2016 to 2017
The fullest year. Nine new teachers are profiled in September, volleyball wins its first state title since 2003, golf and swimming take state, and basketball wins the Seventh Region. Students intern on a Senate campaign, debate at the Kentucky Youth Assembly and KUNA, stage a play on domestic violence, launch the first ValkyrieBEAT dance marathon, and travel to Belize and Thailand. Seniors also push back on retouched portraits.
Valkyrie’s Best Friend
After a midterm visit by therapy dogs, Sacred Heart plans to adopt a facility dog for the counseling office, though the process may take a long time.
Valkyrie Sisters take Brother Borgia Invitational
Sacred Heart's track team competed at St. Xavier's Brother Borgia Invitational on April 29, its last meet before Regionals and State.
Ringing in Junior Prom
Sacred Heart juniors held their Junior Ring Ceremony and Junior Prom on April 21, ending the ceremony with the anthem "Dear Sacred Heart".
Lacrosse Secures Fifth Straight Braveheart Title
Sacred Heart lacrosse defeated Eastern 9-6 on Horton Field for a fifth straight Braveheart Championship, with the ninth goal coming with five seconds left.
Building Houses and Bonds on Belize Mission Trip
Ten Sacred Heart students spent spring break in Belize with Hand in Hand Ministries, building a home for an elderly local woman named Judith.
Travels to Thailand
Fifteen Sacred Heart students and three teachers spent spring break caring for elephants in Thailand and touring Chiang Mai.
Oaks Fashion
The Rune lists three online shops and two Louisville boutiques for students hunting a dress for Oaks and Derby days.
Global Ambassadors from SHA
Sixty-one Sacred Heart students attended the 2017 Kentucky United Nations Assembly at the Galt House and earned a Delegation of Excellence Award.
Eagle Beat Down
Sacred Heart lacrosse, ranked second in the state, beat first-ranked Eastern 8-7 before heading to a tournament in Atlanta.
ValkyrieBEAT: Dancing For a Cure
ValkyrieBEAT, Sacred Heart's first dance marathon, aimed to raise $10,000 for pediatric cancer research at the University of Louisville.
SHA Softball Slides by Shelby County in Extra Innings
Sacred Heart softball beat Shelby County 4-1 in the eighth inning under the international tiebreaker, with Emma Burnett striking out nine.
A Frigid and Fortunate Start to Track Season
Sacred Heart track and field placed fourth at the Harry Greschel Invitational, its first outdoor meet, in cold and windy conditions.
The Start of The Angela’s Series
Over 150 Sacred Heart students watched He Named Me Malala at the first Angela's Series event, which links to the school's summer reading of I Am Malala.
SHA Lacrosse Off to a Strong Start
Sacred Heart lacrosse beat Ballard 16-6 at Horton Field in its third game, after earlier victories over Male and DuPont Manual.
Saint Patrick’s Day at SHA
The Rune covers the Louisville parade, the archbishop's Lenten exception for corned beef and ideas for wearing green with an SHA uniform.
ValkyrieBEAT Bake Sale
ValkyrieBEAT raised over $620 at a Sacred Heart bake sale for pediatric cancer research, with 15 percent of DiOrios profits donated that night.
The Road to State: SHA wins Seventh Region Title
Sacred Heart beat Manual 59-52 for the Seventh Region title and advanced to the Sweet 16 to face defending state champion Butler.
Successful Swimming for the State Title
The Sacred Heart Aquavalks won a fifth straight state title, the program's 28th, with relay wins and a broken state record.
What Valkyries Can Give Up/Start Doing This Lent
The Rune lists things to give up and things to take on during Lent 2017 and explains how these sacrifices relate to the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert.
Dancing the Night Away
The Sacred Heart dance team held its father daughter dance on a yacht on the Ohio River on February 26, after placing at nationals and state.
SHA Hosts Annual CRS Rice Bowl Luncheon
Sacred Heart hosted the annual Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Luncheon, which launches the Lenten collection for people in need.
Sarah Buse Named National Merit Finalist
Senior Sarah Buse was Sacred Heart's only National Merit Finalist this year, an honor that requires SAT scores, strong grades, a school endorsement, and an essay.
Around the World at SHA: Multicultural Dinner 2017
More than 250 students, faculty and community members attended Sacred Heart's 12th annual Multicultural Dinner on February 23, featuring dishes and acts from many countries.
Student-Run Play Brings Awareness to Domestic Violence
Two seniors wrote and directed The Violence Ballet as their IB CAS project, donating ticket sales to charities that help abuse survivors.
Ashley Moch “Strikes” At State Bowling Tournament
Sacred Heart junior Ashley Moch placed 18th out of 32 competitors at the individual state bowling tournament in Lexington.
Aqua Valks Win Regionals
The Aqua Valks won the Region Five swimming title with 663 points and 10 of 12 event wins, with Brooke Forde breaking her own 200 free record.
Groovy Night Out For Valkyries
The Get Your Groove On father-daughter dance featured vintage vinyls, disco balls and a Volkswagen van backdrop at Mellwood Arts Center.
What Went Down at Catholic Schools Week
Sacred Heart marked National Catholic Schools Week with a liturgy for St. Angela Merici and daily appreciation days for parents, alumnae, faculty, Ursuline Sisters, and students.
Five Things To Do Over Winter Break
The Rune suggests baking, cleaning out a closet, a girls night, the 21c museum and a hike at Bernheim Forest for winter break.
27th Annual Alumnae Awards Celebration
The 27th Annual Alumnae Awards honored winners in five categories, including the Ursuline Teaching Legacy and Alumna of the Year awards.
Soccer Valkyries Sign to Play at Collegiate Level
Seniors Kate Dutton and Sarah Buse signed to play college soccer at Centre College and the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Feb. 1, 2017.
Pennies for Peru
Sacred Heart's Pennies for Peru competition, held during Catholic Schools Week, raises money for the Ursuline sister school Santa Angela Merici in Callao, Peru.
Sacred Heart’s Success at Wildcat Classic
Sacred Heart track and field opened the indoor season at the Wildcat Classic in Lexington, with third-place relay and sprint finishes.
Sixth Straight for Valkyrie Basketball over Rockets
Sacred Heart basketball beat the Assumption Rockets 67-43 for its sixth straight win over them, moving to 13-4 on the season.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration 2017
Sacred Heart's Diversity Club honored Martin Luther King Jr. on January 12 with a prayer and quotes, and encouraged service on his holiday.
Alums Give Advice On College Life
Fourteen alumnae told juniors and seniors how to meet people, choose a distance from home and balance classes and social life in college.
The Face of a Valkyrie
Seniors reported heavily retouched yearbook portraits, and Miller Photography said a lab employee went too far and offered to redo any portrait on request.
Service Dogs Make A Visit To SHA
Therapy dogs of all breeds visited Sacred Heart on December 9 so students could relieve stress before midterms.
SHA Theatre: An Inside Look
A Sacred Heart theatre student explains how rehearsals, sets, lighting and tech week come together behind each production.
Seeing Double at SHA
The Rune talked with seven sets of twins at Sacred Heart about being mistaken for each other, shared friend groups, and having a built-in best friend.
Undefeated Season Continues
Sacred Heart basketball stayed undefeated with an 84-76 win over Simon Kenton on December 10, shooting 58 percent from the field.
Dance Your Way To “The Nutcracker” This Weekend
Several Sacred Heart dancers appeared in The Nutcracker, rehearsing six days a week since August and performing during midterms.
Victory for the Valkyries
Sacred Heart beat Jeffersonville 53-38, giving Coach Donna Moir her 565th career win and seventh place on Kentucky's all-time girls basketball wins list.
Giving Back On Giving Tuesday: SHA Phonathon
A 3.5 hour Sacred Heart phonathon on Giving Tuesday raised about $31,000, helped by an anonymous donor who matched gifts up to $10,000.
Valkyrie Cheerleaders
Sacred Heart cheerleaders placed fourth at regionals under coach Ryan Heinrich and qualified for UCA nationals in Orlando.
6 Ways to Spend a Louisville Winter
The Rune lists six ways to enjoy a Louisville winter, from holiday lights at the Galt House to sledding at Cherokee Park.
Open House Recap
Sacred Heart's annual open house drew one of its biggest turnouts, with no theme this year and tours limited to two floors.
Madrigals beg, “A Toast is in Order!”
The Sacred Heart madrigal choir turned Big Springs Country Club into Castle Valkyrie for a December feast of music and wassail.
“New Year, New Me”
Sacred Heart students and faculty share New Year's resolutions for 2017, ranging from schoolwork goals to flossing and making the bed.
Christmas Cheer in the UAC
The annual Sacred Heart tree lighting at the Ursuline Arts Center on November 30 featured performances from the preschool to the Madrigal choir.
Forensic Science Classes Participate in Mock Crime Scenes
Forensic science students worked four mock crime scenes on the third floor, set up by a St. Matthews crime scene unit detective.
Fun Things To Do Over Christmas Break
The Rune suggests five Christmas break activities, including Lights Under Louisville, the Louisville Ballet Nutcracker, and the Old Louisville Holiday Home Tour.
Recap of the 2016 Valkyries of the Month
Three Sacred Heart seniors were named Valkyrie of the Month for October, November and December 2016, an award nominated by teachers.
Student Advisory Board
The Student Advisory Board, a student-run club with sixteen members, brings student ideas for improving SHA to the administration.
Sacred Heart Sweeps the High School Marketing Challenge
Sacred Heart marketing classes took first, second, and third place in the 17th High School Marketing Challenge, their first year winning the competition.
Service Hours Deadlines
Sacred Heart service hour deadlines: freshmen and sophomores need 20 hours, juniors and seniors need 25 outreach hours, with checkpoints on February 20 and March 30.
15 Gift Ideas Under $15
The Rune lists fifteen gifts under $15, eleven to buy and four to make at home, for the 2016 Christmas season.
SHA Basketball Wins Season Opener
Sacred Heart beat Highlands High School 73-54 in the season opener, with junior Grace Berger named Player of the Game.
15 Gift Ideas Under $15
The Rune lists 15 inexpensive Christmas gifts, including store-bought ideas and do-it-yourself options such as homemade sweets and snow globes.
Sacred Heart Gives Back: Food Drive Wrap-Up
Sacred Heart Academy and the Model School collected more than 11,000 cans for Dare to Care in a two-week Thanksgiving food drive.
Flag Football Teams Enjoy Fun-Filled Season
Sacred Heart's flag football club ended its season with a Nov. 7 tournament won by The Dream Team, with No Punt Intended as runner-up.
That’s A Wrap On The CAC Gift Drive
The Community Awareness Committee's gift drive raised 2,743 gifts and over $1,600 for children and teens in Kermit, West Virginia.
Teachers Trail in Turkey Bowl
Students beat the teachers 51-49 in the Turkey Bowl volleyball game, which was tied 22-22 at halftime and 45-45 late in the second half.
Turkey Bowl Teaser
The Rune previews the annual Turkey Bowl volleyball match between Sacred Heart seniors and teachers, held the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
Valkyries Debate in the State Capitol
At Kentucky Youth Assembly, Sacred Heart passed two bills through the governor and was named a delegation of excellence.
42nd Street to Success
Sacred Heart's 42nd Street ended a two-week run and highlighted the student techs who work behind the scenes before Jesus Christ Superstar.
Hammons’ Hits
Four-year varsity volleyball player Paige Hammons won state, earned Miss Kentucky Volleyball, and will play for the University of Florida.
7 Way to Stay Thankful (and Stress-Free) on Thanksgiving
The Rune lists seven low-stress Thanksgiving ideas in Louisville, including football, the parade, a movie, a Turkey Trot, a nap and Black Friday shopping.
Forde Builds Legacy One Stroke at a Time
Senior swimmer Brooke Forde, a Stanford commit and Olympic Team Trials qualifier, discusses her best events and what she looks forward to at Stanford.
A Conclusion to Cross Country
The Sacred Heart cross country team placed 7th at the state meet at Kentucky Horse Park, with junior Kathleen Simms fourth overall in 18:46.
SHA Senior Recognized For Leadership Skills With YMCA Youth Character Award
A Sacred Heart senior was one of 14 teenagers from over 150 applicants to receive the Louisville YMCA Youth Character Award on October 27.
Look at Me!
The annual Lookism Assembly asked freshmen to look past appearances through small groups, videos and anonymous notes, led by the Diversity Club.
Valkyries Sign Letters Of Intent
Twelve Sacred Heart seniors signed letters of intent in the gym to play college golf, field hockey, swimming, and volleyball.
SHAlleyball Takes State
Sacred Heart beat Henry Clay 3-1 to win the 2016 KHSAA volleyball state championship, the school's second title and first since 2003.
Catching Up on the Campaign Trail
Four Sacred Heart juniors worked unpaid internships on Senator Rand Paul's campaign, answering calls, contacting voters and assisting at events.
CAC Gift Drive Kicks Off Holiday Season
The CAC Gift Drive, started by two Ursuline sisters, collects gifts for impoverished families in Kermit, West Virginia, and runs Oct. 31 to Nov. 7.
Valkyries Vie for Victory
Sacred Heart cross country finished second at Regionals on October 29, qualifying for State, while Kathleen Simms won the race.
15 Present Ideas for CAC Gift Drive
The Rune suggests fifteen gifts for the CAC Appalachian Gift Drive, which was short on presents for teenagers aged 13 to 18.
Field Hockey Falls Short in State Semi-Finals
Sacred Heart field hockey lost 1-0 to Assumption on a sudden death overtime goal in the state semifinal, ending a 21-6 season.
The Best Haunted Hangouts in Louisville
A Sacred Heart reporter reviews Baxter Avenue Morgue, Field of Screams, Devil's Attic and Haunted Hotel, naming Haunted Hotel the pick.
A “Priceless” Interview ft. Joel Smallbone
The Rune interviewed Joel Smallbone of For King and Country about the film Priceless and the END IT Movement against human trafficking.
Seniors Stick It!
Sacred Heart field hockey seniors won their Oct. 14 senior night game 6-3 over MICDS after a tie with 20 minutes left.
Friendly Fun at Freshman Field Day
Sacred Heart freshmen competed by TEAM in costume contests and games at Horton Field on October 12 for the annual Freshman Field Day.
Rigorous Racing at Lexington Catholic
Sacred Heart cross country placed seventh as a varsity team and second in JV at the Lexington Catholic Invitational ahead of regionals and state.
(Lucky) 7 Testing Tips to Get You to Fall Break
The Rune offers seven tips for the PLAN and PSAT testing day, including sleep, breakfast, #2 pencils, and answering every question.
Big Apple Welcomes Valkyrie Art Students
Sacred Heart art students visited New York City museums and Parsons School of Design for inspiration, and saw Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.
Sun SETS on Volleyball Seniors
Sacred Heart volleyball beat Henry Clay 3-1 on senior night, with nine seniors honored by trifold posters, notes and cake.
SHA, Trinity Support Cause Close to Teams
In the annual Rock the Heart lacrosse game, Sacred Heart seniors honored those affected by breast cancer and fans wore pink as Trinity won 9-7.
Not Clowning Around
Clown sightings spread across the United States and Louisville, prompting lockdowns at two Jefferson County schools on September 28.
SHA Golf Takes State
Sacred Heart golf won its 10th state title with a 628 total, beating runner-up Shelby County by 42 shots a year after finishing sixth.
Freshmen Embrace Valkyrie Life
Sacred Heart freshmen go through Frosh Start, Orientation, Mass, Retreat, Frosh Blast, and a new Grandparent Brunch in August and September.
SHA Students Support Local Football Teams
Sacred Heart students joined thousands at the Trinity versus St. X game, and the dance team performed a hip-hop routine at halftime.
SHA Cross Country at Great American
Sacred Heart cross country raced elite teams in Cary, North Carolina, and recorded many personal bests at the Great American Cross Country Festival.
Post-Production: The Outsiders
Three Sacred Heart students took roles in St. Xavier's production of The Outsiders, which closed Sept. 24, and talk about auditioning and the story's message.
Valkyries Race at Midwest Catholic Championships
Sacred Heart cross country took ninth place at the Midwest Catholic Championships in Kettering, Ohio, and third in the open race.
Huskie Hustle
Sacred Heart field hockey placed third at the Huskie Invitational in Chicago with two wins and two losses.
Valkyrie Volleyball Wins North of the Border
Kentucky's top-ranked Sacred Heart volleyball team swept Indiana's Providence Pioneers 3-0, and the freshman and JV teams also won.
New Year, New SHA
Sacred Heart celebrated the completion of its two-phase renovation on September 21, which brought a new front desk, lockers and more color.
Cards (and Valks) Crazy for College GameDay
Louisville hosted College GameDay for the first time and beat No. 2 Florida State 63-20 at a sold-out Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
Service Fair is Success
At Sacred Heart's annual Service Fair, upperclassmen presented agencies like Habitat for Humanity to freshmen and sophomores planning their service hours.
Valkyries Finish First at Bunny Daugherty Invite
The Sacred Heart golf team won its own Bunny Daugherty Invitational at Hurstbourne Country Club with 322 points.
SHA Wins Varsity Race at Valkyrie Invitational
Sacred Heart cross country won the Valkyrie Invitational with 96 points over Assumption in rainy, muddy conditions.
Inside Outsiders: Opening Week
Three Sacred Heart students have principal roles in Saint Xavier's The Outsiders, adapted from the novel by S. E. Hinton.
Emig’s Entrance at Sacred Heart Academy
Katie Emig, born in Nashville and raised in Melbourne, Florida, joins Sacred Heart as a math teacher after a year as a full-time substitute.
Who is the New Teacher in Mrs. Meirose’s Room?
New freshman theology teacher Ms. Link, formerly of St. Scholastica Academy in Louisiana, encourages students to be themselves.
Field Hockey Falls Short In Annual Mug Game
Sacred Heart led Assumption 3-1 in the Mug Game, then allowed three second-half goals in the first 10 minutes and lost 4-3.
Confidence is Key
The Fight for Confidence Club, started in 2014, raised $320 for the NEDA Foundation through a walk and a bake sale.
Sacred Heart Takes Down Assumption at LIVT
Sacred Heart volleyball beat Assumption 2-1 in the LIVT finals, avenging an Aug. 31 loss, and then traveled to Las Vegas.
Lauren Stearman Steers Her Way into SHA Hearts
Louisville native Lauren Stearman returns from Steubenville, Ohio, to teach sophomore theology at Sacred Heart, inspired by her father, a youth minister.
World Traveler Comes Home to Teach at Sacred Heart
Alumna Rachel Walters, class of 2011, returned to teach Spanish I and II after studying in France, student teaching in Ecuador and leading senior retreats.
From Learner to Leader: Kathryn Hilleary Returns to Sacred Heart as Teacher and Coach
Sacred Heart alumna Kathryn Hilleary returned as a freshman religion teacher and assistant track and cross country coach.
Inspired by Strong Women to Inspire Others: Ms. Jennifer Snyder
New Sacred Heart English teacher Jennifer Snyder, a former middle school teacher, says she wants to help young women find their voice.
Derrick Staton: From the Court Room to the Classroom
Derrick Staton left employment law to teach A.P. Government at Sacred Heart, and says his law background helps in the classroom.
Building Houses to Building Hearts: Ms. Katie Givens
Alumna Katie Givens, class of 2006, joined the Sacred Heart math faculty after studying marketing and art history and leaving architecture behind.
Versen, an Ace on the Court and in the Classroom
Brett Versen, Sacred Heart's head volleyball coach, is a first-year physics and forensic science teacher and former Ohio State men's volleyball player.