In the News
Ascension's Sean Michael Brady Having a Special Senior Season
If you were to go watch the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators baseball team, it would be hard for senior Sean Michael Brady to go unnoticed. Brady is the Blue Gators’ ace pitcher at 6-1, and he’s capable of going the distance every time he takes the mound. Even if he’s not pitching, he’ll likely be making an impact with the bat out of the cleanup spot. Brady stepped up in a big way Thursday afternoon against district rival Catholic-New Iberia in which he delivered on the mound and with his bat. He got the win on the mound and threw a complete game along with eight strikeouts. “It’s always good to beat good teams,” Blue Gators' head coach Lonny Landry said. “I think Catholic High’s a very good team; both teams battled till the end."
Middle School Students Partner with Lafayette Public Library Foundation
Earlier this year, middle school media students were invited by Lafayette Public Library Foundation Board Member, Karen Gambel, to create an informational video featuring the many great opportunities our public libraries offer the community, as seen through the eyes of students.
Our 6th grade media class selected these girls’ video to represent Ascension at the Foundation’s Award Luncheon and Annual Meeting in April, where they were recognized and their video showcased. Their work will be shared online with the greater community, and can also be viewed by clicking the MORE button below or going to https://youtu.be/DQDsZEY6qdc.
Alumni Spotlight: Bennett Anderson, Class of 2015
Congratulations to Bennett Boyd Anderson, III, Class of ‘15, on his acceptance to the University of Oxford in Oxford, England! Beginning in September 2019, he will pursue a Master of Studies in Creative Writing - a two-year, cross-genre program with creative and critical components. Throughout the first year, Bennett will experiment with prose, poetry, playwriting, and narrative non-fiction; in the second year, he plans to specialize in prose with emphasis on the novel. Currently, he studies management, marketing, and French at Tulane University, and eagerly anticipates exploring a wholly new subject at Oxford. We are so proud of you, Bennett!!
Experience Ascension 2019
While our website may provide a glimpse of what life is like at Ascension, the only way to truly experience the school is to see us in action. For that reason, we offer campus tours throughout the year, and we invite you to tour all three campuses to learn how each age-appropriate campus contributes to building educational excellence in a Christian environment.
Two Seniors Honored at Inaugural Ascension Episcopal School Fine Arts Signing Day
Several hundred Ascension Episcopal School students gathered in the Sugar Mill Pond campus’ gymnasium Tuesday to celebrate as two seniors committed to premier collegiate performing arts programs. Seniors Catherine Anderson and Ben Tyrrell committed to Texas Christian University and the University of Arizona, respectively. Anderson will be joining the university’s vocal performance program and Tyrrell will be joining the university’s musical theater and acting program.
Ascension Board hosts SAIS President, Kirk Walker, for Strategic Planning Workshop
SAIS President, Kirk Walker, joined Ascension Board Members, Administrators, Interim Head of School Pat Taylor, and Incoming Head of School Jeff Plunk for a strategic planning workshop this past weekend. With meetings on Friday and Saturday, this group participated in thoughtful discussion and dialogue about the future of Ascension. Thank you to these hard working volunteers and staff members for their time and dedication to our school.
Deep pitching staff, reliable catcher driving one-loss Ascension Episcopal
A baseball team often goes as far as its pitching staff can take it, and the pitching staff usually performs its best when there’s trust between the pitcher and the catcher.
For Ascension Episcopal, the battery has as much to do with their 15-1 record entering Monday’s game against Isidore Newman as anything.
The Blue Gators are holding teams to 2.1 runs per game, including six shutouts. Ascension Episcopal’s pitching staff is made up two seniors, a junior and a sophomore, highlighted by Sean-Michael Brady, a two-time all-state selection and McNeese State signee . The consistency of Ascension Episcopal staff, which also features senior Carter Dooley, junior Blake Pearson and sophomore Preston Ocmand, has allowed Blue Gators coach Lonny Landry to let his starters have longer appearances.
Straight Superior Ratings for our Upper School Choir
A big congratulations to our Upper School choir for achieving sweepstakes at the LMEA Regional Choir Festival at UL on Monday, March 26, 2019. This dynamic group of students received straight superior ratings from all judges, both for their stage performance and sight reading performance. We are incredibly proud of the vocal talents and hard work of our students! Bravo!
A Special Day for Ascension
Congratulations to the Rev’d Palmer Bourne Kennedy who was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests by the Rt. Rev’d Greg Brewer, Bishop of Central Florida on Monday, March 18, 2019. Rev'd Kennedy currently serves as our Sugar Mill Pond Campus Chaplin and Theology teacher. Our Sugar Mill Pond students were able to join our church family in the services and celebration, a very special day for our church and school family.
"Fore the Gators" 2019
Our 2019 "Fore the Gators" Athletic Booster Club Golf Tournament was a great success, raising approximately $29,000 for the benefit of Ascension’s Middle and Upper School athletic programs! We truly appreciate the hard work and dedication of our Booster Club and Naomi Maraist, Tournament Chair, for volunteering countless hours making preparations and orchestrating the fantastic event!
Downtown Students' Artwork Showcased at Robideaux Report
Middle School students were recently invited by Mayor-President, Joel Robideaux, to participate in an exciting project opportunity to help showcase our city to the greater community. Tasked with making a "Downtown Lafayette Box City" for a cultural showcase after the Robideaux Report on March 14th, our Blue Gators eagerly accepted the challenge!
Our students’ impressive transformations of cardboard boxes into buildings such as the Lafayette Science Museum, Courthouse, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Dat Dawg, Rock N Bowl, and other notable landmarks were used to create a Downtown skyline entryway for the event at the Frem Boustany Convention Center at The Heymann Center.
Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!
Students from all three campuses got into the Mardi Gras spirit yet again this year at Ascension. Our preschool Mardi Gras Parade tradition continued as our decked out youngest Blue Gators rolled through the parking lot of our River Ranch Campus, throwing beads and other festive trinkets to parade goers from wagons pulled by students from the Sugar Mill Pond Campus. This sweet, long-standing tradition is a favorite among many of our Blue Gator Families. Meanwhile on the Downtown Campus, thanks to Madame Gerard and her 6th & 7th grade French students, our students were ready to dance, catch, and celebrate as the traditional French Mardi Gras celebrations paraded through the halls, classrooms, office, and gym. We had a wonderful week of embracing and celebrating our cultural heritage. Allons au Mardi Gras!!
Reaching the Pygmies Ministry
For over 20 years, Ascension Episcopal School and The Episcopal Church of the Ascension have been active contributors to the Reaching the Pygmies Ministry, dedicated to the service of the displaced Batwa Pygmies of Uganda by helping with housing, medical care, and children’s education. From this ministry, the Epiphany School was established to help educate the Batwa Pygmy people, the indigenous tribe that has been displaced by their Ugandan government into the Bwindi rain forest. In 1999, The Church of the Epiphany in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania established a resettlement program for the Pygmy people and built the Epiphany School, which currently accommodates approximately 225 students and 14 faculty and staff members.
Over the past several years, funds raised by Ascension during Lenten fundraisers have been used to build a library, kitchen, classroom space, and a freshwater system on the school's campus. Each year, 80% of Epiphany’s annual school budget has been made possible due to donation raised by Ascension families. In 2018, our community raised approximately $20,000 for The Epiphany School, as well as sent 30 iPads for officials to take back to the school in Uganda.
Please join us during the 2019 Lenten season to help raise money for our sister school in Uganda!
Sugar Mill Pond Student, Jack Aldridge, swims his way to High Achiever award
Jack Aldridge, a sophomore at Ascension Episcopal, hasn't slowed down in the pool since being named to the All-Acadiana swim team in the fall.
Aldridge will travel to Orlando, Florida, next month to compete in four events at the NCSA Junior National Championships.
Gators Shine at District Honor Choir
Earlier this year, several SMP students were selected to participate in the Louisiana Music Educators Association District III Honor Choir. As such, Ela Acevedo, Catherine Anderson, Emily Brown, Emery Doga, and Steven Loupus performed at Angelle Hall under the direction of Dr. Meg Frazier of Loyola University New Orleans. In addition, Emily Brown was named to the LMEA All-State Choir and achieved Academic All-State honors! Congratulations, Blue Gators!
Collaborative Love Art Project
In a spirit of celebrating our classmates and friends, the Innovation Lab on our River Ranch Campus initiated a Collaborative Art Project and made beautiful heart displays during the month of February. These friendship hearts have lined the campus halls reminding us to be grateful for our friends. Thank you Ms. Barry and Ms. Womack for spearheading this project for our youngest Blue Gators.
Ascension Girls Soccer Wins Second Playoff Victory
Ascension Episcopal senior Jacqueline Cloutier said her team battled some nerves on their trip Tuesday night to play at sixth-seeded Sacred Heart.
No. 11 Ascension Episcopal capitalized on a pair of defensive lapses en route to a 2-1 Division IV second-round playoff victory at Pan American Stadium.
2019 National Signing Day
Four outstanding prep athletes from Ascension Episcopal high school signed National Letters of Intent to play college ball.
Two Blue Gator baseball players signed on the dotted line.
Austin Arceneaux, a 4 year starter at catcher who caught every game the last 3 seasons, signed with Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kansas.
He's a career .350 hitter in 98 games played at Ascension Episcopal School.
Right handed pitcher Sean-Michael Brady officially signed with McNeese State today. The 1st Team All-State performer was 5-0 last season in 38.1 innings pitched, fanning 43 batters.
Hannah Mattke, a two-time first team All State volleyball players will play collegiately for Millsaps College in Mississippi.
As Ascension Episcopal's defensive MVP the last 3 seasons, she also played club volleyball for WD Nation out of Mandeville, helping the team win 3 National Championships.
Sophia Boatright is heading to Belmont Abbey in Belmont, North Carolina on a tennis scholarship.
A key contributor on the Blue Gators first ever Tennis State championship team, she continued to serve in that role as she's been a key member of the 4 consecutive state titles.
Boatright received the prestigious USTA Southern Sportsmanship Award in 2018 while competing in the USTA tournament.
It'll be a family affair at Belmont Abbey, as Boatright's older sister Blair is there as well.
Change for Miles Campaign 2019
The results are in...our Blue Gator community has once again made an impact through their generous donations to the Miles Perret Cancer Services Change for Miles program. Our school raised $6,821.11! Thank you to everyone who contributed to help this local organization fight cancer in our community. We continue to honor the life and legacy of our former lower school student, Miles Perret, as we support this worthy organization.
Lower School Art Teacher to Present at InSEA World Congress Art Convention
Hats off to our Lower School Visual Arts Teacher, Tina Frederick, who was recently named as a presenter for the prestigious InSEA World Congress Art convention this summer in Vancouver. The InSEA World Congress offers art educators an opportunity to theorize and practice aspects of "making" in art education. Making is concerned with a sense of material and immaterial approaches, global movements of ideas, anticipated changes and perceptual shifts. Tina's presentation will focus on "Making, and a Sense of Place" how visiting the prehistoric caves in Lascaux, France, influenced her own personal art methods and classroom teaching.
High School Girls Soccer Program Reflects on 5 Year Run
When Ascension Episcopal girls soccer coach Adrian Boyle talks about the “genuine footballers” who built the Lady Blue Gators’ program into what it is today, he’s not intending to disparage the girls that came before them.
Because that was back when the program was in its infancy. In fact, Ascension’s first soccer team was a co-ed squad. The second year featured only one senior on the roster.
So it took a few years for the Lady Blue Gators to add players of a certain caliber, specifically club players, to start progressing toward elite status. The 2014-2015 season, when Beverly Richard, Quinn Billeaud and Jacqueline Cloutier were eighth graders, was the start of what’s become an impressive five-year run for Ascension.
Middle School Media Teacher, Heather Gros, Wins BIG at LASC!
A huge congratulations to Ascension's Middle School Media Teacher and Student Council Advisor, Heather Gros, for earning Louisiana Association of Student Council's Junior High Advisor of the Year award this month at their convention. Heather has been our Student Council advisor since 2015 and is such an asset to our Ascension Family! Way to go Heather!
All State Volleyball Honors
Two Ascension athletes were awarded All-State honors in Baton Rouge at the LVCA All-State Banquet! Ascension Seniors Hannah Mattke and Addie Vidrine were honored along with the best volleyball players in the state, and Addie was named Player of the Year. Congratulations to Coach Jill Schwartz Braun, Hannah and Addie, and all of the All-State honorees celebrated!
Downtown Activity Center Gets Performance Upgrades!
Thanks to the enormous efforts of our Fine Arts Alliance and several individual donors, Ascension has made significant improvements to the sound and lighting equipment in the Downtown Activity Center.
With our new Crestron ® system, we now have individual control of each set of speakers in the bleachers, front of the house, and on stage. Our new digital snake allows us to run one Cat-5 cable from the wall into our soundboard, giving us complete control of the sound rack on stage. We are now also able to control sound remotely from an iPad, allowing us to make adjustments as needed from anywhere in the room. We added new antennas on the stage to extend the range capability of our microphones; this minimizes our susceptibility to interference, which alleviates the issue of sound ducking.
Our lighting system for Downtown performances has also undergone a complete overhaul. We now have twenty-four LED lights installed on stage and six front lights mounted beneath the track. We also have a new console that gives us wireless control over the system. This upgrade has nearly a dozen pre-designed lighting effects and limitless color capabilities, and will allow us to program and customize the lighting design for our shows completely.
Many thanks to our Fine Arts Alliance President, Michelle Franques, and the generosity of the following donors: Brenda and Larry Curtis, Michelle and Leonard Franques, Leslie Jacobs, Jacy and Mike LeBlanc, Stacy Ste. Marie, Carol Ann and Jim Piccione, and Tiffany and Chris Taulbee.
Middle School Pendulum Project
Our Middle School Blue Gators were inspired this semester by the influence of STEM and the role that art plays in our the world. Gaining insight from a recent professional development conference, Ascension’s Middle School art teacher, Danielle Bacque, has chosen to focus on creative problem solving, STEM, and community projects for this school year. The wave pendulum project was a collaboration with math teacher, Mrs. Daly, media teacher, Ms. Gros. Middle School media students are assisting with documenting, filming, and editing the film you see here, which demonstrate the early steps of the project. In the spring semester, the art and media classes will be calculating the final calibrations and will film with black lights in the media lab, and still have some final calibrations to make before final filming in black light to music. When asked about the project, Ms. Bacque says, “I wanted our students to experience the real world of engineering, successes, AND failures through teamwork and creative problem solving this year in art classes. I am excited about how this project is turning out.”
Hour of Code at Ascension
Ascension Episcopal School joined the nation in celebrating Computer Science Week in the largest learning event in history: The Hour of Code! This global movement shows kids that computer science is fun, creative and accessible at all ages, for all students, regardless of background. Students across all three campuses participated in online or off-line activities to learn commands and tasks needed for computers, apps, and websites to function.
River Ranch students paired up to "code" each other around a track and used coding fundamentals in their Makerspace. On the downtown campus, the middle school coding club planned a variety of student-led stations for 1st-7th graders. These stations included programmed robots moving through obstacle courses, a Breakout EDU escape game, and an Hour of Code dance party. Upper school students explored a Technology Expo, led by senior Ian Carlisle, with presentations on building a computer, Ethical Hacking, Robotics, and coding their own games!
We hope that students will go beyond one hour- to learn for a whole day or a whole week or longer! Visit www.code.org for more information!
Ascension Episcopal Girls Swimming Wins State Title
One misconception about high school swimming is team champions must have large team. University High, Ascension Episcopal and E.D. White Catholic blew that notion right out of the water at the LHSAA swim meet Thursday.
Ascension Running Game Powerful in First Round
The Ascension Blue Gators powered their way to victory Friday night in the first round of the Division III playoffs, defeating the visiting Riverside Academy Rebels 35-13. The win sets up a matchup with the second-seeded Country Day Cajuns Friday in Metairie.
Ascension Open House 2018
While our website may provide a glimpse of what life is like at Ascension, the only way to truly experience the school is to see us in action. For that reason, we offer campus tours throughout the year, and we invite you to tour all three campuses to learn how each age-appropriate campus contributes to Ascension’s college preparatory mission.
Ascension Volleyball Looking to Take the Next Step
When a team comes as close to winning the state title as the Ascension Episcopal Blue Gators volleyball team has, taking the next step can seem like a challenge. This season could be the one where they take that step, as the Blue Gators have eight returning seniors, including leaders Addie Vidrine and Hannah Mattke. The team is 5-3 so far, and although the team has had some ups and downs, head coach Jill Braun said she is impressed with the way her players have performed.
Freaky Friday, The Musical
Our Sugar Mill Pond Theatre Program proudly announces they will be performing Freaky Friday, The Musical at the Acadiana Center for the Arts on October 25 through 27, 2018. When an overworked mother and her teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again. Freaky Friday, a new musical based on the celebrated novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films, is a heartfelt, comedic, and unexpectedly emotional update on an American classic.
Innovation Lab Opens on the River Ranch Campus
Ascension Episcopal School is proud to announce the opening of our Innovation Lab at the Preschool. Led by veteran River Ranch teachers, Allyson Womack and Leigh Barry, the Innovation Lab will function as a dedicated learning space for students to engage, explore, and exercise their creativity.
Ascension 2018 Football Preview
For a team that's got a lot of holes to fill in 2018, there's one position where the Blue Gators are loaded. That's at wide receiver, where three starters return, led by senior Seth Kerstetter. Not only can they catch the ball, this unit has the ability to play a role in the running game as well. The receivers make up half of the six returning starters offensively. The good news is that doesn't even include sophomore tackle Clay Ancelet and senior running back Jhalen Brown, who both got valuable varsity experience as reserves last season.
Barczyk commits to UGA for swimming for 2019-2020
Ascension Junior, Jillian Barczyk, has announced her verbal commitment to the University of Georgia for the class of 2023. Barczyk swims for City of Lafayette Aquatics and Ascension Episcopal School, where she is undefeated in her high school career thus far.
Ascension Seniors Offered $5 Million in Scholarships
The senior class of 2018 has been offered a collective $5 million dollars in college scholarships. This dynamic class is the epitome of balanced excellence! While also excelling in academics, 56% of this class has participated in Fine Arts and 83% in athletics during their time at Ascension. Way to Go Gators! We wish you the best of luck as you venture on to your next adventure. Thank you to our Senior Parents who have made the commitment of Educational Excellence in a Christian Environment for their children.
Ascension Hosts Sister School from Uganda
Recently, the Rev. Charles and Alice Busingye from Epiphany School in Uganda visited Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette to express their gratitude for the school's years of support. Ascension Episcopal students and staff presented a $20,000 check to the Busingyes for the Epiphany School, as well as 30 iPads for officials to take back to the campus in Uganda.
Ascension Students Demo The da Vinci Robot
Through a partnership with local surgeons, Dr. Uyen Chu and Dr. Jim Garcelon, Ascension Episcopal School Upper School students will be allowed a unique, hands-on experience with the da Vinci Robot and learn the most up to date surgical techniques. Dr. Chu and Dr. Garcelon are surgeons with Lourdes Physician Group in Lafayette. The da Vinci Robot is a product of Intuitive Surgical.
Ascension Episcopal splits series with Catholic-NI with dramatic walk-off
Ascension's Blake Pearson admits to being confused. Standing at second base, his Ascension Episcopal teammates sprinted toward him to begin celebrating. Friday’s home game against Catholic-New Iberia was, suddenly and dramatically, over.
National Signing Day
Congratulations to the following Senior athletes who are moving on to complete in collegiate athletics:
Eli Mouton - University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Basketball; Christian Deville - Saint Anselm College, Football; Kenny Odinet -Texas A&M, Track & Field
Ascension Episcopal's Sean Michael Brady a dominant arm in fourth year
Hearing the phrase “fourth-year starter” in high school sports, one could assume that it is being used in reference to a senior. But at smaller schools like Ascension Episcopal, some talented athletes become starters on the varsity teams as soon as the seventh or eighth grade. Sean Michael Brady is among the latter of the two, a junior pitcher and infielder for the Blue Gators who is more than midway through his fourth year as a starter.
George Rodrigue Life and Legacy Tour comes to SMP
Wendy Rodrigue speaks at Ascension Episcopal School about the life and legacy of her late husband and famous Louisiana painter, George Rodrigue.
Coordinated School Wellness Week
During the fall of 2017, Ascension Episcopal School established a partnership with the Coalition for Grieving Students. Through the Coalition, the school received a grant from New York Life Insurance Company that has been used to develop the first-ever Coordinated School Wellness Initiative (CSWI). The purpose of the Coordinated School Wellness Initiative is to improve the scope and quality of holistic wellness programs for Ascension students, families, and employees.
KATC Senior Spotlight: Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith is Ascension Episcopal Soccer's leading scorer and a starter on the Blue Gators basketball team. It's not uncommon for her to play both games in both sports on the same night. The role of an athlete, however, is just one of the many things that make up Sydney Smith's life. She's also a business owner, creating jewelry for the company she started last year --The Tangled Jewel.
Suger Mill Pond Campus Pilots Virtual School Day
Can’t get to school because of weather? It may not be an issue for students at Ascension Episcopal School for long. During the recent weather related school closures, students on the Ascension Episcopal School Sugar Mill Pond campus participated in a pilot version of a Virtual School Day.
Academic All-State Honorees
Congratulations to the following Sugar Mill Pond students who have achieved the designation of Academic All-State for the fall of 2017. To be a recipient of this honor, the student must be a senior, must have participated in the sport at least two years in high school and must have a 4.0 (all A’s) for their first three years in high school. The honorees are Olivia Brown, Swimming, Connor Landry, Swimming, Greer Leleux, Cross Country, Christian Deville, Football, Leo Franques, Football and Jack Leoni, Football. Congrats to these Blue Gator athletes on a job well done! By living out balanced excellence, they make our whole school community proud!
2017 PTO Auction Video: Ascension is Doing it Right!
Our PTO has put in countless hours for our 2017 Auction, Louisiana Saturday Night. Check out the awesome video they put together to celebrate our unique school community.
We Are Ascension
Our welcome video gives an introduction to who we are, a glimpse of our halls filled with the leaders, developers, and creators of tomorrow fueled with enthusiasm and a thirst for innovation. Our students are tailoring their future though our emphasis on 21st century learning.
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In The News
Earlier this year, middle school media students were invited ...
Congratulations to Bennett Boyd Anderson, III, Class of ‘15, ...