Ursuline Update

A Message from the President – Gretchen Z. Kane

Yesterday was the Second Sunday in Lent, and the readings call for our trust in God. In the second reading, Paul reminds us that God gave us his own Son who dies on the cross for us inviting us to carry our cross too daily and be with him. The Gospel gives us the incredible moment in the life of Jesus where he is transfigured before his disciples on the top of a mountain, where the voice of God announces Jesus is his Son, the chosen one and we ought to listen to Him. Sunday’s readings tell us that we are called upon to live a life of intimacy with God and to listen to the voice of Jesus speaking to our hearts.

I recently came across a piece called “The Bike Ride” that I thought I would share with you.

 THE BIKE RIDE

At first, I saw God as my observer, my judge – keeping track of things I did to know whether I merited heaven or hell. He was out there – sort of like a president. I recognized His picture, but I didn’t know Him.

Later on, when I met Christ, life became a bike ride. It was a tandem bike, and Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don’t know just when He suggested we change places, but life has not been the same since. Christ makes life exciting.

When I had the control, I knew the way. I was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points. When He led, He knew delightful long cuts – up mountains and through rocky places – and at breakneck speeds. It was all I could do to hang on!! Even though it looked like madness. He said, “Pedal!” I worried and was anxious and asked, “Where are you taking me?” He laughed and didn’t answer, and I started to trust.

I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I’d say, “I’m scared,” He’d lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people who gave me gifts of healing, acceptance, joy and peace for our journey. He said, “Give the gifts away.” So I did to the people we met. And I found that in giving I received, and our burden was light.

I did not trust Him at first to control my life. I thought He’d wreck it. But He knows how to make bikes bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages.

I am learning to be quiet and pedal in the strangest places. I’m beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face. And when I’m sure I just can’t do any more – He just smiles and says “Pedal!”

During this Lenten season, let us give ourselves over to God. Let us have faith and hope in our God. Allow us to be sensitive in our devotion to God and to live in His smile.
 

A Message from the High School Principal – John Gabriel

We want to offer congratulations to our winter sports teams for their outstanding seasons. The Ursuline basketball team finished their season last Thursday night with a 87-66 loss to Bastrop. It was the second straight year that the basketball team made it to the quarterfinals (last year’s team actually went one step further by making it to the semifinals in Ruston). Playing in the 4A classification instead of last year’s 3A classification, Coach Joey Favaloro’s team posted an impressive final record of 28 wins and five losses, including a 10-0 record in district play. Despite the fact that this year’s team graduates five seniors (three of whom are starters), several talented players will return next year. The girls enjoyed an excellent season.

Winston Lewis’s soccer team also enjoyed a superb season. Like the basketball team, the soccer team had an undefeated season in district play. Among impressive showings in non-district play were the team’s first defeat ever of Uptown rival Newman (who won their classification’s state championship) and a last-second defeat to another eventual state champion, Sacred Heart. A tough loss in the bi-district round to Calvary does not diminish the accomplishments of our girls throughout an incredibly successful season.

We wish all of our spring sports teams the best of luck as they begin their seasons.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our parents to complete the questionnaire that we mentioned last week regarding our work with Sustaining Excellence. This confidential survey will take approximately ten minutes of your time and will provide us with much useful information as we continue our efforts to serve the girls who attend Ursuline more effectively. For those of you who have already completed the survey, thanks so much for your help – and your support.

I also wanted to mention the incentives we are offering our students for the Spaghetti Supper Raffle.  All individual students who sell one book of tickets (forty tickets at $2.00 per ticket) will be awarded an extra Easter holiday on Tuesday, April 6^th, 2010.  The individual top seller for the High School (minimum three books) will win a $100.00 cash prize plus be named Principal for the Day (at a date to be announced).  For each class that reaches 100% of the required ticket total, that class will win a casual dress day.  And finally, should the entire high school reach the 100% participation goal, I have agreed (gulp) to dress as an Ursuline student on the day we have a student as Principal for the Day. Cameras will obviously abound on campus that day.

A Message from the Elementary School Principal – Kim Harper

The cash raffle begins today, so please look for your child’s raffle tickets to come home in their school bags this evening. This is a very important fund raising effort for the Academy and your support is greatly appreciated.  Most schools do have raffle campaigns like ours, and they are usually associated with their schools’ fairs. Ours is associated with our Spaghetti Supper on March 28.

As a parent, myself, having had two children in Catholic, private schools, I always considered these raffle tickets as part of my financial obligation to my children’s schools. Therefore, I always buy my daughter’s first pack of tickets, and if she wants to sell more in order to receive some of the cool incentives, I encourage her to ask grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, or use some of her own allowance money. A flyer with ticket incentives went home last week and can be viewed on the Ursuline Web site. 

Please consider adding this charitable donation to your other contributions on the charitable gifts line item of your 2010 Income Tax Return in order to receive maximum deductions benefits.

I will be visiting the classrooms this week and talking with the students about selling their tickets and explaining the incentives. Over the next 4 weeks, you will be hearing about how the ticket sales are going, and we will be encouraging everyone’s participation. I hope we can count on your support, and we thank you in advance.

On Wednesday, March 3, the blacktop parking area next to the gym will not be available for morning drop-off due to a special High School event. Please enter off South Claiborne and use the regular carpool line. A teacher and Student Ambassador will be there to help you and your daughter. Thank you for your cooperation.

I want to remind parents that breakfast is served in the cafeteria every morning, but the manager will not be serving students any later than 7:50 a.m. We must require that breakfast not be served any later than this time in order for students to get to homeroom on time. Please keep this in mind when you drop your child off in the mornings. Breakfast is a very important meal of the day, and we want every child to have an opportunity to eat breakfast in the mornings.

6^th and 7^th exams will be held next week, Wednesday through Friday, March 10-12.

Terra Nova, standardized testing will be held Wednesday, March 17 through Tuesday, March 23.

The Academy’s Spring Musical, “Annie,” will be performed this year March 25 – 28. Please contact Melanie to order tickets at 504.866.5260 or mprovenzano@ursulineneworleans.org.