Ursuline Update

A Message from the President – Gretchen Z. Kane

We have so much to be proud of and to be thankful for at Ursuline. I have the great fortune to see our girls developing every day, growing intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and physically. Thank you for your support of our wonderful mission. A very special thanks to the Ursuline Academy Parents’ Club, and especially to Gina Brothers and Pam Dalgo, for the great work in organizing yesterday’s High School Mother-Daughter Luncheon at the Hilton Riverside.

If you haven’t sent in your registration for next year, it’s very important to do so right way. We are in the middle of our application process for new students, and, without having an accurate count of the number of families who will not be returning to the Academy next year, we are unable to offer some of our prospective students a place. The principals will be sending a reminder so that our current families have every opportunity to respond.

A Message from the High School Principal – John Gabriel

One of the great blessings we in education enjoy on a regular basis is the opportunity to discover talents and gifts that we haven’t seen before in the young people with whom we work. I was reminded of this phenomenon twice last week: first, while I saw a group of girls working at St. John the Baptist Community Center during the girls’ efforts on behalf of the community on the Feast of St. Angela; and second, during the one-act play competition in the auditorium on Saturday night. Both instances served as important reminders of what the Ursuline experience does for our young women.

At St. John the Baptist in Central City, our girls were working with students in the Center’s Head Start program. As impressive as the collective efforts of the Ursuline students were in reaching out to these pre-schoolers, I was most impressed with one young lady in particular. My contact with this student had been limited to exchanging pleasantries in the Front Circle before school and in the hallway. Nothing in my previous experiences prepared me for the enthusiasm and energy she displayed in working with these children. I saw her enthusiastically organize a game that included twenty-odd students and her own classmates. She revealed a sense of empathy that touched those children while demonstrating real leadership qualities. St. Angela’s feast day allowed me to see this young woman’s exceptional gifts.

My experience on St. Angela’s Feat Day was only a sampling of what our girls did throughout the greater New Orleans metropolitan area last Wednesday. During our celebration of Mass that afternoon, girls from more than two dozen sites presented symbols of their work on that day. Our thanks go out to Campus Ministers Kim Otto and Betsy Falk for their incredible work in organizing this outreach to our community.

Saturday night, I had a similar experience while watching the one-act play competition. Several times I was stunned to see exceptional performances by students who have (at least to me) hidden their considerable gifts as actresses. Making these performances even more impressive was the fact that several of the one-acts were directed not by Drama Moderator Dody Nolan, but by the students themselves. The poise, assurance and energy demonstrated by our Ursuline students on Saturday night was a revelation – and a humbling one, at that. I was reminded once again to never underestimate an Ursuline student. 

My point behind these anecdotes is to suggest that educating the whole person is central to the Ursuline experience. These types of programs offer our girls lessons that go far beyond the classroom and touch at the real meaning of Catholic education. Please encourage your daughters to participate in all activities sponsored by the Academy. One never knows what hidden talents might be unearthed.

A Message from the Elementary School Principal – Kim Harper

The Dads’ Club will hold a meeting on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria.

This Friday, Feb. 5 is a student holiday due to a faculty/staff retreat.

Monday, Feb. 8 is an Academy holiday in honor of the Saints going to the Super Bowl. WHO DAT!

Progress reports will be mailed home on Feb. 9. We are midway through the 3^rd quarter, and it is a good time to take stock of your child’s progress. Even though Saints fever has taken hold and Mardi Gras is kicking off, please continue to encourage your child to remain conscientious in her studies. Parents, remember to check take home folders and Ed-line reports, and always monitor your child’s study habits.

Parent/Teacher Conferences have been moved to Monday, Feb. 22 from 2:30 to 5 p.m.

Ursuline will be marching in Cleopatra on Friday, Feb. 5, Pontchartrain on Saturday, Feb.  6, and Thoth on Sunday, Feb. 14. 

Friday, Feb. 12 is Grandparents’ Day. We will celebrate with Mass at 9:30 a.m. for grades 1^st-7^th, followed by the toddler parade in the courtyard. Pre-K and Kindergarten will have Bingo in the morning followed by the toddler parade.  T2 and T3 will have the parade at 11 a.m. Dismissal for all students is at noon. There will be no aftercare on this day.  

Mardi Gras Holidays are Feb. 15 – 19. School resumes on Monday, Feb. 22.