
Principal's Message
I grew up in Reedsburg, WI and attended grade school at Sacred Heart School through eighth grade. I graduated in 1984 from Webb High School in Reedsburg. After graduating from UW-La Crosse with a degree in Mathematics and a minor in Business Administration, I taught math for one year in Prairie du Chien before coming to Aquinas High School where I have been ever since, teaching math, business and as of 2015, working in administration.I am very humbled as I look at the admirable leadership for Aquinas historically! The Aquinas community is very supportive and I know the staff at Aquinas is top notch which makes my job very rewarding and at the same time always a challenge. I am honored and proud to be in a leadership position for the Blugolds!
Our Mission
The mission of the Aquinas Catholic Schools Foundation, an independent tax-exempt organization, is to promote and ensure that high quality Catholic education is made affordable and accessible to all in the La Crosse Diocese through the Aquinas Catholic Schools.
The Aquinas mission is accomplished by ensuring that donors’ funds are utilized according to their wishes, investing entrusted donations in a prudent and effective manner to maximize their benefit, and, through active fund raising, maintain the affordability of education costs within the means of all families who desire a Catholic education.
Mrs. Denise Ring
Principal
Aquinas High School
Educational Background
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Minor:
Business Administration: University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Masters Degree:
Secondary Education: University of Wisconsin - Platteville
Licensures:
A001 Administration, 5051 Principal, 5010 Director of Instruction- Viterbo University
Educational Experience
28 years with Aquinas Catholic Schools
25 years of teaching experience
4 years of Administrative experience
OUR HISTORY
Aquinas Catholic Schools is a Christ-Centered learning community carrying out a fundamental mission of the Church to educate, challenge and inspire students in the Catholic Tradition of Faith, Service, and Academic Excellence.
OF PERPETUAL ADORATION
THE FRANCISCAN SISTERS
When Aquinas High School opened in 1928, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration became part of the first Aquinas High School faculty, which began the long tradition of Franciscan presence, shaping the present Aquinas High School community.
A group of three sisters grew in numbers, as the school added to its enrollment and peaked to 33 in the 1950s. With the decline in school population and in vocations, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration at Aquinas High School began to decrease in numbers until 1992, when the last sister on the staff, Sister Lucille Kleinheinz, retired from active duty.
The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration presence at Aquinas High School was revived in the fall of 2012 when Sister Julia Walsh joined the religion department faculty. In addition to being an almost total Franciscan presence for many years, the sisters also chaired every department from art to biology to world history and yearbooks with the exception of sports. Moreover, the sisters were part of the administration holding the position of vice principal until Sister Celine Schumacher's retirement in 1978.
Every sister who taught at Aquinas High School throughout the years was degreed and fully prepared both academically and theologically to educate our modern youth.
In addition to its professionals, Aquinas High School also graduated many young women who were gifted with a religious vocation to the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.
The total number of sisters engaged in teaching at Aquinas High School since its beginning is 175.
OUR HIGH SCHOOL CREST
The Aquinas High School crest, designed in 1942, symbolizes the depth of intent of Catholic education. It first appeared in the yearbook, the TRUMPET, and on the 1943 class rings.
The cross, which holds the central and most prominent position on the crest, identifies Aquinas High School as Catholic and indicates the importance of the faith and redemption of which it is a symbol.
XP, the first two letters (chi and rho) of the Greek word for Christ, signify that the life of a Christian should not be egocentric or world centric but Christ centric, centered around Christ. The fleur-de-lys, the symbol of sanctity and virtue, symbolize God, man's final end, and the Blessed Virgin, model of virtue. The lamp of learning and the books are symbols of knowledge and learning. The laurel over the books symbolizes reward and the lilies of the valley on the other side of the aureole symbolize humility.
"We are the friends of Christ. We have learned His spirit in chapel, in classroom, in hall, and gymnasium."
Rooted in faith and based in excellence, the spirit of Aquinas High School tradition and grown and spread immeasurably since the schools inception in 1927. The nearly 13,000 graduates in a multiplicity of professions from religion to business to medicine to education to law to entertainment have spread those high standards which are so much a part of the Aquinas High school experience throughout the world. The common memories, of Sisters' influence, of Father's jokes, of class Masses and meetings, of games and dances, of the dress code, the commons, and the classroom, serve to unite us all in experience, we each will always carry with us a bit of that special spirit that is Aquinas High School.
