Message from Administration/Clergy

Welcome to Sacred Heart Catholic School!

Welcome to Sacred Heart School, a welcoming and safe community that provides an exceptional education in a faith-filled environment for our students. I hope as you visit our website you will see our focus on academics, our strong sense of community, and our dedication to God and His creations. Sacred Heart has been providing Catholic education in West Des Moines since 1954. Sacred Heart belongs to the Diocese of Des Moines and is fully accredited through the State of Iowa.
 
 This legacy of academic excellence continues with our strong curriculum and dynamic teaching faculty. We are committed to the development of the whole child – their intellect and spirituality, as well as their social, moral, emotional, and physical development.  It is our goal to offer an excellent education where diversity of learning styles is honored and where individual differences are respected. Educating the complete child is paramount to his/her success.
 
This multi-layered focus helps our students be well prepared for the academic challenges of high school and beyond. Sacred Heart School recognizes that each child is unique in God's plan, possessing individual gifts and talents. Most importantly, the experiences of faith and service help our students develop a love for God and an appreciation for the value of others.  These experiences foster every student's ability to shape the world through his or her ideas and vision.
Because learning takes place beyond the classroom, service to our community is an integral component of our program. We are preparing our students to be responsible citizens and stewards in a diverse and global community.
 
Our school offers Spanish, P.E., Music, Art, Guidance, Technology and Band as part of the curriculum in addition to the core curriculum. Striking a balance between club offerings, student council opportunities, after school programs, community service, and traditional athletic programs makes Sacred Heart a great choice.
 
   As principal of our school, I promise our parents a safe, faith-based, learning environment for their children in 3 yr old Preschool through Eighth grade.  I am joined in this commitment by our amazing faculty and staff who are dedicated to each student’s success in and out of the classroom.  Our students show their love for Christ and others by looking after one another, treating their peers with respect, doing their best every day, and caring for the environment.   We are a community partnering with parents, valuing children, and teaching values. Faith is integrated into everything we teach at Sacred Heart School.  We are proud to be able to offer a faith based education and work together with you for the spiritual, emotional, and academic growth of our children.  
 
There are several ways to obtain more information about Sacred Heart School.
I encourage you to:
 

• Call the school at 515-223-1284
• Visit the school as a student for the day
• Take a personal tour
• Attend an Open House
• Explore our website

 
 
Blessings and Peace,
Mrs. Kinney
Principal
 

Dear Parents, Students, and Staff:

My name is Scott Ehlinger and I am humbled and excited to be joining the Sacred Heart family as Assistant Principal.  I am looking forward to engaging in the work of ensuring spiritual, academic, social, emotional, and physical growth for all students at Sacred Heart.  I have been passionately involved in education for the past 20 years.    

 Before joining Sacred Heart, I served in a variety of teaching and educational leadership roles with Ankeny, Cedar Falls, and the Milwaukee Public Schools.  Some of these roles include interim assistant principal, athletic director, instructional leadership team, PBIS internal coach, and coaching wrestling and football.  My academic background includes a B.A. and M.A. in physical education from Loras College as well as M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Administration from Iowa State University.

I grew up in Dubuque where I attended Catholic schools first grade through graduate school.  Currently I live in Ankeny with my wife Sarah and our two beautiful children: Michael (6th grade) and Josephine (3rd grade).  We are members of OLIH in Ankeny.  In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, attending my children’s events, running, traveling, anything Hawkeyes, and attempting home improvement projects.

You will find that I care deeply for the students, staff, and families that I serve.  The breadth and scope of this commitment has been evident throughout my professional career.  It is an honor to serve as assistant principal for a school with such a tremendous reputation for excellence.  I look forward to meeting all of you.
 
Sincerely,
Scott M. Ehlinger