Senior Sunrise: A Bright Start to Senior Year The Class of 2026 gathered early on campus for the beloved Senior Sunrise tradition, kicking off their final year together. As the sun rose, seniors shared breakfast, doughnuts, and coffee with friends, creating a peaceful and joyful start to this special chapter.  This tradition is more than just watching the sunrise—it’s a moment to reflect on their high school journey, celebrate friendships, and look ahead to the excitement of senior year. With bright hopes and strong bonds, the Class of 2026 is ready to make unforgettable memories in their final year at Chapelle.

A Creative Tradition: Class of 2026 Seniors Paint Their Parking Spots The Class of 2026 seniors kicked off their final year at Chapelle with one of our most beloved traditions: painting their parking spots! This yearly event is a chance for our seniors to showcase their creativity, individuality, and school spirit—all while leaving their personal mark on campus. Armed with brushes, paint, and big ideas, the seniors transformed the parking lot into a colorful gallery of artwork. Each parking spot became a unique expression of its creator, filled with bold designs, meaningful quotes, and fun themes that reflect their personalities and passions. From intricate patterns to playful images and heartfelt messages, the designs truly captured the spirit of the Class of 2026. We'd like to give a special shout-out to all the family members and friends of our seniors who came out to help them!

Summer Reading Book Club: A Celebration of Stories and Conversations Last week, Archbishop Chapelle High School hosted its annual Summer Reading Book Club , bringing students and faculty together to celebrate a love of reading and meaningful discussion. This program, designed to promote student choice, faculty mentoring, and a culture of reading, once again proved to be a highlight of the school year’s opening week. 8th through 12th grade students paired up with faculty members to discuss the books they chose from the summer reading list. Scattered across the campus, these small groups created cozy and engaging spaces for lively conversations. Each student brought her own print copy of the book to the discussion, ensuring everyone could fully participate in the thoughtful dialogue. Faculty members facilitated the discussions, encouraging students to explore the themes, characters, and ideas that resonated with them. From the laughter and animated exchanges to the moments of deep reflection, the program showcased how books can bring people together in unique and meaningful ways.

Introducing the Campus Ministry Theme for the 2025-2026 School Year: Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  By Ms. Lannan This year’s campus ministry theme is inspired by Romans 8, where St. Paul describes the power of God’s love for each of us and that nothing can separate us from this love that you and I are made for. He says: What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?...No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39) When the campus ministry leaders and I were talking about the potential theme at the end of last school year, the idea of trust continued to come up. As I prayed more about this theme, I was reminded of this passage from Romans, and I found myself wondering what it would look like to have a student body that trusted God not just when things were going well, but even when difficulties, sufferings, and trials came our way. What if we had the type of trust that kept us faithful to God even when things were hard, a trust that continued to pray and praise Him even when we felt abandoned, let down, or alone? After all, this is the reality. God is intimately close to us even when things are difficult or when He feels far away. He is not defined by how we are feeling, but is an ever present and living reality, closer to you than the air you are breathing right now. Archbishop Hughes once told me that what first may seem like a stumbling block on our journey to God, can actually become a stepping stone that leads us closer to Him. Sufferings and difficulties will come - it is a part of life that cannot be escaped. The Enemy wants these sufferings to become stumbling blocks in your faith life, a hindrance that keeps you from Jesus. But if we turn to God even when things are hard, those same stumbling blocks that Satan tries to put in our way become stepping stones to walk closer with the Lord. In my own life, I have time and time again found that when I turn towards Jesus in my suffering, difficulties, loneliness, or trials (instead of away from Him), there is a deeper peace and intimacy there than even in times of consolation. I have turned away and run to other things to fill me or distract me more than I can count, but these never satisfy me in the end. When I turn to Jesus, I know that I am not alone and that He is in the suffering with me. It doesn’t mean things automatically become easier and the suffering disappears, but turning to Him does fill me with a peace that nothing else can offer. And at the end of the day, I realize that any suffering He allows is not because He doesn’t care about me - it is actually quite the opposite! Anything He allows can be an invitation to draw close to Him, a stepping stone that unites my heart more to His than it was before and joyfully fills me with the love I was created for. Throughout this year, I pray that you will join campus ministry in this journey to grow in trust! Wherever you are in your faith journey, whether you have been walking with God for years or you're unsure of who God even is in your life, you are welcome and wanted at all campus ministry events and occasions. In addition, campus ministry leaders will be writing monthly reflections on trust throughout the year. I pray that these reflections move your heart and draw you closer to the God who is always waiting for you!

Kicking Off the School Year with Creativity The first day of school was full of excitement and creativity in Renee Boudreaux’s LA History class! Ms. Boudreaux, a proud member of the Class of 2018, had her 8th-grade students dive into Louisiana culture by crafting their very own Mardi Gras masks.  This colorful activity not only brought a festive flair to the classroom but also gave students a chance to embrace one of our state’s most cherished traditions. The beautifully decorated masks now adorn the classroom, creating a vibrant and welcoming space to learn about Louisiana’s rich history. What a fun and meaningful way to start the year! 💜💚💛

Celebrating the Solemnity of the Assumption: Faith, Tradition, and Love The Chapelle community gathered to celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with our first school Mass of the year. This beautiful liturgical celebration was the perfect way to begin a new chapter—honoring Our Lady as she was assumed into Heaven, body and soul, and seeking her intercession for our Chapelle family. Faith at the Heart of Chapelle During Mass, we reflected on Mary’s unwavering faith and her unique role in God’s plan of salvation. Her Assumption reminds us of our ultimate goal: to grow closer to her son, Jesus, and to prepare our hearts for Heaven. Together as a school community, we prayed for guidance and grace as we embark on this new academic year. Traditions That Connect Us Following the liturgy, several beloved Chapelle traditions brought even more joy to the day: The Class of 2026 Senior Song: For the first time, our seniors sang their senior song, a moment filled with pride and excitement as they begin their final year at Chapelle. Blessed Pins for New Students: Each new student received a blessed pin, symbolizing their official welcome into the Chapelle family and the spiritual support they’ll receive throughout their journey. Big Sis/Lil Sis Flowers: The 8th-grade class presented flowers to their big sisters, a touching gesture that represents the special bond these pairs will share as they navigate the year together. A Day of Faith, Love, and Community The Solemnity of the Assumption was more than just a celebration of Mary’s Assumption—it was a celebration of our faith, our traditions, and our love for one another as members of the Chapelle family. As we move forward this school year, we do so with hearts full of gratitude, inspired by Mary’s example, and united in our mission to grow closer to Jesus.

LeaderChip 2025: Empowering Chapelle’s Student Leaders This summer, Chapelle’s leaders came together for LeaderChip , an annual workshop designed to inspire and equip those at the helm of our school’s clubs, committees, and student organizations. Whether they were club presidents, class officers, committee heads, or members of Student Council, every Chipmunk in attendance left the event ready to lead Chapelle into another incredible year. Learning to Lead Together LeaderChip was packed with opportunities for growth and connection. Throughout the workshop, attendees heard from dynamic speakers who shared valuable insights on how to lead with confidence, compassion, and creativity. These talks covered a variety of leadership topics, from effective communication and teamwork to problem-solving and decision-making. Each speaker encouraged students to embrace their roles as leaders and use their unique strengths to make a positive impact on the Chapelle community. Activities and Connections In addition to the inspiring talks, the workshop included interactive activities that allowed students to get to know each other better. Leaders from different areas of campus life worked together in team-building exercises, fostering collaboration and camaraderie. By the end of the day, students not only had new strategies for leadership but also new friendships and a deeper sense of community. Of course, no Chapelle event would be complete without delicious snacks! The leaders enjoyed tasty treats that kept their energy high and their spirits even higher as they prepared for the exciting year ahead. Gearing Up for an Amazing Year LeaderChip was more than just a workshop—it was a launching pad for the 2025-2026 school year. Armed with fresh ideas, stronger connections, and a renewed sense of purpose, Chapelle’s student leaders are ready to make this year unforgettable. To all of our amazing leaders: Thank you for your commitment to making Chapelle a place where every Chipmunk can thrive. Here’s to a year full of growth, collaboration, and success!