Ursuline Update

A Message from the President – Gretchen Z. Kane

On Monday, we celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the quintessential leader of the civil-rights movement in America. In his short lifetime, King traveled well over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice. At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. He led a massive protest in Birmingham, Ala., that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called a coalition of conscience and inspiring his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” an excerpt from which follows:

“How does one determine when a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law, or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas, an unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality …”

At Ursuline Academy, our fervent hope, in fact, our prayer for our students is that they will enter into the world they will inherit with enough confidence to engage the changing world, and there, rooted in values, faith and learning skills, begin to fashion a world that is more human and more just. As world events reflect, however, we remain far from mastering the art of human relations. We have invented no technology that will guide us to those places that matter most. We must ask how long it will be before we are able to rise above the national, racial and gender distinctions that divide us and embrace the common humanity that binds us. The answer depends, ultimately, upon the choices that you and I and all of us make.

A Message from the High School Principal – John Gabriel

Those of us working in schools like to think that some times in the year are busier than others. I have not thought of January as a particularly busy time over the past few years – but the amount of activity at the Academy over the past few weeks, and during the upcoming several weeks, has forced me to reconsider my previous views.

For example, our fine basketball and soccer teams are in the midst of outstanding seasons. Both teams have been playing at least twice a week since we returned to school. Last week the basketball team defeated Cabrini and Pearl River in district competition thus remaining undefeated in district play. Yesterday, the girls had an amazing victory against Salmen by over 50 points! They will host Xavier Prep on Friday. Next week, the team travels to East Jefferson on Tuesday, hosts Riverdale on Friday, and then faces Dominican at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Alario Center as part of the LHSAA’s Hall of Fame Classic. Please come out and support Coach Joey Favoloro’s team.

As for our soccer team, they currently sport a record of nine wins, three losses and one tie. Saturday, they pushed number-one ranked Sacred Heart to the last twenty seconds before giving up a late goal in a 2-1 loss. Coach Winston Lewis and his team are currently ranked fifth in the state in their classification. Yesterday evening was Senior Night when the girls faced and defeated Cabrini at Audubon Park; Thursday evening they will play Riverdale in another district matchup. Two additional district games – against East Jefferson and Cabrini – await next week. The soccer team has yet to lose a district game.

On Friday, Jan. 22 we will have another Black & Gold “Saints” Dress Down Day, coupled with a relief drive for Haiti. For a minimum donation of $5, students and faculty may dress down in black and gold apparel. Jeans, tennis shoes and flat boots are allowed. In the spirit of Serviam, we are called to help and serve others. After Hurricane Katrina, the generosity of people from around the globe was eminent. Please join us in supporting both the Saints and the community of Haiti.

Next Thursday night (Jan. 28) is the National Art Honor Society induction ceremony in the Auditorium. We look forward to honoring the new members of this prestigious organization during the ceremony, which will be hosted by our art teachers, Marian McLellan and Maureen Cremaldi. And two nights later, our drama teacher, Dody Nolan, will be hosting Ursuline’s annual one-act play competition in the Auditorium at 8 p.m. The next morning, the Ursuline community gathers together for the annual Mother-Daughter Mass and Luncheon at 10 a.m. at the Hilton Riverside.

I need to offer a big thanks to Student Council moderator Amy Calloway and Dean of Students Karen Mortillaro for the superb job they did administering the Winter Formal last Saturday night. Despite the huge crowd, the evening went without a hitch. Our girls handled themselves with complete class. Last night, students Elia Saravia, Gabby Lavelle, Eugenie Brignac, Bridget Nourse and Beth LaCour left with Campus Minister Kim Otto to travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in the national March for Life which occurs later this week to commemorate the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion legal. We wish our girls and Ms. Otto a safe trip as they march for the unborn.

Finally, we are in the final preparations for our celebration of St. Angela’s Feast Day on Jan. 27. Ursuline students will be performing service projects all over the metropolitan New Orleans area on that day in accordance with our motto of Serviam before returning to school to celebrate Mass at 2 p.m. This feast day is one of the Academy’s most important days of the year. We look forward to sharing our commitment to service with the greater New Orleans community next Wednesday.

As I said when I began, I guess we can’t call January a quiet month. But I know we can call it an Ursuline month. Come see us at our finest – in prayer, in service, in performance. I know that you’ll be impressed.

A Message from the Elementary School Principal – Kim Harper

The Parents’ Club will hold its second general meeting this Thursday, Jan. 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium, followed by refreshments in the Lion’s Den. Please join us for an inspirational presentation by Sr. Judy Gomila. For $5, babysitting and pizza for the children will be provided. 

Re-registration for the 2010-11 school year is due on Friday, Jan. 22.

On Friday, Jan. 22 we will have another Saints Dress Down Day coupled with a relief drive for Haiti. Not only are we a community called by God and in the spirit of Serviam to help and serve others, we also have lived and endured a natural disaster of our own. We have experienced firsthand the generosity of people from around the globe. We know the difference it can, has, and still continues to make in our lives. For a minimum donation of $5, students and faculty may dress down in Saints apparel. Please join us in supporting our Saints and in supporting the community of Haiti.

The last Elementary School Tours will be given next Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Please continue to pass this information on to prospective families.

Next Wednesday, Jan. 27 is The Feast of Saint Angela, Ursuline’s Foundress. This is the Academy’s annual day of service throughout the community. 1^st through 7^th grade students will be spending part of the day off campus providing service to various organizations. Please look for permission slips in your daughter’s book bags. All parents, grandparents and friends are invited to join us for an offering of service and celebratory Mass that afternoon at 2 p.m. in the Chapel.

Please don’t forget that Friday, Feb. 5 is a student holiday due to faculty retreat.