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Dear DSHA families,
I want to take a quick moment to acknowledge the announcement from last week. When we chose our scriptural theme for this year, it resonated with me on many fronts, including how I feel about my tenure and the mission at DSHA.
Last Wednesday, we had our quarterly faculty prayer service, and the Parent Association provided breakfast. The prayer centered around the quotes attributed to the Salvatorian Family House System patron saints. The patron saint of Illustratae is St. Hildegard of Bingen, whose feast day is September 17. Her quote is "You are encircled by the arms of the mystery of God," which fits so well with our scriptural theme. I am grateful for the outpouring of love and support and look forward to our partnership, care for the girls, and support for our faculty and staff this year because I know we are encircled by the arms of the mystery of God.
Last week, to celebrate the feast of St. Hildegard of Bingen, Illustratae was invited to the chapel, said the house prayer, received a green-colored cupcake, and saw the unveiling of the painted portrait of St. Hildegard of Bingen completed by artist Nancy Cote. The image hangs in the Illustratae wing, is in our main entrance, and is now on the Salvatorian Family House System website.
May we all continue to be encircled by the arms of the mystery of God.
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God bless,
Dan Quesnell
Principal
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Now through Wednesday, September 30: 🌟 Dash-a-Thon
Monday, September 28 - Friday, October 2: Father Jordan Spirit Week
Thursday, October 1: All-school Mass
Thursday, October 1: Financial Aid Night for juniors, seniors, and their families
Friday, October 2: PB&J Ministry during both lunch periods
Saturday, October 3: Homecoming dance
Monday, October 3: Divine Strings & Angelaires concert
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We're in the home stretch for Dash-a-Thon! Our students have been working together so well to raise money in their Houses! This year, each house hopes to earn $18,000 – or $90,000 total for Dash-a-Thon.
Encourage your daughter to get out and raise funds. To hit the goal, each student needs to raise about $150. Dash-a-Thon ends on Wednesday, September 30.
Remember: Great perks are available when girls meet their goal, including Movie Day the day before Thanksgiving and an extra day off school on Monday, November 30!
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NEW! Congrats to Our National Merit Semifinalists | Congratulations to Kaylee Brinks '27 and Yesenia Bustos '27 on this accomplishment!
These two seniors have earned the honor of being named National Merit Semifinalists for their exceptionally strong performance on the PSAT/NMSQT during their junior year. Representing less than 1% of graduating seniors nationwide, National Merit Semifinalists are among the highest-scoring test-takers in their state.
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Parent-Teacher Conferences | All parent-teacher conferences will be held via Zoom. Parents can sign up for individual teacher conferences when the conference schedule opens on Monday, September 28.
Individual teacher conferences will be held at the following times and are five minutes each:
- Tuesday, October 13th (5:15 - 8:15 pm)
- Wednesday, October 14th (4:15 - 6:45 pm)
To sign up for a conference, log in to myDSHA, click the Resources tab, then select Parent-Teacher Conference.
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Conferences are five minutes each and serve as an opportunity for DSHA faculty to share specifics about your daughter and answer any questions you may have. If you need more than five minutes, please email your daughter’s teachers to set up additional time to talk.
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You can attend the Zoom conference wherever it best meets your needs: home, work, or your phone – anywhere you are able to get an internet connection. We do ask that you turn on your camera so DSHA faculty can see you, put a face to a name, and connect with you more effectively.
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You may also schedule a virtual appointment with a member of our Student Services team, including counselors, our Applied Wellness Program Director, or Academic Interventionist. This link is also under the Resources tab.
Freshman and Transfer Parents Enjoy a Meet and Greet with Our Principal and President | 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 this week.
- Tuesday, September 22 | 8 – 9 am
- Thursday, October 15 | 8 – 9 am
- Thursday, October 15 | 5 - 6 pm
- Wednesday, October 21 | 2 - 3 pm
| Contact Academic Dean Erin Housiaux with any questions. |
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FROM THE DEAN OF STUDENT AFFAIRS | Homecoming Tickets | DSHA Homecoming is Saturday, October 3, 7-10 pm at DSHA. Tickets go on sale this week in myDSHA and are $25 each. Both students and at least one parent must log into their account to sign the form for a ticket to be purchased. All tickets must be purchased in advance. | Contact Dean of Students Rachel Fredricks with any questions. |
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Upcoming Campus Ministry Events
Tuesday, September 22: Freshmen Dasher Time in Campus Ministry
Tuesday, September 22: Soup with Substance benefiting Bob’s Under the Bridge during lunches in Commons
Wednesday, September 23: Eucharistic Adoration in sophomore theology and wellness
Thursday, September 24: Thankful Thursday Mass at 9:56 in the chapel
Friday, September 25: 7:15 a.m. Mass in the chapel
Monday, September 28-Tuesday, September 29: SDS Tours with Class of 2030
NEW! Soup with Substance | Campus Ministry and Service Team Co-curricular are starting a new program this year: Soup with Substance! Students can sign up to hear from a Milwaukee service organization about a topic of substance during their lunch hour once a quarter. Soup is free, and students can buy a fresh grilled cheese for $2, benefiting the organization.
This series will be held on these dates and will benefit the following organizations:
- Tuesday, September 22: Bob’s Under the Bridge
- Monday, November 23: Franciscan Peacemakers
- Tuesday, January 26: TBD
- Monday, February 8: St. Bakhita Catholic Worker House
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Leggings Drive | This September, Service Team is collecting gently used leggings for Franciscan Peacemakers. As you clean out your closet, please consider donating any leggings you no longer need. Franciscan Peacemakers supports women in Milwaukee as they heal from sexual exploitation. One of their ministries includes a clothing closet located in the hospitality room of their retail store. They are in particular need of small-size leggings.
Leggings can be donated in the Quad throughout September or on September 16 instead of or in addition to canned food items or $1 donations. Thank you in advance for helping us walk alongside women in Milwaukee this month.
| Contact Director of Campus Ministry Stephanie Monson with any questions. |
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Cultivating Connections | It's hard to believe we have already wrapped up our fourth week of school! Students have settled into their daily routines, progress reports have come out, and our focus in counseling is now shifting toward helping build academic stamina and manage workloads and habits effectively.
Navigating the balance between schoolwork, extracurriculars, and downtime takes practice. We encourage you to start casual conversations with your daughter about how they pace their assignments, keep track of deadlines, or make time to recharge. This can help them reflect on what is working well and where they might need a slight adjustment.
At school, counselors are scheduling individual check-ins with students throughout the day, but beyond these structured meetings, we want students to know we are always here whenever they have a question or need support. They are always welcome to drop by Student Services or ask us anything when they see us out and about in the hallways, Quad, Commons, or anywhere else!
| Junior Interview Day on Friday, November 6 | All DSHA juniors will participate in Junior Interview Day, which allows Dashers to reflect on their time at DSHA, participate in a mock professional interview, practice skills they have learned over the years, and more. Please stay tuned for additional details as the date gets closer. | Contact Director of Student Services Melissa Santa-Cruz with any questions. |
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NEW! Register for the NACAC Milwaukee College Fair | Attend the NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling ) Milwaukee College Fair on Sunday, September 27, 11 am - 2 pm at Wisconsin State Fair Park. This event is free and terrific for high school students, transfer students, counselors, family members, or anyone interested in learning more about postsecondary options.
This is an incredible opportunity for you and your daughter to connect face-to-face with representatives from colleges and universities.
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Financial Aid Night: Thursday, October 1, 6:30 pm | DSHA/MUHS Financial Aid Night is open to junior and senior students. The night will cover the free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the basic timeline for completing the form, and the components of a financial aid package. Mark your calendars and keep an eye out for an email with more details.
Presentations will be held in English and Spanish. No RSVP needed.
| Contact Director of College Counseling & School Counselor Kristin Shea with any questions. |
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NEW! Applied Wellness Small Groups Meet This Week | All juniors and seniors will engage in a physically focused wellness experience outside! Students meet in required groups three times per semester for a program check-in and a chance to participate in a variety of different wellness experiences.
NEW! Freshman Wellness Program Underway | The intention of this program is to allow the students to explore other areas of their wellness beyond their physical selves. Freshmen have met with Applied Wellness staff and Campus Ministry staff these past few weeks. They have engaged in small group discussions, games, and school exploration. They will meet with counselors this week to engage in another fun wellness activity focused on decision-making.
| Contact Applied Wellness Program Director Joanna McQuide '93 to learn more or to ask questions. |
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NEW! Fall Concert | All are invited to see Divine Strings and the Angelaires perform on Monday, October 5 at 7 pm in DSHA's Robert & Marie Hansen Family Fine Arts Theatre. Admission is free! |
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NEW! Golf Outing Team Hole Sponsorship Results | Thank you to all the teams who worked so hard to raise money for their team hole sponsorship at the golf outing! Together, all teams raised $10,734 for the team hole sponsorships! The golf program had the highest percentage of their teams participating at 57%, and the volleyball team took second place with 50% of their team participating. Thanks to everyone for your generosity and great demonstration that when we all pull together in the same direction, great things happen! Congratulations!
P.S. Are you missing a club cover from the Golf Outing? Contact Director of Volunteer Engagement and Special Events Cassandra Aranda.
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👟 Cross Country Updates | Last week, the cross country team challenged themselves to stay in the present on the wide-open course at Mitchell Park. Almost all Dashers ran season or lifetime bests on the course! This week the team looks forward to traveling together to the 70th Tom Smiley Invitation in Wausau. Good luck, girls!
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🏑 Field Hockey Updates | Dasher Field Hockey sits 3-1 in conference play. Over the Labor Day weekend, varsity and JV traveled to St. Louis to participate in the Gateway Classic. The teams had a blast even though they braved record heat and humidity. Last week, varsity beat University School of Milwaukee in a tight match 2-1. This past Monday, JV tied Arrowhead on a last-second goal, and JV2 fell to USM in a hard-fought game. This Thursday, JV and JV2 face off against each other at 5 pm at Uihlein, followed by Varsity vs. Brookfield Academy.
Looking ahead:
- Friday, October 2: Senior Night and Homecoming, 5 pm at Uihlein,
- Thursday, October 8: JV and JV2 close out their season against each other.
- Friday, October 17: Wisconsin State Championship at Uihlein
- Thursday, October 29: Field Hockey Awards Night at DSHA, 5-7 pm
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⛳ Golf Updates | The varsity golf team is currently ranked #1 in Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Golf Coaches Association.
Upcoming matches include the Franklin Invite at Tuckaway Golf Course on Monday, September 21, and the GMC championship at Naga-Waukee Golf Course on Wednesday, September 23. We look forward to seeing how the team does the rest of the regular season and as they enter the postseason to defend their back-to-back-to-back state championships from 2023, 2024, and 2025! Best of luck!
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🏉 Rugby Updates | DSHA rugby is off to a great start with a 77-12 nonconference win over the South Central Sirens (Madison area) last Friday in Cottage Grove. The senior class, led by captains Elise Brashear '27 and Addison Josetti '27, has done a great job supporting and mentoring the new players.
DSHA Rugby A side is currently ranked #1 in the power ranking! Both sides are in action this coming weekend at Nashotah Park; A side will play Hamilton at 10 am, and B side will play Fox Cities at 11:30 am.
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🥽 Swim & Dive Updates | The Swim and Dive teams have been busy! On Saturday, September 12, the team participated in the Red Raider Invite at Wauwatosa East and once again traveled to the Tosa East pool for a dual meet on Thursday, September 17.
Upcoming meets include the conference relays at Germantown High School on Thursday, September 24, and the Racine Diving Invite at the Racine Aquatic Center on Saturday, September 26.
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🎾 Tennis Updates | The varsity tennis team is going strong with a current record of 10-6 overall. Last week, varsity swept Nicolet 7-0, with Janie Buettner '30 winning a 10-point tiebreaker at 3 Singles and Ella O’Brien '27 and partner Gracie Ausloos '29 winning a 10-point tiebreaker at 3 Doubles. The team lost to conference rival Hamilton, 2-5.
Big wins came from Amelia Stuckslager '28 and Lydia Packee '27 at 1 Doubles, and Ellen Barry '28 winning at 4 Singles. The team came close to winning the dual, losing two other 10-pointers.
Next week, DSHA tennis is competing in the Nicolet Sweet 16, the area's top tournament! Best of luck!
| 🏐 Volleyball Updates | The varsity volleyball team is currently ranked #1 in D1 for Wisconsin by WVCA and MaxPreps, #1 in the area according to the Journal Sentinel, and #6 in Region 6 according to the AVCA. As of September 16, the team is undefeated in the conference. Congratulations and keep up the great work! | |
Thankful Thursday Celebrations | Thankful Thursday Mass was celebrated on September 3 with the tennis teams and cross country teams as the intention. It was a great way to celebrate. Continued success to the tennis and cross country teams.
On Thursday, September 24, Thankful Thursday Mass will be for the swim and dive teams.
Fitness Center Hours | The Fitness Center is open for in-season and pre-season workouts Monday-Friday from 3-6 pm. If you are in a fall sport, your team will work out together. If you are preparing for a winter or spring sport, you are encouraged to come in and use the facility to prepare for your season.
| Livestreaming Home Events | Beginning this fall, fans can watch many of our home events live and free from anywhere on Hudl. | Contact Athletics Administrative Assistant Allison Gill with any questions. |
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NEW! Volunteer Newsletter | Our first-ever volunteer newsletter went out last month! If you didn't recieve it, but would like to in the future, please email Director of Volunteer Engagement & Special Events Cassandra Aranda. | |
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. |
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FROM OUR PARENT ASSOCIAITONS | |
NEW! Join the Parent Association! | No special experience required—involvement can be as much or as little as your schedule allows!
Here are the top reasons to join us as part of the PA:
- Build Community - Connect with other DSHA parents and strengthen relationships across grades and Houses.
- Stay Connected – Hear directly from school leaders and learn more about what’s happening at DSHA.
- Get Involved – Find meaningful ways to participate that fit your interests, talents, and availability.
- Support Our Faculty & Staff – Help celebrate and show appreciation for the people who make a difference for our Dashers every day.
- Strengthen the Parent Voice – Share ideas, provide feedback, and help shape opportunities for parent engagement.
- Support Our Dashers – Help create an inclusive, welcoming community where our daughters can thrive.
- Have Fun! – Meet new people, build friendships, and enjoy being part of the DSHA community.
We look forward to seeing you at our next Parent Association Meeting on Tuesday, September 29, at 8:15 a.m.!
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Join our amazing network of professionals. Current openings include:
- Athletics Administrative Assistant (full-time)
- Attendance Secretary and Main Office Administrative Assistant (school year)
- Data Systems Manager (full-time)
- JV Basketball Coach (winter 2026-27)
- Head Lacrosse Coach (spring 2027)
- Head Softball Coach (spring 2027)
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Assistant Track Coaches (general, distance, and throws; spring 2027)
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