Students and staff look forward to this celebration all year. It's a celebration of DSHA's Catholic foundation as well as a wonderful reason to join together in school spirit.

According to Dean of Students Rachel Fredricks, "Celebrating Catholic Schools Week means celebrating what's so special about DSHA and our all-girls institution. We spend the week together giving back to our community in unique ways, celebrating Mass, supporting each other, and having fun along the way!"

Here's how DSHA celebrated this fun- and faith-filled week this year.

Gr8 Lengths

DSHA kicked off Catholic Schools Week with the annual Gr8 Lengths assembly. During this event, students, faculty, and staff took the stage in the Robert & Marie Hansen Family Fine Arts Theatre to donate eight or more inches of hair. All donations benefited Children with Hair Loss, an organization that provides wigs to children at no cost.

Many volunteers signed up for this big cut in advance, but many students were inspired to donate their locks right on the spot. More than 80 members of our community donated hair during the event!

Blood Drive

Students continued their Catholic Schools Week generosity with a blood drive benefitting Versiti on Tuesday morning. More than 90 students donated blood, with additional faculty and staff joining in as well. 

Seniors v. TSC Basketball Game

Thursday morning, seniors donned their grade jerseys to take the court against TSC. Senior varsity basketball players coached their classmates to victory over faculty and staff. A big shoutout to Grace Ratzel, DSHA '26, for her incredible shot in the second half of the game!

Focus on Faith

addition to fun and school spirit, the week was full of enriching faith opportunities. 

On Wednesday, students were invited to an optional before-school Mass, as well as Eucharistic Adoration in the Mother of our Savior Chapel.

The week concluded with an all-school Mass. DSHA Chaplain Fr. Silas Henderson, SDS, presided while DSHA Marian Scholars and the liturgical choir brought extra joy to the celebration.

Celebrating Community

While gathered together on Friday, faculty and staff celebrating milestone years were honored. Thank you to these members of our community for their service:

5 Years

• Social Studies Faculty Chris Cotey
• Academic Interventionist Katie Klinger Leszczynski, DSHA '10
• Custodian Ronda Agee
• Controller Christina Acevedo
• Technology Coordinator Michael Ellis
• Educational Database Coordinator & Registrar Rachel Kirsenlohr
• Dean of Students Rachel Fredricks
• Security Manager Patrick Brousseau
• School Counselor Janet Como
• Mathematics Faculty Lisa Curran
• Social Studies Faculty Dan Demeter
• School Counselor Malorie Svetlik
• Campus Ministry Administrative Assistant Tracy Richburg
• VP of Human Resources & In-House Counsel Claire Hartley

10 Years

• Custodian Kathy Hahn
• English Faculty Andrew Berens
• Director of Technology John White
• Data Systems Manager Nellie Martens Murphy

15 Years

• Librarian Christina Thiele