Ursuline Update

Message from the President – Gretchen Z. Kane

Prayer of Compassion

Jesus, you the Innocent One, were unjustly condemned to death.
We see you condemned today in the millions who are deprived of basic human rights, and in prisoners of conscience deprived of their liberty to speak and act according to their convictions and beliefs. We also remember those who have given their lives for the right to speak out against injustice.

Jesus, you bore the Cross, ours rather than your own.
You still bear intolerable burdens today in those who are kept poor, hungry and ignorant; in those weighed down by guilt and rejection.

Jesus, the women of Jerusalem wept to see you suffer.
We thank you for all those who bring compassion and healing to the minds and hearts of persons in affliction.

Jesus, you were laid in the tomb – but only to rise gloriously from the dead.
We thank you for your Resurrection; we thank you for all those working for peace and justice who spend themselves to bring the fruits of the Resurrection to individuals, groups of peoples, thus establishing your kingdom and ushering in a new Heaven and a new Earth.

Lord Jesus, you said “As long as you did it to one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it to me.’ Awaken us from our sleep that we may respond effectively to the urgent demands of your Gospel today. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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. Know that everything we do and every decision we make is with the girls’ well-being in mind. Thank you for your support of our wonderful mission.

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

Last Friday’s annual meeting of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association holds two points of interest for the Ursuline community. The LHSAA, an association of principals from member schools across the state of Louisiana, represents both public and private high schools. Two very important proposals came up for a vote on Friday. A proposal by Marlin Ramsey of South Beauregard High School that advocated for a division of public and private schools during state playoffs was tabled, meaning that the Association can revisit the idea next year. A second proposal, written by Michael Giambelluca of Jesuit High School and Wesley Watts of Zachary High School, would allow schools to “play up” one classification from what they are currently classified. This proposal did, indeed, pass and will be effective immediately.

Mr. Ramsey’s proposal had, and has, huge implications for private schools (and “select” schools, as charters and magnets are included in the “select” designation) like Ursuline. Ramsey’s proposal would have relegated all “select” schools to just two classifications, whereas public schools would have competed for championships in four classifications. Ursuline would have been forced to compete against schools two and three times its size during the state playoffs – a move against which we objected strenuously. Ursuline has competed – and will continue to compete – against larger schools in pre-district schedules, but we strongly believe that the LHSAA should continue to foster a playoff system that promotes fairness. The LHSAA’s decision to table Ramsey’s proposal was the correct decision.

As for the second proposal, schools now have the option to play in a larger classification. While Ursuline does not wish to “play up” at this point in time, we certainly respect the rights of those schools who choose to play in a larger classification. The passage of this second proposal has fueled some talk about resurrecting the old Catholic League in New Orleans. While some schools may find such a move to be advantageous, we at Ursuline believe the interests of our students will be best served by maintaining our current classification. If, in the future, we find playing up to be to the Academy’s advantage, we will revisit this question.

I wanted to thank Kim Otto, the High School’s Campus Minister, for her incredible work in organizing and administering last Friday’s day of service for the high school students in honor of the Feast of St. Angela. The logistics in organizing such an event for nearly four hundred and forty young women is mind-boggling, and yet the day went without a hitch. Ms. Otto’s patience and her sense of humor were on display throughout the day’s activities, which culminated with our school-wide Mass in the Shrine. I need to thank our teachers, too, for their work with our students on this very important day. Our girls made a huge impact on the greater New Orleans community last Friday, and the work of our teachers was vital in ensuring that our girls could work throughout the community.

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate juniors Samantha Adams and Marcelle Meyer, who won this year’s essay contest sponsored by the Freedoms Foundation. Both Sami and Marcelle will be attending an all-expenses-paid trip to Philadelphia later this spring to attend a youth leadership conference sponsored by the Foundation, a national organization created to develop an understanding and appreciation of the nature and benefits of freedom among young Americans. Students from Ursuline have gone on to win the national contest sponsored by this organization over the last three years. We wish Sami and Marcelle the very best as they continue in the competition.

A Message from the Elementary School Principal – Kim Harper

Progress reports are due in to the office on Wednesday, February 1. They will be mailed home and posted to Ed-line by Monday, February 6. Please continue to monitor your daughter’s daily homework and studying.

This Thursday, February 2 is the Parents’ Club General Meeting at 8:15 a.m. in the Sisters’ Dining Hall. Please join us for coffee, king cake, administrative updates, and information about Academy service projects and monthly Adoration.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Reminder: There is no school for students on Friday, February 3 due to the Academy Faculty Service Day.

Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, February 9 from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m.

We will have a Dress Down Day to benefit Raintree Children and Family Services on Friday, February  10. Look for the flyer that will be going home.

Class pictures will be taken on Wednesday, February 15.

Grandparents’ Day will be held on Friday, February 17. All grandparents are invited to join us for light refreshments before Mass and then to celebrate Mass with us at 10 a.m. in the Shrine. We will then attend the early childhood Mardi Gras parade at 11 a.m. in the courtyard. School will be dismissed at noon. There is no aftercare.

The Mardi Gras Holidays are Monday, February 20 through Friday, February 24. School resumes on Monday, February 27.