Ursuline Update

A Message from the President – Gretchen Z. Kane

Most of us have spent at least a brief moment of reflection over these past few days as we remember Hurricane Katrina on its 5-year anniversary. For me, the memories remain quite fresh. I remember packing almost nothing as I evacuated the city I was born in and grew up in for the first time. We were sure we’d be back in a couple of days. When the city filled with water, first reports were that no one should plan to return for at least 12-16 weeks. TWELVE to SIXTEEN weeks! What were we going to do? First things first…we ALL learned how to TEXT MESSAGE … who knew this great feature existed on a cell phone? The Ursuline sisters had opened the school as a shelter, but, after 9 days were forced to evacuate – this was the FIRST time since 1727 that there wasn’t an Ursuline presence in the city of New Orleans.

I remember the condition of Ursuline’s campus. All 8 buildings on Ursuline’s campus were inundated with water. Electrical and mechanical systems were flooded; 40 trees, including live oaks, water oaks, cedars and magnolias were lost; the brand new athletic center, opened for only one year, suffered a buckled floor and 6-8 feet of mold on the walls. But, even with all of this, we determined that it would be reasonable to set a reopening date of January 3, 2006. We would reopen in our main building only. During the four months of massive clean-up to the buildings and grounds, as well as restoration of electrical, mechanical, fire alarm and bell systems, Ursuline Academy resolved to continue full payroll AND to refund tuition dollars. These decisions were based on simply acting with justice. We wanted our students to be able to return to a safe and familiar environment. All efforts focused on getting our beloved Ursuline ready for our children and for the future.

I remember on January 3, 2006, we were ready to reopen. Was everything perfect? NO. Was everything working? NO. Was there food service in the cafeteria? NO. Were the streets cleared of massive debris? NO. But, we were reopening, and our families were ecstatic. January 3 saw our students squealing with excitement upon seeing one another again after such a long absence. The hallways were once again filled with the sounds of children, a reminder of what our educational apostolate is all about. When the Ursuline Sisters returned, you can imagine that the first question they were asked was if Our Lady of Prompt Succor had let us down. I’ll never forget how one sister responded. She said, “we prayed for the hurricane not to hit us, and it didn’t … but, we forgot to pray about the levees!” As students became reacquainted, they shared stories of their evacuation and displacement. I’ll never forget looking at a huge poster of a daisy outside of the first grade classroom the week after our return to school. The center of the flower read, “Good things that happened because of Katrina.” Each petal gave an individual student’s answer. I think my favorite was, “I got to live in a FEMA trailer in my driveway.”

To say what we’ve been through and are still going through as a city is unbelievable is probably an understatement. But, we have also been very blessed. Perhaps the most valuable lesson we have learned as a community is humility. We have been targeted by our circumstances as the recipients of the greatest outpouring of donations, charity and volunteer help in American history. People from elsewhere, people we don’t know, saved us. They gave us their money and their time, and they cleared our streets and protected our homes, and most of us don’t even know who they were.

So, as we remember that tragic day five years ago, let us also remember that as both an Ursuline community and a broader local community, we have not only prevailed, but have strengthened in our resolve to be the best we can be. We have not allowed ourselves to be mired down in self-pity, anger, or a defeatist attitude. We have been willing to expose ourselves to risk and opportunity and to be open to the possibilities of both hope and despair. Please join me in praying for God’s grace to remain open and for patience in awaiting God’s many blessings and gifts.

A Message from the High School Principal – John Gabriel

I want to thank the many parents who attended last Wednesday’s Mini-Schedule Night.  Our faculty commented on the positive spirit and enthusiasm of the parents toward their efforts on behalf of our students. We recognize that there have been changes in the High School’s program over the last two years, and the support of the parents has been critical as we have implemented these changes: the introduction of an honors program, an increase in time spent in class, a stronger discipline program. Asking students to do more and be held to a higher standard works only when parents support the school – and our Ursuline parents have been incredible in their support of the Academy and the changes we have implemented. 

I would also like to mention the efforts of our faculty in improving our school over the last two years. Beginning with our efforts in our self-study with the educational consulting firm Sustaining Excellence last year, our faculty has spearheaded our attempts at becoming more data-driven in our efforts to improve. Using a plethora of data generated with Sustaining Excellence, our faculty, under the leadership of Academic Assistant Principal Alice Bairnsfather, the members of the Academic Council (Joseph Bienvenu, Joel Causey, Brian Cordes, Karen Davis, Patty Mathes, Erin Plauche, Dody Nolan, Susan Young) and several other faculty members, including Amy Calloway and Sharon Linton from our Sustaining Excellence Team, have worked tirelessly to improve the High School’s academic program. It is an amazing tribute to these teachers that so many of our parents have recognized the energy and enthusiasm of our faculty as we begin this new school year.

Since I am busy thanking individuals, I would also like to congratulate our new faculty members for their work at the beginning of the school year.  New teachers Joel Bevington, Megan Dubee, Laura Duncan, Lanie Griffin, Bridget Ramsey, Janet Tedesco, Katie Thorner, and Erin Walker have shown their professionalism constantly since the year began almost three weeks ago. On Mini-Schedule Night, many parents told me how impressed they were with the new additions to our faculty. Combined with our superb veteran teachers, I think we have a faculty that is second to none in the metropolitan New Orleans area. As I mentioned last Wednesday night when I addressed the parents in the Auditorium, I am very pleased that this faculty is teaching all of our daughters.

The first two weeks of the new school year have been amazingly smooth – a real tribute to our parents, our staff, and particularly, our student body. I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that our senior Sioux have assumed a leadership role that has impressed everyone in the school. As I mentioned last week, I also want to congratulate this year’s Student Council for their efforts at re-invigorating the Council. Council leadership, headed by Executive Board President Maddie Skinner, has stepped forward to work closely with moderator Amy Calloway and make sure that students, not the teachers or the administration, are the driving force behind the Council. The Student Council was instrumental in the success of Community Day, as they planned all aspects of the day. I know we can count on the Council to continue its impressive performance in the weeks and months ahead.

A Message from the Elementary School Principal – Kim Harper

By now, you should have received your Sally Foster/Entertainment book information. Please look over the instructions, and don’t forget to ask your relatives and friends if they’d like to get a head start on holiday shopping. If you have any questions, please contact our student council moderator, Kristin Rodriguez at krodriguez@ursulineneworleans.org . The fund raiser ends on Friday, Sept. 10.

The Rosary will be held tomorrow morning, Aug. 31 at 8 a.m. in the Shrine.

SAF Leadership Orientation and dinner is on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.

Eucharistic Adoration will be held on Thursday, Sept. 2 from 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 3 is the Mass of the Holy Spirit at 8:15 a.m. Parents, relatives and friends are invited to join the Academy for Mass in the Shrine. Dismissal follows Mass at approximately 9:30 a.m. There will be no aftercare, and there is no school Friday for the Early Childhood division.

We will have a Labor Day Holiday on Monday, Sept. 6. School resumes on Tuesday.

Students should be studying and preparing for their classes on a nightly basis. Progress reports are due in the office on Friday, Sept. 10. They will be mailed home and posted no later than Thursday, Sept. 16.

Any student who remains at school following 3 p.m. dismissal time must report to aftercare in the cafeteria. Students in grades T2-7^th are not allowed to remain on campus unsupervised.

Students who attend an after school club or sports practice, must be picked up directly after it ends, or she must report to aftercare until her ride arrives.

Aftercare: If your daughter will be staying in aftercare, please don’t forget to send her with a snack or some money to  visit the bookstore or vending machines. Homework time is during the first hour of aftercare, followed by outside play time.

Reminder: Please use ONLY the Nashville Pavilion/Carport area for drop off and pick up of elementary school students. No one should be dropped off behind the Lion’s Den. Also, please do not park in reserved faculty parking spots. The only authorized parking for parent/visitors is the blacktop area over by the softball field, or on-street parking.