the cafeteria; an enhanced courtyard;
and new lights, wooden floor, renovated locker rooms, recognition
banners, and a state-of-the-art sound system in the gymnasium. The
bathrooms in the gym were also updated. Additionally, our new Alumnae Hall in the first
floor hallway of the Fine Arts Building showcases
pictures from each graduating class as a testament
to all of the wonderful alumnae in our Chapelle
family.
One of the most exciting features of our renovation is the addition of a
state-of-the-art science center. With the new demands from TOPS and
college, this science center will provide our students with incredible
opportunities to excel in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics. The addition of two new Mac and PC computer labs will
further enhance our implementation of STEM-based curriculum.
New Softball Field Thanks
to Kenner Partnership
Archbishop Chapelle is proud
to announce a fruitful
partnership with the Kenner
Recreation Department and a
new top-grade field for our
softball team. We sincerely
thank Mayor Mike Yenni and
the City of Kenner for their
generosity and support of our
school.
Golf Champs
This entire campus upgrade is reminiscent of our ongoing commitment to
progress. We are always looking for ways to advance our school so our
young women continue to thrive and grow into successful Christian adults.
We are incredibly thankful for the generosity of our parents, alumnae, and
donors who have enabled us to achieve this vision. This year’s Emerald
Gala was the most successful event we have ever had, bringing in a recordbreaking profit of $125,000. The Chapelle Fund
also set a record, raising a total of $200,630 in
2014-2015. Chapelle extends a special thank you
to Mr. and Mrs. Ed Womac for their $50,000
donation and to Mr. and Mrs. Ray Brandt for
their donation of a new Toyota Camry which
generated $85,000 for our facility upgrades.
Encouraging STEM
With our new state-of-the-art science center construction well
underway, Chapelle is making advances as a premiere STEM
high school. We have been named an Apple Distinguished
School for the second consecutive year and now offer robotics
and computer science courses that provide a crucial foundation
for engineering, science, and technology fields.
Chapelle now has a full-time certified Technology Director and
a certified classroom instructor to ensure our young women
gain exposure to STEM at an early age and are encouraged to
pursue these growing fields in college and their careers.
Our Golf Team, coached by
Ms. Brooke Braun, has had a
fantastic season; winning the
Metro Tournament
Championship, the Catholic
League Championship for the
third consecutive year, and
finishing 7th at the State
Tournament. All of our sports
teams have had great success
over the past two years.
The Rummel-Chapelle Jazz Band
performed under the direction of Dr.
Nicholas Compagno at the Emerald
Gala this past March. Guests
enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres
while band members played in the
courtyard before the gala.
Award-Winning Chorale
BAND EQUALITY
The Archbishop Chapelle Band Program is a co-educational program
in conjunction with Archbishop Rummel High School. Unlike any
other girls Catholic high school band in the New Orleans metro area,
the Rummel-Chapelle Band includes a competitive marching band,
jazz band, symphonic band, and percussion ensemble.
The unique decision to join Chapelle and Rummel bands together has
proven to be an amazing merger of talent and school spirit. Chapelle
musicians are no longer girls in the Rummel boys’ band, but have
equal voice and together have earned incredible honors, including
Superior ratings at the LMEA District 6 Large Ensemble Festival and
the LSU State Rally this year.
At Chapelle, we inspire our students to achieve greatness as smart,
driven young women. This program reflects our commitment to
equality, progress, and our celebration and support of young talent.
Chorale members performed at our
Scholarship Banquet and
participated in the LSU State Vocal
rally this past spring, winning
Superior ratings.
Fine Arts Program
Chapelle’s art program
produces incredible
young artists, including
Senior Alexis Mancuso
who won a Silver
Award in the 2015
“With Art I Can…”
mixed media contest. Chapelle
students were also
featured in the
New Orleans
Museum of Art’s
“Art in Bloom”
exhibit this spring.
Chapellettes, Hi-Steppers, and Cheer
Chapelle’s dance and cheer teams are exceling under the guidance of a phenomenal new coaching staff. The Chapellettes,
coached by Stephani Kammer ’94 and Angelle Muscarello ’98, have brought back their classic uniforms to showcase new
talent while preserving our school’s legacy. Our Hi-Steppers, under coach Stacy Woodward ’96, won State this past year.
And our Cheerleading team, coached by Wess Mandella, won 1st place at Mardi Gras Nationals and Jamfest. We are
excited to see what championships our girls will take home in the year ahead!
Deus Providebit Award Recipient
Mr. Joe Dempsey
Archbishop Chapelle
presented Mr. Joe
Dempsey with the
2015 Deus Providebit
Award for his
generosity and
continued support of
our school.
Pro Life Club
Chapelle had more students than any
other school in the greater New
Orleans area participate in the March
for Life Rally in Washington, D.C.
earlier this year where they had the
opportunity to be student activists for a
noble cause. The Pro Life club is one
of our many clubs and extracurricular
activities grounded in Catholic values
through which our students build longlasting friendships and give back to
their communities.
Real Love Week
GROUNDED IN FAITH As an Archdiocesan school, Archbishop Chapelle emphasizes
teaching Catholic faith alongside strong academics to ensure our
students develop both their spirits and minds. In addition to holding
monthly Mass for the entire school, students are invited to attend
Tuesday and Thursday Mass with Father Charles Dussouy, our
school chaplain, who is on campus two full days a week.
Our school is also blessed to have the continued presence of Deacon
Drea Capaci who holds Eucharistic prayer services on Wednesdays
and assists Father Charles at Masses for our student body that are
open to families and friends. Grandparents’ Day, Matthew 25
Breakfast, Founder’s Day, and Baccalaureate Mass are all held on
campus to bring our community together as a family.
Chapelle’s new Campus Minister and alumna, Mrs. Megan Caire
’03, has been a truly wonderful addition to our religious program.
Mrs. Caire has been instrumental in leading religious events on
campus, including Real Love Week and Living Way of the Cross in
addition to campus ministry nights and personal faith counseling.
Mrs. Caire also directs spiritual retreats off campus for each grade
level. Mrs. Lyn Moore continues to assist Mrs. Caire on a part-time
basis.
This year our beautiful St. Joseph’s Altar was featured heavily in the
news and drew incredible crowds. We thank all of the volunteers for
their hard work and dedication to keeping this tradition alive. With
our ambitious school renovation project and revitalized image, we
look forward to welcoming more members of the greater New
Orleans community to Mass and other events held on campus.
Matthew 25: Going Above and Beyond
At Chapelle, we value service to others as an integral component of education.
Each student is required to complete 110 hours of community service to graduate,
but a great many students go above and beyond what is required to give back.
The Women of Christ club, moderated
by Religion teacher Ms. Jessie Dupuy,
held a Real Love Week this past
March to teach relationships grounded
in love for Christ. The highlight of the
week was a panel with Sister Tracey
Dugas, Ms. Sarah Denny ’07, and Mr.
and Mrs. Stephen Dessauer. Students
then held a Purity Commitment
Ceremony in the Chapelle chapel
where they joined together to pray and
say yes to their dignity as women.
This year’s Matthew 25 Breakfast awarded 76 students with certificates for
completing 25 additional service hours and 57 students for completing over 100
service hours. A new honor, the Matthew 25 Century Plus award, was presented
to Janet Nelson and Alyssa Rieder for completing over 100 service hours during
each of their five years at Chapelle.
In May, nineteen Chapelle Juniors
attended Extraordinary Ministers of Holy
Communion training in order to serve
during their senior year. Our students are
models of Catholic charity and constantly
seek new ways to volunteer.
Dedication to Service
A BRIGHT FUTURE
Our students dedicate numerous hours of
their time to serving others. This year, our
Chipmunks participated in a Walk for the
Hungry and volunteered several times at
Second Harvest Food Bank. National
Honor Society and National Junior
Honor Society members collected over
10,000 food items- one of the largest
donations Second Harvest has ever
received!
School Advancement
Chapelle’s Advancement Office works
year-round to project the best image of
our school through key marketing
strategies, increased press in the news and
on social media, fundraising campaigns,
and special events held on campus and in
the community.
Last year’s
Open House
was an
incredible
success, and we
eagerly await
the start of the
2015-2016
school year!
State of the Union
The values of service and loyalty are distinguishing characteristics
of Archbishop Chapelle High School. We are a family comprised
of past and present students, faculty, staff, parents, grandparents,
friends, neighbors, and benefactors who share the same conviction
for Christian faith and education.
In education, if you do not grow to meet the changing times and
needs of your students, you fall behind. Archbishop Chapelle High
School is a school that is not only meeting our students’ needs, but
is thriving like never before. We are a school that embraces
change, takes charge, and strives to be the very best.
We have made tremendous progress over the past two years. We
have more work to do, for our work as educators is never done. As
a school we are constantly evolving to better serve our students so
that they can graduate and enter college as bright, compassionate,
well-rounded young women eager to enact positive change in the
world.
Loyal to green and white,
John A. Serio
Principal
Volume I
Archbishop Chapelle High School
8800 Veterans Memorial Blvd.
Metairie, LA 70003
504.467.3105 (tel)
504.466.3191 (fax)
Important Dates for the Next School Year:
Monday, Aug. 3, 2015
New Parent Orientation 6:30pm
Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2015
Deus Providebit Mass
Fri. - Sat. March 18-19, 2016
St. Joseph’s Altar
Friday, Aug. 7, 2015
Check-In Day 7:30am-3pm
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015
Loyal to Green and White Night 6-8pm
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Alumnae Brunch, Junior Prom
Monday, Aug. 10, 2015
First Day 8th & 9th, new 10th & 11th
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015
Open House
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Founder’s Day
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015
First Day All Students
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015
Golf Tournament 12:30pm
Friday, April 22, 2016
Alumnae Inductions
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015
8th Grade Induction Ceremony 6:30pm
Friday, Nov. 20, 2015
Cocktails in the Courtyard 6:30-10pm
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Senior Prom
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015
Back to School Night 6pm
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016
Grandparents’ Day
Monday, May 16, 2016
Senior Awards Night 6:30-8pm
Friday, Aug. 21, 2015
Senior Ring Mass 7:30pm
Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016
Father/Daughter Dance 7-10pm
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Baccalaureate Mass 9-11am
Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015
Legacy Leadership Party 6:30pm
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016
Mother/Daughter Brunch 11am-2pm
Friday, May 20, 2016
Graduation
Saturday, Sep. 26, 2015
Craft Fair 9am-4pm
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Emerald Gala 7:30pm
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
8th Grade Closing Ceremony 7-9pm
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