Bear Essentials - December 7, 2018
Today we celebrated the commissioning and blessing of Kate Levesque '77 as president of the Academy. In her remarks, Ms. Levesque emphasized that the event invites the entire Ursuline community to strive to be its true self and to find ways to lead with faith, courage, and joy. We thank everyone who joined in the celebration, including Rev. Paul Harman, S.J., Rev. Brendan Darcy, S.M.A., Rev. Joseph Mozer, Rev. Michael Nolan, Rev. Richard Uftring, Sr. Rita Ann Bregenhorn, O.S.U. and the parents and alumnae in attendance.
Looking Ahead
Featured Content
Tuesday, December 11: Early release day; students dismissed at 12 noon.
Thursday, December 13: St. Lucia Day celebration
Friday, December 14: Christmas Gathering, 7 p.m.
Friday, December 21: Student Talent Show
Christmas Break - December 22 through January 6;
classes resume Monday, January 7.
School Spirit Store Dates for December
Our school store, in the lower floor of the main school building near the Tea Room entrance, will be open to students and parents for purchases of spirit wear and other Ursuline merchandise at the following times this month:
Tuesday, December 11 - from 7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.; this is an early release day from school.
Friday, December 14 - from 5 - 7 p.m., prior to the Christmas Gathering.
From the Main Office
Progress Reports
Progress reports will be available on the Parent-Student Portal today beginning at 5:00. These reports provide an indication of student progress at the mid-point of the semester.
Ursuline Choral Group Concert
Ursuline Academy Choral Group will be joining the choirs of the Matthew 13 Collaborative (St. Mary's and Blessed Sacrament in Walpole) for a meditative concert, "Advent with Mary," on Sunday, December 9th at 1 p.m. in the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, Walpole. All are welcome to join this prayerful moment to celebrate our Blessed Mother.
Christmas Gathering on December 14
Please join us on Friday, December 14th at 7 p.m. for our annual Christmas Gathering. Featuring the Bearitones, Choral Group, Chamber Ensemble, Liturgical Dance, and Glee Club, students have been rehearsing since September and look forward to sharing their gifts and talents. Come and hear some new arrangements of Christmas favorites and enjoy a quiet hour of music and dance in the midst of this busy season to remind you of the meaning of Christmas. There will be light refreshments and the school store will be selling those last minute Christmas gifts!
Teddies for Tots
It's that time of year again, when Ursuline Academy welcomes the Teddies for Tots program, another way to bring the Serviam motto to life. If you are interested in helping, each family is asked to send in a brand-new teddy bear by Tuesday, Dec. 18. Size does not matter, only that it is new. The collected bears will be packed up and taken to shelters to be distributed during the Christmas season.
We are looking for delivery assistance to transport the bags of teddy bears to the following shelters: Carolina Hill in Marshfield, Casserly House in Roslindale, Casa Nueva Vida in Jamaica Plain, St. Ambrose Family Shelter in Dorchester, and Dove in Quincy. Bears would be delivered sometime between Tuesday, December 18 and Friday, December 21. If you are available to delivery teddy bears or have any questions, please email Donna O'Connor, P '03, '08, the Teddies for Tots coordinator, at doconnor2@comcast.net. Thank you in advance for your help with this beloved project!
Life on Lowder Street
The sophomores made Christmas cards for the service men and women who are recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center.
Clothe-a-Child has begun!
Homerooms have been assigned a child from the Yawkey Center, a Catholic Charities daycare in Dorchester which many students have visited. Please help out in any way you can to provide clothing to our little friends this Christmas! All questions can be directed to Campus Ministry at 781-493-7791.
School Counseling
Dr. Reilly's Presentation on Parent Portal
Many thanks to those who attended the Ursuline/Xaverian Parent Speaker Series Presentation on Adolescent Anxiety by Dr. Nadja Reilly. Dr. Reilly has made the slides from her talk available to us. The presentation, "Identification and Strategies for Anxiety Management" has been posted to your UA Parent Portal account. Once you log in, scroll down to the Home section. Under "School Links and Files" click on the blue box under "view" to open and download the presentation.
Mrs. Ferrucci recently participated in a college counselor fly in program at Butler University and met up with Carolyn McGrail UA '16, a junior at Butler, majoring in Health Sciences/ Business.
Athletics
Paul Bimmler Named Coach of the Year
Ursuline athletics is happy to announce that Swimming and Diving Coach Paul Bimmler has been selected by the Boston Globe as Division 2 Coach of the Year. Coach Bimmler and his team had a very successful season in his first year as head coach, finishing third at the state meet. This marks the eighth time in nine years that an Ursuline coach has achieved this honor: John Forte (Soccer), Kali Joseph (Volleyball), Verne Porter (Golf), Tom Shaw (Winter Track, Track and Field), Lynne Smith (Tennis), and Dave Swanson (Track).
Lauren Grela '19 Named All Scholastic
Senior Lauren Grela has been selected by both the Boston Herald and the Boston Globe as an All Scholastic for her outstanding performance in Cross Country during the regular season as well as the Divisional and the State meets. Congratulations, Lauren!
Ellie Finch '19 Awarded Varsity Equestrian Letter
Senior Ellie Finch has been awarded a varsity letter for the past five years by the US Equestrian Varsity Lettering Program. Participants in the program are students in grades 5-12 who document at least 100 hours of training and provide verification of participation in three equestrian competitions during the year.
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This Week's Fitness Center Schedule
Note: "Open" times are open for any students and/or faculty from UA to use.
Monday 12/10:
3 p.m. - Ski team
3:30 p.m. - Ski team
4 p.m.- OPEN
4:30 p.m.- Jr. High Basketball
Tuesday 12/11:
3 p.m.- OPEN
3:30 p.m. - Track
4 p.m. - Track
4:30 p.m. - Track
Wednesday 12/12:
3 p.m. - OPEN
3:30 p.m.- OPEN
4 p.m. - OPEN
4:30 p.m. - OPEN
Thursday 12/13:
3 p.m. - Varsity Basketball
3:30 p.m.- OPEN
4 p.m.- OPEN
4:30 p.m.- JV Basketball
Friday 12/7:
The Fitness Center will be closed.
Travel News
Please note: The deposit deadline for both trips has been extended to Dec. 15. Registrations made between Dec. 1 and Dec. 15 must be paid in full.
Sophomore Trip to Quebec City
The sophomore class adventure to Quebec City, Canada is from February 6-9, 2019, during the year's biggest event - the Winter Carnival! UA is travelling with the Led2Serve organization, that incorporates service projects into every trip. Participants will visit the Ursuline Monastery, meet some of the Ursuline sisters and work on a service project with them. Please visit this website for registration.
Eighth Grade Trip to Philadelphia
The 8th grade is headed to Philadelphia from May 2-4, 2019 for its annual class trip! Participants will have the chance to learn more about our country's founding documents, experience a ghost tour, go on a scavenger hunt throughout the city, complete an escape room activity, and will also take part in a special service project with the tour company, Led2Serve, to help the community of Philadelphia. Please visit this website for registration.
On the Calendar
Students were treated to whoopie pies and candy canes at lunch on Friday, as part of the celebration of the Commissioning and Blessing of Kate Levesque!
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Ursuline Academy | 85 Lowder Street | Dedham, MA 02026 | 781.326.6161