Open House is Sunday, Nov. 1
Providence invites all prospective freshmen as well as prospective seventh graders from Deanery schools with grades preschool through sixth to its annual Open House. Tours for fifth and sixth graders from St. Joe Corydon, St. John Paul II and St. Mary of the Knobs as well as from non-Deanery schools begin at 1:00 p.m. Tours for current eighth graders are from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

This fun and informative event is free and open to the public, with an emphasis on current eighth grade students and their families. Providence faculty and staff, student ambassadors, alumni, and friends will be on hand to showcase the school's beautiful facility and extensive offerings including the recently completed chapel. Information regarding curriculum, the House Student Leadership Program, the iPad initiative, theatre, music, clubs and organizations, athletics, and financial assistance will be available. Refreshments will be provided.

Be sure to encourage your neighbors, friends and relatives to attend!


New chapel is now complete
Our new chapel is complete, and students and staff celebrated the first morning liturgy in the new space on Oct. 19, when students returned from fall break. The c hapel will be formally blessed on Jan. 20 by the Most Rev. Joseph Tobin, archbishop of the archdiocese of Indianapolis. More details will be provided in future issues of the e-VISION. 

The chapel was built in memory of Jim Kirchdorfer, husband of Carolyn (Galligan) Kirchdorfer '60 and father of PHS alumna Teresa (Kirchdorfer) Gardone '85. Mrs. Kirchdorfer was a major contributor to the construction of the new chapel. 

With the opening of the chapel, students are once again using the student entrance in the morning. Drop off remains in the circle. Since there is no longer direct access for cars to drop off students in front of the student entrance, parents are asked not to enter the parking lot in the morning. Students are to walk through the visitor parking area to the student entrance.
STUDENTS IN ACTION

Juniors seek fulfilled life starting with retreat
Two groups so far have experienced the overnight Junior Retreat this school year. This one-night overnight retreat gives students the opportunity to step back from everyday life as they evaluate how they are spending their time, energy, and effort. The theme of the retreat is 'Fulfilled.' In an effort to determine how they can truly live a fulfilled life, juniors take time to examine the junk that takes up space in their lives; talk about putting God first; reflect on their goals, dreams and values; and ultimately try to be a positive influence in the lives of others.
Click here for reflections from two juniors on their experience.


Fall sports teams have success, advance in postseason
Several fall sports ended their season this month, with two winning sectional titles and another advancing to regional as a team for the first time in several years. Girls Soccer returned to 1A postseason play and won its sectional, while Boys Soccer won the 1A sectional for the fourth year in a row. In Cross Country, two boys advanced to regional, with one going on to semi-state; the girls' team qualified at sectional to compete as a team at regional. One of those girls advanced to semi-state. The Volleyball and Football teams continue to advance in their respective postseason tournaments.  Click here to read more.


Theatre students put on cheery Halloween at zoo
By sophomore Ethan Furnish

The World's Largest Halloween Party, titled as being "merry, not scary" and "cheery, not eerie" was hosted again this year at the Louisville Zoo. As usual, Providence Theatre was well represented. Seniors and two-year zoo performance veterans Sophie Purcell, Maria Schmidt and Kate Cummins were a few of the handful of Pioneers that worked the event each weekend of October this year. Click here  to read more.


Junior earns highest Girl Scout honor
By junior Ragan Williams

Elizabeth Scharre, a junior, was ecstatic to learn recently that she had earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. She started working tirelessly towards it back in 2014, as a freshman. The process was rigorous, as Elizabeth had to account for every variable imaginable.

Before the project could even begin, she had to complete a year of filling out forms and acquiring support. Elizabeth had to fill out a log recording every expense that went into completing her project. The project itself, she said, addressed "The issue of the Monarch species dying out, and how little people actually know about this issue."

Elizabeth and a group of relatives rehabilitated a full garden Monarch Waystation in the Jefferson Memorial Forest in Louisville where the butterflies could stop on their migration trips. When the project was finally complete after 82 hours of paperwork and physical labor, she had to go before a portion of the members of the Gold Award Approval Committee, which was comprised of high-ranking former Girl Scouts who grilled her on all aspects of the project. 

Elizabeth, the daughter of Mrs. Connie Scharre, library media specialist, managed to defend her project, which had taken hours of work, skill, and forethought, and was later notified that she was among the 5.4 percent of girls nationwide who had succeeded in earning the Girl Scout Gold Award.  She will officially receive her award at a ceremony next spring.


Underclassman theatre to present Charlotte's Web
The freshman and sophomore Providence Players will stage the children's production of Charlotte's Web next weekend, and the cast is looking forward to it. 

Sophomore Clare Hooper plays Edith Zuckerman and said she likes being able to spend time with her friends at rehearsal as well as the process of rehearsing for a show. "It's really fun to see the first run through to the final performance," she said. That's by far my favorite part."
Clare said the play will appeal to all ages, especially since this production is a different take on the timeless classic. "I think the little kids will enjoy a different perspective of Charlotte's Web," she said. "It's the same plot, but it's nice to see the little differences. I think they will enjoy seeing all of the animals and their costumes. I think the adults will also like the different perspective. The kids will laugh at the little things, but I think the adults will laugh at the parts that are meant to be funny."

Grace Kempf, who plays Charlotte, said she likes all the fun the cast has had preparing for the show. And she thinks the audience will have a good time watching it. "I think the audience will like the fun energy in the show and the great costumes and set," Grace said.

Showtimes are Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2:00 p.m. in the Robinson Auditorium. Tickets are available at the door and are $5.00 for adults and students grades kindergarten through 12. Children under age 5 are free, and all Deanery teachers get in free. There will also be a matinee for New Albany Deanery students grades kindergarten through fourth on Monday, Nov. 9, at 10:00 a.m.
Click here for a complete cast list.

Junior Chloe Risinger contributed to this story.


Senior honors, QuestBridge Finalist
Congratulations to two seniors who were recognized in the Oct. 9 "First Honors" segment of Business First. Nicole Kruer and Anna Wingate are among the top seniors in the Class of 2016 and were nominated for the recognition based on academic achievement as well as leadership and extracurricular involvement. More seniors will be recognized in the publication in the coming months.

Congratulations as well to senior Alyssa Hyndman, who is one of more than 4,000 finalists from more than 11,000 applicants for a QuestBridge National College Match. QuestBridge assists in connecting "the nation's brightest, underserved youth" with top institutions of higher education and to help them find scholarships, enrichment programs and other opportunities. She will learn in December if she has been selected for a national college match and scholarship.


Students host exchange students from France
Students taking French once again participated in the Clarksville Sister Cities student exchange program by hosting a group of students from LaGarenne-Colombes, France. Senior  Maresa Kelly was one of eight students who acted as hosts. It was her second time hosting an exchangestudent, and she said she had fun introducing her exchange student to American culture, including eating at Taco Bell, watching movies (with French subtitles), going to Mass, carving pumpkins and decorating for Halloween.

Most of all, she liked the chance to talk to her visitor. "Best of all, though, we talked - in English and in  French - about each other's families, our crushes, and our plans for the future," Maresa said. "Over the past ten days, I learned that it doesn't matter what the barrier is between two people, even something as sizable as a language, you can still form an unbreakable bond and make memories neither of you will ever forget."

 
Save the Date: Empty Bowls Event
Mark your calendars for the annual Empty Bowls Event, sponsored by the PHS Art Club and the House of Humility. The fundraising event will be Sunday, Nov. 15, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the Activity Center. For a $15 suggested minimum donation, patrons will receive a handmade ceramic bowl to keep and a simple meal of soup and bread. Donations will benefit several local organizations that serve the hungry in our area.


Book Club enjoys movie, book discussion
The Book Club recently went on a field trip to see the feature film  The Martian , based on the same book by Andy Weir, which the group read. After the movie, the group held a discussion at Orange Leaf in Clarksville. Members present were freshman Jenna Kaiser, sophomores Emily Geldermann, Cassidy Powell, and Amanda Kerstiens, juniors Abby Posey and Elizabeth Scharre, seniors Colleen Geldermann and Mary Nokes,  and co-sponsor Ms. Christy Russell-Read . 


Junior high hosts Grandparents Day
Thank you to all the Grandparents and special persons who made Grandparents Day a wonderful experience for our junior high students. Students and their guests attended liturgy and then ate lunch together. Thank you also to the junior high parents who decorated the Activity Center and served lunch.


Fall break not simply a vacation
Several groups of students took advantage of school-sponsored activities over fall break, including art students who went to New York City and science students who visited the Living Lands Barge and others who toured the Toyota plant in Georgetown, Ky. 

Sophomore Amanda Kersteins and junior Sam Voignier were two of 23 students, faculty and parents who traveled to New York over fall break. The students said the trip exceed their expectations. Sam said he enjoyed the trip, especially seeing the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Empire State Building and the Guggenheim Museum. He also enjoyed the variety of architecture and the opportunity to be part of the crowd on the Today Show. He said he went on the trip for the chance to have "a new experience" and is glad he went.

Amanda agrees. "Before we went to New York I expected it to just be a normal trip, but it was actually one of the best trips I've ever been on," she said. "When we arrived in New York, we immediately started to go, go, go. The first day we went to the Empire State Building, where we then walked up 83 flights of stairs to ... look over the city. On Tuesday, we visited the Statue of Liberty and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Then on Wednesday, the group saw Wicked on Broadway, which was great! The group went up and down Fifth Avenue on Thursday, which was the most expensive place I've ever been to. In the store Prada there was a $10,000 fur coat. On the last day, Friday, we visited the Guggenheim art museum, which was a huge spiral walkway full of modern art. Of course I couldn't cover everything we did, which was a lot more, but overall the trip was amazing, and I will never forget the experience I had with my friends."

Junior Erica Denison was one of a half dozen students who visited the Living Lands & Waters traveling barge over the break. The barge travels the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and offers educational workshops and made Louisville one of its stops. Students tested water samples and learned about topics that impact the environment, including recycling and the harm caused by invasive species. She said she enjoyed working with crew and the program overall. "This trip was one to remember, and I never thought I would want to go back on a garbage barge, but I do," she said. "I had a lot of fun and will remember this trip every time I look out on the water."

PARENT CONNECTION

Guidance Spotlight: College rep visits
The Guidance Office prepares a variety of news items for parents to access on the website. Watch this Guidance Spotlight in each issue of e-VISION issue for the latest news.

Did you know that each fall, nearly 20 colleges visit Providence in order to give students an opportunity to learn about each school? So far, 17 schools and two military branches have visited campus. Next up will be the University of Cincinnati and DePauw University on Nov. 2.

To encourage seniors to take advantage of this opportunity, the Guidance Office is offering the College Rep Challenge. The senior who meets with the most college representatives during lunch visits will receive $100 cash.

For a list of helpful links during the college search, check out the Guidance tab on the school website.
 

Save the Date: Placement Exam
Parents of current eighth graders take note: Providence will hold its high school placement exam on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 8:45 a.m. to noon for prospective freshman students for the 2016-2017 school year.

For more information, please contact the Providence Admissions Office at 812-945-3350 or e-mail [email protected].


Reminder for senior parents
Senior yearbook portrait and Baby Ad deadline is Nov. 15. Senior yearbook portraits must be taken at Lifetouch or Whyland's, and appointments made after the deadline may incur additional fees. For information about purchasing a Baby Ad for the yearbook, click here. 


Blue Pride Madness to debut basketball season
Mark your calendars for Saturday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. for Blue Pride Madness. Blue Pride Madness will be the official introduction of the 2015-16 Boys Basketball program with a scrimmage to follow. The Girls Basketball program, which has its first game Nov. 10, will be introduced and participate in contests. More information to follow in the next
e-VISION.

ALUMNI NOTES

Consider Providence on #GIVINGTUESDAY 
On Tuesday, Dec.1, Providence will participate in the highly successful #GIVINGTUESDAY effort that many charitable organizations have employed since 2012. Giving Tuesday was conceived as a day to celebrate generosity and giving, on the heels of the shopping events of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Here are the ways a true, giving Pioneer can help:
  • Make a gift that helps a student receive needed financial assistance OR be one of the lead donors to the Murphy Stadium bleacher replacement fund (or other capital project currently underway)
  • Volunteer to help with a Providence event
  • Affirm your Providence connection by engaging with our Facebook pages and Twitter accounts and letting your friends know that you are #AlwaysaPioneer
Stay tuned for more information on this effort.


First Senior Retreat next week
The first Senior Retreat of the school year is next week, Nov. 3-6. Please keep the seniors and leaders in your prayers. For more information, contact Leah (Cissell) Kelly '05 at [email protected]. 


Calling all Girls Basketball alumni
Any alumna who ever played or coached for PHS Girls Basketball is invited to be a part of the inaugural PHS Girls Basketball Alumni Night. Please RSVP to Coach Brad Burden at [email protected] with your graduation year.

Players will be recognized between games during the Providence vs. South Central game on Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 7:30 p.m. (please arrive by 6:45).


Save the Date: The Little Mermaid
The Providence Players will present The Little Mermaid as its spring musical. Please note, this year's spring musical will be March 11-13 and March 18-20. This is the first time The Little Mermaid has been available for a high school production.


Reunion updates
Providence has been notified of the following reunions:
  • 1962 - (54 years) Dec. 5. Clarion in Clarksville. Annual get-together champagne brunch starting at 11:00 a.m. 
  • 2000 - (15 years) Nov. 7. Sam's at the Montrose. Invitations have been sent. 

Reunion planning for 2016 will include classes with years ending in one and six. If you'd like to be part of the planning committee, please contact Ronda (Miller) Stumler '83 at [email protected]. 
BLUE PRIDE ON DISPLAY

Providence welcomes new swim coach
Mr. Jim Pfeiffer, the new swim coach at Providence, has an impressive resume, from being ranked nationally as a tri-athlete in the early 1990s to being invited to try out for the U.S. Cycling team in the 1996 Summer Olympics. But his enthusiasm and knowledge may be his greatest asset.

As an elite tie-athlete, Coach Pfeiffer tirelessly researched techniques to improve the efficiency of his stroke to improve his swim time. He left the tri-athlete racing scene in the mid-1990s after he got married. He began swimming for exercise again in 2009 and was later asked by a fellow St. Joseph Church in Corydon member to be an assistant coach for Central Corydon High School. Last year, he was an assistant coach at North Harrison High School providing help with stroke techniques.

Coach Pfeiffer said he is looking forward to working with the swim team to help them learn how "to reduce drag and create efficiencies in the water." But he also wants the team to have fun and to attract more swimmers. "That's my goal. Make it the cool sport."

He also said he was looking forward as a Catholic to coaching at a Catholic school, which will add to his enjoyment of coaching. "I can put Christian principles in practice in the water," he said.

Coach Pfeiffer will be assisted by Abbey Cummings, a 2012 Jeffersonville High School graduate. Coach Pfeiffer lives in Lanesville with his wife, Laura, and their three children, ages 12-16. He is the owner of Turtle Run Winery. 


Former PHS student-athletes noticed in college
Congratulations to two of our alumnae who were recognized for their accomplishments on the field. Leah Mattingly '13, a junior defender on the Ball State women's soccer team, was named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Women's Team of the Week for the week of Oct. 27. She earned the recognition after her performance on the back line resulting in 1-0 shutouts over Akron and defending Mid-American Conference champion Buffalo.  This follows her being named Ball State's Pridemark Construction Student Athlete of the Week on Sept. 17. (See Sept. 30 e-VISION.)

Patricia Mattingly '15 (no relation), a freshman setter on the U.S. Naval Academy women's volleyball team, was named the Patriot League's Volleyball Rookie of the Week for the week of Oct. 19. She was recognized for her contribution to the team's wins over Loyola and Lafayette with an average of 9.33 assists and 2.67 digs in those six sets. Click here to read more about Patricia's accomplishments at the Naval Academy.


BLUE NEWS OF OLD

Our Lady painting  once again welcomes students
By Ray Day '57, school archivist

Forty-two years after the purchase of Providence High School by the New Albany Deanery Catholic parishes, an iconic painting of Our Lady again hangs in her school. Providence students from the first two decades will recall the painting gracing the school lobby from 1954 until 1973. Visitors to Open House on Sunday, Nov. 1, will find the cleaned, restored and reframed painting hanging in the hallway entrance to the new chapel.  Click here to read the timeline history.


COMING EVENTS
Nov. 1 - Open House 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Nov. 3 - First Senior Retreat
Nov. 6 - Deanery Science Fair
Nov. 6 - Charlotte's Web, Robinson Auditorium, 7 p.m.
Nov. 8 - Charlotte's Web, Robinson Auditorium, 2 p.m.
Nov. 11 - Next issue of e-VISION News 
Nov. 12 - Sophomore Ring/Pinning Ceremony
Nov. 13 - Second Quarter Progress Report grades posted

LET US PRAY

In honor of Vocations Awareness Week Nov. 1 - Nov. 7, we offer a prayer for vocations:

O God, Father of all Mercies,
Provider of a bountiful Harvest,

send Your Graces upon those
You have called to gather the fruits of Your labor;
preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of you.

Open the hearts of Your children
that they may discern Your Holy Will;
inspire in them a love and desire to surrender themselves
to serving others in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ.

Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life
guided by Your Divine Word and Truth.
Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary,
all the Angels, and Saints, humbly hear our prayers
and grant Your Church's needs, through Christ, our Lord.

Amen



W
e  also mourn the passing of former cafeteria worker and past parent Shirley Schafer, who was m other of Donna (Schafer) Howard '78, David Schafer '79 and Andrea Schafer '82. She worked in the PHS cafeteria from 1978 to 1990. For more In Memoriam notices, click on the link at left.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christa (Payne) Hoyland '84
Director of Communications
Principal eVISION reporter/writer

Ray Day '57
Website  Coordinator, Archivist and Co-editor

Our Lady of Providence Jr-Sr High School
707 Providence Way, Clarksville, IN 47129
812-945-2538 | E-mail | www.providencehigh.net


Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.