In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

God of knowledge, as these days pass and students prepare for exams, we pray for peace of mind. Many students face decisions that will affect the rest of their lives, so we pray for prudence. When students feel the pressure of this final stretch, we pray for a sense of calm. As teachers we work very hard to complete courses and mark assignments and tests. Please give us patience and strength. May each of us feel the presence and love of God as we proceed through these days. Amen.

St. Joseph of Cupertino, pray for us.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Announcements

• Father John Appiah will celebrate daily Mass at 7:25 a.m. tomorrow morning in the Holy Trinity Chapel. All are invited to attend.  
• Students who signed up for the state attendance form in order to take the driver’s permit this summer may pick up your completed forms today. If you are taking your permit test and have not yet signed up, you will need to stop by the front office by today in order to have the form processed by Friday after the last exam.
• Students: If you have prescription medication and/or Epi-Pens in the front office, please pick these up after school. All medications will be discarded tomorrow after the final exam. 
• Chick-Fil-A chicken biscuits will be on sale in the commons at break today. Get your biscuit before they sell out.
• Congratulations to Anika Sichelstiel for being nominated and selected for the Tennessee Girls Lacrosse Association’s All-Region East team honors. Hayley Carroll was also nominated. Both play for the Cheetahs, Knoxville’s at-large girls’ lacrosse team, as well as KCHS’ girl’s lacrosse team. The Lady Irish finished their season with a .500 record. The team, along with the Cheetahs, will be hosting a summer clinic for rising 6^th through 12^th grade girls. Look for an email soon providing details.

http://vimeo.com/59671611

Mark your calendar for the 2014 Green & Gold Gala which will be held on January 25, 2014 at Lighthouse Knoxville. To become a sponsor,  donate an auction item, or be on the planning committee, please contact: Megan Locke at mlocke@knoxvillecatholic.com.

“Over the past 8 years, Knoxville Catholic High School has doubled the number of AP courses in our curriculum while more than tripling our student enrollment,” said Dickie Sompayrac, KCHS Principal. “It is a real credit to our AP teachers that we have been able to significantly increase the access, while also maintaining extremely competitive pass rates. To be recognized on the AP Honor Roll for two consecutive years is a real testament to both diocesan high schools – Notre Dame and Knoxville Catholic.”

A total of 539 school districts across the U.S. and Canada are being honored by the College Board for simultaneously increasing access to Advanced Placement® course work, while maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP Exams. 

To be named to the Honor Roll, schools must have opened AP classroom doors to a significantly broader pool of students, while maintaining or improving the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher. Criteria used for inclusion in the AP District Honor Roll include:

• Increased access to AP courses
• The percentage of African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students taking AP exams must not have decreased more than 5% for large and medium districts and 10% for small districts
• Performance levels were maintained or improved when comparing the percentage of exams scoring 3 or higher from 2010 to 2012.

The top 50 schools are recognized for overall excellence in all three Honor Roll categories – Catholic identity, academics, and civic education.  “Since competition began in 2004, the Honor Roll has been a helpful tool for administrators, families, and benefactors in recognizing the quality of a Catholic high school,” said Patrick J. Reilly, President of The Cardinal Newman Society.

This year’s top 50 Honor Roll schools are diverse: large and small, new and long-established, both highly selective and open enrollment admissions policies, and high and low tuition rates. The common trait is an institutional commitment to providing a truly integrated and faithful Catholic education across all disciplines and in all areas of student activities.

 ”Being named a Top 50 Catholic High School validates our partnership with our parents and supporting parishes as a truly authentic Catholic institution,” said Dickie Sompayrac, KCHS Principal.  “This honor is also a testament to the outstanding commitment and work of our faculty and staff.  We are all very proud to be a part of this incredible KCHS Community.”

The top 50 schools are located in 21 states, with Pennsylvania having the highest number of honorees with seven schools, followed by Texas with six and Michigan with five.  Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School in Florida is the largest school with 1,489 students. St. Ignatius College Preparatory School and Faustina Academy, both in Texas, are the smallest schools with 48 students each.

The Catholic High School Honor Roll was created by The Action Instutite in 2004. The Cardinal Newman Society assumed the program this year, consistent with its mission of helping Catholic families and promoting faithful Catholic education.