God bless,

Dan Quesnell

Principal

Salvatorian Global Scholars Program | This year, encourage your daughter to explore the Salvatorian Global Scholars Program.

Inspired by the mission of the Sisters of the Divine Savior, the Salvatorian Global Scholars Program allows students to grow as global citizens with the intent to foster an awareness of a loving God. In this program, scholars prepare for higher education and careers in the humanities, in which multilingual proficiency, intercultural experience, and knowledge of diverse cultures are assets. Scholars are intentional about learning world culture, geography, history, earth science, world literature, fine arts, and religion in a world that is becoming increasingly diverse and interdependent.   

To obtain the DSHA Salvatorian Global Scholars Honors Certificate, students will complete the required components, including:  

• Course work  
• Co-curricular activities  
• Intercultural experiences  
• Community service related to a global issue  

Students select courses and track their progress by completing requirement trackers. Dashers are encouraged to consult with global scholar committee members.    

In the 2023-24 school year, DSHA rolled out the Global Scholar program, and 12 seniors successfully met the requirements and were awarded the Salvatorian Global Scholars Honors Certificate in May. Among these scholars, students participated in a broad base of humanities by taking four years of world language, and many exceeded the requirements of global studies and fine arts coursework. Six students obtained the Seal of Biliteracy in French and Spanish in addition to the honors certificate.   

Students may register for the Salvatorian Global Scholars Honors Program by picking up an application in the Student Services Office or in a World Language classroom. They may also request a digital application from Academic Dean Erin Housiaux. 

NEW! 2026-27 Student and Parent Handbook Signatures Due Tuesday, August 25 |

Please take some time to review the 2026-27 Student and Parent Handbook. All parents and students are required to review and agree to follow the policies outlined in the handbook. Both parents and students must electronically sign the Handbook Acknowledgement form in myDSHA by Tuesday, August 25. 

Attendance Reminder | Parents, as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, we would like to remind you of our absentee reporting procedures. If your daughter will be absent from school, please contact Attendance Secretary and Main Office Administrative Assistant Nikki Scully at 414-721-2920 or email attendance@dsha.info as soon as possible.

When reporting an absence, you will need to provide the following information:  

• Student ID: Please provide your daughter’s student ID number for verification purposes.  
• Student first name  
• Student last name  
• Reason for absence: Please specify the reason for your daughter’s absence (e.g., illness, appointment, family emergency, college visit, etc.)  

Additionally, please ensure that your contact information is up to date in our system to facilitate communication regarding attendance matters by logging into your account. Thank you for your cooperation and support in this matter.   

La secretaria de asistencia, Nikki Scully, habla español y puede atender completamente a cualquier familia con necesidades de habla hispana. 

Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up | The DSHA security team works hard to ensure the safety of our entire school community in all areas of our campus. Please help us keep our parking lots and entrances safe by following these guidelines:    

• Please use the main DSHA driveway entrance for morning drop-off and after-school pick-up. Do not enter campus using the north driveway by the Sisters of the Divine Savior building.  
• Before school, please ONLY drop students off at the back gym doors.   
• After school, please ONLY pick up students at the back gym doors.   
• Only use the inside lane closest to the building for drop-off and pick-up. The outside lane is for driving and passing.   
• When exiting, drive all the way around the building to exit the parking lot by the Sisters of the Divine Savior building. The gates in the front parking lot will be closed during the day.    
• If your daughter drives, please remind her to drive slowly in the parking lot and keep an eye out for pedestrians.    
• If your daughter parks in the neighborhood and is staying after school for an activity, encourage her to move her car into the parking lot after school.

DSHA has security on campus from 7:30 am-8 pm Monday through Friday. Students and parents are encouraged to reach out to Security Manager Patrick Brousseau with any safety concerns on or around campus. 

Construction on Mayfair Road | Beginning in September, portions of Mayfair Road (WIS 100) between Burleigh and Capitol will be under construction. You may need to find an alternate route to school. You can keep up with the project and construction updates online here.   

Welcome Back Social at MUHS | Saturday, August 29, 7-9 pm | This year, the DSHA-MUHS joint Welcome Back Social will be held at MUHS. The social is open to 9th and 10th grade students from DSHA and MUHS only. There is no cost to attend. Students must show their student ID for entry.

Contact Dean of Students Rachel Fredricks with any questions.

NEW! Bread for the Homeless & Hungry | Twice a month, through PB&J Ministry at lunch, Dashers make 500+ sandwiches for those experiencing homelessness. PB&J Ministry allow students to give of their time, get to know one another, and help those in need. The sandwiches are delivered to the Guest House of Milwaukee and Repairers of the Breach.

Interested in donating bread or delivering sandwiches? Contact Campus Ministry Administrative Assistant Tracy Richburg.

NEW! Collections Days | Remember: The first and third Wednesdays of each month are Collections Days. Dashers are encouraged to participate in one of the following ways (all while enjoying a day out of uniform):

• $1+ donation for hunger initiatives in Milwaukee
• Non-perishable foods for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry at Mother of Good Counsel Parish
• Used leggings in good condition for Franciscan Peacemakers

NEW! Leggings Drive | Do you, or your daughter, have an abundance of leggings? Donate them to Franciscan Peacemakers this September through DSHA. Franciscan Peacemakers' mission is to provide healing to women who have been sexually exploited in Milwaukee. Leggings are one of their biggest needs in the clothing closet. Leggings can be donated on collection days or in the Quad throughout September. 

Save the Date for Annual Retreats | Mark your calendars for these important experiences. Retreats are mandatory for freshmen, sophomores, and seniors. Junior retreat is optional. 

• Freshman Retreat: "Sowing the Seeds of Sisterhood" (Mark 6:50-52); Sunday, October 18, 11 am-7:30 pm and Monday, October 19, 7:50 am-3 pm at DSHA 
• Sophomore Retreats: "Through the Turbulence" (Isaiah 43:1-5); October 11-12 or October 12:13 at St. Iakovos Retreat Center 
• Optional Junior Retreats: "Mary & Martha | Be Present" (Luke 10:41-42); January 10-11 or January 14-15 at St. Iakovos Retreat Center 
• Senior Retreats: "Present to the Spirit" (Luke 24:13-32); January 10-11 or January 14-15 at St. Iakovos Retreat Center 

Contact Director of Campus Ministry Stephanie Monson with any questions.

Meet Your Student Services Team | Welcome back! The Student Services team is thrilled to launch a new school year dedicated to cultivating meaningful connections across our campus community. We believe that every student thrives when they feel seen, supported, and truly connected not just academically, but socially and emotionally. Whether you need a listening ear, academic guidance, or help navigating campus resources, our doors are open to ensure you have a safe, inclusive, and empowering year ahead. 

School Counselors & Student Services Team

• Melissa Santa-Cruz, Director of Student Services & School Counselor for Caritas
• Janet Como, School Counselor for Lumen
• Therese Mance Hayden '07, School Counselor for Illustratae
• Kristin Shea, Director of College Counseling & School Counselor for Dignitas
• Mallorie Svetlik, School Counselor for Sono
• Katie Bova Hoffmann '02, Student Services Administrative Assistant
• Rachel Kirsenlohr, Educational Database Coordinator & Registrar
• Katie Klinger Leszczynski '10, Interventionist for the St. Angela Merici Academic Support Program
• Amy Lund, Testing Coordinator & College Assistant
• Joanna McQuide '93, Applied Wellness Program Director

School-Based Therapy Appointments Available | The DSHA Counseling Department partners with Children's Wisconsin for access to a school-based therapist. Psychotherapist Emi Orr is a licensed professional counselor who works with students and families experiencing a range of emotional and behavioral issues. Her areas of treatment can include depression, anxiety, trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), behavior problems, adjustment issues due to stress or changes, grief and loss issues, and mental health. Emi has immediate availability to meet. If you have any questions about the program and would like to start the referral process, please reach out to your daughter’s counselor.  

Standardized Testing Support | Revolution Prep is offering free events to our students to help them hit the ground running as they prep for college admissions exams. These events are hosted live online:

• Digital ACT Practice Exam: Saturday, August 29, 11 am-2:30 pm
• PSAT 101: Sunday, September 13, 6-7 pm
• PSAT/NMSQT Practice Exam: Saturday, September 19, 11 am-2 pm
• PSAT/NMSQT Practice Exam: Sunday, September 20, 11 am-2 pm

*Please note that these live exams are proctored in standard time only. If you have been approved for an extended time accommodation, go ahead and register for the exam,then use this SAT suite self-proctoring guide or this ACT self-proctoring manual to walk you through the process of using our on-demand video proctor with extended time. 

We invite students to join Revolution Prep for an introductory strategy session for the official test! This hour-long session is designed to give students insight into the exam as well as provide tips and tricks for test day. In this session, one of their professional tutors will teach core test-taking strategies, including a dive into the exam content and structure, how to avoid common traps, and how to create the best plan for success. 

NEW! DSHA College Visits | Students can meet with representatives from more than 40 colleges and universities this fall.

NEW! Senior Application Checklist for Document Submission | When seniors submit their applications to colleges, they need to request transcripts and other documents from the college center through the designated half-sheet application checklist form. These will be available starting Tuesday, September 2, when students meet with Student Services to match their Naviance and Common App accounts; they can be returned to Testing Coordinator & College Assistant Amy Lund. 

NEW! Common Application Information | The 2026-27 Common App is now open. Students can continue working on their applications with the most up-to-date information.

As a reminder, every member of the DSHA Class of 2027 should have created a Common App account last year. When logging in for the first time after August 1, remember to select the first option: “Applying as a first-year student and plan to start college in 2027." This will transfer all your Common Application information to the the latest application.    

NEW! Financial Aid Night: Thursday, October 1, 6:30 pm | DSHA/MUHS Financial Aid Night is open to junior and senior students. The event will be held at DSHA, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The night will review the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the basic chronology regarding filling out the form, and the components of a financial aid package. Mark your calendars and keep an eye out for more information closer to the event date. 

Contact Director of College Counseling & School Counselor Kristin Shea with any questions.

Fall Retreat | The first retreat of the year is Monday, September 14, 9 am-3 pm. We look forward to planning an exciting year!

Contact Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Director Tanya Keenan to learn more or to ask questions.

NEW! Frozen Ensemble Auditions | There's still time to join DSHA's fall musical! Ensemble auditions begin after school on Thursday, August 27.

PAA Golf Outing & Pickleball Tournament | Join us at Tripoli Country Club on Friday, September 11 for our annual golf outing and pickleball tournament.

This is the only dedicated fundraiser of the year for Dasher Athletics. DSHA's championship-winning program provides student-athletes with opportunities to grow in confidence, leadership, teamwork, and excellence.

Here's how you can get involved:

⛳Get on the course (or court!) with us: Purchase tickets for golf or pickleball.

⛳Support a DSHA team: Make a donation to a Dasher Athletics team. The team with the highest participation will get an out-of-uniform pass! Plus, parent donations of $25+ include a PAA membership!

⛳Donate: Contribute experiences, tickets, gift cards, and more to our golf outing auction.

⛳Volunteer: Join us in planning this exciting community event!

Contact Director of Volunteer Engagement & Special Events Cassandra Aranda with any questions or to learn about sponsorhip opportunities.

At DSHA, our parents and family members are the heart of our vibrant community. Family involvement does more than support our school, it enriches the educational and spiritual journey of every Dasher. When parents share their time, talents, and energy, they model service and leadership for our young women while building lifelong connections with fellow families. 



Whether you can give an hour at an upcoming event, assist with fine arts and athletics, or join one of our parent associations, your presence makes a profound difference. 

Contact Director of Volunteer Engagement & Special Events Cassandra Aranda with any questions.