Ursuline Update

A Message from the President – Gretchen Z. Kane

The New Year brings with it lots of resolutions, as well as reflections, on the year just ended. Faculty and students got some well-deserved time off for the holidays and probably began outlining their New Year’s resolutions right away. The list would surely include those things they wanted IN their lives in 2010 as well as those items they wanted OUT of their lives in the new year. Students would most certainly resolve to keep up with assignments and to try their best to keep procrastination “out” of their schoolwork. Teachers might resolve to implement at least one “alternative assessment” during the New Year and to toss “out” tests they gave ten years ago.
 
Each year, the Washington Post offers its “list” of INS and OUTS for the New Year. This year, that list included:
 
INS/OUTS
 
Black princess merchandise/Black president merchandise
Swine phew/Aporkalypse now
Deferrals/Funemployment
Justin Bieber/Jonas Brothers
Pantslessness/Leggings
Detroit artist colonies/Detroit auto plants
“Hoarders”/ “Intervention”
Thigh-high boots/Platform sandals
Muscle confusion/Interval training
Defriend/D-list
Ripped jeans/Ripped Abs
Apprenticeships/AP classes
Streetcars/Zipcars
Teen GPS trackers/Red-light cameras
Af-Pak/SarahPAC
Crashing climate talks/Crashing state dinners
 
It might be fun to apply this type of listing to the world of education with some references, of course, to Ursuline education.
 
INS/OUTS
 
Interactive Learning/Passive Learning
Brain Research/Ritalin
Thinking/Thinking Outside the Box
Ursuline Adaptability/”It’s the way we’ve always done it”
Governance & Sponsorship/Power & Control
Facebook & Twitter/Eloquentia Perfecta
Smartboards/Chalkboards
Courtesy, Loyalty & Courage/Arrogance of Excellence
“My computer crashed”/”The dog ate my homework”
“rents”/”parents”
Multi-media project/Term paper
Campus Ministry/Sodality
www.sparknotes.com /Cliff Notes
Standards/Standards
Serviam/”It’s all about me”
 
This list is by no means complete (or, for some, totally accurate). But, as I reflect on the “Ins and Outs” list, I am struck not only by the rapidly changing times we live in, but also by how Ursuline education continues to be rooted in meaning, inspired by the vision of St. Angela. It seems, therefore, that one of the biggest challenges facing Ursuline Academy, and all Ursuline schools, is being able to maintain a balance of change and convention – being able to live in the center of both innovation and tradition. As we confront the issues of the day and experience the steady diet of new developments in the world and our society, we resolve in 2010 to look to the spiritual vision of St. Angela to provide a context for examining and facing the challenges of our times. Ursuline schools form a powerful network united by this common vision, and we will continue in 2010 to share ideas and experiences so that we may discover the most effective ways to apply this vision to the education of our girls.

A Message from the High School Principal – John Gabriel

I want to take this opportunity to remind parents (and students) about the importance of responsible use of the Internet. While the great majority of our students use good judgment regarding what is written and posted on the Internet via e-mail and particularly, Facebook, there have been occasions over the past several years when students at Ursuline have made poor decisions about what they decide to post on the Internet.
 
What is particularly troubling is that once information is posted on the Internet, the person doing the posting loses control of the information contained in the post. A post that is intended for one person can be easily “taken” by someone else and posted on other (unintended) sites – with embarrassing, and sometimes damaging, consequences.  We must also understand that words that are posted are very different from words that are spoken in a casual conversation. The rule we stress to our girls here at Ursuline is “Don’t post something on the Internet that you wouldn’t want to read on the front page of the Times-Picayune.”
 
Our concern is for the safety and well-being of the girls who attend Ursuline. We don’t want to compromise that safety because of a careless post.  I urge all students and parents to review the policies governing technology use that are printed on Page 29 of the Ursuline Academy Student Handbook. While the policy says nothing specifically about Facebook, Twitter, or any other internet application, we strongly suggest that all parents take the time to monitor their daughters’ postings. The Handbook’s section on Harassment, which directly follows the Technology section, is also worthy of review. Comments posted via the Internet can be construed as harassment; therefore, great care should be exercised regarding what is posted.
 
Regarding the Mother-Daughter Mass and Luncheon scheduled for Jan. 31, the deadline to sign up has been extended until Tuesday, Jan. 12. Here’s your last chance to sign up for what promises to be a wonderful day.
 
Friday, Jan. 15 will be a SAINTS Dress Down Day. Students may wear jeans and tennis shoes, as well as any SAINTS shirt, jersey or black/gold top.
 
And there is an exciting service opportunity available to all interested students (and parents) on Martin Luther King Day (Monday, Jan. 19). High school students from across the Archdiocese will gather at Jesuit High School for a short prayer service led by Archbishop Aymond before going out all over the city to do various service projects. Interested students can get more information about this special day from Ms. Otto, whose office is one the third floor. Permission forms are due Wednesday, Jan. 13.

A Message from the Elementary School Principal – Kim Harper

Elementary School Tours continue tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and run through the month of January on every Tuesday. Please pass this information on to prospective families.
 
On Friday, Jan. 15, we will have a SAINTS Dress Down Day. 
 
The Martin Luther King Holiday is on Monday, Jan. 18.
 
The Parents’ Club General Meeting is on Thursday, Jan.  21 at 5:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. Sr. Judy Gomila will be the guest speaker, and refreshments will be served in the Lion’s Den following the presentation. Please make every effort to join us. A flyer will be going home tomorrow.
 
Re-registration is due on Friday, Jan. 22.
 
Please periodically check the Academy calendar. There is a student holiday on Friday, Feb. 5 due to the faculty retreat.
 
With the cold weather upon us, please check your handbook for appropriate attire. Students are allowed to wear navy blue or white tights only. Only Ursuline sweatshirts, sweaters and jackets are allowed when students are inside the building.
 
Parents, please check our lost and found area on the second floor outside the lounge and the stairwell location outside the Lion’s Den. Both areas are full of student clothing and various belongings. Also, please mark all of your child’s clothing with her name.