Student Reflections on Catholic Schools Week

1/31/2024

Each Catholic Schools Week, DSHA reflects on its scriptural theme for the school year. As Dashers focus on “improving the quality of life” as the Sisters of the Divine Savior’s delegated responsibility, our theme comes from John 10:10: “I came that they may have life and live it abundantly.”

During this special week, we asked our students how their faith, school community, participating in service, and attending a Catholic school help them live abundantly.

Senior Reflections
"Being a part of a Catholic school helps me live abundantly because it allows me to grow and become closer to Christ. DSHA is an environment that encourages students to develop a relationship with Christ, allowing my faith to flourish and truly put trust in God to work in everyday situations. I am able to admire the blessings around me and trust God when obstacles are placed on my life journey. My school community encourages me to be the best version of myself and truly put my faith into action."

— Hailey Bachmann, DSHA ’24

"DSHA has provided me with an amazing community including, teachers, coaches, and peers that inspire me to do my best each day, live abundantly, and excel inside and outside of the classroom. I’ve been blessed with so many opportunities to be a part of teams, clubs, and extracurriculars that have allowed me to pursue non-academic passions, develop leadership skills, and give back to my community."
— Madi Porubcan, DSHA ’24

Junior Reflections

"Partaking in service experiences through DSHA helps me live a more full and abundant life because I am able to make connections with those I serve alongside, and I get so much from the communities and organizations I am able to volunteer for. I have been able to serve at many new locations through DSHA service opportunities which has been really meaningful as well."
— Sylvia Halaiko, DSHA ’25

"Being part of the DSHA community helps me live abundantly because I experience the love and presence of God everyday through my classmates, friends, and teachers. DSHA gives me the opportunity to live abundantly through academics, faith life, service, and community. On Optional Junior Retreat (OJR), it was easy to see how my classmates’ unique gifts and personalities unify us and draw us into abundance."
— Lucy Pickart, DSHA ’25

Sophomore Reflections

"My faith helps me to live an abundant life because it encourages me and motivates me to be active in my community and act like Jesus every day. Practicing my faith at school each day helps me strengthen my emotional and mental relationship with myself, my social relationships with others, and my spiritual relationship with God."
— Mia Minessale, DSHA ‘26

"My faith helps me to live an abundant life because I can work to help others live a full and engaging life, one that makes everyone feel happy and important. The DSHA community helps with this because we have so many faith-based engagement activities available to us. By going on retreats or participating in service projects, we get to grow and explore our faith."
— Maria Metz, DSHA ’26

Freshman Reflections

"DSHA has let me live more abundantly through the available service opportunities. Coming in as a freshman, I joined the Best Buddies co-curricular and it’s been such a great community to make friends, serve, and get to know the Marian Scholars."
— Tahlia Melendes, DSHA ‘27

"The community of students at DSHA has helped me live more abundantly—especially theatre. Theatre has really helped me find a community here as a freshman and introduced me to some of my closest friends."
— Natalie Hartung, DSHA ‘27

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