Newsletter - November 5, 2026
A NOTE FROM OUR HEADMASTER
Dear Families,
I want to take a moment to note an opportunity our students are realizing: our volleyball and football teams are both in the playoffs (link below in athletics section for tickets). Sacred Heart Academy desires for the growth of the whole person. Athletics is one avenue especially for human formation to happen. We support our students not because we want them to think that their life is about them (it’s just the opposite: we know, because of how Jesus lived, that our lives are certainly not about us), but because athletics provides an opportunity to show other communities and other teams how to live a good life. We have an opportunity, as noted below, for our community to do the same: how we show up, how we support not just our own players but the other teams and their fans, or how we hold the door open for those behind us. All of these gestures of generosity and hospitality matter. And, they matter not because they make us look good, but because they are ways that we share Jesus Christ with others. The lay vocation is in the world, and there is an opportunity to sanctify the world. Here are those dates and times:
- Volleyball plays tonight at Tri-Unity. If they win, they play Saturday morning at 11am.
- Football won their first game at Marion. They play Saturday at 3pm at St. Patrick’s in Portland (the game is actually at the field at Portland public high school).
Please consider as well, as part of our commitment to forming Catholics and cultivating culture, attending the third Partners in Formation series by Zach Good next week Tuesday, Nov 10th. And, as an extension and ramping up of Partners in Formation, please consider registering for the Forming the Whole Person Conference November 21st.
Thank you, families, for your “yes” to Sacred Heart Academy!
In His Most Sacred Heart,
Sean Nolan
Headmaster
MONTH-AT-A-GLANCE
NOVEMBER
10 - Picture Retake Day -Order here with code 0661KJF
10 - Partners in Formation
11 - Assembly - 8:45am (right after Mass) in Cebelak Hall. Grades 12, 6, & 4 reciting.
13 - Christmas Card Contest Deadline
15 - Hot Lunch Order Deadline - Instructions to order here!
19 - Hot Lunch is Served!
20-21 - Forming the Whole Person Conference
24 - Money Wars End
25-27 - Thanksgiving Break, No School
29 -Advent by Candlelight
30 - Priority deadline for Financial Aid - Apply Here!
DECEMBER
4 & 5 - MS Theatre Performances
ACTION ITEMS
There's still time to sign up for this excellent opportunity! Learn more about what it really means to form the whole person. The Saturday session is specifically designed for parents and about formation in the home. You don't want to miss it!
FINANCIAL AID Click here for the Zoom recording about Blackbaud and financial aid. Financial Aid applications are now open for the 2027-2028 academic year. Priority deadline for best consideration is November 30, 2026. Financial aid applications must be submitted by February 28, 2027, for consideration for SHA scholarships.
MARCH FOR LIFE SCHOLARSHIP Students are eligible for one of five $300 scholarships to be applied to their bus trip expenses to the March for Life in Washington, DC, which will be held on January 22, 2027. This peaceful demonstration is a witness to the truth concerning the greatest human rights violation of our time. Applications and a short essay are due by December 1. Applicants must be attending the March for Life on a Grand Rapids Right to Life bus trip. The academy bus trip qualifies! First-time applicants will be given preference. For details on this scholarship, visit www.grrtl.org/marchscholarship, call 616-532-2300, or email info@grrtl.org.
MONEY WARS have begun! November 2 through Friday, November 20th, Sacred Heart Academy will compete against other teams in Money Wars! All proceeds will go to HELP Pregnancy Center. Click here for teams and other information.
SAVE THE DATES Tickets for our middle school theater production of Hans Christian Andersen JR go on sale Wednesday, November 11 at 8am, with performances on December 4th and 5th. Click here for more info!
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS in our theater program! Submit your ad HERE. Thank you for helping to defray our printing costs while also promoting your business!
KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS CARD DESIGN CONTEST Rules and Entry Form here! Entries and forms can be submitted to the office. Deadline: November 13th.
PICTURE RE-TAKES information here! Yearbooks will be sold separately, online after the new year. Yearbooks are not included in photo packages.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CATHOLIC CITIZENSHIP ESSAY CONTEST Details are available here. Deadline: November 20th.
DISCERNMENT AND FORMATION Parents of upper school students should bookmark the Office of Discernment and Formation Page to stay up to date.
VOLUNTEERS AND CHAPERONES If you plan to volunteer or drive students for field trips, you must be Virtus trained and complete a driver form. Please note: Driver information usually expires every six months, so you will most likely need to complete a second form throughout the duration of the school year. Questions: Sara Klooster
VIRTUS Lessons Look for Semester 1 VIRTUS Lessons, now available on our website under “Virtus training” on the parent dashboard. Please go over the designated lesson with your child(ren) by December 15th. If you wish to opt-out of the entire Virtus lesson process, please notify the homeroom/Household teacher by December 15th, as well as, complete and submit the Virtus Opt-Out form. The form can also be sent to Sara Klooster.
MARCH FOR LIFE SCHOLARSHIP Students are eligible for one of five $300 scholarships to be applied to their bus trip expenses to the March for Life in Washington, DC, which will be held on January 22, 2027. This peaceful demonstration is a witness to the truth concerning the greatest human rights violation of our time. Applications and a short essay are due by December 1. Applicants must be attending the March for Life on a Grand Rapids Right to Life bus trip. The academy bus trip qualifies! First-time applicants will be given preference. For details on this scholarship, visit www.grrtl.org/marchscholarship, call 616-532-2300, or email info@grrtl.org.
MONEY WARS have begun! November 2 through Friday, November 20th, Sacred Heart Academy will compete against other teams in Money Wars! All proceeds will go to HELP Pregnancy Center. Click here for teams and other information.
SAVE THE DATES Tickets for our middle school theater production of Hans Christian Andersen JR go on sale Wednesday, November 11 at 8am, with performances on December 4th and 5th. Click here for more info!
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS in our theater program! Submit your ad HERE. Thank you for helping to defray our printing costs while also promoting your business!
KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS CARD DESIGN CONTEST Rules and Entry Form here! Entries and forms can be submitted to the office. Deadline: November 13th.
PICTURE RE-TAKES information here! Yearbooks will be sold separately, online after the new year. Yearbooks are not included in photo packages.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CATHOLIC CITIZENSHIP ESSAY CONTEST Details are available here. Deadline: November 20th.
DISCERNMENT AND FORMATION Parents of upper school students should bookmark the Office of Discernment and Formation Page to stay up to date.
VOLUNTEERS AND CHAPERONES If you plan to volunteer or drive students for field trips, you must be Virtus trained and complete a driver form. Please note: Driver information usually expires every six months, so you will most likely need to complete a second form throughout the duration of the school year. Questions: Sara Klooster
VIRTUS Lessons Look for Semester 1 VIRTUS Lessons, now available on our website under “Virtus training” on the parent dashboard. Please go over the designated lesson with your child(ren) by December 15th. If you wish to opt-out of the entire Virtus lesson process, please notify the homeroom/Household teacher by December 15th, as well as, complete and submit the Virtus Opt-Out form. The form can also be sent to Sara Klooster.
Partners in Formation:
Technology and the Human Person
Join us for our fall Partners in Formation series, exploring how modern digital tools shape our minds, our hearts, and our families, led by academy teacher Zach Good.
We will meet 7:00–8:30 p.m. in the Academy Cafeteria (Arrive via the Dayton St. entrance.) on the following dates:
- Nov 10 – Digital Sobriety in the Age of AI: Exploring Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica Humanitas, we will discuss how to answer the pope’s call to practice “digital sobriety” without abandoning the culture to digital maximalists.
Questions? Contact Zach Good at zgood@shgr.org.
HOCKEY PROGRAM UPDATE Dominic Gumbko will represent Sacred Heart Academy on the Grand Rapids Christian Varsity Hockey co-op this season! Come cheer on Dominic and his teammates at their first game against West Ottawa on November 11th at 7 PM at Holland Ice Arena. Let’s pack the stands! Full Schedule coming soon!
VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS The girls Varsity Volleyball team will play their first playoff game on Thursday, November 6th at 7 PM. They will face Tri-Unity Christian at Tri-Unity Christian High School. You can purchase your ticket online using this link. If they win on Thursday, they will play again on Saturday, November 7th at 11 AM at Tri-Unity.
FOOTBALL PLAYOFFSThe Varsity Football team defeated their first round opponent, Marion, by a score of 50-30 on Friday, October 30th. They will face Portland Saint Patrick's on Saturday, November 7th at 3 PM. You can purchase your tickets online using this link. If you are unable to travel to the game, you can watch it on the NFHS Website using this link. You will need an account to watch the game.
GRACEAC 5/6th Girls Basketball Registration Registration for 5/6 grade girls basketball through GRACEAC is open and will remain open till November 30th. Please use this link to sign up your daughter. A reminder that we are only competing at the 5/6 level in GRACEAC for basketball.
GRACEAC 7/8 BASEBALL This is an update for the 7/8 GRACEAC Baseball league. Last week it was announced that there will no longer be a 7/8 Baseball league through GRACEAC. The participating schools voted to cancel the league, due to low enrollment and a lack of fields. Currently there are no schools with a 7/8 baseball field in the GRACEAC league. At Sacred Heart we are still planning on having a 7/8 team, but we will be competing against other schools who we play at the high school level. We have already spoken to another league about potentially adding ourselves to their schedules. Once we have a final schedule we will publish it online.
VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS The girls Varsity Volleyball team will play their first playoff game on Thursday, November 6th at 7 PM. They will face Tri-Unity Christian at Tri-Unity Christian High School. You can purchase your ticket online using this link. If they win on Thursday, they will play again on Saturday, November 7th at 11 AM at Tri-Unity.
FOOTBALL PLAYOFFSThe Varsity Football team defeated their first round opponent, Marion, by a score of 50-30 on Friday, October 30th. They will face Portland Saint Patrick's on Saturday, November 7th at 3 PM. You can purchase your tickets online using this link. If you are unable to travel to the game, you can watch it on the NFHS Website using this link. You will need an account to watch the game.
GRACEAC 5/6th Girls Basketball Registration Registration for 5/6 grade girls basketball through GRACEAC is open and will remain open till November 30th. Please use this link to sign up your daughter. A reminder that we are only competing at the 5/6 level in GRACEAC for basketball.
GRACEAC 7/8 BASEBALL This is an update for the 7/8 GRACEAC Baseball league. Last week it was announced that there will no longer be a 7/8 Baseball league through GRACEAC. The participating schools voted to cancel the league, due to low enrollment and a lack of fields. Currently there are no schools with a 7/8 baseball field in the GRACEAC league. At Sacred Heart we are still planning on having a 7/8 team, but we will be competing against other schools who we play at the high school level. We have already spoken to another league about potentially adding ourselves to their schedules. Once we have a final schedule we will publish it online.
PTC AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Young Families Group - Info here!
PARISH NEWS
Noelle Divozzo - parishoffice@shgr.org
Father Don will be moving to
St. Ann’s Home
2161 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Please call the front desk (616- 453-7715) for visiting hours.
Authenticum with Fr. David Anderson from Wyoming Catholic, November 4
First Friday Adoration is in need of permanent adorers for 12 midnight and 1AM. Please email Noelle at the office if you are interested (Parishoffice@shgr.org)
Last Bible Epic Class on Wednesday November 11, 7-8:30pm in Cebelak.
Saturday, November 21 after the 5PM, we are looking for someone to “host” the social after the vigil Mass. Everything is provided, just show up and serve. Sign up here or email Laureen Fish lfish@shgr.org for details.
Advent by Candlelight, Sunday, November 29th
March for Life 2027 in D.C. Registration due Dec 4th
Discernment Opportunities in the Diocese of Grand Rapids
Meal Train Corner: There are so many reasons to be thankful in this Parish. Please help bless some of the families of our parish who recently welcomed a new little one or are going through a difficult time. The Reiser Family, The Wilson Family
Fr. Ron's Prayer Intentions for November: For the souls of the Faithful Departed, especially the Holy Souls in Purgatory who have no one to pray for them. Eternal rest grand unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.