Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart is celebrating its 125th year in Omaha this year and commemorated the event with an all-school photo on Thursday, November 2. More than 300 students, faculty, administrators and preschoolers filled the school's soccer field for the photograph that was shot from a crane from above. The students formed the 1 - 2 -

5 dressed in their full unifoms including red sweaters, and faculty and staff created the white stylized heart above. Preschoolers lined the bottom of the numbers.

Once the photo was shot, a banner was unfurled from the cherry picker that read: "It's Congé," and a mass celebration (read: 300+ teenage girls screaming) ensued. The Congé was completely adult-planned and a total surprise to the students. The faculty gave a fashion show of Duchesne uniforms throughout the years with time-appropriate music and a lively script that couldn't be heard over the screams of delight from the students. They were then divided into class groups for dance lessons featuring typical dances from the different generations, the Jitterbug, the Hussley, the Charleston, etc. The group reconvened for a contest featuring their dances, and a human "applause-o-meter"

recorded more screaming and laughter. An all-school game of Cache-Cache was the last activity before a birthday cake and singing to honor the school's 125th year.

Kate Sommer, an English teacher and lead planner for the event, said she didn't know who was having more fun, the students or teachers. And everyone involved agreed that it was the perfect way to get the students excited about a truly historical anniversary.