Bear Essentials - November 12, 2017   

The Ursuline Catholic Conference Champion Cross Country Team

 From the Main Office

Junior Ring Orders
The representative from Herff Jones is coming to meet the junior class on Monday, November 20, during activity period. He will be here for final ring sizing and final payment.

Montreal Trip Reminder
If you did not attend the parent informational meeting for this trip, all of the paperwork has gone home with your daughter. Please refer to the checklist to see the paperwork and deposit payment that is due November 15th. If you have any questions, please be in contact with Mrs. Williams.

Powder Puff Football
On November 21st, Ursuline Academy will be hosting the annual Powder Puff Football Game. Juniors and seniors need to bring $22 to Mrs. Williams for their personalized Powder Puff t-shirt.

Guidance Program for Parents
Our annual informational parent program conducted by Summit Educational Services will be held on Thursday, Dec 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the library. This program is sponsored by the UA Guidance Office and is open to parents of students in Grades 9-11.The presentation covers :· context for standardized tests, overall importance in college admissions, and explains the differences between the ACT and SAT. It will provide help for parents who want to create a standardized testing plan and cover the role of subject tests, score choice, and super-scoring in college admissions.

Bears in Action

Drama Club Presents "Our Town" Next Weekend
Please come support the cast and crew of Ursuline's first theater production of the year, "Our Town" by Thornton Wilder. Performances will be held on Friday, November 17 and Saturday, November 18 at 7 p.m. in the Ursuline auditorium. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and seniors.  Live. Life. Dramatically!

Bella Matthews '22 Receives Nally Community Service Award

Ursuline eighth grader Bella Matthews was given the Nally Community Service Award at the Greater Boston Food Bank's Annual Chain of Giving Ceremony this week by Mayor Walsh and Governor Baker. She received the award for her efforts in helping to provide food for the less fortunate in the Boston area. Last year, she collected and delivered 5,562 lbs of food to the Greater Boston Food Bank. Great work, Bella!

Athletics

Cross Country Team Catholic Conference Champions
The first week in November held some landmark moments for UA cross-country, including their win at the Catholic Conference meet as described by coach John Barbour: "The conference meet was quite possibly historic in the annals of Ursuline cross country. After the Varsity Bears defeated Notre Dame 10 days before to go unbeaten in conference dual meets, it was expected that NDA would be looking for revenge at the conference meet. Instead, the Bears prevailed by a slightly larger margin than in the dual meet. In a first-rate team performance, Lauren Grela (19:30) won easily while the improving-each-race Beth Annese (20:32) held off a pair of NDA runners to claim third. Natalie McGrail (20:38) displayed the heart of a champion, hanging onto that same NDA pair and outkicking them both for fourth. Then came the long green line of Sara Annese (21:19), Catherine Treseler (21:21), Heddia Djusberg (21:26) and Maddi Sanders (21:27), all ahead of NDA's #4 runner, to ice the meet. There were seasonal and personal bests up and down the line -- this on a course that is not as fast as either NDA or Twilight courses, and a storm-damaged one at that. Examples include Casey McNamara (25:48) and Martine Mungovan (27:07)."

Ursuline Swim Team Makes a Splash in 2017

The 2017 Ursuline Swim Team (photo below) is making a big splash this season, capping it off by winning the Catholic Conference Championship Meet!  The team won 10 of the 12 events. Read all the details here.

Volleyball Season Wraps Up

The Ursuline volleyball season's quest for the Division III South Sectional championship concluded on Thursday night in their game against Case.  Unfortunately, the Bears fell by a score of 3-1, but all the players and coaches are to be commended for a successful season building Ursuline's already strong volleyball program.

Winter Sports Tryouts
Winter sports tryouts will begin on Monday, November 27, even though there are no classes that day. All paperwork for winter athletes is now due and should be submitted as soon as possible. Forms and tryout details are available here. 

Student and Parent Meetings

The following meetings have been scheduled for students interested in playing winter sports and their parents:

• Student meeting for Ice Hockey on Monday during Activity Period in the Reynolds Center.
• Student meeting for Winter Track on Monday during Activity Period in the Reynolds Center.
• Parent meeting for all who have daughters interested in playing Ice Hockey on Tuesday, November 14th at 5 p.m. in the school library.
• Parent meeting for all who have daughters interested in Skiing this year on Wednesday, November 15th at 5 p.m. in the school library.

NOTE: The fitness center will be open to all Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. this week.

Serviam

Make No-Sew Blankets at St. Sebastian's
Join us on Tuesday, November 14th for our annual No-Sew Blanket event with Catching Joy. This year St. Sebastian's will be hosting us. The UA bus will leave right after school and return by 4:30 p.m. Come have fun making blankets for Mainspring Shelter in Brockton. Please email Ms. McNally if you are interested and pick up a permission slip on Monday morning!

Help the Italian Home for Children with their Christmas Gift Drive!
Volunteers are needed to help set up the gift room on December 15 from 3 p.m. -7 p.m. and on December 16 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. to wrap gifts. Sign up for a half shift or the whole shift. Volunteers may be needed needed additional days. Please contact Eileen Mendes, UA '95, Director of Operations at the Italian Home, at 617-524-3116 or by email at emendes@italianhome.org. See Ms. McNally or Mr. O'Connor if you have any questions about the Italian Home.

Supporting Ursuline

Brescia Ball 2017 Makes a Little Magic

Thank you to all of the parents, students, faculty, staff and community partners who helped make last weekend's 10th Annual Brescia Ball such a success. With a full house at the Lantana in Randolph, guests were treated to a reception, silent auction, dinner, and a magic show by the amazing Matt Roberts. The Ursuline Choral Group charmed the crowd and our many other student volunteers represented UA with grace and cheer. Shannon Lawler '15, as guest speaker, proudly recognized the night's honorees, her parents, Bob and Suzanne Lawler, and her aunt and uncle, Bill and Sue Lawler. A special note of gratitude goes to our parent committee leaders Tracey Finch, Sandra Giordano, Kate Gormley, Elizabeth King, Kathleen McDonald, Julie Steinkrauss and Stephanie Waldeck.

On the Calendar

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