Bear Essentials - November 19, 2017

Bear Essentials - November 19, 2017

A group of Ursuline sophomores and their mothers helped package gifts and prepare boxes for Thanksgiving at My Brother's Keeper last week.

Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to All

Featured Content

Calendar Highlights
Tuesday, November 21: Powderpuff Football Game, 3:15 p.m.

Wednesday, November 22 - Friday November 24: Thanksgiving Holiday

Monday, November 27: President's Holiday, NO SCHOOL

Monday, November 27: Winter Sports Tryouts begin

Friday, December 1: Spirit Day

Saturday, December 9: Christmas Gathering

Tuesday, December 12: Guidance Program for Parents grades 9-11, 6:30 p.m. (note change of date)

Test of Emergency Notification System

On Monday, November 20, 2017 at 6 p.m., there will be a test of Ursuline's communication system. Families will receive a test message to their home phone, mobile number and email on file. If you do not receive communication from Ursuline, please update your contact information with Mrs. Kathy Thorn in the main office on Tuesday at kthorn@ursulineacademy.net. (see more detailed info in the Co-Principals Newsletter below).

Spirit Store Purchases
Looking ahead to Spirit Day on December 1, our school Spirit Store will be open on Wednesday, November 29 during all lunch blocks for purchases of Ursuline apparel.

Community

Student Resources

From the Main Office

Co-Principals Newsletter

Dear Parents and Friends,

As we enter the Thanksgiving season, we would like to share our gratitude for the countless blessings that we encounter in the Ursuline community. Our faculty and staff, in particular, have been an abundant blessing to us this academic year. Their commitment to the Ursuline model of education and dedication to fostering relationships with students is incredible. We are grateful for the talent, positive spirit and kindness that they share at Ursuline every day.

Read more here for important information about our Emergency Notification Testing and winter weather safety reminders.

NEW DATE: Guidance Program for Parents December 12
Our annual informational parent program conducted by Summit Educational Services will be held on Tuesday, Dec 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the library. Please note this date has been changed from our previous announcement. 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.

SAT/ACT Prep Classes
Taking the SAT or ACT in the spring? Plan ahead! Ursuline Academy will be partnering with Summit Educational Group to offer an SAT Preparation Class beginning on March 20, and an ACT Preparation Class beginning on March 1. Please contact Mrs. Ferrucci in the guidance office if you have any questions.

NOTE TO ALL PARENTS: The FACTS Financial Aid module for 2018-2019 is now open. Financial aid applications for both new and returning students are due on January 15.

Magical Ireland Tour April 2019
If you were unable to attend the informational meeting on November 1 and would like a copy of the itinerary for the tour of Ireland, students (and parents) may pick up a copy from Mrs.Petti in room 104. If you have questions regarding the tour, please e-mail Mrs. Petti.

Bears in Action

Congrats to the cast and crew of this weekend's excellent production of Thornton Wilder's classic, "Our Town," under the direction of Ms. Pam Schnatterley.

Sophomore Mother/Daughter Service at My Brother's Keeper
Several of our 10th grade students and their mothers volunteered at My Brothers Keeper on Thursday Nov 9. After a tour of the facility in Easton, they helped package up hats and scarfs for Christmas gifts, package up paper products for food deliveries, and prepare card board boxes for Thanksgiving food deliveries. Thanks to students Elizabeth Fronsaglia '20, Kristina Wronski '20, Bronwyn O'Toole '20, Mary Kate McDonald '20, and Kate McCluskey '20 (see photo above) and their moms!

UA Speech Team Winners
The UA Speech team competed at the Gracia Burkill Memorial Meet on November 11 at Natick High School. Winners included: Kendall Miller 2nd place, Novice Exempt; Bella Coe, 3rd place, Novice Reading; Sawyer Strouth, 4th place, Novice Reading; Maddie Mullen, 5th place, Play Reading; Bridget Dwyer, 6th place, Kiddie Lit; Jamie Folwell, 6th place, Poetry; and Marie Kimball, 6th place, Dramatic Performance. (see photo below).

Athletics

Ashley Thomas Commits to College of the Holy Cross

Ursuline senior Ashley Thomas signed a National Letter of Intent to compete for the Track & Field team at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Thomas holds the school record in the 55 meter dash and also anchored two relay teams, the 4x50 and the 4x 100, that hold school records. The entire Ursuline community is very proud of Ashley!

Ashley Thomas with her parents, Frank and Kristina Thomas

Athletic Highlights

Congratulations to all on Ursuline's 5th place finish at the MIAA South Sectional Meet! We tied with Framingham High School, a Div 1 school (~1,000 girls in grades 9-12). Wellesley won, followed by Newton North, Brookline, and Natick. Special congratulations to the following athletes for their podium performances (i.e., places 1-8): 200 Medley Relay (Eck, McGrail, Smith, Glass) - 6th; 200 Freestyle: Anna Glass - 3rd; 200 Freestyle: Libby Gormley - 4th; 100 Butterfly: Taylor Eck - 4th; 100 Freestyle: Anna Glass - 1st; 500 Freestyle: Libby Gormley - 6th; 100 Backstroke: Taylor Eck - 4th; 400 Freestyle Relay (Eck, McGrail, Gormley, Glass) - 5th.

Serviam

Thanksgiving Food Drive
Once again, Ursuline will help support the families from the Yawkey Center with our Thanksgiving Food Drive. Starting last week, students began collecting items assigned to their homerooms. Click here for the list of the homeroom assignments. Donations will be collected until Tuesday morning during homeroom when they will be delivered by UA bus to the Yawkey center. Please consider donating to help these families during the Thanksgiving season! Read more here.

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 atemendes@italianhome.org. See Ms. McNally or Mr. O'Connor if you have any questions about the Italian Home.

Volunteers Needed for Christmas Express Train Ride in Needham
Liz Mingle, UA '97, co-chair of the St. Joseph Parish and Schools Christmas Express Train Ride in Needham, MA, is looking for help for check-in and to serve as elves on the train rides on Sunday, December 3. Adults and student volunteers needed. Sign up here and please note you are from UA. Ursuline students will earn service hours by helping with this event.

Serve at Christmas in the City! Sunday, December 17, 2017
Each year, Christmas in the City brings holiday magic to thousands of Boston-area kids and their families – kids and families who have been experiencing the uncertainty of homelessness and the stress of poverty. Ursuline volunteers will help serve dinner and accompany children through "Santa's Wonderland." We will leave Ursuline at 8:15 a.m. and return by 4:30 p.m. All students 16 years and up can sign up in the Campus Ministry Office... our spots on the bus always fill quickly!! Click here for more info

Supporting Ursuline

Serviam Society

Ursuline Academy's Serviam Society recognizes leadership donors with gifts to the Academy of $1,000 or more each fiscal year. We look forward to celebrating these individuals at the Serviam Reception on December 7.

LOST AND FOUND: If anyone lost reading glasses at the Brescia Ball, please contact Cindy Harrington in our Advancement office at development@ursulineacademy.net.